The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-07

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of the cathedral is the courthouse. and on
the other the Jail, city council room, &C..
both fronting upon the square. They ara
/ also large antique looking buildings. The
! old charity hospital is pleasantly situated
! upon Canal street. This has been sold to
the State, and new building is erecting
out of the city. which, when completed, will
be IL convenient and elegant building. This
institution, it is said. receives annually eigh-
teen or twenty thousand dollars, the avails
of the licenses for gambling fol, strange
as i. may seem, this privilege is yearly
farmed out to the highest bidder, who again
grants snh-nce ses, not to exceed, however,
certain number. This money is given to
the hospital, upon the principle that vice
ought to support ITSELF If gambling be
morally wrong, no appropriation of the fruits
can justify measures taken to legalize it.
The unwary and the ignorant in large cities
are often enough the victims Of this when
it is compelled TO hide itself. When sane
toned by law and public opinion, it must
necessarily be pernicious in the highest de-
gree.
The standard Of morals, you know, is said
to be very low in this city. / cannot
speak on this subject with great certainty
days, though | fear the charge is too
true. 1t ought not to be SO. This is the
great heart of the Mississippi valley, and
its pulsations must he felt throughout its
length and breadth. Morally and physic-
ally, or in whatever light you view it, New
Orleans is an important place. At present.,
as in prospect, il abounds in interest. Much
is said about the sickness Of this city. So
lonr az ~ 10 e,y.r,n. -
must continue unhealthy. But as the city
extends, and gradually reduces them to SOL
id earth, the health of the place will inn
prove. Thus for this season, the weather
has been cool and pleasant. 1t is a singu-
lar fact tina: the fatal disease of this city
was unknown to the original French inhab-
itants.
The Al'be Raynal thus describes the ap-
2earance of the country -" The soil must
have appeared extremely fertile, before any
trials were made of 1t, since II abounded
with wild fruits. II furnished liberal pro-
vision for great number of birds and fall
low deer. The meadows, formed by nature
alone, were covered with roebucks and biz
sons. The trees were remarkable for their
bulk and height, and woods for dying were
only wanting, for those grow merely be-
tween the tropics. These favorable omens
have since been confirmed by fortunate ex-
periments."
A day OF. two since ! rode with friend
to the battle ground, which is about five
miles below the city. 1t is a large plain,
bounded on the one side by the Mississippi,
and on the other by the cypress swamp,
which stretches along between the city and
lake Ponchartrain. The width is a mile
perhaps more. The line of Gen. Jackson
extended directly across the plain, almost
at right angles with the river and swamp;
his right resting upon the river, and his left
upon the swamp. Few traces of the hattie
are to he seen. We rode along upon the
side of the ditch where the cotton bags
were placed, upon which rested the ken
lucky rifles" from the river almost to the
swamp, and then strolled over the ground
where the columns Of the enemy approached,
and examined the faint outlines which vet
remain Of their entertainments. The sugar.
cane WAS growing over large part of the
field of strife. On the remainder herd of
oxen were quietly grazing. Within the
line of the enemy's entertainments, are
growing four large live oak trees, forming
as regular square as If they had been
planted. Their large branches interlock
and are covered with drapery of long
moss so common in this country. On their
trunks are carved the names of many who
have visited the field. Under these trees, it
has been said, though enormously, that Sir
Edward Peckenlam was buried. His body,
it is believed. was carried to England.
The house where Gen. Jackson had his
head quarters is now the residence of Mr..
Montgomery, merchant of New Orleans.
1t is an elegant situation, with a garden
surprising in beauty any thing of the kind
| had ever seen. There are several fine
residences between this and the city. 1t
was fine pleasant day, and we rode back
along the bank Of the Mississippi, much
gratifed with our excursion.
A SHIP SALIvATED. A striking instance
of the volatility, penetrating power. and
nervousness of mercurial vapor was afford
ed in 1910, IN board the Triumph man Of
War. This vessel had taken on board 80
tons of quicksilver combined in leather bags
of so pounds each, which had been picked
up on the shore Of Cadiz, from the wrecks
of two Spanish ships. The bags were
slowed in the bread room, after hold, and
store looms. Being saturated with salt
water. in about fortnight they all decayed
and burst. In collecting the quicksilver to
save il in casks, much Of il found its way
into the unapproachable recesses of the
ship, and some was sccreted by the men,
who amused themselves with it in various
ways. At this period so much bilge water
had collected in the ship that the stencil
was intolerable and the carpenters mate
was nearly sufocated by the effiuvia while
sounding the well. The effect of the gas
evolved from bge water is manifested by
its changing 10 black any metallic sub
stance. In this instance, however, metals
of every kind were. coated with quicksilver
and a general affection Of the mouth took
place among the men and officers, to q
severe degree of salvation in upwards Of
200 men. 1t was, in consequence, necessa.
ry to take the Triumph into dock, remove al
her stores, clean her hold thoroughly and
dislodge one Of her lowest planks in ordeI
to make an opening for the escape of tn,
mercury before she could be restored to
serviceable state.
Bufon's Natural History.
ST.. PETERS CHURCH AT ROME. A LAT
| Traveller in Europe thus speaks Of this mas
ni6cehi and beautiful Temple -
"Of st. Peters can now say nothing I
I describe il would fill volume IL ia witho,