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nabozho soon brings his adversary to the ground, a lifeless corpse- Then uttering his war-cry, “ and ta king his scalp as a trophy, he called the woodpecker to come and receive a reward for his iijformation. He took the blood of the Manito and tubbed it on the woodpecker’s head, the feathers of which are red to this day ! This is certainly veiy satisfactory ns to the cause of the redness of the bird’s head. Manabozho seems to be quite an important person age in Indian legendary story. He is called also “ the Great Incarnation of the North;” and appears, from all that we can see, to have been a very great scamp, full of tricks and cunning devices, by which he always •contrives to circumvent someone or another. He has as many shapes as a Proteus, meets with a vast num ber of adventures, and occasionally gets himself into fidiculous scrapes, though he also manages to extricate himself. In the relation of some of the exploits, there Is a touch of sly and simple humor which is quite amu sing. On one occasion his grandmother complained, that she was in want of fish oil. Manabozho mukes all ready, and goes out into the middle of the lake to fish. “ He put his line down, saying, ‘ Me-she nah-mn gwai (the name of 'he king-fish,) take hold of my bait.’ He kept repeating this for some time. At last the King of the Fishes said, ‘ Manabozho troubles me : here trout, take hold of his line.’ The trout did so. He then commenced drawing up his line, which vvas very hea vy, so that his canoe stood nearly perpendicularly [over if); but he kept crying out * Wha ee-he '. wha-ee-he!' till he could see the trout. As soon as he saw him, he spoke to him: ‘Why did you take hold of rayhook? Esa ! Esa ! (shame ! shame !) you ugly fish !’ The trout, being thus rebuked, let go “ Manabozho put his line again into the water, say ing : ‘ King of fishes, take hold of my line !’ But the king-of fishes told a monstrous sunfish to take hold of it; for Manabozho was tiring him with his incessant calls. He again drew up his line with difficulty, say ing as before, * Wha-ee-he '. wha-ee-he !’ while his • a noe was turning in swift circles. When be saw the sunfish, he cried, ‘Esa ! Esa ! you odious fish ! Why did you dirty my hook bv taking it in your mouth? Let go, I say, let go !’ The sunfish did so, and told the king of fishes what Manabozho said. Just at that moment the bait came near the king, and hearing Ma nabozho continually calling out, ‘ Me-slre-nah-ma-gwai, take hold of my hook !’ at last he did so, and a'lowed himself to be drawn up to the surface, which he had no sooner reached than, at one mouthful, he took Ma nabozho and his canoe down !” Manabozho appears to have been here in the pre dicament of Count O’Reilly, who w'ent to take Algiers; Algiers took him! Our Indian friend, however, is not without resource : he finds his war-club still in his ca noe ; and begins to avail himself of it, by striking at the heart c c the fish; upon which his majesty of the fishes, observes (very naturally, we think,) to those a round him, “ I am sick at my stomach for having swal lowed this dirty fellow, Manabozho.” By repeated ap plication of blows to the heart, the fish is destroyed, iloats ashore, and Manabozho makes his escape. We are tempted to read you many more extracts from these very amusing nrid interesting volumes, but we must check our desire. Besides the legendary tales, all of which have a very clear and excellent moral, there are some beautiful fables and allegories. W e must read you one or two short ones. Our first selec tion is from the Algic: “ The Vine and the Oak. ’ “ A vine was growing beside a thrifty oak, and had just reached that height at which it requires support. »Oak,’ said the ivy vine, ‘ bend your trunk so that you may support me.’ I My support,’ replied the oak, ‘is naturally yours, and you may rely on ray strength to bear you up, but I am too large and solid to bend But your arms around me, my pretty vine, and I will manfully support and cherish you, if you have an am bition to climb, even as high as the clouds. While I thus hold you up, you will ornament my rough trunk with your pretty itreen leaves and shining scarlet ber ries. They will be as frontlets to my head, and I shall ; stand in the forest like a glorious warrior, with all his plumes. We were made by the master of life to grow together, that by our union the weak should me made strong, and the strong render aid to the weak.* ‘ But I wish to grow independently,' said the vine : ‘why can* not you twine around me, and let me grow up straight, and not be a mere dependent upon you ? ‘Nature,’ answered the oak, ‘ did not so design it. It is impos sible that you should grow to any height alone; and if you trv it, the winds and rain, if not your own weight, will bring you to the ground Neither is it proper for von to run your arms hither and yon,among the trees. The trees will begin to say—’ It is not my vine—-it is a stranger—get thee gone, I will not cherish thee. By tiiis time thou wilt be so entangled among the different branches, that thou cans’t not get back to the oak; and nobody will then admire thee, or pity thee.’ ‘All m e !’ said the vine, * let me escape from such a desti ny:’ and with this, she twined herself around the oak, and they both grew and flourished together.” 1 The moral here is obvious and excellent, and the al legory well sustained throughout. Here is one more, a fable, which might almost pass fur a translation from, or at least an imitation of, JFj -:„p. “The Pigeon Hawk and the Tortoise.” From the OJjibwa, or Chippewa. « The Pigeon-Hawk bantered the Tortoise for a race, but the Torto-se declined it, unless he would consent to run several days’ journey. Ihe Hawk very quick- ! ly consented, and they immediately set out. Inc 1 or toise knew, that if he obtained the victory, it must be \jy oat diligence ;so ho went down into the earth, arfd taking a straight line, stopped for nothing. *1 he ; Hawk, on”the contrary, knowing that he could easily beat his competitor, kept carelessly flying this wav and that way in the air, stopping now to visit one, and then another, till so much time had been lost, that when he came in sight of the winning point, the Tortoise had just come up out of the earth, and gained the prize. There is one thing to be borne in mind during our perusal of t’nese extracts. They may appear to be des titute of originality, the leading ideas of both being fa miliar to us; but it must be remembered thatthese are translations of Indian oral apologues, bearing in their diction and mode of expression all the marks of great antiquity; and consequently as far as their authors are concerned, they can lay a just claim to the merit of inven tion. They are most interesting also in another point of view, viz: as showing the existence among the abo rigines of a regular mythology—a piece of information which is new to us, at least, and we think also new to many others- They had also their poetical compositions, specimens of which, botn in the original and rendered into pretty English verses, our author has favored us with Would you like to hear some of this Indian Poetry ? Here is a little love song—observe its great simplicity; it is but the repetition of a few words, yet the rhythm and mea sure are exact and regular. “ Ne ne moo sha Agile—aghe Ne ne moo sha San gee naun ih We yea. We yea. Ma kow Ka-go ka go We au nin Dush ween e We yea. Shing gain E me she kain We yea.” Os which the following lines render the general sense, though they do not appear to be a very close translation: M My sweet-heart How 1 love you My sweet-heart How I love you Ah me ! Ah me ! When I think of you Do not hate me When I think of you Do not hate me Ah me ! Ah me!” But in the tale called Leeijnau, or the lost daughter, there is some poetry of a higher order. We may judge »jf the thoughts and imagery of the original thro’ the English dress in which it is presented to us. It is the maiden’s evening song. “ Spirit of the dancing leaves _ Hear a throbbing heart that grieves, Not for joys this world can give, But the life that spirits live. Spirit of the foaming billow, Visit thou my nightly pillow, Shedding o’er it silver dreams, Os the mountain brooks nnd streams, Sunny glades, and go'den hours. Such ns suit thy buoyant powers; Spirit of the starry night, Pencil out thy fleecy light, That mv footprints still may lead To the blush-let Miscodeed,* •Miacodeed, -he name of a pretty little w ild flower, w hich appear* in the spring; the Claytoma Virgimca Or the flower to passion true, Yielding free its carmine hue : Spirit of the morning dawn, Waft thy fleecy columns on, Snowy white, or tender blue, Snch as brave men love to view. Spirit of the green wood plume Shed around thy leaf-perfume, Such as spring from buds of gold Which thy tiny hands unfold. Spirits hither quick repair. Hear a maiden’s evening prayer.” Leclinau was a pensive, timid maiden who loved to wander in the remote haunts and recesses of the woods, indulging her dreamy imaginings. Her favorite place of retirement, was under a low, broad-topped young pine, beneath whose whispering shade she loved to sit. One evening, whilst leaning pensively against its trunk, she hears herself suddenly addressed in the following strains: “ Maiden, think me not a tree, But thine own dear lover free ; Tall and youthful in my bloom, With the bright green nodding plume. Thou art leaning on my breast, Lean for ever there, and rest! Fly from man, that bloody race, Pards, assassins, bold and base; Quit their din and false parade For the quiet lonely shade. Leave the windy birchen cot, For my own light happv lot. O’er thee I my veil will fling. Light as beetle’s silken wing; I will breathe perfume of flowers O'er thy happy evening hours ; I will in my shell canoe. Waft thee o’er the waters blue ; I will deck thy mantle fold With the sun’s last rays of gold. Come, and on the mountain free, Rove a fairy bright with me ” The pensive dreamer yields to the invitation, and re solves to quit her father’s lodge, in order to live in the haunted grove with her fairy lover. She is seen no more by parents or Iriends; hut “one nigh.,” says the narra'ive, “ a party of fishermen, who were spearing fish near the Spirit Grove, descried something resem bling a female figure standing on the shore. As the evening was mild and the waters calm, they cautiously paddled their canoe ashore, but the slight ripple of the water created alarm. The figure fled; but they re cognised, in the shape and dress, as she ascended the bank, the lost daughter, and they saw the green plumes of her lover, waving over his forehead, as he glided lightly through the forest of young pines.” This tale strongly reminds us of some of the Irish and Scottish fairy legends, and evinces a considerable degree of fancy and poetic imagination, chastened by a correct taste, and guided by proper judgment in the conduct of the narrative. One extract more, and we will close the book for the present. ladilla is changed into a bird, and becomes the type of the Robin Redbreast. Here is a transla tion of the song which he sings at the moment of his transformation. iadiixa’s. song. “ In the boundless woods, there are berries of red, And fruits of a beautiful blue, Where, by nature’s own hand, the sweet singers are fed, And to nature they ever are true. We go not with arrow and bow to the field, Like men of the fierce ruddy race, To take away lives which they never can give— And revel the lords of the chase. If danger approaches, with instant alarm, We fly to our own leafy woods, And there, with an innocent carol and charm, We sing to our clear little broods. At morning we sally in quest of the grain, Kind nature it. plenty supplies; We skip o’er the beautiful wide stretching plain, And sport in the vault of the skies. At evening we perch in some neighboring tree, To carol our evening adieu, And feel, although man may assert he is free, We only have liberty true. We sing out our praises to God and to man, We live as Heaven taught its to live, And I would not change back to mortality's plan. For all that the mortal can give. Here ceased the sweet singer; then pluming his breast,: He winged the blue firmament free, Repeating as homeward he flew- to his rest, Tsher-ree-lec—Tshee-ree-lee—Tshee-ree-lce !” In conclusion, we must state an objection which we have had occasion to make during our perusal of these volumes. Although the greater number of the tales, &.C., bear, throughout their form, manner and diction, indubitable marks of their ancient originality, there are yet one or two instances which, to us, afforded evi dence of interpolation. This should not be : a trans lator is never allowed to take such liberty with his au thor, as to insert into the text his own remarks or re flections ; and in a work like the present, where it is specially important to preserve unimpaired, the true spirit and simplicity of the original, the translator should be doubly careful to avoid such a proceeding; for it tends to throw discredit on the whole work, and to leave the mind of tlto reader in doubt as to what was actually the form and substance of the original, and w hat was not. We will give an instance of the fault of; which we complain. In the tale from the Chippewa, entitled, “ The Red Lover," the following passage occurs: “But distinc tion, it scents, is apt to engender haughtiness in the hunter state as well as [in] civilized life.” We have italicized the word “ civilizpd.” What should the In dian writer, “ many years ago,” know of civilized life ? or about “an eye beaming with the tropical (!) fires of love and youth ? A savage Irom the banks of Lake Superior would scarcely be acquainted with the tropics or their peculiarities ; still less quote Poetry, which looks to us very like a fragment from some of the Brit ish Poets. The translator has here evidently interpo lated some of his own thoughts, and thereby destroyed the tone and keeping of the narrative. This, we re peat, should be avoided. As to style it is generally good, tho’ sometimes too loose, irregular and even ungrammatical. We have met with such a phrase as this, “ Those are not them!" and “He dove down,” for, he dived down. To dive, is a verb active, regular in its formation, and dove is a barbarism, and not English, for the imperfect tense. — But we do not wish to find fault. We heartily recom ! mend the work to the curious, as well as to the genrr | al, reader. M. THE OBSERVER, No. 13. Saturday, June 29, 1839. Look on this picture—and on this ! — Shakspenre. Trobus is one of those men that are sometimes, tho’ but rarely, met with, who is beloved, respected, and es teemed by all who know him : and well does he de serve to be thus distinguished. He is a man of easy fortune, filling a situation of honor and profit, the du ties of which he discharges with such exact regularity, and such even-handed justice as to challenge univer sal approbation. But it is not this alone which has made him so general a favorite; nor is it his well known liberality and benevolence, or his affability and ease of manner towards all persons. It is his impartial justice, accompanied by genuine good feeling towards all men, his kindly sympathies in their troubles and distresses, his untiring efforts to soothe and relieve, and above all his constant attention to “do as he W’ould be done by,” that have won for him his great popularity, and the high respect with which he is regarded by all classes of per sons. Is a man of real merit struggling manfully a gninst difficulties and battling with his adverse fate, Probus is ever ready to second his efforts to rise above his evil fortune. Is lie plunged in misery and djetrese. Probus is there to stretch forth his hand and help him out of the abyss; is he slandered and calumniated. Probus does not propagate llic injurious report, but ex amines into its truth, and if lie finds it false, he will stand by the sufferer to repel it; is he threatened with unjust persecution, ere attempt? made to injure him un- THE SOU T IIE RIV POST. deservedly, Probus judges for himself, and will afTord him protection if he deserve it. It is not very long since I heard him thus address a young man, who was in some trouble arid difficulty—“ I have observed your conduct, and have conceived a good opinion of you : it will not be a little thing that will make me change that opinion: such assistance as I can render to you, you may depend on.” When Probus promises assist ance, it is not after the manner of most people nowa days, who promise every thing merely to get rid of the application, or from want of courage to refuse openly, never intending at the same time to perform. No! Probus’ word i9 his law, and whatsoever he says, that will he do. It is thus that Probus acts the part of a good citizen and of a good man. He thinks with the poet: “ Homo sum, cl humanum ame nihil alienum on to I am a man and feel that there are ties which bind me to all my race. It is this noble and virtuous conduct that causes the presence of Probus to be hail ed with delight iu every company into which he comes: wherever he appears he is greeted by the glad smile, and the hearty pressure of the hand ; and he moves thro’ life blessed with the homage of “ troops of friends,” with the approval of his own upright conscience, with that purest of earthly enjoyments, the consciousness of doing good. How widely different from the man we have endea vored to portray is his neighbor, Scelestus. Possessed of a princely fortune and rolling in wealth, his only care and aim seems to be to add to his thousands ; and in the pursuit of this favorite object all means are alike to him. Never was the pour man known to go away from his door, with his wants supplied, or his necessi ties relieved. With his vast capital embarked in busi ness, Scelestus lets slip no opportunity of increasing his store ; this, I would not complain of, were it not that he will descend lo the lowest and meanest artifices in j order to “turn a penny." Os course it is not to be wondered at, that in such cases the laws of honesty are not always hehlsaered. Scelestus is a capital hand at making a “close trale," as it is terme i; which be ing translated, means, circumventing or overreaching your neighbor in a b:ir»"iii: if you gain any thing by the operation it is perfectly lawful and correct; but should you be the loser, or he circumvented in your turn, it is then extremely unlawful, and your neighbor is a dishonest man, and a great scoundrel. This is a part of the new code of morality', which has been pro mulgated within the last few years, and Scelestus acts up to it to the very letter. He has such an aversion to part with his money, that he is never known even to pay a debt, except when he can’t help it. As for aid ing another, relieving his distresses, or, in fine, doing a good action in any shape or manner, it is so long since Scelestus has been known to do any thing of the kind, that “ the memory of man runneth not to the contra ry.” Yet with all this Scelestus is a rigid member of one of the religious societies ; he is-extremely exact in his attendance at church and all religious meetings, and when there, never fails to distinguish himself by the loudness of his responses, which are uttered in a deep lugubrious tone of voice, so as to attract the atten tion of every one. Os course he is looked upon, by the clear-sighted world, as a most pious and religious per son : but this whole behaviour is nothing more than a mask assumed to hover his vices, and cheat, if possi ble, his own conscience into the belief of his being an honest and upright man. He attends public worship, because it gives him standing and influence, he pre tends to worship God, but in reality bows the knee to the “ mammon of iniquity,” which possesses his whole soul; he affects to be pious and absorbed in religious exercises, whilst, at the same moment, his thoughts are wedded to the acquirement of filthy lucre, and his mind actively engaged in calculating the rates of interest (usury, rather) or the prices of goods. I should not be surprised to hear him groan forth “Cotton” instead of “Amen,” so completely absorbed is he in the pursuit of wealth. So long lias Scelestus continued ihis ca reer of hypocrisy, so long has it been his constant aim to deceive others, that at last he has deceived himself, and I sometimes think that he really believes himself to be a good chrislian and a good citizen : whilst, in fact, he is neither. He is useless to the community at large, inasmuch as he totally neglects those duties which the possession of immense wealth imposes on the citizen; and he cannot be a good Christian, who does not practice that, which is the root of all virtues and the foundation of all Religion—Christian Charity. Scelestus would be universally hated, were it not that he is too contemptible for even hate; hut feeling that he is avoi led and despised, he hates all others ; is ever ready to injure his neighbor whom he regards as an enemy; gloats over every little piece of scandal that comes to his ears ; propagates every report, however, false, which is calculated to injure another, and sink him in the estimation of men to his own level. A re port which passes through his channel of communica tion almost always acquires something in its progress from the exercise of his powers of invention. But we must turn from the contemplation of so disgusting a picture. Now let us compare the two characters which I have here attempted to draw. Which one would you wish to resemble ? Every one will answer at once, “Pro bus.” Why then, my good friends, do you not all re semble him ? Every one of you has it in his power to act as he docs, although all may not be able to effect the same amount of good. But let each one act on the same principles which guide the conduct of Probus, and the same respect, esteem and good wishes will at tend him—but if he act in imitation of the miserable Scelestus, he must expect to meet with the like horror and contempt; he must expect to pass through life un honored and avoided, and die at last unregretted and uncared for. L. I was preparing some other remarks on two or three subjects for my present paper, when the following let ter was handed to me. It comes from a distance, and some circumstances have induced me to suppress the date. For the present, my fair correspondent must rest ennten* with the publication of her epistle, and my promise '• take 'lie subject at my earliest leisure. I rec •mtueod i ' ■ the attention oi uy readers. For the handsome manner : ii she speaks of my pa pers, 1 must offer at! due acknowledgments. To Solomon Weazle, Usq. Sir—There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and concerning which it is my wish to knowsome thing. In truth, sir, I have employed many moments of late, in making anxious enquiries in relation to this subject; enquiries which have been limited, as you will readily conclude, when you see my signature, and re flect on the many disadvantages under which the weak er sex labor, when contrasted with those of the mascu line kind. Limited, however, as my opportunities have been, I have, nevertheless, lately met with several num bers of the “ Southern Post,” in which I find a por tion devoted to a certain writer, under the head of “ Observer ;” to which I must beg leave to add the name of “ Benefactor” —ns indeed such are seldom found now-a-days, who, in the spirit of true Benefi cence give their time and intellect for the general im provement and information of mankind. But to re turn to “ Observer”-—Altho’ many miles distant from you, sir, permit me to state my case ; and if it appears fit for you to do so, grant me your advice, that I may know how to understand those with whom circum stances may hereafter throw me. About five years ago, sir, it was my lot to leave be hind me a home, and all that was calculated to make it a peaceful and a happy one. Why that home was thus left, is of little consequence—suffice it to aay, circum stances connected with a widowed mother’a aituntion drove her away, and me with her. Not long' had our arrival been announced on theaeahores, when itaeem -1 en our happy lot to meet with tlioae who htii ' "«‘ , what are termed the best circles in America ; dinner ind tea parties, pic-nics, &c. &c. were now as coin j mon to us as had been our many previous disappoint j int in fact, all that was said or done was en tirely correct, and void of any semblance whatever to 'id taste. Years thus rolled rapidly on. She who had I been my companion in early sorrows, my participator ■in later joys, had now finished her earthly a, rse, and I was, for the first time in my life, left a stranger and alone, in a wide and friendless world. My cwfeer was j now to be changed—l had passed thro’ stre:.ge paths ; and scenes, and I felt that such would again be the , case. My friends, however, were not less attentive; time advanced; the green grass was now matted over my j fond mother's grave; the world became yet brighter, and my opportunities for enjoyments were many. My i acquaintances increased and my privileges were above ,my expectations. But, sir, with all these advantages and blessings, temporary or durable as they may be, I ;am yet bewildered and cannot undcrslu'A! with that small portion of discernment which I poss, 3s, the why and the wherefore of much which, at the present day, engages the thoughts, and acts on the weak points of mankind. In relation, sir, to those atten'ions which it has pleased my acquaintance to bestow on me, nnd with reference to my deserving them by any merit on my part, I have naught to say ; but still I do receive and enjoy them, ane whilst I do so, I candidly believe, sir, in all due deference to those among them who are truly sincere, that the greater part are influenced in their conduct towards me, by their belief that I am de scended from high blood, and have never known those feelings which belong to the indigent and unfortunate. In my daily intercourse with the world, I am led to look around and admire virtue wherever it is to be found., If intellect, sound judgment, morality, beneficence, or any kind of personal excellence whatsoever exist in the individual, in my allusions to him, I forget his blood, whilst I extol his real virtues, and offer them as the sum and substance of the man. In every such instance, I am sure to meet with some unfounded and unreasona ble repulse. A few days ago, in a company of several ladies and gentlemen of high standing and liberal edu cation, (?) the question of birth was introduced. Whilst one confessed that his education would notallow an ac quaintance with Mr. This-one, or Miss That-one, ano ther charged his glass and disavowed worth or merit as an equivalent for blood. During this conversation, one of the rusticated of Cambridge or Yale, whose highest ambition was his boot and spur, d—d and swore, that' he could not, for his life, enjoy a meal at the same table with a man Dot of his caste, or with a mechanic of any grade or condition whatever. Now, Mr. Observer, let me as!: if* in your experience, you have not been led to note just such unreasonable, unjust, and es course, un lawful conduct ? if it he blood alone, sir, which con stitutes our respectability nnd our position in society, why is it that we are confuted to hut one, or two, or three generations, in tracing back our lineage ? Is it possible for us to know who our fathers were, or what our ancestry was during the course of severa! centu ries? It not, how can we assert that our sere- j fathers were this, or were that, unknowing as we must be —ignorant as all men must be, when laboring under such disadvantages, brought about by the great inter vention of time and change ? But, sir, all men, if not entirely, are very nearly, con stituted alike. To our forefather then, w hoever he may be, or whatever he may have been, some degree of ex cellence may be traced, which excellence alone made him what we would be, not v. hat we are—and if such excellence, or whatever act or dt ed achieved by him, has won the name of “ high blood,” why, let me ask, cannot such excellence at the present day, cause the | same result ? In conclusion, sir, I speak not thus for myself, but others do so for me I trust in God that I now' act in , accordance with the lessons given me by that lost pa rent whom I have mentioned in the former part of my ! communication. But I say again, sir, that, from all 1 , can see and hear, I believe none of the “ Aristocrary” • (!) would act as they do by me, were their minds disa bused of the notion that “I am of their name.” No, sir: I am only the daughier of a poor, but honest shoe maker —which fact, if known, would to-morrow throw me, I well know', from the circles to which I notv be long—but not below them : and whilst prudence urges the necessity of keeping this in my own bosom, the wish for information also presses me, to know from you, the observer of things and manners, why it is that such is the case ? Why is it that worth and merit and trampled so often in the dust; that minds, by nature, great and superior, are literally buried by the ignorant and envious ? Your early attention is solicited to the above; and, sir, for the useful information already gleaned from your view sos men, matters and things, permit me, tho’ hut a stranger, to express to you my grateful acknow ledgments. ALMERIA. The following letter was received last week, hut too late for publication that number: To Solomon Weazle, Esquire, Observer, &e. &c. Sir —Some weeks ago you made an attack on me in one of those papers which you style your lucubrations. I did not think fi', at that time, to take notice of it, for several reasons : one of which was, that I was then, and have been nearly ever since, in a bad state of health, being much disordered in my interior; so much so, indeed, as to paralyze all my faculties, and even render my hands motionless. By the treatment, howe ver, of one who was recommended to me as a skilful practitioner in such diseases as that with which 1 w’as afflicted, I have regained my health ; tny pulse again beats regularly, my bowels have recovered their wont ed activity, and my hands are once more capable of motion. I now', therefore, write to inform you, tha j-ou have done me injustice ; inasmuch as you say, that I “ have perversely and rebelliously refused to strike.” Now, sir, this is not quite correct. True, I did not strike ; hut that remissness was not owing to any re fusal on my part. Pray, sir, did you, yourself, ever strike—did you ever know any one else to strike —un- less wound up to do so by some sufficient excitement or inducement? How then, sir, could you expect me, who have no life at all except when in such a state of excitement, to strike when I w'as not wound up ? My ill health would not allow of my being wound up; and 1 the consequence w’as, that 1 fell into a state of syncope, which has lasted until now, and which had nearly pro ved fatal. But being once more restored to health, as I have already said, I give you notice, that to-morrow, at the hour of noon, I shall begin to strike; and by way of making some amends for my long silence, I will commence at the hour at which I left off, some weeks ago, an ! strike every hour regularly up to twelve ; and thenceforward continue to strike punctually, the knell of each hour, as it expires ; provided always (as you are in the habit of saying) those who have the care of my bodily health do not neglect to wind me up. And it they do, pray let the blame rest where it belongs, with them, and not with Your and the public’s faithful servant, THE OLD TOWN CLOCK. From ray place in the steeple of I the market house, in the city of Ma- You see I love to con, this seventeenth day of June, ,be regular and ex in the year of our Lord,one thousand ‘ act. eight hundred and thirty-nine. Injustice to this correspondent, I not only print his letter, but I will also state that he did, punctually, at the time nppointed by himself, begin to strike, exactly as he promised to do, and has continued faithfully ever since. And I beg my friends and readers lo attend to his solemn warnings, and remember, every time he deals hia far-sounding blows, that they announce the departure into the dark gulf of Eternity, of another iJost. OFFICE, ON THIRD-STREET, ONE DOOR FROM MULBERRY STREET, AND OPPOSITE THE CENTRAL HOTEL. MACON: SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1839. COTTON. Receipts to Ist June, 1839, 63,330 bales, “ “ “ last y ear, 105,919 “ Stock on hand Ist June, 1839, 1,625 “ “ “ “ “ last year, 2,308 “ Deficiency from last year, 42,419 “ CENTRAL RAIL ROAD. We are much pleased with the flattering prospects of the Central Rail Road, as gleaned from the Third se mi-annual Report of the Engineer, from which we learn that contracts for grading extend 133 miles from Savannah, opposite the town of Sandcrsville, within four miles of which plaoe it runs. The track is laid and the road completed 76 miles. The totalline to this place is 193 miles, and it is expected to have in opera tion early next season 110 miles of the route. The ad vantages which this Road possesses over the “Georgia Rail Road,” seem to be much greater than is general ly su[ posed. In our next we shall makea few extracts from the Report, for the benefit of our country friends. ANTIQUITIES OF AMERICA. This subject is daily exciting more and more atten tion, and we doubt not, but that the results of a few years investigation will render, in a great degree, cer tain, some of the theories put forth with regard to a civilized nation having at one time inhabitod America. In truth this point is now settled in the minds of most who have given it nny attention. It is now stated that another buried city has been discovered ou the coast of Feru, the account of which will be found in this pa per. It is true, that it will not doto give credence to every statement of the kind that we may see, yet some have been discovered, which gives us hope that more may yet be, and also gives some clue to their inhabit ants, origin, and their state of civilization. (KT We regret to see many papers from a distance containing notices of the Baptist Church, in Macon, having been converted into a Theatre, and in some cases, with severe and illiberal remarks against the citi zens and those most concernod, for allowing this dese cration of a temple of wot ship. Tho facts ore simply these—the building which is now a Theatre, was, from its location and general un fitness, unsuited to the purposes of a Church. Its members, therefore, sold it, with a view to aid in erect ing another uud belter, in a more suitable location. The individuals who purchased it, immediately con verted it into a work shop, for which purpose, it was for a while used. And now, therefore, we hope that tho.'c who may hereafter have occasion to animadvert on this circumstance, will state that it was a work shop converted into a Theatre, and not a Church. It was neither sold nor purchased with that view, but entirely a matter of afterthought on the part of the purchasers. QCr We have had, during the jSast week, several fine showers—but they come too late, we fear, to save the corn crops ; and we think that these showers have not been by any means general, and that a great portion of the country is yet parched and dry. LETTERS FROM THE WEST INDIES—No. 17. ST. THOMAS. St. Thomas, March, 1839. To the Editor of the Southern Post: Dear Sir— Though the winds were light, and we had upwards of one hundred miles to run, the superior sail ing powers of our ship had accomplished the most of the distance by yesterday’s dawn, nnd we found our selves, on rising, in full view of this Island, with our own little delightful home of St. Croix in the distance. The first prominent object, on approaching the har bor of St. Thomas, is the Fort and fortifications on op posite hills, commanding the entrance —the town is not visible until you are near the mouth of tho bay, which is so narrow as to nearly laudlock the anchorage. It is a more spacious Basin than St. Barts, and affords e qual security—the surrounding hills being so high as to keep off every thing but hurricanes, which are not sub ject to those laws of nature, which, on other occasions, set this active element in motion. We found quite a number of vessels, mostly Ameri can, in the harbor. The port being open fir free trade, has become a great thoroughfare, and is now one of the most flourishing in these seas. Most of our mer chantmen trading to the windward Islands call here, looking for freight, it having become a custom for the shipping merchants of Porto Rico and other adjacent Islands, to send their orders for charters to be negocia ted here ; numbers of vessels are daily passing in and out here with no other object. The town has a beautiful appearance from the wa ter. It extends one half or three quarters of a mile a long the bay, and back probably half the distance on three distinct hills, which gradually rise from the shore, with intermediate ravines. This gives the town a pic turesque, while the red roofs and green verandahs give it a cheerful appearance. The Danes certainly have more taste in the comfortable arrangement of their towns than any other of the Island Colonies. St. Thomas is now, and has been for many years, doing a considerable wholesale trade—all the surround ing Islands look to it as the place where to obtain their supplies, and make their money negotiations. It has two Banking Offices : the Bank of St. Thomas, a lo cal institution, belonging to a company of merchants, and a Branch of the Colonial Bank, chartered in Eng land, and having a principal branch at Barbados, and subordinate branches in many of the other Islands.— There is also a Marine Insurance Company, where such transactions can lie made when required. The resident merchants are from almost every trading na tion. The wholesale stores extensive, and the shops neatly displayed and arranged for business. The Island generally is poor, rockv and barren—a few spots arc in cultivation, there being only about twenty estates on the Island, making 12 to 1500 hhde. of sugar, and a few more on the adjacent Island of St. John, which is included in the same government. There are several other little Islands belonging in ihis group, and included generally ns dependencies of the Danish Colonial Government, but I am not inform ed that they are to any extent inhabited. There is a most singular rock rising out of the ocean a few miles from here, in the passage between this and Crab Isl and, called Sail Rock, having at a distance every ap pearance of a ship under sail, for which it is sometimes mistaken by strangers. Afier on excursion, of nineteen days we are now a bout returning to that beautiful and favored little spot so long our Island home. \Ve have been on shore on six different islands, and enjoyed a full view of ten or twelve others, though we have been interested and greatly delighted with nil we have seen, our purty nil concur in thinking St. Croix the only spot we have vi sited in these seas, as pleasant and desirable for a win ter’s residence ; all others have objections which would generally make them undesirable tor n visit of any con siderable time. The inhabitants of St. Barts claim for I it the character of being the most healthy Island in the I whole group, but it is wanting in the beautiful roads nnd shaded rides of St. Croix, and has much less fre quent and regular intercourse with the United States, a matter not to be overlooked by those who are far from home and constantly anxious to ltear from those thev have left behind. We met part of our American party from St. Croix here on a visit, and have been gratified in hearing of the general good health arid improvement of ihetriends we left there. We return, therefore, wiih less excite ment than we should otherwise do, and hope our anti cipations of a favorable result in health of all may be reiJized to them and our most lavorabl* expects enn. FOUHTMI OF .¥ Visit*, 1839. ICr Our readers will find, below', the pro gramme of the celebration of the approaching anni versary of our Independence, as regulated by the committee appointed for that purpose at a late meeting of the citizens. We again urge upon our fellow citi zens the propriety of uniting with a spirit of unanimity and good feelingin thisgeneral celebration. Let every man come forward and testify by his presence, that he has not forgotten the glorious event which this day commemorates; that his heart is imbued with the spirit jof ’76; that he is not insensible of tlie blessings which have been secured to him by his immortal forefathers of the Revolution. Let the fair daughters of the land, also partake in the exercises of the day, and irradiate them by the spatkle of their bright eyes and smiling fa ees. Let us all join with one heart and with one voice in giving thanks to the giver of all good gifts—for the blessing which we now enjoy of full and unrestrained liberty, civil and religious. ORDER OF CELEBRATION. The committee appointed to make arrange, ments for the approaching anniversary of American Independence, have appointed Col. Charles A. Higgins, Marshal of the day. At 10 o’clock A. M., a procession will be formed in front of the Central Hote', on Com. merce Row, and proceed to the Presbyterian \ Church, under command of the Marshal of the day, where after Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Cassels, the Declaration of Independence will be read by John J. Gresham, Esq. and an Address suitable to the occasion will be deliver, cd by David C. Campbell, Esq. ORDER OF PROCESSION. Bibb Cavalry. Macon Volunteers. Major General and Staff. Brigadier General and Staff. Colonel 50th Regiment and Staff. Orator and Reader. The Reverend Cleigy. Corporation of the City of Macon, headed by their Marshal . The different Fire Companies of the City, The Mutual Aid Association. The Mechanics Society, Strangers, Citizens. The pews in the Central Isle of the Church, will bo reserved for the procession. The Bibb Cavalry, Macon Volunteers, Maj. and Brig’d. Generals and Staff, Col. of the 50th Reg. and Staff, the Rev. Clergy, Corpo. ration of the City of Macon, the Fire Compa. nics in uniform, the Mutual Aid Association, the Mechanics Society, Strangers and citizens generally are respectfully requested to join in the procession in the above order. The Bells of the ditierent Churches are re quested to be rung at day-light, 12 o’clock, noon, and sun-set. JAMES SMITH, A > _ ISAAC NEVVHALL, g g C. A. HIGGINS, 101 l D. F. WILSON, § S’ ROLAND BIVINS, £ 3 F. W. MACARTHY. »2, SABBATII SCHOOL CELEBRATION. The several Schools will assemble at their respective rooms, and proceed from thence at 8 o’clock, to Mulberry street, where the pro cession will lie formed ; the children of the Methodist School, occupying the side walk from Mr. Campbells’s corner, towards the Commer. cial Bank, those of the Presbyterian School, from the same corner down Mulberry street, and the others in succession as they arrivb from their several places of meeting; the whole will then move to the Methodist Church, where the exercises will commence at 9 o’, clock precisely, with Prayer by Mr. Hopkins, Music by the Choir of the Church, and an Address to the children by President Pierce; after the services, the children will retire to their respective rendezvous, were refreshments will be prepared for them. HEMAN MEAD, 1 n r M. E. RYLANDER, > . Lom , ~ JOHN HUNTER. sArr$ Arra ng mts CHAPIN’S ORNAMENTAL MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, for sale at tha Book Store of C. A. ELLS. June 29 36 W. COWLES, HAS this day received a fresh supply of FANCY GOODS, consisting of Nett and Grenadeni Shawls, Scarfs, and Handkerchiefs ; Muslin and Laaq Capes and Collars, Black and Lead Colored Grenadeni Silks, do. do. Lawns, Fancy French Drillings, a great variety of Gloves and Hosiery, Gentlemen’s Summer Stocks, &,c. June 29. 36 MUSIC! MUSIC. A SUPPLY of new and popular Alusic, for the Pi. xV ano.just received by JOHN M. COOPER, June 29 _ Mt Tiii, Sheet-Iron ami Copper-Ware MANUFACTORY. Curtis R. Parsons, (Successor to James If. llishop ts Cos.) fJAAKES this method to inform the citizens of Ma- X con, and surrounding country, that he has es tablished himself at the old stand, (occupied by his pre decessors,) on the east side ol Mulberry-street, three doors above the Darien Bank, where he will furnish nil kinds of TIN WARE, by wholesale or retail, at mo derate prices, and in everv variety. SPOUTING and ROOFING HOUSES wtH be at. tended to at short notice. All orders promptly attended to, Macon, May 15th,'1839 30 DISSOLUTION. rflllE Copartnership heretofore existing under the I firm of CLARKE &, SMITH, is tins day dissol ved by mutual consent. TffOMAS g CLARKE, CHARLES L. SMITH. June 22 DEERBROOIT, VNEW Novel, by Miss Mwtineuu. Indian Tale* —inquiries respecting the Mental Characters of the North American Indians, by Schoolcraft. iu«t re ceived and for sale bv C. A. kt’.Lld^