The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-16
Hull. MAS. August u, 1919.

Hull, MASS, August H. l849
DEAR REPuBL,c: A soft fog is brooding over the
placid waters to-day Having enlisted compqgnon
de poyage, procured little row-boat, and we
pulled Gar for Ransford island to visit some friends
who residing there. 1t charming little island
perhaps the most attractive Of the many in Bos-
ton harbor. II is owned by the State, and was for
merly used as sort of place of Punishment for
smallpox patients. The hospital picturesque
little building in the style of Grecian temple,
with piazzas inside Of the Observation-Disclosures on
the first and second stores--stands the bluff Of
a miniature cape which juts out from plateau
spreading at the foot Of slopng hill, the seaward
side Of which has been invaded by the action of
the water, that the STATE have built strong sea-
wall of granite for lis protection, at an expense
of twenty thousand dollars. This wall is some
feet in width, and borders than half the
island, affording delightful place Of promenade
You must not form an exaggerated idea of the
size of this little gem of the sea-" Its whole
cult is only threequarters OF n mile, and it COM
prises but eleven acres. But what available var-
eues of hill and plain forest and prairie, desert and
garden, crags and awns-what snug little coves
and pebbly beeches--whal fields and headlands
does 1t enclose in this miniature compass Mr..
Bruce, the keeper of the island, under the State,
has the privilege of occupying the abandoned hos
pial and other buildings, including two three
cottages and, during the hot months, he receives
boarders from the city, know of no peasanter
place for summer snourn, not even excepting
Hull. You can pass between the island and Bos-
ton three times a day by the bingham steamboat.
the passage Occupying sbout twenty-five minutes
or you can sail up II your yacht at pleasure.
Once here, fve-minutes' row takes you to Fort
Warren, where the impregnable works under the
superintendence of Colonel Thayer are going on
and where the United States have already expend-
ed upwards of two millions Of dollars Another
ten-mnutes' row will take you to the Great Brew
sier, where Captain Benham, who is soiournisg at
Rainsford, LAID last week the first stone of the
wall which he is constructing for the United States
Captain B. was al Buena VISTA and is a gallant
and efficient officer
Having beached our boat upon the shore of this
fairy islet, we were moving towards the main
house; when shaggy, brown Newfoundland dog
rushed towards us, apparently Intent, on mischief.
Fortunately he recognised an old friend in me, and
at once became pacific. Niger Qor that is his
name) is decided chamcler. At the arrival and
DE- parture of every boat he is on hand and if he
does not like the appearance of person, he ex-
presses his dspleasure in most significant man
ner He seems to detect rowdy by instinct, and
will offer the most vigorous resistance to his dsem-
barkation. Al night II would be impossible for a
stranger TO land without FIRST putting Niger hors d
combat But, notwithstanding the rigorous surveil-
lance which he exercises he is the gentest and
most sporuve of the canine race-attachng him
self to children, never firing Of darling of after
chips and stones and executing all sorts of anus
ing tricks with unfagsing zeal
AT Ransford island we found goodly company
all forming one family at mea-times, though lodg
ing under different roofs some the little cottages
scattered about; some in the ox-hospital with It's
large commodIous rooms; and some in the ''pest-
house, /" as 1t was formally called, and where now
the old bachelors are appropriately put Among
the company were two Boston editors and General
Dearborn, the worthy mayor of Roxbury. The
latter was eloquent IN praise OF the island and lis
advantages; It's pure air. conuguity the city, and
pleasant walks and bathing places. He told me
that this and the adjoining islands were formally
covered with thick growth Of trees, but they had
been cut down for fuel. Rainsford island exhibits
a restoration of some OF It's foliage; and he would
contract to surround il, IN hee years, with thick
belt of forest trees What place could be made OF
il under the hand Of lase-under the hand of Gen.
eral Dearborn.
As the fog did moi clear away, we could make
but oref visit at the island and after receiving
from one of our editorial friends the cream of his
Saturday newspaper mail, we pulled back TO Hull,
and re-entered quarters at the Tudor House.
You may be sure had an appetite for the In
comparable chowder To which the dlnner-bell soon
summoned us.
And now, here am, where a line dropped from
piazza would hit the nigh water mark-here
am, with cigar in one hand and the Union in the
other. Ii was the Spartans, believe, who, IN or
der 10 impress upon their children sense Of the
degradation Of drunkenness, would cause. their
slaves TO intoxicate themselves with strong drink,
and exhibit the scottish effects of the Indulgence be-
fore their youthful audience ! derive similar
mora lesson from the perusal Of the Union ] re-
cognisc the imbecilry and absurdity Of what II,
doubtless, conceIves to be "strong writing" but
which u.s. in fact, the veriest drive; and when Il
raves about "butchery and prescription the
slaughter of clerks" "the hyenas Of the Wing
press, /" "unblushIng treason Of southern Wings,
and rings the changes upon these and similar catch
phrases, ad naussapa, cannot find in my heart 10
utter any other comment on It's epilepuc style
than that of "0h, most forcibIe Feeblel''
What shrewd and manly thrust have we here
in a little paragraph entitled "Another forgery by
General Taylors orgsn" You may not recolec
the circumstance in which II originated. A shor
paragraph was copied INTO the Republic and credited
TO the Baltimore Sun instead Of the Phiiodsphia Sun
Every man will at once that IL WINS one Of ihos,
innocent and Insdvertent errors which are If daily
occurrence. Not an editor in the United States
with one exception, could be found who would mol
ridicule and spurn the idea Of founding charge o
forgery on such mls-sttribution But will il b,
believed that the Union the so-cslled "sole organ Of
the Democracy" svails itself Of this paltry liitl,
slip Of the pen, to- illuminate as follows: Taking
4" for granted thai the organ Of the government
" could not be so base TO perpctrate forgery Of
" that description, we supposed il was properly
"a credited TO the Sun We are happy nov
" to correct the error and relieve the Sun from any
unfavorable reflection which the forgery Of In,
" government organ temporarily brought upon it,
What must be the intelligence for which the Union
caters, that could be gued by such an insult &c
common sense; But tins is fair type Of the found
atoms on which il bases al It's denupcations o.
Wing measures and men. On similar grounds u
calumniates Mr.. Ewing, accuses southern Wing,
Of treachery, General Taylor Of violation o.
pledges, and foams with pretended anger at crime,
as imaginary as this forgery"
But my cigar is out IL has ended IN smoke, as
must these poor ISLANDERS Of the Union Let il raj
on, and pour out maledicliors on an imaginary
guilloune, even as MIR Qulp beat the hgure-head
in the pleasant conceii that It was gentleman
towards whom he felt a grudee. We shall seeE
none the less sound at Hull for it's rant and rhode
montade. Yours, always TOM COD.
NEw Mops or sgr,tse VEssELs--S. Watts, ir
of Hsllowell, Name, has invented method o.
bending, rcehng and furng the sails of vessels by
wh,rh foor man nm The derk can fIrl mr. r..f ~.