Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN TRIBUNE.
IDITED AMD PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BT
WM. B . lIAItKISON.
Bcßinninß ©i (lie Year.
The Chaldeans and Egyptians’ year
was dated from the autumua! equinox.
The ecclesiastical jear of the Jews be
gan in the spring ; but in civil affairs they
retain the epoch of the Egyptian year.
The ancient Chinese reckoned from the
new moon nearest the middle of Aquiri
us.
The year of Romulus commenced in
March, and that of Numa in January.
The Turks and Arabs date their year
rom the 16th of Jnly.
Dremschild, orGemschild, King of Per
sia, observed, on the day of his public en
sry intoPersonolis.that the sun entreed in
to Aries ; and in commemoration of this
tortunate event, he ordained the begin-
Ining of the year to be removed from the
Autumnal to the vernal equinox.
The Brahmuns begin their year with
the new moon in April.
The Mexicans begin their year in Feb
ruary, when the leaves begin to grow
green. Their year consists of 18 mouths,
having twenty days in each ; the last five
days are spent in mirth, anil no business is
suffered to be done, not even any service
in the temples.
The Ahyssiniatis have five idle days at
the end of their year, which commences
on the 26th of August.
American Indians reckon from the first
appearance of the moon at the vernal eqi
nox.
The Mahomedans begin their year the
moment the sun enters Aries.
Venetians, Floreulimes, and the Pisans,
in Italy, began the year at the vernal e
quinox.
The French year, during the reign of
the Merovingian race, began oil the day
on which the troops were reviewed, which
was the first of March. Under the Car
lovingians, it began on Christmas day, and
under the Capet ians on Easier day.
The ecclesiastical begins on the first
Sunday in Advent.
Charles IX appointed, 1561, that for
the future the civil years should com
mence on the Ist of January.
The Julian character,which was so call
cdfi orn Julius Caesar, and is the old ac
count of the year, was reformed by Pope
Gregory in 1582 which plan was suggest
ed by Lewis Lillo, a Calabrian astrono
mer.
The Dutch and the protestants in Ger
many introduced the new style in 1700.
The ancient clergy reckoned from the 25th
March ; and the method was observed in
Britain until the introduction of the new
style, A. D. 1752, after which our year
commenced on the Ist of January.
Itocks on Lake Superior.
DV LEWIS CASS.
Upon the southern coast of Lake Supe
rior, about 50 miles from the falls of St.
Mary, are immense cliffs, called by the
voyageur le Fotrail, the Pictured Rocks.
The name has been given them in conse
quence of the different appearances which
they present to the traveler, as he passes
their base in his can >e. It requires little
aid from the imagination to discern in
them the castellated tower and lofty dome,
and every sublime, grotesque, or fantastic
shape, which the genius of architecture
ever invented. These cliffs are an un
broken mass of rocks, rising to the ele
vation of 300 feet above the level oftlie
lake, and stretching along the coast for
fifteen miles.
The voyagers never pass the coast ex
cept in the most profound calm ; and the
Indians, before they make the attempt,
offer their accustmed oblation, to propi
tiate the favor of their Monitas. The eye
instinctively searches along the eternal
rampart, for a single place of security ;
but the search is vain. With an impas
sible barrier of rocks on one side, and an
interminable expanse of water on the
other, a sudden storm upon tho Lake
would as inevitably assure destruction of
the passenger in his frail canoe, as if he
were on the brink of the cataract of Nia
gara.
The rock itself is a sand stone, which
i3 disintegrated by the continual action of
the water with comparative facility.—
I here are no broken massos upon which
the eye can rest and find relief. The
Lake is so deep,that these masses, as they
are torn from the precipice, are concealed
beneath its wateis until it is reduced to
sand. The acioti of the waves has removed
every projecting point. When we pass
ed this immense fabric of nature, the
wind was still and the lake was calm.—
iiuteven the slightest motion of the wave,
which in the most profound calm
agitates these eternal seas, swept through
the deep caverns with the noise of the
distant thunder, and died away upon the
ear, as itrolled forward in the air, in the
dark recesses inaccessible to human ob
servation.
No sound more melancholy or more
awful ever vibrated upon human nerves.
It has left an impression which neither
time nor distance can ever efface.
Resting in a frail bark canoe, upon the
limpid waters of the lake, seemed almost
suspended in the air, so palluced is the
element upon which we floated. In gaz
ing upon the towering battlements which
impended over us, and from whch the
smallest fragments would have destroyed
us, we felt, and felt intensely our o\vi>
insignificance! No situation can be ima
gined more appalling to the courage, of
more humbling to the pride of man. We
k appeared like a small speck upon the broad
to.ee ot creation.
Our whole parties, Indians, voyagers,
soldiers, officers,and servants.contemplated
in mute astonishment the awful display of
creative power, at whose base we hung ;
and no sound broke upon the ear to in
terrupt the careless roaring of the waters.
No cathedral, no temple built witli human
hands.no pomp of worship could ever im
press the spectator with such humility,
and sostiong a conviction of the immense
distance between hint and the Almighty
Architect.
M A C O NT G A 7”
BATI RDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 87.
Q. > J \Vi: learn that the Savannah Volunteer
Guards, Capt. Riciiardsone, will visit this city
on Wednesday next. They will he cordially
welcomed by our Volunteer Companies and
citizens generally.
The Remington Bridge. —We some time
since noticed this wonderful improvement in
Bridge building, and the Agent, .Mr. Beattee,
is now at the I'loyd House in this city, wlieroa
model can be seen, and its great superiority
over the common mode of constructing Bridges,
explained. We advise all who feel interested
;n this brancli of business to give Mr. U. a call.
See advertisement.
The ttlccliuutc's J.ibviiry.
The following gentlemen have been appointed
a committee for the purpose of procuring sub
scriptions for a Library in this city, viz : Messrs.
I*. Levy, David Touccy, A.F. Sherwood, It
Findley, S. T. Chapman, .1. A. Nisbot, J. if. R.
Washington and G. W. Fish.
The object contemplated by the Mechanic's
Society is a very laudable one, and we doubt not
our citizens will enable it to establish a Library
which will he of great benefit to the community.
We arc so familiar with the mechanic arts that
Jiey are not always duly appreciated, and what
ever tends to enlighten the industrious mechan
ic cannot lail to exert a happy influence on the
community. We wish them abundant success.
Fire.— We regret to learn that a destructive
fire occurred at Savannah on Thursday morning
last. It originated in the wooden store at the
corner of Jefferson and Congress streets, West of
the Market, whence it spread to St. Julicn
street on the Last, Montgomery street on the
West, and Broughton street on the South, con
suming about thirty wooden tenements, occu
pied as dwellings and stores. The following arc
among the owners of the property burned, viz :
J. Waldburg, Jas. Mclntyro, Est. J. Shick, Est.
F. Herb, E. J. Purse, Mrs. Sawyer, Misses Minis,
Mrs. Marshall. The following arc the occupants
viz : W. B. Hale, P. I). Ililzhein, J. F. Linder,
J. Dillon,ll. Silber, W. Henry, J.P. Boufciet,
Mrs. Bennett,stores —P. M. Russell, J. M. Flan
ders, E. J. Purse, J. W. Watts, S. Fisher, R-
Goldberg, W. Barnet, P. Lovell, Mrs. Sawyer,
H. A. Crane, F. Schwinck, J. 1,. Martin, Win.
Reddick, L. S. Hurt, L. Hart, J. A. Beall, Hard
castle & Caruthcrs, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Gardner,
Mrs. Hoffman, and Mrs. Bennett, houses.
(EFThc dwelling in Columbia, S. C., owned
by Mrs. Ewart, and occupied by the Rev. C. C.
Jones, D. I)., Professor of Ecclesiastical History
in the Theological Seminary at that place, was
entirely consumed by fire on the 18ih inst. The
inmates with difficulty escaped with their lives.
We regret to slate that Dr. Jones, in addition to
his other losses, which are very considerable,
has been deprived by the conflagration of his
valuable and extensive Library, together with
his journals of missionary and ministerial labor
since the year 1833, and mnnuscrints nf different
kinds accumulated since that period, and chielly
of a professional nature.
There was an insurance to the amount $2,-
500 on the house, hut we are sorry to say that
Dr. Jones’ property was wholly uninsured.
o”The remains of Mr. Calhoun arrived in
Charleston on Thursday last, accompanied by a
large concourse of attendants from Washington,
Virginia and North Carolina, in which city they
will remain, by consent of the family, until the
next session of the Legislature, when they will
bo finally interred, at Columbia perhaps. No
man in America ever deserved or received great
er iionors at the hands of tho people. Business
was suspended in Charleston during the day; and
the most marked respect was paid the entire suite
during the conveyance of the corpse along the
line. May he rest in peace, and the memory of
his spotless name and noble virtues live forever.
The Season.— The Griflin Jcflersonian of the
25th inst., says : “For a week past wo have h id
delightful Spring weather in this section. Ve
getation is expanding rapidly. The peach fruit
has been partially cut off by tho late frosts, but
enough will remain for desert and culinary pur
poses. The wheat fields look charming, and
promise abundance. Corn is a fortnight later
than usual, but has changed its hue from a sick
ly to a green and healthy appearance. The
farmers have a beautiful season for planting cot
ton. Every thing looks well about the planta
tion, and few have any cause thus far for that
miserable groaning which is so habitual with
many ; and for no other reason that we can sec,
than that, like the child with the apples, they
have both hands full, and arc crying because
tlroy cannot hold more than they can enjoy.
Q /’Tlio Chattanooga Advertiser, of the 24th
inst. states that the Tennessee liver had risen at
that place sixteen feet in tho three days previous
and was still rising. J hat paper quotes Corn at
45c. and Meal 50c., scarce ; Flour $5 a $6 ;
Bacon 4jo. Itog round, both dull and plenty.
Great Decline in Coffee.— lt is stated in
the New Orleans Crescent, that over 8000 bags of
ltio coffee have been sold wit bin a day or two,
at eight cents per pound Early in Februrary
the current rate was 144 cents, so that the fal|
in prices since that time rs about six and a half
cents per pound, or more than $lO per ling.
New Steamer—The steamship Florida in
tended for the Now York and Savannah line, was
launched on 18th inst. in New Y’ork. She is
I I*soo tens burden
WHO ARE TO BE WITH PS !
Not the Whigs that is clear. For some time
it has been evident thatscheming partisans, who
live by plunder of the Government, according to
fate, (some of both parties,) throughoutthe Soutlq
have been watching intently the current of
events, to detect, if possible, any blunder that
the Southern movement might give rise to, and
which could by nice strategy, he made available
to party uses. Gradually leading men have felt
their way, and now,during the collapse of the
fever of patriotism that a short time since, was
raging so furiously, they have become bold and
the programme of the future party policy is a
bout to he formally announced. It is a most sig
nificant circumstance, that the Whig delegates
elect, or a majority of them, so far as heard front,
in this State, have declined to serve in the ap
proaching Southern Convention ; and in almost
the identical set phrase, have they declined.—
No doubt they have got the cue from head quar
ters. Among the catch-words that have such a
squinting at party premeditation,arc the words
“premature ’ anu “unwise”—“strong hope of
settlement by this Congress of the difficulties be
tween us and our Northern brethren ,” &c. It is
no use to deny it, the plan is matured and the
South is to he put upon the market of“loavcs and
fishes.” What would these gentry have ?
Premature ! When will it then he time to act ?
To a man who deserves a higher estate than
one of his own slaves, the bare enunciation of
the terms now proposed by Congress of admis
sion of future Stales, would be enough. Tory
stock is rising, and from this out we w ill hear
many apologies for the much misrepresented
characters of these worthy gentlemen of the
“olden school.” Wc do believe, as we have
said before, that if the North proceeds gently in
her work, the South is enslaved. There is no
hope for her. The very best thing that could
now happen, in the merciful providence of God,
for this party bedeviled South, would he, this
very session, to sec a bill pass both Houses of
Congress abolishing slavery throughout the Uni
ted States. This would do, possibly, to quicken
the sickly and dying pulses of Georgia chivalry.
Even then, that man who would expect to see
all here united for the South, would only betray
his folly, and prove how little he has studied
the quality of party spirit here. Oh we would
sec rare sport, if the ultimatum of these valiant
days-mcn, who stand up to make peace and pro
mote loving kindness between Georgia and her
enemies, were brought to a practical trial. The
“abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
or the pnssago of the Wilmot Proviso,” is what
our sages are waiting for. Let them dare this
enormity and then wo are in for it to the hitter
end. It will then he the time to strike, but for
California ! to push matters to extremity, it is
ridiculous, and the Southern people are not rea
dy for it. The patience of poor old Job, amid
all his curses, was a fool to the long suffering of
our defenders. Did ever men before hold their
fire so resolutely and improve by such lamb like
meekness and endurance upon the Bible injunc
tion of submission to wrong ?
When the Clayton Compromise Bill was up,
then too the same old song of “ premature,”
“unwise,” there was “nothing settled for the
South;" and it was all ill-timed. Southern (rea
son killed that friend of our rights.
Then the Southern Address, a calm and true
expose, true as holy writ, of what we had endur*
ed, was next tried, and though this same eter
nally maturing crowd were goaded, or should
have been, to madness by Gott’s bill, they
thought it premature even to talk , if wo talked
together, about our wTongs. This too was de
moralized and made contemptible by the recu
sancy of Southern swivet-haters.
a i ic- 11 lilC uuuiiit;in vsunvcunull Wum pTOpuSCu,
a convocation of the best wisdom and the most
reliable patriotism ol the country was invited, in
view of what had been done and what was still
projecting against us, and this is scouted as
“ premature.”
There is but one course now left, and that is,
like true men,make the issue between the friends
of the South and her enemies. If truckling spi
rits and traitors arc the strongest, let us know it,
and know it too, as soon as possible, what they
propose as the limit of endurance fora Southern
heart. Then let us open the campaign, the
sooner the hotter, and let the issue be “the South
or her betrayers.” There will bo something
honest in this course. But to go blundering on
in a cowardly, trimming course, making plans
one half the time to have them upset by Aboli
tionists in disguise, or men who are dancing at
tendance on power, with the price of their coun
try written down in their pockets—and the other
half the time, listening to their beggarly reasons
for acting as they do, is a disgrace to us.
We have not a doubt now, that thousands of
party mon throughout the South, aredisposod to
regard party unity far above any consideration
connected with the subject of slavery. The
consequences of division on this subject arc too
vital to be endured. Wc must deal with this
evil as with a cancer, for if we do not burn it
out it will cat us out. The political measures
intended to effect this whole policy, must he
strong, radical, thorough. Something must give
repose to the possession of slave property, to its
tenure—something must once for all, define and
define fully, its social, its religious, as well as
its political hearings. It is a startling thing to
believe that this is at all necessary at this day,
here. But so it is, and suspense on the whole
matter will bring a speedier ruin on this people
than “fire, famine or slaughter.”
Dli the price of a President to this poor South,
is mbre than millions in the way of unrighteous
largess—of hitter repentance for the moral wear
and tear of our people—of severed ties between
friends—for with us the price of a President is
the price of blood.
“Straws” Ac. —The Cassvillo Standard, of
the 25th inst. announces Gen. Cass as a candi
date for President, and Howell Cobb, for Vice
President in 1852 ! !
Clover in Florida.— Governor Brown, of
Florida, received from the Patent Office at Wash
ington, a packet of clover-seed from Chili, which
he planted. It has flourished atnid all the try.
iny changes of the climate, and appears adapt,
ed to the region of Florida, where previous ex
' poruuents of the kiud hud failed
The Committee of Thirteen.
The following gentlemen have been appointed
the Committee to determine upon a plan of
compromise on the slavery question—the first
seven are Whigs and the remaining six Demo
crats, viz :
H. Clay, of Ky., Chairman ; W. P. Mangutn,
ofN. C. ; J. Bell, of Tenn. ; J. M. Berrien,of
Ga. ; D. Webster, of Mass.; Phelps, of Vt.
and Cooper, of Penn.—Messrs. Cass, of
Mich. ; Dickinson, of N. Y.; Bright of Ind. ;
Mason, of Va. ; King, of Ala.; and Downs, of
Louisiana. Southern Whig 4, Northern do. 3
Southern Democrats 3 ; Northern do. 3. They
will probably not report for several weeks to
come.
The Charleston Mercury of the 23d instant,
in alluding to this subject, says :
“The greatest labor of the season, if wc may
judge by the cost of the achievement, is happily
consummated. Mr. Foote’s resolution is adop
ted, and the Committee of Thirtecu, untram
meled by instructions, is appointed. Moreover,
Mr. Benton’s fourteen propositions were voted
on, one by one,and he had the magnanimity to
spare the Senate any further infliction. The
distribution of the Committee is such as had
been named and the two sections sharing equally
in its composition, and leaving to the Chairman,
Mr. Clay, the balance between them. It is
composed of experienced men, of the first rank
in ability, and beyond suspicion, in regard to
character. There seems also in the deportment
of the Senate, a determination to give them fu II
time and opportunity to accomplish the purpose
for which they have been set apart, and to
throw around them the guardianship ofits entire
confidence and respect. It would he difficult to
conceive of a body of men attempting the
solution of a political question, under more fa
vorable circumstances, looking merely to the
Senate.
But all this may avail nothing. Mr. Phelps,
of Vt. one ol the Committee, in asking some
wliatearnestly to be excused from serving on it
gave as a final reason, that lie did not believe
• hey could agree upon any measure; and Mr.
Webster,in opposing his request,expressed much
the same opinion. For what lie lias already
done, Mr. Webster has brought upon himself
not merely the disapproval, but the denuncia
tions, of not a few of the most powerful of the
Whig presses of the north; and the general sen
timent el his party in Massachusetts, seems not
only against his course, hut seems ready to im
peach his motives. Judgeing from his more
recent votes, he is more ready to retreat from
his first position than to defend it. 11c sustained
Mr. Benton in his movements, and either did
not vote, or voted affirmatively, on all his mul
titudinous propositions of instruction to the Com
mittee. But lie lias taken scarcely any partin
the warm and prolonged debates of the last
week, and so has given none of the weight of
his mind to the one side or the other. It is a
self-negation, that, in connection with his rather
shifting votes, indicates a perplexity and indeci
sion that destroys all hope of his exerting any
great influence for the settlement of the question.
For that purpose, we are sorry to say wc may
as well account Mr. Webster a blank.
Gen. Cass, on the other hand, has taken a very
plain and direct course in reference to these
preliminary arrangements. Believing the Com
mittee might be of use, he has steadily sustained
it, and voted against every proposition to delay
its appointment, limit its freedom, or embarrass
its deliberations. But it is another question,
whether he will assent to such terms of settle
ment as will satisfy the South. Wo have no
doubt of his sincere desire to settle the question
honorably to all, but the difficulty now is, in the
practical details, and it will probably show it
self thortiy at many points as soon as it is touch
ed .
Mr. Clay, for his part, goes into the matter
full of resolution and courage, and and it is not
easy to set bounds to his power of surmounting
obstacles when he does so. In the early part
ol the session, he seemed to have too little
strength for the labors of his office ; but as he
has warmed in the harness, the vigor, activity
and endurance of former times seem to have
come back, and the old war horse shows that
his heart still swells proudly at the voice of the
trumpet, and his neck is clothed with thunder
for the shock of battle. Nothing can prevent
Mr. Clay from being the master-spirit of the
Committee ; and if lie can devise a measure that
will stand the test of his principle, that the States
are equal, and the right io find in the Federal
Government, at all times and in all circumstan
ces, an impartial friend, lie may look to the sup
port of the South as certain, and its gratitude
as deep and enduring. But even Mr Clay
may fail in devising, and fail in giving effect to
what devised. The result of the Compromise
Committee may be only to show that the con
tradictions of the question are irreconcilable and
the healing of the sore impossible, it will then
have simply brought us to the issue, and for that
we ought to stand prepared.
(npTheColumbusTimes says: All information
respecting improvements to the North of us,
going to supply the broken links of rail road con
nection between New Orleans and New Y’ork, is
deeply enteresting to us hero, in connection
with the Girard Road. Thrco gaps are to be
filled up to make a continuous line of Iron way
from Mobile to New York. These aro from
Girard to Mobile : from the Camden Road in
South Carolina to Wilmington in North Caroli
na, and from Columbus to Macon. The latter is
now a settled thing. Eighteen months will see
it finished. The Girard Road is progressing un
der the finest auspices ; and we have now a let
ter before us from the President oftlie Manches
ter and Wilmington road giving very flattering
accounts of the condition of forwardness of that
enterprise. We learn from it, that the whole
distance from the junction with the Camden
Road (Manchester we believe is the place) to
Wilmington is 162 miles. Os this, the grading
for a distance of fifty miles from Manches.
ter to the Pedee River, is nearly completed.—
This portion of the road is to be open for busi.
ness by the Ist of Jan. 1851. The route from
the Pedee to Wilmington,distance 112 miles, is
all under contract for the grading, with the ex
ception of 15 miles, and considerable work dono
on all the contracts. On the return oftlie En
gineer, absent when this letter was written.a
more detailed statement of the progress of the
work is promised, and we shall no doubt, have
the privilege of laying the statement before our
readers.
This information is more favorable than wc
anticipated, and shows that the time is not dis
tant, when the traveller can pass from Mobile to
New York by one immense and continuous rail
road connection.
O’The boilers of the steamer Belle of the
West, on her way to St. Louis, with California
emigrants, exploded near Warsaw, Illinois, on
the 23d inst. and one hundred lives were lest.
ITTTIiore are. now nine steamboats ply in"
on the Tennessee River above the Mascle Shoals
and it is expected that the number will soon be in.
creased to sixteen or eighteen
Causes of Insanity. —We insert with much
pleasure the following letter from Dr. Green.
Superintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum, to
Rev. Mr. llamner, General Agent of the Amer.
ican Sunday School Union. It commends it
self to all who arc interested in the promotion
of good morals and the well being of the youth
of the country.
State Lunatic Asylum, \
Near Milledgcvillc Georgia, \
February 13, 1850. )
My dear Sir.—ln reply to your inquiry, I do
not hesitate to express my thorough conviction,
that among the most fruitful sources of “Insani
ty,” may he ranked, defective early training—
the failure to exercise in the tender and impres
sible years of childhood and youth, proper con
trol over the tendencies to self-will, and the
mistaken indulgence of the ordinary passions
and appetites, giving loose rein to all. Many
examples of the truth of this, beyond all doubt,
now exist among the patients under my charge;
instances of men and women, who, under judi
cious moral training in youth, might have been
blessings to their species, in the various walks
of life, in the enjoyment of the largest amount
of happiness allotted to the best and most pros
perous in this world, and the blessed hope of un
clouded joy and peace, in the world to come,
but who, alas ! through fatal error on the part
of parents and friends, in youthful training,
or culpable neglect thereto, arc now lost to them
selves and nil mankind—the helpless, Impedes
victims, of that most fearful of all earthly mala
dies‘lnsanityYou, my dear sir, are zealously
engaged iu the performance of a high and holy
duty, in exerting yourself, by every means at
your command, to awaken a proper degree of
interest upon a subject on which is based all
that should he dear to us, as individuals, or as
a nation, and may the great God, of his infinite
mercy, abundantly bless and prosper you.
Y'ours, most respectfully,
THOMAS F. GREEN,
Supt. and Resident Physician.
Rev.Tiros. L. Hammer, Genl. Agt.Am. S. S.
Union.
Disastrous Explosion. —On Saturday nfter
oon, as the the workmen at the foundry of Bird
and Weld, iu South Trenton were pouring mel
ted iron in the mould of a large wheel, the hot
iron came in contact with some in the mould
which had become wet, and gas was generated
to such an extent as to raise the flask, which had
about 24 tons of pig iron on it, some three or
four inches; the flask sunk immediately, and in
an instant it was again raised, and the hot iron
was thrown all around the building with such
violence as to imbed itself iu the woodwork,
and adhered closely to the stove and iron pillars
in the foundry. The crane, and some other
paitof the woodwork was set on fire, but it was
speedily extinguished. William Allibone and
James A. Cooper had their legs very severely
burned. One of them was in a corner of the
flmndry, near the mould, and a stream of the
melted iron played against his legs, fourcingit
self through bis pantaloons down into his boot,
which was almost half filled, and when the
boot was removed the iron was cold. The
other received almost as much injury. The
dreadful sufferings of these young men can be
imagined. Mr. Charles Deani was also injured
in the leg, and the rest oftlie men escaped with
out injury.
The Wheat Crop.— The newspaper repre
sentations respecting the forthcoming wheat crop
in Ohio, western New York, Indiana, Michigan
and all the States bordering on the lakes, are
uniformly favorable, unless wc except the north
ern portion oflllinois, where the winter wheat
has received considerable injury from the open
weather. In Michigan ii is predicted that, if
nothing occurs to change the present prospects,
the crop will be double that of last year. As to
New York, the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
says, reports from all the farming sections give
flattering accounts of the prospects for a Jar»e
crop.
The Washington Monument. —The work
on the national monument to the momory of
Washington was commenced on Monday week
for the season, and will be continued till the
season again closes. It is now 52 feet high, and
gives an idea of what it is intended to be when
completed. A block of stone has been presented
to form a part of this great monument by every
State oftlie Union, with two exceptions.
T? Father Mathew has enrolled nine thousand
persons in New Orleans, under the banners of
Temperance. The Rev. Father could scarcely
have gone to richer missionary ground than New
Orleans. The good folks of the Crescent city,
do drink “some.”
New Gunpowder. — The European Journals
say that M. Hugendre, Assayer of the Mint
at Constantinople, has invented anew gunpow
der,viz: one part in weight of yellow prussiale
of crystallized potash, one part of powered
white sugar, and two parts of chlorate of potash
These are to be all first pulverized, anil then ef
fectually mixed by pounding in a bronze mortar
with a wooden pestle. This powder is repre
sented as'posscssing three times tlip force, weight
for weight, of the common powder used in war,
and is recommended by the inventor not be used
as a life-extinguishing agent, but in other cases
—in mining, &c., —where a strong explosive
force is required.
Wc give this as wc find it, says the YV’ashing.
ton Globe, and wait to hear more about this prus
siate powder before wc form an opinion about
its merit as an explosivo agent; for it is so fresh
in our minds that vast results wore predicted of
the gun cotton, which have not been realized;
and although it has been found to answer an ex
cellent purpose in surgery, it lias not yet been
available in war, and probably never will be.
How to Measure an Acre of Land— 3oj
square yards make I square rod ; 40 square rods
make 1 square rood ; 4 square roods make one
acre; CIO acres make one square mile; 4840
square yards or 160 rods make 1 acre.
In measuring an acre by yards the usual prac
is, to trace ofl'7o yards in length and 70 yards in
width ; this in a rough may he considered near
anougli for pruelical purposes, hut as 70 yards
cither way makes 4000 sqnarc yards, it exceeds
one acre by CO square yards. To determine an
accurate acre, it shall bo measured 70yardsin
length, by CO 1-7 yards in width. The same
result may be arrived at by measuring 220 feet
in width, or by iiieusuring 634 yards in length by
06 yards ill breadth.
Georgia Bituminous Coal.— Wo are inform
cd (says the Augusta Constitutionalist,) that
ail inexhaustible bed of Bituminous Coal exists
in Walker county, just beyond the Tunnel, and
very near the Railroad. It is the property of a
Mr.Cravens, who designs working it in connec
tion with a Company at Chattanooga, and wo
learn that on the completion of the Tunnel wo
may expect largo supplies of the article. We arc
told that the Coal will probably be laid down
by this Company in Augusta,and supplied to pur
chasers at $54 to $6 per ton. This is but little
more than half its present cost in this city. One
result that wc may anticipate from this enter,
prise is, the general introduction of grates and
the use of coal in families in this city, as at the
above price coal will be less than half the cost
of fire wood.
In a more enlarged view of the case this busi
ness will add greatly to the wealth of the State,
There will be a very general and extensive de
mand for coal for various purposes, increasing
from year to year, and the amount of freight it
will contribute to the several Railroads of the
State, will add materially to their respective
resources.
The Tear of Sympathy. —How softly ti l6
tear of sympathy falls on the heart bruised and
broken with sorrow ! It assures the sad and
weeping soul that it is not alone in a wilderness
ofcold hearts; that there arc those who can feel
for the troubles of others; and oh ! what is more
cheering to an aching heart than such a thought'
The desire to be loved is human nature in its
purity. It is the first impulse of the opening
heart—and it lives and breathes in the bosom of
all until the hour of death. A look of love a
word of kindness, a tear of sympathy costs us
nothing—why then withhold them from those
who would prize them as blessings winged with
the fragrant dews of heaven ? To give them
costs us nothing; but it often costs us an effort
—u silent pang at the heart, did wo but confess
it—to withhold them ; for he must indeed be a
misanthrope whose heart does not delight in go
ing forth to bless and be blessed.
The tear of sympathy never falls in vain. It
waters and fertilises the soil of the most sterile
heart, and causes it to flourish with the beauti
ful flowers of gratitude and love. And as the
summer clouds weep refreshment on the parch
ed earth and leave the skies more beautiful than
before, with tho rainbow of promise arching in
the cerulean dome, so the tear of sympathy not
only refreshes the heart on which it drops, but
it elevates and beautifies the nature of him from
whom it springs. A sympathising heart is a
spring of pure water bursting forth from lbs
mountain side. Ever pure and sweet in itself,
it carries gladness and joy on every ripple ofits
sparkling current.
A Stride or Science. —The British mining
Journal announces that there will shortly be
brought before the public anew locomotive, in
which the requirements, of either steam, fire,
air or water will be dispensed with ; its power
of traction, while effective, will be perfectly safe
and that by it, one half at least of the expense
will be saved; a stride in the application of motive
power which may well astound the world, while
its infinences must be powerful. Distant parts,
where steamships, from the expense of fuel, hare
not been able to reach, may then be reached
with facility. Should bo contemplated road
from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean,
now exciting so much interest, be ultimately
resolved upon, how invaluable would such a
motive power prove upon it. Some of the most
serious obstacles now urged, would be at once
overcoino. We live in an age which seems des
tined for the most amazing nrouross in science,
in its practical application to the arts and con
veniences of life.
CF’ The People of Louisiana are thinking of
opening a mouth for the Mississippi into Lake
Pointchartruin back of New Orleans. It is be
lieved that it would relieve the river ofits floods,
and prevent any such terrible overflows as that
oflast year. In a commercial point of view tho
project is also commended. It would open a
direct communication with the Gulf and Atlan
tic States, and render the troublesome, tedross,
and expensive navigation oftlie Mississippi use
less.
ini’ The war with China cost England about
$20,000,000. To compensate for this, England
extorted from China, under the heads of Canton
Hansom, Treaty Stipulations, Opium Claims
and Ilong Merchants’ Debts, altogether aboiil
$34,380,000 1
Behind the Age.—Among all her scarvard
looking cliffs, Spain has not a single lighthouse*
from the Pyronncs to Point Europa ; she has
railroad, no canals, teregraphs, and lately there
has been no safety for travellers on the highway-
A Lucrative Office. —The office of Fosi
Master at San Francisco is probably the most
lucrative office in the gift oftlie government
There are about J ,000 boxes, which are rented
at $2 per month, for each occupant; some ol
them being held by six or eight different individ
uals. The rents are estimated at $35,000 p cf
annum.
A Good Rule.— A Postmaster informed us
the other day, (says an exchange,) that lie made
it a rule never to request the discontinuance of
a paper if the subscriber is in arrears,and did n nl
at the same time forward the amount due.—
Should this practice generally prevail, it would
be a powerful protection to publishers. It would
have a tendency to convince delinquent subscri
bers, that by law they are responsible til 1
arrearages arc paid.
A New Rifi.f.. — P. W. Porter, of Memphi s >
has made a self-loading rifle. It has a revolving
wheel perforated by forty chambers. T° l'lS
charge one chamber loads the adjoining one.-'
This is an improvementon Colt’s revolver, a
will be of great benefit to the California ad.cn
turers.
Mr. Calhoun married in JBII Miss I
Calhoun daughter of John Ewing <
for many years United States Senator from *■ 0
Carolina. By Iter lie had seven children
sons and two daughters.
