Southern Agricultural Exhaustion and its Remedy. 45 And Then matter, and in which the products (which were of cotton) were nearly doubled in the first year of the application. questionable results of like labors in Vir- "Can any opponents of marling desire ginia. The legitimate deduction, and more full admissions than these? the only one for untried operations, is, yet they all serve to illustrate what I that like causes will produce like effects have continually striven to impress, that in both these different localities. I can- without vegetable matter to combine with, not conceive any reason, founded on ex- calcareous manures will be of little value. isting differences of climate, soil, or sub- But, on the other hand, I have heard of jects of culture, that can make calcare- no trial of marl on land in proper condious manures less efficient, or less profita- tion, that is, recently and sufficiently ble, with you than with us. Neverthe- rested, and thereby provided with vegeless, I have learned from mere rumor, table matter, in which the effect has not that in the small extension of their use, been very great on the first crop. And by new operators, which occurred here, three or four of such results, only, would there was no general and important ben- be enough to explain the cause, [of failefit obtained. And such, I must infer, ure in all other cases, and to prevent all was the conclusion reached by nearly all inferences unfavorable to marling, if the makers and observers of these trials, from a hundred failures of early efforts from the irresistible, though negative under reverse circumstances." evidence, (which only is before me,) that followed particular statements of two difnothing considerable of such improve- ferent experiments, carefully made that ments, or of public notoriety, has been year, (and the circumstances noted at effected in latter years. In the absence my request,) of marling on new land, and of all particular information of the actual therefore not exhausted of its vegetable trials, their results, and the accompanying circumstances, of course I cannot pretend, or be expected, to explain the causes of disappointment, which must be Here then, even in the few lines quothe general result, as it seems that marl- ted from the much more full precepts to ing has languished, if not ceased, in gen- the same purport, there is full evidence eral, after a few faint efforts.* But I of my having stated, in advance of all infer that the main and usual cause of later trials, the sure cause of failure; and supposed failure, or of inconsiderable ben- in the warning against that cause, I may efit, has been the same prevailing bad claim to have predicted all later failures practice, before denounced, of incessant, of like occurrence. And if there had or at least much too frequent tillage, been thousands of failures, preceded and which does not permit the fields to re- accompanied by very frequent and exceive and retain organic matter from hausting tillage, all of them would but their own growths especially. This cause the more strongly confirm my long enhad operated on nearly all the trials of tertained and often expressed opinions marl made previous to my service in and instructions as to the action of calSouth Carolina. Of all such cases of al- careous manures; and all such cases leged failure that I was enabled to see would not detract a little from the aland investigate the circumstances, the leged available values. When urging causes were such as I now suppose of the use of lime, I have never omitted to the still later failures. These cases of state that it gave no fertility of itself, or failure and of disappointment, and the by direct action; and that vegetable known causes, were brought fully to view in my Report of the Agricultural Survey; and from the more extended remarks, I will quote a short passage, to show my then opinion of the facts, and the causes of previous failures, and my earnest warning against the general course pursued. After reciting the general facts of failure of the previous trials of marling, I proceeded in these words: matter in sufficient quantity, and in conjunction, was essential to the beneficial operation of calcareous manures. The required organic matter may be supplied mainly in the growth of the land to be improved. But it must be supplied in some form, and in sufficient quantityand also should be, in part, present in advance of the use of calcareous manures, to secure their best early effects. Planters of South Carolina!-I have offered to you in plain and unvarnished language, and, possibly, it may be in ungracious and distasteful terms, the last advice and admonition that I can expect to utter to you, or to any similar audi- or to derive pecuniary gain from the reence. My burden of years, and infirmities much greater than even suited to my age, admonish me that my labors must soon close. I would deem it a reward of more value to me than will be the short remainder of my life, if you and your fellow-laborers, even at this late time, (in reference to myself,) would heed my words, and fully profit by them. It is but little that a private individual can do, to warrant to a great commonwealth or community the beneficial results predicted upon stated premises and conditions. But so perfect is my confidence in the general results I have predicted, that I would willingly hazard upon the issue all that I have, in property, reputation, and even life itself. For illustration, and in mercantile or business language-if I possessed hundreds of millions of dollars, to that full amount, for a premium of 10 per cent., I would insure as much clear profit to South Carolina, to be gained by conforming to my directions, for saving and increasing the fertility of her soil. As, however, it is impossible for me to offer any such guaranty, and for me either to incur risk of loss, sults, I can only offer my earnest verbal assurances of your available gain, as great and as sure to be obtained by your pursuing a proper course of improvement, as will be the growing loss and eventual ruin of your country, and humiliation of its people, if the long existing system of exhausting culture is not abandoned. It is not merely my feeble voice and my questionable personal testimony, but also thousands of unquestionable facts, and the sure experience and realized profits of thousands of farmers, which offer to your acceptance the highest agricultural prosperity, in exchange for present decline, and approaching exhaustion of the remaining fertility of your land. Choose, and choose quickly! And remember, as my last warning, that your decision will be between your purchasing, at equal rates of price, either wealth, and general prosperity, of value exceeding all present power of computation, or ruin, destitution, and the lowest degradation to which the country of a free and noble-minded people can possibly be subjected. ART. V.-EARLY LIFE IN THE SOUTHWEST. No. II. COL. ELLIS P. BEAN, OR FIFTY YEARS AGO IN TEXAS, [IN one of our late Nos. we gave a sketch of the remarkable family of the Bowies of Louisiana and Texas. That paper has suggested to a gentleman of Texas, the descendant of an early settler, a series of historical and biographical sketches, relating to the Southwest, which he has kindly promised for our pages. The following is the first of the series :] Many persons have heard of Bean's Station, in Tennessee. Of the family from which that place derived its name, was one whose name heads this article. In the year 1800, when eighteen years of age, seized with a spirit of adventure, common to the young spirits in that day in the west, which was opposed by his parents, young Bean clandestinely left his father's roof, and passed down the Mississippi in a flatboat. At Natchez his employer died, and he was thrown out of employment, penniless, and among strangers. Thus situated, he was left to reflect upon his condition, and work out his own fortune. Too proud to return home, he resolved to embark in whatever might fall in his way. At that day there was an occasional contraband trade carried on by means of He was Noland's party consisted of twentytwo men, with a considerable amount of Early Life in the Southwest. 47 goods. They advanced into Texas, and penetrated, and the only air allowed him reached a point between the Trinity and issued through the base of a stone wall, Brazos rivers, where they were discover- six feet thick. In this dismal abode, his ed, and attacked by a body of Spanish person was constantly covered with filthy troops. Noland occupied a very good vermin, and no one allowed to see him, position, and made a desperate defence, except once a day, to give him a scanty but was overpowered, thirteen of the allowance of food. His only companion party being killed, including Noland was a white lizard, which he succeeded himself, and the remaining nine, inclu- in taming, and making very fond of him. ding Bean, being made prisoners. Even this, said he, was a source of much pleasure to his sinking spirit. The airhole had to be closed at night to prevent the ingress of serpents, which were abundant at that place. On one occasion he omitted to close it, and in the night he was awakened by the movements of an enormous monster, that had found his way in, and was crawling over his body. His ready mind prompt The prisoners were hurried forward to San Antonio, and there imprisoned for several months. Thence they were sent, under a guard, through Monclova to Chihuahua, and there imprisoned and chained. Here they were kept in close confinement three years, when they were allowed the privilege of the city limits, and to labor on their own account. Some of them, however, had died in the mean ed him to lie perfectly still, until his time, and others had been sent to other prison door should open, when, espying places, and were never afterwards heard the serpent's eyes, he dispatched him of. Bean had learned the hatting busi- by a well-aimed stroke of his knife ness in Tennessee, and followed it profit- through the head. He then triumphably perhaps a year in Chihuahua, when antly threw the writhing monster out of the yearning he had to see his native his cell on to the market-floor adjoining, land, after near six years' absence, indu- which so astonished the natives present, ced him, with his two remaining com- and excited their admiration and pity, rades, to run away, and endeavor to that a petition was sent to the governor reach the United States. But they were for a mitigation of his sufferings. That arrested near El Paso, taken back, se- humane individual graciously decreed verely chastised, and, after being heavily that thereafter he should be allowed to ironed, again imprisoned. Bean, how work, though in chains, with a party of ever, had made many friends in Chihua- miscreant soldiers during the day, and hua, who, after several months, with only imprisoned at night. Even this he strong promises on his part for good con- found a happy relief. duct in future, succeeded in procuring the liberty of the city for him as before. After following his old business for some time, however, he resolved upon another effort to see his native country, but was again overtaken and carried back. He was now placed under a strong escort, and started for the south without the least intimation of his destination. In the route, he was transferred from one party of soldiers to another almost daily, and passed the cities of Guadalaxara and Guanajuato. At the latter place, he was detained several days, during which time his noble and commanding person won upon the affections of some senorita so far as to prompt a letter to him, in which she avowed her love, and pledged every sacrifice to obtain his pardon and win his hand. But he was never allowed to see her. Poor Bean was finally conveyed to Acapulco, one of the most sickly places on the Pacific, and thrown into a most filthy dungeon, where not a ray of light But Bean was a worthy son of Tennessee, and could not subdue the noble spirit of his family and his countrymen that wrestled in his bosom-his heart yearned for liberty. So he sought an early occasion to knock off his chains, and with his crowbar killed three of his astonished guard, and escaped to the neighboring mountains. But here he was reduced to a skeleton by starvation, and re-captured. His old cell now be came his only abode, aggravated by flogging and divers other indignities. After another year he was again allowed the same privilege. But his bold spirit prompted a similar attempt for liberty, in the vain hope of reaching the United States. In this effort he killed seven soldiers, and, taking the route for Upper California, traveled some three hundred miles, when he was seized again, the news of his escape having preceded him, and again carried back. He was now subjected to every imaginable hardship and cruelty-confined in a horizontal position, with stocks around feet. But the loosed lion scorned to his neck, so as to prevent a change of avenge his wrongs on the pusillanimous his posture, and there, for weeks, almost suppliants, and dismissed them with devoured by chinches and other vermin. warnings for their future conduct. His appeals for mercy, by the populace, and even when addressed to a professed man of God, were treated with contemptuous mockery. But after ten years of bondage, the day of his freedom was drawing nigh. The Mexican Revolution broke out in 1810, and raged with great fury, threatening the overthrow of royalty in Mexico. The royalists had become alarmed; they had learned to look upon Bean as a chained lion-a redoubtable hero-and now, in the hour of their troubles, they offered him liberty on condition that he would join their standard. This he readily promised; but with a mental reservation that he should desert their hated standard on the first possible occasion, and join the patriots. At the close of about three years, from the havoc made among the royalists by Morelos and Bean, an overwhelming force had been thrown into that portion of the country, and the patriots met with sad reverses-such as to change their plan of operations. It was agreed that Bean should cross the country to the Gulf of Mexico, and endeavor to reach New-Orleans by water, with the view of appealing to the United States for aid. With two companions, (both seamen,) he made his way across the country. On the route he became suddenly attached to a lady near Jalapa, and married her, with a pledge that whenever duty permitted he would return, and spend his days with her. Arriving at the town of Soto la Marina, he stole a sloop in the Within a few days he was sent on a night from the harbor, and put to sea. scout with seven men, to reconnoitre the few days wafted them safely to Newposition of Gen. Morelos, the patriot Orleans, where they arrived about ten chief. When near the encampment of days before the great battle of the 8th that officer, Bean addressed his compan- of January, after Bean had been absent ions on liberty in general, and proposed they should join the patriots. All acquiesced, and did so. Reporting himself at once to Morelos, he gave him minute information as to the position of the royalists-an attack was at once planned, and carried out with triumphant success, Bean having received a captain's commission in advance. For his reckless daring in the action, he was crowned with roses, proclaimed a colonel on the same day, and placed at the head of five hundred men. From that day forward, his name and deeds spread like wildfire through Mexico, and was everywhere received with veneration by the down-trodden multitudes. For three years he was the chief reliance of the veteran Morelos, in the desperate struggle that succeeded, with varied success-wherever he fought victory followed. He had learned in Tennessee how to make gunpowder. This knowledge proved to be of immense advantage to the patriots. He was soon conducted, amid flying banners and deafening shouts, a conqueror into Acapulco, the scene of his sufferings. The puissant wretches, who had been his persecutors, on bended knees now begged for mercy. The veritable man of God who had mocked his sufferings, now supinely crouched at his A from his country fourteen years. This was the first information he had ever received from the United States, and hence the first intimation he had of the war between our country and Great Britain. Bean at once reported himself to Gen. Jackson, who had known him in boyhood, and in the battle fought as a volunteer aid to the old hero. Soon afterwards he returned to Mexico, with what success we know not, but returned to Tennessee for a short time in 1817, where he wrote out a detailed history of his singu lar career, and left it with one of his half brothers, by whose kindness we were allowed, several years ago, to read it several times, and, from memory, have sketched the foregoing account. In conclusion, we have learned from other sources, that Bean was retained in Mexico as a colonel in the army, after her independence was established, and redeemed his pledge to the confiding lady he had married. In 1827, when the Fredonian war broke out at Nacogdoches, Texas, he was colonel commandant of the Mexican garrison there. In 1835 he returned to Mexico, and resumed his residence at Jalapa; and in 1843, the last we ever heard of him, he was a retired officer on half-pay, and, though sixty-one years of age, was in fine health. The Springs of Virginia. 49 ART. VI.-THE SPRINGS OF VIRGINIA. [HAVING visited during the last summer these celebrated resorts of fashion and abodes of health, we gave in one of the numbers of the Review a brief notice of the trip, and promised at an early day an elaborate article upon the subject, which we have now the pleasure of furnishing. The people of the South would do well to sustain and cherish their own watering-places, and we know of none more deserving than those of the Old Dominion.] There are rain, snow, hail, river, spring, well, lake and pond water, all distinguished from each other by peculiar differences. They all hold in solution air, carbonic acid, carbonate and muriate of lime. Distilled water is freed from these ingredients. Besides these, there are some springs which gush forth with water impregnated with foreign ingredients of particular properties, imparted to it by the channel in the earth through which it makes its course. Springs of this character are properly mineral springs. There are no mineral waters that have not foreign ingredients in them, although there are waters that are medicinal, without being mineral, as the waters of Matlock and Malvern; and there are waters that are mineral without being medicinal. Mineral springs are farther distinguished by the temperature of their waters. Mineral waters are found in different parts of the United States and in Europe. Those of Virginia are remarkable for their medicinal virtues. Singular as it may seem, there are considerably over thirty foreign ingredients in mineral water. Yet it is still more singular, that Boyle, in the 17th century, was the first to employ tests to detect their existence. The first experiment of this character was made in 1663. The following are the principal foreign ingredients found, by the employment of tests, to exist in mineral water: Atmospheric air, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, carbonic acid, boracic acid, sulphureous acid, sulphuretted hydrogen, soda, lime, silica; the nitrates of potassa and of lime the carbonates of potassa, soda, ammonia, lime, magnesia, alumina, iron; the sulphates of soda, of ammonia, of lime, of magnesia, of iron, of copper; the muriates of potassa, lime, soda, of ammonia, of baryta and alumina, of manganese; hydro-sulphuret of soda, hydro-sulphuret of lime. The mineral, and, indeed, the medicinal springs of Virginia are the White Sulphur, the Blue Sulphur, the Red Sulphur, the Salt Sulphur, the Sweet VOL. XIV. 4 Springs, the Red Sweet Springs, the It is the opinion of Dr. Stringfellow, that "actual experience shows that virtue has been infused by the Almighty hand into the mineral waters of our state, (Virginia,) which, if skilfully used, and called into requisition in due time, would make them equal to the cure of perhaps every form of chronic suffering known among us." There are two White Sulphur Springs in the State of Virginia-one of them is west, and the other east, of the Alleghany; one in Greenbrier and the other in Fauquier county. The most celebrated is the one situaated in Greenbrier county, not far distant from Greenbrier River, and but a few miles west of the mountains. Its character, for the medicinal virtue of its water, is well established. If mineral waters are ranged as stimulant, sedative and strengthening, the water of this spring may be classed among the first, although it possesses the qualities of the latter two in diminished strength. Its characteristic is stimulant. It is transparent, and, like champagne wine, is lively, from disengaged air escaping in bubbles when agitated. Its taste is fetid, or hepatized, from the impregnation of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Its foreign matter is gas, gaseous and saline. According to the analysis of Mr. Hayes-50,000 grains, (about 7 pints,) of this water, contain in solution 3,633 water grain measures of gaseous matter, or about 1-14 of its volume, consisting of Nitrogen gas....... ...1.013 ...0.108 .2.444 0.68 One gallon, or 231 cubic inches, of the water, contain 16.739 cubic inches of gas, having the proportion of Nitrogen gas.. 4.680 0.498 11.290 0.271 16.720 |