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MISCELLANEOUS.
\ Relie cf the Olden Times
The following letter is fiom the original man
uscript. handed us bv a friend, written by Ben
-amii. Hawkins, well known in the history of
Geoigiaas an Indian Agent. It will be read
with interest by the Citizens of Cherokee Geor
who novv inhabit, a country, which at the
Uateu the letter was the hunting ground of the
Cherokees. The only part ot the letter which
excited our wonder is that the writer (an o u
bachelor) should have won so much upon tje
regard of nature’s dames —the squaws.
Fort Finius. 4th of March, 1797.
How. my most estimable frienu, could you
bestow ten miles of compliment or. an old bach
elor and a long chapter on morals from your
drooping and melancholy city!—on one who has
traversed the Cherokee mountains and Creek
hills, for four mouths without a tent, with but
one bear skin and two blankets, and has not suf
fered himself to be stopped by rivers, rain or
snow. Can such a man who is easy and inde
pendent in bis circumstances, be in his senses?
He does not want money, and he has the happi
ness of being one among a few chosen friends
who jastly estimate each other. Hearanarra- ,
tive which must explain this enigma:—
Friday, Ist December, I sat out for Etawwau
(Etowah. — ed) and arrived there cold, wet and
hungry. I had dismissed my pilot and interpre
ter, and depended on the directions of an Indian
who pointed out iny way for me, and informed
me of two women—Sarah Watson and Sally
Hews—both hall breeds who spoke English well,
I missed the path, and travelling through the
woods, entered the town at the opposite end
from that intended. Here I applied to eight or
ten persons before I could get one to direct me
to the interpreters; and this was an aged woman.
She conducted me to the house of Ogoseetah,
the principal chief; his wife received me kindly,
and sent immediately for Sarah Waters. She
arrived, I informed her who I was and what I
wanted' She interpreted it to be* aunt, who
kindly replied—“ You must stay in the house
where you are—it is yours. I will go to the
town house; I have plenty for your horses, and
homminy, pork, fowls and potatoes lor yourself.
My husband will be proud of this visit when he
returns.” I accepted her (offer, and her niece
consented to stay with me while I remained.—
Mrs. Waters was formerly a wile of Col. Waters,
of Georgia—has two children by him, a boy and
a girl. The young man has been educated in
England, under the direction of his father, and
now resides in Georgia. My other interpreter
was a fine young widow, sixteen years old, who
surprised me by speaking correct English, and
saying she was proud of my having selected her
with Mrs. Waters, to explain the benevolent
views ol the U. States to her country women
In the evening I visited the old men and women
in the hothouse, and remained three hours with
them. They enquired with much anxiety into
their future prospects. I explained the object of
my mission, my love for the red women and de
termination if practicable, to better their situa
tion.
They expressed much satisfaction that they
might remain in their towns in peace, and that
the government meant seriously to assist them.
They would follow the advice of their great fath
er, General Washington. They would plant
cotton and learn to spin and weave it, and they
hoped I would get some wheels and cards for
them as they should be ready for them. They
could make corn enough, and were willing to la
bor, if they could be directed to turn it to ac
count.
The next day I was visited.by all the women
in the town, and I had a long and interesting
conversation with them. They informed me
that they performed almost all the labor them
selves; that the assisted them but little
and that in the corn. They generally made
plenty of corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, beans,
ground peas, cymblins.water and musk mellons,
gourds, cole worts and onions; they had planted
some cotton, made sugar, hair baskets, sifters,
earthen pots and pans. They had some hogs,
cattle and poultry. That the men hunted in the
proper season, and aided them with skins to pro
cure clothing and blankets such as I saw; but,
that this was not sufficient to make them com
foitivble,und th , poor old men, women and chil
dren y iukWm fPU O-Viitait V a»- T I
SB'* them, : aired in the hot house. That taey
suffered much for the want of salt; that tfiey |
used hut little from necessity, and when they
*v*re able to provide (or themselves plentifully
with meat, they were unable to preserve it for ,
the want of salt.
In the evening they told me that many men .
had been sent into their nation to their chiefs, ,
but I was the first who thought it worth the j
while to examine into fhojsitiiation ol the women
1 had addressed myself to them, and talked f
freely and kindly to them, and they were sure I t
meant to better their condition. They wou'd
follow mv advice ; they said they were healthy; (
lived to old age ; borne few had ague and fever , c
but that generally speaking they were never too |
unwell to labor. When they bore children, they
weretheirown midwives, could the mostol them 8
turn out the next day alter they had delivered ,
themselves, and pursue their ordinary occupa
tions. They bathed every morning in cold wa- (
ter, which made them healthy, and they some
of thorn suffered much anxiety of mind from the j
neglect ol their husbands, who were g : ven to j
change, and would often put them away without
assigning any cause. In such cases some had ,
destroyed the fruit of such a connection, some ,
had brought their pride in aid of them and sur- ,
moun‘edthe insult, and some had fallen a prey
to the constancy of affection, and died of their
own hands. ,
In every house I enter, I find the children ex- ]
tremely alarmed a the s : ght of me, and many ,
of them scream out. Yet when they are in- j
formed who l am, they execute any order I
give, with eagerness. I inquired particularly o!
the mothers what could be the reason of this
T hey answered that this town was the remains
of several towns formerly settled on Tugalo and
Keowee, who had been much harrassed by the
whites ; that the old people remembered their
former situation and sufferings, and frequently
spoke of them ; that these tales were listened to
by the children, ami made an impression which
showed itself in the manner I saw.
* * ■* * * * *
I shall leave this in a few days, and enter
again the Cherokee country. I received a lew
days past a new commission in company with
General Winchester, to run ’he line between the
citizens a id Creeks. Cucrekees and Chicka aws.
This is as difficult a trust as has been vested in
me, but if I live I will execute it. I have ap
plied myself to learn the Creek tongue,and with
some success. This Ido byway of amusement.
I ain not yet married, nor do I smoke or drink.
The Indians were a little disappointed on this
score, as well as at my speaking my mind frank
ly on all subjects, and not suffer them to play
the spoiled child. Pray remember me to the
family where you are, to your son. your neigh
bors, the H irrisons, and all our dear
friends. I have been Talking all day with Indi
ans, and close this at two o’clock in the morn
ing.
With sincere w ; shes that you may become
Queen of Tentcoliatches, I am
Affectionately yours,
Benjamin Hawkins.
Singular Prociiecy. —The subjoined predic
tion was made not three months since, about
the latter part of December, and by the last
news from Europe dark hints are thrown out
that the Emperor Nicholas met a violent death.
This prophecy may elucidate the mystery :
'■ F.re three months have passed, dating from
this hour, an assassination of a crowned head
will astonish and bewilder the magnates of Eu
rope, and overturn an empire in another quarter;
a traitor to his king, but a ioya! man to his God
and to his fellows, shall turn his strength against
his master, and raise the banner of the people.
This shall be sometime after the fust events ot
which I have spoken ”
The above prediction was made by the spirit
of Napoleon. Ic grand, • o one o r om distinguish
ed spiritual mediums, about ihe 20 h ot iar.t De
cember.—JPennsylvaniuni, 17<A imt.
Railroad Convention.
Griffin, Ga., March 14th, 1855.
Pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meet
ing of the citizens of the county of Henry, held
on the 6th day of February last, a convention
was this day held in the city of Griffin, to con
sider the projectof constructing a Railroad from
the city of Covington via McDonough, Griffin,
Greenville, Hamilton, to the city of Columbus,
Ga.
On motion of Col. A. A. Gaulding. Rev. W.
D. Martin, of the county of Meriwether was
called to the chair, and R. M. Stell and T. J
Gunn, requested to act as secretaries. ~
On motion of Maj. Henry Moor, the coun
ties interested in the construction of said Road
were called, when the following delegates ap
peared and enrolled their names:
From the county of Henry, H. Tomlinson, L.
H.Turner,A- W. Turner,Ber j. Morris,G..M. No
lan, I. W. Callaway, E. W. Beck, J. B. Crabb,
P. B. Turner, J. H. Low, T. D. Weems, A. W.
Walker, and R. M. Stell.
From the county of Spalding, J. B. Reid, A.
A. Gaulding, Thomas Brooks, Wm. Parker,
Henry Moor, Wm. Arnold, W. J. Jossey, Hend
ly Varner, Wm. Freeman, H. P. Kirkpatrick,
A. A. Porter, O. H. Johnson, E. P. Daniel, Wm.
Cline, Wm. Crittenden, J. N. Simmons, Wm.
M. Blanton, John Dobbs, Jason Burr, Garling
ton Leak, G. W. Prince. G. J. Green.
From the county of Pike, Leonard Worthy,
and Isaac McLeroy.
From the county of Meriwether, G. G. How
ard, Nathaniel King, P. M. Martin, H. R.
Harris, W. D. Martin, Freeman McClendon,
A l ’ 11 MM A*
A. Turner.
From the county of Harris, B. F. White, Ran
dal Morgan, T. J. Gunn.
On motion of A. A. Gaulding, Mr. J. B.
Cunningham, of the county of Muscogee, was
requested to take a seat in this Convention and
act as a delegate from said county.
On motion of A. A. Gaulding, the resolutions
and proceedings of a recent meeting held in the
county of Henry, were read by wait of ex
plaining the objects and business of this Conven
tion.
On motion of C. H. Johnson, the committee
consisting of Dr. J. N. Simmons, of the county
of Spalding; Levi H. Turner, of the county of
Henry; and W. W. Clark, of the county of
Newton; appointed by the recent meeting held
in the county of Henry, to procure a competent
surveyor to survey and locate said Railroad from
the city of Covington to the city of Griffin, were
requested to make their report.
Dr. J. N. Simmons reported that the commit
tee had not acted definitely and finally in refer
ence to the duties assigned them, and asks for
further time to consider the same, which was
granted.
On motion of Henry Moor, the chair appoint
ed the following gentlemen to act in conjunc
tion with the committee appointed by the meet
ing in the county of Henry, ; n procuring a compe
tent surveyor to survey and locate said Road to
wit: Col. T. Lomax, of the county of Musco
gee; Dr. C. C. Gibbs,ot the county of Harris;
Isaac McLeroy, of the county of Pike.
On motion of H. R. Harris, Rev. W. D. Mar
tin was .appointed on said committee for the
county of Meriwether.
On motion of G. G. Howard, the following
gentlemen were appointed as alternates to fill
any vacancy that shall happen in said commit
tee.
For the connty of Newton, John Harris,
Thomas F. Jones; for the county of Henry
Humphrey Tomlinson, A. C. Sloan: for the
county of Spalding, E.P. Daniel, H P. Kirk
patrick; for the county of Pike, W. D. Alex
ander, Giles Driver; lor the county of Meri
wether, H. R. Harris. G. G. Howard; for the
county of Harris, G. H. Bryan, Mathew Robert
son ; for the county of Muscogee, Jno. Gwin,
John E. Bacon.
On motion of C. H. Johnson, a committee con
sisting of two from each countv, were appoint
ed by the chair to prepare and report suitable
matter to this convention for its consideration to
wit: C. H Johnson, Chairman, and A. A.
Gaulding, for the county of Spalding ; A. W.
Turner and Geo. M. Noland for the county of
Henry; Leonard Worthy anj Isaac McLeroy,
for the county of Pike; Freeman McClendon
and Henry R Harris, for the county ot Meri
wether; B, F. White end Randal Morgan, for
i oaunty of
On motion the convention then adjourned uu
til 2 o’clock, P. M.
2 o’clock, P. M.
The convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment.
Mr. C. H. Johnson, from the committee ap
pointed to prepare and report business to this
meeting for its consideration, made the follow
ing report:
The committee appointed to report matter for
the action of this convention, beg leave to report
that, in their opinion the proposed Railroad from
Covington to Columbus via McDonough, Griffin
Greenville and Hamilton is practicable, and
can be built, and beg to offer tbe following reso
lutions :
Ist. Resolved, That we will build this Road,
and that it shall be known and styled tbe Middle
Ground Rail Road.
2d. Resolved , That it is expedient to survey
experimentally the route at present.
3d. Resolved, That a committee of five be ap
pointed to draft a charter to be presented
for passage to the next Legislature.
4th. Resolved , That a committee of three in
each of the counties of Pike, Meriwether, Har
ris and Muscogee, be appointed to procure the
right of way for the contemplated Railroad
Hirojgh their several counties, and that the
committee appointed for the counties of Spald
ing. Henry and Newton, are hereby requested
to retain their appointments until they have
obtained the right of way through their coun
ties.
sth. Resolved. That a committee of be ap
pointed in each of the counties of Newton
Henry, Spalding, Pike, Meriwether, Harris, and
Muscogee, to open books of subscription to build
said Railroad headed sj as to bind ail subscribers
as thoroughly as though tbe charter was now
obtained.—Rejected.
Tbe report of the Committee was taken up,
and the preamble first, second, third and fourth
resolutions read and adopted— seriatim.
The fifth resolution having been read, A. A.
Gaulding offered the following as a substitute—
which was read and adopted.
sth. Resolved. That a Committee of three be
appointed each for the counties of Newton.
Henry, Pike, Spalding, Meriwether Harris and
.Vluscogee, to ascertain the probable amount or
that Stock will be subscribed for the building of
said Road and that said Committee make report
thereof to the Board of Directors hereafter to be
provided.
Under the 3:1 Resolution adopted,the chairap
pointed the following Committee. To wit: Hon.
James H. Stark, Henty Moor, G. S. Green, A.
R. Moore and John B. Reid.
Under the 4th Resolution the Chair appointed
the following committees for the counties there
in named. To wit:
For the county of Muscogee, Archibald Kim
brough, John W. Jhompson and William A.
Redd.
For the county of Harris, George H. Bryan,
J. M. Mobly and Randall Morgan.
For the county of Meriwether—Dr. JosephStin
som. James Freeman and Dr. H. S. Wem’uush.
For ttre county of Pike, Cadesman Pope, Giles
Driver, William Pryor.
Under the sth Resolution the chair appointed
tbe following Committees for the purposes there
in specified.
For the county ot Newton—Permedas Rey
nolds, Lewis Z ;chry ana Shelly Downs.
For the county of Henry—Levi H. Turner.
A. C. Sloan and A. W. Walker.
For the county of Spalding—William J. Jos
sey. William Crittenden and l)r. J. N. Simmons.
For the county of Pike—W. D. Alexander,
John Foxwonh and Richard Johnston.
For the county of Meriwether—G. G. How
ard, F. McClendon and John H. McMath.
For the county of Harris—William 1 Hudson,
vs. O. Farley and N. H. Barden.
For the county of Muscogee—F. B. Nance,
Jo eph Downer nod Samuel Rutherford.
On motion of Georgo M. Nolan, T. D jWeems
was appointed by the chair upon the Committee
to procure the right of way through the county
of Henry to fill the vacancy now existing in said
Committee occasioned by the removal from s«dJ
county of William Watkins.
G. J. Green, Esq., submitted the following
Resolution which was read and adopted.
Be it further Retolved. That a commitfle of
fourteen be appointed by the chairman of this
meeting, whose duty it shall be to act as a Board
of Directors of this Railroad project, until tbe
organisation of the contemplated company.
Under the above resolution the Chair appoint
ed the following board of Directors.
For tbe county of Newton—John M. ClarV
and Dr. W. D. Conyers.
For the county of Henry—John H. Low and
John Stilwell.
For the county of Spalding—Dr. J. N. Sim
mons and John Dobbs.
For the county of Pike—W. D. Alexander
and Cadesman Pope.
For the county of Meriwether—Col. A. Wel
born and Hon. O. Warner.
For the county of Harris—James N. Ramsey
and Dr. E. C. Hood.
For the county of Muscogee—Wiley Williams
and Henry T. Hall.
_ P. M. Martin submitted tbe following resolu
tion, which was taken up, read and adopted .
Be it further Retolved, That a committee of
three, consisting of Col. A. A. Gaulding, Rr M.
Stell and J. M. Clark, be appointed to prepare
for publication an Address, setting forth tbe ad
vantages to be realized from the construction of
the Middle Ground Railroad, and that said Ad
dress be published in the American Union with
the request that it be copied by all papers friend
ly to the enterprise.
On motion, Dr. J. N. Simmons was appoyit
ed, by a unanimous vote. President of the Board'
j of Directors, whose duty itshould be to act in
that capacity until the Board of Directors should
meet and organize by the election of their own
’ officers. W
On motion of G G Howard, it was
That each and all of the committees ap|iointed
by this convention, have power to fill any vacan
cy that may hereafter occur, and that said com
mittees be instructed to do so. V
On motion of H. R. Harris, it was Retolved.
That the Board of Directors arrange the terms
of subscription and furnish a copy thereof to the
different committees appointed to ascertain the
probable amount of stock that can be raised in
the counties interested in the construction of said
Road.
On motion of G. J. Green, the thanks of .the
convention were tendered to the chairman and
secretaries, for the able and impartial manner in
which they have discharged the duties of the
offices they have filled in this convention.
On motion of Geo. M. Nolan, it was Ordered,
That the proceedings of this convention he
lished in the Columbus, Hamilton, Griffin and
Augusta papers, and that all others friendly to
the enterprise be requested to copy.
The convention then adjourned tine die
W. D. Martin, Chairman.
R. M. Stell, I c . .
T. J. Gunn,r SeCretaneß
-of the late Czar.
BY SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON.
In the recently published second volume of
Sir Archibald Alison’s “ History of Europe”
(new series), we find the following striking
portrait of the late Emperor of Russia:—
Nicholas I. is tbe greatest sovereign that Rus
sia has known since Peter the Great; in some
respects be is greater than Peter himself. Not
less energetic in character and ardent in im
provement than his illastrious predecessor. h< is
more thoroughly rational, and he has Hrorgbt
the nation forward more completely in the fatii
which nature had pointed out for it. Peter was
a Russian only in his despo’ism: his violence,
his cruelty, his benificence, his ardor for improve
ment, his patriotic ambition, were ail borrowed
from the states of Western Europe. As tfcese
states were greatly further advanced in the ca
reer of civilization than his was, his reforms
were in a great part premature, his improve
ments abortive, his refinements superficial. He
aimed at doing by imperial what so many ardent
men hav<-- endeavored to effect by democratic
despotism—to ingraft on one nation the instjtu j
-vs of miotVwr. unrf re Afr,>nn Jh<Ai
civilisation the fruits of it»^-natuiiy“..
tempt failed in his hands, as it has ever df--.-*..
those of his republican imitators, as it wilt do in
those nl their successors, whether on the throne
or in the tribune, to the ei.d of the world His
civilization was all externa! merely; it made a
brilliant appearance, but it did not extend be
neath the surface, and left untouched the strength
and vitals o f tbe state. He flattered himself he
had civilized Russia, because he ruled by a po
lice which governed it by fear, and an army re
tained it in subjection by discipline.
Nicholas, on the other band, is essentially
Russian in all his ideas. He is heart and soul
patriotic, not merely in wish, but in spirit and
thought. He wishes to impiove and elevate his
country, and he has done much to effect that no
ble object; but he desires to do so by developing,
not changing the national spirit, by making it
become a first Russia, not a second France or
England. He has adopted the maxim of Mou
tesquieu, that no nation ever attained to real
greatnpss but by institutions in conformity with
its spirit. He is neither led away by the thirst
for sudden mechanical improvement, like Peter
nor the praises of philosophers, like Catherine,
nor the visions of inexperienced philanthropy,
like Alexander. He has not attempted to erect
a capital in a pestilential marsh, and done so at
the expense of a hundred thousand- lives; uor
has be dreamt of mystical regeneration with a
visionrry sybil, and made sovereigns put their
hands to a holy alliance from her influence. He
neither corresponds with French atheists, nor
English democrats; he despises the praises of
the first, he braves the hostility of the last. His
maxim is to take men as they are, and neither
suppose them belter nor worse. He is content
to let Russia grow up in a Russian garb,
animated with a Russian spirit, and mould
ed by Russsian institutions, without the aid
either of Parisian communism or British
liber lism. The improvements he has effec
ted in the government of his dominions have
been vast, tbe triumphs with which his external
policy have been attended unbounded ; tut they
have all been achieved, not in imitation of, but
in oppo-ition to, the ideas,, of western Europe.
They bespeak, not less than his internal govern
ment, the national character of his policy. But
if success is the test o* worldly wisdom, he has
not been !ar wrong in his system, for he has
passed the Balkan, heretofore impervious to his
predecessors; he has conquered Poland, conver
ted the Euxine into a Russian lake, planted the
cross on the bastions of Erivan, and opened
through subdued Hungary a path to Constanti
nople.
Nature has given him all the qualities fitted
for such an elevated des’iny. A lofty stature
and princely air give additional influence to a
majestic countenance, in which the prevailing
character is resolution, yet not linmixed with
sweetness Like Wellington, Caesar, and ma ,y
other of the great men recorded in history, bis
expression has become more intellectual as he
advanced in years, and became exercised in the
duties of sovereignty, instead of the stem routine
of military discipline. Exemplary in all the
relations of private life, a faithful husband and
an affectionate father, he has e-hibiled in a bril
liant court, and when surrounded bv every temp
tation which life can offer, tbe simplicity and
affections ot patriarchal life. Yet is he not a
perfect character. His virtues often border upon
vices. His excellencies are akin to (.elects.—
Deeply 'tnpressed with the responsibility of his
situation, bis firmness has sometimes become
sternness, his sense of justice degeneiat, d into
e» verity. (Sir Archibald explains, in a loot
note :—“ It is in regard to political ofiances ot a
serious dye, however, that this sevrity chiefly
applies ”j He knows how to distinguished the
innocent from the guilty, and has often evinced
a noble and magnanimous spirit in separating
the one from the other, and showing oblivion ol
injury, even kindness to the relatives ot those
who h«d conspired against his throne and life:
huf towards the guility themselves he has not
been equally compassionate. He has cot always
let the passion of the contest pass away with its
termination. He is an Alexander the Great in
resolution, but not in magnanimity. We wants
the last grace in the heroic character —he odes
not know bow to forgive.
From the Charleiton Courictk
European Intelligence.
We leceived by yesterday’s Mail, our foreign
files of papers and letters by the Africa.
The Liverpool Times of Saturday morning,
not only contains the proceedings of Parliament
of Friday night, the 2d instant, and tbe remaiks
of- Lords Clarendon and Palmerston, announcing
,tbe death of tbe Czar, which have already ap
peared in our telegraphic column, but the follow
ing leading editorial on the subject:
“This event was announced to Parliament
last night by the Ministers of the Crown as
having taken place, and the sensation which it
produced in both branches ot tbe Legislature
was not greater than that which it will cause
throughout Europe and the world. Os the cer
tainty of the Emperor’s death, no doubt need be
entertained. Lord John Russell, who is now in
the Prussian capital, first telegraphed home that
he had been struck by apoplexy,—was on the
point of death, aud had just taken leave of his
family. This was shortly followed by another
telegraphic message from the Brit'sh Minister at
Berlin, to the effect that he actually expired at
St. Petersburg yesterday morning atone o’clock.
“It is hardly possible to overrate the impor
tance of the extinction of this single life in the
present circumstances of this and other coun
tries. Its effects must be great and immediate,
and it is more than probable that the bloody
struggle impending before Sevastopol, in which
.-thousands ol lives would certainly be sacrificed,
“fnay be spared by the event which we announce
this morning. In the case of the extinction of
a despotic monarch like the Emperor of Russia,
whose will was the law of fifty or sixty millions
of people, the policy which he embodied while
liviqg, dies with him, and the restoration of
X,pear& becomes, under tbe circumstances, less a
a matter of doubt than of certainty.
“ The fate which has overtaken this great but
unscrupulous Monarch, supposing him to have
died a natural, arid not like many of bis prede
cessors, a violent death, demonstrates, ill the
strongest possible manner, how feeble the most
potent become when unsustained by that morai
power which is stronger than cannons or bayo
nets, or the most deadly insrrum-nts of war.—
Twelve months back, before I he declaration of
hostilities, Nicholas Romanoff, who now lies a
mass ot clay in his ancestral halls on the Neva
was the most pioud, the m *st powerful, and the
most arrogant soveieign on this planet; but this
sma'l interval of time has served to reduce him
to a condition more pitiable than the humblest
of his serfs, for in his nefarious attempr to sub
jugate a weak and a near neighbor, he outiaged
justice, provoked the hostility of the Wes'ern
Powers, stirred up resistance throughout Europe
to bis dictation, and lived long enough to disco
ver that the prepared streng* h of a long reign
and an almost boundless empire, was utterly fu
tile in tbe pursuit of a bad purpose. The most
conservative ruler in the world fell almost lite
rally by bis own band when he pushed his ag
gressions on the property of others beyond the
bounds of endurance. The violation of the
commandment which told him to respect bis
neighbor’s property ended in his destruction
in that prostration of tr e mental and the physi
cal powers which superindueed apoplexy.
“ Although our enemy, it is useless to deny
that the lead Czar was a gieat man as well as a
mighty potentate. Notwithstanding the mel
ancholy fact of a quar'er of a million of human
creatures having perished, one way or another,
since this war began—sacrificed, in point of fact,
to the insatiable ambition ol an unscrupulous ru
ler, yet he had many tine qualities of head and
heart; and to such ot the British nation as set
tled in Russia, he was extremely partial, and al
ways paid them the most marked attention.—
The lion prays not upon carcasses. We can al
sord to do justice to departed worth even in the
person ol a foe, and it is not too much to say that
if lie had terminated his career without the 1 urk
ish aggression which p oduced this war, histoiy
would have enrolled him amongst tbe most in- '
leilectual and successful Monarch* of innder j
Europe. Perhaps if is as well for tbe future I
of the world that this outbreak of Russian
>. ifliwy wU-.v ,<• A* ,y -V
e-nrill now be (Tiloreed which ffecUiallv pre
its repeti*ion. The fangs of the woil will
oe drawn, and the lesson which he has been
taught will tell upon his successors for centuries
“ The Czar was born on the 6th of July, 1790
and ii he had lived until summer would have at.
tained his 59th year. He died not of old age.
but ol a broken heart—of the disappointment
caused by the utter failure of all his schemes ol
aggrandisement, the prostration of ail his hopes
—a terrible example of the effects of uuhniiow
ed ambition.
“ Before a great event like this, all tbe other
foreign affairs of the week fade into insignifi
cance.
In relation to the alleged insurrection in Aus
tralia, the London Morning Herald, of Thurs
day, March 1, publishes - dispatch dated Trieste,
28th u!t., to the following effect:
“ Dispatches from Ceylon at the Ist announce
that the people of Australia have risen and de
dared their independence. Some troops sent to
put down tbe insurrection had fought sanguina
ry engagements. Melbourne was in a state ot
siege. This rews has, of course, arrived by the
Overland Mail, and no doubt refers to the dis
turbances at the diggings. The Australian d-de
are not given, and the dispatch has evidently
been cooked for continental circulation ”
“The Fcench Government still maintain* that
Prussia, as a preliminary condition to taking
part in the conference of Vienna, must engage
her-eltto abide by the majority, whatever Hat
may be, and Prussia, or rather General de Wed
ell, decline- that engagement, asserting that th •
point is one which a proper matter for discus
sion by the conference which he asks to be ad
mitted to.”
We find the following dispatches relative to
the Conferences at Vienna:
“Paris Feb. 26.—Colonel d’O'berg, aide-de
camp oi Genera! de Wedell, arrived at Paris on
Sunday evening from Berlin.
“Vifnna. Feb. 26 —Official intelligence has
been received here of the departure of h r rd John
Russell from Paris for Vienna via Berlin and
Dresden. '*
“Berlin, Feb 27 —Lord J. Russell had an
audience of the King of the Belgians on Sunday.
He steeps at Magdeburg to-night, and is expect
ej here to morrow. Privy Councillor Titoff, the
Russian Plenipoten’iary to the Vienna Confer
ences, has arrived here. Baron Pokesch von
Oaten has been appointed second Austrian Pleni
potentiary to the Vienna Conferences.
‘Vienna Feb. 28.—An official article in the
Oesteireichiec.be Correspondenz says, that a gen
et ai basis has already been formed, for securing
the integrity of Tuikey, for i reventing the fu
sure encroachments of individual Powers, aud
lor maintaining the privileges of all the Chris
tian subjects of the Porte witlfsut infer.ering
with the rights of the Sul’an. Alter observing
that the negociations for peace begin under fa
vorable auspices, the Oesterreichische Corres
por.denz announces the proximate arrival ol one
of the most distinguished statesmen of Turkey,
ot M. de Titoff, and of Lord John Russell. It
adds that Ba on de Bourquene, the French Am
bassador. enjoys the full confidence of his sover
eign. and is moreover, so well versed in Oriental
affairs that he is not likely to have an Adlatus
[t also announces that Baron Prokesch will at
tend tbe confeience.
“Berlin, March I.—Lord John Russell arrived
here yesterday forenoon. He waited upon Baron
de Manteuffel. in the afternoon. He had an au
dience ot ft e King to-day. M. de Wedell, the
Piu<-sian Envoy, left Paris on Thursday night
(or Berlin He will return to Paris on Tuesday
or Wednesday next.
Berlin. March 2 —The dinner at the Court
to-day, in hoiitu of Lord John Russell, has been
def-rred.
“Cologne. March 1 —lntelligence from Berlin
states that Lord John Russell is to remain nere
only two days. The opening of the Vi -nna
Conference being so very near it is do. bMu 1
whether Prussia will be represented there at
the beginning. Baron Usedom and Count Al
vensleben are designated as Prussian Envoy.
There is a rumor that the negotiations have
been interrupted through unexpected difficul
ties.”
Lord Lucan has returned from the Crimea
and stated on the 2d instant., in his seat in th»-
House of Lords, that he had requested Lord
Hardinge to have his conduct investigated by a
Court Martial.
Tbe Paris correspondent of the London Daily
News, says ;
“A rumor prevailed at Genoa on the 22d, that
a French frigate had been lost with all on board,
in the Straits of Bonifacio, between Corsica and
Sardinia. No particulars of this disaster are
given. The vessel in question was said to be
the Semillante frigate, with a crew of 000 men
on board. I regret to state that this news is but
toe true, and I tear tbe number of men on board
is larger than above reported.”
The Paris Constitutionnel says:
“We have received a confirmation of tbe sad
news which has been these two days rumored
about in Paris. The frigate lost in the Strait of
Bonifaci > is the Semillante, which recently left
Toulon with four hundred soldiers on board.
The vessel struck on one of the reefs in that
passage, and immediately filled. Tbe crew and
passengers, making together seven hundre.l men.
all perished. No other details have beeß yet
received of this catastrophe.”
The lamentable loss of the frigate Semil’ante
has created a most painful sensation in Paris
Seven hundred men have perished,together with
a vast quantity of cannon, mortars, sbeils, gun
powder and ► hot. Nothing was saved—not a
shred. All that has been washed ashore—so far
as is known to Government—is two pairs ot
trowsers. The Semillante was goieg to the East,
and five hundred of the victims on board of her
were troops. Singular to relate, the lather and
grandfather of the captain of tbe Semillaute both
perished by vessels foundering at sea.
The well known commission buyers at Man
chester, Messrs. Gibson, Ord A Co., have sus
pended payment. Their liabilities are supposed
ro l-e about (£30,000. of which jCIO.OOO is owing
to the Manchester and Salford Bank, and the re
mainder will chiefly fall upon bouses in the
cloth trade.
The Constantinople correspondent of toe
London Morning Ohionicle, after describing the
impatience ol the Z uiaves for an assult, states
r ha* a large armed deputation waited upon Gen
Canrobert to insist that he should give orders
for Ihe storming, and to declare that unless the
orders were giveu at once they themselves would
make an attack forthwith. The General tried
to reason with them, hut they only bec.amemore
obstinate and determined. Seeing that some
decisive step must be taken to preserve authority
and prevent insurrection, Canrobert oidered out
the 47th regiment of the line, and a battery ol
field artillery, and having seized the ringleaders
in this demand ala Zrioaee, shot twelve of them
in presence of the whole camp—a piece olener
getic action which had at once the happy effect
of rendering the survivors much more satisfied
with the conduct of the siege and less disposed
to try the resisting power of Fort Constantine,
and i*s sister batteries, on their own account.
The correspodent adds ;
‘■Tb s affair, which I have every reason to be- |
lieve real, was, ol course, as much cs possible
hushed up in the camp ; l.ut that it is not a mere
idle rumor i may venture to assert, having heard
it from a source not likely to he misinformed.”
Nesselrode.
Count Charles Robert Nesselrode, Chancellor
of the Russian Empire, and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, was born on the 14th December, 1780,
in Lisbon, where his (utber, at the time, was ac
credited as Russian Ambassador. The Nessel
rode family is of German origin, and lived for
merly on he lower Rhine. At an early ege,
Nesselrode devoted himself to the study of di
plomacy In 180‘2 be was attached to the Sega
'ion in Rer'in in 1805 he went as Secretary of
L-gation to Holland, and in 18'i7, as Counsellor
of the Russ an Legation to Pm is. His decided
abilities soon gained him the confidence «>l the
Emperor Alexander. In the war of Russia
against France, he concluded the treaty of Bres
lau, on the 19th of March, 1813. With Metter
nirh, he drew up ti e preliminaries of the treaty
of i'oplilx bet wen Russia and Austria. In she
campaign of 1814, he followed the Krnperor to
a-., «. Gmf- —V —* -*■ «r C.l-ret. *.l
Ot ailment, c.ie act of the qua.lViple alliuace.
In tiie rarnous night of the 30th viaich, ; sainted
by Count Orlow, be stipulated (he conditions of
the surrender of the city of Paris with Marshal
.Maririont. He signed all note* and declarations
of the Allied Powers, ai d also the peace of Paris,
on the 30lh of May, 1814 In all these transac
tions, bis opinion was regarded as of great 1
weight and importance At the Congress ol
Vienna, us plenipotentiary, he acted a most
prominent part. On the 13th of March, IBts,
he signed the act of the Allies which pronounc
ed banishment against the Emperor Napoleon,
flu .iccompamed the Emperor Alexander to toe
Congresses of Aix la Chapelle, Troppau, Lai- '
bach, and Verona, aniWistingnished himself, on
all occasions, as a very active man ot business.
Nicholas, like Alexander, placed implicit con
fidence in Nesselrode, and granted him in 1828 a
considerable donation as a reward for his servi
ces. Under bis reign, Nesselrode, cs a statesman
and diplomatist, succeeded in securing to the in
ternal end foreign policy of Russia a progressive
imiiortauce. The treaty of Hurtkiar-Skelessi;
the preponderating influence of Russia upon the
affairs o! the newly established kingdom of
G>eece; and the treaty of July, 1840, are prin
cipally the results ol his diplomatic activity, in
1848 and ’49 Nesselrode’s policy was to keep
aloof from the distractions which convulsed Eu
rope, until the defeat of Austria offered bun an
opportunity to attach, as he supposed, this
treacherous empire to the interests of Russia.
About the same time he availed himself very
dexterously ol the insurr* clion which broke out
against the Poite, in the Danubian Piincipalttieq
in securing wider scope, bv toe treaty of Balta-
Liman, to the influence ol the Czar. After the
convulsions of 1849. tie aim or Nesselrode’s
policy was to strengthen the aliiauo.- ot the
eastern powers, with a view of securing the
peace ot Europe. In this las’ oriental question,
Nesselrode, since Ihe commencement ot thedu
fic iities. represented ia St Petersburg the prin
ciple of moderation and peace. On all occasions
he has proved himself a most dexterous arid ex
perienced diplomatist and politician. He occu
pies in ibis respect, by far ihe lofriert position
emopgst the European statesmen ot the pievut
day The Emperor N.cbolas, constantly evince !
toe deep-st respect lur the opinions of Ness; !-
rode, and has acknowledged hi* gratitude to the
veteran staft.-'oen by elevating him to the high
est honors Nesselrode, at this moment, is the
most important man in the empire of Russia.
Upon him devolves the immense responsibility
ol leading the ship ol State—tossed ahu it in the
most teii'tie tempest (hat ever raged on the po
li'ical hor zon ot Europe—into a safe harbor.
His old and trembling hand will have to gras -
the helm which the strangely suuden death oi
Nicholas leaves exposed to the fury of half a
worh! in arms. To Nesselrode, therefore, ali
eyes turn iu anxious expectation.— U. S. Ga
xelte.
The Pursuit or Baker.— The New York
Express ol Frulay savs:
Some 30 or 40 officers have been busy in scour
ing New Jeisev. in the vicinity of Amboy, for
rbe past two or three days. Captains Wiiliams
and Sprieght returned to this city la°t. evening,
and report that the man resembling Bake', ami
of whom so many various descriptions have
Van given, 1 :rr-s out to be a echo u i* „-«.*er pre
ciiely representing Baker in • veiy paiticular of
hi' inpcarauce, dress. &<•, who for several days
has been ou a spree,and sought *he woods in or
der to keep the fact of his indulgence in ardent
«P'.ri - iV-im his employers In one of his fit.* of
drunk: nnen, he tell over a pile stones and in
jiu-'d h -i left side, thus causing him to'wdk
lam*.
In accordance with, these circumstances hav
ing !'"«;> discovered by 'he pul ce. lh'*y have gi
ven up th - eha* • at least iu this quarter.
Vb** cer.-nii supposition now stems to be.
■ hat li • Hi'! ictually proceed 'o sea in the Is
abella Jewett.
London Bridge Completed.
The Loudon Bridge so long considered by
outsiders as only having a mythical existenew
•nay now take it? position aingog realities. Its
cooshnetioa Kargs no longer upon any such
coi tmponcies as time and tide, those hitherto
potent barriers to its progress; but here it. stands
stretching away from one shore to tho other aa
accomplished work. On Saturday morning the
17th. the last blow was struck, and the work
reported finished. Preparations were immedi
ately made for despatching a train across, end
thence to Lenoir’s six, miles above, to which
point the track is completed. The pleaemg task
of running the firs* Locomotive across was as
signed to Mr. Krenson, as well as on account of
bis well known skill and fidelity as the fact that
he is longest in employ of the company—hav
ing been connected with the road from its com
mencement. His fine Engine, the ‘“Tellie*,”
trimmed with evergreen and dags, took her po
sition at the lead of the train, and about three
in the evening moved on towards the Bridge,
where a Urge concourse waited to witness the
transit. As the train moved the bridge
there was no cracking or creaking of the stric
ture; no querulous uneasy complaining of the
joints as if they demurred at the weight thus
sadden.y thrust upon them—nothing could be
heard save a firm ringing sound of the whole
under the wheels, like the ringing of a sonad
neam of wood As the train neared the oppo
site hank of the river, the engine sent up a low/
triumphant blow of her whistle, which Capt.
Jaqties’ boat then lying at the wharf evidently
considered defiant, for she immediately whistled
in no gentle tone her disapprobation at seeing '
her favorite element “got over” in any such
roundabout manner. Alter sundry interlocuiory
whistle, however, the matter was amicably ar
ranged, end both sent up a jubilant peal in uai
son as the train moved off the bridge.
The rest of the trip to Lenoir’s and back—
through the obstacles that nature had piled in *
’be way, but which mac. has removed—was ae
coinplished speedily! and safely, and about six
o’clock the ’raid arrived at Loudon.
Although' this was no formal excursion, and
gotten up with no pomp and circumstance, yet)
there was manifest a general spontaneous ox-
preesion of joy not frequently wanting amid
more elaborate preparation.
In conniption vvit'ijthe above, some details of
the Bridge '.nay r.ot be unin’eresting. Toe dis
tance spanned is 1700 feet; the elevation of the
track above low water mark is SO feet. The
bridge is built upon the plan long and favorably
known to the railroad world as “Howe’s Patent
Truss.” . The work of framing and raising the
structure has been done under the immediate
supervision of Mr. D C. Hunt, agent for the.,
Contractors,Messrs. Maxwell Briggs & Co , who
in spite of the many buftl,ng circumstances has
firu-hed his work in a manner creditable to him
self, as it is highly satisfactory to ail others coa.
cert.ed. —London Free Prett, 21st inst.
California Items. *
Business at San Francisco was entirely pros
trated, caused by the suspension of five banking
houses. The news of Messrs. Page, Bacon &
Co’s, difficulty reached San Francisco on the
17th ult., causing a great run on the bouse. They
met the run, and paid a half million out, and a
meeting of merchants and bankers declared the
house to be sound, which restored confident?,
and afTaiis seemed to wear a better aspect.
On the 22d, however. Page, Bacon & Co,
suspended, followed on the 23d by Adams & Co.,
Wells, Fargo & Co., Robinson <St Co., and the
Wright’s Miners’ Deposit Bank.
The excitement was intense. Adams &Co ,
closed all their branches without paying a dollar,
except in San Francisco, where on the 22d they
stood u run of two hundred thousand dollars.
Wells, Fargo Me Co., closed at San Francisco, out -»
the country branches paid as long as tbe-inein
lasted, and were still paying as fast as the coin
could be obtained in exchange for dust and bars,
l his house announced tha’ tiiey would resume
m San Francisco on the 26 h.
It was feared that Adams & Co. could not re
sume under 60 days, if at all.
Page, Bacon b Co. would probably resume m
a few days—theirdepositois having granted oa
extension on @4OO 000. Their assets are large.
These failures c used a detention of the
steamer until the 20i.h. There were rumors of
heavy laiiurr.r:: :ithe merchants, blit noth >■
lug t y r -a (
Adams it Co.. hcAvover, rn»n Stored abf'Ve, am "J
not connected, it is s»id, with Adams’ Kxprest;
Co., in the UniUd States. The latter house,
therelore, will not be affected by the failure r<;
(erred to. We leaiu also the other failuies in
San Francisco have no effect on the same firms
in New York.
Owing to the scarcity of water, but little
gold had beeu taken iioun the mines. Heavy
iains commenced on t>e 25th, and still continued
when the steamer left.
No election of United States Senator had yet
• ak-n place. The joint convention adjourned
sine dn on the 16th, by a vote of sixty-three to
lorry lour. Those voting in the minority were
principally the triends of Senator Gwin.
The news from Kern river is of an excitiap.
character. The miners were said to be avera
ging from ten to twenty dollars per day. The
steamers going there were crowded with passen
gers.
On the mornir.g of the 13th, the St. Charles
Hotel and Holeman’s Hotel, San Francisco,
were destroyed by fire—the loss being estimated
at fSO COO.
In Nevada, sixteen houses were burnt on tbs
IS h, arid in Stockton twenty-five houses were
destroyed by fire on the 21st.
Indian troubles were on she increase. Some
ten white men and about seventy Indians were
killed.
Native Calif :.,.n !.-d held several meeting* ,
at gat. Francisco, toe tatting steps to emigrate to
Sonora.
The Mariposa Gold Mining Company, a Lon
don concern, had been sold out by th? Sheriff.
Washington’s biithday was celebrated at San
Francisco by the firemen, wish a parade, and ap
propriate ceremonies in the Metropolitan Thea-
Owirgtothe monelary difficulties,
arrived ships were riot discharging.
The steamers Oiegon from Panama, Sierra
Nevada and San Juki, hail arrived up.
The Oregon Legislature adjourned on the Ist
ult.
The Lfgisia uie of Washington Territory,
have selected Olympia, as the capital of that
Territory.
A letter from Messrs. Page, Ikcon & Co,
1 states that they would certainly resume business
on the Ist of March at San Francisco, aud al all
their branches.
Th Northern Light brings Sandwich lelaad
dates to the 3d of Feb., but there i 6 no news n
importance.
1 he United States ship Portsmouth, had arriv
ed at Tahiti, al! well, aud wouid soon sa l direct
for the United States.
I he outbreak at Australia occurred at the Bal
larat mines on account or the commissioners
having dt manded, w ith drawn swords and fixed
bayonets, I censes of the miners. The ven
geance cl the miners was aroused, and they
mustered in great numbers on the 30'h of Nov.,
wbe.u a ekiimish ensued, which was renewed
on D-;c 4, when a terrific fight occurred. Sunm*
100 soldiers and 150 mounted troops proceeded
Hureka camp and died upon tlie msurgen'B.
Twelve were killed and many wounded. The
soldiers lost 7, and 15 reported of the mounted
troops shot from the bush. The miners 'close
to f-*y more licenses, and several districts ere
supposed to be in a state of revolution.
I hr Ocean Steamers. —Some cf the news
-1 «p< rs an* laboring under an error as to tire ef
'cc-ol lhe Pn sident’s veto of the O- can Mail
I't'.'ur er bill. That measuie proposed to a pro
,,.ia*.> $850,000 a year for the seiviee !o five
years, and repeal the reserving t - Con
-r■ ■ -*i liet? right to give mx months notice of the
discontinuance of the contract. It also required
he Collin.*-Company to add another steitner to
'*;« fmc. Ti-e appropiiat'i'n, as it now stand*
:n the Navy Appruprraiion bill, is 5*.0,000 (nr
i. single year, ending the 30'h June, 1850. Tho
right to give notice is retained.