Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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! ' ' ' ' .:? . - . " ' i P $2 per annum. ^ffsxzrz ?v;p~vxxsx ik, ?... w?. in advance NEUTRAL IN POLITICS?DEVOTED TO LTERARV, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, GENERAL AND LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. VOLUME IV. LANCASTER. C. H? SOUTH CAROLINA. WEDNESDAY MORNING. JUNE G, 1855 NUMBER 17 flDlPTATAT I name of this notorious coachman, but will I is nothincr rcmnrknhln in il.n ??i *? > ?... . ... i uiuumaij. For the Lancaster Ledger. SKETCHES OTA TRIP TO FLORI DA, Ac ? BT AN INVALID. It is not that we fancy our own pecu Y liAr style of diction, that we, "in thecoura of human events," offer our scribbling t< the pages of your interesting periodica but at the solicitation of a few distant am r unforgottcn friends. | "NVay down on the Suwanee River, or thereabouts, wo were highly pleased t . _.:.k V? ... - UCVI mm jour pnper, nuu (IIUI Hint I wns disseminating its truths and figli among those where our thoughts nre turn ing ever and anon. It wns there to u like meeting with nn old and tried friend among strangers in a strange Sand-like i cooling stream to starving pilgrims in i desert place. We left our present whereabout on tin 22nd of January, for the Innd of "dower and ever green," where "perpetual sum mer reigns, Acu," to try the effects of tlia salubrious ami genial dime, upon our frui and dilapidating system. The first da; or two were passed off in gloom and mef ancholv, travelling, (we left our better-hal behind) to the scenes of our child hood old homo stead, ' "Where at.inds the old oak tree, Majestic grand as ever." Thence to Camden, where we met will the "iron horse," for which we ecxhangei our nohle and able Monroe. We wil mention that our comrade was a young man of good moral habits, affable, and m times quite vivacious, and witha',this wa? his debut. There was nothing remarka hie from C imden to Charleston, only out friend thought the "steam horse" moved on rather briskly. In consequence ofsoim detention on the Railroad, we did not ur rive at the Metropolis of tho Palinoitc State, till after the time for the leaving ol the "Carolinian," and consequently had to take quarters in the city from Satur 'ay until Tuesday, P. M. Lodgings tolerably pleasant. The only tiling worth record ing, (or that we deem prudent.) during our soj .urn in Charleston, (Merchant'? Hotel,) is, our chuin lost his cap, on which account he scratched his bead a little comically. The kin i and hospitable host, however, toon had hiin fixed for traveling with an old fashioned "two-story," bellcrown IJcavcr. Tuesday, 3 1-2, T. M. We embarked for Florida, nboard the gallant little steamer Florida, rode trium phantly over the raging billows of the Ur'ny deep. The trip wm made in the usual time. Our Host, Cnpt. Stewart, i? a mo*t pleasant and Admirable gentleman who with others, caused us to have rather m pleasant and interesting little voyage. We were struck with the size and magnificence of the St. John's Uiver. We would think this river of sufficient calibre to bear up abovo its majestic waters a vessel of almost any known dimensions Width, from one to three miles. 'Twould seam that this beautiful sheet cf water i* rather a succession of Lakes, making s grand and useful stream. There was no thing vary striking or proposing about any of tha towns or villagos on our track to Palatka. Jacksonville is a place ol considerable business, and public resort foi invalids. The day we stopped there wai rather cold, dark and gloomy, conacqontly we were not very favorably impressed with its appearance as a suitable place foi our business. Pikilata is as good as no place. We arrived at Palatka on the last night in January, where we debarked and quite a cold night it waa?aaid t< have been the coldest weather rinre the winter of '35, when so much orange beau ty and fragrancy were destroyed. Twiu aaid there wae ice 1-2 inch thick, a most rare and unheard of thing in the land oi " flowers." There seems to be quite a spirit of im provement at Palatka. In consequent of an almost daily correspondence bctweei that and the Charleston and Savannal wharves, it it generally a thronged ant business like place. \Ve there met witli our old and eateemed friend, C. A. Price, who b engaged aaooe of the "Ilooorabh Bar," when not upon his editorial duties. Charlie has as need tha Bun" to shim with more cogency and brilliancy, in tb< dissemination of knowledge, and the eon sequent giving back of ignorance, gloom incivility, Ac., which are common to al fresh countries. Wa wish him great sue case, and a very nice and good wife, whwl yon know, Mr. Editor, would conduce * rr decidedly to hi* happiness, and per clianee to hia stock of Mg?oda and chat tels." Putnam CO., East Florida, Feb. 1st. We loft lids place the dav after arriving It We, in quite a rung b and nnenneh had 11 \ drawn by bar as poor and laqf borsos a yon generally see. The teamster was on. of tboee %>ol hardy' sort of men,-?li*. the "beet hack," the fastest horses, oou!< drive faster over the palmetto roots, jol V yon harder nnd charge you higher?am \ onr friend A. D. J. (whom we had th pleasure of mooring at FnUtka) said li con Id tell the biggest , and the nun of them. We do not like to deal in iudi tidu ililicfl, therefore we withhold th remark that in the illuminative of East i Florida, he serves as a wick, and acts or l = is acted upon as a wire, in corresponding 1 with, or sending out news into the interi- ! - or. Wo rode out to Orange Springs, the l next place of any note after our depart- 1 uro from Palatka, through a poor, sterile, 1 pine, level, sandy, palmetto country.? Putnam County is generally poor, hut we 1 I. saw some as fine hammock lauds in the e north western portion ot this county, as I 3 we saw while in the "ever green land." < |t Orange Springs is a place of considcra 1 -1 ble notoriety, as a resort for not hern in- < valids particularly. Wc saw many pale t " faces, emaciated bodies, ?kc., there. Ex- i u perioiicc has taught invalid's laboring un- i t der pulmonary nfTections, that this is not f t the place for them, agreeing better with 1 i- dyspepties and other valetudinarians.? < s We did not remain long enough to try 1 | the effects of the water, location, etc., in s K our own case, believing, as we did, that a 1 * sojourn of any length, would prove rather detrimental than otherwise. We tried a t ?. 1 ' - " ' e uraiigm 01 mc water, but did not find it > so strongly impregnated with sulphur as i . wo anticipated. The ground is very pret- * t ty. snndy, level, pine and palmetto growth, t 1 having everv indication of a cleanly, pleas- {. f Hiit and healthy location. The acco-n- f laudations are very good, reputed to he ? f one of the hest hoarding houses in East f t Florida. You may hoard ihero a w hole ' month for ahout $42. We traveled from the Springs to Micanopy, in Aluelnia t county. This is a small village, situated s ujkiii a beautiful sand-bed, and isimprov s i ing by the industry of Good, Wight, and c I others. We car not speak very much s I praise for the citizens generally of MicanJ opv, because, gentlemen, you remember ? I that you allowed Mr*. II n to walk 1 i from your village, when you might have t done better. We hope you will not he a r so remiss and ind-tferent, hereafter. We | I have some old triends there, and made t > new ones, whom we c* ecm very inuch in- n deed. Thcte are some fine lauds iu the vicinity of Micanopy. Mr. M. C n li f formerly of Lancaster, farming near, or at n I least in tome three or four miles of said o ' village, is one tlmso model farmers, irwtk- is ' ing 8500 to each hand, cotton only taken * into the account. Wo kinder made a 1 ; circumvolutions here, and perambulated a o i sandy road of somo fifteen miles, to the il i settlement of little Orange Lake. We li i suspect Cousin M , you have not t i forgotten Mr. II. "lie careful to enter o ; tain strangers, for thereby some have en- A tertaiucd Angels unawares." 1; Our sojourn in East Florida was of some f six weeks duration, the most of which ti time was spent in Alachua, Marion and 'li Putnam. t i There has Wen so much written upon I i the subject of the "sunny south," climate, 1 > Ac., that wo are rather disinclined to the n > task. c Climatic.?We wore to some degree t disappointed respecting the temperature, n I uniformity, Ac., of the climate, found il t i more fluctuating, vicissitudes more sudden I i and powerful,?certaiu diseases more li > common, such as catarrhal fevers, pneu- a . monia, etc., than we had had reason to v I anticipate. Tho past winter was, how o > ever, ns has been mentioned, an uncom- p \ monlv severe one. We arc very well sat- I isfitd, no.withstanding, that East Florida I it prcferrable to a more northern and flue- d ; tuating one, for persons of pulmonic com- ii f plaints, whether acquired or hereditary, c There are other classes of disease* which s > might he equally benefitted by a sojourn I or removal in ilmi />nn?i?? ~? - ?- .w ...... vwmmmj. V/UI vw II V I health was improved while there, but wo t do not feel disposed to give all the credit f< to the climate, believing as we do, that t change of water, (lime generally,) diet, s mode of living, scenery, eU\, brought about v changes both in body and mind saluta- b ry and conducive to our health. In ma- c ny diatricta periodical or miasinalic diseas- d es are more rife than we had supposed, <1 I but we are convinced that diseases inci- ii } dent to that country are generally more f mild, not so maliginant as they present t themselves farther north. c i We are not dis|>osed to think that onr g i health was permanently improved, neitli- n i er do we think that a temporary sojourn t I would be of decided advantage to hut the i few est number of pulmonary invalida, un, leaa the change to their nativo air, or ro 3 turn to thef'old homestead be made very ? cautiously. c t Aokicclti-kc.?The only decided ad- c i vantage Florida, aa a State, has over oth era is its adaptation to the growth of the I , "long staple. ^Nearly everything is "long 11 nn|nr, apr m?pig conon," lolljj upWM - tunes," lit lis Mid "short staple relig- I I ion." The best hammock land* in Marion 1 - county, Alachua, Columbia, Ac., A<\, will 1 produce front flOO to 1000 Ibe. per acre, f A hand may make just aa much aa he l can gather, and a brisk hand may pick < 100 It*, per day, which ia at least one t ( half as much as can he gathered in our i f country. Now thiseotton is always worth t s three tunes as much as our short staple ; f e an we contend that the um? farmer can ? I make at least one third more, by making \ 1 cotton there, on no. 1 land, than here on I t the same land. First rate pine land will I produce from 500 to 800 It*, of cotton ! a per acre. Second rale pine lands, from e 800 to 500. The pine lands we may < >t compare in the Mine way to our lanla, 1 i- and the difference made In the first com- < c p irison ? ill hold good throughout. There I I "e* \ > > iiV.j? 4 D ... ..... ...? Ul 01 small grain,?we suppose we might make or that about an arerage State; 'tis said hi lioweTcr, that wheat does not do well.? m Sugar grows very well in Florida. We wi thought the cane very good, quite succu- id lent ana well tasted. We became very nc fond of chewing the cane, and thing it tgreed with us very well. It is said to of be a very wholesome diet for asthmetics. an We perceived that we expectorated more to freely, and felt less stricture about the hn best, while using it. The most of the on Winers make their own sugar for home pe ronsutnption. The syrup is fine, superior pa ,o any we had ever used. Potatoes large wl ind sweet. Peaches are quite superior, m io worm ever known. Apples do not fc< lourish well. The orange, pine-apple, "\\ jannna, citron lemon, guava, indeed most all )f the fruits of tropical climes flourish in th Florida. Garden vagetables of various co korts, melons, Ac., Ac., grow luxurient fe< yOrasok Grovks.?Oranges grow large pa ind delicious. We do not recollect to Ki lave seen a moro beautiful and interest- br ng sight, that the cool and inviti ig shade an een on our visit to an ornnge grove. The tai reos were so clustered as to shade the rrolind heuentli llmm "I""-' ~ ?1 n.nivofc , Cll brming n most lovely and gorgeous bow- roi r. The leaves were of a deep rich green Ja lowers beautiful, filling the air around on villi a sweetness, most grateful to wearied mi >nd admiring visitors. Super-add to this in ho fragrant and golden fruit, so large Sji iiul plump, and we have a place nnd int cenery the beauty and sweetness of which de an only bo known and realized by being als ecn. foci l'asst, Mel 1'assi. wl The sour, bitter-sweet and China or wi< inge all grow luxuriously in East Florida, acl ['he former are indigenous, the latter cul a 1 ivatcd, and made to yield and flourish in< idinirablv. The hitter sweet is largo and no alatable. The sour are not so pleasant iti? 0 the taste, but make a delicious orange as 1 le. Fh Camk, <f*c.? Florida abounds with as akes, sinks, mound*, gopher hill*, sain- su| naiulcr holes, (to., (the description given "cl f gophers and salamanders, by natural- ow sts, does not correspond with the repre- or nutations of Floridians, or vice versa).? tin 'crimps no country has a greater vnrietv tor f fishes. Notwithstanding the multiplie- cia Ly of lakes, you can scarcely put your me iook where you will not get a ''bite;" lag hey (the fish) have, we judge, subterane- floi us pass-ways from one lake to another, sin Ve saw some huge alligaters in those tor ukes, and the sportsmen have some fine litt mi after tlieiu. A. S. Carolinian, (Joe,) in riounted upon the hack of one and rode rci litn Iriuphanlly, amid shouts and fears, yoi o the water's edge nnd dismounted.? vai lather a scaly ride that, don't you think? pic "hose "rough hewn" creatures are very lumerous in Florida. Their predominent sal haracterislic*, seeins to he their great anipathy for the canine tribe. Those tin iiounds are rather mystical. Tis said 1 hey are full of Mead men's bones."? for lislory, we think, d>>es not give much ight on the subject. Indian tradition, era nine have said, explained their existence, rhile others say they are ignorant of their coi rigin. JVrhapA the bone* of a race of tin eople that inhabited Florida prior to thu ine ndians. cot Came is very plenty, deer, turkeys, sal lucks, indeed animals of various tribes, I nnocent and voracious, herbivorous and oui arnivorous?birds of many feathers, and aw omo of the most beautiful plumage.? be; Florida, then, you may conclude, is the tcr ountry for sportsman, lie may shoot do he bounding buck, chaise the cunning cot ox, or walk oui and bring in u large, fat j urkcy, or resort to the wide spread and ' pU ky-bluo lakes, and there load his steed m> rills ducks, and geese, or if you please, Th ie may go to tho scrub (Bcaruic) and aff ncounter the more wild, vigorous and fas langerous quadrupeds, as the bear, tiger, mi fc- <t. Indeed the lover of hunting, fish- int ng, the curious, florist, etc., may al-vays du ind something to amuse him or hei in tlx hat interesting land. The general aspect pii ?! Florida is |?oor, not prepossessing. The m< growth is pine, palmetto, <?\\, with now nv ind then a rich hammock, or prairie, with Kr be "scrub," or shrubbing, all of which an- an wer some fine and lucrative end. pr< Tlie country is level, and generally go peaking rather inonotinous, but ever and he inon, something of a romantic or pictnrisque character which tends to keep "dull m< are away." by The citizens are generally hospitable, la< rind, intelligent and enterprising. There an ir? those, however, in Florida, who still ra M?st that tho people from the "old coun- Tl rWs carry tho cold weather with 'em."? hii Hiere is no doubt but that the climate of Florida has changed materially withiu a th: ew years past; much colder winters now tic han formally. Now, whether this change in] >f temporature i? owing to agriculture, or ny o the hypothesis, the variations of the nagnctic (tote, or yet to some unknown wj heory, we will not hazard an opinion.? m Similar change* have taken place in some ni< ?f the European countries, and the re* th rerae aeetna to have been the fate of Ire- th land. to We had the pleasure of attending a Ai marriage feast, while ta the honeyed hand. w< Dm party took place at the bouse of an wi >ld Lancaster friend, and yon inav be aura rij wo enjoyed it just aliout right We were ta ilnick with bat one or two features in the or wlude aronc. One was "salute jot r brido h< r. wrooin. - wc presume tlio fashion, custom, to be rather popular, for it took to "hot cakes there. If we arc not istnken, that was the fourth daughter edded since our friend's removal to Flor a. Young ladies can marry there, and it half try. After spending some five or six weeks reconnoisance in Alachua, etc., having i area of some fifteen or twenty miles rove upon, we again packed tip our ibiliments for south western Georgia.? ir style of traveling prior to this new exdition, was rather pedestrial. Alter irting w ith many kind, very kind friends liose memory we shall ever cherish, we adc our way on northward, for the first * hours, rather in the noctuary season, 'e remember at least, darkness prevailed I nromul ntwl niip f ... - , .-..V. WMI VIHIVI fnnurivu irwill e path of right and rectitude. You relied, Hen, you had to get down and d for our pathway. On our journey from A1 talma up, we used over the Natural Bridge, on Saute ver, perhaps about half mile above the idge, or road, the waters disappear, d rise again below, about the same dis tire. Nownansville, the county site of Alalia, is the next place of business on our ute. Not much improvement going on. spcr, Alligator, Belli ille, d'e-, arc places our way side, none of which were of jch interest. We stopped a few days Columbia County, near the Lower rings, on Suwance Kiver. That in an eresling county,?lands good and in mand. The Upper Springs are h.andj, o, Sulphur, rte. The Lower springs, iich we visited, is strongly impregnated th sulphur,?can appreciate the charleristic smell a half mile or more. 'Tis >old and gushing fountain, running imnliately into the River. Tltis Spring is w neglected with everythingappertainf. Wo hero bought us a steed known Suwannee, and a one horse hack, or >rida buggy, known in by-gone days, a one horse cart. Now you might [>pose from this point up to Baker, we icwed our own tobacco," rodo in our n "cart," while none dared "molest us make us afraid." We do not recollect it anything transpired that would inest you particularly, during our assotion with "Suwance," however, will >nlion while passing through the vil ;e of , Ca.,? a very pretty and limbing place, by-the-by,?we were artly annoyed at an interlocution which >k place between our comrade, and a le townsman. Our O. was sitting up our "one horse cart," with Suwanee gned up about right, looking about, u know, with considerable interest at rious objects, such tilings as tall stec'S, <f'C. Townsman.?"What vou got for e!" Oui Comrade.?(Biting bis lips) "have it." Townsman.?"I say sir, what you got sale?" Our hero again responded with consul ible dignity, "y-e s." By this time wo came up, and the nedy was ended. Now the moral of j 5 scene is the beauty of it. He imaged our companion had potatoc slips, ' s'-peas, or something of the sort, for e. Some eight or ten days after leaving r friends "down south," we arrived safe d sound in Baker County, wo have anl so often spoken of. This south wesn Georgia is lieyond a shadow of a ubt, a most interesting Agricultural intry. We spent some eight or ten days very asantly indeed, with many very ostiible frie .ds, both in old and new Baker, e citisens there are sociable, intelligent, able, kind, moral, pious, industrious, hionahle, indeed, possess all those adrable qualities which alone make up an elligent society. The lands are proctivc, easily brought into cultivation, sn easily cultivated. Lands are level, 10 growth generally. Farmers are ?rc systematic man oruinnry,?cultivate >re land to the hand than common.? otn 20 to 30 acres to each hand, 23 on average |N?rhaps. Honda are fine, imDvemeiiU good, churcliea convenient, od schools, and any quantity of fine, arty looking children. We had the pleasure of attending a vet interesting parly, in Albany, given onr esteemed friends, Dr. J and If. We enjoyed ourself very much, d had the pleasure of seeing a fine ar yoflieauty, intelligence and fashion.? te Dr. is doing a fine practice. We wish m great success. There is great need of a Railroad in at portion of Georgia, as well as por>ns of Florida. Americus is a flourishg town,?some 40 inih-s north of Alba , the terminus of the 8. W. R. It. We left that interesting country. Su inee and the cart, and came on to Aericus by privato conveyance, accompaed by a particular friend?P J, ence by Railroad aped home via Ogle rope, Macon, Angusta?all interesting wns in the Ktateof Georgia?Hamburg, iken, Praachville, Camden, <?e., where s once more had the pleasure of meeting itli our "able and noble Monroe," and (hi glad we were, because we felt oerin that ho would soon bring ue back to ir "better half," friends, home?"tweet huo"?C. K Ccllege. p \vo are happy to inform you, fiiendt and patrons generally, that on our returi to the College, we found it in quite i nourishing condition, and that the young ladies had enjoyed almost uuinterruptec health during the present session. A1 things are, and have been, (during th< present term) moving on harmoniously Tho President,, Faculty, and Trustees (with a few exceptions of the latter class,) seem to have but one aim and desire, viz; the good and prosperity of the Institution, The Presid *nt is the same untiring and equable gentleman. The Faculty, with out exception, are gentlemen and ladies, well calculated to fill their respective sta tions. The Steward and associates arc agreeable, and conduct affairs to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, we presume. Mr. Tyson, the Proprietor of tho "Carolina Honse," is the same indefatigable person. Ilis very commodious building is in a fair way for completion. It presents a large and fine exterior, and no doubt wbeu bo gets bis furniture from tho North that all things will be fixed off "decent ami in order." It is expected that his ta bio will be almost heard to groan beneath the fat things of the land, during the Annual Commencement week?the 4th o! Juno. Provisions will be mado for all old and young, male and female; and no doubt all those who attend tho forlhcom ing Commencement, will be highly please?l, and induced to "do so again." Patrons, no doubt, will be delighted at the proficiency made by their healthful and roseate looking daughters, whose merry laugh fill the campus with music. Young men, a feast for you. moat rare, ocular I mean. Young ladies, beaux enough if you only cotne. Since our return home, ourself and better half have moved to the backwoods. Gould's Fork, N. C. May 1 1, 1855. MISCELLANEOUS." [From the Home Journal. White House Honor due the Press. If President Pierce and his lady wore to invite the "leading Editors" to the White House, and, in presence of the Cabinet and Foreign Ministers, kneel and lie a garter upon their several legs, it woul I be a corresponding act?as to personages, time ly propriety and reasons?to the cereino ny recently performed on I.onis Napoleon's left leg, bv Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,* The conferring of the Order of the Garter, is, in other words, the recognition o/ new and increasing consequence. Tiie Piikbs, just now being recognised as the Power to be done honor to, as England is doing honor to France, might properly receive i'.s decoration on the left legsofscv eral of our brother Editors. Wo have been struck with three aim ultancous and very far apart recognitions of the growing ascendancy of the Press? one from the Gulf of Mexico, one from Albany, and the third from the Pritish House of Parliament. One of the fine generalizing articles of the Southern Time* (the paper just started by some ablo wri ters, in Alabama,) thus opens a leader, with the heading, " Where is oik iikst mind ? " It is certiinly not in politics. .There can be but one opinion on this point. Parlies, whatever he their names, principles and objects, have-so far perfected thcii machinery as to dispense with the service of their ablest men. Talent is not so necessnry as it once was to their success, because shrewdness has taken the place ol statesmanship, and management has supplanted genius. Thero i* yet anothci reason. Availability has become a potent watchword. The test of availability in wuat a man h relations to the public arc?not what lie in in mind, chaructei ami fitness for office. Availability is n transfer of tiie maxim '? thing it irort/i xnh'it it will bring" into political ethics It is a grand financier, competent to do an orerw helming business on a small capital It values a man precisely as we value i horse?for the load he can draw alter him Rut there are other reasons for the da cline of Statesmanship. The America! People are beginning to cherish an idea that there is a self-working power in theii institutions, and that government will t*k< care, of itself. Then, too, newspapers ar< discharging some of the former offices o statesmen. Kuitoks are the giik.vt cos uhkss or ot'a lard, and the advisory out side cabinet of Presidente.n And thus discourses, to the samo mus ie, the able editor of the Albany Argus: 44 In the United States thcro is not i more faithful guardian of public interest than the public journals; and much as ii the freedom of the press abused in ou country by libellous and unprinciplet sheets, yet it were better that such an o vil should be tolerated than that the free dom of the press should be destroyed?fo though there are many libellous and tin principled journals extant, yet their infiu cnoo is small. In Kngland the nrwe 'a pern wieUfn poteerjul inffntner, but it ie < eecondary one. Parliament?not publi journals?governs public sentiment. "Fifteen or twenty years ago, Congrea ruled public opinion. With such men a Webster, Calhoun, Clay, Wright, and j host of other brilliant minds composing it [ i ?that body was the cmbodiement of tlie i public sentiment. Public journals were r made subservient to congressional opinion; I their course was influenced, if not controllI ed, by Representatives in Congress; and > so far from being independent of congress . ional influence, the public press was look, ed upon as a inero secondary organ?a I sort of helpmeet to Congress and Congress : men. " Hut the press is no longer a mere | mouth pieee for members of Congress; it is fulfilling a higher, a nobler destiny.? ( Congress no longer rules public opinion. . The brilliant talent which was in Congress . ! in 184 0 is not there now; the giants intel i . leets that for the time being gave our National Congress a character for dignity, brilliancy of talent and for? nsic eloquence, i . second to 110 such other assembly the world ever saw, have nearly all passed away, I i and their places been filled by men, too , many of whom are poorly calculated for i the position they hold. And even had i not Congress degenerated in point of tab l ent, it could not lead public opinion at the I present day. The influence Congress once w ielded has departed from that body, and is now centered in the public journals of f the day. Instead of being made subscr- 1 vient to the wishes of the few, they now control the opinions of the many. The election of our Senators and It pros 1 ontntives is dependent in no s'ight degree 1 i 11 [ion me course pursued by I ho public i proas. Congress is no lunger the infalli- i (>!e body it once was ; its acts aro either i condemned or approved by the public I journals; and this condemnation or appro- i val is the voice of the public. < " Hut, irhifr Conyress has been deyenc < rating, the public press has been constant* ly improving in tone ami talent, and, in a few years, journalism is destined to be the prof. ssion in the United States. As it is . the organ of the jtcoplc, the people will have the ablest talent to represent their interests; and such journals only will be supported as are edited with ability, and are faithful to the interests of the peop'e. \Y e repeat, the American press is fulfill- 1 iuy a high awl noble destiny; it has a bril liant future before it. In a few years, those who are illiterate and unqualified, w ill be compelled to resort to something else as a moans of maintenance, and American journalism?calling to its support the ablest talent in the country?will he the etnl>odim-nt of the intellectual iccalth of the United States." "Secondary" though be the Press in England, (as stated above), it has just received the first formal recognition of its wax of power, by an assault ajton it in a Parliamentary d>bate. One of the first men of the present school of Knglish poli ticians, Mr. Urummond, commenced a speech in tiro House of Commons by declaring that be rose to "address a body of , the most devout idolaters"?that the panegyrics of the Press which he had heard from other memheis was "base adulation of a power which the speakers dared not resist"?and that otie of the Honorable Members had even declared that it was "better worth while to read a page of the Times than to read the whole of Thucydides." " It was his firm opinion, how1 ever, that the Press, instead of being the greatest glory and advantage to the couni try, was one of our greatest curses." Mr. Drummotid made a long arid eflfec tive speech to the same purport, to which ! the Times and other London papers as ef- ! feetively replied. *3 he reader will tin*! the ' whole matter in the columns of Tiie Albion (the place to find every good thing ' in current Knglish literature and news), and to that we refer the reader. The subscribers to the Home Journal ' are a class to be suggested to?not to bo expatiated for. The above subject "opens up," and we could say much alwaut it; but the reader has the {material, and will go on where wc leave oft'?allowing us simply the honor, however, (wo beg to claim) of having blown the first trumpet f?>r the 1 duos to our brotherhood's left leg at Wash1 ington. 1 * In the long description given in the for' eign journal* of the contVriing of tlio Order 1 of the Carter on Louis Napoleon, it i* said: "The King at Arms, kneeling, then pres. - en ted the Garter to Ihe Queen : and Her i Majesty, < ssisted by Prince Albert, buckled it upon the knee of the Kinperor." i An Amorous Aeronaut * A late French journal relates the following well-invented story, which, it will " be seen, is French all over:?"While * Mons. Godard was filling an immense balloon in the Champ do M irs lie amused I the spectators by sending up the small figure of a man, the j>erfoct semblance of i M. Thiers without spectacles. The little ft man being filled with gas rone majestia cally into the air, nn<l was soon lost to r view among the clouts. His adventures I which became known the next day were curious. Thanks to a strong and favorai ble gale, which impelled him on his r course, the little balloon-man arrived the same afternoon in the sight of a fine country house in the neighborhood of i- Biovro. It was near the h^ur of dinner a and tho lady of the mansion, who naluc rally thought herself perfectly safe, was occupied in the mysterica of her toilet, a It was a warm day, and site had opened a one of the windows which looked out a upon the park, and was safe from any prying eves. While tranquilly engaged, l?v the assistance of a corset-lacing, in reducing her waist to a size and shape that would reflect credit on her husband's ta-te, site was suddenly startled by a blast of wind, followed by a strange noise and immediately the casement was thrown open, and our little balloon-man entered her chamber unannounced. The lady utters a crv of terror, and throws a shawl over her shoulders. The little man, driven by tbe wind, throws himself tij on the ui happy woman, who screaming louder than ever, pushes him off" and he conceals himself under the bed. Just as the wife, in a supplicating voice, says to this novel lJon Juan, 'Abr Monsieur, go away, or you will ruin me!' the husband furiously rushed in. crying, 'All, tlio wretch, I have him now!' ainl goes in search of his sword to run him through the body. The wife, more dead than alive reiterates, in the midst of sobs, 'Fly, fly, Monsieur, and save me the sight of a dreadful1 tragedy.' The husband arrives, armed to the teeth, followed l>r the wholo household, who seek to mollify his anger. While two of his friend ? hold the husband, a tlrird stooping down, perceives our little friend, who, for good cause, utters rot a word, and, catching him by ilie leg, draws him forth from his Concealment, w hen lo, Monsieur Balloon, no longer held down by the bedstead, raises liiin-elf erect, swells out, and raises majestically to the ceiling, to the immense amusement of the spectators, while llie poor jeal? us husband slinks away, sword and all. hcartly ashnied of his :auseless wiath." HUMOROUS. ; Courtship. Jennie sighed, and Robin scir.ed her l'rctty little trembling hand. T henwitli out-strctchcd arm he seized Iter Half reluctant foini, and and "Loose me !*" but bo clasped the tighter? "Jennie, say, wilt thou be mine?"' Then her bright fi.ee grew inu.h blighter, Then she whispered "I am thine." Then they clasped each other fondly. Close together ?s two bricks. And they kissed each other soundly. And I left them in this fix. The following is supposed to be engraved on a tombstone somewhere : Weep, strangei, for a father spilled From a stnge-conch, and thereby killed. His name w as John Sykes, n maker of sa?sengers, Slain w ith three other outside passengers. Why is the 4 Boots' at a hotel like an editor ? Because he polishes the understandings of his patrons. "I can marry any girl 1 please," said a young fellow, boastingly. "Very true," replied his waggish companion, "fur you can't please any. "lli.l v,,.. t,.w..?" ??:.i .. - v . ... , nMvn, onul n lllllMIVg 1 HI1? kee to a Jew, "that they hang Jews and jackasses together in Portland ?" "Indeed ! then it is well that you and I are not there," retorted the Jew. " I low is your husband dear!" asked one lady of another. "O, he is in a very bad stale," was tbo reply. "And pray what kind of a state is be in persisted tbo other. "In the State Prison." After a clergyman bad united a happy pair, not long ago, an awful silence ensued, which was broken by an impatient youth exclaiming? "Pou't be so unspeakably happy 1" An exchange papers says that young gentlemen who would prosper in love, should woo geut'y. It is not fashionable for young ladies to 'take ardent fpirits.' A writer in Household Words, affirm* that there are no old ladies now-a-days; no children; no tender steaks; no good fellow#; no good book#; no aierer actor#; no good tragedies; and no old port wino. These nre declared to be "vanish*) good tiling#." An editor out west says, that he hoped to be able to present a marriage and a death, aa original matter for his columns ; but a thaw broke up the wedding, and tho doctor fell aiek, so the patient recovered. What is the difference between money and a cluster of islands in the sea f Why, 'money makes the mare go,1 and the islands make an Archipelago. Reform it an omnibus that's always just going to start.1 Moat Interesting companion*?girls is their giggl?h\<od, and boys in their booby hood.