6.-NEW-ORLEANS IN MIDSUMMER. August is fast hurrying away, and the sultry san pours down his unpitying fires upon those of us who cannot off to the sea-side, the lakes or springs, or the cool shades of the country, but must endure the hot walls still. Well, we are not, at least, without philosophy! To be sure, we are spared many of the annoyances to which our travelling friends are subject, and we can peranibulate without being jostled by rude crowds, or run over by carts and omnibuses. Everything is quiet and dignified; one may almost recognize every face he meets in the streets. Some little time can be afforded for social indulgence. Kain, rain, rain!-there is no cessation to the flood! The very sluices of heaven are let loos—for weeks and months the sun has only been allowed occasional peeps to see, as it were, how we are getting on below.. But he makes the most of these interregnums. Will there be no end of these torrents! Our country friends groan, as well they may, for their cane-fields. But the nights are beautiful still-all moonlight or starry. We are free from epidemic. The dreadful passages of disease and death have not yet been enacted. The hospitals, and a few straggling cases in private prac tice, embrace all we have of fever. Shall this season escape! Alas! we fear not, from the pregnant s'gns exhibited. How calm and stately has everything grown. The little knots of politicians at the street corners, or near the post-office, discourse of Taylor, Cass, and Barnburners, aud yawn even in their best passages. The soldiers have all left, scarce a straggling volunteer remains to us, who have for so many months been surrounded with all the "pomp and circumstance of glorious war," and entertained at our boards its heroes. The last of them all, the man of Contreras, is by his family hearth! Even the "raw head and bloody bones" of the Sierra Malre invasion excites not a passing sensation, A visit the courts is bat to dreary, disura solitu les. Judge and ju ́y, now, have only to look after an obdurate criminal. Our city fathers seize the occasion to pave streets and lay gas-pipes, and the trowel and the hod are in full play. If we walk the Levee the great Easton House shows itself in piles of brick and mortar, and will in time rise majestic by the old father of waters. The huge granite blocks of the Municipality Hall are ascending the crane, and they have erected a great guillotine-looking affair, which towers upon all around. The University is finishing and adorning its buildings. They are building a Catholic church and Jesuit school. Huge stores and handsome dwellings are going up all around and extending far into the suburbs. They are mounting the telegraph wires and repairing the levee. Some relief may be found in all these evidences of progress. Greater times still are in reserve for New-Orleans. Our leading clergy are away, and some of our best doctors and lawyers. Amusements there are none. Theatres closed, Opera closed. They are enlarging the St. Charles. Some negro melodists have succeeded the "model artists." Occasionally a balloon ascends on Sunday afternoon. One may at least enjoy the shell road. The newspapers flourish, and here we are consoled that they are unsurpassed. The war being over, they look to other sources. The Picayune's foreign news and Paris correspondent-the spicy "neutrality," playful huinor, and progressive policy of the Delta and Crescent; the politico-economical speculations of the Bulletin; the able commercial summaries of the Times: the admirable and uusurpassed statistics of the Prices Current. Then come the guns of politics-the Courier, Bee, and National, always full of controversy, handled with spirit and ability. We forget not the interesting Mercury. Nowhere can there be found a more respectable press. Our French, German and Spanish friends all have their daily sheets. We have one monthly commercial periodical; and a tri-monthly Medical Review, most highly prized by the doctors at home and abroad. Rumor predicts a revival in the fall, of the Law Journal and Literary Miscellany, which have been allowed to fall to the ground. In the country we would name those admirable agricultural sheets, the 'oncordia Intelligencer and the Planter's Banner. Nor forget we our religions press, Protestant and Catholic. In the winter there are to be lectures in the different departments of the University, and it is hoped that institutions will be effectually organized. An extra session of the Legislature is called in regard to school matters. The Historical Society is moving slowly. It is collecting a Library. John Perkins, Esq, one of the secretaries, is now in Europe, with power to prosecute researches in regard to Louisiana. The search in Spain has so far turned up nothing.* * Some time ago we clipped from the Delta's correspondent, we think, an extract, interesting in regard to New-Orleans literature, taken from the work of Henry Caldwell: "The first original piece enacted in New-Orleans was called La Pere Indiana,' (The Indian Father, it was performed by a company of amateurs, at the Governor's mansion, in 1758. The second original dramatic production, and first played by a regular company at the French Theatre, was entitled, 'Les Natchez, or the Last of the Serpent Tribe. This piece, we understand, was published. The third was written by James H. Kennicott, Esq., entitled. 'Irma, or the Prediction,' which, in competition with five others, gained the premium of $300, offered by Mr. Caldwell:-it was produced in 1830. The fourth was written by Mr. James Rees, called. 'Washington at Valley Forge,' produced at the American Theatre on the 4th of March, 1833. The next original production was The Headsinan.' by the same anthor-played 1834. Then followed The Misletoe Bough.' Mr. Bannister, in 1835, produced his 'Rathanemus;' and in the same year, F. Haynes, Esq. brought out 'La Tour de Nesle,' in which Mrs. Prichard created a sensation as Margaret. Lucretia Borgia,' arranged and adapted to the stage by Mr. J. Rees, was played in 1836, Miss Cushman as Lucretin. On the 224 of February, 1835, your talented townsman, Mr. George W. Harby, produced his celebrated Indian play, in 5 acts, called 'Tutoona.' Mr. Harby, it appears from this work, is the author of the following productions, viz.: Minka,' 'The Robber Chief,' 'A 220, The Gentlema in Black,' Stephania, a prize tragedy, (now in the hands of the author of this work,) Nick of the Woods,' 'The Deceiver,' &c. It also appears that several other original pieces were produced by the several authors named, and were well paid by the imagers. Mr. Rees, it seems, got $300 for dramatizing 'La Fitte' for Mes rs. Rowe & Russell." In 1836, Mr. T. W. Collins, a young and talented lawyer of New-Orleans, produced a 5 act tragedy, entitled, The Ma tyr Patriots, or Louisiana in 1769.' This tragedy was printed by L. Dillard & Co, in 1836. The author of the book presented me with a copy of this play, and I have read it with much interest. The work is interesting in such details, and contains, also, muny anecdotes of actors. It gives a general history of Mr. Caldwell in his connection with the southern stage, he being in fact the founder of the drama in the South, as also his history in connection with the improvements of New Orleans, &c. The author introduces a very interesting Biographical Sketch of Miss Jano Placide, who died in New-Orleans, May 16, 1835, and was buried in the American burging-ground, to whose memory a neat tomb is erected with this inscription: But we are tired of prosing, and as the rain seems resting a moment, though the clouds are still lowering, we are off for dinner, and will see the office again some time to-morrow if nothing happens in the interim. IT is a subject of gratulation that this important department of our government has been placed in the hands of a man of such wide and liberal views and indefatigable energies as Edmund Burke, and we trust he will be allowed for a long time to come to carry out the admirable system he has introduced mere questions of politics should ever be allowed to interfere. No Mr. Burke's last Report is a well digested and elaborate document, and presents the most interesting material for reflection and study to all interested in the industrial advances of our country: It is by far the most valuable contribution yet made by the Patent office, and will be followed by others still more perfect and admirable, if no undue parsimony be indulged by government. The volume before us embraces nearly seven hundred papers. Eighty-four of these are devoted to the patent business proper, or the extension of American ingenuity. Did space permit, we should gladly review this. The rest of the work is devoted to the statistics of agriculture and the home trade. In this department the tabular estimates of crops, and the remarks upon each, and more especially the elaborate notice of the minor products, generally overlooked, but yet important, viz, eggs, poultry, milk, butter, etc., etc., etc.. are deserving of general study. In the appendix No. 1, we have an extended treatise upon sheep and wool, prepared by Mr. Fleishman, formerly connected with the Patent office, and published at its request. The paper contains an account of the wool trade of Germany, as well as everything relating to the management of sheep in Europe; some remarks upon German Agricultural Schools, Couventions, etc. A number of handsome lithographs illustrate the Report. Mr. Fleishman brought from Europe specimens of the most approved wools, which Mr. Burke distributed to each of the states. Those for Louisiana have been inspected by us and deposited in the bureau of statistics. Appendix No. 2 embraces reports in relation to the crops of the different states, contained in letters replying to the circular of the Patent office. No. 3 contains letters relating to the cost of raising wheat and Indian corn in every section of the Union. No. 4 is on Mcican maize; 5 culture of potatoes. No. 9 is a paper on Cuba tobacco, which was first translated and published in this state. Some twenty pages follow upon silk and madder. Appendix 14 is a treatise on cattle raising, from the German. Appendix 19 exhibits great labor and ingenuity, and deserves the highest praise. It is entitled-“ Production of cereal grain in the United States in 1847-Consumption, and surplus for exportation-demands of foreign countries—foreign countries rivals of the United States-products of the labor and capital of the United States in 1847-aggregate amount of property, real and personal, in the United States, e'c." Many elaborate extracts from this we have published in the late numbers of our Review. Appendix 20. which concludes the work, is on the HOME TRADE, and excites especial interest with us. It is known that the tables and reports of the general government have only extended to the foreign movements of our commerce. The national census, if it were otherwise sufficient, is only made once in ten years. The facts that are required here can only be known adequately through the states themselves, even should the general governet establish what Mr. Calhoun hinted at in the last Congress, a HOME DEPARTMENT, which, we think, would be a blessing. Will the states inove in the matter? Mr. Burke urges it strenuously. He says, in referring to the initiatory movement made the present year in Louisiana, It is ardently hoped that the measure may be carried out, and that the example which will thus be set by Louisiana, resulting from an enlightened view of the im portance of her great interests, agricultural and commercial, will be speedily fol lowed by the other states of the Union." In our July number will be found other information upon this point. Mr. Burke has issued into every quarter of the Union a circular, soliciting information upon every point connected with our agriculture. To the special one sent to our address, we promise an answer, and hope our Louisiana friends will assist us with the necessary information. The circular solicits light particularly in regard to Names and date of formation of the county or township Agricultural Society, Farmers' Club, if any, Presidents and Secretary, with P. O. address. Number of members, amount pail for premium. funds, &c. Names, date of formation, number of members, funds, amount of premiums, &c. of other Industrial Associations. State of the weather at the planting season, while growing, and at harvest; and when practicable, the mean temperature for the months, and amount of rain which fell. Prevalence of blight or insects, probable per centage of loss by them, &c. Probable average consumption per individual of Wheat, &c., Indian Corn, Potatoes, Beef, &c. We suppose everything in relation to the history, etc. of this Institute is now familiar to the American people. Its practical operation is only now being felt, and the Regents appear to be in earnest. We have received two astronomical contributions which they have published, and arrangements have been made to bring out in the same manner a splendid work on the "ancient monuments of the Mississippi valley," by Messrs. Squier and Davis. A report of the whole proceedings of the Institute has been published in a volume of 200 pages, which we have read with lively interest. By the programme we learn that the object is to " Increase and Diffuse Knowledge among Meu." 1. To increase knowledge by stimulating researches, offering medals, publishing approved pa pers, and appropriating a portion of the income annually to special objects of research, under the direction of suitable persons. Among the subjects for which appropriations are to be made are named, meteorology, storms, natural history, geology, topography, etc, experimental philosophy, historical researches in America, etc., ethnological researches; statistical inquiries, with reference to physical, moral and political subjects. 2. To diffuse knowledge. By publishing a series of Reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge not professional. By publishing separate treatises on subjects of general interest, etc., etc. The publications to be distributed by Congress partially sold for a small price. In regard to the purchase of a library, the Regents remark :—“ 'Catalogues of the different libraries in the United States should be procured, in order that the valuable books first purchased may be such as are not found in the United States." 3. THE INSANE OF THE UNITED STATES. Though it be very difficult to determine where sanity ends and madness begins, and if the rigid rules of mental or physiological science were applied, some of us who are walking at large would perhaps be put away for safer keeping, considering the high capers we cut at times, et, etc. Still the cause of humanity must be attracted towards that very large class who are perhaps permanently and incurably denied the light of reason. To ameliorate their condition is worthy of the highest efforts of philanthropy. A memorial has lately been presented to the Congress of the United States by D. L. Dix, and printed, calling for the donation of an immense body of public land for the support and protection of this unfortunate class, who are, as it were the "wards of the nation." Without endorsing the application, we can remark that the memorial abounds in information, collected in all the states, of the most interesting, but touching and melancholy character. NUMBER OF INSANE AND IDIOTS, FROM THE UNCORRECTED CENSUS OF 1840. Colored. States and Territo- Public Private Private Public Total. Proportion of insane Population. and idiots to the whole. 330.... 56.... 38.... New Hampshire... 180... 306. 8.... 11... Massachusetts. Rhode Island 117.. 86. 8.... 5.... 216.. 108,830. 1 to 503 Our exchanges this month are of unusual excellence. We have the Westmin ster Review for July, which Messrs. Leonard Scott & Co. republish, and I. C. Morgan is the agent. It abounds in able articles. The Literary Messenger at Richmond, Virginia, comes freighted with pleasant literature. It is the sole southern work in this field, and is a veteran. All should sustain it. Hunt's Merchant's Magazine has an able Commercial Lecture, and promises a continuation of them, from an English gentleman. The Banker's Magazine, Baltimore, by J. Smith Homans, has an able sketch of Eli Whitney, and various statistics of currency, precious metals, exchange, etc. The merchants and bankers should all have it. The Western Journal, St. Louis, becomes even more interesting. Then we have Minor's Rail Road Journal, Philadelphia, the only work of the kind in America-the excellent Mining Journal, New-York-the weekly Literary World-the able Medical Journals of Charleston and New-Orleans-the North American Review and Silliman's Journal. Senator H. Johnson, of Louisiana, sends us an unusual quantity of valuable public documents from Washington for ourselves and the Historical Society. For the latter services every Louisianian will be grateful. From the ample shelves of Morgan, Exchange Place, and J. B. Stiel, Campstreet, we have various late publications. Mr. Richardson, of the University of Alabama, sends us a catalogue of the library of that institution, prepared by him. It is a handsome work, of over two hundred pages, beautifully printed and bound, and must have caused great labor. He deserves well of the literary community for his effort. We thank him for his courtesy. |