The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-19

SIR
Allow an old subscriber to address you from this
youthful city, situate some one hundred and fifty
miles west of st. Louis, upon the Missouri river.
Upon this river are several excellent steamboats,
rapid-good fare-and conducted by able and skhl
captains
Twenty miles above st. Louis you turn into the
angry. turbid river of rivers; an awe creeps over
you-the brstling snags meeting your view on every
sde-the treacherous shoal and sand bars stretch.
ing lar up the river before you-and the inexpe-
renced eye seeks with embarrassment the outlet of
what seems a vast bayou-the mountain sands are
rolled up eddies and cast down in immense whir-
poos--as unquiet and restless here, two thousand
miles from the eternal snowcapped spinal ridge of
old earth, as when poured impetuous through her
rent side-around you are lowering rocky bluffs
beneath you restless of decaying veget able
matter, clay and impalpable sand held in mechani-
cal suspenson--oppostet the bluff is the low bottom,
covered with the deep forest from whence the In
dian contemplated his happy hunting ground, vainly
suppesng the restless white man could never disturb
him here-but the wave OF emigration has rolled
beyond the Mississppi-and where the wild deer
hid himself from the MONDAY sum- now stands the
pioneers cottage-and where the Buffalo roamed
upon the rolling prairie, valves the harvest field
As we pass along our kind Captain points out Lewis
IL Clark's rock, commonly called tavern rock"
Above towers the bluff two hundred feet-to the
right and left the Missouri laves its base--beneah
It's hospitabe shelter Is fine sand shore fronting
upon the river, and near lis level inaccessible ex-
cep IN front; many have lett record OF their visit
by deeply cutting their names in the soft lime rock
which forms It's sides and root. The river abounds
in scenery of the finest order. Much adjoining land
is yet uncntlyated, though not rarely you see the
snug dwelling, the well titled hemp maize and To-
bscco field, and the troop Of negro operatives noti-
Tying you wealth is there. The river bottoms are
favoriie locations for plantations, and view of the
A..etr d In
that the view up and down the river is the most en-
chanting ever saw. The soil Of these plantations
is OF rxhaustless and surprising fertility, of unknown
depth, and was shown fields which have borne
corn for twenty year, and yet without pcrceptbe
exhaustion OF soil.
About one hundred and forty miles from ST. Louis
the Usage becomes tributary. This river, by some
slight improvements, will be navigabc for several
hundred miles, opening OF the finest regions OF
the State There are already several splendid plan
tatIons, among which may mention that Of Gen
B., and the observer cannot but feel the highest
satisfaction at the energy and skill displayed by this
truly hospitabe gentleman conducting its various
duties. Above the mouth OF the Usage you observe
two plantations, one upon either eide OF the river,
which for beany OF location, fertility, and air OF
unoseDtatious wealth, are seldom cquaIled. From
this point, though miles distant, you see The
noble capitol, built upon bluff or knob, some what
projecting TO the rver of similar plan (bu of smaller
dmensIons,) 10 that at Washington. The interior,
and grounds about the building are vet ipcomplete
A small sum will however accomplish this, and ex.
hbit OF the finest specimens of architecture in
the Union.
Jefferson City is built upon several knobs or hills |
rising from hundred TO two hundred feet above
the river, and when built up will be one of the
healthy and pleasant cities OF my acquaintance |
The Penitentiary located at the lower part OF the
city-the number OF convlcts are now about lf0-
and, to the credit Of the SEX among whon there is
not one female They appear orderly, and 1t is |
hoped have proited by the faithful moral and reli'
eious instruction regularly administered by the Sc