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H. B. M ASSEJt, EDITOR ANP PROPRIETOR.
' ";ti( 5RiifcR OF CENTRE ALLEY1 & MARKET, STREET "
: - ' ; ,i i. i , , -. . - f--- '- - i i ...jk. - - li t..r -i :i . . - . 1 . 1 j. j. . . " t - 1 - 1 -. ,
IffrBS
58 yoU tQt
' 'BiMs or,TiiE American.'
l .THE AWEBtCAS UpoUiriiod ererr Satnnky t TWO
par uunm to be pud Mr yearly in adraiie.
no paper diaoeitinaed until all errearagei are paid.
i All cuntaitrnioationt or letiera on busineaa rctating to the
See, to inxir'e attentioii, must be POST PAW. ,
'' t-- ' . TO CLUBS. , , .
Three coplet to one addreu, "' .," ' $joo
, 5. ,. ? " ' ' tOW
iFifteen I lo ' Do . tnua
fiyt doltare in edvanop will pay for three year'itabagrip
tion to the American. . , , , .
One Square ef IS line, 3 tirnea,
, vary nrwequent bieertioa, )
One Square, 3 montlu,
Six montha, ....
One year, ' ' 1
Bneinaea Carde of Five Unea, per annum,
Merchant! and otheri, artvertiiing by the
year, with the privilege of inaertieg dif- ;
l i ferent advertiiemente weekly.
IT" Larger Advertieemenla, aa er agreement.
flW
. 85
t.w
' 37S
,; flOO
tw
10W
-ATTORNEY AT I.AWi
; ' stJKBtr&v, pa.
BoaJn!! iteniletl la in ihe Countro of Nor
liurplerUnJ, Unions coming and Columbia. ;
.. . liefer tot , ::!'' .- v',.''
P. cV A. RtiViiOKT, ' : '
Ijowih 6l Biihos,
-, SoN A. Bobbri!, ' yl'Mlail.
: RitVOLria, MeKitnn at Uo
' 8 mms, 'Joon St Co., J
THE CHEAP BOOK STORE. :
. DA1TIEL3 & SMITH'S
CiiXAr Nkw & Second bawd Boob Siori,
North Wett torntr of fourth and Arch Strtetr
..-, ,i. i PkitadttpMa.
Ltw Boott!, Thrfllniral anrl Claisiral Booka,
' MEDIO Alt BOOKS,
UOGRA FHICA L it IIISTOH1CAL BOOKS,
SCHOOL BOOKS.
Scicntifio and Mathematical Bo txs.
Juvenile Books, i?t great variety.
lymn Bookl inrl Prayer Bookf , Biblea, all sizes
anil prirpg.
Blank Booh, Writing Paper, and Stationary,
XlVitthatie and Retail,
V Oca price! arc miwli lower than the nc&rLAft. price!.
f Libmrie and stiuill rnrcrb of bmk! purchaaed.
Rnok imported to nnlrr from Iondon.
Philadelphia, April 1, ISIS y
POUTEP. & E1TGLISE,
GROCICRS COMMISSION MFHCHANTS
. nud llealere in Seeds,
k X t, Arch SI PHILADELPHIA.
Constantly on band a general assortment of
ROCERIES, TEAS, WINES, SEEDS,
LltiUOKS, &c.
which they respectfully invite the attention
i, ... . ' . of the public.
All kinds of country produce taken in exchange
Groceries or sold on Commission.
Philad. April 1, '.H1B
BASKET
, MANUFACTORY,
. 16 South Second tlreet Eatt tide, dawn Hairt,
i PHILADELPHIA.
HENRY COULTER,
'Jl ESPECTFULLY informs hi frirnds and
,tke pub ic, tbt he constantly keeps on
i a large assortment of chi tlrens wil ow
aches, Chairs, Crad es, market and travel-
' baskets, nd everj variety ol basket worn
nufacturrd.
gauntry Merchants tnd others who wish to
chase such attic es, good and cheap, would
well to call on him, as they are al manulac
fi by him inthe best manner.
.Iiilade'phia, Juno 3, 1848. ly
CAIID & SEAL, EXGR4TIXG.
WM. G. MASON.
Cketnul tt. dnorx above 2nd it., Philadelphia
iairaver of BUSINESS fc VISITING CARUS,
A'atch papers. Labels, Door plates. Seals sod
nips for Odd Fellows. Sons of Temperance,
, Ice. Always on hand a general assortment
Vine Fancy Goods, Gold pens of every quality,
ii Collars in great variety. Engravers tools
materials.
if ency for the Manufacturer of Glaziers Dia
rids. rt!ers per mail (post paid) will be punctually
nded to. -
hiladelphia, April 1, l48y
MPREJIIOTt PIANO rOHTES.
HE SUBSCBIBKR has been appointert agent
for the sale of CONRAD MEYER'S CELE
VTED PREVtlU.VI ROSE WOOD PIANOS,
lis place. These Pianos have a plain, mas-
and beautiful exterior finish, and, for depth
ne. and elegance of workmanship, are not
assed by any in the United Stales
bese instruments are highly approved of by
most eminent Professors aud t.'omposers of
ic in Ihis and other cities.
tt qualities of tone, touch and keeping in
upon Concert pitch, they cannot be sucpas
iy either American or European Pianos.
(lice it to say that Madame Castellan, W. V
ties. Vieu Tempi, and bis sister, the cele
d Pianist, and many others of the most dia-
ithed performers, bava given these instru-
preference over all otbera.
y have also nceived the first notice of the
'last Exhibitions, and the last. Silver Medal
,e Franklin Institute in 1843, was awarded
em, which, with other premiums from the
source, may be seen at the Ware-room No.
ruth Fourth st.
Another Silver Medal was awarded to C.
ir, by the Frahklin Institute, Oct. 1845 for
st Piano in the exhibition,
kin at the exhibition of the Franklin Insti
Oct. 1846, the first premium and medal was
led to (3. Meyer for his Pianos, although it
ceo awarded at the exhibition of the year
s, on the ground that be bad made still great
prevements in bis Instruments within the
,3 months.
sin at the last exhibition of the Franklin
ute, 1847, another Premium was awarded
Meyer, for the best Piano in the exhibition
Boston, at their last exhibition, Sept. 1847,
per received the first silver Medal and Ui
f for the best square Piano in the exhibition
aa Pianos will be sold at the rr.anufactu.
(iwest Philadelphia prices, if not something
,' Persons are requested to call and exam-
themselves, at the residence of the sub
r, ,...-.! . .... H. B. MASSER.
bury, April 8, 1848
THE CHEAP
isli, Comb and Variety
' STOUE.
BOCKIUS AND BROTHER,
BRUSH MANirACTinCRS,
DEALERS IN COMBS St VARIETIES
North Third, below Rata St. and Xurth
at eonner of Third and Market tlreet,
PUIX.ADEI.rHlA. ' '
KRElhcy offer for sa'ea general assort.
nt of all kinds of Brushes, Combo and
ii which they are determined lo sell
than can be purchased e sewbere. .
try .Merchsnti and othera Purchasing in
it line wil find it to their advantage lo
rs purchasing e'sewhere aa the quality
es will be ful'y guaranteed against i)
(ion.
le'phii, June 3, ISIS Jr.
40.
, SELECT POETIIY.
From the Daily News. '
. , ; GOLD! GOLD! . : , i i"
Away and kwsy ovor mountains and prairies,
No more of this toiling and tasking, .
Away and away to the land of the fairies,
Where Gold can be had for the asking. ! -
The merchant discarding his trading and traffic,
The farmor his plough and his sickle,
Are off for the land of our Mason bq graphic, , -Where
Fortune no longer groves fickle. .
The mechanic who trusted the work of his hands,
And ne'er dreara'dof a land so bewitching,
Now on. board of some steamer in extacy stands,
As his palm for the bright grain in itching ; '
And the laboring man, as he throws down his
tools,,' ' . - . - .
And Ukes np his small part for the "diggina,"
(Leaving open tho question of right with the
schools,) 4 ?j ;j i ;
To his country bequeathes "Mrs. Higguis."
And thus, one and all, in excitement are tossed
As they look to this new land of promise,
And but seldom their visions of fortune am crowed
By some cold unbeliever like "Thomas,"
Then away, and away, gather up the bright stuff
And at hazard of life to defend it '
For remember, at home you have dear friends
enough :
Who will willingly help you to spend it
- T. I .P
THE ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA.
Journey across the Isthmus of Daricn is
Dangers and Difficulties.
In the present excited condition of the
public mind regarding California, and the
various routes by which that modern Ophir
can be reached, it is a matter of serious im
portance to the crowds of our fellow-citizens
who are hurrying off, to be aware of
the precise nature of the difficulties they
will have to encounter on the Panama
route, for which, on account of the great sa
ving of distance, many are about to start.
We therefore copy from the JVeto YorA:
Herald, the following information regard
ing this route, written by a gentleman,
who, from a lengthened residence at Pa
nama and frequent journeys across the Isth
mus, that paper deems fully competent to
give a clear and correct idea of the route
and its difficulties:
THE TOWN OF CIMGRES.
. This town, as it is usually called, but in
reality a village or collection of huts, is,
situated at the mouth of the river Chagres,
whero it empties into the Atlantic ocean.
It is but a small village, and the harbor is
likewise ol a narrow neck of land, and is
defended by the castle, which is built on a
high bluff on the other side. The village
itself, is merely a collection of huts, and is
situated in the midst of marshy land, and
the continual rains which prevail at Chag
res, keep it in a swampy condition ; so
much so, that logs of wood are laid along
the centre of the streets, to enable passen
gers to avoid the deep mud which is always
to be found there. Chagres is inhabited by
colored people entirely, with the exception
of some few officials at the castle and in
the custom-house. Its population is about
500 souls. Its climate is the most pestifer
ous for whites in the world. The coast of
Africa, which enjoys a dreaded reputation
in this way, is not so deadly in its climate
as Chagres. The thermometer ranges from
78 dfg. to 85 deg. all the year, and it rains
every day. Many a traveller, who has
incautiously remained there for a few days
and nights, has had cause to remember
Chagres ; and many a gallant crew, who
have entered the harbor in full health, have,
ere many days, found their final resting
place on the dark and malarious banks of
the river. . Billious, remittent, and conges
tive fever, in their most malignant forms,
seem to hover over Chagres, ever ready to
pounce down on the stranger. Even the
acclimated resident of the tropics runs a
great risk in staying any . time in Chagres ;
but the stranger, fresh from the North and
its invigorating breezes, runs a most fearful
one. The trade at Chagres has hitherto
been limited to the forwarding of goods
across the Isthmus ; a small shop or two be
ing sufficient to supply the inhabitants of
the village itself with their scanty clothing.
The produce of the Isthmus, consisting
chiefly of gold dust, hides, Indian rubber
and sarsaparilla, is sent down the river for
transshipment lo the United States and the
neighboring West India Islands. .Thus
Chagres is but a depot, and no real business
is transacted there.
THE RIVER JOURNEY,
The traveller, who for the first lime iu
his life embarks on a South American river
like the Chagres, cannot fail to experience
a singular depression of spirits at the dark
and sombre aspect of the scene. In the
first place, he finds himself in a small canoe,
so small that he is forced to lay quietly in
the very centre of the stern portion, in or
der to prevent it upsetting. The palm leaf
thatch over his portion of the boat, shuts
out much of the view, while his baggage,
piled carefully amidships, and covered with
oiled cloths, is under the charge of his ac
tive boatman, who, stripped to the buff,
with long pole in hand, expertly propels
the boat up stream, with many a cry and
strange .exclamation. The river itself is
dark, muddy, and rapid stream ; in some
parts quite narrow, and again at otherpoints
it is from 300 to 500 yards wide. The
journey to Cruces or Gorgona from 40 to
PO miles, is not a long one. A light ca
noe, with two active boatmen and but one
passenger, will reach Crucei in ten or
twelve hours, whilst a heavier one might
require thirty-six hours to accomplish the
passage. Tho passenger must take his
provisions with him, as none are to be had
SUNBURY, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, FA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1848.'
; on the river, and a good water filter will
. be found a great convenience, as the river
water is so muddy that it is apt to derange
the bowels, unless filtered in some way be
fore drinking it. ' In view of the great and
sudden influx of passengers to Chagres at
the present time, it is impossible to say how
they will all be accommodated with canoes,
and what the river journey will cost, in
former times the supply of canoes was quite
limited and the charge depended on the ce
lerity with which the journey Wat perform'
ed. A doubloon ($16) was the lowest
charge for a single passenger, arid from that
up to two, three, and eyen four doubloons.
; . . ; CRUCES.. .,..,.. :
, He may now congratulate himself on
having achieved the most toilsome part of
his journey, and but twenty-one miles of
land route intervenes between him and the
glorious Pacific Ocean. Cruces is a small
village, situated on a plain, immediately on
the banks of the river, which here are high
and sandy. Gorgona, ' the other landing
place, is a few miles below Cruces, and is
likewise a small village, very similar to
Cruces. Froin these two points, both about
the same distance from Panama, there are
roads to that city, which unite about nine
miles from it. ,,
JOURNEY ACROSS THE ISTHMUS. ;
The usual method for performing it, is on
horse or on mule-back, with another mule
to carry the baggage and a muleteer who
acts as a guide. The road is a mere bridle
path, and as the rains on the Isthmus are
very heavy, and there is more or less of
them all the year round, the mud-holes and
swampy places to be crossed are very nu
merous. The only safe plan for the stran
ger to pursue, is to carry his provisions
with him. Ham, biscuit, sausages, preserv
ed meats, and such kinds of portable pro
visions, are the best to carry. After a toil
some journey of some eight or ten hours,
the savannah of Panama is at last reached,
and the sight of the broad and glittering
Pacific ocean, and the white towers of the
Cathedral of Panama, which are seen at
the distance of about four miles from the
city, give the now weary traveller assur
ance that his journey will shortly end; and
another hour's toil brings him to the suburbs
of the famed
CITY OF PANAMA.
The city of Panama is situated on the
shores of the bay of that name. It for
merly contained from 5,000 to 7,000 in
habitants, and was a quiet, still city, where,
during the day, nought but the sound of the
convent and church bells disturbed the
horses of the citizens in their grazings in
the public squares, which were all over
grown with grass. The trade carried on
consisted in importing dry goods from Ja
maica, for the supply of the Isthmenians,
the neighboring produce of Veragus, the
pearl islands, the town of Chariqui, David,
and their vicinities, and the various little
inland towns. Goods also were sent down
to the ports of Payta, in Peru, and Guaya
quil, in the Ecuador. The returns made
for these goods, consisted in the produce of
the isthmus, such as gold dust, hides,'India
rubber, pearl oyster shells, (from which the
mother of pearl of commerce is made,)
sarsaparilla, &c. Agriculture is at a low
point on the Isthmus, as not enough sugar
was raised to supply the city of Panama,
and thpy depended for their supplies of
wheat, flour, salt, sugar and groceries, on
Peru or Jamaica, on the Atlantic side.
The climate is warm, say from 80 to 86 deg.
all the year round the rainy season long
and severe. The nights in Panama, how
ever, are much cooler than usual in tropi
cal climates.
ITS MARKET AND ACCOMMODA
TIONS. On account of the extreme heat, fish that
are caught in the morning are soft by the
afternoon. Beef, goat's flesh and pork
must also be eaten immediately after kil
ling, or else they will spoil. Fowls and
chickens are dear ; vegetables, such as
yams, ukars, and the various fruits of the
tropics are scarce and dear. Tea and coffee,
as well as chocolate, are expensive; and
wines and liquors, on account of the ex
pense of transportation across the Isthmus,
are likewise dear and of inferior quality.
It is only within a few years that a public
hotel has been established ; previous to
that, travellers had to depend on the hos
pitality of those to whom they carried let
ters of introduction.
THE HEALTHINESS OF PANAMA,
is far greater than that of Chagres. With
due care, avoiding all excesses and the
night air, person can preserve bis health ;
still, the heavy rains, and continual damp
atmosphere render it necessary to take
every precaution; for though healthy,
when compared with Chagres, it is by no
means, a safe place for unacclimated stran
gers from the North.
CHARITY.
T UBS. LCILLA J. CASX.
Speak kindly,' oh ! speak soothingly,
To him whose hopes' are crossed,
Whose blessed trust in human love,
Was early, sadly lost ;
For wearily how wearily ;
Drags life, If love depart
Oh t let the balm of gentle words
Fall on the smitten heart. ' '
Go gladly, with true sympathy,
, Where want's pale victims pine,
, Aud bid life's sweetest smiles again
Along their pathway shine. .
Oh, heavily doth poverty . . . . ,
. Man's noble instincts bind
Yet sever net that chain, to cast,
A sadder oa the mind.
Ths Homah 1Uat is so conatituted, that
it cannot repitt the influence of kindness.
:. , , , , rival to mr. whitney. , '.
I Jesse' E. Djw, Esq., in a letter . to the
i Washington Union, claims that he broached
the idea of a railroad to the Pacific, long be-
fore Mr ;Whitney entered the field as its
"original projector." It seems to ua that (he
merit of Mr. Whitney does not consist in the
suggestion of a railroad that hundreds talk
ed of years and yeara ago but in ofleting to
the public and to Congress a feasible plan
by which such a road might be constructed.
However,, we give that portion of Mr. Dow'e
communication, in which be.asts forth his
claim to having anticipated Mr .Whitney. ',
"Seeing a notice in 'the "Union,'! that my
native State, Connecticut, had presented
resolutions to Congress in fuvor of Mr. Whit
ney's plan for a railroad to the Pacific, I can
not refrain from calling the attention of iny
countrjinen to the fact, that long before Mr.
Whitney had presented his plain to the eye
of the public, I had made an estimate for a
railroad from Independence, Missouri, to the
Pacific Ocean, and had submitted the same
to several members of Congress. 1 had esti
mated, also for steamships on tho Pacific,
notwithstanding Philosophy and Dr. Lardner
had asserted that steamships could never na
vigate even the North Atlantic in safety , or
with profit.. In the year 1837, I proposed to
John Jacob Aslor, to command an expedition
of exploration, rcco?i7iofaief, and trade, to
start from Independence, and proceed to the
great Western Ocean, and urged upon him
the great importance of such a jount, both in
a national and pecuniary point of view. Mr.
Aslor declined my proposals, urging as a rea
son his having withdrawn in a great mea
sure from the fur trade of tho northwest. My
object in that expedition was to explore a
pathway for tha iron horse through tho wes
tern wilderness, and select a site upon the sea
board for a connecting link with the commerce
of tho vast Pacific. It was a bright dream of
my young fancy and had our western Roths
child been more enterprising in his yellow
leaf, I believe that years since, my footfall
would have startled the eagle in his solitude,
and my hand have gathered the golden sands
from the rivers of Ophir and Parvaitn."
Mr. Dow differs from Mr. Whitney as to
the places from which the railroad should
start, and to which it should run. There is
some force in his suggestions on this point,
though we cannot positively commit oursel
ves to their correctness, tho subject being one
with which many explorers or the prairies
are familiar. Neither is Mr. Dow favorablo
to a railroad over tha isthmus of Punnma.
But to tho card, in oihr words to those, por
tions of his letter, discussing these subjects.
. "It should not begin too far north; for thou
it woulJ bo closed by the gieat wiows, and
hi s 'clional in i'.s IVuiU. It should not begin
too far South ; for then it would bo incom
moded by a parched desert, and bj liablo lo
depopulation from tho stranger's fever, be
sides assuming a sectional np;'ct that would
be prejudicial to its usefulness. It should
not begin at tho Rio Pas30,.iii Vera Cru ba)',
because then it would run through a foreign
rickety republic to Tehuantepec ; and when
it reached that bay, tho vessels connecting
with it would find themselves embayed out
of the reach of trade winds, and liable to en
counter all the bad weather of the Gulf of
Mexico. It should not pass the isthmus of
Panama, because it would require the Atlan
tic steamers bound to England to run over
2,000 miles along a lee shore the coast of
the United States wiih scarce a harbor for
one-third of the distance of sufficient depth
of water to admit them would expose the
passengers to the vicissitudes of all tempera
tures, from the frigid to tha torrid zone
which would give them a long voyage on tho
western shore to reach our own seaports on
the Pacific, amid tempests, earthquakes, and
"the pestilence that walketh in darkness and
wastcth at noon-day," divert commerce
from or country, and concentrate it in a wild
and defenceless pass between two bays that
could be sealed up by the English navy in a
week against the world, and this, too, when
France and England are endeavoring to grasp
the same the former by right of survey on
the part of a pilgrim engineer with a 99 years
chatter from a government that Mr Stephens
our charge d'affaires, hunted after for eight
months, and could not find J and the latter by
tide derived from a nuncupative trill, made
by a bare-backed Indian king the king of
mosquitoes and mahogany whereby Queen
Victoria became heir apparent to the wild
laud of HisRoTiL Nakedness.
The great Hesperian railroad should con
nect with the Atlantio near the capital of
Maryland; it should run through the city of
Washington, cross the Ohio river at Wheel
ing, pass through Columbus, the capital of
Ohio, thence through lndiauapolis, the capital
of Indiana ; thence through Springfield, tho
capital of Illinois ; thence across the Missis
sippi, near St. Louis, Missouri ; thence over
the western border of Missouri to Westport,
near the mouth of the Kanzas river, and
thence as. far as practicable along the banks
of rivers, until it reached St. Vraiu's fort on
the south fork of the Platte, or fort Laramie,
on the north fork, and thence to the ocean by
the route less exposed to storms of snow and
most convenient to the water courses. Artesian
wells should be constructed at convenient dis
tances on the route where the rivers failed to
afford an ample supply, and permanent en
campments of dragoons and artificers, protec
ted by tents of Indian rubber cloth, with iron
frames, should dot the line every twenty miles
from the mouth of the Kanzas to ths Pacific
This would make about 150 posts ; and, at
the rate of 50 officers aud men to a post,
would require 7,500 soula, or 509 officers and
7,000 men, rid cost per annum not far ' from
91,500,000. ) This body Of men would pro
tect the road, awe the various' Indian tribes;
di""iid the settlers and emigrants1 in their
rigu1, and insure) the safety of the rich trains
that would piss through the country from
Eastern India and from Europe. ' The line
should bo under the command of a brigadier
general of l he United States Army, who should
pass over and inspect the entire line once a
quarter, and report directly to the Secretary
of War. , It is conceded by the most strait
laced constitutionalists that the government
of the U. States can build a military road
through its territories.' As the west side of
the Missouri is within the India territory, no
valid objection can be urged against the con
stitutionality Of the work from that point to
the Pacific ocean." ; . ; .
..The Union, in publishing the communica
tion, does not endorse Mr. Dow'g opinion as
to the constitutional power of Congress to
construct such a road, but hints that it would
be belter to refer the whole matter to the
people, in the shape of a proposition to amend
the Constitution, giving Congress the right lo
build the road. ' . . ; "
. WASHINGTON. ,
Eminent men, as they arise, are occasion
ally compared to Washington. Points of re
semblance, now and then, may assuredly be
found ; but there never breathed a man
whose mental and moral propertieseombitied
could endure a rigid comparison with Wash
ington's. Whoever attempts to run (his pa
rallel, between him and any other, will readi
ly acknowledge the truth of this proverb, mul
lum simile q'tatuor ptdibut eurrit. .Select the
example from thu present or the pasl, from
our own or other lands, and inquire to which
of then? all would Erkine4 so chary of his
praise, so slow of faith in his fellow, have
applied those memorable words inscribed in
the presentation copy of his work, transmit
ted to Washington "you, sir, are tho only
individual for whom I have ever felt nn aw
ful reverence." Of whom else would Lord
Brougham have pronounced this remarkable
passage 1 It will be the duty of tho historian
and the sage, in all ages, to omit no occa
sion of commemorating this illustrious mnn ;
and, until timo shall be no more, will a test
of the progress, which our race has made in
wisdom and virtue be derived, from tho vene
ration paid to the immortal name of Wash
ington."
1 have not yet met, any gentleman of, our
calling, who is not decidedly in' favor or tho
election of General Taylor, or who would not
gratuitously attend, in a professional way,
upon Messrs. Cass and Van Buren. We per
ceive a resemblance between tho first presi
dent and tho present candidate, in their vi!:
lins'ness lo draw lotitr bills on posterity for
fame, in preference to numerous drafts, at
si'rht. without craoe, for daily applause. But
we hold in Washington the image and super
scription, not of Cwsar, but of a peerless mor
tal of one, created, verily, a littlo lower
than the angels
"A combination, and a form, indeed,
Where every g d did leetn to set Ifcil seal, '
To give the work! insurance of a man."
In no portion of ouroounlry has the mem
ory of that great man been more universal
ly cherished and'beloved than in New Eng
laud. A sentiment not only of reverence for
his character, but of affection for his person,
was very general in this quarter ; and mani
fested itself in a remarkable manner, upon
the occasion of his death- Nothing could
have been more unexpected than the an
nouncement of that event in Boston. 1 will
close this article with a simple illustration of
the popular feeling, when the sad tidings ar
rived. At the close of that year, 1899 I was
a small boy then I was returning from a ride
on horseback to Dorchester point there was
no bridge, and it was quite a Journey! ' As I
approached the town, I was very much sur.
prised at the tolling of the bell. Upon reach
ing home, I saw my old father, at an unusual
hour for him, the busiest man alive, to be at
home, silting alone in our parlor, with his
bandanna before his eyes. 1 ran towards him
with the thoughtless gayety of youth, and
asked w hat the bells were tolling for. He
withdrew the handkerchief from his face
the tears were rolling down his fine old fea
tures "go away child," said he, "don't dis
turb mo; do you not know that Washington
is dead V
The reader has surmised that the worthy
gentleman had sipped at the fouutain of exe
cutive patronage. Not at all. He had never
seen Washington, and never held an office,
civil or military, saving under Hancock's
commission as justice of the peace, which
accounted a very pretty compliment in those
days. No, he was nothing but an American,
and he shed those American tears upon the
death of one whose character and conduct had
filled his heart with sentiments of pride and
lore, and "awful reverence."
"A SEXTON Of TUB OLD SCHOOL.
Lost his Nosb. The Doyfes'own Demo
crat relates tho following:
On Tuesday morning last, a young lud, en
gaged in Inking care of the horses, at the
livery stable of John Weikel, in this Borough,
had his nose bitten off by a horse. He was
in front of the animal playing off some pranks,
which the beast did not like. r It made one
dab at him, and he came off minus a nose.
It was fixed up by a physician, and he is do
ing well. ,
He is k gbcat smrLEToif who imagines
that the rhief power of wealth is to supply
wants. In ninty-nino cases out of a hundred
it creates mora wants thai ft supplies.
THE BLIND SLATE OF THE MINES), j
. ''' , ir axv, raxsiDEHT hitchcock. .
!' Allow me here to refer to a case that late
ly fell nnder my observation, which illustrates
more forcibly than 1 had ever conceived, the
priceless value of the Christian's hope to the
most' unfortunate and degraded. 1 had
descended one thousand feet beneath the
earth's surface, in the -coal pits of the
Mid Lothian Mines in Virginia, and was
wandering through their dark, subterra
nean passages, when tho sound of music at a
little distance, broke upon my ear. It ceased
upon our approach, and I caught only tho con
cluding sentiment of the hymn.
"I shall be in Heavea in the morning ,'
On advancing with our lamps, we found
the passage close by a door, in order to give
a different direction to the current of air, for
the purpose of ventilation, yet this door must
be opened occasionally jo let the rail cars
pass, loaded with coal. And to accomplish
this, we found sitting by that door an aged
blind slave, whose eyes had been entirely
destroyed by a blast of gunpowder many
years before, in that mine. There he sat, on
a seat cut in the coal, from sunrise to sunset
day after day; his sole business being to
open and shut the door v hen he heard the
rail cars approaching. We requested him to
sing again the hymn whose Inst line we had
heard. It was indeed lame in expression,
and in the poetic measure very defective,
being, in fact, one of those productions which
we found the pious slaves were in the habit
of singing, in part, at least, impromptu. But
each stanza closed with the sentiment.
"I altall be in Heaven in the moniinpr."
It was sung with a clear and pleasant voice
nud I could see the shrivelled, sightless eye
balls of the old man roll in their sockets, as
if his soul felt the inspiring sentiments ; and
really the exhibition was one of the most af
fecting that I have ever witnessed. There
ho stood, nn old man, whose earthly hopes,
even at the best, must be very faint ; and he
was a slave and he was blind what could
he hope for on earth 1 He was buried, too,
a thousand feet beneath the solid rocks. In
the exprcssives language of Jonah. "He has
gone down to the bottom of the mountain, the
earth with her bars was about him forever."
There, from month lo mouth, he sat in dark
ness. Oh, how utterly cheerless his condi
tion. And yet that one pleasant hope of a
resurrection morning was enough to infuse
peace and joy in his soul.
1 hud often listened to touching music I
had heard gigantic intellects pour forth en
chanting eloquence, but never did music or
eloquence exert such rjvnrpow ing influence
over my feelings a,s did this scene. Never
before did I witness sa grand on exhibition
of sublimity. O, how comparatively insig
nificant did earth's niiirhtiest warriors and
statesmen, her princess and emperors, and
evpn her philosophers without piety appear!
How powerless would all their pomp and pa
geantry, and wisdom be to sustain them, if
called to chango places with this poor slave?
Ho had a principle within him superior to
them all ; and when that morning which he
longs for shall come, how infinitely better
than theirs will bis lot appear to an admiring
universe. . And that morning shall ere long
break upon thy darkness, benighted old man !
The light of the natural sun, ami the face of
this fair world will never, indeed, revisit you
and the remnant of your days must be spent
in your monotonous task, by tho side of the
wicked gate, deep in ihi caverns ol the earth.
But lhat bright and blessed hope of a resur
rection morning shall not deceive you. The
Saviour iu whom you trust, shall manifest
himself to you even in deep darkness, and ut
the appointed hour, thechainsof slavery shall
drop off and the double night which envelops
you shall vanish into the light and the liberty
and the glory of heaven. And in just pro
portions to the depths of your darkness and
degradation now, shall be the brightness and
the joy of that everlasting day.
FOETKY.
We find tho following, which goes a-head
of ull the "machine poetry" extant, in a late
number of that excellent paper, "The New
York Universe."
There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet
As that where they've lobsters and oysters to cat;
And down to that beach poor exile of Erin,
une morning i spied witn s Hungry maw strenn
The dew on his thin robe hung heavy amrchill,
As he walked into the oysters and muscles to kill.
Hail, Columbia, happy lund !
Fur worscr times are nigh at hand ;
If I could read my title clear,
I would right off to Texas steer;
- And those who meet me on the way
I have no doubt to me would ssy i
O, tell me, blue-eyed stranger,
Say, whither dost thou roam t
Through these cane brakes s ranger,
JIast thou no settled hornet
O, say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
The mosquito we watched at the twilight's
'. last gleaming 1
The nosquitto that bit ua so fiercely all night,
That kept us " the while from e'er sleeping or
dreaming 1 . '
Loud roared the dreadful thunder, -
The rain a deluge poured,
The clouds seemed rent asunder,
, Yet wife lay still and snored !
' Ad thcu sung, .,, ....
With trembling tongue, ' ,
1 Hush, iny dear, by still and slumber, '
Valiant armies guard thy bed, '
Fleas and bed-bug, without number.
Gently wander rond thy head I
: OA in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain hath bo;nd me,
I feel the cursed bite
Of something trawling round me!
OLD SERIES Vol. 0, NO, 14h
" ' atKGVLAR AFFAtn. '" " "' '
Some two weeks since a merchant Iri Ban
gor, Me., in emptying a tea chest, found ' in
the bottom a snuff box containing a five dol
lar bill on the (N. H.) Bank, and attached to
it the following epistle written on a piece of
paperof the quality generally used by the
Chinese in putting up tea in pound packages:
Pkxin, Dec 1847
Dear Mother I am a prisoner in a Tel
House, and have been for fix years. ' I wish
you would go to Washington and get our gov
ernment to interfere and obtain my release;
I enclose you a five dollar note ; it was pre
sented to me by an American gentleman it
is of no use to me, but.lt may be to you., . '
Edward Lotell.1
Directed to Mrs. Nancy LoVcll, Boston, Mass-
Slave Labor is Factobies. The propri
etor of the factory at Tuscaloosn, Ala., makes
a calculation in one of the Southern papers to
show that, if the Eastern factories can make!
clcXh at ten cents per yard, he can make it
at 84 cents. This factory is worked by slave
labor, and another is in progress in Tuscaloo
sa county, also to . be worked entirely by
slaves, which will run a thousand spindles.'
THE BIBLE.
This single Book I'd rather own -, .
Than all the gold and gems , . ,
That e'er in monarch's coffers shone ,
Than all their diadems. t i
Nay, were the seas one chrysolite. ' ' J
The earth a golden bull, ' :
And diamouds all the stare of night, rt-
This Book were worth them all. ' '
Exroivn.vo Houses to California Mr
David S. Anderson, of Trenton, N. J.,' lias
contracted to build one dozen frame buildings
to be soul to California. The different - parts
will be numbered so that they may be put
together at San Francisco.
Petitions in favor of cheap postage are
being numerously circulated and signed ir
Boston. .
He who cocks his hat on one side is a bul
ly or a coward ; he who wears it thrown back
ward is a simpleton. The man who wears his
hat forward is a banterer and a suecrer, and
he who half buries his eyes beneath his cas
tor, is u rogue.
The caption! chop who nttenil tint
Had either no head or no hat.
Rev. Chables Brooks, of Boston, has in
vented a mode of ringing all the bells of a
place at the same time; another to give fire
alarms iu every part of a . city at tho same
instant.
Look out, git la
L'one.
Leap Year will soon' bo
No man ever repented of having kept si.
lence, but many that they have not done so.
Drunkenness is but voluntary madness:
it emboldens men to do all sorts of mischiof.
A Bad Sign. A young lady, named Jane
Caison, obtained $850 damages of Fling &
Hufty, in Philadelphia, on Friday, in conse
quence of their sign falling and breaking her
arm.
Paris. The population of the city, inclu
ding the suburbs, is one and a half millions.
In New York the population is 400,000, and
bho has two hundred Churches. Paris has
only forty-two, and some of th'.'se vacant on
the Sabbath.
Jcst Like 'Em. Prentice complains, in the
Louisville Journal, that the Yankee girls who
come West do very little in the way of teach
ing. Instead of teaching other people's chil
dren, they soon get to teaching their own
The Panama Railroad. The National Jw
telligeneer considers it fortunate that tho pri
vilege of constructing a railroad across the
Isthmus has fallen into the hands of Ameri
cans regarding all other schemes towards
an expeditious communication with the Paci
fic as vague, uncertain and distant. For this
tho way has been paved by our Treaty with
the Republic of New Grenada, securing tho
right of way over the Isthmus, and guaranty,
ing its neutrality. Private capital iuvpsted
there will be safe, if our Government earl
protect it. The Isthmus of Tehusntepec, of
fers no such security; and, besides, the right
granted some years ago by Santa Anna, for
constructing a road across h, has fallen into
the hands of Messrs. Manning, Mcintosh li
Co., an English house. ; ' r
liLX'KWUEAT CAKES. ( ......
Talk of the Mariner's compass tha stcarri
engine or magnetic telegraph. Tho all sink
into insignificance compared with the follow
ing instruct iou for baking buckwheat cakes,
so important if true ;
"The griddle on which buckwheat cukes
are baked should never be touched with
grease. Firstly, because it imparts a rancid
taste to the cakes. Secondly, if a coot ing
stove be used, it fills the kitchen, if not the
whale house, with the smell of burnt grease
to say nothing of the parade and boasting
to one's neighbor, by betraying what we have
for breakfast. Wash the griddle with hut
soap suds,' scour with dry sand, aud when
healed for nso, rub it well wi h a spoonful of
fine salt and a coarse cloth ; it will then b-i
ready to receive the e tkes. ' After each cakit
is removed, the salt rubbing irtisl br r.-'.
peated. If thfl first does not ucired. try it
again, and yon will ever after follow tit" r.fl
vice of an old home keeper,"