Newspaper Page Text
PERSONAL.
Charles Dickens, will, it is said, visit this
country nest Autumn.
Ex President Van Buren is writing his
“Life and Times.”
The Earl op Minto, father-in-law of Lord
John Russell, is dead.
Baron E- Rothschild, from Germany, is at
present in New York.
Hon. Jeff Davis is decidedly convalescent.
He is still at Oakland, Alleghany county, Md.
Mrs. Harrison, the venerable widow of ex-
President Harrison, is very ill at her residence
at North Bend.
Major F. W. Capers, of South Carolina, has
accepted the superintendency of the Georgia
Military Institute.
Professor Agassiz is now in Switzerland ;
he is expected to return homo about the middle
of September.
Mr. Ten Broeck’s winnings (with American
horses) at the different Goodwood races are
stated at $125,000.
Horace Ye ßnet has returned to Paris from
Italy, with materials for some magnificent tab
leaux of recent events.
Private letters from Paris state that Madame
Ristori has nearly or quite resolved to make a
professional tour through the United States.
Dick Tattersall, known to all sporting men
in and out of England, died at Dover lately, in
the 16tli year of his age.
Bishop Davis, of South Carolina, has become
almost totally blind. His general health is, how
ever, good, and his vigorous mental faculties
unimpaired.
H. Clay, a brother of the late Congressman,
James B. Clay, and son ot Henry Clay, is
elected to the State Senate from Fayette county,
Kentucky, on the Opposition ticket.
The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred
upon Revs. J. R. Furman, J. E. Ryerson and J.
J. Brantly, by the Furman University at its late
commencement.
■We understand that Right Rev. JonN Barry,
Catholic Bishop of Georgia, has arrived safely in
his native city, Wexford, Ireland ; but we have
been informed, and regret to hear it, that his
health has not improved.— Consitutionalist.
•
Prince Jerome Napoleon, the Emperor’s un
cle, is said to be suffering extremely from the
gout, which appears to threaten the stomach.—
Prince Napoleon and the Empress Mathilde
were in constant attendance on their father.
John Ross has been re-elected Chief of the Cher
okee Nation. Ross was elected principal chief
of the Cherokee Nation, under the first Consti
tution, in the fall of 1828, at New Echota, and
has been the Chief ever since, being re-elected
every four years.
Lieutenant Maury has recently received a
gold medal from the Emperor of France ; also,
from the King of Portugal, an autograph letter,
conferring upon him the degree of Officer of the
Tower and Sword, together with the beautiful
insignia of the order.
The English Dissenters are about to erect a
church edifice for Mr. Spurgeon, the estimated
cost of which is £21,000. Tho work was to be
commenced on the 16th of the present month.
The building will seat 5,000 people, and will,
when completed, be tho largest dissenting chap
el in the kingdom.
Judoe Haliburton no Orator.—The London
Illustrated Times says that on Monday, July 2.'ith,
Judge Haliburton, (Sam Slick,) mado his maiden
speech in Parliament. “When he arose, the
House was hushed to silence in a moment; but
his speech was not a success, and it is clear now
that Mr. Haliburton, racy writer as he is, is no
orator. It was just such a speech as any coun
try gentleman might havo made. Tho appear
ance of Mr. Haliburton is that of a sturdy old
geutleman farmer, utterly unlike what, from
reading his works, you would imagine him to be."
Mr. Buchanan will be nearly seventy years
of age when he leaves the Presidency in 1861.
His birthday is on the 22d of April. Mr. Bu
chanan will thus be a little older than was Gen.
Jackson when his terra expired, and older, by
more than five years, than was Gen. Washing
ton, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James
Monroe or John Quincy Adams; by twelve
years than Martin Van Buren; and upwards of
"fifteen years than John Tyler, James K. Polk,
Milliard Fillmore and Frank Pierce, at the ter
mination of their political life.
Some weeks ago tho Nashville papers men
tioned that the venerable and Rev. Joshua
Soule, D. D., senior Bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, was very ill, and it
was feared would not be able to resume the ac
tive duties of his office. We learn, however,
that the Bishop has recovered his usual health,
and is nowon a visit to his relatives in Ohio.
“Sixty years ago,” said the Bishop, “on the
sth of January last, I left my father’s home to
begin tho work of a Methodist traveling preach
er, and this day, July 31st, I close tho 78th year
of my life.” He spoke with his usual distinct
ness and compass of voice sufficient to make
himself heard by a large congregation.
On the Mobile and Ohio railroad, not far from
Jackson, in Tennessee, says an exchange paper,
still stands the humble log cabin, eighteen by
twenty feet in size, built and occupied, while he
lived in this District, by the far .famed David
Crockett. Its logs are fast decaying, and deso
lation surrounds it, but no traveler passes it
without an eager desire to look upon the humble
roof that sheltered one of the truest representa
tives of the American pioneer character —a hero
and an honest man. Near it is a railroad sta
tion, called Crockett’s Station; around it, per
haps, will arise a town, to bear and perpetuate
a namo as familiar to his countryman as that of
Jackson.
WnY Miss Murray Resigned.—The New
York Albion has an article referring to the resig
nation of Hon. Amelia Murray, whilom maid
of honor to the Queen, and whose book on Amer
ica and slavery has attracted some attention.—
The Albion says:
We are able to state upon the most unexcep
tionable authority, that Miss Murray did not
lose her place in the royal household on account
of her sentiments in favor of slavery; but that
she herself resigned the honorary position she
occupied as an extra maid of honor, before the
publication of her work, and before any one
knew of its table of contents—whether it treated
of slavery at all—much less whether her opin
ions respecting it wero favorable or reverse.—
She resigned, in deference to a well known rule
of all departments of the British public service,
which forbids any subordinate to treat, in print,
controverted questions of religion, politics or
government.
xxtK sovsessas sxx&s fxkjbsebs.
FUN, FACT, AND PHILOSOPHY.
“Have you read my last speech ?” said an
orator to a friend.
“I hope so,” was the reply. •
Marking Newspapers.—The Postmaster
General decides that a pen and pepcil mark,
made for the purpose of attracting tho eye to a
particular article or portion of printed matter,
matter, does not subject matter to letter postage,
as insisted on by some postmasters.
Industry is an excellent guard for virtue; the
more active your life, the less opportunity have
the passions to corrupt you.
“Mynheer, do you know what for we call our
boy Hans?” —“I do not, really.” “Well, I will
tell you. Der reason we call our boy Hans, it
is his name.”
There are on earth 1000 millions of inhabi
tants. Os these 33,333,333 die every year;
7,780 every hour, and 60 every minute—or one
in every second. But there are always more
births than deaths, and so population increases.
There is dew in one flower and not in another
because one opens its cup and takes it in, while
the other closes itself and the drop runs off. God
rains goodness and mercy as wide as the dew,
and if we lack them, it is because we will not
open our hearts to receive them.
Sentimental Youth.—“My dear girl, will
you share my lot for life ?”
Practical Girl.—“now many acres is your
lot, sir?”
A little more than half a century’ ago there
was not a single steamboat in existence, and the
appliance of steam to machinery was little
known. The first steamboat was launched in
1804. Now there are three thousand steam
boats traversing American waters.
An ill-tempered man carries his own smoke,
and makes not oniy his own eyes smart, but
those of other people.
An ’Editor Taken Down. —An editor and a
young school miss were engaged in a conversa
tion the other day, when the following passed
between them:
Editor. —“Miss when are you going to
get married ?”
School Miss.—“ Well, I don’t know; the first
chance I get.”
Ed.—“ Well, as that is my intention, suppose
we marry.”
S. M.—“ Well, I don’t know whether that
would be a chance or not.”
The editor acknowledged himself “in below
the ford.”
A communication from Rome says : “The
magnificent statue of the Marine Venus which
was discovered a few weeks ago in some exca
vations made in the gardens of Julius Cicsar, not
far from the Portese-gate, has been definitely
purchased for the Imperial Museum of St. Pe
tersburg, for a sum of about 50,000 f. ($10,000.)
He should be considered our lest friend, who
is the most ready to tell us our errors in a
friendly way.
At a railway station an old lady said to a
very pompous-looking gentleman, who was talk
ing about steam communication:
“Pray, Sir, what is steam ?”
. “Steam, ma’am, is, ah! —steam is—eh! ah!—
steam is—steam!”
“I knew that chap couldn’t tell ye, ’ said a
rough-looking fellow standing by’; “but steam is
a bucket of water in a tremendous perspiration.”
“Q,” the seventeenth letter of- the Euglish
alphabet, was borrowed from thevLatin, and its
name came from the French queue, a tail. It is
always followed by u, and never ends a word.
To do good to our enemies is to resemble
tho incense whoso aroma perfumes the fire by
which it is consumed.
The Retort Courteous. —A thick headed
squire, being worsted by Sidney Smith in an
argument, took his revenge by exclaiming, “If
I had a son who was an idiot, by Jove, I’d make
him a parson.’ “Very probably,” replied Sidney,
“but I see your father was of a different mind.”
Female Suffrage.—Females in Kansas have
the right of voting on school matters.
In whatever shape evil comes, we are apt to
exclaim, with Hamlet, “take any shape but
that”
It is not only little boys who like to play with
hoops now-a-days. Full-grown men are frequent
ly seen chasing them through the streets.
The New Englaud Courant, in 1726, contain
ed the following advertisement: “Just publish
ed, and sold by the printer thereof, ‘Hooped
Petticoats Arraigned and Condemned, by the
Light of Nature and the Law of God' —Price 6d.’
A New York correspondent says that ten
millions of hooped skirts are manufactured in
that city per year. Houses there make more
than three thousand per day, and still cannot
fill their orders.
Religion is the foundation of society; let that
be shaken by contempt, and the whole fabric
totters to the ground.
The New York Tribune says that women in
that city only receive two cents a piece for mak
ing boys, caps. To this the Columbia, Arkansas,
Courier replies: “That ain’t nothing; the ladies
in Arkansas make caps, boys and ail, and don t
charge a cent”
Anagrams.—Among the curiosities —not of
literature —but of letters, the anagram was wont
to be a favorite in the days of a by-gone gene
ration. Who, for instance, has not smiled bland
ly over that famous transposition, which aptly
converts “Horatio Nelson” into Honor est a
Nilot
Another. —The name so much in men’s
mouths, “Louis Napoleon Bonaparte,” may
by this method be converted into, An open plot
—arouse Albion! —New York Albion.
Yalue the friendship of him who stands by
you in the storm; swarms of insects will sur
round you in the sunshine.
An editor says his attention was first drawn
to matrimony by the skillful manner in which a
pretty girl handled a broom. Another editor,
very improperly alluding to such domestic mat
ters, says: “If reports be true, our brother s ad
miration of the skillful manner in which the
lady “handles a broom,” has not increased since
his marriage.
The British and Foreign Bible Society re
ceived, the past year, $774,530, being $27,000
more than in any former year. It put into
circulation 23,798 more copies of tho Scriptures
than in any former year;—that is, 1,625,935
copies.
To speak harshly to a person of sensibility
is like striking a harpsichord with your fist
Profusion restores to the public the wealth
which avarice has detained from it for a time.
CHESS.
In the Problem of Max Lange, given in our
chess column of last week, we should have ad
ded, when giving the position of the pieces, be
fore attempting the mate in four moves, another
piece for the Blacks, viz:
Black Pawn on B 3.
Now we believe the problem correctly stated.
Mr. Morphy has gone to Newport and will
probably visit the White Mountains before re
turning to New York. He expects to be absent
about three weeks.
Two Games of Chess are being played by letter
between an amateur of the New York Club and
a player of St. Petersburg, Russia.
A Steel Portrait of Mr. Morphy, accompa
nying a biographic sketch, has been published in
the London Illustrated News of the World, for
July 23d.
Park Benjamin has been satirizing Mr. Ev
erett, and Mr. Paul Morphy in some verses of
his composition, read at the late Dartmouth
Commencement.
We give below one of the best Problems (per
haps the very best) for a check-mate in two
moves, that we have ever mot with. It is, we
forget whose; wo took it last winter from, w r e
forget what paper.
problem:
Position of the Pieces.
WHITE.
Queen on A. 2.
Knighton B 2.
Pawn on C 2.
Rook on A 3.
King on F 3.
Pawn on E 4.
Pawn on F 4.
Bishop on D 6.
Pawn on F 6.
(White moving from 1 towards 8.)
(Black moving from 8 towards 1.)
White to play, and mate in two moves.
-———i»>
THE AUTOMATON CHESS-PLAYER.
[From the memoirs of Robert Iloudtn, Ambassador,
Author and Conjurer.]
“In 1796, a revolt broke out in a half-Russian,
half-Polish regiment stationed at Riga, at the
head of the rebels being an officer of the name
of Worousky, a man of great talent and ener
gy. The troops sent to suppress the revolt
were beaten back with considerable loss. How
ever, reinforcements came from St. Petersburg,
and the insurgents were defeated in a pitched
battle. A great number perished, and the rest
took flight across the marshes, where tfce sol
diers pursued them, with orders to grant no
quarter.
“In this rout Worousky had both thighs shat
tered by a cannon ball, and fell on the battle
field ; however, he escaped from the general
massacre by throwing himself in a ditch behind
a hedge. At nightfall, Worousky dragged him
self along with great difficulty to tho adjacent*
house of a physician of the nqme of Osloff,
whose benevolence was well known, and the
doctor, moved by iiis sufferings, attended upon,
and promised to conceal him. His wound was
serious, but the doctor felt confident of curing
him, until gangrene set in, and his life could
only be saved at the cost of half his body. The
amputation was successful, and Worousky saved.
“During this time, M. de Kempelin, a cele
brated mechanician, came to Russia to pay a visit
to M. Osloff, with whom he had been long ac
quainted.
“This visit was the more agreeable to the doc
tor, as for some time he had been alarmed as to
the consequences of the noble action he had per
formed ; he feared being compromised if it were
found out. Hence, he told Mdo Kempelen his
secret, and begged liis aid. Though at first
startled by sharing such a secret—for he knew
that a reword was offered for the insurgent chief,
and that the act of humanity he was about to
help in might send him to Siberia—still, M. de
Kempelen, on seeing Woronsky’s mutilated
body, felt moved with compassion, and began
contriving some plan to secure his escape.
“Dr. Osloff was a passionate lover of chess,
and had played numerous games with his
patient during his tardy convalescence; but
Worousky was so strong at tho game that the
doctor was always defeated. Then Kempelen
joined the doctor in trying to defeat the skilful
player, but it was of no use; Worousky wa3 al
ways the conqueror. His superiority gave M.
de Kempelen the idea of the famous Automaton
Chess-player. In an instant his plan was form
ed, and ne set to work immediately. The most
remarkable circumstance is, that this wonderful
chef d’teuvre, which astonished the whole world,
was invented and finished within three months.
“M. de Kempelen, anxious that his host should
make the first essay of his automaton, invited
him to play a game on the 10th of October, 1796.
Tho automaton represented a Turk of the natural
size, wearing tho national costume, and seated
behind a box of the shape of a chest of drawers.
In the middle of the top of the box was a chess
board.
“Prior to commencing tho game, the artist
opened several doors in the chest, and M. Osloff
could see inside a large number of wheels, pul
leys, cylinders, springs, etc., occupying the lar
ger part. At the same time, he opened a long
drawer, from which he produced the chessmen
and a cushion, on which the Turk was to rest
his arm. This examination ended, the robe of
the automaton was raised, and the interior of the
body could also be inspected.
“The doors being then closed, M. de Kempe
len wound up one of the wheels with a key he
inserted in a hole in the chest; after which the
Turk, with a gentle nod of salutation, placed his
hand on one of the pieces, raised it, deposited it
on another square, and laid his arm on the cush
ion before him. The inventor had stated that, as
the automaton could not speak, it would signify
check to the king by three nods, and to the queen
by two.
“The doctor moved in his turn, and waited
patiently till his adversary, whose movements
had all the dignity of the Sultan he represented,
had moved. The game, though slow at first,
soon grew animated, and the doctor found he
had to deal with a tremendous opponent; for,
in spite of all his efforts to defeat the figure, his
game was growing quite desperate. It is true,
though, that for some minutes past, the doctor’s
attention had appeared to be distracted, and one
idea seemed to occupy him. But while hesita
ting whether he should impart his thoughts to
his friend, the figure gave three nods. The
game was over.
“ ‘By jove!’ the loser said with a tinge of vex
ation, which the sight of the inventor’s smiling
face soon dispelled, ‘if I were not certain Wo
rousky is at this moment in bed, I should believe
I had been playing with him. His head alone is
capable of inventing such a checkmate. And
besides,’ the doctor said, looking fixedly at M.
de Kempelin, ‘can you tell me why your autom
aton plays with the left hand, just like Wo
rousky ?’
“The mechanician began laughing, and not
BLACK.
Knight on C 3.
Pawn on A 4.
King on D 4.
Knight on A 5.
Pawn on C 6.
Pawn on D 7.
Bishop on G 7.
wishing to prolong this mystification, the prelude
to so many others, ho confessed to his friend
that he had really been playing with Worousky.
_ “ ‘But where the deuce have you put him,
him then ?’ the doctor said, looking round to try
and discover his opponent.
“The inventor laughed heartily.
“ ‘Well! do you not recognize me ?’ the Turk
exclaimed, holding out his left hand to the doc
tor in reconciliation, while Kempelen raised the
robe, and displayed the poor cripple stowed
away in the body of the automaton.
“M. Osloff could no longer keep his counte
nance, and he joined the others in their laugh
ter. But he was the first to stop, for he wanted
an explanation.
“ ‘But how do you manage to render Worous
ky invisible ?’
“M. de Kempelen then explained how he con
cealed the living automaton before it entered the
Turk’s body.
“ ‘See here 1’ he said, opening the chest, •these
wheels, pulleys, and cranks occupying a portion
of the chest, are only a deception. The frames
that support them are hung on hinges, and can
be turned back to leave space for the player
while you are examining the body of the auto
maton.
“‘When this inspection was ended, and as
soon as the robe was allowed to fall, Worousky
entered the Turk’s body we have just examined
and, while I am showing you the box and the
machinery, ho was taking his time to pass his
arms and hands into those of the figure. You
can understand that, owing to the size of neck,
which is hidden by the broad and enormous
collar, he can easily pass his head into this mask,
and see the chess board. I must add, that when
I pretend to wind lip the machine, it is only to
drown the sound of Worousky’s movements.” ’
NEWS SUMMARY.
Washington, Aug. 23. —The administration
has bestowed upon tho subject of the African
slave trade its earnest attention, and, with a
view of suppressing, as far as possible, this traf
fic, has initiated measures more efficient and ex
tensive than ever before for that purpose.
The squadron for the coast of Africa, as ar
ranged by the Secretary of the Navy, will con
sist of the following named vessels : the steam
ers Mystic, Sumter, San Jacinto and Moluean,
and the sloops-of-war Constellation, (the flag
ship) Portsmouth, Marion and Vincennes. The
most efficient officers are assigned to their
their command. Those of the Mystic and Sum
ter are, respectively, Lieut. W. E. Lcßoy and
Lieut. J. F. Armstrong. These gentlemen were,
at their own request, ordered to this service.—
Their vessels, being of light draft, can penetrate
waters too shallow for those which have here
tofore been on that coast, besides having the ad
vantage of steam. Hence, slavers will be more
closely pursued.
Tho joint treaty with England requires that
the United States shall keep there a force ot
eighty guns ; but, by the recent arragnement on
the part of the Administration, the number of
guns will be one hundred and sixteen.
Mr. Bimey, who succeeds Mr. Morse as Naval
Storekeeper, went out in the Constellation, with
instructions to remove the naval depot for the Af
rican squadron from Porto Praya to San Paul de
Loando, which is three hundred and thirty-six
miles south of the Congo river, or about twenty
five hundred miles distant from Porto Praya.—
This new depot will, consequently, be much
nearer than the former to the principal points of
traffic on the coast, and will, in a great mea
sure, obviate the necessity of long cruises.
On our own coast, too, there is to be an efficient
naval force, composed of the steamers Crusa
der, Lieut. Maffit; the Mohawk, Lieut. Craven ;
the Wyannotte, Lieut. Stanly : and the Fulton,
Commander G. G. Williamson. They are to
eruiso in tho neighborhood of Cuba, for the pur
pose of capturing any slavers which may, by
their expertness, escape tho vigilance of our
naval police on the African coast.
These arrangements will soon go into full op
eration, jjnd tho Secretary of the Navy is row
hurrying the preparation of such of the vessels
as are yet in port, for this important Service.
Charleston Courier, Aug. 24.
What are we Coming to?—Biot, Violence,
Murder, Etc. —The following items reach us
by the last mails.
St. Louis, Aug. 23. —An outbreak in South
ern Kansas is reportod. Montgomery is again
in the field; and a renewal of the old disturban
ces is feared.
Philadelphia, August 23d.—While the pu
pils of the Catholic Sunday Schools and a mili
tary company of this city were on an excursion
to the village of Tacolney, yesterday, the sol
diers were attacked, while target firing, by a
gang of rowdies. Tho soldiers fired upon the
latter; and about twenty persons wero stabbed
and wounded. The riot was resumed on the re
turn to the city; but the police interfered, and
prevented any further serious results.
Baltimore" August 23. —A party of rowdies
on board the steamer bound for the camp-meet
ing, near this city, on Saturday last, committed
fearful outrages and acts of violence, They
butchered and robbed the passengers in tho
dark; and repeatedly stabbed a man whose wife
they violated in his presence.
Aiken, S. C. —On Saturday evening last a
difficulty occurred between George Purdue and
Willis Burkhalter, in which both parties fired
double-barrelled guns. Burklialter’s arm was
shot off below the elbow and he was otherwise
seriously injured. At last accounts he was con
sidered in imminent danger. Purdue, we un
derstand, escaped unharmed.
During Saturday night, one George Holly, at
or near the same village, was beaten severely
by some person or persons unknown, receiving
such wounds and bruises as to render his situa
tion also very critical.
On the Sunday following, in the same place, a
man named Jerry Jeffcoat committed suicide by
cutting his throat. His age was 24. Wo havo
not heard the supposed cause of the deed.
Edgefield Advertiser, 24 th.
The Strike at Albany.—The strike among
the iron moulders connected with the great fac
tories at Albany still continues. The combina
tion embraces some seven hundred workmen,
whose average earnings each were from $lB to
28 a week. They employed one or more boys,
or “helpers,” to do the more mechanical part of
the work, so that the total number of persons
out of employment cannot be less than fourteen
hundred. During the financial crisis of 1857,
the moulders agreed to do their own work, and,
we believe, at reduced prices; the point of dis
pute now is, their determination to get rid of
their “helpers,” or to select their own, and to re
turn to the old prices.
The cdhsequences of this movement among*he
moulders are deplorable. A wicked and mali
cious feeling exists on the part towards their
former employers, which takes the form of clamor
against capitalists and “the rich.” A “Union”
has been established the meetings of which are
secret, although the most severe threats are
promulgated against those who shall seek em
ployment at the factories, and many whose
families are starving have been prevented by
these threats from applying for work. The
“Union" has supplied some funds to the desti
tute; rival establishments in the vicinity have
done the same, and a few politicians have con
tributed freely. But the funds are giving out,
and unless some compromise is effected, much
additional suffering will be caused. It is esti
mated that the strikers, when in employment,
spend something like $20,000 a week. — Journal
of Commerce.
An American Invention. —One of Bishop’s
American floating derricks having been put on
the Thames, in London, it has furnished a theme
of admiration to several of our cotemporaties of
that city. To test its powers, a Norwegian
vessel of 900 tons was recently laid alongside of
it, and three chains were rapidly passed under
the bottom and connected with the lifts of the
derrick. When dtl was secure, the machinery
was set in motion, and the vessel was steadily
lifted from the water at the rate of about a foot
per minute. When raised twenty feet, a small
steamer of sixty tons was fastened beneath her,
and both vessels were raised high into the air,
presenting a most singular appearance.
The Crops. —The crops in Southwestern Geor
gia are better and more promising than they •
were ever known to be before. Corn will lie
abundant, and if no disaster befall the cotton
crop, it will be large. The pea and potato crops
promise to be excellent.— Americus News.
The Rice Harvest. —Several planters on the
Savannah river commenced, the latter part of
last week, to cut and harvest their rice crops.—
Southward of us, on the Ogeechee and Altamaha,
the crop is usually cut a little earlier, and they
no doubt commenced the first of the week.—
From a rice factor in this city we learn that the
crops on the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers are
excellent. From the Altamaha the reports re
ceived indicate that the planters on that river
will reap a good crop. It is, though, not wholly
free from danger, such as freshets from rains and
breaking of dams, continued rainy weather, 4c.,
which may materially affect both the quantity
and quality of the crop.
Savannah Republican iWi insl.
New Cotton. —We learn that two bales of
new cotton were received in our city this morn
ing. They are from the plantation of H. M.
Murray, in this county. Montgomery is not
much, if any, behind her sister counties in this
respect.
By the way, we fear that the heavy, and con
tinued rains, have seriously injured the prospects
of the cotton crop, especially in the prairie coun
try below us—not so much, however, as they
would have done, had they come later in the
season.— Montgomery Adv., IHth inst.
New Cotton in Savannah. —The first bale
of new cotton received in this city, arrived Satur
day morning. It is from the plantation of John
M. Snapp, of Chattahoochee county and classed
middling.
The first bale last year was received the Itli
of August, from the plantation of C. W. Rason,
of Dougherty county.
Two more bales received last evening, per
steamer Talomico from plantation of Edward S.
Riley, Esq., on Black Swamp, Beaufort District,
S. C. The quality is “fully fair."
Savannah Republican 22 nd inst.
Navigation of the Missouri River.— A
steam boat has just returned to St. Louis, from
a trip up the Missouri river to Fort Benton,
three thousand miles from its mouth, and only
seventy miles from the sources of the Columbia
river. This is the furthest point yet reached by •
steamltoat and it is now demonstrated that a
steamboat may, without any difficulty, go from
Pittsburg to Fort Benton and back. In truth,
the internal navigation of the west is as yet in
its infancy. *"
Mr. Wise, in his recent ascension in the bal
loon “Jupiter,” from Lafayette, Ind., took with
him a special mail-bag, which he subsequently
dropped from the clouds over Crawfordsville.
The letters were forwarded from that place to
their various destinations, Angust 16, 1869.
Operation of the Frank on the Mail Ser
vice.—The Providence Journal, alluding to the
fact that thousands of tons of illegally franked
matter have gone through the postoffice for
years past, says truly that this is certainly a
strong reason for the abolition of a privilege
which is capable of such abuse. The franking
privilege is intrinsically a matter of little impor
tance, but the abuses that grow out of it are
enormous. The cumbrous volumes that are
printed by thousands and tens of thousands by
order of Congress would never see the light but
for the franking privilege. If transmitted at the
most reasonable rates of postage they would not
be taken out of the office by those to whom they
are addressed.
*•
The Southern Steamship Company, incorporat
ed to run a line of steamships between Boston
and Savannah, have concluded contracts for two
substantial sea-going steamers, to be finished by
by the first of June, 1860.
Washington, Aug. 23.—C. E. Stewart has
been recognized by the President, as Consul for
Belgium, at the port of Charleston, S. C.
Southern Steamship Building. —A corres
pondent of the Mobile Tribune learns from those
who have made the estimate, that the new war
steamer Pensacola, just launched at the War
rington Navy Yard, will cost about one hundred
thousand dollars less than aDy one of the other
five vessels of her class, and ordered at the
same time, but which were built at the North.
St. Louis, Aug. 23—Dates from Denver City
to the 12th inst., have been received. More
gold discoveries have been reported.
The California gold mines are prospering, es
pecially the quartz mining region.
Washington, Aug. 21. —There is still little, if
any doubt, that a convention or treaty between
the United States and Mexico will soon be con
cluded, and received here from Minister McLane,
early in September.
There is no foundation for tae rumor that
the Secretary of War will resign his seat in the
Cabinet. He hopes soon to return to the per
formance of his official duties.
The Southern Mail. —The N. O. Commercial
Bulletin is informed upon reliable authoiity, that
the gap in the Mississippi Central Railroad (by
which the transportation of the Southern mail
is much delayed,) “will be filled by the Ist of
January next, when the distance between New
Orleans and New York will be accomplished in
three days and a half." The citizens of New
Orleans are apprehensive that this mail may to
be transferred to the Femandina route across
Florida, and have addressed the Postmaster
General on the subject.
109