The New York Herald Newspaper, April 23, 1844, Page 6

IN HAVANA. WRITTEN BY CHEVALIER WIKOFF. [PROM FRASER’S JOURNAL.) Havana, February, 1841. an Sis i— i ftunioss Days opportunity presenting by Don '3 going to Paris, | write to you what you never have earned through other channels, of my complete gucceas here, that goes on sull increasing. The people seem jealous of the éclat Tacquired in theUni- ted States, and are anxious that good report should be made at Paris of the cordial receptega they have given to a truant danseuse. | have fearful misgiv- , at times, that I have lastingly forfeited Pari- aian favor. I stand in greater need, then, of all the consolation my wonderful career ought to al- ford me. Notwithstanding yeur deep disappoint- ment at my non-return to Europe, yet | am persua- ded yeu are gratified at the continued good fortune ‘that follows me, em “ying its veriest treasures in my lap with prodigal hands. 1am delighted that t rave come hither, not for the extension of my renommée merely, but rather for the charm I find imevery thing that surrounds me. The sky, the elime, its luscious plants,—the people, their gene- rosity:—their hospitality—and scenes and sight: that are so novel and pleasing,—all com- bine to make my residence here indesenb- ably pleasant, and will furnish my memory with some of its most brilliant retrospections.— You would have been greatly amused last night bad you accompanied me to the opera. It was for the benefit of Mdlle. Obee, a very charming erson, greatly esteemed here; and popularity is re, above all other places, profitable to an artiste. It is the singular custom tor the beanies to sit at the public door of entrance behind a table, sup- rting some silver dishes, into which are thrown yy the comers-in such sums as their generosity prompts them to give. The sound of this is very Time than the old ones of Europe could contrive. T have never doubted that this was so, having had it on good authority, but I shull never quite believe it till I can prove it for myself, and there is little chance of that before somebody—it will be, I am sure, a Yankee—invents a plan of being tu two places at one moment. But there is no deception in this charming improvement of getting up a mag- nificent summer in mid-winter. ie at those ladies in their open volante in full dress, as is the custom of an afternoon on the Paseo. Low drese- es, short sleeves, no bonnets, a graceful mantilla supplies its place, fans in their haa roses in their hair, fire in their eyes, mischief in’ their glances, siniling soft TecoeniGons to friends and acquaint- ances. How could such things be if their toes were cold, and a earn wind was making havoc with their noses? I tell you the air is balmy, the sky serene as a good woman’s conscience, and the warmth languidly oppressive, and it is the 10th day of February, 1841. Now put away vourincreduli- ty, Thérése, and believe that all isnot profit in Ha- vana, and that one must travel not merely (8 dance and get glory, but to see and feel that which can’t be seen or felt elsewhere. On the mid-way between the vehicles are groups of horsemen, who ride badly enough, enlivened by officers in military attire, giving relief and anima- tion to the rest. “The horses, for the most part, are sorry jades. Mules are in great requisition for the volantes, and are little adapted for the work. The native horse is small, but strong and flat,with enor- mous chests and flewing tails. Suchis the “full dress” of a fashionable horse in these parts. ‘The are pretty-headed and bright-eyed, and would lool well in lithograph, If you would have grown tired of the up and down driving of the Paseo, we'll fol- low the crowd to the Tagon Garden, some very prettily lnid-out grounds enclosing the summer reei- dence of the captain governor, a couple of miles from town. first visit was rather amusing. We had descended from the volante for a walk; a beautiful moonlight night, we sauntered down an allée, that looked too inviting to resist; we pursued efiensive to us, totally habituated to another method ; and this public display of one’s self on such an occasion, and for such a purpose, seems quite intolerable. J think I could neversupport the rade gaze of the crowd, and would shrink trom guch an ordeal; but how the sight of a thing alters preconceived opinions! Mdlle. Obee sat there, amiling and bowing to her fnends as they entered, without regarding the gold they deposited, and ehatting easily with others, apparently uncons eof any awkwardness or oddity in her position, it appears far less so to me now. The truth is, ublic attention is more pointedly directed to ose Who are expected to display their gener to these } am sure the exposé must be the most tr ing, for a hum or murmur of approbation or dis- appointment usually follows any mark of liberality er niggardiiness. [| believe this usage is familiar to Havaaa;! never heard of it elsewhere. There are other features that are equally distinctive — Visits are paid to all your distinguished acquain- tances, who are especially invited to the festival; boxesare retained for them, unless the signify their inability to come; tickets are sent, also, to all the influential persons, who retain or return them With excuses; but no charge whatever is made on these occasions. There is a suspension of prices, and all is left to the discretion of the comer; tickets atthe usual pricee, are sold for those parts of the threatre where the promiscuous part of the audience go, the upper galleries, but for neither the Sunettar, or boxes; and the eye is, therefore, rarely offended by the sight of vulgar silice. Pieces of gold of various amounts display the quality and muniScence of the artiste’s aristocratic patrons.— The currency is quite a treat here, after the dirt and doubtful paper money of the “States.” It is all in solid coin of gold and silver, of various sizes and values, fractionizing fromthe “ onsa,” or doubleon beautifal coin of very pure gold); into halves, quarters, and eighths, also in gold, and easily dis- finguished. ‘The coin of silver most in use is call- ed ‘‘ paseta,” and is about the value of afranc. I am glad to say I have had opportunities. of becom- ing quite familiar with this useful material, as Don Marté presents himeelf, per agreement, every Morning succeeding the performance, with the gaid 1000 dollars, that were agreed on. ‘he bene- &tsin Havanaofthe more distinguished artistes are profitable, yielding an average of 2509 to 3000 dollars, with very small deduction for expenses. — ‘Yhere is another source that enhances the amount id more agreeable to a fine artiste than the pecuniary demonstrations,—the “ presents” that it w usual to make in private as tokens of friendly it till we found ourselves in a sweet garden, where we wandered wondering and delighted. At every turn a new and agreeable surprise; a jet d'eau; a gurgling waterfall, with its moss and grottos; we ascended terraces, sat down in arbors, wound through thick-leaved groves, and whilst astonished at our presumptuous intrusion, we wondered if it had an owner, as we saw no houee, heard no keep. ers or servants, nor the barking of some vigilant dog—all was silent and enchantingly lovely on the bright moonlight. After Wenaring around and about till we were tired, I sat down half awed b; the mysterious quiet that pervaded everything had no idea where we were, whether on public or private property, at what distance from the city, and now we had even lost the way out to our volantes. Perhaps, thinks I, we have been decoy- ed into fairy domain; and when the leaves fluttered in the evening breeze I looked round for some little elf tosummon me before herqueen. TU thought of the magical gardens in the Arabian Nights,and all the droll things and queer tricks practised on the fairy adventurers into those unknown precincts, and I really began to feel quite uneasy; such is the effect of imagination. I started to find my way out, and had not gone twenty paces before a sudden turn brought us upon a gay group of ladies and gen- tlemen, who stared at us quite strangely. I passed on as they bowed, and got out at length, to find I had been making so tree with the captain-gene- ral’sgardens. The road that connects these grounds with the Paseo is laid out with great pretention— fine trees, stone benches; but is fallen into sad con- dition, and for an odd reesou; it was constructed by George Tagon, who seems to have taken Hava- nah up by the arm pad jake into another cen- tury. He has‘ conferred inestimable benefits on the place, adorned it with noble edifices; embellished it with gardens, squares and fountains; gave secu- rity to its streets by clearing them of robbers and ‘ins; and promoted its health, comfort, and convenience in a thousand ways; and, sad to say, as is too often the case with benefactors, public and private, hated for his pains. 1 mean not to re- flect on the want of ceneronty .of native character that prevents them acknowledging theee great ben- efits, but it seems Tacon was dieliked for his high- handed energy that impelled him so far as to make him undertake and accomplish whatever seemed usefal or good unto him. Query, would he have done anv good had he acted differently? How often a true friend is forced to oblige us against our will but noble natures acknowledge the service grate fully, and Iam perauaded the Havanecos will yet erect a marble monument to Tagon, who has Jaid estcem. These depend, for their value and num- ber, altogether‘on the popularity of the artiste ; so there is a constant parclaate good behaviour and amiable deportment, that exercises a favorable in- @uence on the conduct and manners of the artistes at the Havana. Mdlle Obee was very ‘well mistained by her numerous friends ; and, besides a golden harvest at the door, she reaped whole fields of fiowers and complimentary verses on the stage. It appears there is a deal of poetic fire among Meese glowing sons of the tropics; if such heat did mot hatch poets, one might despair of the brood in wore ungenial climes. 2 I have great reason to be flattered at the high- flown effusions of tormd poesy, of which I am the favoured subject, in the papers here; poetic gar- lands, of bright and varied hue, are daily woven forme. They wreathe my heart fromthe graceful ardens of their fancy, while they heap on my ead the choicest gatherings of their rich and variegated soil. I am hardly well enough ac- quainted with their pompous, but ardent language, to judge of the merit of the former; but my deep aud long love of the latter fills me with delight as eontemplate their endless varieties and their ex- quisite Beauty Oh! how I adore flowers! My eves surfeit on them, and their delicious odours in- toxicate my other senses. My fancy is enslaved by their very purity, and musings the most agree- ahle, reveries the most exhilarating, take poe mion of me in regarding these emblems of inno- @once, these emanations of earth’s poetry. I like to see a woman fond of flowers, she must have redeeming qualties about her while she can tend and foster them,—at least, 1 must have some Sheory to defend my avowed love of them, and. eertes, T have had a lavish share of them. Would that [had numbered the splendid wreaths alone that have been showered upon me so profusely, the figures would surprise. I have cautiously put aside gach: of them as are associated with particular oc- easions, or affecting events, and I guard them with jealous care. Now and then! take them out, and gaze on their withered leaves and faded ri- bands, till my eyes fill at the recollection of the eathusiasm thet prompted these fee gifts. How manch I value them, how kindly T shall ever trea- gare them! I wish, mydear Thérése, that you were here to get with weinto one of these grotesque, yet comfortable swinging volantes, and w take a drive on one of the most charming promenades {have any where seen, hardly ex- @epting the magnificent ramparts of Vienna. But this is totally a‘different thing. Imagine yourself yest without the city walls, moving gently along on the aforesaid volante over asmooth road of upwards ofa mile in length, planted on either side with double rows of young but thriving trees, adorned ‘with graceful fountains in marble, whose trickling waters fall gratefully on the ears. At one end of the road we are just turning, yousee a very noble ditice; you mistake it fora’ nobleman’s palace.— Tmposing as is its exterior, it isdevoted to darkness and crime within: it is the Tagon Prison. In ascending you observed that this part ef the road is Your newly opened, aad as yet incomplete. A fonn- tain is erecting here, the grounds adjoining are being Laid out for ornamental purposes, and there some pretty houses are in process of erection. On Teaching the middle part of the promenade we find @nrselves opposite the main entrance to the town, witha very striking building of great dimensions Tearing its colonnade on the right. 1 look upon that, you see, with a familiar glance of recognition —that is the Tagon Theatre. We passen and find ourselves in the most beautiful portion of the Paseo. } is the favourite resort, evidently, of the crowd.— It is six o'clock, the witching hour; and now that the scorching sun of noonday has passed on his fiery course, casting back the mild radiance of his declining rays, softening the beauty of earth, and shedding a glory upon the southern skies that it is elight to look ‘upon. At this lovely hour behold every city-gate pouring forth its daily frequenters of the Paseo; the walks are crowded with gay pede: Wiss insociable converse ; while the sione bench- es, liberally provided for the loungers, are occupied by others, who calmly gaze on the panorama before thei, luxuriating in the passionate enjoyment of them under such deep obligation. But here we are back on the Paseo again, and though nine at night, we find the scene still gay— the walks animated by groups in merry chat, the cigars ot the men outshining the sparkling eyes of the fair dames, the incessant rattle of whose co- quettish fans gives notice, like the generous rattle- snake of the States,of the danger approaching with- in the pale of their fascination. Really itis plea- sant thus ona soft, bright nightin June—no, Feb- ruary—to loll ina volante and be slowly entrainée up and down this delightful promenade amidst lights, and music, and waterfalls,and lively throngs; but the drive home again is a great treat. The houses here are droll, fantastic things, certainly; of all colors, fashions and sizea; but most of them seem constructed to gratify the curiosity of strangers, for what with immense windows with- out sashes or glass, and wider doors, it must be an immense effort of good breeding that prevents your seeing what the family are about within. Itis the fashon, I observe, to arrange six or eight chairs in the middle ot the room near the window, facing each other, when all the company sit with great gravity talking with and gazing at each other. In- numerable groups of this kind one observes on passing. In other houses the family will be grouped round a table; elsewhere dancing; often discour- sing through iron-bars, that protect the windows from I don’t know what, with acquaintances stand- ing in the street. Thisisthe case usually between the young unmarried, who are kept apart in this bar-bar-ous way as under better moral restraint.— Another oddity isthe doorway, or porte, between which is almost invaribly the coach-house, for here stands the treasure, the idol of the house, the velante. And when these great doors open into the principal room of the house the volante has the best corner init. There it is, with its head up and shafts down, with a quiet, complacent look ,asthough conscious of its value, with the family group areund, under levee, and lawfully protested: trom soil or touch. The stable usually is in the court yard of the house, one side of which is furnished with a manger and sometimes a covering, for in this de- lighttul clime the latter is not indispensable. This is thus @ very close neighborhood, and a disagree- able one on many accounts, between the inmates of the house and the stable. But the natives care nothing for this; the horse, or mule, is as necessa- ry asthe volante, and both are equally favoured. Tam speaking now only of the smaller domiciles ef homely cots. There are in Havanah many man- sions of an extent and cplendor that would arrest your notice in the first capitals of Europe; the house of the Marquis d’Aleos, of Don Montalos, Counts de Penalvec and de la Recencon, &c., are as striking for their gardens as admirable for their style. But of this another time. You must be tired, Theérése, after your “drive on the Paseo,” that you must fancy you have taken with me, and I will spare you my chatter till another day. I went on Tuesday to see the Spanish company perorn as they do three times a-week, at the Salon Theatre There are some good artistes among them, imported by the indefatigable Don Marte from the mother country. In his manage- tial lists you find artistes of as different qualities and varieties as you do acquaintances in Tis real ones. Which he makes most of, the object of all his enterprises, [ don’t know ; but which he is most in harmony with, I do know. The play was in- teresting, and warmer in its action than Texpecied a Spanish drama to be; they are mostly cold and stiff'and too Castilian in their gravity; but this called forth the passions of the artistes, gave scope to the expreasion of feeling, and was etive, dra- matic, and exciting. One real incident of a dis- tressing kind called forth the painful sympathies of the audience. An actress of superior merit, the heroine of the piece, whose acting had greatly en- gaged, had the m rtune, in the energy of her movements, to overbalance, and she fell with great violence on the stage. She was instantly picked up, and removed. It was soon announced that she had broken her arm in two places, and was unable, of course, to appearagain. This damped the audi- ence for awhile; there was a long interval. I was their cegaritos. On either side of the carriage road is a string of volantes moving in opposite directions, of all shapes, colors, and pretensions; the elegantly adorned ani ailver-embossed harness of the rich noble’s “turn- 1,” tothe more unpretending one of the homely eit. Itis amusing to see the passion a Havaneco has for a volante—it weems with him the first neces- wary of life—his vademecum, his food and drink, making his life luxurious and his ambition content. ed é 18 more inthis than the mere usage, or as determining his claim to respectable competence; m truth, the climate requires this indispensable agrémen, You smile incredulously at my complaint of heat, when one should be shivering ty rights with cold. Here am I—yes, it is February—languishing under the subduing warmth of a temperature at 80 de- grees Fahreuheit; summer insects buzzing in my ears, and choicest fruits slaking myparched mouth, This is cortaialy a droll revolution of seasons that Tita me with daily wonder; I thought all such ma- gic was contined to the opera house. 1 used to be wzied in Paris when told thatthe Americans were ve hours behind us in time, and that we were anugly in bed whilst they had the evening before em. J fancied thenthese Americans were a cle. wer people, and that they even got more out of much shocked, and disposed to go away. The farce, however, followed, and IT saw evident symptoms that it was greatly relished. ‘The Havanecos seem to enjoy a farce with hearty good-humor, areal joyous prorat with its fun that sustains my no- tions of their deep good nature; every droll inci- cent and diverting turn brought out shouts «f mer- riment;_ whilst constant laughter recompensed every witty expression and playful mistake. There was one very old man, who was the marked favor- ite of the audience. fle is said to have lost much of that elastic humor and buoyant facetionsness that made him in years gone by £0 irrisistible; he still preserved his mastery, however, for a single look convulsed the house. I divined at once hischarm, or, rather, felt the spell, and saw from whence it emanated ; it was in his face—its laughter-moving power, whilst every muscle stood rigid, its penetra- ting humor, that sought mirth in_ its innermost re- cesses, were, indeed, quite yacrarenings and often, withont knowing a word he said, [ laughed as heartily as the rest. How mysterious is this gift of true comic humor; how few actors I have ever seen poasess it inall its genuine breadth and rich- ness, 1 cannot close my letter without giving you what may interest you most, some account of my thea- trical progress here, that yon have doubtless heard much of already. 1 am making great and rapid ad- pular estimation here; and, cus: tomed as I have been lately to the most boisterous tokens of admiration, there isetill something pleas- ing and exciting in the frantic applause that hails me nightly from this new people. ‘Their compli- mentary Tomage has taken a very fanciful flight indeed, butto me a really charming one. As I fin- ished a pirouette last night with singular felicity, imagine my surprise to see lighting at my very feet twa beaut ul doves,bearing a*snowy wreath,outvy- ing even theirlustrious whiteness. { accepted the of- fering from my winged messengers, but was so bar- barous as to detain them asa lawful prize. I took them up, and carried them away to my dressing- room: the house cared nothing forthe interruption; au contraire, I found my acknowledgment of the compliment gave them infinite satisfaction. Had I neglected it, they would have been greatly mortifi- ed. They like coquetting with an artiste, and it is agreeable enough to me to humour them in such a way. It is amusing the interest taken Iaieae Say? ful manifestations of regard ; but they serve, I see, as stimulants to enthusiasm, that goes on in a stea- dy, deep current, increasing, till I am puzzled to know wuere it willend. J am alwayshulf startled at such excessive excitement ; I tremble lest ina giddy moment I should do something to turn the tide, and when the sea is in euch violent agitation, a change of wind is certain destruction: may the fairies protect me! Would ya were here, ‘Thé- rése, to have a peep at the workd so peculiarly our own from behind the scenes. What sights and sounds! you would fancy its inhabitants all painted yrown for a gipsy piece ; and, then, the strange, un- intelligible gabble they carry on. But youz sense and patience both would be sorely tried, as mine is, by the horrid, suffocating fumes of tobacco. Every body smokes here—man, woman, boy, and girl, almost down to the baby just escaped from the era- dle ; but still I was not persed for the novel spec- tacle of the very “sylphides” themselves strutting about with huge, undisguised, veritable cigars in their mouths, puffing and smoking like so many yellow clumney-pots, that they resemble much both in symmetry and color. Smoking I detest, as one of the most insufferable and nauseous follies of the day. Strange that men should persist in this offen- sive habit that all women with pretensions to a nose atall civilised unite in condemning ; yet custom has inured men to this. But a woman’s smoking was a barbarism I hardly supposed myself destined ever to see; and, certainly, the first time [ came plump upon one of my whity-brown attendants, with her wreath on one side, her wings all awry, sucking, for deur life, at the end of a flaming cigar, my astonishment and the tobacco-smoke together quite took my breath away ; that was an impression neither time nor distance will eitherdim or remove. A tull-dressed By inne sitting on a painted bank of flowers, where | first spied her, exhaling the smoke of a colossal cigar, and of a horse-killing strength, with all the nonchalance of a veteran smoker, was an outrageous novelty that absorbed me quite; and whilst I stood gazing there, a call summoned the volcanic troupe to the stage, and each ene deposited with jealous care her precious weed on bench and chair, with growling menaces neither to touch nor taste, and then they betook themselves to their a gambols, meant to charm the love-lorn * Reuben” to their fairy haunts. It requires faith in one’s art to preserve illusions amid such scenes. poy | riety. Surely nasillées are strange things; and who can hear of such marvels, and believe them true, sans exaggeration, sans distortion? I must redeem, however, the ladies of Havanah from the charge of any proneness to this odious habit ; it is confined to the women of the lower classes. The men of all degrees smoke, and smoke everywhere; in the houses, in the streets, in the theatres, in the cafés, in the counting-room ; eating, drinking, and truly, { suspect, sleeping, they smoke—smoke— smoke! It is odd that strangers don’t scent Havanah far out at sea; the gentlemen, however, are addicted to a small paper cigar, called “cigarito,” containing a small quantity of pulverised tobacco, of the best flavor, which is by nomeans offensive. No true Havaneco even moves a foot without his portable armory of cigaritos—as indispensable to him as ishis quiver to the wild In- dian. He may get along comfortably without his coat, hat, or neckcloth ; but without hy cigarito he could neither walk, talk, noteven think. ‘The first thing that follows a salutation of friends, meeting no matter where, is to pull out their pacquets, light the sociable weed—another talk : 1t gives life to the Havaneco, he opens his heart and mouth atthe same time, and fills up the gaps of conversation. A cigar ought to be the national emblem of Cuba ; certain- ly, nothing is more completely indentified with them in my mind, and I shall never recall a friend to memory who will not be enveloped in a soft haze of tobacco-smoke. Wellsburgh, Va. [Correspondence of the Herald.] We usnuran, Va., April 4, 1844. Beauty of the Bluffs on the Ohio— Western Society —Wonders of Nature—Bal!s and Svirées. Dear Bsnnerr:— In your truly valuable paper may be found all the news which transpire in our own happy and glo- rious Republic. Your correspondents telegraph all the chit chat from almost every part of the Union ; and may not some of the sayings and doings which take place in Western Virginia find a corner inone of your columns. Situated as we are on the bank of the Ohio River, one of ths noblest streams that mingles with the Mississippi, surrounded on all sides with as fer- tile a country as any on which the sun of heaven shines, we look forward to the day when this village shall become a noble city, with its thousands of inhabitants hurrying to and fro, and the bluffs which rise gradually half a mile from the river's bank, covered with country seats and beautiful gar- dens. From their summit can be seen the flying steamer like a thing of life, ploughing majestically through the wavee, while hundreds of produce boats, ladened with the products of our agricultu- rist, sail smoothly along on their way to New Or- leans. The scenery cannot be surpassed in loveli- hess. For miles the Ohio can be seen winding its way along the foct of high bluffs covered with tall forest trees. And on a moon light night, man never witnessed a more sublime and picturesque scene than that which is presented from one of those lit- tle mountains. Bluff after blnff rises to the view, until lost in the dark outline, and the silvery stream glides gently away in the mist of night. The ladies are the most kind and hospitable that the world can produce. Generous in their disposition, and their manners so unassuming that a stranger feels in few hours of their company like an old acquain- tance. ‘There was a grand ball Ge otl.er day at Steu- benville, Ohio, and all the Seauty and chivalry ot the city was in attendance. Among the goodly number, was some five or six of the ladies from ——, and the contrast between the Buckeyes and Virginian was predominant, not only in beauty; but there was ad Ci of politeness, which ever characterizes the Old Dominion. a hospitality that the Ohioans have not yet attained, Ido not say this out of partiality to the Virginians; but ren- der unto Casar the things which are Casar’s.— While speaking o! the ball, it may not be out of place to notice two or three of the pro- minent characters who are distinguished for their beauty. Among the most conspicuous was the Miss R—, the belle of S——, dressed in plain white India raull, with her beautiful auburn hair braided in ringlets, stuck with pearls, and ruby lips, pouting like a full ripe cherry just bursted.— Around her appeared constantly a throng of beaut while a young upstart from Washington City,who, T understand, is a gentleman cordwainer, seemed to find more favour in her sparkling eyes than all the buckeyes of the town. He was the lion of the Rt and certainly must have enjoyed his noto- The little Miss P—, with her love laughing eyes, and lively cee ion,seeined quite a favorite, There was constantly a smile playing areund her rosy lips, and in her open countenance might be traced a thoughtful girl who had never experienced much of the world’s displeasure. Miss D—, the most accomplished lady of the city, looked very en- chanting. She wore a dress of white satin, heavy flounce of rich Mechilen lace, with a light sky-blue bodice of China silk; her hair waved in clustering curls over her fawn-like neck, ornamented with a single jewel ; on her left arm was a bracelet, set with agate. There was a melancholy smile, how- ever, upon hercountenance, which seemed to indi- cate that death, or something else, had stolen her lover. ‘The ball room was crowded to excess; and many of the fair ones danced with an earnestness, as if their salvation depended on the shuffling ot their little feet. The weather has been very in- viting for the last ten days, and the birds are be- ginning to warble their songs once more. Soon the wild woods will be teeming with flower Welcoming the fair to their shady bowers, We have had quite an excitement in matrimo- nial affairs within the last week. Four weddings have taken place within a few days of each other, all of which have gone to the sunny south to spend the honey moon. It is a glorious country this, where the girls never live single long enough to become old maids; few, if any, attain the age of twenty-five in a state of single blessedness. But an for batchelors, there appears to be a goodly number; yet they, poor fellows, no doubt, have had mach love to encounter in their youthful days, and it must certainly be a pleasing theme for them to ruminate upon their boyish days, and laugh at the danger which they have escaped in pasain| along through lite unchained to the apron-string o a scolding wife. ur friend, JONATHAN. To the Ladies. Gentle Ladies, we are thine ; At your feet, as at « shrine, Where with holy wishes breathing, Garlands for your young brows wreething, Lowly thus we bend the knee, _ And our heart bows down to thee, Dearest Ladies, like a knight Of the olden time, we'll fight— Not that wonderfulexotic, Who made all things mad, Quixotio— Fight against the world in arms, For thy virtue, worth and charms. Pretty Ladies! morning’s dawn, Blushing rose, and white hawthorn— All in earth or heaven is sweetest, We will bring as fittest, meetes For your eyes togesa upon— Arie] shall see tt dons Modert Ladies : not the dye Tinta a summer evening's sky— Not the faintest flush in nature Shall suffuse a single featu Ne’er be ours to raise the fi Burns the brow with blush of shame. Richest Ladies ! from our pen You mav gather yet a gem ; For the mind, how stored soever, Past receiving can be never : Height and depth to it is given, Vast as is the apace of hwaven, Poorest Ladies | in each mind Germ of intellect is shrined. We will be the sun that warms it— Ours shal be the pen that charms it— ‘Till, like flower in genial glow, It shall sweetly bud and blow. Single Ladies! guardian we Own ourselves your own to be. Ot earth's flowers ye are the fairest — Of man needing care, the dearest ; Withered be the heart that harms, But in thought, such matchless charms ! Married Ladies ! who bave past Storms that over youth ix cast— Happiness from virtue proving, Guarded by the hearts thing loving — Not au guardian, but as friend, Unto thee our page we send. Ladies ! Ladies ! one and all— Durk and fair, and short and tall— We will be your humble servant, Of your slightest wants observant ; Harid and heart, and pen and pate, Unto you we dedicate. "Pera, Iilinols Peru, Inv., March 20, 1844. Western Ideas—Voters— Travelling—Beauty of the Prairies. Dear Mi. Eprror:— Looking, as I do, in my retreat, to the columns of your journal for information of what is doing in the restless and inconsistent world without, my dis- appointment is not slight when a number of it (as does now and then happen) is not forthcoming in due time from the Post Office. Pray inquire into the matter, and if pessible prevent future omis- sions. I derive pleasure in knowing how well you hit away at the Wallstreet * * * * * * and have only to urge you to hit them hard and go on. Trejoice also that the “ American Party” has ari- sen, and hope and pray it will go on rising in num- bers and fidelity to it elf—and so long as it carries out the principles it avows, may it contest the elec- tions throughout the Republic. This State now feels it was an error to give franchise at once to all residents, and a long time will not elapse ere the error will be modified. Your espousing the caus», cannot but increase the popularity of the ‘ Her- ald,” high as it was previously. Previous to coming to Illinois (some two years ago) Thad travelled in many paris of the world, during a period of some fifteen years, residing from time to time, for months and years, in different places both in the Eastern and Piciena divisions of ont gate; with abundant facilities and opportu- nities for observing. I have visited the most beau- tifal countries in Asia and Europe, and passed over the finest parta of the United States; after seeing thus much, I am constrained to declare that I have seen none ¢o beautiful, satisfactory, naturally rich, and healthy, as Northern Illinois—such soil and climate—such surface and so diversified—gent- ly undulating—quick rolling and ravine—meadow, or bottoms, with streams, springs, groves, (of oaks, hickories, black and white, and numerous other forest trees,) and Get reat pure and bracing, constant as the trade winds during summer—so that the feuiceresurs is always agreeable, never oppree- sive with heat, and all these are often found com- bined within the range of an extensive farm—as is th my own. A trip to these prairies, and a so- journ of the summer months will do more for the invalid (dyspeptic and pulmonary—why those ail- ments are not known between Lake Michigan. Rock River, and this place) than the M. D., and watering places of the United States or Europe— and all voyages and journeyings besides—I believe that ey would be greatly relieved or cured of many of the afflictions our flesh is heir to. { have seen the salutary effect in several caser and felt it in my own—a strong one too. But I will not inflict the particulars upon you now—my once weakness, lassitude, pains and groans, have been washed and blown away by the fine lime-stone water, and the pure winds of the high praries, filled with the aro- ma of numerous flowers and various grasses. Those who would better their health, purse and enjoy- ment, should come, see and remain in Illinois. Then the roads over these emerald seas are 80 ex- cellent, and the facilities fer travelling over the en- tire State so nearly perfect {thanks to Frink, Walker and Sanger, the enterprising proprietors of stage coaches, who not only keep up a fine style of coaches and horses, but themselves, when needed for the convenience of the travelling public, see that new roads are opened, and old ones kept in repair) that invalids may travel with as little incon- venience and fatigue asin New York state. The taverns along the roads are not redundant of luxu- rious comforts, but in summer, travellers will not suffer in them. Ihave been looking over part of the land advertised for sale next April in Spring- field, on account of the State of Illinois, and find it enerally a fair average of prairie, but no more. he whole of these selections or nearly so, are without timber or ‘ groves,” of course not adapted for farms, unless combined with other lands that are wooded. Some few acres that adjoin occupied farms, of the selections alluded to, may, perhaps find purchasers, but no more; for at the United States land offices, any quautity of land, some with wood as good or better in att respects than those of the State, may be bought at $1 25 per acre. The limits for those of the State range from $3, $5. $6, up to $11 and $12 per acre! it is true paya- oI e indebtedness of dubious value now, perhaps will not be definite the coming April. Would it not become the government of illinois to offer their lands and other property, unreserved- ly, for sale at once, than to place limits that must be fullen from, or the property will remain on hand while interest is accumulating upon the debts of the State for years to come, to say nothing of the odium and iis train of evils, for violated pecu niary engagements. There is much sincerity in the exertions of our governor and some other of- ficials, to relieve the State from its embarrass- ments, but it appears to me they do not come plain- ly and decidedly to their werk as men who would cure or cut away the evils of the present state of things. There are too many speculating men who seck only the spoils of office or place, and not the interests of the State; holding oflice in one way or another; looking out to fill their purses with profits on contracis, rise of price of their own wild lands, bought when men were wild in their views as to the future. Too many ot that class of “suckers,” for the honor and prosperty of the government and State, hover routid the various departments of gov- ernment in Springfield, and influence far too much those who fill the offices of gove nment, from the executive to the clerks. 1 believe Gov. Ford is zealous and honest in his purposes, but ere he can work well, he must brush away the parties al- luded to, and cease the workings and influence of speculative reckless men in the affairs of Govern- ment—men who stick at no act or intrigue, or treachery, to achieve their selfish purposes, yet are generally very ignorant of what would be useful and honorable. Let there be a change, and the people of fllinois will, by theirelections next sum- mer, show a determination to bear the burden of taxation requisite to begin paying, atleast, a part of the interest of the State debts, and there is no part of the United States where taxation will bear #0 heavily. The farmers are emphatically poor as to income or pecuniary resources, owing to adverse course of events since 1838.9." Prices of produc have not been remunerating, therefore, a large part of the farmers at the late land sales were not able to enter or pay for the lands they occupy, and have improved. ‘To accomplish which they trust to fu- ture exertions, and hope for favorable changes. But though this hardy people are poor in money, they are rich in good intentions, industry, and fru- gality, and desire for'a State Government that will, in the most judicious possible manuer, place its af. fairs in a more satisfactory position. ‘They intend to elect men for office, if possible, who will honest- ly carry out those high views without reference to which of the great factions their candidates may have belonged. They believe, that as the State recovers its proper attitude, so will prosperity spread over the country. They are right, and all good men will urge and aid them to the end in view. The country is improving, and rapidly, netwith- standing the pressure, and when once fairly clear of the mal-effect of the errors and roguery of of. ficials, wild and dishonest speculators of all classes, and common honesty and common 9 fe me at way inste: and there appear grounds to e: these desired cee) iftinoie vill suddenly Teap into a comparative elevated position, and move on with prosperity until she is alongside, and, perhaps, shead of some of the richest States in the Union, and the early period when this change will take place is to surprise and astonish those who are not slvare watching progress with open eyes. If there be any agreeable friends of yours,or travel- lers of your acquaintance coming this way, U shall be pleased to see them and aid When in the objects of their journey, be it tor welecting land or solely for pleasure. ILLINOIS. We have now before us some interesting docu- ments, consisting of communications made to the Senate by President Tyler, and accompanying certain documents submitted to them officially, in compliance with resolutions of the Senate. The first to which we shall allude, is “ Copies of Correspondence in relation to the interpretation of the 10th article of the treaty between Great Britain and the United States, of the 9th August, 1842.” This correspondence consists of a series of letters between Mr. Upshur and Mr. Fox; a letter from Mr. Nelson, Attorney General, and one from Mr. Everett. It arose on the case of Christina Gil- mour, whose impeachment and subsequent trial for the murder of her husband, caused so much ex- citement here and in Great Britain. ‘This case was the firat that had arisen forthe adjudication of their respective authority under the 10th article of the Ashburton treaty, “to settle and define the boundaries between the territories of the United States and the possessions of her Britannic Majesty in North America, for the final suppression ofthe Atrican slave trade, and for the giving up of crimi- nals, fugitives from justice, in certain cases.” The accused, through her counsel, addressed a petition and remonstrance to the President, and which her counsel in an argument, endeavored to sustain. In the remonstrance, the validity of the proceedings were challenged. {n reply to this, the Attorney General, Mr. Nel- son, in anawer to Mr. Upshur’s letter to him on the subject, stacing that although “it cannet be doubt- ed that treaties may and often do create oblig tions, to the fulfilment of which the legislative power ia an indispensable auxiliary; yet, as this treaty had been ‘ made under the authority of of the United States,” its ratification inter- changed, and the treaty proclaimed, it is the su- preme law of the land. It has prescribed, by its own terms, the manner, mode, and authority, in and by which it shall be exezuted. It has left nothing to be supplied by legislative authority, but has indicated means sufficient for the accomplish- ment of its objects, It needs no sanctions different from those inherent in its own stipulations and re- quires no aid from Congress ; and it was therefore unneceseary to give it validity by its re-enactment; and that to change its terms was within the com- patency only of the contracting parties by whom it as been executed. The Attorney General cites the case of Thomas Nash, who was surrenuered to the British authorities under the treaty of 1794, in support of his views, and in rebuttal of the first objection. 'o the second objection, it 1s replied that the pro- ceedings under the treaty are to be governed, not by the provisions of the constitution of the United States, but by those prescribed by the parties who concluded it; that the validity of article ten was not dependent upon the character of the magistrate hearing evidence of criminality against the accus- ed. This was not a case in Jaw or equity within the scope of the several sec ions of the United States constitution. This question was created by a policed! power—the concurrent wills of two independent governments, one which the United States constitution does not contemplate. It was no question of judi- cial cognizance; but confined merely to the attainment of facts which can weigh nothing in any consequent purely judicial investigation of the charge. As to the third objection, the Attorney General clearly shows that there is nothing in the tenth ar- ticle of the treaty of 1842 to make it obnoxious to the fourth and filth articles of the amendments of the constitution. The first of these articles recog- nizes that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrant shall issue but upon pro- bable cause, supported by oath, or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.” Ia this the protection guaranteed is not against all seizures, but against unreasonable seizures. Here the seizure is shown to be reasonable upon oath or affirmation, and the constitutional pre-requisite complied with. Again, that stipulation of the fitth constitutional amendment, that ‘no person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on apreseatment or indictment by a tand jury,” embraces only offences against the U. States, "the offence charged against Gilmour, is one against Great Britain, over which the courts of the United States can claim no jurisdiction, nor with or without “a presentment or indictment by a Grand Jury,” can the accused be compelled to answer. The Congress of the United States, by the act of 12th of Feb’y., 1793, agreeable to 2d sec- tion of Article 4, ef Constitution, decreed the de- livery of fugitives from justice, to the executive authorities of any State or Territory where the crime was committed, and thus a class of cases, strongly analagous to that of Gilmour, are supplied ; and in which, it is regarded, a valid exercise of power to deliver without “presentiment or indict- ment,” persons charged with ctime, and so must it be in this. It will be seen from the foregoing that the legal provision made by the Ashburton Treaty is in all respects sufficiently clear and comprehensive for the right administration of justice ; and afford each country the valid power. of furthering their respec- tive views, and that Congress, ingenious as they are, will find it no easy matter to baflle its enactinents and screen the guilty. The remaining part of the correspondence is analagous to the above, although embracing a num- ber of cases different from the former. .The next is a message of the President commu- nicating ‘information in relation to the abuse of the flag of the United States as subservient to the African slave trade, and the taking away of slaves, the property of. Portuguese subjects.” This consists in a number of letters frem Mr. Slocum, U. 3. Consul at Rio de Janeiro, to Mr. Webster; others from Mr. Everett and Lord Aber- deen onthe slave trade carried on in Africa, bat as this question has been so frequently before the papi, It is not of great importance. _A letter from Mr. de Figaniere, the Portuguese Minister, resi- dent at Philadelphia, to Mr. Upshur, containing the details of an outrage committed by the captain of the American ship Romulus, in kidnapping from Antonio Loam Timas, a colored man named Pedro ‘Timas, in the Island of Maio, forms the subject of a long correspondence, leading to a result which would not be calculated upon by one who had read it. Mr. De Figaniere justly claimed compensation for the loss of the owner ot the siave, and his re- storation. To all this Mr. Upshur replies, it is quite fair; he has nothing to say against the complaint, he submits the memorial to the legal functionary for his opinion, the termination of all which farrago is that Mr. Upshur politely declines to part with the “crap,” because “it was a felony committed by an American citizen in a foreign country, for which his government wasnot responsible.” This is a rather curious exposition of the “lex gentiem,” and one which hardly would have been delivered for the benefit of all whom it may concern, it the Von had been the thief instead of the vietim. If every State difficulty were as easily got over as this, political cunning would be at a discount; Perhaps upon the whole there 19 some sagacity shown by the Attorney General to maintain the non-respousibility of the Republic for acts of indi- vidual aggrecsion; and we hope h atougher customer than Don de Fi whom, to say the least of it, little logic goes far. Case or McDosatp.—A letter from St. Louis, to the editor of the United States’ Gazette, dated April 12, says :—""The jury, this afternoon, bronght in a verdict of guilty in the case of the United States, vs. Capt. McDonald, charged with the robbery and marder of Charvis, some months since. McDonald will be hung, unless President Tyler should interfere with the sentence that must be pronounced by the Court. Tho crime was committed in the Mi soner was tried by the United Si Tue Resvur—We are now enabled to lay be- fore our readers the result of the town elections in this State. It will be seen that a Locofoco majority of 208 Supervisors in 1843, is reduced to 36 in 1844, making a clear Whig gain of 172! astern Navigation.—The Kennebec and Pe- nobscot rivers are both clear of ice to the extent of navie gation. The lumber business will open rich this eeason. Navat Ox Dits.—the Mobile Herald of Sun- day says that Lieutenont Commander Weat, late of the brig Somers, now at Pensacola, hag tendered his resigna- tion, which has been accepted, and that there is a lieuten- ont attached tothe navy yard, who either has, ought to, or will resign in a few days, Fiaut in rug Excuanar.—In consequence of a paragraph relative to the recent duel between Mr. Butler and Mr. Schott, which appeared among the news items of certain morning papera, a gentleman reloted to one of the parties alle }o have been implicated in caus ing the duel, attacked the gentleman who made the pub- li ‘The former was passing through the rotunda of xchange when the attack wus made, and a short fight, in which several severe blows were dealt, ensued, e parties were separated by friends. Great excitement was fest in a large crowd which was present.— Phi le Lecture in Lafayette Chareb, Dr. Bethune, The Rev. Dr. Bethune, of Phila., delivered a dis- course on Wednesday night,toa very large assembly, in Lafayette Church. Seldom has such profound attention been evinced on any occasion as wis tman- ifested on this. The discourse was sublime and lucid vindication of revealed religion. The elo- quence, erotenad learning, and wonderful extent of readiiig—the complete mastery possessed by the Reverend gentleman, of civil and ecclesiastical history—his familiarity with sacred and profane, ancient and modern authors, sophists, bards, enthu- iasts and philosophers, made an obvious impres- sion; and the time occupied crept past almost im- perceptibly, ‘ The Dr. expressed a little regret at having disap- ointed them on a former evening, and feared that Bis remarks to-night would ill requite the flattering interest manifested. : . The question he proposed to discuss was: “What . the source of moral opinion.” By “moral opin- ion” he meant those which relate to what ought net to be, or what we ought not to do. They had an intimate connection with the state of man after death and a future state, and it would be neceesart to take a review of the opinions of antiquity whic bore on the subject. The inquiry first suggested was, as to the source of human knowledge in ge- neral. Whatever plau ility might be in Locke’s theory of, inate ideas—and it had many opposers —he could not entertain any belief in innate ideas of moral truth, Whatever the mind mkes cogni- zance of, must be different from, and cannot be contained in itself; and if the doctrine of innate ideas be true, the opinions of men muct be identi- cal, as to the being of a God. It was well known what latitude existed among different nations on this point, and that some did not at all recognize the truth. One of the most eminent men Aj the day, and who has greatly distinguished himself by the education and mental cultivation of mutes, as- serts, that the first ideas they ever possessed of the being of a God, were imparted by him. He did not believe that there wus a natural conscience sufticient of itself to determine what was wrong and what was right. Nay, there were some who, with seeming reason, doubted the existence of a separate moral faculty. The case of the Spartan boy, who saw no wreng in theft but in its de- tection, was relevant to the inquiry. Ihe difference of learned authorities was great as te the nature of trath, and it was notorious that some were blind te the evil of a falsehood if it did not prove injurious; and the maxim that the ends sunctifies the means, or to do evil for the sake ot good, was well known, and allwent to prove that conscieuce was subservient to something superior, and could not be its own standard, judge, and jury. It was still an impertant enquiry, “Was there light enough in the world without revelation, te discover what is right or wrong? what ought te be done? and what eught not to be done? ti fairly, reference must be had to antiquity; t before the birth of Christ, when the world was illumined by the splendid mysteries of divine revelatic the wisest and best of the heathen philosophers, name shuuld never be spoken without adiniration, aa ed, that “inspiration was necessary to impart a knowled| of the divinity.” He (Dr. B ,) doubted whether there ia su: u thing as natural religion, or whether that which pass by the name is only @ natural confirmation of revelasion. If there be truth in the holy scriptures, there was a reve- lation to man from the very beginning. Moses, in his ac- count of the creation, tells us that man’s primitive state was one of innocence and telicity; and bovh his and the testimony of St. Paul, set forth his fall, and consequent de- pravity, Hi ition went no farther than that unaided nature was insufficient; he did not deny that natural truth confirmed those of revelation But there was an import- ant difference in proof before aud after discovery. God made an early discovery of bimseif to man—who became dark Scone pecversity and blindness; and the erroneous religions of the world were not made through efforte, or did “not originate in a desire to discover God, but were departures from him The correctne: of the assertion that conscieece was referable, and derived from revelation, could be sustained by many arguments. Firat—It was agreeable to the common sense of mankind. No nation, either ancient or modern, attempted to deny that man was created by God. and as the contrary would be perfectly absurd, there was uo use in confuting it. The universal testimony of all uges ascribe man’s origin toadivine source. The heathens invested Diana with divine perfections, whilst her abode was with men, The soul, by the greatest authorities, was looked upon as a di- vine emanation from the mind of God, and that philosophy was either sent direct from heaven or brought down by men. Anarchus, in his life of Pythagorus, says 80. The early teachers of morality, aud law-givers of the Per- sians, Egyptians aud Chaldeans, were their priests, who professed to hold immediate intercourse with their Gods. ‘The oldest compositions on record were litical, and it was curious that the Latin term for poet and prophet were the same, The name of God eae many ancient nations was that which distin- guished their earliest lawgiver, a striking instance of which was afforded by that of Belus, Baal, or the Baalim ofscripture. (The Rev. gentleman then took 9 review of heathen mythology, and pointed out its bearing on the inquiry. The honest, sober, and rational Socrates himself believed that he was attended by a Demon and Guardian Angel sent from God to counsel him for his,welfare, and guide his life ; and the Delphian oracle predicted for Aristotle thet he wes to be a reat Bilcen her, although he would have laughed at the eachings of the oracle himeelf. ‘The vulgar Togard for dreams, divinations, fortune tellers, and the Norse and Lapland witches, were all analsgous to the old ny- thological errors ; and all these, however fabulous, fraud- ulent, or false, showed the belief in a divinity, and the force of moral truth in mun. It was very doubtful whe- ther human reason was in itself adequate to discover sci- entific truth, although an after perception of these truths was perfectly reasonable. He thought it was to be ascribed to revelation The authorities of Hesiod, Virgil, Luctetius, Tibullus, &c, say the golden, happy age, came first, when was innocent and happy, when life was without cere and pain, and a scene of uninterrupted joy. So the earliest ages of re- mote antiquity was the time of the Saturnelia, when Suturn, the father of heaven. the most venerable of all the gods, reigned personally over, and dwelt with men, and Astrea or heavenly justice had her abode on this earth, until growing di ty frightened ber back to heaven. It no belief of t ind existed, it might be ured. plat sible argument by cepticg against revelation; but when wefind the univ and concurrent testimony of th world—of all nations, barbarous or refined, that at one period the divinity held converse with mankind, is the een oe confirmation of our faith, aud proves that the moral principle is not inherent in the human mind, al- though agreeable to the common sense of mankind. The next consideration was, whether or not it was handed down to man by divine revelation. Beyond doubt, what- ever knowledge was diffused through the old world was derived from the east, and moat probably first conveyed by those immigrante, who,travelling westward, settled in the more genial climate of Greece. Stillingfleet hes brought an amazing amount of research ta prove that the Pelaagians, a people whose history is shrouded in ob- scurity, derived their nama from Peleg, the fifth from “Noah, and he is sustained by the learned Grotius in this opinion. It has become very fashionable, especially among the metaphysical and somewhat visionary German literati, There was various fashions in learning, asin coats, ‘To prove that ing of the Greeks was not impartea to them from others, but radical and spontaneous, and to carry out their theo- ry they are driven tothe necessity of making the great jonages of their history imaginary ; but that tl ter spirits, the profound intellects, arose in the midst of darkness, unaided, was a personation too silly even for German philosophy. Dr. Bethune then entere] into an examination of the writings of the most eminent of the Hea- thens, quoting some of the most sublime passages from Pla- to, Pythagaras, Aristotle, Cicero, &c , to show that their views on the two grend doctrines of the existence of God and the immortality of the son] was imperfect and crude.— ‘The great Tully after an elaborate disquisition,in which he alludes to the fact that some nations were so barbarous aa to be without any conception of God, which might arise from the bad manners of the age, the different accounts given of the deity, by differ nt writers, their Clashing opinions— in his ‘Tusculan ' Ques- tions, that there was little certainty on the sub- ject, and that if he were to be guided in his bel by clearness and plausibility, he would go for the Atheist rather than the Theist. He entertained a belief ina future ate from the universal anxiety about futurity, the trans- miasion of the works and acquisitions of men to posterity, the desire for children, for monuments and eulogies.— “Hercules,” said he, “wished for heaven, but if he had not by his labors secured @ passage through the world to it, he never would have gove,” and he was of opinion that as all antiquity was on his side in a belief of futurity, philosophers might draw their strongest arguments, not from reason, but from nature. Dr, Bethune then took a masterly survey of the proofs of the antiqnity, authenticity, and divine origin of the Holy Scrip- tures, He proved that the Books of Moses were in- comparably more ancient than any other extant. Porphy- ry has quotations from him; Berocious, the Babylonish historian, makes mention ot the Jewish records; while Manetho, the Egyptian, lived but 270 years before Christ. The learning ef the Hindoos was of grenter obscurity; but no doubt it was of great antiquity. Ward, the mission- ery, who has acquired, by vast research, great familiarity with their sacred writings, refer them to out the time of David. Josephus says that Abraham, when in Egypt, i structed Cycrops in arithmetic; but whatever truth there might be in that, it was certain that the influence of the Jews on the opinions of the Egyptians, during their so- journ there, must have been great, and in no emall degree connected with the boasted loerniog. of their magi. It was on record that Pythagoras purened his travels among the wise men of Babylon, and Zoroaster,who restored thechal- dean system about the timeof the prophet Daniel, was said to be froin Palestine anda pupil of Daniel. It was well known that so 1 ¢ traces of resemblance existed between the Zen- davesta and some parts of scripture, especially the Psalms of David; and this was hard to be accounted for, consider- ing the ity with which the Jews monopolized and guarded their sacred writings,and the rigid spirit of seclu- sion which marked them as separate from the rest of the world. The inference was conclusive from all he said, that there was nothing innate in the human mind to fur- nieh a perfect standard of morality—a sure guide between right and wrong; that the truth of morality does not de- pend ttpon human reason, but upon a revelation from God to man. He would stop here, as he feared the arguments were dry and wearisome. ‘The conviction, however that an interest in religious truth prevail among them, and that they were desirous to see tested the validity of skept cal objections, encour- aged him. It was a matter for exultation that the divine oracles of God have, and shall survive all the various and clashing and loose systems which would rear themselves in their stead. And it would be wise tofremember the words of the old divine—"' Pernicious weeds may be planted in divine soil ; the Devil built his chapel nowhere but on the sacred ground where God's temple stood ; trath is of the Kreatest antiquity, although error hae still the most wrinkled face, and would pasa her deformity for antiquity; and there ia nothing #0 cld as that which could not give an account of its age.” by Reva,