The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-08 00:00:00

TEXAS.

THE New CITY OF lIOUSTON.—We reached this city
before sunset, and I found lodgings in a good boarding-
house. Ido not call it a comfortable one, though good ;
the landlady is excellent, the company are well disposed
and intelligent, but the house is, like most others here,
destitute of a single pane of glass, and entirely exposed to
the winds and rains ; my chamber, for instance, contains
not a single window. I can lie in my couch, and count the
apertures in the roof, through which the light streams, and
in wet weather, of course, the rain likewise. The houses
are merely patched up shantees of rough boards ; few in
the city are painted. My bedstead consists of four posts,
rough cut from the tree, planted in the ground, and a few
cross pieces, with a bed as narrow and as bad as ever I
slept on.. _ _ _

This is the seat of Government. The Legislature
is in Session here; they meet in a large frame building,
with roughly plastered walls, and without ceiling. It in-
cludes a number of talented young men, and a good pro.
portion of substantially-looking gentlemen, of mature years.
" I attended the levee of President L'amar the other
evening, and was introduced to tke President. His house
is a small one-story cottage, with but two small apartments
as drawing-rooms. Some five musicians were present.
The company, however, presented as much of taste and
fashion as would, perhaps, be found in a similar scene in
the White House at Washington ; and the politeness and
ceremony of the occasion showed a state of refinement
far in advance of the limited convenience of life yet pos-
sessed in the community. Ladies who have been accus-
tomed to the most elegant refinements of life reside
here in shanters, and suffer all the exposures and incon-
veniences of the place, sustained by the common spirit of
enterprise which prevails here, and the prospect of future
wealth and luxury.
" I have had several interviews with the Ex-President,
General Houston, who is the hero of this young empire.
He led the force at the small battle of San Jacinto, and
his unrivalled bravery decided the destiny of the republic,
and was crowned with the captivity of the Mexican Presi-
dent. General Houston is about 45 years of age, but ap-
pears above 50. He is not a little eccentric, powdering
his hair, and wearing always some article of military dress
about him. His manners are of the old school, polite
even to ceremony ; and all who know him, while they con-
demn his vices, are charmed with his ability. No man
could command the enthusiasm of the nation more, in any
military project, than General Houston. His courage i ►
unquestionable, and his manners are of the character
which always invests a military chief with commandiiv in-
fluence.

" President Lamar is extremely popular. He will, no
doubt, elevate much the character of the country. He is
strictly moral. His course has beet) manly and dignified,
and none question that he will consult the best interests of
the nation. He has organised an able cabinet.

The late Sultan Mahinoud was the son of a
French slave, Mademoiselle de Lepinay, an energetic and
high-minded woman, who exercised great influence over
the Sultan Abdul Hantid.—Paris print.