4 1:ottrg.
"By-and-Bp"
There's a little misobief-making
Ellin, who is ever nigh,
Thwarting every undertaking,
And his name is By-and-b'.
What we ought to do this minute,
"Will be better done," he'll cry,
"If t6-morro* we begin it"—
"Put it off," says By-and-by.
those who heed his treacherous wooing
Win his faithless guidance rue;
What we always put off doing,
Clearly we shall never do;
We shall reach what we endeavor
If on Nnw we more rely ;
But unto the realms of Never,
Leads the pilot By-and-by.
rittrarg
ISC/01111 seat so us for NOtloll9 will be duly
attended to. Thema two= peddighosi
delphlay Maw Toni, fte., asap be left at our
Philadelphia CHllee9lll South 10th Stribelow
Cheituuts iu ear" of Joseph 11. Wilson, Zee.
ESSAYS IN BIOGRAPHY AND CRITICISM. By Peter
Bayne, If A., author of " The Christian Life,
Social and Individual," /sc. Second Series.
12m0., pp.. 892. Boston: Gould 4- Lincoln.
New York : Sheldon, Blakensats 4 Co. 1858.
Some authors have to toil for years without
achieving great fame, and very gradually they
gain from the world that acknowledgment of their
prowness, which their merits deserve. Others
again start at once into the enjoyment of a wide
ly acknowledged and undisputed fame. Of the
latter class is the author whose Essays are now
before us. When in 1855 his "Christian Life"
appeared, the literary world at once perceived
that an intellectual giant had arisen on the scene.
Of this work the late Hugh Miller, a stern critic,
and a man'not given to adniation, said : " The
master idea on which it has been formed is, we
deem, wholly original, and we regard the execu
tion of it as not less happy than the conception
is good. Some of the Biographies condense in
comparatively brief space, the thinking of ordi
nary volumes." As moon as the volume was re
published in this country, the judgment of Hugh
Miller was affirmed by the whole reading commu
nity. The same unanimity of sentiment also
prevailed, respecting the first series of his Essays
when they were given to the public in a collected
form, and now we feel great satisfaction in being
able to intimate the appearance of the Second
Series for which we doubt not but that as favora
ble a reception is in store. The subjects of this
volume are—Charles Kingsley; Thomas Belting
ton Macaulay; Sir Archibald Alison; Samuel
Taylor Coleridge; Wellington; Napoleon Bona
parte ; Plato; Characteristics of Civilization;
The Modern University ; The Pulpit and the
:Press; and, "The Testimony of the Rocks," A
Defence. The Essay on Plato is worth more than
the cost of the book, and we earnestly wish that
the students in our Colleges who take an interest
in Mental Philosophy, could all have an opportu
nity of reading it, as it would give them more
information concerning Grecian Philosophy and
the great light of the ancient heathen world than
they might probably gather from many volumes,
after laborious and minute research. The author
of these volumes is a fitting successor of the la
mented Miller, in the editorial sanctum of The
Witness.
LILY Weiss A Romance. By Edward Good
win. 12m0., pp. 815. Philadelphia :J. B.
Lippincott f t Co. 1858.
We suppose that the object of the author of
this Romance is to depict the cruelty, the rapaci
ty, and the total abandonment to licentiousness
with which the Romish Church in Italy is. ohm.
able. If so, he certainly combined together a
number of stirring incidents and great crimes,
all of which we doubt not the 4' shaveling " gen
try of that land have repeatedly been gitilty of,
but we fear that Mr. Goodwin's readers, while
giving him credit for good intentions, wiU not ad
mire his constructive capacity in getting up the
development of his scenes.
13TOST OV A NUIDLII. By A.. L. 0. E., au
thoress of "'Rambles of a Rat" "Claremont
Tales," " The Adopted Bon," &o. 18:no., pp.
New York : Robert Carter 3. Bros. Pittsburgh:
John B. Davison. 1868.
This capital little volume forms one of the se.
ries well known as Carter's Fire-side Library.
The moral , pervading the narrative, is excellent,
and the information communicated to the young,
is varied and useful.
TIM INDIAN itiBILLION : Its causes and Results.
In a Series of Letters front tile Rev. Alexander
Duff; D.D., L.L.D. Calcutta. Small 12m0.,
pp. 408. New York : Career d. Brothers:
Pittsburgh: S. Diann. 1858.
This volume contains twenty-five letters, cola
mending in May, 1857, and ending lit March,
1858. Of course' the English press has teemed
with volumes and letters from military men and
civilians, as well as trona females and correspond
ents," all detailing the atrocities of the "gentle"
Hindoos,'and inpounding the cause of this won
derful catastrophe. In the midst of all these
publications, it is well that a man like Dr. Duff,
who has been intimate with India for upwards of
a quarter of. a century, should record from a
Christian stand-point, the facts of the mutiny as
they presented themselves to his observant and
sagacious mind. As these letters were published
in Edinburgh they were, on all hands, admitted to
be of the first ,importance to a correct under
standing of the Indian complication. In Lon
don, and among members of the Legislature,
they were consulted with unbounded confidence,
and now that they are given to the public in a
collected form, they will be deservedly esteemed.
Intelligent readers will do well to procure this
book as one that will refresh the mind when the
details of the newspaper are either inaccessible
or forgotten.
MI:MOMS or '
Ms. lara-Woas. The Autobiogra
phy of Mrs. Harri e t B. Cooke. 12mo. pp. 866.
New York : airier .3. Brothers. Pittsburgh
.T. S. Davison. 1868.
We have examined this record of a' good life,
well and profitably spent, with mud:satisfaction,
and we trust with some advantage. Biography
we delight in, espeoially when as in the case be
fore us, there is a combination of intellect, piety
and philosophical observation. This volume
would make a capital present to young ladies
who are about entering on their married life ; for,
as the writer was engaged in tuition, s h e has, by
her abundant references to training and instruc
tion, compiled an admirable bciiik'for the use of
time who are to preside over Children in their
early years;
A BLACK. OLOTJD.-A black cloud;makes
the traveler mend his pace, and think of his
home; whereas a fair day and a pleasant
way waste his time, and that stealeth away
his affections in the prospect of the country.
However others mayihink of it, yet I take
it as a mercy, that now and then' some
clouds come between me and my sun, and
many times troubles do conceal ray cam
forts; for I perceive, if I should find too
much friendship iit'ufy 'inn, in 'my pilgrim
age, I should soon forget my Father's house
torn heritage,—Lucas: ,
Tar the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Adoption.
Letter IF.—Privileges of Adoption
Beloved, now are we the sons of God.-1. Joint
iii : 2.
MY DEAR , FRIEND :—Having seen, as in
the former letter, what adoption is, and how
we are adopted into the family of God, let
us now consider, briefly, the privileges of
adoption. Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God. Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be : but we know
that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him ; for we shall see him as he is.-1. John
iii : 1-3.
As we have already seen, God puts his
Spirit in those whom he adopts, and he puts
his comeliness upon them.—Ez. xvi : 1-
14. He puts his Spirit within us to give
us the spirit of children ; and his Spirit
dwells in us, that we way possess and nisni
fest the spirit of children. This is the
spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.—Rom. viii: 14,15. And his Come
liness is put on us—we are clothed with the
righteousness of Christ, that we may been-titled to the inheritance of children. As
we have the Spirit of Christ implanted in
regeneration, so there is a family likeness
and disposition in all God's children. They
are all born of God, they are all arrayed in
the righteousness of Christ„ and so it is seen
that they all belong to the same family.
Though they may be called by different
names among men, yet they all belong to
the same family; for as by faith they are
all united to Christ, so are they united to
each other; they are all one family. Thus
Paul says, Of whom—that is, our Lord Je
sus Christ—of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named.—Eph. : 14-
21. For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
—Gal. iii : 26-29. There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all.—
Eph. iv : 1-6.
Men may adopt children, as they often
do, but they can not change their disposition
nor their features; they can not impart a
family likeness nor a family disposition to
them ; but God's children are formed after
his own .image and renewed after the mind
of Christ, and so being new creatures in
Christ Jesus, they have a family likeness
and dispoeition; they have` the spirit of
children and the comeliness of children of
God. The Spirit of God is within them,
and the comeliness of Jehovah isupon them,
as it is written, And thy renown went forth
among the heathen for thy beauty : for it
was perfect through my comeliness, which I
had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.—
Ez. xvi : 14. But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are change into the Same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the.
Lord.-2. Cor. iii : 18. The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are
the children of God—sons of God l.—. Rom.
viii 14-19 ; 1. John iii : 1-3.
And his name is put upon us. Just as
when men adopt a child, it takes their name,
so God in adopting us, puts his name upon
us. We are his, not our own. Christians
are named after Christ; and they who re
ceive Christ become the sons of God, and
are called by a new name. They were
wicked before, unholy, ungodly, unright
eous;
now they are saints, holy ones, sanc
tified, new creatures, righteous, just, godly—
the chosen, called, and faithful; and heirs
of salvation. They are the disciples of
Christ, the faithful in Christ Jesus, the ef
fectually called, the chosen to silvation, the
elect of God; the sons and daughters of the
Lord Almighty. Thus saith the Redeemer,
I will write upon him the name of my God;
and they who stand with the Lamb on
Mount Zion have his Father's name written
on their foreheads.--Rev. iii : 12, and xiv
1. And be is our Elder Brother—the first
born among many brethren, for he says, Be
hold, I and the children which God path
given me.—Rom. viii : 29; Heb. ii : 13 ;
2. Cor. vi : 12-28.
And as they have a new name, so have
they new privileges. They have access to
God. Just as adopted children have access
to their adopted parents, and may ask them
for what they want; so God's children have
access to him. They may come boldly unto
the throne of grace; they may spread out
their wants there; they may look up to God
for all they needy pleading the merit of the
Saviour's blood, and the exceeding great
and precious promises of God. Their Fath
er in heaven hears when they cry l—Heb.
iv : 14-16, and x: 19-22; 2. Pet. 1:
1-4.
And they shall be pitied. Like as a father
pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth
them them that fear him. For he knoweth
our frame; he remernbereth that we Are
dust.—Ps. ciii : 11-14.
And they shall be
. protected. God will
watch over them; he is ever near to them;
and he who cares for the beasts of the field
and the birds of the air, numbers , the very
hairs of their heads, and will protect them
in the hour of, trial and danger.—Luke xii
4-7 • Ps. xlvi : 1-11.
And they shall be provided for. Their
Father in heaven knoweth what things they
have need of; he will give them food to eat
and raiment to put on. All things needful
for their comfort and
if usefulness shall be
given them; or withheld, it will only be
to try their faith and patience, and to teach
them their dependence, and thus to glorify
God and to work out for them a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while
it serves to wean them from the world and
fit them for heaven. My God shall supply
all your need, said Paul to the Philippians.—
Phil. iv : 19 ; Ps. xxiii : 1-6; Matt. vi :
24-34; 2. Co. iv: 16-18.
They may be chastised, but they shall not
be cast off. If they wander from God and
'fall into sin, their Father in heaven will visit
their iniquity with stripes, but his loving
kindness he will not utterly withdraw, nor
suffer his faithfulness to fail.—Ps. lxxxix.:
30-34. Chastisements are covenant mer
cies; they are • blessings in disguise; and
though for the present they seem not to be
joyous, but grievous, yet afterwards they
yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness—
glorious and blessed fruit.—Heb. xii : 5-
11; Rom. viii: 1-39.
And they are sealed unto the day of re
demption.—Eph. iv : 80. As a letter is
sealed and directed, and the seal is not to be
broken until it reaches its destination, so
they are sealed by the Spirit of God.; and
this seal shall remain till Christ shall come
to take them to heaven, where their redemp
tion shall be complete, and they shall enter
upon the purchased and prepared inherit
ance.—Eph. i : 3-14 ; ROM. viii : 14-25.
For as they are children of God, so are
they heirs. This is inseparable from their
adoption, as you may see in Rom. viii.: 14
—l7; and if children, then heirs; heirs
of 'God, and joint heirs with Christ. A
child fully adopted, receiving the family
name, becomes an heir; so Christians are
heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus
Christ, God's only begotten and well beloved
fan. Jeans Christ is the only. begotten Son
of God, having the Divine nature; angels
TIB PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
are his created sons, but Christians are his
adopted sons; and they are therefore heirs
of God, and joint heirs with the only begot
ten Son of God. They shall partake of his
glory; they shall sit with him on his throne,
dwell in the same heaven, and be forever
with the Lord.—Rev. iii : 21; 1. These. iv :
17. Yes, they are heirs of God ; they have
already an earnest, a foretaste, of their in
heritance; they partake now of the privi
leges of God's children ; they inherit and
enjoy the promises here, and they shall here
after inherit forever what is promised. They
have grace here; they shall have glory here
after—full salvation—complete and perfect
redemption. Yes, they enjoy the presence
and smiles of God here, and they shall enjoy
his presence and his smiles forever in that
world where there is fullness of joy and
pleasures forever more ! There the wicked
cease from troubling; and there the weary
be at rest !—Ps. xvi : U. Read Rom viii :
14-39; Con. Faith, Chap. xii; and Ps.
svii, in our Psalms and Hymns • and Hodge
on Itomace. "Justification is the regarding
and treating sinners as just, for the sake of
the righteousness of . Christ. The blessings
of grape are never separated from each
other. Election, calling, justification, and
salvation, are indissolubly united; and,
therefore, he who has clear evidence of his
being called, has the same evidence of his
election and final salvation."—Hodge on
Rooaans, Bth Chap.
" Q, glorious hour! 0, blest abode!
I shall be near, and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul."
Such are the privileges of adoption.
Then see the rich blessings of God's chil
dren • the rich and glorious blessings and
privileges of those who have received Jesus
Christ, and who thus have power to become
the sons of God. God is their Father, and
their Friend ; his Spirit is in them ; his
comeliness is upon them ; they are called
after his name ; they have access to him ;
he pities and protects them, and , provides for
them, though he chastises them, he does
not cast them off; he seals them by his
Spirit unto the day of final redemption;
they are heirs of God, and heaven is their
home. Yea, all things are theirs, for they
are Christ's, and Christ is God's.—Rom. viii :
28-39; 1. Cor. iii : 21-23. How happy
and how blessed are they ! Though poor
in the things of this world, they are rich ;
they have a treasure in heaven which can
never fail, an everlasting inheritance; thrones
and crowns are theirs; and theirs shall be
palms of victory and everlasting songs !
Blessed, thrice blessed are the sons of God !
May this blessedness be yours I
But are you his son, or his daughter !
Are you one of his children ? Is his Spirit
within you ? Are you born of God ? Are
you regenerated, a new creature in Christ
Jesus ? Are you justified? Are your sins
forgiven, and are you accounted righteous?
Are you adopted into the family of God ?
It all depends on this—and let,this question
be pondered well—Have you received Jesus
Christ?.Do you believe in him ? Do you
trust in• him as your Saviour ? Are you
resting on hire alone for salvation ? Where
there is faith, there is regeneration, there is
justification, there is adoption; have you
faith ? Have you received Jeans Christ as
your Saviour ? Are you a child of God
If so, then the rich blessings of God's
children are yours, and you may rejoice in
them; yea, you may unite with his people,
as you have done; you may come to his
table, and you may rejoice in hope of his
glory.—Rom. v : 1-11.
But if you have not received Jesus Christ,
and hence are not an adopted child of God,
then repent of your sins and believe in
Jesus Christ, that you may have power to
become the child of God, and may partake
of the rich blessings which belong to his
children, and rejoice in them forever. 0
look to Christ and live I Behold the Lamb
of God I—John i: 29.
You have here matter for self examina
tion. Examine yourself. See whether you
are indeed born of Gods whether you have
the sure and - certain evidences of regenera
tion ;
and hence, whether you are truly a
child of God by a new and heavenly birth;
and whether you have received Christ by
faith, and are building your hopes of heaven
on his finished work. Examine and see
whether Christ is in you, and whether his
righteousness is upon you, and whether you
are in him a new creature, born of God,
justified by faith, adopted into the family
of the Most High, with a right to all the
privileges of the sons of God; or whether
you are yet in your sins, without God and
without hope in the world ! How sad and
fearful your state, if yet unreconciled to
God! 0 flee from the wrath to come, and
lay hold' upon eternal life in Jesus Christ
our Lord I
And while you examine yourself, remem
ber that assurance is to be gained, not by self
examination, but by receiving Christ, look
ing to him, confiding in him, and serving
him, and resting fully upon the testimony
of God concerning his Son. Hence you
are to expect comfort in believing God's
Word, and looking at what Christ has done
for you, rather than at his work in you; the
work of grace in your heart at best is im
perfect, but Christ's atonement is complete
•and God's Word is true; Christ's finished
work .is your hope; the contemplation of
this, and reliance upon it, will give you
comfort; and where there is faith—a rest
ing on Christ and his finished work—there
will be good works. " Our business is to
seek perfect conformity to the will of God,
and leave him to give us such comforts as
he sees good." God's Word is true; if we
believe in Christ, we shall be saved; and if
we believe, we shall obey. Hence let there
be resolutionsof new obedience. Children
should not bring a reproach upon but be an
honor and a blessing to, their family. So
Christians should never bring a reproach
upon the cause of Christ; they should be
an honor and a blessing to the Church, and
their example and influence should be salu
tary upon the world. Form these resolu
tions of new obedience, strive to adorn in
all things the doctrine of God our Saviour,
and let the world be better for your living
in it; and so live that when you die, you
will' be missed and be regretted by those
who are left behind you, and then •many
shall arise and call you blessed.—Tit. ii : 10;
Prov. xxxvi 28.
In. regard to assurance, Dr. Alexander
says:. "The best way to obtain a comforta
ble assurance that we are regenerated, is to
press on with assiduity and alacrity in the
Divine life. That which is obscure in
itself, will not become Clear by poring over
it ever so long ; but, if we emerge from
darkness, and come forth into the light, we
shall be able to discern clearly what was be
fore involved in obscurity.. If we would
know whether our faith, and love, and hope
are genuine, we must seek to bring these
graces into lively exercise, and then we can
not avoid perceiving their true character.
But as faith is really the apprehension and
reception of offered mercy, it is by directly
believing in Christ, or actually rolling our
burdens on him, that we experience peace
and confidence.—Bible Trath, published by
the Presbyterian Board of Publication, page
130. See also Fisher's Catechism, pub-
Haired by the Board, part 1, pages 193-195.
And now, my dear friend, if you find
yourself yet out of Christ, begin now to
seek the Lord in good earnest. You must
be born again, or perish; you must receive
Jesus Christ by faith, or die in your sins
0 repent now ; believe now ; receive Jesus
now ! Begin to pray now, and pray without
ceasing while you live, and die praying !
Read Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colos
sians, and Hebrews; ani go to Jesus, and
give him your heart now, and live to his
glory; for to as many as receive him, to
them gives he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name,
which are born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God —John i: 11-13. Read
Hymns 110, 111, 112.
"Thanks to my God for every gift
His bounteous hands bestow;
\ And thanks eternal for that love
Whence all those comforts flow."
YOURS, TRULY
Traveling Correspondence.
NEW ORLEANS, May 11, 1858
Most of the residences here are un-Amer
jean in style. They are said to be modeled
after the French order. They are neither
costly, handsome, durable, nor imposing.
Mostly of wood, two or three stories in
height and having porches, porticos, veran
das, piazzas, galleries, and all such structures
as afford shade and ventilation, attached in
the greatest number. There is too much
sameness for beauty. They are generally
inclosed from the street by a high picket
fence of wood or iron, and surrounded with a
beautiful yard, in which grow many neatly
trimmed shrubs, and large fruit and flowering
trees. Servant's houses are in the rear, and
such as we have seen, are good and comfort
able enough for any person to live in.
Some of the business houses are very ex
tensive, giving the stranger some idea of
the vast commercial operations of this city.
You see few mechanical, and next to no
manufacturing establishments. The follow
ing incident in the Assembly illustrates this
fact. The church in which this body meets
is a very fine one; but it is so situated as to
be in the midst of noise from carriages and
ownibusses. Hence, it is often impossible
to hear members speak. One publicly called
upon the Committee of Arrangements to
have the streets near the church covered
with saw dust, so as to break the clatter of
the wheels. Dr. Palmer replied that this
could not be done, as there were no saw
mills in Hew Orleans. Then tan bark will
do, said the brother. I am compelled to
tell you,- condi:hied the Doctor, that our city
has no tannery in it. A gentleman near
me, whispered, "Old Sol does all the tan
ning here."
Traffic in cotton, sugar, molasses, rice, and
all such Southern commodities, is the life of
this place. You see no elegant academies,
seminaries, colleges. The city would not be
advisable for them. Men come here to
grow rich, not to grow wise
Some of the public buildings are very
fine. This is true especially of the City,
Odd Fellows, "and Masonic Halls, as well as
of the St. Charles Hotel; as also of many
of the churches, and the United States Cus
tom House. This is not yet finished. It is
now three stories high, is built of polished
marble and granite, covers a square, and
is designed to accommodate the marine,
post, and all other govermental offices- of
this port. It will require $2,000,000 yet to
finish it. What it has coat already may be
guessed at, when it is known that the scaf
folding around it cost $150,000. The build
ing is said to be gradually sinking ! As its
weight is immense, and its foundation an
alluvial deposit, this is not improbable.
There is certainly less wisdom than expense
about this mammoth pile ; but in this it is
like much else that Uncle Sam attempts to
do.
The old French part of the city is a
crowded place. Stores here are small
"shops," in which dry goods, fruits, and
groceries are crammed together in the great
est confusion. Almost all the bills and signs
are printed and painted in the French lan
guage. Jackson square is a beautiful place,
well kept, in which there is a bronze eques
trian statue of .the Hero of New Orleans,
by Mills, xactly similar to that near the
White House, in Washington. On opposite
sides of this Park stand the Pontalba build
ings, than which none are more substantial
in all this region. On another side is the
French market, where every day (Sabbath
not excepted,) are sold, at a very high price,
meats of all kinds; vegetables, such as cab
bages, turnips, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes,
yams, new potatoes, green corn, pumpkins,
mellow, berries, &c., &a.; fish, among
which are croakers, trout, flounders sheep
heads, shrimps, oysters, turtles, and crabs;
and fruits, as oranges, bananas, cocoanuts,
may apples, pineapples, and many others.
Here, too are flowers of every hue and color
exposed kir sale; all amid the confused rattle
of a thousand tongues, surpassing anything
of the kind you have ever heard, unless you
have been in the lower House of Congress
during a political filibuster movement.
On the other side of this square stands
the Cathedral, one of the most ancient and
elegant edifices in the city. There are some
in .
good paintings it; and if you enter it you
will see some costly images of the Virgin,
before which sit or kneel a number of poor,
deluded mortals. Above the altar is a rep
resentation of our Saviour, with this inscrip
tion, " Bece ! ?was Ange2orum," Behold 1
the bread of angels ! Are we to understand
by this that angels observe the Eucharist,
and feast upon 'Christ ? The manipulations
of these worshippers, the meaningless mum
mery of these white-robed priests, and the
silly decorations of this capacious room
throughout, gave us about as fair an exhibi
tion, of superstitious nonsense and picture
piety, as we.have seen.
Now, in passing out of these French quar
ters of the city, if you notice,.yon will see
some singular sights. Here is a room where
all kinds of birds are kept for sale. What
a chirping and singing ! See that green
parrot I It can talk French! One evening
as I .passed the Theatre, one of these birds
called to me, "Stop, stop—how do ye do ?"
I stopped from curiosity, when a man at the
door, put a programa into my hand and in
vited me in. But I went on. That parrot
and man understand their business.
Look there, how strange ! a blacksmith
and a milliner working in the same shop I
There, too, is a slizmtnaker at work in a cook
shop ! See, how many have their beds in
these front rooms by the door I Here is a
woman milking an old goat, and two healthy
looking, dirty-faced children drinking the
milk. And those negroes with great baskets
full of bread balanced on their heads, look
odd enough. There goes a wretched look
ing man in a cart, crying, (114-r-c-o-a-l; and
these newsboys are singing out everywhere,
Del to and Pic a-oon.
The cotton presses in the upper part of
the city are, indeed, curiosities. Each es
tablishnient covers from two to three acres ;
is inclosed with strong walls; hundreds of
slaves are here at work. The bales as
shipped, from the plantations, are here sub-
Jetted to an immense steam pressure and
lessened in size one-half. They are neatly
tied up and made ready for shipment. Like
pin making, this requires many hands, is
done with great expedition and sets forth
clearly the economy of a division of labor.
We found the foremen in these concerns
exceedingly polite, quite ready to explain
their principles of operation, and answer all
our questions respecting the raising, picking,
shipping and cost of cotton. Even the ser
vants had the manners and converse of gen
tlemen, and none of that churlish imperti
nence tbat we have seen manifest in opera
tions elsewhere. The drayage of these cot
ton bales to and from these presses, is a great
and constant business, requiring many men,
drays, and mules. These dash along the
streets at a fearful rate, making, in connexion
with the hacks, carriages and 'busses, a most
dinning noise. Why the mules are driven
so fast, I cannot tell; hut so it is; they
almost gallop in hack, 'bus or dray.
We have breakfast at 7 o'clock, dinner at
4, and supper when we please. Our break
fast is good, our dinner a banquet, and our
supper better than we deserve. Different
habits, modes of thought, and ways of liv
ing characterize these Creoles from their
brethren in the North. But not a whit the,
less sincere and kind are they than many
who seem to imagine that true religion and
the tender sympathies of the heart., are
things unknown South of Mason and Dixon's
Line l This is a sad mistake. In reality,
the people here are just like we in the North
are, the slight and superficial differences in
cident to climate, and early education, ex
cepted. In short, they are just what we
would be did we live here, and we are what,
they would be, were their homes in New
England or the West ; When I need the
sympathy of strangers, may my lot be east
among Southern people.
There is no monopoly of virtue by the
people of any region. Good and bad are
everywhere in this land of ours. Sectional
animosities are the shameful offspring of
ignorance, selfishness, and imbecility. No
truly Christian or patriotic citizen will allow
such unholy fire to live and burn in his
breast.
But I stop moralizing, and turn to a mat
ter of much moment near at hand. I,allude
to the crevasse, or break in the levee of the
river, about a mile above on the opposite
side. I would merely say to such as are un
familiar with the topography of this great
stream, that for four or five hundred miles
above this place, the lands on both sides are
protected from inundation by continuous
embankments, artificially formed. Thisims
been the work of generations, and has been
done at a cost of over six millions of dollars I
In Louisiana, there are said to be fifteen
thousand square miles of rich alluvial land
that lies far below the level of the river
when its waters are at their height. Places
in the extensive and costly levees some
times give way. The break becomes unman
ageable, overflows the cultivated portions of
the land, and spreads devastation over homes,
villages, and plantations, all around l To
prevent this, if possible, in times of high
water, the levees are watched night and day
with sleepless vigilance. For floods, like
flamed, are controllable in their incipient
stages, but utterly beyond the power of man
to manage, when once , they have progressed
a certain degree.
The velocity of the Mississippi is said to
be sixty-five miles per day. It usually be
gins to rise in February, and recede in
June. It has seldom ever been higher than
now, owing to the immense amount of rain
that has fallen within the range of its nu
merous tributaries, this season. Five times
has this city been partially inundated by
crevasses which occurred in the levees above
it. Five inches more of water would inun
date it now l But it would be almost im
possible for the river to rise this much
while the crevasse above noted is open ; it is
about two hundred yards long and some eight
or ten feet deep I Multitudes visit it in boats
daily, from the city. All effort to stop it
has been abandoned. Boats filled with bags
of sand have been sunk in the gap, to no
purpose.
Millions of acres of land are now sub
merged. Many say the loss cannot fall
much short of four millions of dollars; and
that the land will not be suited again to the
growth of sugar cane, for two seasons. Sev
eral miles of the New Orleans, Opelousas
and Great Western Railroad track have been
washed away by this crevasse.
To-morrow I leave my friend C and
go aboard the Black Warrior, bound for
New York via Havana. W.M.F.
E4E Niblt.
The Skeptic Convinced-7A True State.
ment from Real Life.
"What a splendid bouquet !" said my
friend, Professor 8., as I held ;up a choice
sample of green house flowers for his admir
ing inspection. " Those Camellias and Car
nations are absolutely perfect," he added,
" and that is what we , can seldom say of
anything here. Grandmother," said he,
suddenly turning to the aged invalid for
whom the flowers had been sent, "what was
that I heard you saying the other day to
young Deane about the teachings of na
ture ?"
"Deane is a little skeptical, I suspect,"
said the Professor, (in a whisper too low for
his aged relative to hear,) " and our good
grandmother, I believe, was trying to con
vert him." The old lady answered the
question with more solemnity than it had
been asked, " I told- Henry Deane that such
flowers were enough to convince the strong
est Atheist of the existence of a God; and
that if he rejected the Bible, the teachings
of nature were a perpetual rebuke to his un
belief."
"Grandmother," said the Professor, "nei
ther Nature nor the . Bible ever convinced
me of the reality of 'religion. I could tell
you of an argument far more potent."
The startled faces of his two auditors
showed•the Professor that he was misunder
stood;• we had taken his frank declaration as
an avowal of infidelity. He hastened to
correct our mistake. "No,, no, I did not
mean that—l am not a doubter—l fully
believe—but I did not reach my present con
victions by'the path which has been usually
prescribed. You look as if you would like
to ask me - about it," he said.
" I am hoping, Professor, that you will
tell us without the asking," I said,
usual frankness. He smiled; and a;ter
little hesitation, gave us the desired expla
nation.
" I had, as you well know, strict religious
training in my childhood. My excellent
parents exemplified the religion which they
inculcated, and although I did not yield my
heart to its claims, it never occurred to me
while under the paternal roof, to doubt its
Divine reality. I know not why I did not
become a Christian in my boyhood. Per
haps it was the strong influence which my
cousin James had acquired over me. My
mother died when he was, twenty, and I was
fifteen, leaving us both to mourn her loss,
though not to follow her example. I soon
left home for a distant school, where my
cousin was engaged in teaching. Here, for
the first time, he insinuated his doubts of the
correctness of the system of religious truth
in which I had been educated. .1 - was at first
considerably shocked. But a willingness to
silence the voice of my own conscience led
me to listen to him, at length ; with some
satisfaction. And ere my four years' course
of study under his instruction had expired,
my mind had so far surrendered itself to his
guidance, that I persuaded myself that the
Bible was a fable, and that those who pro
fessed to believe it were dupes or hypocrites.
At this period I went abroad to acquire my
profession at a foreign University. My early
habits kept me free from vice myself; and I
still loathed it in others.
"While I tried •to divest myself of all
ideas of accountability to God, I strove not
to forfeit my own self-respect by any conduct
unworthy of a man. I wonder I was not
left to prove the sandy foundation of my
morality by some grievous lapse from virtue.
I certainly deserved such a lesson. Perhaps
my sainted mother's prayers were laid up
before the throne of a justly incensed, but
long suffering God, and her pleadings stood
between me and vengeance. I had kept
my father in ignorance of my doubt;
and unbelief, until my return from the
Continent. I could not bear to pain him
with the knowledge that his only son had
become a skeptic—almost an Atheist. But
shortly after I reached home, still accom
panied by my cousin, a careless sneer of the
latter at some pious remark, opened the eyes
of my parent, and his inquiries were direct
and pressing. The truth could no longer be
concealed by .either of us. I expected a
torrent of reproaches, but my father uttered
no word of rebuke or condemnation. His
pale, sad face, as he took up his lamp, and
bade me the usual affectionate good night,
reproached me more deeply than the bitter
est words could have done. And when I
heard the weary, heavy tread of his feet, us
for hours he paced his solitary chamber, I
felt how deeply the iron had entered his soul.
" The next morning he sent for me to
come to his room. I joined him there with
a face as sorrowful as his own.. He looked
at me for a moment in silence, and then ad
dressed me calmly and tenderly. 'My son,
I see that you are grieved at having given
me pain; and I think you will not refuse a
request which is all the consolation that,
under present circumstances, you can offer.
me.' I replied with sincerity that I would
do anything in my power to give him com
fort, and prcive my affectionate regard for
him. I was about to add that I trusted he
would not ask me to change my opinions, as
with my present convictions that would be
impossible, when he interrupted me—' no,
no, I ask you not to believe as I do; I only
beg that you will immediately examine the
whole subject candidly and impartially, and
promise me that if you find, upon a thorough
examination, sufficient evidence of the truth
of the Bible, and the reality of religion,
You will at once give your heart to their
Divine Author, and make his service the
business of your life.' I could not refuse
assent lo a request so reasonable, and of
course promised immediate compliance. Tell
ing my father that I had already made my
self familiar with the writings of those who
doubted or denied what he believed, I asked
him to point me to such authors as he wanted
me to examine upon his side of the question,
and I would at once commence their perusal.
His reply was as unexpected as it was calm.
'No, my son, it, is a different source of evi
dence which I wish you to look at. -Take
this little book; (it was my mother's well
worn Bible,) compare with it what you re
member of her life, what you have seen and
known of the lives of others whom you be
lieve sincere in their profession of its truth ;
contrast with this testimony the lives and
conversation of its opposers, and the God of
the Bible, your. mother's God, will surely
open your eyes.
"This was a course for which I was not
prepared. Doubts, sneers, subtle sophistry,
could not enter into my researches. Facts,
not arguments, were to be my teachers. I
felt awe-struck and foreboded defeat- Hard
ly knowing how or where to begirt, I opened
the little book which my father had so sol
emnly placed in my hand. A pencil-lined
pissage met my eye, and thrilled my heart.
It was this, wherefore, by their fruits ye
shall know them.' What a beacon torch thus
flashed forth from above, held by a Divine
hand, at the very starting point of my prom
ised search l"
" Vividly its light glanced over the past,
and my mother's saintly life shone brightly
before me. How her daily walk and con
vdrsation became the doctrines she professed!
She had her imperfections, indeed, but how
heartily she mourned over them ; she had
besetting sins, but how earnestly she strove.
against them • she had severe trials—how
meekly she submittedl to them ; she had self
denying duties—how faithful in her attempts
to perform them ! Nor was she the only
witness for Christ. My father and a host of
others, of whom the world was not worthy,
afforded similar testimony. Notwithstanding
all their imperfections and inconsistencies,
a silver thread had run through the whole
warp and woof of their lives—the prevailing
purpose and desire to love and serve God.
And now the contrast of which my father
had spoken—ah I I needed not to look far
or closely for that. It stood out bodly and
darkly before me. How hollow and false
their best deeds; how weak and impure their
motives; how selfish their purposes; how
corrupt their lives I God did indeed open
my eyes, and a Divine voice spake from his
blessed word, ' this is the way, walk ye in
it.' For my present hope in Christ, and
assured faith of eternal blessedness, I am
indebted to the testimony afforded by the
lives of Christians."—Congregationalist.
tor fie goung.
"Not Letting."
There were two little sisters at the house,
whom nobody could see without loving, for
they were always so happy together. They
had the same books and the same playthings,
but never a quarrel sprang up between them
—no cross words, no pouts,.no slaps, no run
ning away in a pet. On the 'green before
the door, trundling hoop, playing with Rover,
helping mother, they were always the same
sweet-tempered little girls.
" You never seem to quarrel," I said to
them one day; " how is it you are always so
happy together?"
They looked up, and the eldest answered,
ct I , spose 'tis 'cause Addle lets me, and 1
let Addle."
I thought a moment " Ah, that is it,"
I said, " she lets you, and you let her;
that' sit."
Did you ever think what an apple of dis
cord "not letting" is among children ?
Even now, while I have been writing, a
great crying was heard under the window.
I looked out. " Gerty, what is the matter ?"
" Mary won't let me have her ball," bellows
G-erty. " Well, Gerty wouldn't lend me
her pencil in school," cried Mary, " and I
don't want she should have my ball." "Fie,
fie ; is that the way sisters should treat each
other ?" "She shan't have my Pencil'
muttered Gerty; " she 'll only 100 ,
" And you'll only lose my hall," ret.ortcrl
Mary, " and I shan't let you have it "
The " not letting" principle is elow rr :„1„_
disobligingness, and a disobliging spi r i t '
b` _
gets a great deal of quarreling.
These little girls, Addie and her sister,
have got the tre e secret of good manners.
Addie lets Rose, and Rose lets Ad;ii e ,
They are yielding, kind, unselfish, alweri s
ready to oblige each other,
neither wishes o
have her own way at the expense of the
other. And are they not happy ? 0 :e;.
And do you not love them already ?
Paper.
isteihtneng.
American Tea Pronounced a Failure.
Those who have made the experiment 1.1
raising tea in this country, say : " The pl.ar.[
will grow well enough, but mpg are ho
high. We cannot afford to pick, Tali u [ ,,
and dry any sort of leaves here for half a
dollar a pound. In China, where a neon is
hired for one dollar a month and beards
himself, it may be done."
QUERY.—Is there any necessity for pick
ing the leaves, one by one, and rolling
them ? Could not Yankee ingenuity find
out a way for harvesting and securing them
without so much manual labor ?-1:n.
Hoop Skirts.
There is a hoop-skirt manufactory i❑ New
York, which .weekly turns out twenty t* , jur
thousand ladies' skirts, employing for that
purpose five hundred hands, one hundred
and eighty sewing machines, and not less
than a ton of steel. Hoop.skirt making is
a science, and one on which patient study
and exquisite skill have been bestowed in
the several departments of the fabrication,
till by successive improvemets an article of
dress has been produced, which is thought
to be favorable to health, while it conduces
to comfort and beauty. Various rasterais
have been employed to give the required
degree of flexibility to the skirts, to enable
their wearers to sit upon them, and pack
them to the smallness of compass frequently
required, without affecting their elasticity
and capacity to again spread themselves to
the full extent and graceful form, when
raised to an erect position. We believe,
however, that the rotundity of spread is
now given to this general favorite of female
apparel, by very thin steel springs, so pre
pared and intertwined with the stiffened
fabric of which they are principally com
posed, as to give them these characters.
American-.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
LB.ON CITY COBIDIRECIAL COTALEGE,
PITTSBILinti, PENNSYLVASILL
Caaam.e:en 1855.
Board of 12 TrusteeoL—Faculty of 14 Teachers
300 STUDENTS ATTENDING, JANUARY, 1855.
Toting Men prepared for actual duties of the Countior.-Boom
Inetruction given in Single and Double Entry Book keep
ing, ae used in every department of Fluidness, Commercial
Arithmetic, Rapid Staginess Writing, Mercantile CorreFpond
ence,Commercial Law,Detecting Counterfeit Money, Political
Economy, Elocution, Phonography, and all other subjects
necessary for the thorough education of a practical business
man.
J. 0. SMITH, A.M., Professor of Book keeping and Science
of Accounts.
J. A. HEYDRICK. and H. A. HUTSON, Assistant Teach
era of Book keeping.
ALEX. COWLEY, A. T. DOUTRETT, and H. A. HUTSON,
Professors of Penmanship. Twelve &et premiums over all
cOmpetition for best Pen and Ink Writing, and not for en
graved work.
A. C. PORTER, A.M., Professor of Mathematics.
Toasts, dic.—Fall course, time unlimited. enter at any
time, $30.00. Average time eight to twelve weeks. Beard
about $2-513. Entire cost, $60.00 to $70.00. Graduates atsieted
in obtaining situations. Specimens of unequalled writing
and circulars sent free. Address,
R JENEMTS, Pittsburgh, Pa.
l3` Onehalf the tuition fee is deducted for clergymen's
eons. deL9-tf
VIERMAILN ANT OPP OE. COMPLY IN G
with the earnest request of hundreds of their pa-
tients,
DRS. C. M. 'FITCH AND J. W. SYK-RS,
Have concluded to remain
R .A NBA' TL Y IN PITTSBURGH,
And may be consulted at their office,
NO. 191 PENN STREET,
OPPOSITE TEE ST. CUTE HOTEL,
Daily, (except Sundays) for CONSUMPTION, ASTHIII,
BRONCHITIS and all other CHRONIC COMPLAINTS rem
plicated with or causing Pulmonary Disease, including Cs.
tarrh t Heart Disea.se, Affections of the Liver, Dyspepsia,
Gastritis, Female Complaints, etc.
DRS. FLTCH A SYKES would state that their treatment
of Consumption is based upon the fact that tb.e direve exists
in the blood and system at large, both before and during its
development In the lungs, and they therefore employ Me
chanical, Hygienic and :Medicinal remedies to purity the
blood and strengthen the system. With there they use
Medicinal Inhalations, which they value highly. but Grayer
palliatives, (having no curative effect when used alone.) and
Invalids are earnestly cautioned against wasting the precious
time of curability on any treatment based upon the pleini•
ble, but false idea that the " sent of the disease con be
reached in a direct manner by Inhalation," for as before
stated, the seat of the disease is in the blood and its efferm
only in the lunge.
43" No charge for consultation.
A Est of questions will be sent to those wishing to roc
stilt us by letter. jus tf
WIINVITE THE ATTEN !Oh OP
the public to the
PHILADELPHIA HOUSEKEEPING DRY GOODE SNKY,
where may be found a large assortment of all kit.ls
Dry Goods, required In furnishing a house, thus 63 , !Eff
the trouble usually experienoed in hunting such er:lcles
in various places. In eonsequmce of our giring our s:'
tention to this kind- of stock, vo the exclusion of creze
and fancy goods, we can gusran ee our prices crtl styles
to be the most favorable in the mm ket.
IN LINEN GOODS
we are able to give perfect 83.W/team, bring 01 (VIES
EBTARLISECIED LIMMAT Sroas Tee OCT; end hating been
(or more than twenty years regc .ar importere from cone
of,",the best mannfrettrrere lt band. We err also
large stook. of
PLANNELS AND EIISLENE,
of the. beet qualities to be obtained, and at the reryi:rs . ••
price. Also, Blankets, guilts, kheetinge, Ticking!,
rusk Table Cloths, and Napiab s, Towelling& D:23,7 , ' ,
iiinckablea, Table and Piano Ca-ers, Demeans ail, -
realm, Lace and Muslin aortal. s, Dicitioe, Frrxlmi,
Mantzes, Window Shadings, AT.,
JOHN V. IOWELL L . SON,
B. W. corner CIIIIBTNIPY and SEVENIT Sts;
ao3o-tf
J. P. vv u.LIAMS, - • - - JOHN JOIINEION
JEW TEA WAILEEOLGE — A OI°".
PI - SALE AND RETAIL—WILLIAME J JOHNSTON .
U 4 Smithfield Street, fittaburgh, (nearly" oppeEite the CUE
tOlll Botuei„) have just opened a very choice Eeleetion of
GREEN AND BLACK TEAS,
. .
Of the latest importations. Also -
RIO, LAGIIAYRA, AND OLD
NEES,
GPTERNIaref JAVA CO)
New Orleans, Cuba, Coffee, Crashed and Pulverised Scram,
Rice, Rice.Floar, Pearl and Corn Starch, Farins.iwt Poe
dere, Maccaroni, Vermicelli, Cocoa, Broma, Extra Nu. 1, and
Spiced Chocolate, Pure Ground Spices. Castile, Ailllo - na ,
Toilet, Palm, German, and Rosin Soaps. Sup. Carbonate 0.
Soda • Cream Tartar; Extra Fine Table Sart; Pare Extracts
Lemon and Vanilla; Star, Mould. and Butt r
Ful
ear Cured Rams Dried - Beef;
Soda Crackers ; Foreign Fruits, Ac., Ac.
Water, Butter, SDP , " 6
This stock has been purchased for CASELand will healer.
ed to the Trade, slid also to Famines, at very moderate ilk
vane"' from whore me respectfully POlinitft Ftbere of pato. -
lute.
TBF. lurimEnsimEED HAS BriEN AP
POINTED Receiving Agent and. Treasurer. for the (n 1
lowlnßChnrch enterprises,
In the Synods of PIriTSBL - 1 0311
A.LLEGHENY, WHEELING, AND OHIO, cis
The General Assembly's BOARD OF DOMESTIC MIS
IRONS; the General Assembly's BOARD OF EDUCATION I
the General Assembly's CHURCH EXTENSION COMMIT
TEE, Louis); and the FUND FOR SUPERANNEA TIT
h
TERB AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Correspondents will please address him as below, statist
distinctly the Presbytery and C7eurch, from which coutrihu .
tions are sent; and when a receipt is required by mpg, the
name of the post office and County.
As heretofore, monthly reports will be made through the
Presbyterian Banner and Artrocate and the Home end F6reign
Record. J. D. WlLLlAMS,Treasurer,
114 Smithfield Street.
?Meru:nth. Fa
my 2 4
U RF
ITMISBYTERIAIN BOOS ItOONESS—T
Depoeitory is now well furnished with all the Publhs
t lone of the Presbyterian Board of Poblication.and e specially
with those that are imitable for Sabbath School lAbrarie
There ie also ad•
selected with special care, from the numerons publications
good supply of nearly SOO ad ditional volume s,
of the Pdassacbusetta S. S. Society, !MC America 35 E.
Union.
will be prom
Orders from any part of the country ptlylab
tended to by addressing the su bscriber. Ilioney may
he Erat
by mail at our risk.
Also, a good supply of statlonerY •
novl7
jOgrien.
IVE/11N.E. lAN BLINDS.
A. BRITTON & CO.,
MANIGIACITIRRRS, WHOLESALS AND RETAIL
DEALERS.
rtdiade/Ph is
N 0.32 North SECON 9 Street, above Market,
The largest, c heapest, and beet assortment of PI arg and
FANCY BLINDS of any other establisbmevt in the Unita
States.
ti REPAIRING promptly attended to. Oire es COr
awl astiev vonirsiolvqa
N, ARAN AND MILLS OF JOI I -• 4 r
SEIBILEARM, situate in Smithfield Township. Jeffer
son County, 0., is still for sale, and min be purchased on
good terms. There are .118 acres of land, well improre d ; 8
good Merchant Mill and Saw Mill. both in running orer.
JOHNfiL,
Upoisgeser venee, Jegersoo Co., v.
myB it*