Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-26
eomp.ffson) like mountains in chaos. We


would saw, with less injury than we ex-
pected-iudeed our eXrectat'ons were IA.
Their 'despairngly fixed" within the bosom
cf the ocean than otherwise. On our pas
sage from thence we had several other
storms and much rough weather; but as
the incidental occurrences at sea can afford
YOU but little amusement, shall pass over
them.
At length, after passage of % days
from New York, we arrived at the mouth
of the Mississippi River. This river pre-
sents a most singular appearance, as 1t
tumbles whirlirg and fcaming unto the
great deep. the water Of which, as every
BODY knows who have seen it., is remark
ably muddy ard dirty--hence the appear
ance which is produced by uniting rapid
ly, as ii does, with the clear transparent
water of the sea. Besides, the land, or
marsh, on both sides of the entrance, is so
extremely low, that you can hardly see it
two miles of-of course the first you see
OF this great river is the difference in the
colour of the water, rolling over that OF the
ocean, and appearing very much like wa
ter sgitated and broken by running over
rocks. In passing up this river, though it
Was in the month of January, we had very
warm, pleasant weather-ten thousand
birds singing, as in spring, with you. The
land along IFS banks, until you get halt
way up to Newt Orleans, will not admit Of
cultivation, being entirely a low wet
marsh, filed with various kinds Of wild
fowl, snakes and allgators. But above
that the land is little cultivated, and you
now and then see lew little huts scatter
ed along shore, constructed something like
an Indians wigwam, inhabited by CIRCLES.
and apparently the residence OF much po-
verify and misery.
The captain of the vessel and myself
went ashore to one OF these huls to buy
some milk On leaving our boat and ap-
preaching the house, we found ourselves
besiegeJ on all sides by FIVE or six large
dogs. who commenced growing and bark
ing at US, and would hardly suffer us to
proceed On entering the house, which
was all in one room, and that without any
floor to il, we beheld very gooc looking
woman apparently about 80 years of age,
but half decently dressed, seated in An old
broken chair which was the onlylnne could
see in the house, with young child in her
arms surrounded by six or eight more ct
different sizes, with dirty faces and half
naked carcases. All stared at US with as
much establishment as if we had descended
to them from the moon. RecolIectng a
little French, asked the woman in her
O language, if she could sell US little
milk, No. she said, they had none. Have
You any eggs, madame? No. Any pota-
toes No. Any butter? No. Any bread !
No. What in the world have you got to eat
then? said I,-Noihing sir. My husband
has gone up he river to get something tor
us TO eat, and ne expect him back to-mor-
roc So we left her and returned to our
vessel. Contrasting our wants as we went
along, with that of the poor woman and her
children we had left, we trlt perfectly sa-
:isfed 10 60 without milk. Pardon this
little depression, my dear Il. loouId ,
not omit relating to you this little incident,
because having struck me so torclbly at the
time, il is still fresh in my memory.
IT'S singular fact that vessels in sail
ing up and down the Mississippi River ne
yer come to anchor at all Nature has pro- /,
vided different way for their security
When night comes on, they run along SHE
of the bank, which is almost every where
perpendicular, and with sufficient depth oil
water, where they make fast to tree on
shore till morning. Thus in consequence
of tying up" vessels, as man does his
horse, you see great many trees that are !
conveniently situated on the bank OF Inc |
river, 18th their bark chafed and rubbed on
and entirely killed BY 1t.
Asyou approach New Orleans, the coun-
try becomes very much improved, and you !
pass some very fine plantations, par'lcu-
IarIy two or three in the neighborhood OF
Jackson's battle ground, SO memora0ly |
distinguished during the late war with u.
Britain and which is six miles below the i
city.
Lr.. M more rnnm without !.