T
N011TH CAKOLINIAN.
FAYETTEVTLLE, N C
SATURDAY, January 1, 1859.
E We have just re ceived the names of severa'
new subscribers to the Carolinian, without being
accompanied with the amount of subscription. We
have added them to our list, and will forward the
papers as directed, with the hope that the amounts
will be speedily forthcoming. We are satisfied,
from past experience, that the system of advance
payments is the only successful method of publish
ing a newspaper, the results of which will be as
beneficial to the reader as the publisher. This
plan has been adopted by most of the prominent
papers of the Union with great success, while the
credit system has been discarded as tending only
to failure. The credit system requires a large
capital, which we candidly confess we are not
possessed of- It creates embarrassment and an
unnecessary expense which we wish to oA'oid.
There are few comparatively who come voluntarily
forward and pay the printer. They look upon
the amount they owe as small, without considering
for a moment that the amounts due to the publish
er of a newspaper are generally small that they
are scattered among his hundreds of subscribers
and over a large tract of country where it is im
possible for him to visit, and the trifling profits ob
tained will not justify the employment of a collec
tor : hence the necessity for subscribers to for
ward their respective amounts to the office. Wc
have a great aversion to being in debt : we wish
to pay up regularly all demands against us as soon
as they become due, and so to improve the Caro
linian that we may keep pace with the progressive
spirit of the age. We will leave this subject for
the present, hoping however that our subscribers
will act well their part " there all the honor lies."
We close by wishing them all " A Happy New
Year."
Report of Capt. Wilkes.
We copy from the " Observer," the following
highly important Letter on the subject of the lo
cation of Naval Workshops. It was addressed to
our Democratic representative in Congress, the
Hon, Warren Winslow, by Capt. Wilkes, of the
United States Navy, The Letter enumerates the
vast mineral resources which lie hidden in the
Deep Uiver Yalley, the development of which
will create a new epoch in the history of North
Carolina.
Wasiiixgtox, Dec. 24, 1S58.
To the Hon. Warren Wixsi.ow:
My dear Sir : I take great pleasure
in answering- your letter relative to the ex
amination of the Deep River Country, which
I am now enabled to do, as my Report is
finished, and will be handed to the Depart
ment for presentation to Congress after the
Holidays. This, you understand, is unoffi
cial, and will be a short synopsis, which will
give you a correct idea of the result of my
examination. Owing to the delay in receiv
ing the specimens from the Deep lliver
Country, the analysis of the coals and ores
has postponed my official report much long
er than I anticipated, and some time must
still elapse after it is handed in, before it
can be published by Congress, on account
of the engraving of the Maps and Sections
of the Geological formation.
I need not point out to you the situation
of the Deep River district, but you must
be aware as well as I am, how little is real
ly known of its geographical position as well
as its valuable productions, and the apathy
with which all improvements for accessibility
to this district have been viewed, on the
part of many in your State, and the preju
dice which has existed against it, from the
appropriations having been lavishly and
uselessly expended in the construction of in
efneient Dams and insecure Locks, which
were found inadequate to bear their OWN
weight, without the. force of the water.
These mishaps and procrastinations have
acted very unfavorably in preventing appro
priations being made by the Legislature, as
well as deterring individuals from subscri
bing towards these great and useful works.
I am sure that there are yet many who en
tertain doubts, and are unwilling to give
their money and exertions, or credence to
the truth which has been fully brought to
light by the well directed efforts of Mr Wm.
McClanc in sinking the shaft at Egypt ; this
fully established the existence of the veins
of coal, and left no reason to doubt the ex
istence of a coal basin and large quantities
of the best bituminous coal as well as a
great variety of iron ores which have been
noticed by Prof. Emmons, the State Geolo
gist, in many localities, and I can now add
that it is fully confirmed by the recent ex
aminations of the Commission : indeed, there
are few places to be found in our country
where there is such a concentration of ma
terial, and which can be mined with so little
toil and expense ; an abundance of the best
fuel, consisting of charcoal and the mineral
coals susceptible of being advantageously
coked, in great variety and qnantityfor all
purposes of the arts as well as domestic
uses.
Although these deposites of coul and iron
in the Deep River Country will not bear
comparison with the vast fields and moun
tains of these minerals in our Western
States, yet owing to their position, proximity
to market and. adaptability to many purpos
es of the arts, it is far before them in value
of great interest to your State, and I con
sider of National importance.
The outcrop of the bituminous coal has
"been traced 18 miles, and five seams of coal
found at the surface. The shaft at Egypt
is sunk to the depth of 460 feet and includes
the lower coal seam, and by it we are as
sured that theie are four coal seams, two
having united as they descended ; the lar
gest is there found to be 6 feet wide, sep
arated from the others by beds ot carbon
ate of iron known as the " Black Band."
The coal has been proved to be of the
best quality of bituminous coals. It is a
shining clean coal, resembling the bt
specimens of Cumberland; in ignites easily,
burns with a bright, clear combustion, and
leaves very little ash ; it swells and ag
glutinates, making a hollow fire ; is a desir
able coal for the parlour grate and for black
smiths' use ; is well adapted for fuel, cook
ing, and oil ; and is superior to most coals
for the production of gas, for which it will
be in great demand ; it is almost entirely
free from sulphur ; its coke is light and por
ous ; when rapidly burned, it inclines to
smelt and flew, but when under slow com
bustion it does not exhibit -this tendency,
which is owing to the presence of larp-e
quantities of bitumen ; it does not easily
disintegrate' when exposed to the atmos
phere. I think every one who visits this coalfield
must be satisfied from the regularity of its
seams, and. the diminution of the dip as it
descends, (proved to be some 8 or 10 degs.
in the shaft of Egypt, which is 1,500 feet
within the outcrop,) that its seams conform
to the shape of a basin, or trough; and I
am satisfied that the greatest depth will lie
on the northern side of the axis of the
trough, and that this valuable mineral does
not extend to such depths as to render its
mining difficult, but, on the contrary, both
easy and profitable.
The ores of iron consist of the BlaOBand,
in juxtaposition 'with the coal seams, and so
situated as to be readily mined with the coal ;
Specular, Hematitic, the Argillaceous and
Magnetic ores are all found to be rich, and
in quantity, and for their manufacture, be
sides the mineral coal, there is abundance
of wood for charcoal ; the uncleared
lands of this district still have the prim
itive forest growing upon them, and
charcoal can be obtained in any quantity
and at a cheap rate ; and there can be no
question, but that the best quality of iron
can be manufactured there, and that there
is no locality in our country where a better
and cheaper article can be produced. Five
clays for refractory furnaces, building ma
terials of sandstone, gneiss, and granite,
millstone grit and fine sandstone, roofing
slates, and sands for the manufacture of glass
and porcelain clay, of which there is a large
tract. There are also rich copper mines
and quarries of soap stone and agalmatolite.
Ihe proximity of the Deep River Country
to market gives it great advantages, and I
think insures its becoming at no distant day
a populous manufacturing district. The
bulk of coal and iron in its raw state renders
its transportation expensive and will cause
the erection of manufactories on the spot,
which will be more economical and profitable.
I am of opinion that when such is the case,
very little coal can be afforded to be shipped,
except it be for the production of gas, which
may be able to afford the prices it will com
mand for the manufacture of iron.
I would however, remark, that all these
minerals and materials are valueless, un
less the routes are opened and every con
venience afforded to reach the district, not
only with easy and safe transportation, but
m the quickest possible time from all parts
of your State ; and unless this is effected
they must remain entirely dormant.
I think it must be apparent that it can
not be expedient for the General Govern
ment to establish machine shops for the
construction of machinerr, &c, &c, for na
val vessels, until this district is shown to be
accessible from every direction. The com
pletion of your Western Railroad and slack
water navigation will tend in a g eat meas
ure to give the facilities for speedy and sure
transportation for both passengers and
freight.
To acquire some estimate of the quantity
of coal, and allowing but half the width of
the basin for the extent of the coal, we shall
have an area of 75 square miles ; this gives
an approximation to the quantity of mineral
wealth locked up in this district. Surely no
legislature can hesitate for a moment to ex
pedite its development by any means in its
power.
Although we have no actual proof to offer,
y et there can be little doubt that the extent
of the coal must underlie the basin. I was
desirous to place this beyond question, and
had it been in my power I should have or
dered boring to be made, considering it of
great importance in a National point of view :
but as there was no appropriation to meet
this expenditure, it could not be made.
Having thus given you a short synopsis, I
will close, referring you to my official Report
for the particulars of my examination and
the conclusions at which I have arrived.
Very respectfully, yours,
CHARLES WILKES.
Diplomatic Appointments.
In another column will be found a list of the
Consular and Diplomatic Appointments made dur
ing the recess, and which have been confirmed by
the Senate in executive session. The apportion
ment of the different States is also given, to which
we desire to call the special attention of our read
ers. In looking over this list, we were led to ex
claim where is North Carolina ? In the nine En
voys Extraordinary she is not represented ; nei
ther does she appear among the nineteen Ministers
Resident nor among the fourteen Secretaries of
Legation. Of the eighty-three first class Consul
ates, North Carolina has one appointment. There
are twentj'-six second class, and sixly-three third
class Consulates, where she has no appointment
Thus it will seen that in the distribution of Two
Hundred and Fourteen offices. North Carolina,
with a population of nearly a million, has received
but oxe solitary fourth class appointment. Sure
ly no one can complain of executive partiality to
wards the Old North State.
It will be seen by reference to our ad
vertising columns that the Bank of Fayette-
ville has declared a dividend of four per cent,
out of the profits of the last six months.
The Bank of Clarendon, the Bank of Char
lotte, and the Bank of Cheraw have also de
clared dividends of four per cent.
The Wilmington Gas Light Company a divi
dend of five per ceut.
t a " r i i .
xv. iuaciieu, iaie or A'etersburg, has set
tled in vvarrenton, JN. C, and will carry on
the architectural and building business there.
The Legislature.
" A little nonsense, now and then, '
Is relished by the wisest men."
An eminent divine said, not long ago, that he
did " not think much of that man who ffad noneof
the boy lett in him." We perceive by the pro
ceedings in the State Senate on Thursday of last
week, which wo copy from the Standard, that our
worthy Senators have still some of Young America
leit in tnem. l ney were in quite a playful humor,
and had a little fun in the Senate chamber nrevious
to their departure from Raleigh to enjoy with their
families the pleasures and exhiliratinjr influences
of the Season. M&V thev loner l Krhni-Arl rk cnraA
with delight the social and dome. circle ; may
they return from their homes invigorated, and
ready to perform the important duties to which
the suffrages of their fellow citizens have called
them, with honor to themselves, and for the best
interests of the State.
No business of any importance has been trans
acted in either branch of the Legislature since our
last issue. Hon. J. W. Ellis will be inai?... orated
Governor to-day. The work of the L, islature
will recommence on Monday.
3fesident Buchanan.
S& ADMINISTRATION.
The foIk t 7g extract from the " Sou. Caroli
na Guardian," an opposition paper, is a candid
acknowledgment from an unbiassed source. Our
political opponents will sometimes express them -1
selves truthfully, especiallyin theseMatitudes : 1
" It is well known that the Guardian is not
a champion of the ' Administration,' or of 'De
mocracy,' but our journal is willing to accord
to both, all the credit they respectfully de
serve. We say that the Administration and
the Democracy have not deceived the South.
The Apstration has at its head, as we be
lieve, alTaole statesman, a sound and reliable
' Constitutional ' President. So far as we have
observed, in ail his official acts, in his recom
mendations, he has Shown himself a true South
ern mail. His Administration, from its forma
tion to the present day, has had the whole co
horts of Abolitionism, Freesoilism and Black
Republicanism, leagued in bitter hostility to
all its measures, and the savage fierceness with
which they have ceaselessly assailed the Presi
dent and the Cabinet, is of itself a strong evi
dence that the government has been adminis
tered on constitutional principles, and that in
carrying out these principles, the President has
endeavored to do justice to the South. Thus
much we say for the Administration.
The Democratic party, identified with the
measures of the Administration, havefno for
midable opponent but th? Black Republican
party. That they have committed errors in
policy and in some of its measures, our own
columns have frequently testified to, but that
the Democratic party is the only one the South
can consistently act in unison with, is a fact
as clear as the noonday sun."
" We are not of that party; we owe it no
allegiance as a party journal, or as the conduct
ors of that journal ; we never received a dollar
of. its pationage yea, more, the only party we
could attach ourselves to as members or as
journalist would be a "true Southern Rights
party yet notwithstanding all this, if in the
Union we are compelled to do battle for the
rights of the South, from every emotion of pa
triotism from congenialty of political princi
ples, and last though not least, from gratitude
from a reciprocity of fidelity to the many faithyf
ful members of that party, ur and oTcrjr trust
C . . , ,.ii?t fi.rtit- nritVi fVio Flnmrtora t ff 1
Democrats, antiquated Whigs and slippery
Southern politicians and journals. It will take
all these elements combined to make a decent
fight against the Democracy, and the Whig
knows as its endorser, the American, that when
they call so lustily for a union of all the oppo
sition, they of necessity receive into their mon
grel league the Abolition and Freesoil hordes
that now muster under the banner of Black
Republicanism.
' We do not exchange with the Richmond
Whig, and therefore cannot define its position
on the politics of the present day. If, however
the paragraph, extracted from its columns by
the Baltimore American, is an index of its gen
era! course, then it is a professing
'Southern
journal, playing into the hands
of the Black
Republican party Ihe paper
the article with commendatory
the same like."
that extracts
remarks is of
Hebrew Rights in North Carolina.
Under this captiou the " South Carolinian '
has the following article. If the exclusion of
these people from the business of Government,
or a participation in the administration of the
laws, is peculiar to our own State, it would
seem that enlightened and liberal views not
unlike those of our cotemporary, should remove
this restriction. It is not the force of preju
dice that has deprived this race of the common
privileges of good citizens, but their infidelity
which has oj '.osed itself so directly against
Christian us.yl forms. The subject, we
believe, has the attention of the present Leg
islature : "
The special arrangement by which Hebrews
are prevented from acting as magistrates, mem
bers of the Legislature, or in Congress, from
the State of North Carolina, certainly infringes
the active principle of toleration which tistin
guishes our Government, and is the ground
work of much RafJnl and national prosperity.
The peopie of4re""fj nited States, through the
Government, form treaties with the Japanese.
Chinese, Siamese, Turks, the Emperor of Mo
rocco, the tribes of the Barbary States, and
Armenian aborigines. They have ministers
resident with Roman Catholic, Greek, Luth
eran, and other Protestant powers in Europe,
whose subjects, of every condition and charac
ter, are adopted as citizens among us without
difficulty, and enjoy all privileges and rights as
such. A slight infusion of the principles of
Hebrew Law would not prove objectionable in
any Legislature of this Union. Yet the Deca
logue pleads for the Hebrew a noble system
ofpractical law founded upon the elements of
ancient science as exact now as when those
commandments were first written, evidently
designed to regulate, with a common advantage,
the conduct of men in all conditions of life to
their fellow-men of every nation and language,
containing a sublime appreciation of the origi
nal authority, from whom such useful precepts
were "derived, filled with the spirit of benevo
lence, jastice and liberality, which the con
tracted malignity of neither friends nor foes
have been able to disguise. The Hebrews, at
this time, have no national authority ; but
such peculiarity does not sanction a discrimina
tion which has no example elsewere Method
ists, Seceders, Baptists and Quakers are in the
same predicament. There are no nations of
either of these ; yet none now propose to de
prive them of such privileges. They all re-
ouUt..cl S" r-v speech admitted as spoken, and so introduced into
party against all mongrel combinations againsi. , the reported debates. First, written speeches are
it, composed of Black Republicans, recent wholly excluded , and next .neither house of parlia-
spect the same ancient laws, an adherence to
the instruction of which 'entitles them to an
equal regard as good citizens. By the en
couragements offered in the ancient Hebrew
writings, the high purpose of our independent
ancestors was sustained amidst the trying pe
riods of revolution, and attained for s the
liberty we enjoy We are specially indebted
to Hebrew laws and to Hebrew writers for the
many rights North Carolina now deprives He
brews of.
It is time so objectionable a feature, a rem
nant of bigotry and of superstition, should be
erased from the State Constitution. Hebrews
may claim as high position throughuot the Uni
ted States for intelligence,-honesty and worth,
as any other people, varying in quality like all
others among us. If a Hebrew does wrong,
the penalties of the law of the land act equally
upo.. him as upon others. If he acts-uprq htly
he should enjoy without discrimination, all the
privileges his fellow-citizens may please to be
stow upon him, or in justice, he should be re
lieved fr taxation. It is not presumed that
many applicants will be found among this peo
ple for the Court Bench, the Legislature or
Congress, because their industry and incli
nations lead to more profitable and quite as
honorable pursuits ; but we cannot perceive
any good reason why a child of Israel should
not enjoy all the hopes and aspirations allowed
to every other people's children, who are also
strangers in this land. The Constitution of
the United States plainly declares : " In or
der to form a more perfect union, establish jus
tice,Qge domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general wel
fare, and Becure the blessings of liberty," "no
law shall be made by Congress respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting ihe
free exercise thereof." The members of the
several State Legislatures are required to be
bound by oath " to suppo4f' t Constitution
of the United States." Nothing but a perver
sion of the true intent of sr A provision can
defend an intolerance, which the people o. the
State oF North Carolina do not desire to have
continued.
Worth Imitating.
If Congress
would adopt the plan and rules -f
the British Parliament, there would be more bus
iness done and less necessity for increasing the
rate of postage to meet the mail expenses,
would like such a system inaugurated as the
lowing in regard to unimportant speeches.
We
quote from the Philadelphia Press :
"There is only one speech on record, delivered
in either house of Parliament at any iime, which
ever approached the longitudinal character of
heavy Congress oratory, and that was delivered in
the Commons, in 1A23, by Henry Brougham, on
the subject of the administration of the law, in
which he exposed its abuses, and suggested all the
principal reforms which have since been made.
That speech occupied over six hours in dei.very.
O'Coimell, Peel, Lord John Russell, Palmerston,
Roebuck, Cobden, Bright, and a few others, have
made long speeches but these long ones ar. ihe
exceptions. As a general rule, half an hour's
speech is considered a very liberal allowance, and
that only to a first rate man."
Whoever of inferior standing, should attempt to
waste the public time by diffuseness, would be
coughed down, or silenced by ridiculous cries of
Hear, hear.' As for any man's reading what he
may call a speech, that is entirely out of the ques
tion. In the first place, it is unparliamentary,
and the man who attempted it would be put down
with cries of Order,' on which the Speaker would
have to tell the honorable member, in the gentlest
manner, to ' shut up.' An extract from a book
may be read in a speech, or a statement of figures,
mt to read a speech itseli is impossible, vn
o-"wo, iir-Li,, it is equally out or tne question tor a
member of either house to have an undelivered
ment has anj publication of its proceedings.
Newspaper rivalry, in the first instance, and the
private enterprise of Mr Hansard in the next, pro
vides and prints adequate reports of all worthy of
notice on record, that is done in the British Leg
islature. The following advertisement comes from a north
ern paper. It is no doubt very well adapted in
its character and significance to the locality from
whence it emanates :
Wanted, one hundred and seventy-five young
men, of all shapes and sizes, from the tall graceful
dandy, with hair enough on his upper works to
stuff a barber's cushion, down to the little upstart.
The object is to form a gaping corps, to be iD at
tendance at the church doors on each Sabbath, be
fore commencement of divine service, to stare at
the females as they enter, and make delicate and
,?ntlemanly remarks on their persons and dress.
All who wish to enlist in the above corps will ap
pear at the various church doors next Sabbath
' jing where they will be duly inspected, and
:r names, personal iappearance and quantity of
aius registered in a book kept for that purpose,
and published in the newspapers. To prevent a
general rush, it will be well to state that none will
be enlisted who possess intellectual capacities a
bove that of an ordinary well-bred donkey.
General Scott. This veteran General is now
making a military tour of observation of the con
dition of the fortifications of Charleston, Key West,
Mobile, and New Orleans. On Friday, 17th ult.,
he was received with marked respect by the in
habitants of Charleston on his arrival there. Ad
dresses were presented, a salute of fifteen guns
fired, and other demonstrations of welcome, greet
ed the old soldier on his entrance into the palmet
to city.
The Coast Survey. The Washington Union
says that there are thirty-six coast survey parties
in the field and afloat, eighteen of which are on
the Atlantic coast. Of these three are on the
coast. of North Caiolina, and seven on the coasts
of South Carolina and Georgia.
EIP The British people are full of grand designs
for their American possessions. Already has their
government taken the initiatory steps to carry
out the projects named below. We hope the
far-reaching policy of the British government will
not be lost sight of by our statesmen ; but that
measures will speedily be -taken whereby the op
posite shores of our continent will be linked to
gether by an iron band, on American soil, and the
vast fields of commerce which the nations on the
eastern shores of Asia and the Pacific Islands pre
sent secured to the enterprise of our pecple :
From the London Globe of Dec. 1.
The time is not arrived, although at hand, for
the construction of a railway to the Pacific ; but
there is no reason why inter colonial railways
should not be commenced at once, and with inter
colonial railways must come federation that great
desideratum of our North American colonies.
British capitalists must be by this time pretty well
sick of United States Railways, and our colonies
have the advantage of offering a good investment
in honest ventures, honestly conducted. Let us
have by all means a railway to the seaboard thro'
British territory, and a railway to the Pacific must
follow when it is demanded by the requirements of
trade. We quite agree ;gith Lord Bury, that
these are political as well as commercial objects,
but the North Americans will find that their inter
est in them is not less than ours. To make the
empire strong and compact is to give additional
strength and compactness to British N,orth Amer-
ica, and to draw more closely the bonds that knit ,
" iw ensure , lo our colonies not
only a greater share in our glory, but in our wealth
in commerce, art, and civilization.
From the Liverpool Post.
All we have to consider is the effect on the
world of a strong British Stale, nominally a col
ony, really a nation, loyal and yet practically a
republic, rising " up there. The territory i as
large as Europe. Its resources are inexhaustible.
In fifty years it would be full of people. It would
be a United States, and a United States clear of
the curse of slavery. It is a prospect which every
man of British blood would like to dwell on ; and,
superb as it is, it appears to us to be the plainest
prose, the natural and inevitable future.
Correspondence.
For the North Carolinian.
Occasional Thoughts.
" And Knowledge shall be increased." Dan
iel 12 Chap 4 verse.
The knowledge of Truth at first orally com
municated, and afterward committed, to writing
and preserved with wonderful care, then by
the inventive skill of man, in the discovery and
application of an art, destined to produce re
sults, important, grand, reaching beyond terres
trial limits, ending in a most blessed consum
mation, diffused throughout the world, has
made its recipients more respectable in their
condition, more happy in their lives, better in
formed as to their rights and privileges, their
duties and tneir responsibilities. .
It meets the fur-clad Esquimaux in his re
gion of ice and snow ; it visits the inhabitant
of the sea-girt isle, where
" The sun with tropic ardor glows ;
It arrests the Hindoo devotee when about to
immolate himself beneath the ponderous wheels
of the car of Juggernaut ; it places itself by
the banks of the Ganges, and prevents the
mother from exposing her infant upon its sa
cred stream ; it enters the pagoda of the Chi
nese, and puts to shame, their boasted claim
to antiquity ; it raises its ' still, small voice'
amid the loud alarum from the mosque of the
Moslem ;
' Its sound hatb reach'd the Ethiop's wondering ear
it climbs the vine-clad hills of France : it whis
pers through the olive groves of Spain ; it
falls with the silence of the snow-flake amid
the Alps and the Appenines ; it rises with the
suddenness of the blade of grass upon the plains
of Etruria : it crosses the Pontine marshes al
most with the rapidity of the electric flash, to
illumine the humble abode beneath the shadow
of the Vatican. It imparts to its inmates an
insight into their condition and destiny.
" Ye shall know the truth, and the tkcth shall
make you tree !"
And althongh armed empires ostensibly sup
ported by, but in reality the support of mitred
power, urged on by priestly pride, may arrest
them, hurry them to the inquisitorial tribunal,
thence ,o the shade and dampness of the dun
geon, think ye, that the fetters which restrain
the motions of their bodies can repress the as
pirations of the mil-id, awakened mind ? De
prived of the breath of ' heaven's sweet air,'
and of a glimpse even of its blessed and cheer
ful snnshine, think ye that the gloom of their
prison, can seal in darkness their mental vision?
lu the creation ot the world " the earth was
without form and void ; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep, and God said let
there be light, and there was light." So, upon
the dark chaos of their mental world
the ray
Infus'd by his own frowning smile atk first
The broader glow ot lightnings, shed to aid
In man's maturer day his bolder sight,
1'ours yet and still shall pour the blaze that can-
uot fade."
A S. A.
For the North Carolinian.
Letter from New York.
Messrs Editors :
Material for the composition of a letter, as
well as the ability to compose it, are equally
indispensable to a correspondent. Of the first
there is a plentiful supply in Gotham all more
or less interesting to dwellers in that city of
the sea bnt whether such will prove so to your
readers, this deponent sayeth not. Of the last,
it becomes us not to say more than, that we
seldom succeed to our own satisfaction. If
" Music hath charms, to soothe the savage breast,
To soften rocks and bend the knotted oak,"
then truly the millenium has commenced in
Manhattan, since the advent of Piccolomini, on
the boards of the Academy in 14th St. For
such music, and so rendered, has not been heard
for many a day " in all our coasts." But,
and we regret to be obliged to come to this
conclusion whatever truth and beauty, the
words of the Poet may possess in theory, we
cannot perceive that in practice the results des
cribed have been obtained. As far as our own
observations about town ' go and as you
a- -ware, they are pretty extensive we find
tne rocKy neart ot tne savage breast " re
mains just as poof against " the voice of love"
though we " play on " to infinity, as it was
when you sojourned in our midst, and when
Madame Piccolomini was scarce dreamt of.
Certes. the lady herself cannot complain at this
state of affairs, since she is successfully pocket
ing the rocks," and doubtless prefers those of
the hardest quality.
Cosmopolitan philosophers as we are, we
cannot conscieutiouslv say that JNew xork is
worse in morals, manners, and government,
than many other cities of the same size, in
which it has been our fortune to reside. Where
ever there are six or seven hundred thousand
people such people as the world contains in
this age there must and will be a considerable
number of downright " hard cases " many hard
" cases " and a larger number of " cases," of
various kinds than could be described conven
iently in a letter. In a congregation of such a
number of " humans " cooped up within the
limited " brick and mortar " boundaries of a
city crimes of all shades, from the brutal
" knock-down-and-drag-out " murder, to the
more refined swindle and forgery will necess
arily abound. Therefore is New York in these
matters no worse than many other cities of like
dimensions and population : while if we take
into consideration the apparent impunity with
which in many instances villiany and roguery
are practiced here, comparison with the certainty
of its punishment elsewhere, we shall find that
in criminal statistics, it is much better than some
of less pretensions in regard to size and num
ber of inhabitants.
Having for years resided in the country
both on this continent and in Europe and
having more than once gone " down to the sea
in ships," we have experienced all the delight
ful feelings inspired by such a life. Who does
noc remember the beautiful works of Thomp
son " through the neighboring fields the eower stalks,
With measured step ; and liberal throws the grain
Into the faithful bosom of the ground :"
Or who that has enjoyed the delights of a rural
life, cannot enter into his feelings, when he ex
claims :
" Hence let me haste info the mid-wood shade.
Where scarce a sunbeam wanders through the gloom ;
And on the dark green grass, beside the brink
Qf haunted stream, that by the roots of oac
Rolls o'er the rocky channel, lie at large,
And sing the glories of the circling year."
Where is the human being who has rode
O'er the glad waters of the deep blue Bea"
whether in calm or storm, and has not felt
himself lifted up, above, and beyond the reach
of the grosser elements of mundane life ? Who
that has dreamily gazed into the glorious azure
depthgof the Mediteranean, under the benign
influence of a meridian noon when scarce the
passing zephyr stirred the sails. Or who that
has encountered a terrific gale on the foggy
banks of Newfoundland, when the half disman
tled bark had to fly before the rushing tempest,
ike the frisrhtened fawn before the bellowing
honnds. Who, we repeat, that has viewed the
beauties of nature, and the " warrings of the
elements" under such circumstances as we have
faintly endeavored to describe, has failed to be
impressed with ideas, and emotions, unknown
to those whose misfortune it has been to be all
their lives " cribbed, cabined and confined,"
within the narrow limits of an over-crowded
city ? Will it be denied that
" He plants his footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon tjie storm ?"
Far different my friend, are the feelings en
gendered in th minds of those who have for
years, many from childhood, engaged in "the
battle of life," in a large city. There, art takt-s
the plaoe of nature the mode of life is ficti
tious and all the better principles of man lie
dormant, or at least are only partially develop
ed, in a favored few, who can steal from the
demands of their occupation, a short time in
the sumnvr, for that relaxation and recupera
tion which only the beautiful country or the
open sea, with all the real freedom, to be there
realized, can bestow ; to be again covered up,
buried, during the ensuing eleven months ' of
the year, by the heart-wearing, brain-racking.
soul-subduing drnderery entailed upon those
who are doomed to have their brows wrinkled,
and their energies prematurely crushed, in the
strife for bread in a large city.
.Landed be the name ot the man, or monster,
whoever he was, who discovered the last gift
in tne bottom ot the box ol old l'andora I
With all our trials, troubles, and toils ; with
all our sins, our sorrows and our worldly spec
ulations, Hope forsakes us not to the last, its
anchor is ever before us, and we hrpe, however
vainly, and however long it may be in realiza
tion, that we may yet," lay moored " in some
secure haven in the lovely country, in safety
from the rough blasts, of closely packed, and
phantom pursuing humanity by which we are
,at present surrounded ; when we can again en
gage in such a scene as Scott describes, when
he says :
" Up rose the sun o'er moor e nd mead ;
Up with the sun rose Percy Rede ;
Brave Keeldar, from his couples freed,
Career'd along the ica ;
The palfrey sprung with sprightly hound,
As if to match the gamesome hound ;
Ilis horn the gallant huntsman wound ;
They were a jovial three
But hark ! the Bell 1 Fire ! One
! The
first District ! Wc must break off our
feet epistle, and return from our aerial
and castle building, to scenes in our every day,
and night, life ; from the contemplation of
what may never be, to that which wc know
exists. Fire cap, shirt, and boots is now the
word, and so for the present farewell 1
BIX.
P. S. Just returned. The fire was i: the
Bowery. The ' Odeon," has been totally des
troyed its upper story has long been a " hell."
A little less inquity in Gotham. D.
From the Standard.
The Harrington Iron Ore upon the
Upper Cape Fear.
It is some time since I called the attention-
of the public to this locality of iron. It was
described as a rich and valuable ore, and re
garded as an addition to the resources of the.
State for the manufacture of iron ore. Speci
mens from the richest part of the bed were an
alyzed and found to be free from any injurious
substances as sulphur and posphorus. There
are many remarkable points connected with
this ore which are quite worthy of attention.
The silex, for example, is diffused through the
ore in very fine particles and is never excessive
in quantity. It is unlike the New York ores,
which contain the silex in a coarse condition
and frequently in so large a quantity that it
has to be washed. The centre of the bed is
a nearly pure oxide, as it appears from my first
analysis, but towards the outside of the bed or
vein it becomes magnesian and calcareous.
Now the presence of maganese, though it is
not contained in the best of iron or steel, is
still important and contributes some way or
other to the production of the best kinds of
iren and steel. Thus the Hoematites of Salis
bury county and other localities on this range
of ores, are associated with magancse ; and the
iron has been nsed from time immemorial for
the manufacture of rifle and gun barrels by
government, on account of its softness, as well
as toughness. The best of English cast-steel is
prepared by adding maganese in the propor
tion of about two per cent. It is supposed that
maganese is important in the production of a
proper slaig, by which the iron is purified and
rendered tough and malleable.
Now the Harrington ore is found naturally
mixed with the oxide of maganese, and hence,
the probability that this bed will become one
of the most valuable in the southern States for
the production both of steel and iron of the
best quality. The ore itself appears to the eye,
as if it would be refractory and difficult to
work, but its composition shows the contrary.
This bed being the largest in the United States,
renders it possible to select that quality of ore
which may be desired for any special purpose ;
and being also, upon both sides of the river and
easily accessible, the place bids fair to become
one of the most important manufacturing points
in the South, or upon the Atlantic slope. For
puddling, this ore will also command a high
price, for it is perfectly suited in its composi-
tion and texture for this kind of furnace.
In conclusion, I may remark, that were there
no other kinds of ore, or no other products of
j ths property could afford to make the river
navigable up to this point, in order to secure
the cheap transportation of iron and steel ore
to the markets of the world.
K. EMMONS,
Geologist to N. Carolina.
Sudden Death. Mr. Foster Hale, the In
ventor of raised letters for the use of the blind,
fell down dead on a pavement in Selma, Ala.,
November 26th. Upon his person was found
a prayer-book, in which his name was written,
and dated " Buford Co., N. C, July 16th,
1856."
Ex-President Pierce proposes to pass the
winter at Naples and the Island of Capri, and
in the 6pring to visit Home. Mrs. Pierce is
still an invalid.
Gold Oee. Our friend. Woodward Allen,
Esq., of Spartanburg District, showed us, last
week, a specimen of gold ore found on his plan
tation, near Cedar Springs. From this speci
men, we would judge that the vein is a rich one.
Greenville (S. C.J Patriot, Dec. 21.
4