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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.