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JVgion of dry land. To accomplish these ob jects, the plan of the engineer, M. Montricher, was to divide the canal, just outside the city, into three branches ; carry the central branch into the city, and one of the others each side of it ; and this plan has been carried out, except that the branch destined for irrigation is not yet complete. The work must be ranked among the grandest un dertakings of modern cities, and 1 am doubtful whether any that has been projected in many cen turies can compare with it in extent and results, though in point of expense it is small, owing to the nature of the rock, (limestone,) and the facil ity afforded by the ease of working the soil. The whole expense thus far has been less than two millions sterling. Thus, three cities in the world are abundantly supplied with water, viz : Mar seilles, New York and Boston. But the water of the Durance is a muddy stream rather, nor is it to be compared to the Croton. A curious circumstance occurred lately before the Correctional Tribunal, Paris. Avery old man named Palgois, half paralyzed, having been charged with mendicity, a decently dressed, mod est-looking young gijl stepped forward, said he was her father, and requested that he should be given up to her. -‘But has he any means of existence?” said the President. “'The pro ceeds of my labor, sir,” answered the girl. “ But you must earn very little.” “Pardon sir, 1 am very active, and by beginning to work early and leaving ofi'late I can manage. Is it not so mother?” she added, turning to her old mother, who was also present. The President paid a high compli ment to the girl, who only responded by a deep blush; and she joyfully took her father by the hand to lead him away. The public prosecutor then rose and asked the old man if he were not fromßaune,in the department of the Cote d’Or, and related to some large farmers ? Having been answered in the affirmative, be stated that the Prefeet of Police had forwarded a letter from the Mayor of Baune, announcing that a rich relation of the old man had justdied and left him all his fortune. “ You see, mademoiselle,” said the Pres ident to the young woman, “ that heaven has already recompensed the filial love of which you have given so striking a proof.” — Galignani, A SUMMARY OF FOREIGN NEWS. The steamship Canada arrived on Friday, bringing seven days laterintelligence. Her dates from Paris are to the 15th of November, and from Liverpool to the 16th. In the Liverpool market cotton had advanced i per lb , on middling to fine American. Consols have also advanced in price. The London and Liverpool provision markets have been well supplied and prices have remained firm. Mr. Rives, our minister to France, has had an interview with the President of the French Re public. Mr. Rives studuously avoided any reference to the difficulty of our government with M. Poussin ; but Louis Napoleon referred to it in terms com plimentary to the American minister and to our government. The French government still continues a hos tile attitude towards the Emperor of Morocco, and it is probable the former will bombard Tangiers. The French Consul at Mogadore has been very harshly treated, and a French frigate has been sent to bis relief. On the 13lh ultimo, the prisoners convicted at the Court of Versailles, for participation in the out-breaks of the 13th of June were brought up for judgment. Seventeen of them were con demned for transportation, among whom was Col. Gurnard, and seven representatives of the people. They were condemned to five years imprisonment, among whom was one representative. Eleven are acquitted. The only item of interest from Prussia is the persecution of the clubs, a number of them hav ing beep dispersed on vsrious pretences. The accounts from Constantinople state that a British fleet was at anchor in Abeakir Bay, and intended remaining there until thev were assured what were the intentions of the Czar. The British minister had communicated to the Turkish government that the English Cabinet agreed to form an offensive alliance with the Porte, in the event of a war with Russia. General Aupick has made a similar communi cation on the part of the French government. Kossuth has published a valedictory addiess to his countrymen. Itts written in his most enthusi astic, poetical style, and is particularly severe on the traitor Gorgey. Fresh condemnations are sttll taking place in Hungary, and it is believed that fifteen additional ones are threatened at Arad daily. Haynau has again threatened the Jews at Pesth with violence unless they pay up the con tribution demanded, which seems beyond their power. The Order of Jesuits has been re-installed at Naples, and the king is determined to leave noth ing undone to Christianise his people. The Spanish troops in Rome are said to have received order to return to Spain. - We learn from Spain that the session of Cortez has been opened with the customary speech, which has given rise to ani mated attacks of M. Olazaga and his friends against their implacable enemies, Narvaey and his colleagues. Death.—“ The sense of Death is most in Appre hension.”—The act of dying would seem to be pleasant; it is like the benumbing of the mental and bodily faculties which precedes sleep. La mentations therefore, over the dying, especially if they be loud, are not only unavailing, but painful. It would seem that death by the guillotine does not extinguish life ; the body and head both feel, it is said, for more than ten minutes after separation. 11l I■©T 1 S f j 01W RV ® From Richard’s Weekly Gazette. GEORGIA. FT JAQUES JOUR.tOT. Blessings on thee, Land of Beauty, Sleeping in a sunny clime— Blessings on thy hills and vallies— I invoke them in my rhyme ! Far and wide my steps may wander, Fairer scenes may meet my eyes, But my soul will cherish ever, Memoiies of thy glorious skies. Northward, ’gainst the quiet heavens, Thy blue mountain barriers rise, And above thy foaming torrents Glow the Iris’ radiant dies. There Tallulah dashes madly Through the sundered granite hills, And a sense of awful beauty All the gazer’s being fills. And Toccoa , haunt of fairies, And J\acoochee's valley sweet, Where the shining Chattahoochee , Stars and sunshine love to greet; And Mount Yonah soaring proudly, Where the winds are pure and free, Wafts a greeting on their pinions, To his neighbor Gurrahce. Thine the Jlfountaiti Rock of Granite, Rising ‘mid thy fertile plains,— Nature’s everlasting watchtower, Looking o'er thy wide domains; Looking norlhward to the mountains— Southward o’er Savannah’s wide, Wh ere, through dark lagoons and marshes, Flows the Altamaha s tide. Thine the lovely Forest City, Bonaventure's wealth of shade— Classic Athens —seat of learning, And Augusta s mart of Trade ; Macon’s thine, and fail Columbus , And Atlanta's busy street, And the pride of Rome the western, Where Coosa's tribute waters meet. But thy proudest treasures, Georgia, Are th> Sons, so brave and true, > . And thy gentle, bright-eyed Daughters, Who with love our souls imbue ; Thine the valiant and the lovely— Manhood’s strength and woman’s charms, And thy Homes adorned by Beauty, Guarded are by Valor’s arms. A FRIEND OFT HE FAMILY. SAVANNAH, SATURDAY, DEC. 15. 1849. YzT Our paper will in future be issued on Saturdays instead of Thursdays. BALLOON ASCENSION. Mr Victor Verdalle made a successful and beautiful ascen sion on Monday afternoon. Ho did not get the balloon suffi ciently inflated until a few minutes after 5 o’clock, when quick as thought he flew upward hanging by his toes to a square frame a few inches in width, when about a thousand feet from the earth he reversed his position, in doing which some 10 or 12 of the cords by which the frame was attached to the bal loon parted, and fur an instant he was apprehensive that those remaining were not sufficient to sustain his weight. The bal” loon took a course East of North and passed over the city and descended in Back liver, near the Carolina shore. At eight o’clock in the evening he returned to the city, and his balloon was brought over the next day. We are sorry to state that the receipts at the gate were not sufficient to pay the expenses, but understand that a number of gentlemen have formed themselves into a committee to take up a subscription for him to give a public ascension on Monday afternoon, Dec. 17th, at halt-past three o’clock from the Parade Square. AMUSEMENTS. The concert of Mad’lle Niecieska on Monday evening was well attended, and gave genera! satisfaction. Signor Spinetto’s exhibition of Canary birds and Java Spar rows, is attracting numbers both of the old and young. Hutching’s Panorama of the sea and shores of the Medi teranean we were sadly disappointed with, it is not equal to Stockwell’s Mississippi. Celebration of the 25 th day of December , by Roxbury Middle Ground and Donaldson Divisions of the Sons of Temper ance. Whereas it has heretofore been the custom to celebrate Christmas day, or the 251 h day of December by a free indul gence in intoxicating drink, and believing that as Sons of'Tem perance we can pay that respect which is due to the day in a more rational manner, Be it therefore Resolved , That the members of Roxbury, Donaldson, and Middle Ground Divisions do celebrate the 25th day of Decem ber by a Public Temperance Festival and Barbecue, at the 45 mile Station, C. R. Road, to which all those in favor of the cause are invited to attend. Resolved , That the R. S. under the direction of the W. P. do invite Mr. Win. King, of Savannah, and such other mem bers ot the Order a:-; they may see fit, to address the assembly on the subject of Temperance on that occasion. Resolved, ThaUhe R. S. tinder of the W. P. do cause to be published a general invitation to the Sons of Temperance, members of Temperance Societies, and those fa vorable to the cause, to meet with us on that day. Resolved, That G. Oliver, P. M. Stotesbury, E. Jones, Wm, Williams, and J. F. Helenly be a committee to make all suit able arrangements. Resolved , That the R. S. furnish to the editors of the Tem perance Banner, and Friend of the Family, a copy of these re solutions for publication. JAMES MIDDLETON, R. S. SIGHTS IN THE GOLD REGION, And Scenes by the Way. By Theodoke T. Johnson New York, Baker and Scribner, 1849. This work is written in an easy style, and reminds us of the interesting travels of Stephens. The following Graphic description of Panama will convey a very correct idea of the whole work, which cun be found at Mr. John M. Cooper’s Book Store. “ History informs us that New Grenada was conquered and annexed to the crown of Spain by Gonzala de Ximenes in 1536, who overthrew Bogota, the native king, a redoubtabl e chieftain, in honor of whom the capital of that name is called. Seven miles from the existing city of Panama are the ruins of old Panama. Founded by tho Spaniard in the early part of the sixteenth century, and famous as tho port from which Pizarro sailed in 1535 on his first expedition to Peru, it was sacked and burned by buccaniers in 1070 under a famous chieftain named Morgan. From this calamity it never re covered, and there is now only to be seen tho remains of crum bling walls overgrown with trees, and a few houses of the natives. Returning to the present city, we are impressed with the resources, munificence, and enterprise of its founders. Its massive and high walls, its fortifications and defences, numerous large churches and other public buildings, as well as substantial private edifices, erected from a species of stone brought from a long distance ; all attest the truth of the fore going observations. As long as Mexico, New Grenada, and other South Ameri can states remained subject to the crown of Spain, the whole of their commerce in obedience to her enactments, passed by the way of tho Isthmus to the mother country and the world. Thus Panama became the principal commercial port of the Pacific, and the mart of the whole west coast of South Ameri ca, and Mexico. But her glory departed the moment that trade and commerce left to their natural channels attained a comparative degree of freedom, and flowed into immediate and direct communication with other countries. While under this state of things one generation has passed away, anew and longer day of prosperity is now apparently dawning on the next. The hope and expectation of the whole civilized world long directed to the Isthmus route as the great highway of nations, are at length soon to be grati fied. And with just pride and exaltation do we point to its fi nal accomplishment by tho enterprise and energy of the peo ple of our Great Western Republic; thus adding another bright and enduring record to the volume of American his tory. Though both the Isthmus of Panama and that of Da rien had been surveyed many years ago by the English, French and Spanish governments or capitalists, and the route by the former Isthmus ascertained to bo entirely feasible for a rail road, and although especially England and the English eter nally boast that theirs is tho strongest government and wealth iest nation on earth, yet has it remained for their more pow erful political and commercial rival, to open new portals to her Indian empire and China trade. Thus by our superior enterprise, as well as by our peaceful annexation ot Texas in the West, compared with her forcible and bloody annexation of the Punjaub in the East, let us as sure the world that we have not only outstripped our Anglo- Saxon parentage in the race of civilization, but that if the “sun never sets ” on England’s boasted possessions, neither will it ever again rise upon her commercial or political su premacy. Crossing the Isthmus, both during the progress of the American survey and after its completion, we had every op portunity of observing the route selected for the proposed railroad, and cannot doubt its certain and speedy construction. The chief difficulty to contend with will be the floods of the rainy season, and their effect upon the viaducts and embank ments; competent engineers will, however, ovorcome this. This great undertaking once accomplished, Panama must not only resume her former position, but become one of the chief commercial cities of the western hemisphere.* Her magnificent bay, salubrious climate, and fertile surrounding country, afford her every desired advantage. Capital, it is true, must and will be freely employed, in the construction of docks rendered necessary by the great rise and full of the tides, but this improvement may, with others of similar im portance, be accomplished with comparative ease. The smooth stone beach on the most accessible front of the city will afford a solid foundation for the work, while abundance of the best material may be obtained from tho old walls and nu merous ruins. There is also every facility for the establishment of large commercial houses. Fine, substantial buildings, suitable for warehouses, many of them entirely fire-proof, and now quite unoccupied, may be obtained at extremely low prices. Much of this species of property, aud especially of the old ruins, belongs to the Roman Catholic Church ; but as their property is, notwithstanding, great, moderate prices would be gladly accepted by them. As an instance, however, of the effect of the American emigration upon the value of real estate, a large and fine building is now occupied as a hotel at an annual rent of three hundred dollars, which could have beon pur chased a few months ago for one thousand dollars. A corres ponding advance on property in general has, nevertheless, not taken place. As to the climate of Panama, and the conntry immediately surroundingit, there can be none in the world more delightful than it is in the dry season- The morning is always beautiful and clear, with a fine air from the sea, the thermometer du ring the hottest part of the day 80 to 85 degrees of Fareu heit; relieved by a refreshing land breeze, which usually sets in about noon, continuing till sun set, followed by nights cool and comfortable. This continues about four months from the beginning ot the yea]', when the rainy season approaches and sets in very gradually, attaining its height only during a ter four months of the year. Its intensity here ia not considerable as on the other side of the Isthmus; and alq it rains every day for at least four months, yet the after are usually clear and pleasant. The atmosphere is of sultry during this season, but to preserve the health, it i 3 necessary to keep the feet and person dry, and avoid too ° ‘ fruit at all seasons. Tho much-talked of Panama fever is simply a con , form of billious fever, brought on generally bv over-fatic„ e “ too great exposure to sun or rain. Dysentery also from imprudence in diet, as in any other tropical clim af The yellow fever, or black vomito, never prevails, an ] Asiatic cholera as an epidemic was unknown there until \\ present year ; which is likewise the fact with all, or nearly the seaports on the Pacific. True, the native physicians ! nominate the Panama fever as yellow fever, but to our in u ries on the subject, replied that they never knew a caso of { black vomito. Sporadic cases of cholera have occurred • b it generally avoided the Pacific coast during its epiJem c ’ prevalence in 1833. No better proof of the the climate can be given, than the general exemption f lotTl ness of the 5000 Americans who have already tarried there the wet and the dry season. In addition to the salubrious and healthy climate, the sn . rounding country is literally a paradise, and indeed the w],,^ extent of the Isthmus affords abundant evidence of wonder, ful natural resources. Covered with a magnificent growth - forest trees, much of which is suitable for ship building well as for other purposes, the soil is also exuberant for every species of cultivation. We saw, besides, the greatest abun. dance of every kind of fruit, Indian corn many feet high ;i the stalk, and sugarcane growing spontaneously from year to year, without exhausting the soil. Hemp, cotton and tobacco mny also be grown in the greatest luxuriance, the pl anr ., r dreading no frost, and having reference only to the wet nnl dry seasons, while the marshes of tho Chagrcs and Ri„ Grand rivers would produce the finest rice. Gold is algo found in great purity in parts of New Grenada, while recent discoveries in Veragua, the adjoining province of Panama have disclosed large deposites of excellent coal. Thesegre,t resources in wood and coal will be found to be of incalcula ble advantage in the construction of the railroad, and supply of fuel to our locomotives and steamships. In short this is tl* real El Dorado, which so many of our countrymen have un dertaken a voyage of 17,000 miles to behold in California. For the invaluable treaty with New Grenada, entered into and confirmed during the administration of the late President Polk, the American people are chiefly indebted to our late la mented Charge des Affaires to that country, the Hon. Benia min A. Bidlack, of Pennsylvania. Gifted with diplomatic talents the most eminent, ho also combined a noble and gen erous disposition with a distinguished person and pleasing ad dress, securing a paramount influence with the government to which he was accredited, and the highest popularity with the people among whom he resided. These qualifications, to gether with the well known friendly and liberal senfimenM his government, enabled liim to secure from the govervmivA of New Grenada that important and memorable treaty, and this too at a period when the ministers both of England and France were exerting their talents and influence to the ut most, to secure a similar treaty on behalf of their respective governments. The preceding narrative of facts, partially gleaned while in New Grenada, was extended and confiriueJ on our voyage house from Carthagena, by an highly respect able American gentleman, who was very intimate with .Mr. Bidlack, conversant with the whole history of the negotiation of the treaty, and placed in charge of the Legation by bio preceding his mournful decease. Thus has our country ac quired one of the most important treaties negotiated in the history ot the world, while she has lost one of her most pat riotic and eminent citizens. Peaceful be his repose and ever green his laurels. As an evidence of tlie complete establishment of friendly relations with the people of New Grenada, we received, in common with most of oir countrymen, the utmost attention and kindness from the natives and residents of the Isthmus, and especially of Panama, as well as from Senor Don Mari* ano Arossemena, the Intendente of that department. In character, the educated classes are kind, generous and open-heai ted, anxious to acquire our language, and to afford every facility and inducement for our residence among them. Their manners, with less of the punctilio, and none of the hauteur of those of the Spaniards, partake of equal politeness and greater sincerity. The character of the uneducated and laboring class of the natives is of course inferior in these qualities, but they are nevertheless a remarkably inoffensive and kind-hearted people. Notwithstanding the general infe riority of their mixed race, and the somewhat enervating ef fects of a tropical climate, they areable to undergo great bodily fatigue, and submit to arduous labor as catioernen, cargodore*. muleteers, nguadores, Arc. This disposition to labor is not freely manifested since the Americans have paid them suM* erally, and it is unfortunately true, that they will, on all occa sions, exact twice and even three and four times the price or sum for articles, or labor, from strangers that they will fro® each other. They are nevertheless devoid of legitimate en terprise and business capacity. Though horses and mules such .as they have, are numerous and cheap, yet they employ no wheeled vehicles in Panama nor in the adjacent level coo 11 ’ try. Every hour in the day the aguadores maybe seeica*’ tying four jars or kegs of water fastened to a pack saddle on® mule; these are sold at one rial each, and thus the Pans® 11 ’ nians receive their supplies of fresh water. When a decays tree falls across the road they travel, there it remains • years, the natives clambering over it, or preferring to go up their necks in mud or water around it, to clearing a\vav [ t impediment It is plain therefore that they cannot be el ‘‘. ployed to advantage on the railroad, but laborers must be elsewhere. Though they drink aguardiente or Cogniac “ ■ to be obtained, yet intoxication is not common among the lll, J . ... veff They are gifted with a full share of Spanish obstinacy, 8 provoking instance of which we endured from an old Panama, who refused to sell a tin basin which Il! need, at any price, and only because it shone brightly* 11 valued it as an incomparable ornament to his shop. Having remained just a month among the New uic. j we now prepared for our departure, filled with many I recollections.