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tions. Their existence then was enough for
their happiness and mine. When storms pre
vail and cold winds blow—when clouds cover
the heavens and gloom rests upon the earth,
then I thank God that, from this dreary world,
my darlings have been taken where tempests
never rage, and no shadow of darkness pene
trates; but when the sunshine lights up the
earth and reveals its beauty, and the music
of all animated nature .attracts us into the
open air, then comes the memory of those
whose little senses were filled with delight at
such scenes and sounds. Then I remember
them as in the grave, dark and cold and noi
some. O, no! Spring is no longer the hap
piest season of the year to me; too many
thoughts of the loved and lost are borne on its
breezes!
Original Correspondence.
NEW-YOliK LETTERS.—NO, I.
New-York, May Ist, 1848.
My Dear Sir : —ln fulfilment of my engage
ment I hasten to prepare a bulletin for the in
itial number of the Gazette ; and since my cor
respondence thus commences, with the com
mencement of your enterprise, it will not be
mal apropos for me to express to you my very
hearty sympathy therewith, and my sincere
hope that the eminent success which has al
ready greeted it, may continue to increase
with its progress. When I remember the prover
bial liberality, and the strong local attachments
and pride of Southerners and to that add the
high individual and national advantages,
which they must feel the possession of such
an organ to otler to them, I cannot, for a mo
ment, question your complete success at home)
and with the extensive and valuable material
which you will have at your command —with
the ability which you possess of employing
it to the best advantage —’the amount ol favor
which the Gazette will find abroad , may, I
think, be estimated with the same pleasing
certainty. Since, then, I confidently antici
pate that the leaves’ of your Journal will ever
flourish as bright ever-greens, sparkling with
the dew of wit and fancy, and casting a contin
ually increasing shadow, m the grateful atmos
phere whereof 1 shall long have the pleasure
ol chatting with your readers, it is but meet
that they should know in what manner I pur
pose thus to bore them.
it will then be my endeavor to clairvoy
ance them weekly to this great metropolis,
and to reveal to them its local events in all
their varieties of occurrence. I shall drag
them, with me, to our reunions, political, re
ligious, literary, artistic and social ; where
they may hear the varied gossip of the day,
and catch the living manners as they rise.—
) shall sit by them on the sofas of the Opera;
and, by way of a joke, occasionally crack a
pea-nut with them in the “ Bowery,” Chat
ham, 1 or “Olympic.” On Sunday w r e will lis
ten to organ and eloquence, in our proud goth
ic temples, where people go to heaven on
damask and velvet; or we will dodge the
rain-drops under the tents of the Millerites,
where, despite all their efforts, their travels
are still restrained to this sublunary sphere.
W e will pour out our encomiums, as we trudge
along, upon the dawning convenience and
beauty of the Russ pavement, or we will —as
all good Gothamites do—curse the aldermanic
fllth in other quarters. We will occasionally
look at the weather, and never fail to keep an
eye upon the changes of fashion, as we course
Broadway. We will discuss Smith's new
book, Brown’s singular invention, Jones’
great picture, the burning of poor Thomp
son’s house and the melancholy accident and
fate of Jenkins.
In short I shall endeavor to keep you au
l ourant of all our city doings and sayings. I
ani, as you know, a bachelor, and have of
course, full privilege to run hither and thither,
b\ day or by night, as needs must be, to cull
these varied flowers. Nothing will escape
It IITF G& IB &IS ¥ ®AUISIT fS ♦
me, or receive only partial attention. I am
decidedly Catholic in my taste; am a politi
cian, but of no party; a Christian, but of no
sect; a good fellow, but not one of the b'hoys.
1 once visited Mr. Polk, and have shaken
hands with Mr. Clay. 1 have a decided taste
for “Josephus,” and read the “Wandering
Jew,” with infinite gusto. I contribute to the
Missionary Society, and am au-fait in the
Polka. I sincerely hope that the apostle of
Temperance, Father Matthew, will no longer
continue to throw cold water upon the expec
tations of his friends to see him in America,
but will faithfully keep his ‘new pledge,’ to
come in September next —at the same time
1 have no serious objection to join any well
meaning gentleman, of good moral character,
in a bumper of sparkling champaigne to the
venerable tee-totaller’s health and success.
Such, then, am I, and such will be the na
ture and tone of my gossip with the readers
of the Gazette. Those who approve will
say “ aye!”—contrary—“ no!”—carried!
But, as I was about to remark when this
exordium occurred to me, the chit-chat which
now occupies the public lip here, as every
where in the civilized world, is the progress
of the revolutionary movement in Europe.—
All other themes are swallowed up in aston
ishment at the mighty things already accom
plished, and in speculations upon the ultimate
result. Various demonstrations of sympathy
have taken place and are still occurring here.
Public meetings of the people of all nations
have been held, and patriotic resolutions pass
ed. The other evening a grand ball came oft’
at the Park Theatre, on which occasion a
Cap of Jfiberty was presented, through the
French Consul general, to the people of Paris.
Societies for the promulgation of the demo
cratic principle abroad, have been organized
among the natives, resident here, of all the
continental States; and old Ireland has sons
amongst us ready to aid their brothers at
home, in striking for freedom and potatoes. —
There is a vast amount of humbug in all this
fermentation, since the greater portion of the
sympathisers are moved only by the novelty
of the thing, and would hurrah equally loud
at the very reverse intelligence, if it were as
stirring and wondrous. Before the arrival
of the steamer “America,” on Saturday
last, the public were anticipating astounding
news from England. And when intel
ligence arrived tha.t all was happily sensible
and quiet in the fast-anchor’d isle, people im
agined that they were shockingly swindled
by Fate, in the good lady’s omission to grati
fy their reasonable expectations to hear of the
triumphant march of ten or sundry more mil
lions of Chartists upon London—the fall of
that proud capital—the dethronement of Queen
Vic. and the chipping off of her fair head, at
the same blow as that which ‘ did’ Prince Al
bert. Had this trilling news arrived, nothing
better could have been asked for, by the next
steamer, than the information, that the fallen
noddles had been successfully reset, and Her
Majesty, again in delicate health, in her pal
ace.
Upon the arrival of the “ America” it was
whispered about that Louis Philippe was
among her passengers—and I heard anew s
boy, in selling the “ Extras,” throw out this
intimation, hut it was only in a very faint
and hesitating key, for even news-boys are
known occasionally to possess some slight
signs of conscience.
Before I dismiss the European Revolution,
to speak of an important municipal one, I
must mention the droll effect presented to the
eye, at the great public meeting held some
time ago in the Park, to sympathise with the
French. At one moment you were in Germa
ny, listening to a barbarous rigmarole, which
no one could even hear but the speaker;
moving on to another stand, Jonathan was
laying down the patriotic, equally incompre
hensible, in the tremendous din and confusion
of tongues; at another step you were among
the French, listening to the Marseillaise,
which, with the accompaniment of Yankee
Doodle, Star Spangled Banner, and the Rails
des Vache, was most strangely comical I as
sure you. I shouted Vive la liepublique!
in my sleeve, and departed.
The municipal revolution, to which I just
referred, is the progress now making in the in
troduction of the Russ pavement in our streets.
The part of Broadway fronting Stewart’s,
which was laid two years ago, has proved
so excellent and so durable that it will doubt
less be, in due time, very generally used
throughout the city. Those portions of Ful
ton and Nassau streets, opposite the offices of
the “ Herald” and “ Sun,” are just paved in
this manner; and Air. Russ is now executing
a contract ior that part of Broadway between
Chambers st. and the Museum, along the line
of the Park. He has already barricaded sev
eral blocks and is busy night and day with
eighty hands in the work. The cost for this
job, about five short blocks, will he thirty
thousand dollars.
This is the period for the annual changes
of residence among Gothamites, and thous
ands are now transporting bag and baggage
to new homes, to be removed again twelve
months hence. Such a demand exists here
always about May-day for all sorts of drays
and carts, that the charge for the transporta
tion of a load from house to house varies
from three to five dollars.
Our annual Exhibitions of the Fine Arts
are now all open. The National Academy
of Design displays nearly four hundred works,
in painting and statuary. The exhibition of
the landscapes of the late Thos. Cole is daily
crowded at the Art-Union Gallery. Air. Bry
ant will deliver an oration this week before the
National Academy, at the Church of the Ales
siah, upon the life and character of this great
and lamented Artist. The Art-Union Gallery
will reopen with its own pictures, on the 15th
inst. Last year the income of this popular
Institution was nearly fifty thousand dollars ;
and it is expected that it will, this season, he
nearer to one hundred thousand. In 1847 it
distributed, to its members, nearly three hun
dred valuable paintings, twenty thousand
engravings and two hundred and fifty bronze
and silver medals—besides providing the pub
lic with a free Gallery of art, always accessi
ble, and continually varying in its attractions.
Besides these exhibitions, the “New York Gal
lery of the Fine Arts” is open in the Park—a
valuable collection of undoubted works of
the old Alasters—in the Lyceum building;
and an exhibition of paintings and statuary
by the celebrated Count D’Orsay—among
them a full-length equestrian portrait of Queen
Victoria.
In the Musical world, the “ Times” this
week commences its second volume under
most favorable auspices. Biscaccianti has giv
en a concert at the Tabernacle, which was
but indifferently attended. Antherson is get
ting up an entertainment at the Society Libra
ry. The Italian Opera is at present suspen
ded, but efforts are being made to complete
the promised season, and to give the twenty
representations yet due to subscribers. I
have nothing remarkable to record of the
Drama. The Park is closed, and Collins is
playing an engagement at the Broadway.—
Samuel Lover lias been amusing us lately
with his “ Irish evenings,” at the Society Li
brary.
It will, perhaps, be expected that I should
mention some casualty, by way of fulfilment
of my promise, in regard to Jenkins : hut, un
fortunately, I have, at this moment, no defi
nite recollections ot any discarded lover hav
ing shot himself, or jumped from the dock,
within the past week. On second thoughts,
though, Ido recall a case in point—a very
singular case. Stepping into an Oyster Sa
loon the other evening, I joined a Coroner’s
inquest over the dead body of a mouse, killed
by an oyster! as was palpably evident—the
head of the victim being still enclosed between
the shells of the accused! The unfortunate
mouse, observing the open oyster, had the fa
tal curiosity and temerity to pop his head in T
and the oyster, startled by this singular intru
sion, instantly shut up! A worthy example,
by the way, which I will as quickly follow.
Ever thine, Flit.
<tl)c Qfckctic of tl'it.
BLACK, WHITE*.AND BROWN.
BY THOMAS HOOD.
All at once Aliss Morbid left off sugar.
She did not resign it as some persons lav
down their carriage—the full-bodied familv
coach dwindling into a chariot, next into a fly,
and then into a sedan chair. She did not
shade it oft artistically, like certain household
economists, from white to whitey brown,
brown, dark-brown, and so on to none at all.
She left it off, as one might leave off walking
on the top of a house, or or. a slide, or on a
plank with a further end to it—that is to say.
slapdash, all at once without a moment’s warn
ing. She gave it up, to speak appropriately,
in the lump. She dropped it, —as Corporal
Trim let fall his hat, —dab. It vanished, as
the French say, toot sweet. From the 3()th of
November, 1830, not an ounce of sugar, to
use Aiiss Alorhid’s own expression, “ever
darkened her doors.”
The truth was, she had been present the
day before at an Anti-Slavery Meeting; and
had listened to a lecturing Abolitionist, who
had drawn her sweet tooth, root and branch,
out of her head. Thenceforth sugar, or as
she called it, “ shugger,” was no longer white
or brown, in her eyes, but red, blood-red—an
abomination, to indulge in which would con
vert a professing Christian into a practical
Cannibal. Accordingly she made a vow, un
der the influence of moist eyes and refined
feelings, that the sanguinary article should
never more enter her lips or her house; and
this petty parody of the famous Berlin De
cree against our Colonial produce was rigidly
enforced. However others might counten
ance the practice of the Slave Owners by con
suming “ shugger,” she was resolved for her
own part, that “no sable son of Africa should
ever rise up against her out of a cup of tea.”
In the meantime, the cook and house-maid
grumbled in concert at the prohibition: they
naturally thought it very hard to be deprived
of a luxury which they enjoyed at their own
proper cost; and at last only consented to re
main in her service, on condition that the pri
vation should be handsomely considered in
their wages. With the hope of being simi
larly remembered in her will, the poor rela
tions of Aliss Morbid continued to drink tin*
“ warm without,” which she administered to
them every Sunday, under the name of Tea:
and Hogarth would have desired no better
subject for a picture than was presented b\
their physiognomies. Some pursed up their
lips, as if resolved that the nauseous bever
age should never enter them; others com
pressed their mouths as if to prevent it from
rushing out again. One took it mincingly, in
sips,'—another gulped it down in desperation,
—a third, in a fit of absence, continued to stir
very superfluously with his spoon; and there
was one shrewd old gentleman, who by a
little dexterous by-play, used to bestow the
favor of his small souchong on a sick gera
nium. Now and then an astonished stranger
would retain a half cupful of the black dose
in his mouth, and stare round at his fellow
guests, as if tacitly putting to them the very
question of Mathew’s Yorkshireman in the
mail-coach —“ Coompany! oop or doon ?”
The greatest sufferers, however, were Miss
Morbid’s two nephews, still in the morning of
their youth, and, hoy-like, far more inclined
to “sip the sweets” than to “hail the dawn.”
They had formerly looked on their Aunt’s
house as peculiarly a Dulce Domum. Prior
to her sudden conversion she had been famous
for the manufacture of a sort of hard-bake,
commonly called Toffy or Taffy,—but now.
alas! “Taffy was not at home,” and there
was nothing else to invite a call. Currant
tart is tart indeed without sugar; and as for
the green gooseberries, they always tasted, as
the young gentlemen affirmed, “like a quar
of berries sharpened to a pint.” In short, it
always required six penny-worth of lollipops
and bulls-eyes, a lick of honey, a dip of trea
cle, and a pick at a grocer’s hogshead, to sweet
en a visit to Aunt Alorbid’s.
To tell the truth, her own temper soured a
a little under the prohibition. She could no*
persuade the sugar-eaters that they were vam
pyres;—instead of practicing or even admir
ing her self-denial, they laughed at it; anc
one wicked wag even compared her, in allu
sion to her acerbity and her privation, to a
crab without the nippers. She persevered not-
3