Whole No. 2386.
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CONCLUDED.
The army during the past year has been so
•constantly employed against hostile Indians
-in various quarters, that it can scarcely be
§ said, with propriety of language, to have
i Von a peace establishment. Its duties have
I been satisfactorily performed, and we have
v| reason to expect, as a result ut the years op
- orations, greater security to the frontier in
habitants than has been been hitherto enjoy-
I od. Extensive combinations among the
f hostile Indians of the Territories of Washing
f ton and Oregon at one time threatened the
devastation of the newly formed settlement*
| of the country. From recent information,
we are permitted to hope that the energetic
I and successful operations conducted there
I will prevent such combinations in tutor:',
I and secure to those Territories an opportuni
i rv to make steadj- progress in the develop
| merit of their agricultural and mineral re-
I sources.
Legislation has been recommended by me
i on previous occasions to cure defects in the
I existing organization, and to increase the
1 efficiency ui the army, and further uhserva-
I (ion lias but served to confirm me in the
| views then expressed, and to enforce on my
[ mind the conviction that such measures are
I not only proper but necessary.
I have, in addition, to invite the attention
of Uongre-s to a change of policy in the dis
tribution *1 troops, and to the necessity o!
providing a more rapid increase ot the mili
tary armament. For details of these and
other subjects relating to the army, 1 refer
[ to the report of the Secretary of War.
The condition of the navy is not merely
satisfactory, but exhibits the most gratifying
evidences of increased vigor. As it is com
paratively small, it is more important that it
1 should tie as complete a> possible in all the
1 elements of strength ; that it should be effi
cient in the character of its officers, in the
| tea! and discipline of its men, in the reliabil
g ity of its ordinance, and in the capacity of
I iii ships. Jn all the various qualities the
| navy has made great progress within the last
I sow years. The execution of the law of
I < \mgross of February 28, 1855, •' to promote
1 the efficiency of the navy," has been attend
ed by the most advantageous results. '1 he
I law t r promoting discipline among the men
5 is convenient and salutary. The system of
>m honorable discharge to faithful seamen on
I the expiration of the period of their enlist
' tnent, and permitting them to re-enlist after
I n leave of absence of a few months, without
1 cessation of pay, is highly beneficial in its
• influence. The apprentice system, recently
I adopted, is evidently destined to incorporate
| into the f erviee a large number of our enun
| 't vinen, hitherto so difficult to procure. Sev
| oral hundred American hoys are now on a
| three years' cruise in our national vessels,
p r.r.d will return well trained seamen. In the
ordinance department there is a decided and
l gratifying indication of progress, creditable
i to it and to the country. The suggestions ot
; the Secretary of the Navy, in regard to fur
| 'her improvement in that branch of the service
> X commend to your favorable action.
The new frigates ordered bv Congress are i
| f o\v aiP-fc-t, and two of tbesj in active ser-
I vice. They arc superior models of r.aval
(- architecture, and with their form'nlablc bat
tery add largely to public streugth and secu
rity.
I concur in the views or pressed by the
Secretary of the Department in favor of a
still iurther increase of our naval force.
The report of the S'-cretarv of the Interior
present- Hct- and view* in relation to inter
nal affairs over which the supervision of Lis
department extends, of much interest aud !
importance.
The aggregate sales of the public !!*/■&, '
I during the last fiscal year, amount to .nine
million two hundred and twenty-sever, thou- .
| sand eight hundred and seventy-eight acres; j
I for which has been received the nm of eight
millions eight hundred and twenty-one thou- j
sand four hundred and Lwrrteen dollars.— i
D.uring the same period -there have been lo- !
.carted, with military scrip and land- warrants, j
.and for other purposes, thirty million one j
hundred thousemd two hundred and thirty
acres, thus winking a total aggregate of thir- j
ty-nine million three hundred and twenty- j
eight thousand one hundred and eight acres. J
On the 30th of September last, surveys had '
been made of sixteen million eight hundred :
and seventy-three thousand six hundred and
ninety-nine acres, a large proportion of
which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to
: the complication and progressive expansion i
I of the business of the different bureaux of i
I the department, to the pension system ; to t
I the colonization of Indian tribes, and the
?§ recommendations in relation to various im- '
Iproveinents in the District of Columbia, are |
{-especially commended to your consideration.
1 he report of the Postmaster General pre
sents fully the condition of that department
of the government. Irs expenditures of the
last fiscal year, were ten million four hun
dred and seven thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight dollars; and its gross receipts
seven million six hundred and twenty thou
sand eight hundred and one dollars—making
an excess of expenditure over receipts of two
million seven hundred and eighty-seven
thousand and forty-six dollars. The deficien
cy of this department is thus seven hundred
and forty-four thousand dollars greater than
jHE2sj®ais ASJ® sFWsaasjsism) JET ®a@!E®s n a awas®®w s Hnsa-ans? <s®urH®^ 8 s>i\ o
for the year ending June 30, 1853. Of this
deficiency, three hundred and thirty thousand
dollars is to be attributed to the additional
compensation allowed postmasters by the
act of Congress of June 22, 1854. The mail
facilities in every part of the country have
been very much increased in that period,
and the large addition of railroad service,
amounting to seven thousand nine hundred
and eight miles, has added largely to the
cost of transportation.
The inconsiderable augmentation of the
income of the Post Office Department under
the reduced rates of postage, and its increas
ing expenditures, must for the present, make
it dependent to some extent upon the treasury
support. The recommendations of the Post
master General, in relation to the abolition
of the franking privilege, and bis views on
the establishment of mail steamship lines,
deserve the consideration of Congress. 1 also
call the special attention of Congress to the
statement of the Postmaster General respect
ing the sums now paid for the transportation
of mails to the Panama Railroad Company,
and commend to their early and favorable
consideration the suggestions of that officer
in relation to the new contracts tor mail
taansportatiou upon that route, and also
upon the Tehuantepecand Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue in the enjoy
ment of amicable relations with all foreign
powers.
When my last annual message was trans
mitted to Congress two subjects of contro
versy, one in relation to the enlistment of
soldiers in this country for foreign service,
and the other to Central America, threaten
ed to disturb good understanding between
the United States and Great Britain. Of
the progress and termination of the former
question you were informed at the time;
aud the other is now in the way of satisfac
tory adjustment.
The object of the convention between the
United .States and Great Britain of the ltHh
of April, 1850, was to secure for the benefit
of nil nations, the neutrality and the com
mon use of any transit way, or the inter
oceanic communication, across the isthmus
of Panama, which might be opened within
the limits of Central America. The preten
sion subsequently asserted by Great Britain,
to dominion or control over territories, in or
near two of the routes, those ot Nicaragua
and Honduras, were deemed by the I"nited
States, not merely incompatible with the
main object of the treaty, but opposed even
to its express stipulations. Occasion of
controversy on this point has been removed
by an additional treaty, which our minister
at London has concluded, and which will be
immediately submitted to the Senate fur its
consideration. Should the proposed supple
mental arrangement he concurred in by all
tiie parties to be affected by it, the objects
contemplated by the original convention
will have been fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and
Great Britain, of the sth of June, 1854,
which went into effective operation in 1855,
put an end to causes of irritation between
the two countries, by securing to the United
States the right of fishery on the coast of the
British North provinces, with
advantages equal to those enjoyed by British
subjects. Besides the signal benefits of this
treaty to a large class of our citizens engaged
in a pursuit connected to no inconsiderable
degree with our national prosperity and
strength, it has had a favorable effect upon
other interests in the provision it made for
reciprocal freedom of trade between the
United States and the British provinces in
America.
The exports of domestic articles to those
provinces during the last year amounted to
more than twenty-two millions of dollars,
exceeding those of the preceeding year by
nearly seven millions of dollars ; and the im
ports therefrom, during the same period,
amounted to more than twenty-one millions,
—an increase of six millions upon those of
the previous year.
The improved condition of this branch of
our commerce is mainly attributable to the
above-mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first article of
that treaty, for a commission to designate
the mouths of rivers to which the common
right of fishery, on coast of the United States
and the British Provinces, was not to extend.
This commission has been employed a part
of two seasons, but without much progress
in accomplishing the object for which it was
instituted, in consequence of a serious dif
ference ot' opinion between the commission
ers, not only as to the precise point whore
the rivers terminate, but in many instances
as to what constitutes a river. These diffi
culties, however, may be overcome by resort
to the umpirage provided for by the treaty.
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since
the commencement of my administration, to
relieve our trade to the Baltic front the ex
action of Sound dues by Denmark, have not
yet been attended with success. Other gov
ernments have also sought to obtain a like
relief to their commerce and Denmark was
induced to propose an arrangement to all
the European powers interested in the sub
ject; and the manner in which her proposi
tion was received, warranting her to believe
that a satisfactory arrangement with them
could soon be concluded, she made a strong
appeal to this government for temporary sus
pension of definite action in its part, in
consideration of the embarrassment which
might result te her European negotiations
by an immediate adjustment of the question
with the United States. This request has
been acceeded to, upon the condition that
the sums collected after the 16th of Juno
last, and until the 10th of June next, from
vessels and cargoes belonging to our merch
ants, are to be considered as paid under
protest and subject to future adjustment.—
There is reason to believe that an arrange
ment, between Denmark and the maritime
powers of Europe on the subjeet, will soon
lie concluded, and that the pending negotia
tion with the United] States may then be
resumed and terminated in a satisfactory
manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have arisen,
nor much progress been made in the adjust
ment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose
i of relieving our commercial jnterpouse with
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1856.
the Island of Cuba of some of its burden*,
an 1 providing for the more speedy settle
ment of local disputes growing out of that
intercourse, have not yet been attended with
any results.
Soon after the commencement of the late
war in Europe, this government submitted
to the consideration of all maritime nations,
two principles for the security of neutral
commerce ; one, that the neutral liag should
cover the enemies' goods, except articles
contraband of war ; aud the other, that neu
tral property on board merchant vessels of
belligerents should he exempt from condem
nation, with the exception of contraband
articles. These were not presented as new
rules of international law; having been
generally claimed by neutrals, though not
always admitted by belligerents. One of the
parties to the war—Russia--as well as sev
eral neutral powers, promptly acceded to
these propositions; and the two other bel
ligerents, Great Britain and Prance, having
consented to observe them for the pre-ent
occasion, a favorable opportunity seemed to
be presented for obtaining a general recog
nition of them both in flu rope and Atnerici.
But Great Britain and France, in common
with most of the states of Europe, while for
bearing to reject, did not affirmatively act
upon the overtures of the United States.
While the question was in this position,
the representatives of Russia, France, Great
Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, and Tur
key, assembled at Paris, took into considera
tion the subject of maratime rights, and put
forth a declaration containing the two prin
ciples which this government had submitted,
nearly two years before, to the consideration
of maratime powers, and adding thereto the
following propositions, " Privateering is and
remains abolished," and " Blockades, in or
der to be binding, must be effective, that is
to say maintained by a force, sufficient really
to prevent access to the coast of the enemy;"
and to t c declaration thus composed of four
points, two of which had already been pro
pose 1 by the United States, this government
has been invited to accede by all the powers
represented at Paris, except Great llritain
and Turkey. To the last of the two addition
al pr.ip> -i'iuns—that in relation to blockades
—there can certainly be no objection. It is
mere I v the definition "f what shall constitute
the effectual investment of a blockaded place,
a definition f r which this government has
alw.iy- contended, claiming indemnity losses
where a practical violation of the rule thus
defined has been injurious to our commerce.
As to the remaining article of the declara
tion of the conference of Paris, " that pri
vateering is and remains abolished," —I cer
tainly cannot ascribe to the powers repre
sented in the conference of Paris, any but
liberal and philanthropic views in the attempt
to change the unquestionable rule of mara
time law in regard to privateering. Their
proposition was doubtless intended to imply
approval of the principle that private proper
ty upon the ocean, although it might belong
to the citizens of a belligerent state, should
be exempted from capture; and had that
proposition been so framed as to give full
effect to the principle, it would have received
my ready assent on behalf of the United
States. But the measure proposed is inade
quate to that purpose. It is true that if
adopted, private property upon the ocean
would be withdrawn from one mode of plun
der, but left exposed, meanwhile, to another
mode, which could Le used with increased
effectiveness. The aggressive capacity of
great naval powers would thereby be aug
mented, while the defensive ability of others
would be reduced. Though the surrender of
the menus of prosecuting hostilities by em
ploying privateers, as proposed by the con
ference of Paris, is mutual in terms, yet, in
practical effect, it would be the relinquish
ment of a right of little value to one class of
states, but of essential importance to anoth
er and a far larger class. It ought not to
have been anticipated that a measure so in
adequate to the accomplishment ot the pro
posed object, and so unequal in its operation,
would receive the assent of all maratime
powers. Private property would be still left
to the depredations of the public armed
cruisers.
I have expressed a readiness on the part
of this government, to accede to all the prin
ciples contained in the declaration of the
conference of Paris, provided that relating
to the abandonment of privateering can be
so amended as to effect the object for which,
as is presumed, it was intended, the iunnu
nity ol private property on the ocean from
hostile capture. To effect this object, it is
proposed to add to the declaration that
" privateering is and remains abolished,"
the following amendment. "And that the
private property of subjects and citizens of a
belligerent on the high seas, shall be exempt
trum seizure by the public armed vessels of
the other belligerent, except it be contra
band." This amendment has been presented
not only to the powers which have asked our
assent to the declaration to abolish priva
teering, but to ail other maritime states.—
Thus far it has not been rejected by any,
and is favorably entertained by all which
have made any communication in reply.
Several of the governments, regarding with
favor the proposition of the United States,
have delayed definitive action upon it, only
for the purpose of consulting with others,
parties to the conference of Paris. I have
the satisfaction of stating, however, that the
Emperor of Russia has entirely and explicitly
approved of that modification, and will co
operate in endeavoring to obtain the a sent
ol other powers ; and that assurances of a
similar purport have been received in relation
to the disposition of the Emperor of the
French.
Tho present aspect of this important sub
ject allows us to cherish tho hope that a
principle so humane iu its character, so just
and equal iu its operation, so esseutial to
the prosperity of commercial nations, and so
consonant to the sentiments of this enlight
ened period of the worid, will command the
approbation of all maritime powers, and thus
be incorporated into the code Of international
law.
My views on the subject are more fully set
forth in the reply of the .Secretary of State,
a copy of which is herewith transmitted, to
the communications on the subject made to
this government, especially to the communi
cation of France.
The government of the United States has
at all times regarded with friendly interest
the other states of America, formerly, like
this country, European colonies, and now
independent members of the great family of
nations. But the unsettled condition of some
of them, distracted by frequent revolutions,
and thus incapable of regular and firm inter
nal administration, lias tended to embarrass
occasionally our public intercourse, by reason
of wrongs which our citizens suffer at their
hands, arid which they are slow to redress.
Unfortunately it is against the republic of
Me xico, with which it is our special desire to
maintain a good understanding, that 6uch
complaints are most numerous; and although
earnestly urged upon its attention, they have
not as yet received the consideration which
this government had a right to expect. —
While reparation for past injuries has been
withheld, others have been added. The po
litical condition of that country, however,
has been such as to demand forbearance, on
the part of the United States. 1 shall con
tinue my efforts to procure for the wrongs of
our citizens that redress which is indispens
able to the continued friendly association of
the two republics.
The peculiar condition of affairs in Nicar
agua in the early part of the nresent year,
rendered it important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with that
state. Through its territory had been opened
one of the principal thoroughfares across the
isthmus connecting North and South Amer
ica, on which a vast amount of property was
transported, and to which our citizens
resorted in great numbers, in passing between
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United
States. The protection of both required that
the existing power in that state should be
regarded as a responsible government; and
its minister was accordingly received. But
be remained here only a short time. Soon
thereafter the political affairs of Nicaragua
underwent unfavorable change, and became
involved in much uncertainty and confusion.
Diplomatic representatives from two contend
ing parties have been recently sent to this
government; but with the imperfect informa
tion possessed, it was not possible to decide
which was the government do facto; and
awaiting further developments, 1 have refused
to receive either.
Questions of the most serious nature are
pending between the United States and the
Republic of New Granada. The govern
ment of that republic undertook, a year since,
to impose tonnage duties on foreign vessels
in her ports, but the purpose was resisted
by this government, as being contrary to
existing treat}- stipulation with the United
States, an 1 to rights conferred by charter
upon the Panama Railroad Company, and
was accordingly relinquished at that time,
it being admitted that our vessels were en
titled to Le exempt from tonnage duty in
the free ports of Panama and Aspinwall.—
But the purpose lias been recently revived,
on the part of New Granada, by the enact
ment of a law to subject vessels visiting her
ports to the tonnage duty of forty cents per
ton : rind although the law has not been pot
in force, yet the right to enforce it is still
asserted, and may, at any time, be acted on
by the government of that republic.
The Congress of New Granada has also
enacted a law, during the last year, which
levies a tax of more than three dollars on
every pound of mail matter transported
across the Isthmus. The sum thus required
to be paid 011 the mails of the Uuited States
would be nearly two millions of dollars an
nually, in addition to the large sum payable
by contract to the Pauama Railroad Com
pany. If the only objection to this exaction
were the exorbitancy of its amount, it could
not be submitted to by the United States.
The imposition of it, however, would
obviously contravene our treaty with New
Granada, and infringe the contract of that
Republic with the Panama Railroad Com
pany. The law providing for this tax was,
by its terms, to take effect on Ist of Sept.
last, but the local authorities cu the Isth
mus have been induced to suspend its exe
cution, and await further instructions on the
subject from the government of the republic.
I am not yet advised of the determination
of tha government. If a measure so ex
traordinary in its character, and so clearly
contrary to treaty stipulations, and the con
tract rights of the Panama Railroad Com
pany, composed mostly of American citizens,
should be persisted in, it will be the duty of
the United States to resist its execution.
I regret exceedingly that occasion exists
to invite your attention to a subject of still
graver import in our relations with the
republic of New Granada. On the 15th day
of April last, a riotous assemblage of the in
habitants of Panama committed a violent
au i outrageous attack on the premises of
the railroad company, and the passengers
and other persons in or near the same, in
volving the death of several citizens of the
United States, the pillage of many others,
and the destruction of a iarge amount of
property belonging to the railroad company.
1 caused full investigation of that event to be
made, and the result shows satisfactorily
that complete responsibility for what occur
red attaches to the government of New
Granada. 1 have, therefore, demanded of
that government that the perpetrators of the
wrongs in question be punished; that pro
vision should be made for the families of
citizens of the United States who were killed,
with the full indemnity for the property
pillaged or destroyed.
The present condition of the Isthmus of
Panama, in so far as regards the security of
persons and property passing over it, requires
serious consideration. Recent incidents tend
to show that the local authorities caunot be
relied on to maintain the public peace of
Panama, and there is just ground for appre
hension that a portion of the inhabitants are
meditating further outrages, without ade
quate measures for the security and protec
tion of persons and property having been
taken either by the State of Panama, or by
the general government of New Granada.
Under the guaranties of treaty, citizens of
the United States have,- by tho outlay ot
several millions of dollars, constructed a
railroad across the Isthmus," aud it has Le-
come the main route between our Atlantic
and Pacific possessions, over which multi
tudes of our citizens and a vast amount of
property are constantly passing to the securi
ty and protection of all which, and the con
tinuance of the public advantages involved,
it is impossible for the government of the
I nited States to be indifferent.
I have deemed the danger of the recurrence
of scenes of lawless violence in this quarter
so imminent as to make it my duty to sta
tion a part of our naval force in the harbors
of Panama and Aspinwall, in order to pro
tect the persons and property of the citizens
oi tfie L nited .States in those parts, and to
insure to them safo passage across the Isth
mus. And it would, in my judgment, be
unwise to withdraw the naval force now in
those ports, until, by the spontaneous action
of t..e republic of New Granada, or other
wise, some adequate arrangement shail have
been made fur the protection and security of
a Jiue of inter-oceanic communication so im
portant at this time, not to the United States
only, but to all other maritime States, both
of Europe aud America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been insti
tuted by means of a special commission, to
obtain lrom New Granada full indemnity
lor injuries sustained by our citizens on the
Istiimu*, and satisfactory security for the
general interests of the United States.
In addressing to you my last annual mes
sage, the occasion seems to me an appropri
ate one to express my congratulations in
view of the peace, greatness, and felicity
which the United .States now possess aud
enjoy, lo point you to the state of the vari
ous depai tmc-nts of the government, and of
all the great branches of the public service,
civil and military, in order to speak of the
intelligence and the integrity which pervades
the whole, would be to indicate but imper
fectly the administrative condition of the
country, and the beneficial effects of that on
the general welfare. Xor would it suffice to
say that the nation is actually at peace at
home and abroad; that its industrial interests
are prosperous; that the canvass of its mari
ners whitens every sea; and the plough ol its
husbandmen is marching steadily onward to
the bloodless conquest ot the continent; that
cities and populous states are springing up,
as if by enchantment, from the bosom of our
western wilds: and that the courageous ener
gy of our people is making of these United
States the great republic of the world. These
results have not been attained without pass
ing through trials and perils, by experience
of which, and thus only, nations can harden
into manhood. Our forefathers were trained
to the wisdom which conceived, and the
courage which achieved independence, by
the circumstances which surrounded them,
and they were thus made capable of the cre
ation of the republic. It devolved on the
next generation to consolidate the work of
the revolution, to deliver the country entirely
from the influences of conflicting transatlan
tic partialities or antipathies, which attached
to our Colonial and revolutionary history,
and to orgauize the practical operation of the
constitutional and legal institutions of the
I niou. lo us, of this generation, remains
the not less noble task of maintaining and
extending the power of "the United States. —
We have, at length, reached that stage of the
national career in which the dangers to be
encountered, and the exertions to be made,
are the incidents, not of weakness, but of
strength. In our foreign relations we have
to attemper our power to the less happy con
dition of other republics in America, and to
place ourselves iu the calmness and conscious
dignity of right, by the side of the greatest
and wealthiest of the empires of Europe. In
our domestic relations, we have to guard
against the shock of the discontents, the am
bitious, the interests, and the exuberant, and
therefore sometimes irregular impulses of
opinion, or of action, which are the natural
product of the present political elevation, the
self-reliance and the restless spirit of enter
prise of the people of the United States.
1 shall prepare to surrender the Executive
trust to my successor, and retire to private
life with sentiments of profound gratitude to
the good Providence which, during the period
of my administration, has vouchsafed to car
ry the country through many difficulties,
domestic and foreign, and to enable mo to
oontcmplate the spectacle of amicable and
respectful relations between our and all other
governments, and the establishment of con
stitutional order and tranquility throughout
the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, Dec. 2, 1856.
SORES ON HORSES AND CATTLE.
A correspondent of the Maine Farmer,
in reply to an inquiry by another corres
pondent for a cure of a bad sore on a
horse's shoulder, gives the following pre
scription:
Lime and lard are the best application
to old, and bad sores, of any kind, that I
know, especially if the bone is affected, i
Take good stone lime, slake dry and
sift through a fine scive. Put the llour in
a bottle, cork light, and keep in a dark
place from light and air, and, it will keep
good for years. Take one part of lime to
three parts of lard, in bulk, and mix well,
cold, and apply a proper quantity lo the
sore, twice a day, and cleanse well each
tune with soapsuds, if the sore descends
below the outward opening, it must be
opened to the bottom, or it will not heal
sound. If the bone be affected, the sore
probably will not heal, and ought not to
till the hone shall be healed. Sores healed
under this treatment always heal sound.
If fungus be in the sore, this ointment will
clear it all out; and keep it out.
The above proportions are about right,
but the applicant will soon learn to vary
them il necessary. Some allowance will
be necessary for the different strength of
the lime.
LtT"These are cutting limes," as the
axe said to the wood.
New Series—Vol. 11, No. 6.
SONG.
BY BARRY CORNWALL.
Stie was not fair, n.r full of grace,
Nor crown'd with thought of aught beside;
no wealth had she, of mind or face,
lo win our love or raiso our pride;
No lover $ thought her cheek did tottch,
No poet's dream was round her thrown;
And yet we miss her—ah, too much,
Now—she hath flown!
We miss her when the morning calls,
f As one that mingled in our mirth:
We miss her when the evening falls
A trifle wanted on iho earth!
Some fancy small or subtle thought
Some chain is broken that we wrought,
Now—she hafh flown!
No solid good, nor hope defined,
is inurr d now she hath sunk in night;
And yet the stroug immortal mind
Is stopp'd in its triumphant flight!
Stern trieud, what power is in a tear,
\\ hat strougth in ene poor thought alone,
H hen all we know is, "She was here,"
And—"She hath flown!"
BELGIAN NUNS.
At the Convent of Poor Clares (Brus
sels) the nuns never lie down, hut sleep
upright. "I went," says the author of
"Flemish Interiors," "up a narrow, cork
screw, stone staircase, into their cells, anil
saw their extraordinary beds; they consist
of a hard and almost cylindrical mattress,
stuffed with straw, about three feet long, at
right angles, to which infixed an equally
hard and upright mattress of straw, (pail
lasse,) to support the back. There is no
pillow, neither are there sheets, and only
one small, thin blanket. A basin and ewer
01 water stood on the ground, and the
sleeping habit hung on a peg behind (In
door. I here was no other furniture. A
small window opened 011 the garden, and
the honeysuckle which embowered it gave
something of a cheerful aspect to the de
nuded little dormitory. They rise at half
past -I o'c'ock, are allowed five minutes to
wash and dress, and go down to chapel,
where they pray and meditate till hall past
5, when their lirst mass is said; tins is
always at a fixed hour, and is followed be
one and sometimes two more. A Iter thesi .
they remain at chapel till half past 11.—
Their first meal, which they call dinner,
is at half past 12, and consists entirely o!
herbs, vegetables, rice eggs, <Ac. Butter,
cheese, milk and what they cull lait battu,
(milk and eggs beaten up.) they also eat,
but not at lent seasons. Their second and
last meal is at 7, and consists of drv
bread and domestic beer. The sisters <io
everything for themselves—washing, men
ding, sweeping, scouring, <Cc. The rule
ol the lay-sisters is sligtuly less severe in
every particular, but even this is esceiie
enough to startle most secular persons.—
The sister who showed 11s the mysteries
of the house was a very pleasant, amiable
looking woman, of about thirty-five. She
had a peculiarly calm, holy expression ol
countenance, and expressed herseif per
fectly satisfied in the life of which she had
made choice, now about fifteen years since.
The discipline they observed, she said was
'good for the soul an,d the body too.' h
seems they are removed from house to
house to prevent too great an attachment
to one locality. She and her lay-sister
were sent a short time ago on a mission to
England, and this was another e uisidera
ble grievance lo her; but she said siie kept
her trouble to herself, and accepted it as
one of the acts of submission to die will
of her superior to which her rule bound
her. The first night they arrived in Lon
don, when they put up ai the hotel, they
were shown into a room where the beds
were, of course, horizontal. This was a
difficulty which had nut occurred to them,
and they made up their minds to adopt the
same position as the rest of the world, but
no sooner had they tried it than they lound
it impossible to sleep; accordingly they
relinquished the attempt, and taking the
mattress off the bedstead, placed it half
upright against the wall, and had reason to
be perfectly satisfied with their ingenious
expedient.
Another Supply of Lumber.
*a*l Ma tie to Order.
JUST received, a large supply of yellow and
white pine ready-worked Flooring.
Arrangements have been made by itie under
signed by which they are enabled to manufac
ture all kinds of Doors, Sash, Shutters and
Blinds at reasonable prices. Bills sent to them
either by mail or otherwise will meet with
prompt attention.
novlS WM. B. HOFFMAN & CO.
New Stock of Lumber.
IN addition to our large stock of well-season
ed Stuff, suitable for the most durable and
perfect kinds of work, we have just received
a large supply from the Susquehanna region,
among which will be found—
2, 1 2, 1, S and half inch Panel, First,
2d and 3d common BOARDS and PLANK,
WORKED FLOORING,
Doors, Sash, Shutters, Blinds, and Door Fac
ings, ready worked.
Plastering Lath and Paling,
All kinds of BII.L STUFF, 7x7, Cxfi, 5x5. 4x5
and a large lot of 3x4 SCANTLING, of va
rious lengths.
JOISTS of all sizes aud lengths.
We are also prepared to fill, at short notice,
bills for any kind of lumber from the well
known steam mill cf S. Milliken.
Builders. Farmers, and others desiring Lum
ber of any kind will find it to their advantage
to give us a call.
oc2 WM. B HOFFMAN & CO