Newspaper Page Text
[From the N. Y. Journal of Cwnmtm.]
The Crj-atal Palace
Four hundred men are constantly employed
on this stupendous structure, which now attracts
a large share of public attention, and the work is
progressing rapidly. This week, the number of
workmen is to be still further increased. We
learn from Mr. J. E. Detmold, Superintending
Engineer.that there is no doubt but that all of the
main portion of the building will be complete by
the first of June. With the exception of the dome
the iron work of this portion is now verv near
completion, and the Crystal Palace begins to de
velop, in itsstately proportions, the design ori
ginally conceived by its projector. The interior
presents a labyrinth of pillars, rods, ropes and
timbers, with men thinkly scattered, and ma
king the air resound with the clatter, clang and
creaking of their implements. Curious visitors
are excluded by a wooded inclosure, with gate
keepers, but the vicinity is daily visited by in
creasing numbers. The summit ot the Reser
voir is the favorite look-out place. On Thurs
day last, it is estimated, not less than 5,000 per
sons visited the Reservoir to avail themselves of
the prospect there afforded. A large number of
strangers are alre dy attracted to the city by the
presence ot the palace.
The entire building is ready to be roofed, ex
cepting the dome ; the glazing of the first story
is nearly finished, and that of the second has
been commenced; the roof of bne section has
been put on and the floor of the second story
has been laid as far as the roofing extends. The
dome, which is 100 feet in diameter, will Ire
supported by 24 iron columns Immediately
over these is placed an iron trussing, made to
sustain a massive cast iron bed-plate, on which
rest the 22 ribs of the dome. The trussing and
bed-plate are now being adjusted, and but a few
days, perhaps a week, will be required to put
the dome in place, after these are arranger!.—
This done, the main floor will be speedily laid
down, the arrangement of goods commence, and
the aspect of things be materially changed. The
sides of the dome will display 32 escutcheons;
in colored glass, representing the United States
coat of arms, and those ot other nations.
The floor timbers and roof boards are the only
par's that will be of wood, and to render loss
from fire impossible, there are sixteen hydrants
on the lower floor and the same number above.
Ti e qnanti'v of iron used in the construction of
the whole building will be nearly 1.400 tons.
The cast iron girders, or beams, supporting the
floor timbers, have each been tested tor the sup
port of 15 tons, bnt are capable of supporting 35
tons without breaking. The greatest weight
that can be put on any one of them is seven tons.
The floor-boards are put together with small
crevices to facilitate sweeping. There will be
four spacious entrances to the building, each hav
ing two flight of iron stairs leading to the galle
ries The stairs arealready in their place. The
galleries, which are 54 feet wide, contain 62.000
square feet, or about one acre and a halt; and
She ground floor, 111.000 square feet, or about
two acres and a half— miking a total area of
>73 000 .square feet, or nearly four acres.
rhe extreme length of the structure, or ot
each of the arched naves forming the transverse
sections ot the cross, is 365 feet; its height from
the ground to the crown of the area, is 67 feet,
ortotne crown of the dome 118 teet, and to the
crowa of the lantern surmounting the dome
149 feet. Ventilation is amply provided tor in
every part. On each floor there are 372 cast
iron ventilators arranged to admit or exclude
air. as may be desired, besides ventilators near
the roof oh every side.
The glass used is made to appear as if ground,
by a peculiar process, to subdue the light. It is
covered with a vitreous enameling, which is ap
plied in the form ot a paste and made to adhere
to the glass when in a fused state. This obvi
ates the use of a cloth covering, such as was
used on the London palace.
The construction of the New A ork Pa.ace re
flects honor on Mr. Detmold who devised and
execu'ed the plans on which it is built. In
point of svmmetry.it is considered as surpassing
its London progenitor. As the various and
almost innumerable parts were made in a halt
do-ren different States, employing eight diflerent
foundries, it is no easy matter to insure accu
racy in their constructron. so that al! shall ex
actly fill the place for which they were designed.
Notwithstanding this difficulty, comparatively
little detention has been experienced from this
wurre The Palace will cost about 8300,000
A great quantity of goods designed for exhi
bition. have already arrived from abroad, and are
stored in the U. S. bonded warehouses. Over
4.000 applications from exhibitors have been re
ceived from this country alone, while those from
Europe number about 3 0"0. of which 700 are
from England. 800 from Germany, and 50p Irom
France. We learn that so restricted are the
Jimi's available for exhibitors compared with
the demand, that it has been determined to con
struct other buildings without the Palace, as a
means of relief. The boilers with which to
drive the machinery, are six in number, and
forty teet in length, placed in a building distinct
from the Palace. The latter will be inclosed
with a suitable railing.
The Observatory, large Telescope, fre —A mush
room city has sprung up in the neighborhood of
the palace, comprising about a dozen hotels of
various descriptions, catch penny shows, a great
number of temporary wooden structures intend
ed for refreshment saloons,stores, drinking-shops,
&c besides dwellings intended for boarding
houses. For such as are eligibly situated, the
most extravagant rents are readily obtained.
One small wooden structure, 20 by 30 feet, rents
for SI.OOO per annum ; but the occupant receives
more than this amount by leasing out his stoop
and the protection of his awning for apple and
soda stands. .
The mot conspicuous object, aside from the
Palace, is the “ Latting Observatory,” so called
from the name of its projector. It will be 75
feet diameter at the base, and 350 feet in height,
built of timber, bolted in the strongest manner.
The Grand Jury have pronounced it perfectly
secure. At tbe distances ot about 100, 200 and
300 fest from tbe base will be landings, with
look-out places, to which passengers will be ele
vated by a s’earn car. At the highest will be
placed a telescope ot great power, and which,
we are informed, will be the largest in the coun
try. with a 16 inch glass, ora glass one inch lar
ger in diameter than the Cambridge Telescope.
The glass is being manufactured in Europe, and
untiTthat is completed a ten inch glass will be
used The instrument will cost about $22,000.
At the lower landings tbe vision will be aided
by achromatic telescopes, with four inch open
ings The view commanded will be very ex
tensive. From tbe second landing tbe ascent
will be by means of a spiral stairway Mr.
Barnum is not connected with this enterprise,
as has been, reported. The Oservatory will cost
abrut $75,000.
N-xt to this may be mentioned a machine
with long revolving arms, to the ends of which
are attached large wooden boxes. It is proposed
to whirl people around in these boxes, elevating
them eighty feet from the ground. Terms, “one
shilling for three turns, or sixpence for one.”
Close by is a circular railroad, inclosed in a
wooden building, and covered with coayass.—
Peop'e tvi 1 here be turned around till satisfied.
At a short distance, 1* Corporal Thompson’s
large circus, nearly completed ; also, one or two
panoramic exhibitions, a large ice house, &c.—
The American flag is seen displayed from most
of these structures. A golden harvest is antici
pated.
Sunday in Havana.
Tis Sunday. I have taken my first walk in
Havana. I find the stores open, and groups of
Spaniards are in the doorways and at the cor
ners of tbe streets. Here are one and another, and
many parties, playing cards—some the game of
whist, and others some other game. Here and
there they are playing checks and dominos, all
Upon wide spread tables, barrel tops, boxes, &c.,
and either in open view in-doors, or on tbe cor
ners of the streets. The players marvel more at
my gaze of astonishment than I, at their irre
verence for tbe Sabbath. They would call
me bigoted and superstitious, arei J call them
heathenish, frivolous and unchristian. They
are both light-headed and light-hearted, but.
nevertheless, very keen at * bargain. But, mind
you, mass has been said—not tbe mass of an
American Catholic Church whicti. perchance,
would occupy one or two hours, and present,
even to Protestant eyes. so«i« points of true
solemnity—but a military mass, which lasts
some twenty minutes, and a mass lor the popple,
which continues ten or twelve. There is sup
posed to be unction enough in their service, with
occasional confessions made and occasions! in
dulgences purchased, to last one for the day or
week.
But not only are tbe stores opened, but music
and drinking, revel and frolic reign within.
There are parties of from three to a dozen sit
ting around tbe tables and drinking their bot
tles of red Catalonian w'ines—wines, by the
way, except in greater variety, which make the
fine breakfast and dinner beverage of all Hoana
hotels. Coffee comes afterwards, but the wine
always goes before, and nearly everybody Irinks
those light wines, and seems to be refreshed by
them, while of stronger drinks, I have seen none
here, except in tbe decanters of what at home
are called the bar-rooms and “ gr<.g®«rje»” of the
city. And among the many thousands of Span
iards, Creoles, Quadroons and Negroes I nave
seen at the masked balls, the bull fights, and
other festival gatherings, there not been one
drunken man in the multitude of people.
Washington Racks.—Some Democrat, with
a jovial spirit, and a sharp sense or the ridicu
lous. writes from Washington to the Newbury
port (Mass) Union. He laughs at the endless
crowd of office hunter, gives a graphic descrip
tion of the hungry customers who haunt the At
torney General’s office, and narrates the follow
ing incidents:
The other day a short fat gentleman, from
Essex Sou’h. attempted to stop Gen. Cushing as
fae was starting for another part of the city ou
epeeial business. This is the story, all told:
JpjJirant.— “Gen. Cushing!”
Gen. C.— “Ah! glad to see you—understand
the Wi'?ole matter —have the greatest respect for
you—can t stop bow. Good morning.”
•Applicant.- — “ Justoae moment—l want to see
you very much. ”
Gen. C— “ Shall b? back U oJf an hour; or
you must go with me.” running.
The applicant, an eld stager, declares Ire w,.'.'
go with him, and out they shoot from the back
door, over the gardens, the fat man panting and
trying »o talk, and the Attorney General strik
ing a bee-line for bis destination. At last the
asthmatic catches a breath, and cries out, " Can’t
stand this any longer; must give up!” « Sorry
to lose your company,” replies the General ;“but
business is pressing ” The man holds a post
gasps two or three times, a terrible night suc
ceeds, anil he declares that lie will not be found
on the turf again pitted against such mettle.
Rapid TzLKun*riiiNO.—The Canada’s news
which lef' New Fork, at half-past two o’clock
on the 28’h ult, readied New Orleans at quarter
past two, actually gaining quarter ot an hour
on time. i
Isthmus of Darien.
The following is from the London Times.
Great interest attaches at present to the pro
posals brought forward for cutting a ship canal
across the Isthmus which separates North and
South America. The routes via Nicaragua and
the Isthmus of Darien are the two to which pub
lic attention has been chiefly directed; but it
has long been seen that the former route could
never be carried out, as such a canal, instead of
costing £4.000,000, would, as shown by the sur
veys of eminent English engineers, involve an
expenditure of at least £11,000,000 sterling, and
would probably then be inefficient. The Nica
ragua project seeming to prove abortive, there is
more disposition to discuss the merits of the Da
rien route. Subjoined is a resume of the diffi
culties to be overcome in each case, as stated by
the fatties interested in the last-named route:
Comparative table ot tbe engineering features
of the Nicaragua and the Darien proposed ship
canal routes, compiled from reliable maps and
charts.
Nicaragua. I Darikn.
Harbors— San Juan Caledonia Bay, Port,
del Norte, on the At lEsconees and the Chan
lan tic, of insufficient I nel of Sassardi, ou tbe
capacity and depth ot Atlantic side, have an
water. Brito, on the extent of elevon miles
Pacific, has no title,of safe anchorage in all
whatever to tho name cl (winds, nnd great depth of
harbor. i water The Gulf of
San Miguel, on the Pa
cific side would hold
tho shipping of tho
world.
Locks Necessary.— No looks necessary.
Fourteen looks on tho
Atlantic sido from San
Juan to tho rapids ot;
Cast.llo on Toro, on the[
lake, and fourteen on the.
Pacific side, from the
lake to Brito.
Distance across, onoi
hundred and ninety-four Distance across, thir
miles. ' ty-nine miles.
Summit level of lake, Gro .test depth of ent
one hundred and twenty-ting necessary, one hun
eight feet, to bo looked dred and fifty feet, for
upto on both sides. scarcely two miles.
Length of canal nee- Canal to bo ent 25 to
cssarv 47 miles; length 30 miles. No dredging
of river to bo deepen- or deepening of river nec
-1 ed and dredged, 9 miles, ossary.
] Total length of work to
i be done, 138 miles.
Artificial harbors, No such works nec-
I peirs, embankments neo sary—nothing whatever
essary at ea h end of the to bo done but a simple
i lako.'tho approach to the out.
] shores of which is im-
I practicable, owing to
I the shoals and sand
] banks.
Could rot bo made Can bo made naviga
' navigable for largo ships, blc for ships ofthegreat-
I say of 1,000 tons burth- eit draught of water.
; en.
Deputed territorial Concessions from N.
j boundaries, \ concessions Grenada—rocognizodjby
yin litigatio.v failed in all govern™ ont.-. unox
fformin*.. "oS-p-n,. ,-ireU terms of eno year,
withm which they are
required by the conces
sion and by tho Clayton
and Btilwcr treaty to
commence opertations
unexpired company
formed.
! Volcanoes in a state No Volcanoes within
lof activity along tho some hundreds of miles.
route.
Earthquakes .n tho None have ever boon
neighborhood. known to have occurred.
Charter of incorpora-l Company provision
tion frem the State of N ’ally registered, and will
York infringed. | receive a royal charter of
incorporation.
Depth originally 17] Depth 30 feet.
feet, and thon only 12
feet.
] Tornadoes and papa- Coasts peculiarly ex
gayors, or violent hurri crept from storms nnd
canes, on tho coasts. hurricanes. Seo pilot
books and Captain Fitz
roy.
I Probable time neces ] Transit can be effected
] sary for transit from son in six to eight hours.
to sea, through so many!
• locks, six days.
A Wondeifu' Cave in Perry County, Tenn.
A correpondent of the Vemphis Eagle and
Enquirer gives an account of a subterranean ca
vern some three or four miles south of the vil
lage of Linden, in Perry county, Tenn., which
he recently visited. He says :
The company having met together, and light
ing candles, (for we had no torches suitable,) we
entered the cave through a small aperture, and
descended several feet over a narrow, rugged
way. We proceeded some distance, viewing on
either side the various curiosities of nature. The
first that attracted our attention was a large
light, las though a great ways off.) resembling
that of a lighted torch. As we approached we
were astonished to find instead of torches, a
large opening from above, admitting rays of
light from the “ upper air” down into this dark
dungeon of nature. We stood fora while view
ing through this opening the magnificence of
the heavens, and meditating upon the great
works of God. Above, were all the beauties of
the heavens, the productive soil yielding its ve
getation ; the beautiful trees adorning the hills
and valleys; while below was an extensive
subterranean hall, formed with the utmost regu
larity ; ceiled over head with a perfectly smooth
surface; on one side a flush stream of water
which runs the whole length of the cave, rip-
I pling o’er its pebbly bottom with the harmony
( ol music.
Being somewhat satisfied with our examina
tion of this apartment—our hearts glowing with
wonder, love and praise to the Great Architect—
we moved slowly, pnd rather pensively, along
this solitary mansion, through devious wiles of
incognita loca in quest of new discoveries.
The discoveries we made were an almost infi
nite number of stalactites, which had been form-
I ed by the continued dripping of the water, and
resembling, in size and appearance, various bo
] dies. Among thoso was the most beautiiul bee
-1 hive, both for size and construction, I ever be
j held It was exactly in the centre of a smooth
piece of limestone, and two and a half feet
square. This hive is large in'proportion to the
square block, tapering from the base regularly
tc the height of three or four feet.
But the most interesting part of this cave is
tbe ball room, which is about three hundred
I yards In m the entrance. It really appeared as if
I nature, in her wild and playful moments, had
j intended to mock the curiosities of art. Here
I the astonished beholder is ahown the grandest
and most magnificent suite of rooms the eyes
ever beheld, formed on each side with the utmost
regularity, ceiled over head with a smooth blue
limestone surface, and the floor, whitened with
saltpetre, and as level ■■ s a mirror.
The name “ Ball Room” was given to this
apartment Irom the fact that the citizens of Per
ry, during the Christmas holidays, gave a ball
at this place in this room, which was attended
by quite a number of belles and beauxs for miles
around. This is the first subterranean dance, I
presume, on record.
After inscribing our names on the wall, among
hundreds of other curious explorers, we retired
from those dark but splendid abodes, determined
at some future time to explore more fully this
psodigy of nature.
IFrom the New York Herald.]
The DominUaj? Republic.
The installation of the new President, San
tana, had taken place with great solemnity, and
in the midst oflively pubic rejoicings. On con
cluding tbe period of his magistracy, Senor
Baez read to the Chambers a long message, in
which he described as prosperous the general
situation of the country, and proposed, as the
wisest doctrines, to seek in the protection of
European powers that point of support necessary
for their nascent state of society.
The fol'owing paragraphs, which we translate
from the message of Senor Baez, place this doc
trine in a clear light, and show also the senti
ment of cordiality which prevails in the republic
towards Spain, and which the recent visit of
the Spanish war-steamer Isabel II bad tended
not a little to strengthen. Senor Baez holds the
following language in his message :
Jhe suggestions of evil ambition, which re
spect no acquired rights whatever may be their
titles, have proaupgd in these latter years just
cause of inquietude to the authorities and peace
able inhabitants of the island of Cuba- in past
qjpnths, also, insidious projects of an alarming
disposiiicn, founded on our immigration law,
have been deriOMUfed by the press. With this
motive, in protection of O’gr independence, and
with t.he decided purpose of preventing whatev
er hostile ent soever to the injury of the Spanish
nation, energetic measures were taken to frus
trate evfry spurious plan which might attempt
to shelter its foundation jn this republic. The
situation of the government was a difficult one
in dictating restrictive orders with respect to
the entry of foreigners into the country ; but be
what might tbe consequence of acting in such a
delicate matter, or whether the powers with
whom treaties were stipulated should compre
hend or not the true tendencies of such meas
ures, up to the present time the government has
received nothing but marks of approbation.
Besides this saving idea, comes another of not
lest consequence—that of insisting on the me
diation of the two great and powerful nations
who have always been careful of our conserva
tion. Strong proofs have been, up to the present
time, gij'en of the nobleness of the views of
France and Mnglgnd, and to no other cause—
thanks to the efficacy of protection we owe
it—that there has not been on Ui« a pe
riodical effusion of blood.
In my former message I had occasion to con
gratulate myself and the legislature for the im
mense authority which the French people had
confided to the most generous friend of our
young republic—Prince Louis Napoleon. To
day, the empire re-established, that authority
remains in his hands jn a permanent manner;
and through it prance will bold that lofty influ
ence in the world to which hey refinement and
bar power give her incontestable rights. From
the moment in which we proclaimed our inde
pendence, shaking off Haytien domination,
France took the initiative in procuring for us
peace—in regulating the foreign policy. She
terminated at once the question which occasion
ed meh losses to the two peoples who divide in
this island dominion and sovereignty.
International relatione, generally well culti
vated, will be always a profuse source of benefits
*or those countries which, as ours, found on peri
’ ' -migration their hopes of pr igress. They
T : n the way of obtaining the mate
will place us .. '’-h our country is suscepti-
rial advantages of w,,..„ .. nnd it , ingu | ar
ole, by the nature of its ferrlto,, . r~ r the
situation, and to them we will he debtors ...
advantages in moral order, which are immedi
ately derived from connexion with civilized
people.
1 his purpose is fulfilled by inculcating the ne
cessity of being explicit in the manifestation of
our friendly and sincere desires towards the an
cient metropolis. Spaniardsall, by origin or by
education, having the same customs, the same
religion, the same language—we see always in
the natives of the peninsula, our brothers and
our friends, the companions of the achievements
which, in other times, illustrated these territo
ries, presenting from that time forth the portents
of which the Spanish American race was capa
ble. Be what may be the motive which makes
us differ, we must not attribute it to hostile
measures. Providence, in preserving us from
civil war, was pleased to leave intact the senti
ments of reciprocal affection between these two
people. Spain neither opposed by force the po
litical modifications which were wrought in this
portion of her dominions, nor was it necessary,
in effecting this, to shed the blood of our breth
ren. Thus, then, our duties already prescribed,
we can call for peace at the gates ot the metrop
olis, certain of meeting a sincere reception.
By an act of Congress, the commerce with
Spain ought, in my opinion, to begin already to
calculate on tbe same freedom as with tbe most
favored nation ; and, besides, from our own sense
of propriety, it would be right to recognise as a
national debt the amount of losses which the
Spanish residents of St. Domingo sustained by
the confiscation of property decreed by the Hay
tien government, reserving to ourselves the right
of exacting from the latter tbe corresponding
compensation at the definitive regulation ol
peace.
Romantic Marriage in Brooklyn under My.te
rious Circumstance*.
One of the most singular and mysterious oc
currences that has taken place in Brooklyn
for a long time, occurred on Sunday night tw o
weeks ago, and it is so very romantic that the
relation forms quite an item. It appears from
the statements generally made, that the Kev.
Mr. Fox, of the Methodist Church in Sands
street, Brooklyn, was waited upon on Sunday
evening, after service, and requested by an
aged man, dressed very respectably, to accom
pany him to perfom tbe rite of matrimony in a
house on Main street. The minister, who is a
good and knd gentleman, consented to obey
the call of the old man.and followed him to an
old dilapidated frame house on Main street,
near Prospect street, before which he stopped,
and then opened a door. On entering, the
minister found it to be very dark, and he asked
the old man to conduct him, as they were
commencing to ascend the dark stairs. He
took hold of his hand carefully, and “then led
the minister up several flights of stairs, till at
length they came to a door at which he knock
ed distinctly, and it was immediately opened.
On the entrance of the minister, he observed,
by the glimmer of a small chamber lamp, that
the room was furnished with a three legged stool,
an old rickety table upon which stood a tin lull
of pork and beans, and two or three other small
articles. In this room was a gentleman, dressed
in naval uniform, and he paced the room con
tinually backwards and forwards, in an apparent
state of great agitation. At the request of the
old man, the minister stool still fora moment,
and while contemplating the misery ol the
scene before him he was, startled by a rap at the
door on the further side of the room, but so
dark was its location that he had not before per
ceived it. He then heard the voice ot the old
man in gruff and unkind tones call out to, some
one in the room, “ Wench, open the door and
immediately it was opened and a female voice
replied, “ I am not ready, as my dress is not
fixed.” The old man then went to a closet m
the room first entered, and took out a white
muslin dress, of fashionable make, and this he
handed through the door to the person inside.
A stillness followed, and the old man looked
mute and pensive, while the naval officer walk
ed still agitated backwards and forwaids across
the room, all the time avoiding the minister,
and never once turning his face towards him.
Shortly the person inside announced, that all
w’as ready, and the minister was introduced in
to the interior room, where he found a scene
of desolation and a picture of wretchedness
that astounded him. The room was furnished
with one chair, an old bed, covered with fine
sheets and course coverlids, and a jug placed
on the mantle-shelf over a fire-place, in which
was standing a candle, burning dimly to enliven
the darkness of the poor apartment. In the cen
tre of the room was a beautiful young female, of
perfect formation and magnificent appearance,
dressed in a muslin dress of white, from which
her features were impressed indelibly on the
mind of the minister. She was far advanced in
pregnancy, and appeared to have just then, risen
from her couch and prepared herself for the mat
rimonial event that was contemplated, lhe
old man desired the reverend gentleman to per
form the ceremony and unite the beautiiul fe
male to himself, and as he hesitated, he urged
compliance immediately. At this time the na
val officer was still heard pacing the room, and
the same perturbation was observable in the
tread as before. The minister not knowing
what course to take, united the old man to the
young lady, and during the ceremony they look
ed at each other fiercely and not as if it was a
voluntary arrangement of their own, but more
like a forced marriage, for the purpose of meet
ing circumstances. After the ceremony was
performed the reverend gentleman gave a cer
tificate of the marriage, and the old man present
ed him with $2 as a marriage fee, and at
the same time asked him if he could find his way
down. He replied that it would be better for
the gentleman to give him a light, but this he
refused, and immediately led him down stairs in
the dark, and placed him on the street.
For some days the reverened gentleman kept
the matter a secret, hoping that something
would turn up to give him an opportunity to
make use ot his information, but as all kept
still, he made it known a few days ago, and it
is now the general talk. The mystery about
the matter is so great that parties are endeavor
ing to fathom it, without success though, up
to the present time. It is supposed that the
young lady was some unfortunate, stolen from
home, and persuaded to marry this old man to
be made miserable for life, to avoid her shame,
and please the naval officer who W’as the sup
posed cause ot her misfortunes. The occur
rence is creating quite an excitement in the
locality where it took place.— Brooklyn Journal.
Somebody in my Bed.
BY W. J. JONES, ESQ., OF HARRISBURG, FA.
“ I believe, Captain,” said the doctor, “ I never
told you my adventure with a woman at my
bonding house’, when I was attending the lec
tures ”
“ No. let’s have it,” replied a short, flabby fat
man about fifty, with nervous temperament, and
a very red face.
“ I boarded at a house in which there were no
females except tbe landlady and an old colored
cook—”
The captain byway of requesting him to go
on said. “ Well 1”
“ I often felt the want of female society to sof
ten the severe labors of deep study, and dispel
the ennui to which I was subject—”
“ Well 1”
“ But as I feared that forming acquaintance
with the ladies might interfere with my studies,
I avoided them all—”
“ Well 1”
“ One evening, after listening to a long lecture
on physical anatomy, and after dissecting a large
negro, fatigued in body and mind, I went to my
lodgings—”
“ Well!”
“ I went into the hall, took a large lamp and
went directly into the room, it being then after
1 o’clock— ’’
“Well!”
“ I placed the light upon the table, and com
menced undressing. I hardly got my coat off
when my attention was attracted to a frock and
a quantity of petticoats lying on a chair near
the bed—”
“ Well!’’
“And a pair of beautiful small shoes and
stockings on the floor. Os course I thought it
strange and was about to retire—but then I
thought as it was my room I had at least a right
to know who was in my bed—”
“ Exactly so.” said the captain and “ well 1”
“So I took the light, went softly to the bed,
and with a trembling hand drew aside the cur
tain. Heavens, what a sight! A young girl—
-1 should say an angel—of about eighteen, was
in there asleep—”
“ Well!!!”
“ As I gazed upon her, I thought I had never
witnessed anything more beautiful. From un
derneath a little night-cap, revealing the snow
in whiteness, fell a stray ringlet over a neck and
shoulders of alabaster—”
“ V/ell 11!” said the excited captain.
“Never did I Iqok upon a bust more perfectly
formed. I took hold of tug cpverlid and soft
ly pulled it down—
“ Well!'” said the captain,“make haste.”
“ She had on a night dress, buttoned up before,
but softly I opened the first two buttons—”
“ Well 11!” said the captain, “how now ?”
“And then,ye gods! what a sight to gaze
upon—a Hebe—pshaw, words fail 1 Just
then—”
“ WELL •' 11” said the captain, “lam in sus
pense !’’
“ I thought, I was taking a mean advantage
of her, so I covered her up, seized my coat and
boots, and went and slept in another room I”
“ IT’S A LIE I” shouted the excited captain,
jumping up and kicking over his chair—“ IT’S
A LIE?”
An amusing colloquy came off recently at the
supper table on board of one of our Eastern steam
boats, between a Boston exquisite, reekin with
hair-oil and Cologne, who was “ demming” the
waiters, and othewise assuming very consequen
tial airs, and a raw Jonathan, who sat by hisside
dressed in homespun. Turning to his “vulgah”
frif-qd, the former [jointed his jeweled finger, and
said :
“Butter, sah I”
“I see it is,” coolly replied Jonathan.
"Butter, sah, I say !” fiercely repeated tho
dandy.
“I know it—very good—a first-rate article,”
provokingly reiterated homespun.
“Butter, I tell you !” thundered the exquisite,
in still louder tones, pointing with “slow un
moving finger, like acorn’s, and scowling upon
his neighbor as if he would annihilate him.
“ Well, gosh-all Jerusalem, what of it ?” now
yelled the downeaster, getting hisdandriff up in
turn—“Yer didn’t think 1 took it for lard!”—
Transcript.
Beggars Outwitted.—Many years ago an
ingenious plan was adopted by the Grand Duke
to rid Florence of beggars. It was proclaimed
that every beggar who would appear in the
grand plaza at a certain mentioned time would
be provided by the Duke with a new suit of
clothes, free of cost. At the appointed time the
beggars of the city all assembled, and the Grand
Duke, causing all the avenues to the square to
closed, compelled the beggars to strin off their
*?, isu " ave Ka ? h one < according to pro
old clothes, old c|otho P™
mise, a new suit. Inn.., . '—led t
lected, enough money was found couu._ "
build a beautiful bridge over the Arno, still called i
“ the beggars’ bridge,” and the city, for the time i
being,was relieved ofthe beggars by which it had I
been previously overrun, as none would give to I
the well-dressed individuals who implored chari- ;
ty, not believing their tale of distress— Portland 1
Mverliier.
The Departed.
In a beautifully written eulogy on the lament
ed. William R. King, the Pennsylvanian says,
“ We measure and mark our progress, as a na
tion, in the life of such men as William R. King,
of Alabama. At his death we halt, as the tired
traveller on the mountain top, who looks back
over the path he has traversed, and by the sun
set light, counts the miles he has left behind
him. Heated by the excitement of his progres
sive and forward age, we quietly rest upon the
event marked by the close of liis career, and in
his own history trace the thick coming glories of
the future.
Sixty-seven years he lived a life of stainless
honor and extended usefulness. During this
lapse of time the Revolution was decided, the
articles of Confederation agreed upon, the Con
si itution formed, and when he entered the coun
cils it was to stand by Jefferson and the Demo
cratic party, then, as now, the party of death
less principle and undying patriotism. He was
cotemporary with Washington and Adams.
He voted for Henry Clay for Speaker for the Na
tional House of Representatives forty-three years
ago ; voted for and defended the declaration of
the last war with England ; went abroad with
Pinkney nearly forty years ago ; and in I§l9 he
took bis seat in the Senate of the United States
which dignified position he continued to fill,
with the exception of the space of time consum
ed by his mission to the French Court, from 1814
to 1846, until the day of his death—having been
elected Vice President while a Senator from Al
abama, by the popular acclaim ot November
last-
“This long chain of years extended through
eras of wonderful interest to mankind. He saw
the meteor progress ot Napoleon from obscurity
to Empire, Irom the army to the throne, and
from Waterloo to St. Helena. He saw Revolu
tion drive her bloody car over the fairest regions
of the old world. He saw south America break
the bonds of Spanish tyranny. He saw Florida,
Louisiana. Texas and California, added to she
Union. He saw our flag A-ave in triumph over
land and sea with foreign foes. But, more than
all, he saw his country advance in every peace
ful art, and be saw, how on this soil, so dear to
the oppressed of all nations, Freedom and “Civ
ilization, on luminous wings, rise Phcenix-like,
to Jove.” Well may we say that in the record
of his life, we may renew the recollections of
our Country’s advancement in arms, in art, in
literature, in law, in religion, and in govern
ment.
“ He was a gentleman in the very besttense
of that word. He loved his friends with ardor,
stood by them with constant courage, and sur
rendered them only at the grave. He fctsa
statesman of the old stock, and was not ashamed
to adhere to old memories, nor afraid to try lew
issues. He was a servant of thorough exj|grj
ence and tried orthodoxy, bringing
question the light of an unclouded intSWect
ta judgment and a courage'that would not fist- |
ter Neptune for his trident, or Jove for his pow
er to thunder.” He adorned our great party by
his manifold virtues as a gentleman and a ctiris
j tian, and he strengthened it by the wisdom and
| candor of his counsels.”
Horse Hair Snakes.—Concerning these sin
uous and attenuated entities, Dr. Gideon. B.
Smith, addresses the following communication
to the Baltimore Patriot:
I “ I would suggest to the citizens of Baltimore '
] a very simple plan for straining all their hy- ;
drant water, which, at this season of the year,
I is a matter of some importance to delicate pal
' ates. Take about a quarter of a yard, square,
'of good fine flannel, and tie it firmly over the
mouth of the hydrant spout, leaving a small
' sack or bag, of the size of a goose egg, in the
j centre of the flannel. The writer has fixed his
hydrant in this way, and it proves perfectly ef
i fectual. At this time the little horse hair snake
] or cel is very abundant in all the streams and
| pools of water, and frequently makes its appear
ance in the hydrant water, and the above plan
will certainly catch it. This little reptile is be
lieved to be perfectly harmless. It is generally
supposed to be produced from horse-hair that
has fallen in the water. This is, of course, *
ridiculous common eiror. It is, like all other
organized beings, animal or vegetable, a regu
lar organized animal, propagated by its own
kind. Its scientific name is gordius aquaticus.
At the present time, and lor a few weeks to
i come, it appears nearly white, or like a thread
' ol gloss of white horse hair, only a little longer.
It has probably just cast off its old skin. In a
' week or two it will be dark brown or nearly
: black, somewhat lise a piece of dark colored
horse hair, from two or three to five or six inches
long. 1 have had several ot these reptiles brought !
to me lately,and many inquiries made respecting
them. The above plan will effectuallj’ prevent
their being swallowed. All pools and streamsi
of water in the Middle and Southern States are
j equally inhabited by them.”
The Marriage Ceremonial in South Carolina.
We extract the following from the Cheraw
Gazette, of the 16th ult:
During the Court of Sessions last week an in
dividual was tried for the crime of bigamy, and
acquitted. In the charge of his Honor, Judge
Frcst, to the jury, he remarked that there was
no law in the State of South Carolina prescrib- I
ing a marriage ceremonial. That if a citizen]
wished to buy or sell a piece of land the law j
prescribed the form of deed or title; that if he ]
i wished to buy or sell a negro, theie was a legal I
form for the bill of sale; that if he wished to I
secure the payment of money to himself, or to |
another, at a future time, there was legal time I
for the bond or note ; but for the bonds of the
most solemn and binding obligation into which i
man or woman could enter there was no legally :
prescribed law.
At one period marriage was held to be a re
i ligious sacrament, and could only be solemnized ,
’ by the clergy; consequently magistrates were |
prohibited from performing the ceremony,
a later period, the law prohibiting magistrates I
' from officiating at marriage contract was repeai- ’
ed. This, we believe, was tie extent of legis-
I lating by this State upon the subject. Hence
the mode of the ceremony and the character of
the officiating functionary are left to the choice
of the parties entering into contract. If the
couple who desire to enter into the holy state of
wedlock choose to call in a clergyman or a mag
istrate before whom to make their vows of love
and fidelity, it is well; but if they prefer to
make their vows to each other and assume the
relations of husband and wife, acknowledging
each other as such before the world, it is also
well. By the latter mode they enter into as in
dissoluble a bond as by the former.
If Mr. A. and Miss B. jump over a broom, the
former saying. I take this woman to be my wed
ded wife, and the latter, 1 take this man to be :
my wedded hueband, and go to housekeeping, i
they are legally married, have entered into a
bond of union which cannot be annulled, so long
as they both live. This indifference to the form
to a cerenfionial, binding the parties to the end
of life, may to tbe casual observer seem strange,
but to those who are familiar with the working of
our system, no such teeling is exjierienced. Lib
erty of conscience is a right too sacred to he
abridged by legal prescription, even as to the
mode es entering into this holy compact. And
this is ample reason for ti e apparent apathy of
our legislators upon this subject.
An Incident.
A few morning’s since, just as the cars had
started from the depot, a gentleman, his wife
and daughter, were observed ata distance up the j
street, running with great s|>eed towards the de- I
jx>t. One of the agents of the railroad, or some
other person, observing the efforts of the party,
started after the train, and succeeded in giving
the engineer a sign tor stop for passengers. As
it was the accommodation line, the train was
stopped some distance on the road, and waited
tbe approach of the man, his wife and daughter.
They were all pretty much exhausted by the
long and hard run they had, but they reached the
location of the train, and, by a new effort, climb
ing a small pile of plank close at hand, they
stood looking at the Cars and commenced re
marking upen the appearance of the vehicles.
The man gave something like a combination
of a blow and a grunt, and said, addressing his
wife:
“ Well, I don’t think they look so very dange
rous, tlo you ?”
“ Why, I don’t think they do,” responded the
lady wiping her face, “ they look rather safe
and
“ La, mother,” said the daughter, “ ain’t they
pretty coaches—so many seats and windows,
and so pretty painted,” taking a short breath,
and fanning herself with her handkerchief.
“Jump in, jump in |” said the conductor.
“ Oh,” said tbe old gentleman, “we don’t
want to get in— u>e only want to see them /” —Al-
bany Dutchman.
A Fink Prospect.—We learn from the Months
gomery Journal that at a Spiritual Circle held at
that city, the shade of Andrew Jackson was
called up from its sphere, and among the ques
tions asked were the following :
Question. —“ Where did Capt. Kidd hide his
treasures when his vessel was driven up North
river by the English frigate?
Answer—“On the north side of Manhattan
Island—lo feet deep—large amount in iron chest
—marked by a large stone, 7 J feet east side of it
—it is all in one place, and will be found.”
Ques. —“ When will Cuba be annexed ?”
Ans.—“ In six years.”
Ques.—“ When will Mexico be annexed ?”
Ans.—“ln three years. Santa Anna will
make war on the United States.”
Ques.—“Are these things true, Gen. Jackson?”
Ans.—“ Yes, sir, by the eternal 111”
These answers, says the Journal, all but the
last, which we putin byway of making the
conversation characteristic, were received, or be
lieved to have been received, from the spirit of
Gen. Jackson. If they are truly from his spirit
and not from diabolical influences,as some believe,
what a row there will be; how the joiI ofthe isle
of old Manhattan will be delved into from one
end to the other! What a rattling there will be
among the “dry bones” of the old Knickerbock
ers which have laid for centuries, now turned up
to “ revisit the glimpses of the moon 1” What
a rich opening for fillibusteering! We are in.
“ Go it ye cripples I”
If Gen. Jackson can come up in this way.
there is not the slightest probabilty that the
spirit of the gallant veterait can remain quiet
when the fray commences. He and old Zach.
I'aylor, and a host of others, are “ bound to
pitch in.” When this occurs, then farewell
Mexico I it will be with her affairs and exist
ence, what Wellington said of Waterloo
“ One regular eternal smash.”
Romantic.—We published, a short time since,
marriage of a couple, whose ages are re
spectively, 74 arm' 7’ They were lovers
in the hey-<!ey of youth, and a matrmmZ'
new.. 1 W,IS ttlen prevented by parental author
ity. They have ? ach “een married, and each
lost a partner by degtfi. The frosts of time
have failed to chill the aftectiopa qt tfapir hearts,
and with the weight of years upon them they
have now come together, to fulfil the vows of
jheir early years—Spnng/Md Republican.
Au Elopement.
A young couple, says the Cincinnati Gazette,
anxious to assume the responsibilities ol conjugal
life, left Cleveland on Friday evening, and ar
rived at Columbus on Sunday morning, where
they spent the day. On Sunday morning they,
took the morning train for Cincinnati, destined
for Aberdeen, the Gretna Green of the State.
In the meantime, the papas ol both the lovers
discovering their absence, had set out in pursuit
of the runaways. Passing through Columbus
on Saturday evening without finding them,
they continued on—the father of the gentleman
stopping at Xenia, while the parent of the lady
continued on to Morrow, where they lay in wait
for arrivals. On the appearance of the train at
the former place on Sunday, it was thoroughly
searched, but no discovery took place—the pair
having adroitly changed garments at Columbus,
and both being thus pretty effectually disguised.
At Morrow, the young lady’s papa also came on
board, took a look through the cars, shook his
head, and found a seat nearly opposite the fugi
tives. Things continued in this manner, until
approaching the city, the conductor was making
his last round, collecting the tickets of the pas
sengers. Some little awkwardness on the part
of the lady, growing out of her unusal attire, at
tracted the observation of the old gentleman op
posite. His suspicions were aroused. A mo
ment’s observation convinced him that the lost
were found, and seizing the young scapegrace
by the shoulder, he lifted the veil which con
cealed his glowing leautures. Like an old fogy,
as he was, he raved, stormed, and swore not a
little. A scene ol confusion, ensued. The ques
tion of the propriety of the proceeding on the
part of the lovers was argued by a score of
voices, pro and con. Papa was inexorable.
The parties were ordered to exchange garments,
which they did, vowing eternal fidelity, and the
young people were brought to the city, and ta
ken back this morning, to await another oppor
tunity, which, as the chap is pretty keen, and
the lady very pretty and somewhat enterprising,
they will not probably be long in discovering.
Dying by Diet.
My Dear Punch :—I saw a funny thing in
the paper the other day—it was headed ‘ Curious
Physiogical (I hope I have spelt the word right)
Discovery.’ It said that Monsieur Roulin had
been feeding silk worms with food of different
colors, and by that means making them spin
silk of the sanr'e celor as the food. And it also
mentioned that the very bones of animals may
be tinged with what they eat. Law ! I wonder
if it is the same with a human being—and if so,
whether it would be possible to affect the com
plection by food. It would be so nice to be able
to obtain a clear delicate color that would wash,
without being obliged to resort to any of those
nreparations. And then how funny to have it
to be either a blenders or a bru-
V nette, according to one’s fancy, or as be
| found convenient —and perhaps to change from
one to the other if desired, or advisable. Can
you, dear Punch, or any of your scientific friends,
tell me if there are any articles of diet which
have the power to make these alterations, and
what they are ? for I should so like to know. I
should not mind their taste very much—though,
of course I should rather they were nice: only
fancy how delightful to realize a beautiiul white
r eck, band and arms, by a course of open jam
tarts! A word in answer to your Julia.”
? Julia most not think about open jam tarts.
The effect of such delicacies in a complexional
point of view may be called pimplific. Julia is
probably not disposed to be blue ; but that is the
only tint which it is possible to acquire by such
means as those to which she alludes; it may be
obtained by preseverance in small doses of ni
trate of silver, at the risk simply of being poi
soned. Plain living and plenty of exercise will
effect the greatest alternation in respect of hue
that the cheek of a young, lady can undergo:
namely, to fresh, pure, and glowing, frem dull,
spotty, and sallow. Julia is recommended to
try oatmeal porridge. She should not eat too
much bread and butter.— Punch. .
Geology— lls Concordance with Scripture.—
This formed the subject of a recent lecture, de
livered on Friday week, by Dr. Boynton, at Me
tropolitan Hall, New York. The following re
marks, illustrative of his subject, we copy from
the same:
“ In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth, but to this beginning there is no
date. On this point many believers of the
bihle war with geology, and many infidels war
with the bible. Some think Geology contrary
to the bible ; it is not so, for it proves from the
first examination of matter, till its condensed
I forms, from the beginning to the end. there was
a law acting upon and directing these forms. It
implies that it was created by a Supreme Intel
ligence, and Geology declares that God created
the heavens and tbe earth. In the second verse
of Genesis it is said the earth was empty and
desolate. There is no discrepancy between that
which the Scriptures assert and Geology proves.
How long was the time from the beginning to
the creation of man? We have a chronology
by Bishop Usher, another by Hale. These dis
agree with Geology. From the creation of the
world to the appearance of man on the earth it
may be hundreds of millions of years—it is a
I history that can only be read by the geological
j strata in the earth. The lecturer described the
i state of the world before its present condition.
He gave an explanation of the cause of volca
noes, and how they sometimes formed islands in
i the sea and mountains on the land.”
Singular Affair—The Cumberland, Md.,
Journal of yesterday relates the following singu
j lar occurrence:
i On Wednesday of last week, the dead body of
I a young man was found in the Potomac river
| ne/r the Big Tunnel on the Chesapeake and
] Ofio Canal. From a fracture of the skull, and
I oA“r injuries, he was supposed to have been
i jJSrt foully with. Various surmises as to the
j of the corpse were entertained, when
! S'" V. Henry Troutman, of the Cumberland night
[ JP»ch, became convinced that it was the body
| c.Kiis son James, who had been at work in the
•ieinity, and was missing at the time. A coro
ner’s jury w. s summoned from Cumberland, and
the body was fully identified by Capt. T. and
others as that of his son. Particular marks
were pointed out by the distressed father, and
there seemed not to be the slightest doubt on the
subject. The jury returned an unanimous ver
dict based upon the facts as thus set forth.
The body was consequent!}' decently interred
by Capt. T. who forthwith arrayed himself in
the garb of mourning, and engaged the services
of a minister of the Gospel to preach a funeral
discourse on the sad occasion. It turned out,
however, that on Sunday morning last, the dead
sou ot Cap!. Troutman deliberately walked up
] to his astonished father and informed him that
] he was not dead I The mingled surprise and
delight of the lather may be imagined. The
fact is the young man had been at work in an
other direction, and upon hearing of his report
ed demise returned to Cumberland to relieve
the apprehensions of his parents.
dead man is suppposed to have been a
bogtman on the Canal, who was murdered and
thrown into the river. Some persons suggest
that he was a German named John Burn, of
Cumberland, but there is no certainty about
the flatter.
Britain’s Hapi>y Family.—The Queen, Alex
andria Victoria, was born May 24. 1819.
Prince Francis Albert Augustus Charles
I Emejiuel of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, was born
{ Aug. 26, 1819.
The Twain were married at the age of 21, on
the 10th of Feb. 1840. The issue has been :
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, born Novem
ber 21, 1840.
Albert Edward, born Nov. 9, 1841.
Alice Maud Mary, born April 25,1843.
Alfred Ernest Albert, born Aug. 6, 1844.
Helena Angusta Victoria, born May 25, 1846,
Louisa Caroline Alberta, born March 18,
1848.
Arthur William Patrick Albert, born May 1,
1850.
A son not yet named, born April 7, 1853.
Eight children—four sons and four daughters
—in thirteen years, and all alive and well.
Education in China.—China is considered
with reason to be a country of letters. Educa
tion is in great repute ; each village has a school,
where children in the most humble conditions
can receive early education. The quantity of
books printed and sold in China are immense.
A lettered man or a member of the celebrated
Academy of Han-lin can recite all the sentences
of See-Chou, and pass from dynasty to dynasty,
to fabulous epochs of Chinese mythology, but
his science does not pass the frontier, nor does
he inquire into the the events that are passing
in the world of barbarians. Ignorance of other
a boast,
....—.
A Curious Case. —James B. Barnet, a color
ed man, has applied for a mandamus to compel
the Trustees ol the New York College to admit
him to the profession of a physician. The affi
davits for the plaintiff set forth that Barnett is a
Baccalaureate of New York University ; that he
studied medicine with eminent physicians in
that city, nnd he was regularly matriculated
and admitted to the medical and surgical cliniques
of the College, and attended one regular course
of lectures. At the next term he was disfran
chised anil expelled, because he was a person of
color. The Trustees admit the facts, but justify
their conduct on the ground, that by the course
and usage of that institution, persons of color are
not candidates for the degrees of doctor of medi
cine. The court has reserved its decision for
their further deliberation.
Beautiful. Sentiment—We live in the
midst of blessings till we are utterly insensible
of their greatness, and ofthe source from whence
they flow. We speak of our civilization, our
arts, our freedom, our laws, and forget entirely
how large a share is due to Christianity. Blot
Christianity out of man’s history, and what
would his laws have bgep—what his civiliza
tion ? Christianity is mixed up with our very
being and our very life; there is not a familiar
object round us which does not wear a different
aspect because the light of Christian. love is
upon it—not a law which does not owe its truth
and gentleness Io Christianity—not a custom
which cannot be traced in all its holy, beautiful
parts, to the Gospel.— Sir Ji. Park.
Okra Hkmf—We notice a paragraph going
the rounds of newspaperdom with regard to the
manufacture of hemp from the common okra
plant. It is said to have been pioved by actual
experiment that okra yields better hemp than
hemp itself, paradoxical though it may seem.
The fibre is asserted to be tougher and the yield
much larger while the process of rotting, break
ing, &c., is equally a» easy. Should all this
prove true, it will be a fact of vast importance to
’ *>—sb Uno country in the world does the
ttieoo,... -:»ntlv than on our rich
okra grow more luxu..— . often
prairies. We have frequently seen piuu..
and twelve feet in height which had come up
spontaneously and grown to a vigorous maturi
ty without cultivation. Who will try it "
.Aberdeen, (Mill.) Independent.
Cimsfitntiannlwt lUpblir.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 4, 1353.
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Subscribers writing to request their pa
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paper is now sent.
sty Postmasters are requested to notify us
promptly in all cases when our papers are not
taken from the office.
Almost a Serious Accident.
We understand that a gentleman and lady
riding along Mclntosh street on Friday night,
had a narrow escape. A pile of bricks was left
in the street, without a light, and before the
gentleman was aware of the fact, the horse was
on the top, and before he could extricate him,
the buggy was upset, and the gentleman and
lady thrown out. Fortunately neither was
hurt. Whose business is it to look after obstruc
tions placed in the street? The ordinance, we
believe, requires a light to be placed on all ob
structions or excavations.
Crops.
Georgia.—The Albany Patriot of the 29th
ult., says : “ Crops are very much needing rain.
We had a shower on Monday, but not sufficient
to reach the roots of cotton or corn. Since the
shower, the weather has been pleasant, with
cool mornings and evenings. For two or three
days previous, the heat was extreme, the mer
cury indicating 90 deg. in the shade. Those
planters whose cotton was up before the com
mencement of the drought, have generally se
cured good stands.”
Texas.—The Victoria advocate of the 16th
ult., says:
“ Rain enough lias fallen to fill- up all the cis
terns and thoroughly saturate the earth, so that
the farmers need no longer fear having short
crops for want of rain. We do not remember
seeing our prairies looking more beautiful than
at present. The grass is well up, and the coun
try generally is covered with flowers of every
kind. Corn is up from two to ten inches high.”
Louisiana. —The Clinton (East Feliciana)
State Paper of Saturday week says:
“We have had a six weeks spell of dry
weather, and the planting of cotton has been
suspended in consequence of the dryness of the
soil.”
The St. Francisville Chronicle says: “ Our
planters have all sown their cotton, we believe,
and a propitious season they have had for it. The
corn and sugar cane are coming up beautifully.
There will be a large crop of sugar made this
season, should no unforeseen occurrence take
place to injure the cane. The mil ! winter just
passed by, has not irj"red the stubble in the
least. The eyes are all sound and healthy, and
the plant and stubble cane are both coming up
finely.”
Frost in Mississippi.—The Jackson Mis
sissippian says there was a slight frost on the
morning of the 18th ult., which resulted in
great damage to the cotton crop in that and
adjoining counties. The Mississippian under
stands that many planters have been obliged to
plant again.
British Slaves—The New York Courier is
unmasking British philanthropy as it exists in
the East Indies. It says:
“ To prove how utterly hypocritical and heart
less is their pretended sympathy for the three
millions of African slaves in the United States
while it can gloat over and fatten upon the un
heard of misery ol 150 millions of British slaves
in India, from whom they annually extract a net
revenue of sixty millions of dollars, through the
yearly sacrifice of more lives than there are
slaves in the whole States.”
Ttis New Silver About.—The Balti
more Sun says the new silver coinage of the
United States, issued under the late act of Con
gress is already in circulation in our city, though
only paid out for the first time at the mint in
Philadelphia on Tuesday. Adams & Co., drew
out, that day, $250,000, for the New York, Phil
delphia and Baltimore markets, and our banks
are already dispensing it to the people. It is
the expectation of this enterprising firm to draw
out forty or fifty thousand dollars daily for some
weeks. At this rate, the country will soon be
pretty well supplied,and we shall no longer hear
complaints of a want of small silver change. As
yet, we believe, nothing larger than quarters
have been made. The machinery of the mint,
the Philadelphia Ledger understands, is taxed
to its utmost capacity in the manufacture of this
much needed coin. Over two millions of dol
lars in value of silver has been received to be
coined up to this time, and the amount is daily
coming forward.
Mr. Kuhn, formerly in the employment of the
Susquehanna railroad, was tried on a charge of
manslaughter at Pittsburg, on Saturday. It ap
pears the cars, of which he had charge, ran over
and killed a man, and that it was alledged the
accident occurred through his carelessness. The
jury declared him not guilty.
Gin House Burnt. —We learn from the Pad
emecuum that Wm. M. Brown’s Gin House, at
his lower plantation in Marion county, was en
tirely consumed by fire, on Sunday night last,
together with two valuable Gins, a patent Mill,
and a Thresher. As there had been no fire near
the house during the day, it was evidently the
work of an incendiary.
An artesian well is being bored at St. Louis.
1509 feet have been penetrated, and the opera
tors are passing through sand of a very fine qual
ity. They have also struck water, in sufficient
quantity to force itself to the top of the well
It is of sulphurous, gaseous taste and smell, but
quite clear. It is to be analyzed.
Death of a Georgian.—/The Department of
State, at Washington City, has received official
information from the U. S. Consul at Panama,
of the death of Martin Post, of Marietta, Cobb
county, Ga.
Snow.—lt snowed all day on Sunday, April
17th, in Plainfield, Hampshire county, Mass.
The snow on that day was three feet deep in
the woods fifteen miles west of Plattsburg, N. Y.
Loss of Suhr. Martha Jane.—Schr. Martha
Jane, (of Portland.) Foster, from Savannah, for
New Orleans, with a cargo of rice, recently
went ashore on Stranger’s Key, Bahamas, and
became a total wreck.
At Nashville, on the 10th, as as Mr. Ridg
way was passing down the steps in front of the
M. E. Church, the right skiit of his coat, in the
pocket of which was a loaded pistol, came in
contact with the sidestone of the step, causing
the pistol to go off, the contents of which took
effect on Mr. Summfield Battle, who was stand
ing a few paces in front, on the pavement, caus
ing his death shortly
We learn from the Anderson Gazette, that
Col. T. Edmund Ware, who was indicted and
tried at the last session of the Greenville Court,
for the murder of Capt. Adam Jones, and sen
tenced to three months imprisonment, has re
ceived a full and free pardon from the hands of
his Excellency Gov. Manning.
Arrivals from Eußoi'E.-Among the passen
gers of the Baltic at New York on Tuesday, from
Southampton, were N. I’. Trist, Esq., Lieut J. P.
Bankhead, U. 8. N., Capt. G. W. Phelps, U. S.
A., J. S. Thorndike, bearer of despatches from
Paris, J. P. Kellogg, bearer of despatches from
Rome, and C. O’Donnell.
A Tunnel now in course of construction on the
line ofthe Dayton and Cincinnati railway will
it is said, be, with its approaches, 10,000 feet in
length, and the largest work of the kind in the
United States.
PniLADßi.ririA Post-Office.—On and after
Monday, the Philadelphia post-office is to be
kept open every day except Sunday, from 5
o’clock, A. M., to 11 o’clock, P. M.,and one hour
every Sunday morning and afternoon.
The Earl of Ellesmere is said to be coming to
-“*> hia family, to act as the repre-
New York w>... . “ • —«at axhi-
sentative of the British nation at me a—-
bitiou to be held there,
The Savannah River.
We see by the Savannah Courier, that a
meeting of the citizens of that city has been
called to take into consideratien the propriety of
the City Council appropriating money for the
improvement of the river below Savannah. This
is one of the best moves yet made by our sister
city, for the advancement ol her commerce and
prosperity. She has waited long enough on the
General Government to remove the obstructions
placed in our river, by the British, for their own
protection while occupying Savannah, and the
mod' 1 proposed, is the only reliable one for its
accomplishment. These obstructions removed,
with the iron arteries connecting her with
almost every portion of the State, and portions
of Alabama and Tennessee, Savannah must be
come tho export seaport of the South. Speed
the work—let its cost be $200,000, it will be
money well spent.
We find in the Savannah papers a lengthy re
port of the Commission appointed to examine
Savannah River and Harbor, consisting of Pro
fessor Bache, Capt. Bowman and Lieut Gil
mer, which we regret we have not room to pub
lish in full. The report is divided under nine
heads, and we give a portion of the last, which
will give an idea of the cost ot the work :
IX. For the accomplishment of this object of
first importance, the following operations are re
commended. Widen and deepen the Channel
at the Wrecks, and over Garden Bank by diedg
ing ; straightening it, at the same time, co far
as to give uniformity of curvature; close the
upper end of Fig Island Channel, turning the
water south of the Island ; construct a Jetty
starting from foot of Fig Island and extending
far enough in a North Easterly direction to de
flect a considerable portion of the flood from
the Back to the Front river; build a deflect
ing work just above King’s Island with a view
to throw an increased volume of water into
Front river :—if found necessary, (jeeperi the
channel North of King’s Island, and at the foot
ol Marsh Island. The flow of water 'n tbe
City Channel can be increased also, if found
necessary, by making a Cut across the lower
point of Isla Island, and enlarging the ex
isting Cut across Drakies Point, or, by making a
Cut across Hutchinson’s Island from the Back
to the Front river, entering the latter just above
Marsh Island.
(The estimates in the Report show that the
approximate cost of these works would be $190,-
927.)
The object of next importance in the improve
ment of the Savannah River, it, in the opinion
of the Comniission, to give an increased depth
to the Channel over the Knoll off Cockspur Isl
and, so as to enable vessels ofa larger to
come up to the anchorage at Venus Point. For
this purpose it is proposed to dredge the Channel
over the Knoll 2 feet 2 inches, which will give
20 feet, ordinary high tide, at all points of tbe
channel below. Vessels of greater draught than
have heretofore entered the port, could I hen
reach the anchorage, and as the approach to Ve
nus Point is well guarded by the guns of Fort
Pulaski, the Savannah River would also become
a safer harbor of refuge.
Large amounts of lumber—heavy ranging
timber as well as sawed, are shipped annually
from Savannah, and this trade would be much
benefitted, it vessels of 18 to 20 feet draught,
could come to Venus Point. As most of the
ranging timber exported, is taken from the rafts
in the river, it could be shipped at that point
with nearly the same economy and convenience
as in front of the city. The proposed increase of
depth in the Channel below will offer increased
facilities to other parts of the Savannah trade,
as there will be less restriction as to tonnage and
draught of the shipping that can engage in it.
Amount to be dredged from Knoll is
about 51.600 cubic yards. $10,500
Approximate cost of works indicated $201,427
By judicious expenditure of the above amounts,
it is the opinion of the Commission that a chan
nel of at least 10 feet in depth at ordinay low
water can be obtained from the entrance of the
river up to the City wharves—and a depth of 12
feet as high up as the anchorage at Venus Point.
The depth at ordinary high water to the an
chorage would then be 20 feet; and up to the. City
16 feet 4 inches. At spring tides, these depths
would be increased about 1 foot.
During the progress of the work, continuous
and elaborate observations should be made ot the
effects, especially upon the tides, currents and
depth. Permanent bench marks should be es
tablished for tbe zero of each tide gauge to facili
tate future reference.
It is recommended that the existing appro
priation be expended, Ist. In procuring a good
dredge boat and the scows necessary to remove
the materials dredged from the Channels. For
towing the scows from the machine to the place
selected for depositing their loads, a Tug boat
suitable for the purpose may be hired for the
first season.
2. The Dredge should be worked first upon
the bank formed at the Wrecks, beginning at
its lower edge. This should be continued until
a channel 10 feet deep, at low tide, and 100 feet
wide, is obtained. The dredging should be com
menced along the edge of Garden Bank, giving
the same depth and width as below. These op
erations should be carried on alternately.
3. If a suitable dredge boat can be obtained
for SIO,OOO or $12,000, the present appropria
tion will probably furnish means to collect the
materials required for closing the upper end of
Fig Island Channel. Such should be the appli
cation of any available balance.
It may be even found necessary in the pro
gress of the work, to close this channel, before
giving the full width and depth proposed to the
South Channel, in order to get the requisite ve
locity, and scouring power, to keep it open. A
consi 'erable sum must be applied to this work
before all the dredging below is executed.
If further improvements of the Savannah be
undertaken at a future day, it would probably be
most advisable to give the same depth of chan
nel above Venus Point, that there will be below
when the Knoll has been dredged to the depth
previously recommended. To effect this, the
Mud Flats, the Four Mile Point Bar, the Wrecks,
and Garden Bank must be so far removed as to
give an additional depth of3 to 3J feet. Uniform
ity of channel would then be attained, and all
vessels drawing 20 feet and less could come up
to the city. Afterwards, the Knoll could be
dredged to a greater depth, admitting vessels
drawing more water to Venus Point, should tbe
business of the place demand it.
It is probable that the depth of water, over
the shoals above, could be increased three or four
feet by dredging alone. If the deeper channels
over the different obstructions were cut so as to
straighten the line of best water, the flow of the
tides would be accelerated, and this would give
more scouring power to the returning ebb—suf
ficient perhaps, to preserve the increased depth :
if it should prove insufficient, however, a dredge
could be worked from time to time, to aid in
keeping open the requisite depth of channel. If
20 feet water were once gained from the en
trance to the city, the advantages to the trade of
the Port would fully justify any expenditure
that would be necessary to give permanence.
Col. Alfred Cumming.
The numerous friends of this gentleman, will
be gratified to learn, that he has been appointed
by President Pierce, to the office of Superintend
ent of Indian Affairs, forthe central superintend
ency. It is an office for which he is eminently
qualified. In speaking of this appointment, the
Washington Union, of the 28th ult., remarks :
“ We take pleasure in announcing to our read
ers that the President has appointed Colonel
Alfred Cumming, formerly of Georgia, and now
ot Missouri, to be superintendent of Indian af
fairs forthe central superintendency.
“ Colonel Cumming is a gentleman of talent,
of the most untiring energy, and great business
capacity ; and these, together with his long re
sidence on the frontiers and his thorough knowl
edge ot the country within the bounds of his
superintendency, pre-eminently qualify him for
the office which has been conferred upon him.
We are confident that his appointment will give
entire satisfaction to the people of the States in
terested in the Indian affairs of that superinten
dency.”
Invitation from the Emveror Napoleon.
—The Baltimore correspondent of the National
Intelligencer says :
“ The rumor is current here that a friendly
invitation has been extended bj- Emperop Na
poleon to his relatives, the Bonapartes in this
city, to visit France. The imperial courtesy, I
am told, has been accepted by young Jerome,
grand nephew of the elder Napoleon, who pur
poses going over to Paris. He is now attached
to the United States Army, and is about obtain
ing leave of absence for the purpose here men
tioned. This looks like a disposition on the
part of the Emperor to cultivate friendly rela
tions not only with his foreign relatives, but
with our Government.”
If this report is true, none will doubt its being
an evidence of a dispositon to cultivate friendli
ness with the Emperor’s foreign relatione ; but
what it has to do particularly with “dur govern
ment,’’ we cannot see.
A Profitable Invention.—Just after the
introduction of gas into the city of Lowell, Dr.
Walker Kidder, a talented young physician
who was enjoying quite a share of practice, con
structed an apparatus for regulating the burning
of this new light. It is now said he has sold it
to a New York company forthe handsome sum
ofSIOO,OOO.
St. John’s Church, Savannah.—The Jour
nal says: The Rev. Geo. H. Clark has accepted
a call to the rectorship of this new church, and
is expected to take charge about the 12th prox.
Mr. Clark has been located in Glynn and Mc-
Intosh counties in this State for some time past,
but was originally from Massachusetts. The or
gan, the chimes, and the dedication, are all that is
now wanting to bring the new St. John’s to that
completeness which was originally contempla
ted. They will doubtless be soon provided.
General Politkessky, the Russian privy coun
cillor, confessed on his death bed that he had
embezzled 1,800,000 silver rubles. The corpse
of the penitent man was degraded in its coffin
by the exeeutioner.
The Seminole Indians. —The Ocala (Fla.)
Mirror of the 22d inst., says :
Gen. Childs, commanding at Tampa, in
formed the citizens at the Court House, that
the Indians were again coming in at Fort
Myer, and though unwilling to emigrate, pro
fessed a desire to remain at peace. Assinwah,
a sub chief, was in at the post, and said Billy
had not been deposed.
. < i. O ’\ A YJ rirler ’ °‘ U. S. Army, commander
at Fort Myer, says, the delegation which went
°P tVashington’left most of their presents at
Fort Myer on their return, and have since de
clined receiving them, as they have failed to
comply with their promises of emigration.
He says also, by a careful estimate made by
John Jumper, one ot the western delegation,
that there are only 286 Indians remaining in
Florida, and only 86 of these, men, women and
boys, able to bear arms.
We understand it is the determination of the
general government to have the country sur
veyed at least into Townships which will fa
cilitate the search for the Indians whenever the
attempt is made to hunt them out. We incline
to the opinion that if the people on the frontier
can be patient, we who are less ex [rosed might
wait to take counsel as to tho best time and
method for their removal.
It snowed all day Sunday, April 17th, in
Plainfield, Hampshire county, Mass. The snow
on that day was three feet deep in the woods
fifteen miles west of Plattsburg, New-York.
A People’s Washing and Bathing Estabish
ment was some time since established in New
York, at a cost of $40,000. Its suecess has been
most satisfactory. The Journal of Commerce
says: “During the first three months of the
existence of this establishment, ending list Au
gust, the total number of bathers was 38,600,
and the revenue accruing Irom washing and
bathing amounted to $2,136. The amount of
washing done in the winter season greatly ex
ceeds that of the summer. The present season
opens very favorably ; the number of bathers
during a single day having already reached 763,
against 1,147, the highest number last season.
The Coming Thousands.—The Philadelphia
Inquirer states that private letters from the Old
World, state that the movement towards the
New is likely to prove extraordinary within the
coming six months. It is estimated that some
200,000 men, women and children, will leave
England and Ireland, and that this vast army
will be increased to nearly half a million from
Germany and other portions of Europe. "■«
A Novelty rOK the New York Exhibi
tion.—A St. Louis confectioner is said to have
manufactured an article for exhibition at the
Crystal palace in New York, which will doubt
less attract crowds of Juvenile observers. It is
a picture in candy, being a copy of a lithograph
of a boar hunt. The figures in the original, con
sisting of the hunters and their horses, the boar
and the hounds, and even the grass and the sky
overhead, are said to be represented with sur
prising accuracy.
City of Pensacola— Two Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars Subscribed for the Montgomery
and Pensacola Railroad.— The Board of Aldermen
of this city, at their meeting, held on Tuesday
last, have authorized the Mayor to subscribe
$250,000 for stock in the construction of the
Montgomery and Pensacola Railroad His Hon.
the Mayor, has been also authorized to appoint
delegates to meet the citizens of Montgomery,
on the first of May next, for the purpose to
agree with them on the ways and means to
brine this undertaking to completion. God
speed the work!
We find the foregoing intelligence in the Pen
sacola Democrat, of April 21; from the same
paper we take the following :
In pursuance to notice, books have been open
ed on the 20th instant, for the purpose of receiv
ing subscriptions to the capital stock of the Ala
bama and Florida Railroad, (Montgomery and
Pensacola Road.) and we are glad to state that
our citizens seem very zealous and interested in
this matter. Private subscriptions, on yester
day, (the first day only,) amount to a pretty
good sum. There is no doubt that the ball is
in motion now. Keep it going !
A New Slavs State.—lon, of the Baltimore
j Sun, says : The territory of Washington, so fer
tile and salubrious, and so inviting to agricul
tural enterprise, is opened, by the liberality of
, Congress, for the reception of Southern immi-
I grants with their slaves. A considerable num
ber of citizens of Missouri and Kentucky, and
probably Virginia, will avail themselves of the
boon and of the opportunity thus unexpectedly
afforded for the introduction of another great
slave State into the Union.
Mr. Chase, Mr. Hale, and Mr. Sumner were
so wholly engrossed by their admiration of the
works and triumphs of Mrs. Stowe, that they
suffered the bill establishing the magnificent
territory of Washington to be passed without
the usual recognition of the ordinance of 1768
or the Wilmot proviso.
The Irish Ixodus.—The exodus is the all
engrossing topic of the latest Irish journals, and
every post brings fresh accounts of the contin
uous flight of the people from the northern coun
try. From the port of Waterford, on the 9th
inst., no less than 300 comfortable looking pas
sengers took shipping for Liverpool, there to
embark either for America or Australia. Ac
cording to one of the Cork papers :
A vessel in port has been chartered for £SOO
to take out emigrats to New York. Last year
a similar vessel could have been had for £3OO.
Passages are therefore high to the United States,
£5 10s. being generally expected.
Turning westward, it is stated in a Galway
journal, that the constantly increasing tide of
emigration knows not a single day’s cessation.
Hundreds are leaving this neighborhood daily,
and yesterday morning a great number of intel
ligent girls of a humble but decent rank in life
went off by the train. Labor in every part of
the country is becoming exceedingly scarce, and
even the very inefficient persons who have been
previously tenants of the workhouse are now be
ing eagerly sought after and employed.
The loss hy the late Fire at the Navy Yard
at first estimated at near $350,000, is now stated,
upon official authority, to amount to $83,508.53.
Pofpiks.—Dr. J. V. C. Smith, of Boston, says
that immense crops of poppies are raised in
Switzerland, not for opium, but for tbe oil ex
tracted from their seeds. This oil is beautifully
transparent, extensively used in house painting
colorless as water, and when mixed with white
lead leaves a beautiful surface that never be
comes ; a low. Now that linseed oil is rising in
price, a> d as much of our soil is unfit for the
cultivation of flax, he advises the attempt at cul
tivating the poppy here, which does very well
even on poor sandy soil. He sayi too, that the
oil is quite palatable for salads.
The Rail Fares to the West.—The Ohio
Lake Shore roads and Lake line of steamers be
tween Sandusky and Cleveland, and Buffalo and
Dunkirk, have settled their through fares from
Cincinnati at the uniform rate of $7 50. The
Consolidated Central line from Albany to Buffa
lo announces $6 as the through fare between
those cities. The Hudson River Road is charg
ing $1 50. Altogether, the charge from N. York
to Cincinnati is sls.
Murderer Arrested.—The Vademecuum in
forms us that a man named Worshard, who late
ly killed Samuel Brannon, in Dale county. Ala.,
had been arrested near old Fort Perry, in Marion
county, by a party of gentlemen from Alabama,
who have taken him back to stand his trial.
Worsbard resisted the, arrest and severely, if not
mortally, wounded a brother of Brannon and a
man named Clark.
A hundred mill girls selected by an Ameri
can speculator in Glasgow, Scotland, have sailed
from the Clyde to commence a new cotton mill
at New York.
Bank or East Tennessee. —We are pleased
to learn that within a few days a number of our
best citizens have taken a large amount of stock
in the Bank of East Tennessee, and we feel well
assured that the stock will all be taken by our
own citizens, and the bank placed upon a basis
even more secure than that w’hich has enabled
it to pass through the late heavy run that was
made upon its vaults.
We also learn with pleasure that the branch
of the Union Bank at this place receives the is
suesofthe Bank of East Tennessee on deposits
or in payment of debts. Its notes nre as good as
those ol any bank in the state, and there need be
no apprehension whatever in taking them.—
Kntxville Register, 2Tth ult.
Austrian Vengeance. —It is said that the
process now going on against Madame Messe
lanyi,a sister of Kossuth, will terminate in a sen
tence of death. The lady is however, out of the
reach of the Austrian authorities. She is in
Brunels, and it is expected that she, with an el
der sister and their children, will soon join a
third sister, already established in the United
States.
It is said that the English ivy can be success
fully cultivated in the Northern and Eastern
States. Washington Irving has a vine brought
from Melrose Abbey, Scotland, which covers
his house at Sunny Side. Mr. Breckenbridge,
the successor of the late A. J. Downing, in the
employ of the Government, on the Capitol
grounds, informs a correspondent of the West
bury American, that it can be cultivated with
success in Connecticut. The ivy is found to
preserve the building it grows on.
The corner stone of the Protestant Episcope
Chureh in Austin, Texas, was hid on the 11th
inst.