The New York Herald Newspaper, May 15, 1875, Page 4

\ 4 .NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1875.~TRI . Fe . 4 | sttli lingering and reverberating in the mountains MECKLENBURG. | of New England, will reach the ears of te | descendants of the Mecklenburg of May a | 20, 1775. 1 do mot forget thit in years | gone by there has been some adlscassion as to the authenticity ofthe Mecklenourg Declar- ation; but when 1 find thatou the “ist of May, 1775, @ Meeting Was held by the citizens of the ‘county to adopt rules and regulations tor the ad- The Centennial Association Making Elaborate Preparations. | ministration of civil government, in which Pe ic ‘ | it 18 deciared that ‘whatever . person Invitations Sent to the GOV- shan hereaiter receive commission trom the crown, or attenipt to» exercise any ernors of States. snch commission heretofore received, shall be deemed an enemy to his country,’ I am 50 | ready to believe that these men were ripe for a | CHARACTERISTIC REPLIES, | final ceciaration of independence eleven days be- | | fore that 1 would not stop to question the nen- ’ b 29 | utoeness of a document whica alone could render Tales fromm the Tombstones in | | Becessary or consistent their subsquent proceed- | | ings, which are unquestioned and unquestionabie, Sugar Creek Churchyard. It will be happy for our country if the memory of | | events embalmed in the history of the past (which these local Centennials and the greater Centen- nial of wiiich they are the forerunner will tend to recall) snail help to re-establish the chords of | CuaRcorre, N. C., May 12, 1875, ¢ Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, as embodied in the resolves of May 20, 1775, Will | gempatny and to renew the belief in a common be read at the Centenaial by Hon. Seaton Go-tiny which the events themselves inaugn- Gales, of Raleigh, one of the editors of the Ol€ pared and kept alive amoag the lathera of National Intell gencer. He ts thorougbly con- tho Repudiie.? In closiug this vigorous letter winced of their autnentic character. Aon. Jesse Goy.pnor Carpenter expresses the hope that “if J. Yeates, member of Congress irom the extreme eastern district of the State, will attend, together with the baiance of the delegation. The General Executive Committee have invited the Governors Df ail the States of the Union, many of whom have signified their intention to be present, Governor Hendricks, of Indiana, will be here. ‘The famous “meeting of the Governors’? at Altooua, in tne beginning of Lincoln’s ad- Ministration, is supposed to have had an influence ™ infaming a warlike spirit between the sec- tions, which it is now believea will be equally the departed spirits of the dead are permftted to revisit the scenes with which they were famil- | jar while on earth, the signers of the Meckienburg Declaration of Independence and their com- patriots may find cause for joy.in the purposes and prospects of those who to-day renew their pledges Of patriotic devotion to liberty in the town and county to which their acts, one hunared years ago, gave an immortal name. May the in- fluence of this celebration be felt throughout the country, bringing the people of all the States into closer bonds of irlendship, inspiring us to new re- eifective in the interests O! fraternity and peace. | gojyes, that for the future we will labor with more Distinguished geutiemen from all quarters Of eargest endeavors to obliterate every prejudice the country wiil aid in giving éclat to the occa | which may have retarded the growth and happl- sion. ness of our country, and uniting us in the purpose Not only wil! Chorlotve bo dignified and iilumined 9 )1;ting ail men, of whatever cr2ed or condition, ou toe 20th by the gathering witnia her limits of | to that moral and mental position which 1s the eminent states nen, scholars, jurists, divines and | onty security for free institutions.” other personages of note, but there will be agrand Rey, Charlies F, Dems, pastar of the Church of | outpouring of the veople. Cabarrus county, Which, | the strangers, New York city, writes:—‘‘All that asa part of Meckieaburg im the Revolutionary | concerns the dear old State is of profound interest epoch, can say with truth “magna pars Sul,” | to me, and concludes with wishes for “a good wil come bither almost in a vody. Tne “bone | timein your laudable efforts to bonor the men and sinew" of North Caro.ma will thus supplement who struck the first note of American independ- , her brains, As Agamemnon, king of meD | ence,” and tamer of horses, was nothing without bis Rev. Joseph H. Martin, pastor of the First Preg- hosts, so js there need to-day th@t our heroes of the forum, iike those Wao won tuelr ladreis on the field, shall have the masses at their back, In this case a constituency Will not be lacking, and the “representative men’’ of tpis glorious old Com- monoweaita wil be # m ral ioree which comes irom an approving mul’ titude, Thus will Norta Carolina “wae her law,” Robbed of her title deeds to that immortal 20th of May which is one of her best possessions; unable, through a loss of the record, to estanlish st this lave day ber prescriptive rigut toa franchise long represented on the occasion, as appears by a letier enjoyed wirhout interruption or disturoanee, she | from James Alexander, of MiMin county, Pennsy!- | will now ‘put hersel/ upon the country” and pray | yania, who is seventy-four years old. nt in the court Of history upom the verdict | Tre Philadelpnia Centenniai Commission has of her own citizens, | promised to be represented, The board of Direc- TOE INVITED GUESTS. | tors of the Pennsyivania Railroad Company lor- invitations have veen issued right and left, | maliy accept their invitation to be presec® Norte and South alike, without discrimins Mr. H.R, Linderman, Dircetor of the Philadel- tion oF partiaity. The records Of the 480- phia Mint, aiso signifies vis intention toattend, | ciation show thie. I note in the records, @ Among the eminent Massachusetts men {n- | a thing of some siguificacce, the folowing reso- yirea,are Mr. Charles Francis Adams and Mr. Jution, adopted at the mass meeting held here in | Ropert C. Winthrop. tne Court House on Feorvary 4, 157), tuitiatory to Toe following gentlemen have written letters of the approaching ovservance:—‘Resolved, That We | geceptance:—Hon. William A. Graham; Hon, Wiil- | cordially invite all (riends of constitutional liberty jam M. Robbins, Hon. A. M. Waddell, Judge in America to participate with us in said celevra- Tnomag Little, Judge VD. Schenck, Hon. Thomas S. tion.” By the ‘“frienas of constitutional liberty” Aspe and Rev. T. H. Pritchard; Governor C. H. Tam given cistinct.y to understand that repup! Hardin, of Missouri; Commissioner Colonel a. W. cans are not excluded, but that the eXpressioR Srayback (whe, itis hoped, will not stay back) to | bas 4 broad and uppartisan construc'ion, represent that State. Not only was President Grant officially invited, United States Senator Merrimon, of North but many prominent administrarion men besites. Qaroiina, writes am enthusiastic letter. He says General Grant's declination, througs Mis private of tne celevration:—“It cannot fail to increase secretary, has not been correctly published. 1648 | gor jove of country and enkindle anew our zeal to entirely polite and courteous, aud is soregarded = make North Carolina in all things what she ought by toe officers of the association. and deserves to be.” The Governor of Kaasas, Taomas A. Osborne, in, A, M. Scales deprecates the Jalse and par- | writes:—“The momeutous event which you pro- | tisan imputation that North Carolina has ‘no love pose to commemorate deserves to be cherished for cne oid fag, the old constitution and the old as 2 significaut epoch in our history foraii time to jang, Edward Conigiand, of Balliax, thinks come, and as it foreshadowed the establishment war nis county will send 100 aelegates, of our national independence so may its aneval = oonei Jonn H. Wheeler, of Washington, writes recurrence witness the peaceful and prosperous = 4 jerter stoutiy reiterating his belief ia the genu- perpetuation of our national waits.” im*ness of the resolves of May 20, 1775. ‘The Governor of West Virginia, Jona J. Jacobs, Colone! John B. Palmer, of South Carolina, paysa glowing tribute to “tae memory Of those s.55; Having shared the hardsbips and suffer- sterling patriots of yore whose fame belongsto ing ina: followed North Carolina's second deciar- the waole country.” ation of independence, on the 20th of May, 1861, Goveraor John P. Cochra With the soldiers of the Old North State who ac- fegretting that he cannot attena, says, “Every companied me to the field, I cannot but feel pride sympathy of my natare will be you.” In the recollection of the patriotic deeds you pro- Governor P. H. Leste, of Kentucky, says Ris | pose to commemorate.” letter to the commitiee :-—“ You bave done well to AD advance copy of a memorial volame, of 167 celebrate an event which, while it rpoke the COM- pazeg containing Hon, William A, Graham’s ad- Mon sentiments which actuated the patriots of gress of February 4, 1875, nas been placed in my nat day, was yet the first definite utterance Of panis. It contains all the tmportant documents S national purpose which atterwards embodied pejstive to tue Mecklenbwg Declaration, including teeif in the Declaration of Indepenuence 10 1776." tnoge publisued by order of the Lezislature of Governor J. F. Hartranit, of Penasyivania, po Nort, Carona in 1831. It 1s published by order Mtely declines, | of the Central Executive Committee of tne | Governor Groome, of Maryland, says be will 8t- | Centennial and Monumentai Association in New tend If porsibie. York, aoa is beautifully printed on tinted paper. Governor Samael J. Tilden, of New York, regrets tno cover is embellisued with the symbolic uornes's bis inability to attend owing to @ pressure of en pest, which is suspended from the upper limb of a gagements. tree, on Whose top aiso appears the provincial flag. Governor William Allem, of Ohio, expresses BIS = {had an interview last might with Thomas L, regret that oMciai duty will prevent nim from Vis- Cying , former United States Senator fron iting his native State and participating With It North Carolina; also to-day with Hon. Rurus Bar- citizens io their celebration of an event im Whict | pinver, Both of these gentlemen strenuously ‘hey mach just pride. maintain the sutheaticity of the resolves of May Miness alone will prevent the attendance of 9) 4775, Governor Howard, of Rhode Island. Un the floor, on chairs, on t and all around, Governor John L. Beveridge, of Liinois, say8:—“T ander and above me, are a crowd of volumes from mould like to be present on that cecasion tO re- tne various private libraries of the city, ali bearing Rew my devotion to my country and gather the testimony on the marvellous Mecklenburg enigma, laspiration of our fathers.” Whose Sphynx seems to have falied to find ao Goveruor James D. Porter, of Tennessee, ac- Gdipus. it is @ mod of books. septs in a neat letter. | SESE Governor Js L. Kemper, of Virginis, | 4 seanct AMONG THE ANTIQUITIES OF CHAR- writes :—‘‘It is Ht that the peopie of all the States should tn¥s Bonor the occasion which recaus the | “TT! —WSAT THB GRAVES OF THE DEAD SAY—IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS- heretic character of the revolutionary fathers of North Carolina, as well as one of the proudest TORT—aN INTERVIEW WITH £X-GOVERNOR VANCE. events in the annais of the wnole country.” | Governor D. H. Caamberiaio, of South Varolina, | CHARLOTTE, Mecklenourg county, N. C.,) gives eloquent expression to sundry patriotic sen- May ii, 1875. § iments. and deciares nia purpose to attend. | [have just returned from drive to the Sugar Governor Curtis H. Brogden, of Norta Carolina, Creek Presoyterian church, three miles eastwara writes a lengthy and florid letter of acceptance, | of Charlotte, It isa neat and substantial brick A GRAND INDORSEMENT. | structure, and is the present house o! worship of Bat the letter of Governor ©. ©. Carpenter, of the oidest Presoyterias congregation in this coua- lowa, is so finely just In the vieWs expressed that ty, tie m Of which is at this time about (transmit toe most of it. It is Gated April 6. 600. It stands near the site of the /ormer edifice, Speaking of the proposed celebration be utters which was burped in leT2, Whether th was or the hope “that its infinence may ve felt throug! ‘Was not a still more ancient predecessor ip which out the Union in re-enxindiing the patriotic spirit | thie same society worshipped woward of a ce n- brterian church in Atlanta, Ga., wrires a cordial letter and contributes a poem for the Centennial, Dr. J. G. M, Ramsey, the historian of Tennessee, sends the following sentiment to be read at the Centenniil banquet:—“The principles of the Pres- | Right, Conscience, Liberty and Independence; | they must never be surrendered.” The Penosyivania branch, or home stock of the Alexander family, who came thence and six of whom signed the Mecklenburg resolves, will be uf Delaware, while of the men who, being assembied in Charlotte on tury ago is another of the many doubtful the 19th and 20th of May, 1775, and receiving by | questions which environ and complica the courier intelligence of the blow which had beem | great Mecklenburg conundrum. Kev. Mr. Me- struck one month befure at Lexington and Con- | Aden, @ Presbyterian missionary, who jabered cord, the: tens of Mecklenburg county, do hereby diasoive the political bands which nave connected us'o nd toere resolved that ‘We, the citi- | ali through this section im 1750, baving @ wide cir- cult Of appointments, extending in.o south Caro- lina, ¥a8 Gccustomed two preach at Sugar Creek, the mother country, and hereby absvive bi ‘st Ministrations Deing ia the house of Adal ourselves from ali allegiance to the British Alexander. It is contended by some that a ba! frown, and abjore all political cennection, | ing Was erected then for religious purposes, pat no traces of it can now be found. There is a ourial 7", Very near the old Alexander another in immediate proximity to tne site above referred to as burned three years ago, and stilla third graveyard hard by this new church building. the two more aq cient of these cemeteries [have just thoroughiy explored, with the aid of Captain James FP. Jooa- tomtect OF association with the nativn who have Wantonly trampied on our rights and jiberties sod inhumaniy shed the biood of American He proce to sayi— | im the festivities provided , the coincidence of one bun- years ag0 will be repeated. Then, when Jonn MecKoltt Alexander and Thomas Polk ana Joseph patriots at Lexington.’ ” “Todas, as you join Genmedy, and Jonn Piifer and Ephraim Buvara | ston, & zealous bat conscientions antix ‘nd James Jack and tueir associates in the Con- | quarian. In them I find evidence that vention were met ‘ior the purpose or devising | the Alexanders were a very numerous ‘Ways and Means to aid and assist their sudering | family. it will be remembered that mx of brethren in Boston, and nerally to adopt measures to eXtricate themselves from the im- pebding storm,’ the news trom Lexington oil @exed their proceedings. And as you, on this da: the twenty-six authors of the Mecklenburg re- solves Of May 20,1775, bore this heroic patrom,) mic, I Great visited the origina! burial ground, every foot of Whose suriace covers some last resting Wipe the lichens and the moss from the grave- | piace of the early seitiers of this Tt of Norta Stones of the fathers of the ‘Uld North State,’to Carolina or of their immediate descendants, Many piace apon their tombs ® gariand of immortelies, 0: these graves are now indicated only by depres tee Cehver O! & Celevration commemorative of the | sions of the ground, ali mementoes, if any, Which DOnaredth anniversary of the vuttie of Lexiagiom, may pave marked them vaving dienppear The ported by that mighty pytertan Scotch-Irish in Carvlica and elsewhere— | ¢ | ward Salisbury | am attend: headstoues whicn remain are mostly of the bluish soepstone of the County, which 18 abuneant in tins vicinity. 4 serutimize! each one cioseiy, None b ‘3a date anterior to 1769, They sadiy need the services of some Old Mortality to remove the moss and deepen the jines, which the beating of rain ts siowly but surely obliterating, Icupy some of the inseriptions: - Qe OOO ELELELELETEIELELEREDE LEE EE HEED 3 Here Lys the Body of Rober’ 3 Deceas’d Ve'ober ye 19th, 1775. Ag sd 73 years. 3 ee Qeeenve rene nese re nent ee reee st ne rere te Rete eens tebe teie » 3° Tic Orr, Died Anguat 15, 1775. aged 26 years. & QOL LEE ROLEEOLE DOLE DELL DEIELE DEDEDE TEEEIED SPOR ARELLE LO LEILIE LE IOLE EEE DEDOLEIE DERE DOLE EE LELE LED 3 Here Lys the Body of John Siarr, who de-3 spared this life September ye 6, 1775, aged 402 ars, Da et LOCE LORE LLELE EEE TEDELE DEDEDE EDEL EIDE EOLE EE QOOOL OOOO LE IL IEE LE TEEL LODE DOOEEEDEAELELE LETT EEIE TEED) Albert Alexander, son of Isaac and Catharines Alexanuer, died Sunday, October (sic) 1785,3 aged 8 years, 3 DOPE AP OL OOTI IE ELOETE DE LEE TEL ERE DE LPOE DE TET EE ED ' At the top of this stone is a device, rudely exe- cuted, ofa dove, taking in his bill a bud from the Parent stem, t PCO LO LENE LO NE TE RELEDE TELE LIED IEEE IONE EIT Hb eb EEE in memory of Ezra Alexander, January, 12th, A.D, 1791, aged 19 yea’ Deeenceceneane rte Pe heOe PELE bE LE LPEELE IDLOLELENELOLIED Becererceseee: 3. Here: Slate: wile: to: Robert: Carr: Who 3June ye .9: 1769: Aged; 51 years. POOL TOLLE IP LE REDE EP LEDLEPLL TE LPLE LODE DELOLELE DE LE, ret: Carr: deceased: QOELEI CELL DEAELOLE DELETE EEE LTEOLE LE LOROLE NE LOLODE $, Here les tne body of Charity Barnet, who 3 Deceased becemoer the 14th, 1775. COLE LE LILO LE EEE EE LD LE DE OLE DEDEDE DEDEDE LOLEIELE LE The grave of Rev. Sumuel 0, Craighead, a native of Pennsylvania, who flurished in colonial days, | said by tradition to have been an active propas gandist of the democratic principles which are claimed to inhere in Presbyterianism, is marked by @ sassairas tree of twenty-two incnes diameter. He indoctrinated the eutive people witn nis theo- logical and poiltical ideas, ani the great mass of them cherish his tenets to this day, Two-thirds of the population, if not more, are Presbyterians, Visiting the cemetery next In order of antiquity I found, amid the graves of nearly seventy Alex- anders, the memorial stones which d signaie when two of the six of that family name who ap- pear as sizners of the resolves of May 20, 1775, were buried. I copy the inscriptions:— Qe eePe ee Gene tt OPTI TELELEELIDIL EERE LEDER DE DEEE SE LED 3 Abraham Aiexander died April 23d, 1786, 2agea 68 years. Let me die the death of tne} grigateous, and let my last end be like nis. 3 Cece cree ee atte LPO TOPE RELETEDEELLEDE AA EEEELEDEDEDLG The head stone has at the top arude figureoft a Vessel, said to be typical of that which brought him irom seotland, his native country. At the | left is the grave of pis wife, Dorcas, who died May 28, 1800, aged sixty-six years. This is the Abrabam Alexander who presided over the famous Charlotte Convention of May 19 and 20,17 Near by 18 tue grave of one of his brave compeers. The inscription reads thas:— QO LOLA LE LELEIELELETLIDIE LE LLELIEIELELENODE OE COTE ED In memory of Hezekian Alexander, who {departed tais ie July 16th. 1801, aged 78 year’.3 Qanene cere cent tt tt tt LOhd TE LPIEEPE PLO UETEDDEPLELTLE RE) Each of these cld graveyards are surrounded with a ditch or moat. thrown inwerd, and 1s surmounted with a rougn stone wall, In golog and returning I traversed the very road which Genera! Joseph Graham — by attacking Tarleton’s cav- | made nistoric alry with a handful of men—one ac- count says with only tweive—and persistentiy | harassing them tor many miles during Lord Cornwallis’ victorious march from Charlotte to- im September, 1780, after nis erusning deveat of the American forces at Camden. In the City Cemetery a2 Chariotte Coionel Thomas Polk, another of the originators of the Mecklen- | burg ceclaration, rests in the same grave witn nis wife. Colonel Polk was @ man of great influ- ence, a natural leader of men andthe possessor of spiendid courage. His grave is covered with a large marble slab, placed horizontally, and in- scribed a3 follows:— QOOOL OL LO CELL LELOLELELI TELE ROLE LELEDOLEDEDEDELE NLT IDD ¢. The eartuly remains of General Tnomasy 2Polk and his wile susana@ Polk, who lived} {many years togetier, justiy beioved and re- $spected jor their many virtues, and died wort gversally regretted by all who had the pleasure 3 gof thelr acquaintance. Their son, Wiliam Polk, «8 & token of his fillai regord hath causea Ptnis stone to be erected to their memory. z QOe ne ee Te OE LELOLE LORE TELL EE IERELELELEEDEDL OLED LEE DED), Torning now from the dead to the living, I | cal ed ou that exceeaing!y live man, ex-Governor | Z. B. Vance, at bis law office close to the Custom House. He was very cordial, and expressed bis views on current topics witn great freedom, as 1s bis wont. He had just returned from one of the courts of his circult at waoich he spent the week, and be will be absent until Sa:urday of next week nce aLanother, He regretted that the pressure of his business, and a'most continual ab- sence from home for several weeks, had prevented him from making his contribution to tne pending discassion upon the Mecklenburg ‘enizma now go- ing on In the New York Heratp. He believes faliy in the autnenticity of the resoives of both the 20th | end Sist of May, 1775. He cousiders it uafortunate that United States Minister stevenson in 1857 should have removed ‘rom its envelope im the State Paper OMce at London the printed copy of the resolutions of the 20k. If George Bancreit, who had promised at King’s Mountain, several years before 1857, to write up that portion of bis history relative to North Carolina, had only done 60 promptly the matter would have been deflaitively settied, Governor Vance thinks Minister Steven- son lost this important document, and that it cannot be found among his papers, He showed me a Warrant of arrest issued a few years alter the Revolution by Hezekiau and Jobn McK. Alex- | ander as justices of the peace. There are many similar official writings 1m the custody of different persons in tuls county, to which the names of them and others of the ‘ramers of the Meck- jenburg Declaration are appended, The Alexan- ers were uot only numerous but very reputable and prominent citizens. The only North Carolina Governor irom Mecklenburg couaty ever chosea was Dr. Nathaniel Alexander. Governor Vance does not regret General Grant’s refasal to atrend the Centennial. He was invited to come purely out of deference to his position as President of the United States. man present thereupon suggested empty carriage in that part of thé procession assigned to Grant would answer ag weil as tne actual attendance of the “silent soidier,” and that it would be typical of bis vacuity. learn thatthe programme will be carried out as originally arranged. There will be two set orations; one by Mr. Jobn Keir, as heretofore | announced in the correspondence, ana the otuer by Hon. John M. Bright, of Tennessee. Tennessee, by the way, Is looked upon here a dsughter of North carolina; hence the selection of an orator from that State. once, when, in 1784, under the lead of Jonu Sevier, she attempted to set uo fr herself as the State of Frankland, But that matter is ail rignt now. On the 26tn of September, 1790, the two North Caro- lina United States Senators executed a deed con- veying the western portion of the State to the United States, ond Tennessee became @ separate Commonweaith. It is for this reason also—tne fact that Tennessce was, during the Revola- tion, aa integral part of North Carolina—that the Centennial order of exercises assigns to the Goverfor of Tennessee precedence in the proces- sion of the 200k inst. over the Governors of other | States. There will be no poem in the ordo rerum, Ip addition to the big varbecue, which will be free to all comers, a banquet or collation is to be given to the invited guests especially, at which it is ex- pected there will be any number of impromptu apeeches, I visited to-day the two-story wooden house on | Tryon street, which Was Cornwallis’ neaaquarters during his Occupancy of Cuariotte in 1780. It has been moved, however, from its original site, There is not & vestige leit of the oid Court House from which the resolves of May, @ hundred yeors so, were promulgated, and, strange to say, Novody seems to know what became of it or a! exactly what time tt disap- peared. It stood atthe intersection of the two principal streets of tue city—Wade and Tryon, It was in the exact centre of the town, according to which I examined th the bur, by the changes of trat omce; fic, the bulk of business, and, consequently, of Duildings, is getting onoue side, immortal memory. AD sssociation jor this pur ORO Was \acorporated by the iast General Assom- McKee, who? | ® | pears to ve talked of or thougat about. Qeece® Qessesey Gee. bee The excavated earth was | A gentie- | that an | She was rather an unruly child | The proposed | monument Will be erected on this spot of sacred, | bly, which will, doubtless, at its next session, | make an appropriation to supply a possible def. ciency io the pecessary funds, ‘the discussion now in progress in the HERALD has warvellously stirred up the people of this city and county and set them to studying up the old annals. Every man | meet is at east an amateur mstorian, and some seem to have the whole of “Wheeler's History of North Carolina” and “Jones’ Devence” at their tongues’ end. Nothing else ap- ‘Tals 18 well. The only pity fs that the good citizens did not take an active interest !n the matter a num- ber of years sooner, Tae Mecklenburg Historical Society 18 @ result of the debate alluded to, At an adjourned meeting last night Major C. Dowd was elected President, ex-Governor Z. B, Vance aud General D. H. Hill, Vice Presidents, and Dr. Thomas J. Moore, Secretary. Immediate measures will be taken to collect, examine and preserve all the old Papers in the county which are contemporaneous with the Revolutionary War or that have any re- lation to its events, It ts believed that historic | materials of value, now lying neglected in ob- scure places, may in this way be brought to light. BRIMSTONE. PROFESSOR GESSNER'S VISIT TO THE SULPHUR BEDS OF THE ISLAND OF SABA—A RIVAL OF SICILY IN THE WEST INDIES. Sr. THomas, March 20, 1875. To THR EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— My visit to the isiand of Saba, about 100 miles from here and one of the Windward Group, has | been very interesting, and I hope that some account | of it may prove so to your readers. The island is | a volcanic cone, about two miles in diameter and | some 8,000 feet in neignt at the peak. The princi. | pal town ana seat of government Is Leverock, sit- | | | | | } uated 1,000 feet ab: ve the sea, in the bowl-shaped vailey of the old crater. In this town 1 had my quarters ior two weeks, making excursions from it toall parts of the island. There are a few cocoanut, banana and tamarind trees scat- | tered sbout the town, which contains some 800 | people, composed of u population of half whites and half blacks. ‘The population of the whole fsiand 13 about 2,000, My objec’ im visiting this strange island was the examination of the much- talked-of sulphur deposits. 1 lost no time alter arrival in org :mizing a party to act as guides and assistants, My landlord, a@ very incelligent man anda water carrier, and some fine looking negroes, with picks and snovels, formed the party. | My march began at six in the morning. The scene irom my door in Leverock was novel and | grand, Justin front of me two lava peaks, part of the rim of the old crater, rose some seven — hundred feet, like giants of antiqaity. To the right and left the sea wppeared through the wide | fissures made by former eruptions, At the back the Peak of Saba, with the ciouds whirling around | it continually, rose 2,000 feet. Now and then these , clouds would fail in rain over the little valley, the | sun shining brightly all the time, There are no carriage roads in Saba, all the transportation being done by the negroes, who carry enormous | loads upon their heads with great apparent ease. The paths are in some places very stony, and the climbing is sometimes very bazardous. Though I made many excursions in Saba, aud sw evidences of the existence of brimstone durtug the most of | them, I wil describe one only, which may seem to give an idea of all. ‘The little yellow boy who acts as water carrier 1g at the door, his eyes dancing at the prospect of aday’s picknicing anda silver half dollar; ana ' when he is duly loaded with bread and batter, cold meats, a bottle of rum and one of water, all of whch be carries in a basket neatly balanced | upon bis uead, we depart. My landlord leads the | way, Liollow with the lightest of clothing anda sun umbreila, the miners come next and the you low boy brings up the rear. Our way lies over St. John’s Hul, waoich ts 1,500 Jeet above the sea, with # 8m.liclaster of bouses upon its top. From this point toe view 1s grand—wonderiul. Back of us, the peak with its cloud cap ri into the sky; in iront tue sea, wide and endless, 18 only shut out by volcanic rocks, which rise im the shape of very short headlanas, 1,600 and 1,700 feet, St. Eusta- tius, St. Kitts and Nevis seem close at hand over the deep blue water, and Montserrat may be seen | on the horizon, Our path winds in and out among | the rocks as we skirt the peak. Below us the surf on shore is @ white line, to wiich the stony ridges descend, Just above isa Village cailed Monticello, | 1,800 feet above the sea. It is situated upon Booby | Hil, under whica ts a 8) ied the Web- | vec Hole. Here the volcanic rock shows 1p grand cliffs, which stand out almost perpendicular to the shore. AS We pai through the Windward Side Oorn- weli Henword, a” Engiish mining engineer, joined | our party, and im his company 1 weut along very pieasaatiy, as he had b-en over the grouna oeuvre upd knew its character ae te, Oar aestina- on was Spring Bay, where the beds of sulphur bearing cypsum snow their greatest outcrop, and Great Hole, woich adjoiue it. Not far trom the Windward Side we turned intoa deep valley, Whico besins at the peak aud descenis to the sea , at Spring Bay, where it widens into a plateau half | a mile in width, itis id Heli’s Gate (probably | because Of the brimstone there), aod the view of | tt as we turned the ridge was very striking. Up to (bis time we had seen nothing duc guava, sour and other sciub busnes giong the path, but now had a glimpse of more juXuriant vegetation. Cieepin, plants of large »ize trailed ever tue rocks, an ag the eye travelied uo the gorge masses of green were ooserved, which continued unti they joined ' the girdle of mountaia feros around the peak. It Was Very pleasan! to enter the de of this pic- turesque Valley. We rested a little at its deepest part and Where it 28 almost perpeadicuiar, then climbed 10 ‘s Gite Ridge, a very wild and recky | place, dad then descended into Great Hole, near | All-too-lar Ridg>, reacning & plateau about 300 fees above the sea, Will & Cap oF Volcanic rock 150 feet high resting upon it lo toe background, J ance from tae suor uo Key, whico looks | been thrown Gown from the peak in umes ; ast, We went over the edge of the plateau, or seemed to do 80, but reaily did no more tan enter the Various Openings Made in the sulphar bed, whicn exteuds along its face for nalia mie. ine men were enyvaged in removing the overburden, some — eight feet of sand and gravel, when we arrived, | and in creaking down the crude brimstone from the face oi the bed, woich is forty fes* in thickness at this point and extends into the | hit under the volcanic cap for an in- | deinite distance. Gomg toward Piat Point, | which lies between Great Hole and | | Spring Bay, ana descending the cliff a little, one can obtain a view of the juce ol tne vast bed of brimstone, Which shows the yellow features in all the places when the overourden has been re- moved, und in weatherworn places stends out distinctly, We flilour pockets with crystals of sulpiur, Which line the crevices in tae bed. t one place # fissure nearly two feet in width, lined | with yellow crystal so far as we could see, was | sounded with @ line \orforiy feet. fhe mass ot the bed 1s gypsuin, bearing sulphur to agreater | or less degree, sixty per cent being tae average of sulphur. In many places masses of sulphur, quite pure and resembling felted brimstone poured into irregular moulds, coula be bad, hundreds ot | | poands in weight. Tue fires died outin Sava so long ago that The sulptur beds are periectly cold, And HO ASCs arise to Laterrupt the Working Oi the | | salpuur quarr,, the workmen carrying on their | Operations as easily as i! In @ Dank of sti clay. @ trace the bed to Fiat Point and agree as to what Spring Bay will show when its outcrops have been explored with pick and shovel. We discuss the shipping facilities and agree that a | wire tramway from the edge of the quarry to Green Key will be the way to do the transporta- | tion to the lighters, It is a hard climb to Hell's Gate Ridge again; but we manage it, and after a resting spell at one of the houses by tue way, aod with a view seaward that Would stir the neartof @ giaven image, we | trudge slowly home again through the Windward Side and around the peas, the shadow of the hilia | westward Of our home in the crater |own reach- ing across it as We descend St, Joun’s Hill for rest and dicner. sitting out on the edge oi the cistern iu the evening, smoking and yy | it all over, I Jeel well repaid for the tramp and for the voyage from home, for | bave seen what 1 believe to be | one of tne largest and certainly tae richest and | Most accessible deposits of brimstone io the nd, Wy proiession being of @ diavolical am pleased Se W. GESSNER, | “nn BURNING OF THE PLANET MILLS. The Brooklyn Fire Marshal yesterday continued bis investigation into the cause of the fire which destroyed the Planet Mill Mr. Rutherford, Bucianan & Lyall’s bookkeeper, | swears positively that he rung th cond alarm from the mill office, while the watenman is equally certain that be himself sounded the firat two alarms. Two witnesses Were examined, one of whotn swears to seelug O'Leary in Bond street just previous to the fre, and otner that there was ho watchman in the building When neignoors, | seeing the fumes, poanded the office door to av * tract his attention, receiving no re: | iovestigation nas Ort | at the feathered | Vited to the palace the leaders of the hostile sects, PM. PLE SHEET. ART IN ENGLAND. i a ees Lonvox, May 1, 1875. TENNYSON'S INFLUENCE IN ART—WHAT THE LADIES ARE PAINTING—AMERICAN ARTISTS IN THE EXHIBITION. 1 am not quite satisfied witn the recent per- formances of Mr, E, M, Ward. His “Lady Clara Vere de Vere’ (95) is not what it should be, There 18 nothing here to tell us of the proud beauty whom Tennyson has described. We have a woman fairof face, I grant, but with no touch of aristocratic haughtiness, wise features cer- tainly have not that repose which suits the caste of Vere de Vere, and whose general appearance a that rather of @ prim dowdiness than resplendent hauteur. Again, to take “Lady Teazle as Spinster Playing her Father to Sleep’? (283); while the figure of the slumbrous gentleman in the chair, his kercnef thrown over his head, and his entire attitude so Well done that one may fancy one almost hearing his tuneful snore, there is singularly little in the expression of her future laaysbip’s face that 1s premouitory of the destiny, or which specially marks the temper, of Sheridan’s aristo- cratically termagant heroine, Mr. Ward's three other paintings are not much more ambitious or efectiv>, Mr, Austell, R. A., gives us two Spanisi sketches in hts best style (581 and 590), On Mr, Elmore’s “Mary, Queen of Scots, and Christopher Norton at Bolton Casue’” there 1s bestowed much of evident thought and finish; but the general impression ts unsalisfac- tory, anu I believe the cause is that too many figures are crowded into too narrow a compass, Mr. F. Leighton is represented by five paintings. This year he has chiefly derived bis inspiration from the Hast, and he revels in the dpportunities which nis subjects allow of gorgeous effects of color. The only work of any size—a sinall study of a@ Venetian girl—is, in its way, incomparabiy ex- quisite, What he gives us is an ‘Eastern Slinger Scaring Birds in the Harvest Time; a bold experiment and one the first impression of whic is not altogether pleasing. The prevailing tinge is copper—a tall, 8warthy figure on a piat- form of stones, high above the wheat now ripe for | harvest, and in the act of discharging the missile thieves, it 18 umnecessary to say that the drawing is periect and tne anatomy of the form everything that art and study combined insure. But {f question whether a figure seen under such circumstances would not wear a darker hue—indeed, be almost biack. His portraft of Mrs, H. Gordon (307) 18 a superd specimen of sumptuously rich color, Of Mr. J. GO, Hook’s four painungs the palm must be given to his “Hearts of Oak” (47) and “The Sampnire Gatherer” (435)—the former depicting an old weather-beaten salt by the seashore, shap- ing a mintature craft for his child out of an oaken block, while the wife and mother plies her heedie closo by. The life of the father is suMcientiy imdicarea vy its title. Of Mr. Armitage, R.A, Lam not quite certain whether his single contribution, ‘Julian the Apos+ tate Presiding at a Conierence of Sectarians,” 1a not on the wiole the second finest picture in the Academy, ‘Julian,’ writes G.bbon, “who under. stood and derided their theviogical disputes, in- that be might enjoy the agreeable spectacle of their furious encounters.” The Emperor is seated In Mr. Armitage’s picture at the head ofa table, round which are gathered the wratnful controver- siailsts, Or al! the pictures which the Exhibition con- tains there 1s none more genuinely English, both in its subject and composition, than Mr. H, T, Wells’ “November Morning at Birdsall House, Yorkshire.” The scene is the tront door of a manorial home and a party of half a dozep horse- men, surrounded by hounds, lt is a hunting morning and Lady Middleton and the Hon. Mrs, Willoughby have come out to see steed and rider and dog depart. | Mrs. Willouguby’s face aud figure are perfect, and | ifit is thought at first that her right arm is arti- ficially rigid the objection probably disappears when it is remembered that the arm is encased in velvet. Nothing can be more natural taan the caress which the lady bestows upon the dog by her side;+ nothing more thoronghly English than the transparedt intensity of the | interest which she feels im the for- | tunes of the day; everytuing in her face and figure | seems to hint regret that she is not herseif about — to accompany the riders, Mr. D. Murray's “Vale of Cormsk, Isie of Skye” (114), 1s effectively | painted, and 18 not exaggerated most repre- sentations of that spot, immortalized by Scott in the “Lord of the Isles,” are, ‘Sain et Sauf,” by Marcus Stone (190), is probably an episode of the | Franco-Prussian war—the safe retirn of a French soldier, who, it may be, has taken partia one of the desperate sorties from Parts, to his wile and family. The woman is especially well done; but, on the whole, the wors will notadd to Mr. Stone’s reputation, I was particularly pleased with Mr. E, Gil's “Storm Subsiding on a Kocky Coast’ (238). The tempest has passed, but that the atmosphere 1s still disturbed and the sea is dan- gerous is ths impresston which the artist has most happily conveyed. Mr. A. S, Monk sends four works, and there is not one of them which 1s not a model of quaint antiquarian humor and | periect finish ia rich detail, Their names are | “Phe Joliy Post Boys,” “A Merrie Jest’ and two | designs for decorations of “the Canterbury | Pilgrims.” M. A, Baccami has executed | @ pleasing poitrait of Mrs, George Au- | gustus Sala, wife of the well-known = litté-/ rateur, and I must draw attention to _ what I consider an extremely clever piece of work by Mr. H. R. Robertson (444), “Winter”—an aged woman sawing @ piece of wood in iront of ber cottage door, The skill with which the Monotony of wintry hues—showno alike in tho leacen deadxess of the heavens and the bleak aspect of the folds—is depicted is remarkably | striking. WOMAN IN ART. . You will doubtless be interested to know how Miss Elizaveih Thompson, of whom so much was expected from her “Koll Cail,” contributed in the Academy last year, has done to reacem the promise of tne picture waich first gave her dis- tinction. “The Twenty-eighth Regiment at Quatre Bras,” will probably be #3 popular as the “Roil Cali.” With some undoubtea defects it unites striking merits, Its deiects le in the conven- tional modernisms into which Miss Thompson has fallen; its excellence in the fidelity with whicn she reproduces the incidents of a stirring scene and appy enthusiasm with which she has caught the mor characteristic features of an his- torical event. From Siborne’a “Waterloo Cam- | paign” Miss Thompson has gained ber ideas, She there reads that “in the oattle of Quatre Bras, June 16, 1816, the Twenty-eigntn regiment, formed together with the Royals into a sguare ina flela of particularily tali rye, were repeatedly assaulted | by the enemy's cavairy, culrassters and Polish lance: who closed @ long series | Of ansuccessial attacks by @ farious charge | simaltaneously delivered against thre «f the square.” This piciure represents the last effort of the enemy at about Ove o'clock ‘The failure,” adds Miss Thompson, “of these attempts to break the formation of the squares Was productive of much levity on the part which are traditional in the regiment.” Accord- ingiy Misa Thompson has interspersed the ranks of her warriors, whose features speak of grim de- termination and silent resolve, witn here and there @ younger soldier, whose imuscies have relaxed themselves to ®& broad grin, and who is evidently hurling forth a laugh of deflance at the foeman who impetavusly béars down, but can produce no effect on the firmly planted phalanx. The whole picture i instinct with lle and movement. Nothing can be better than the manner in which the clouds of smoke arise from the plain: nothing more powerfai than the ex- Cessive teusion of which the faces of the ofllcers, Frenon and kngiish, tell, Bat there 1s dramatic contrast, and therefore less of sugges- tiveness, in tie picture than im that sent by Mise Thompson last year. AMEWIOANS IN THE ACADEMY. ‘ * Mr. G. H, Boughton, you will be interested in hearing, contrivuces three pictures, each of wach taces | oy | In faci, there are but few works Oo! the latter ki | Enowzh of the Si of some of the younger soldiers, instances of | a | 1s of a very high order of excellence, and received both at the press view on Wednesday ai it the private view yesterday, general ana sincere ap» proval. I may say, without exaggeration, that is his “Bearers of the Burden” be has met Mr. B Walker on his own ground and beaten him clean outof the fleld, Mr, Boughion’s figures are wwe miserable women, who Live just relieved anothel woman more miserable stili of the load | she was carrying, A few yards in front of this last there stalks a powerful, brutal looking navvy, pipe in mouth and bulldog at heel. ‘The incident is suggestive, in a melancholy de gree, of one of the least lovely features of ow civilization, and the gloom of the iandscape, + weary road over a level moor, is singularly con: sistent with the moral aspect of th ie, The jow clouds tell of impending rain, ana the cowed look of the sorrow-stricken wife tells not less surely of the flerce treatment which she dreada trom her rufManily lord and master, Mr. Bough ton’s two other pictures are of a different charac. ter, but they are remarkable for the me harmony of idea noticeable in enon detail. In path of roses we have a young lady robed in white sitting ina garden, a kitten nest ling by ner side, under a bright sunshine and a@ biue sky. All is eloquent of peace and home, “Gray Days’ represents a youag woman prema turely widowed reclining solitary under a sky that is prematurely shadowed. Nigit has not yet fallen, but there is the dimness of night im the at- mosphere, as there 18 the settled gloom of ua- naturally early twilight upon Mr. Boughton’a heroine. Yor artistic unity and patios the Academy contains nothing better than these three exquisite pictures, jor tne first of which, I believe, Mr. Boughton has received £800. THR YOUNG ARTISTS, Of junior artists rapidly rising to distinction perhaps Mr. Luke Tildes distinguls! himselt most by “Betty” (1,221), @ picture of a buxom milking girl of a very striking quality. I beileve it was done In lesa than three montus. but there are no signs of haste about the folds of the drapery and the ontsn of the features. Of portraits the most noticeable are sir F, Grant’s—the President of the Academy sends five in all—'J. Whyte Melville, Esq.,” painted for the Royaland Ancient Golt Club of St. Andrew's, Mr. F, Sandy’s likeness of Mrs, Brand, who holds in her hand a fan which ts a miracie of exquisite workmansuip—the white musiin clearly visible ‘through its black, “‘gauzy transparence—and Mr. Dickinson’s Protessor Cayley. I except, of course, the contribution of Mr, Oniess, on which I ‘have already dwelt. But I have said enough to enable you to form ageneral impression. I cannot say that tne Royal Academy of 187518 a superb exhibition of artistic genius; but if it can boast ot few paintings of the highest order it t# free from any which are open to the charge o} unqualified vulgarity, and it at least contains one of commanding power, M, Alma Tadema’ “Sculpture Gallery.” Finally 10 13 distioct ground of satisfaction that thete should be this year @ smaller percentage than usual of likenesses of provincial beauties in the Academy, and thut as regards both the hanging and the selection there should be no complaints of partiality or tnjustice. ART IN FRANCE. VARNISHING DAY AT THE PARIS SALON—PREPA- RATIONS FOR THE OPENING—GENERAL AS- PECT OF THE EXHIBITION—SALE OF THE FORTUNY COLLECTION—PEOPLE CRAZY OVER PICTURES, &C. Parts, April 30, 1875. Yesterday being what the artists call “varnish. ing day,’’1 availed myself of the opportunity af- forded me by the courtesy of one of the exhipttora to obtain 4 preliminary view of the Salon previous to its formal opening to the public to-morrow (Saturday). AltnoughI had previously seen and criticised the principal pictures, I was curious to Juage of the general effect of the collection and to compare it with that of last year. There is no bet | ter time fora task of this kind than the day al lowea the artists for varnishing their pictares, for, as oniy a limited number of persons are admitted, the visitor can move about with freedom and ex- amine the works exbibited eitner close or at a distance, just as the lancy seizes him. THE FIRST COUP D’OEIL Struck me as favorable. The pictures are well distributed, and there seems to be less tality in the arrangement than usual. As one proof of the fairness which has been displayed by those intrusted with the duty of hanging them, 1 may mention that nearly all the pictares of tne Amert- can artists who exhibit are on the line and in thi Most favorable light. ‘Thus, the first pictures almost that catch the eye on entering are tndse of Bridgman and Henry Bacon, and wortnily do they fill the advantageous places allotted to them. Ip my notice, pudlished onthe 4th of April, I gave you full detalls regarding these pictures. Seen it the fine light of the saloon they confirm all that) said of them; and one of them, Bridgman’s Nil picture, nas gained so much in briliiancy by the transposition that it 18 attracting general atten tion. D. R. Knight’s beautiful landscap», wnien) described in my former letter, 1s not equally for- tunate. Piaced in juxtaposition witn pictores glowing with color, its delicate tones sre weakened and a great portion of their effect lost. Happily this cannot be said of the pictures of our two lady artists—Miss Garduer and Miss Tompkins, They are both vigorous colorists, and they lose nothing ia that respect by contrass with their neighbors, Although 1 noticed in my former article most of the important works prepared for the exhivition there are several to whica Idid not have access when it was written, from the unwillingness of the artists to show them before they were finished, Among these is the great picture, great both in size and quality, by Becker, an artist of noble aims and of great powers of expression, The sub- ject is ‘Rizpan, the wie of Saul, protecting against the birds of prey the bodies of her two children and those of five sons of Michal, tae daughter of Saul, crucitiea vy the Gibeonites.” Tuis, next to | Gustave Doré’s “Inferno,” 1s the most ambitious | pletare | may opti regards subject in the Salon and Is, in , much more fureibly treated. Notnin, can be grander than the conception of the princl- pal figure or bolder in treatment than the detalis ofthe picture generally, But I am wandering into criticism 1 ad of confining myself to impressious made upon me by tae collection as @ waole. In sume respects it ls infinitely supe. rior to that of last year The new works are more ambitious in’ thelr alms, and ex- hibit less straining alter tne vice of elabora- ou which has beea generated by the passion lor plotures than those of the last exibition, in the coliection, the tendency being in favor o1 subjects vigorously and broadly treated. Perhaj the happiest combination of the two styles—and when lowod united they generaliy offer exellent dacquet’s pict No. 1,101, manipulation. figure, @ young and beautiful long and loose Veivet costume, withvut ora: or ac ortes of any kind, and every deta: to the slightest fola 0; the dress, is a stu itself. Bonnat’s remarkavle portrait of Fasce, of which I gave you a descr\ption in a er letter, 18 not to be compared ia won Trealiam and at the same time picturesque ment witu this extraordinary work. PORTRAITS. The portraits, with two or three exceptions, are prey Ei very poor this year. Dubufe is indifferently Sented. Cabaiel las but One pleture ol the Kinda not @ Very attractive one—and Mile. Ne acq: mart dves not appear to as much adv: usual. En revanche, the Helsing “in nsupject and. exquisitely easing in subject g x alon for to-day. To-morrow the pubic will be admitted to pass I's flat upon the pictures and the work of the Paris critics will be- gia. % an expendiv of Highfaiutin’ uige and imagery we shall have for the m fortnight. Bree? French writer thioks t¢ can freely give oe in to bis Pegasus wi starts off op res. : i COLLROTION, Ti In the account which I recently gave you of collection belonging to the famuy of tue Ia Spanish painter Fortuny, now being disposed of at the Salie Lege Tetated that the amount reab ized would not fall it ort of 6v0,000%, The re sults of the four day s which have taken piace, and which, it should be observed, do put @ the fine collection of ancient a ly amount to 704,000! By ume 10) is gone througn th V Wit be rtofa million, But this is thrown the one which took piace at the in London, on Saturday it ty-six pictures of the modern school brougnt close upon £03,000, Aud yet peopie the iace to talk o: hard times, Tad harduess consists im the accumulation of money to the hands of people who nave the heart to spend such enormous sums in the gratification of (heir whims, while hundreus of taousands of taeir fellow Crem tures are sarving.