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RISE FROM A HUMBLE CONDITION.
In a speech delivered by die Hon. and the Re\.
the Dean of Ripon at a late soiree of the Mechan
ic’s Institution, Leeds, a few passages occur wor
thy of being widely circulated:
*“i like to think with pleasure, and satisfaction,
and wonder, of the extraordinary advancements,
which, in the providence of God, particular indi
viduals have made, who have jnst been able to ap
ply the operation of the minds according as they
were able to exercise them, and thereby to place
themselves in extraordinary position both in re
lation to their own prosperity and- to the advan
tage of the country. It may be a very familiar
subject, but it is one which 1 do like to think of,
and I will just allude to it. There was a young
man who was the youngest of thirteen children,
and his father was a very poor man ; and the best
that bis father could do for him was to apprentice
him to a barber In that humble and praisewor
thy class of public life, that respectable individ
ual demeaned himself honorably, as long as he
chose to remain in it. He then bestowed his care,
and attention, and enterprise upon preparing the
beautiful hair of our heads —improving it to that
degree that it should be fit to make a wig of. In
that he excelled also. Then, gentlemen, he be
took himself to the improvement of a weed which
1 have seen —and which is little more than like a
weed—l mean the cotton plant of Carolina. He
betook himself to improve the manufacture of cloth
made out of that weed. He gained great success,
adding merely to the acquirements he possessed
—which you may suppose were very slender —
the knowledge which he could pick up by asso
ciating with his fellow-men: he gained that suc
cess which enabled him to decide the wares of
the linen and the cotton, so that a vestment should
he made all of cotton. That barber’s apprentice,
gentlemen, that honorable improver of our hair
for the purpose of a wig, was Sir Richard Ark
wright, afterwards high sheriff of his country, and
who left his family half a million of money. Well,
gentlemen, I only put that as one instance of a
simple, plain man, honestly following the call of
Providence, using the mind according as God’s
providence gave him the opportunity of drawing
forth its resources—throwing himself into the
opening which was prepared for him, and thus
gaining a prosperity exceeded by no man in this
country ; and 1 am sure lhat language is not equal
to say the advantage which our nation has re
ceived from his invention, enabling him thus to
show the benefit of the exercise of the mind, and
talent, and energy, and reflection, and desire for
improvement in the humble station of life. I will
mention another case, because 1 do dwell upon it,
1 confess, with exceeding interest, from my per
sonal acquaintance with the individual. Gentle
man, it is now more than forty years since, in my
travels in America, I came to New York, and I
called upon the famous General Moreau, with
whom I had the pleasure of being acquainted.
He said to me, “Well, here’s a strange thing!
here’s a ship to go by hot water! and to-morrow
the trial is to be made, and I am invited to be of
the party, and my friends. Will you go with
me ?” I accompanied General Moreau in the
first steam-vessel that ever sailed upon the Hud
son, in America, under the auspices of Mr. Fulton,
the inventor —a man of similar cast as Arkwright,
perhaps with some greater advantages from his
early education, but of a similar tone and cast of
mind ; unsatisfied with what he had done, and
what be could do, and always thinking that lie
could do something better, and thankful for every
information he received, and every opportunity
he could gain in making progress in some im
provement ; so that from a painter in portraits,
from a designer in a variety of ways, at last he
arrived at the extraordinary eminence and sue
cess of making the first practical efficient steam
vessel which could navigate so severe a river as
the river Hudson. Now, gentlemen, I remember
with pleasure standing upon the deck, with Robert
Fulton, and dwelling with him on the subject. I
remember asking him, u Do you think it will ever
be of any good*/” I recollect his “countenance
lighting up almost with anger at the idea of any
invention of his could fail of beiug useful. I re
member very well, just as we approached the
mouth of the Hudson, just as it abuts on the At
lantic Sea, saying—“ What will become of us if
we drift out to sea? How is it possible, for a ves
sel of this sort can stand the waves of the ocean?”
Well, now, gentlemen, when I compare and bring
together that day, with the fact of the steamers
now crossing the Atlantic in eleven or twelve
days, with a regularity and precision which is al
most marvelous —why, how is it possible not to
see and to be persuaded that there is not a man
that lives, and comes within the arena of popular
and scientific institutions like this, who has not
opportunity given him of being distinguished by
giving his talents, industry, and energy to what
ever subject, in the course of his investigations
and inquiries the fingers of Providence may point
out to him? It is impossible to say, unless we
believe that we have arrived at the acme and ful
filment of everything for the good of man —it is
impossible not to think that we may be conferring
some great blessing upon our own country —that
we may, through the means of some individual in
the very humblest class, whose mind we mav
touch, by just giving him a perception and an in
tuition of some combination connected with sci
ence and art —we may render him an instrument
of great good to his country and the world, and a
source of great happiness and pride to himself.
THE SABBATH.
The Sabbath is God’s special present to the
working-man, and one of its chief objects is to
prolong his life, and preserve efficient his working
tone. Hn the vital system it acts like a compen
sation-pond; it replenishes the spirits, the elas
ticity and vigor, which the last six days have
drained away, and supplies the force which is to
fill the six days succeeding; and in the economy
of existence, it answers the same purpose, as
the economy of income, is answered by a savings
bank. The frugal man who puts aside a pound
to-day,, and a pound next month, and who in a
quiet way is always putting past his stated pound
from time to time, when he grows old and frail,
gets not only the same pound back again, but a
good many pounds besides. And the conscien
tious man, who husbands one day of existence
every week—who, instead or allowing the Sab
bath to be trump led and torn in the hurry and
scramble of life, treasures it devoutly up —the
Lord of the Sabbath keeps it for him, and in
length of days and a hale old age gives it back
with interest. The savings’ bank of human ex
istence is the weekly Sabbath.
North British Review .
LETTER FROM A GOLD HUNTER.
Rio Janeiro, Brazil, March 8. 1849.
“Land, ho!” was the joyful exclamation from
the look-out, as early on the morning of the 3d,
the distant mountains of Brazil, with Cape Frio
on the starboard beam, loomed in the far-off haze,
at the distance of sixty miles. The most pleasur
able excitement spread itself among us at the
welcome intelligence, which only the novice, first
fifty days out sight of land, can fully appreciate.
This was on Saturday, and we anticipated being
able to anchor by the next morning at farthest;
but the wind fell, and all that day and Sunday
we beat and drifted within view of the coast, ex
periencing some degree of the bitterness of “hope
deferred.”
A light breeze on Sunday toward evening car
ried us within fifteen miles of the city ; but as
there is a land breeze every afternoon from the
mouth of the harbor, and night coming on, we
had to. lay off all night. The line of coast for
thirty or forty miles was in full view, consisting
of innumerable mountain peaks, from one to ten
thousand feet in height, in most fanciful and
beautiful forms; among which the Peak of Ca
cavado, and the Sugar Loaf, stand pre-eminent
as landmarks to inward bound ships. This last
peak rises almost perpendicularly from the wa
ter, at the left entrance to the harbor, and is 1,300
feet in bight. At the distance of ten or fifteen
miles, the mountain range presents a remarkable
aspect, being that of an enormous human figure,
miles in length, lying upon his back, and known
as “ The Giant of the Bar.” The head, face,
and chin are almost perfect in outline, as also are
the arms folded upon the breast. The Sugar
Loaf Peak forms the toes or point of the feet, and
completes the figure; so you may judge of the
bight and proportions of a body tha t justifies so
big a foot. Many of these mountains are at a con
siderable distance inland, and stand far apart
from each other, but which, seen at sea, form a
tout en semble that fails not to strike all strangers,
as well as to be a conspicuous guide to mariners.
At about ten o’cloek on Sunday evening, the 4th
inst., we had the pleasure of a long “talk” with
the ship South Carolina, which left New York ten
days later. She had been in sight all day; and
till evening, in one of our tacks in opposite direc
tions, the winds light, we had not been able to
to make each other out. The occasion was a
pleasant one to both ships, and the eagerness for
“news” exceeded anything you can well conceive
ot. We gave her nine hearty cheers on parting
for the night, which were returned with spirit.
On the morning of the fifth, we found ourselves
drifted fifteen miles out to sea, in a calm, and lay
tossing about till noon, when the sea breeze waft
ed us slowly into port. The entrance to the har
bor is a mile in width, the Sugar Loaf on the
left, and Fort Santa Ci 4 uz on the right. Vessels
are hailed at the Fort before being allowed to
enter, but no detention takes place. At last the
anchor was dropped, the health and custom-house
officers came on board—and then all was bustle
for the shore. It was two miles from our anchor
age to the dock or landing place; but swarms of
boats and feluccas came off and we were safely
landed before dark.
We found the town already well filled with
Americans, bound to California, and the addition
of three hundred more created no little bustle
among the hotel keepers, and their capacity for
accommodations was tested to the utmost. These
failing, private houses, store lofts, and every other
place where a mattress could be spread, were
put in requisition, before all were safely stowed.
It being Inauguration Day, we found arrange
ments had been made by the passengers in port
for a grand dinner in honor of the occasion, in
which we were just in season to participate.—
Separated, as we were, thousands of miles from
“our own, our native land,” you may imagine the
spirit manifested by the company, in thus cele
brating on a foreign shore the introduction into of
fice of anew President. The hilarity was kept
up till the SEfialf hours of the morning, and I ven
ture to say nothing of the kind has ever before
been witnessed in Rio. The “hurrahs were
soul-stirring, and the toasts and speeches patriotic
and pith}’. It was a joyful re-union to all the
Americans in Rio, which will long be remem
bered.
I have been two days in the city, busily engaged
in sight-seeing, and I will jot down in future let
ters rny impressions of the city and the people.
I am to visit the Botanic Gardens, seven miles
out of the city, the most lovely and attactive place
to strangers that is to be found in this vicinity, of
which you shall have a description.
“Adieu. J* w.
P. S. The ship Architect, from New Orleans,
is said to have had six deaths from cholera since
sailing, but no new case for the last thirty days.
The Christival Colon was several hours on her
beam ends during a* violent gale, which sheen
countered a few days out. She will be detained
six weeks for repairs. There are now a dozen
vessels in port, one from Philadelphia, the Os
ceola.
Saving Lives for a Living . —George W. Ken
dall, of the New Orleans Picayune, relates the
following good story:
“ Anew method of raising the wind was re
sorted to a few days since, by a couple of pre
cious scamps, which would have succeeded if
ingenuity of this kind were entitled to any re
ward. The sharpest Yankee would not be
ashamed of the trick hit upon by these Parisian
gemins . About 10 o’clock in the morning—and a
tolerable chilly morning it was—the passers along
the Quai du Marche aux Fie us noticed a young
man, with a very melancholy and suicidal look,
standing near one of the bridges alone. Sud
denly he cast his eyes upward, as if to take a
last view of the skies, muttered appearently as if
in prayer for a moment, and then plunged head
long into the river. While all stood paralyzed at
the attempt, a young man came up and inquired
with great simplicity what was the matter. The
individual who was floundering in the turbid cur
rent of the Seine, and who had just risen to the
surface, was pointed to him, when at once slip
ping off his blouse, and ejaculating that he would
save the unfortunate or perish in the attempt, he
plunged in after him. Tfie bystanders watched,
with breathless anxiety, as the heroic youth dove, -
came up to the surface, and again went under
in his endeavors to save the wretch who had at
tempted his own destruction; and finally, when
nearly all hope was lost, the crowd were rejoiced
on seeing the suicide brought to shore, with life
still in him. Close by was a station where half
drowned persons are restored, and where those
who rescue them receive the municipal reward of
twenty-five francs. Thither the rescued and the
rescuer were borne by the crowd, the latter over
whelmed with the admiration and praise which
his gallantry called forth on ad sides; but fortu
nately, just as the demand was about to be given
him, and while a subscription for an additional
sum was being raised, a policeman stepped up
who knew them both. They were brothers, were
two of the best swimmers in Paris, and made it a
business to go about saving each other''s lives for a liv
ing /”
A case, says the Cambridge Chronicle, was
lately decided in one of the courts, by which it
is now ruled, that husbands, who lose their wives
by railroad accidents, can only claim, in compen
sation, the amount of any income which may have
been cut short by their death. Thus, “ virtuous
women, who were only crowns to their hus
bands,” will be valued, according to the tomb
stone cutter’s rule, at five shillings. It has been
suggested that at railway stations, besides the
“ ladies’ refreshment room,” there should be a
“ladies valuation room,” with a proper officer in
attendance. As the ladies pass, scenes of the
following tenor, it is supposed, would also pass :
“ What sort of a wife are you, ma’am ?”
“Sir?”
“Os what value are you to your husband ?”
“ lour question is very impertinent, sir. I be
lieve, although I do not bring my husband a shil
ling, he would be filled with deep sorrow were he
to lose me.”
“ Oh, we have nothing to do with that, ma’am—
sorrow does not enter into railway calculations.
You may pass.”
Another enters.
“Pray, ma’am, how does your husband esti
mate you?”
“ You are as great a brute as my husband, I
believe, and that is saying a great deal. I bring
him ten thousand a year, which goes back to my
relations if I die, as we have no children ; and
yet the wretch uses me worse than ”
“ Station master quick, quick ! Get a special
train instantly for this lady, and let a pilot engine
go before, and a guardian angel behind !”— Punch.
To Intending Emigrants . —Should this meet the
eye of any gentleman possessing an elegant and
commodious town mansion, and a neat and con
venient country house, within ten miles of Lon
don, and who may intend to emigrate to Calafor
nia, the advertiser hereby gives notice that he
would be. happy to take charge of the gentle
man’s residence until his return, using the carri
age, horses, cellar, servants, &c., as compensation
for his trouble. The proprieters of houses on the
wrong side of Oxford-street cannot be treated
with.— Punch .
Cardinal Mozzofanti , the celebrated li nfru
died at Rome on the 16th inst. He was born |
Bologna on the 19th of September, 1774, and \ *
consequently in the 75th year of his age. a*
was nominated Cardinal-priest in 1838, and h u
the office of Prefect of the Congregation of JiJ
Books of the Oriental Church. Mezzofanti w a g
native of Bologna, and was educated at the yj
versity there. About tl\e time when Lord B\ r
made his acquaintance, he could fluently convey
in every European idiom. Since then he been*
master of all the oriental forms of speech.
there was scarcely a spoken jargon from the Him,
malaya mountains to the Andes, of which Mezz (
fanti had not made the comparative anatom”
Personally he was most affable, and generally
loved in Rome.— Examiner.
A Grecian in to-to. — A learned D. D. once re.
marked to a theological student, that ‘would f
become a perfect Greek scholar, it was necessary
to pay great attention to those words not in coni
mon use, technical terms, etc.’
‘I believe that I have clone so,’ was the reply.
‘Ah, indeed!’ says D. D.; *then you consider
yourself perfect, I suppose? Pray, Sir, did y ou
ever have a corn upon your toe V
l I am sorry to say that I have many, Sir:
• perfect cornu-eopia.’
‘ Well, if a person should inquire of you what
the Creek might be for corns, what would you tel
him V
‘ I presume, Sir, I should say it was the to halos
of which you have read so much.’
A Sensible Girl ! —A friend of ours, says the
Pittsburg Post, bought some butter from a very
pretty country” damsel in market yesterday, anil
offered her a SI bill on one of the brain hes of
the State Bank of Ohio. She looked at it with
a suspicious eye and shook her head.
“ Won’t you take that, Miss?-—it’s good,” said
our friend.
“No sir-ree,” replied the damsel, in the most
emphatic manner —“I have been sucked in tcx>of
ten with your rag money, and shall hereafter
take nothing but the real hard stuff.”
That girl deserves a good husband.
At the battle of Waterloo, two French officers
were advancing to charge a much superior force.
The danger was imminent, and one of them dis
played evident signs of fear. The other observ
ing it said to him.
“Sir, I believe you are frightened !”
“Yes,” returned the other, “I am ; and if you
were half as frightened you would run away!”
This anecdote exhibits, in a happy light, the
difference between moral and physical courage.
The editor of the Arena, published at killinng
ton, Conn., complains that it is hard work to edit
a country paper, on account of a lack of locai
news and incidents. He says he expected to have
an original marriage and death for the last paper,
but the sudden thaw kicked the wedding into the
middle of next week, and the doctor got sick him
self and could not visit his patient, and so the
patient got well—and thus the announcements
were lost.
One of the Voices. —A writer in an exchange,
describing a clergyman, says— ‘ His voice is a
singular one in some respects; it being mellow
and musical, with a peculiar sort of minor tone;
but it is voluminous for its density , and has a fine , sofi
and fitfzy sort of salvage P
W e wonder if the possessor of that voice has
any ‘ remnants. We should like to get a few to
exhibit as curiosities.— Portland Tribune.
We find the following piece of impudence in a
New York paper:
‘loung ladies should never object to being
kissed by editors; they should make everv al
lowance for the freedom of the press.
W r e are silent with indignation.
The Indian population of California is sixteen
thousand, nine hnndred and thirty, and that
New Mexico, thirty-one thousand nine hundred.
BOOK AND JOB PRINTING,
or all kinds, executed at this Office, wiili acatmrtmm and
despatch.
HAVING lately put our Office in complete order
and made large'additions to it, we have now the most ex
tensive Job Printing Office in the City and are prepared to
execute all kinds of PLAIN AND FANCY PRINTING,
with neatness and despatch, and on the most accomodating
terms. Office 102 Blyan-street, entrance on Bay Lane.
Savannah,'March 22d, 1849. EDWARD .T. PURSE.
A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY,
A WEEKLY SOUTHERN NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED
EVERY THURSDAY, BY
EDWARD J. PURSE.
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