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HISSII ic A If B ©lf 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. TERMS:—T WO DOLLARS A YEAR. Three Copies lor one year, or one copy three years, So 00 Seven Copies, - - - - - - 10 0) Twelve Copies, - - - - - - 15 00 %* Advertisements to a limited extent, will be inserted at the rate of 50 cents for a square of nine lines or less, for the first insertion, and 30 cents for each subsequent insertiou. Business cards inserted for a year at Five Dollars. A liberal discount will be made to Post Master* who will do us the favor to act as Agents. All communications to be addressed (post-paid) to E. J. TURSE, S.nah) Ot.