Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-04-17

this fact, | will relate little circumstance
wh!ch occurred to mar The equanimity
and christian forbearance of our little
company. You will recollect that I told
you N former part Of This letter, that
we negotiated the hauling of our trunks
at 80 cents each:-so we did, Blu, when
our avsricious Jockey OF the sanity city
made his appearance, and manifested his
readiness to receive charges and deliver
goods, the freight had advanced, from
nifty cents to ono dollar, on each trunk,
and stout refusal to deliver the trunks,
till the full price claimed should be paid.
AT first we thought it advisable 20 reason
with the fellow, but finding that this only
inspired him with fresh courage and OBJ
stlnacy, accompanied with repeated hea-
Wy claps of thunder, in the shape ofoaths
and imprecations, we determined to show
this rude genius and his companions what
virtue there might be in physical force.
Every man, quick as thought, mounted
the carl, ani each one laying violent
hands upon his own trunk, tore it from
It's covert. In the general melee, Mr.
Ok Driver got tumbled head-over- heels
into the mud, by what accident, IF acct
dent,) or by whose rude hands, i know
not; and if did, it is very questionable
whether | would name the cuzprit. 1t
required but moment for each man to
fling out his half dollar, and order his
trunk aboard Of the Constitution, where
our fare had been previously engaged for
New Orleans, at an expense ofeight dol
lars,-makiEg, in steamboat and land
carriage from St. Louis to N. Orleans.
even money, $l2. so. From Cairo, to
the Crescent City we had pleasant wealth
err, and an agreeable company-a fast
boat and a capital crew. The Cons,itu-
ton is commanded by Capt. Tyler. He
is man, in heart, much after his illus
trious predecessor, for he goes for the
Constitution all the time He is in favor
ola discriminating tariff in collecting fare
for he (avors the poor at the expense
OF the rich, which is a very commenda-
Bile deviation from the old rule. lie is
opposed to all banks, except wood banks
goes for the Union and California, and
is, on the whole, a first rate Captain, a
pleasant companion, and an old.fashione
Democrat. A long and happy life to
Capt. Tyler. Mr.. Ralston, too, the Clerk
OF the boat, is rare specimen Of polite
ness, sociability, and love Of his fellows
| have seldom, if ever, met young man,
with whom, for the short acquaintance, |
formed stronger attachment, or felt a
greater Discrimination to part with. Health
and prosperity to him.
We were SIX days performing the trip
from Cairo to N. Orleans, including four
or five quite lengthy delays. From Cal
no to Memphis, | was not particularly
struck with the beauty of the country
we passed through, though it may be a
poor judgment, based upon a careless OBJ
servation of that part Of the country i'm
mediately bordering upon the river, which
you know, was all that had the advant-
age Of seeing. Memphis is city Of con-
siderable Importance, and really most
beautiful and inviting location. 1t is sit
uated upon very considerable elevation
Of ground, and commands an extensive
view up and down the river. Upon its
summit are some Of the most tasty and
beautiful brick structures have beheld
IN many day. In fact all its buildings
are Of such a character, as to command
the highest respect for the taste and in
telligence Of its inhabitants. Will my
old friends about Dubuque pardon me for
having fell in love with Memphis? Be-
tween Memphis and New Orleans, was
delighted with the country on each side
ofthe river. The plantations are large,
the buildings Of the best quality; and ev-
erything about them indicates high
state Of prosperity and wealth. We ar
rived in New Orleans on the 25th jan,
and being compelled to lea> on the 9th,
you must be aware that had but little
time to devote 10 acquiring knowledge
of the place and people. However, as
passed from house to house, and street to
street, in pursuit of various articles con-
shutting our outfit, was not careless
spectator ofthe various and peculiar see
merry which presented itself 10 the stran-
gers view. 1t is a place Of great COM
merclal impol tance-commanding, as it
does, an extensive foreign and inland
trade. Its coast is lined with shipping
for miles, and presents most magnificent
spectacle from both city and river. Such
hustle and confusion rs the levy presents,
with its ten thousand clerks, boatmen,
draymen and por:ers, is seldom Witness
ed in the larger commercial marts Of the
Northeast. The ground upon which
the city is built, is low, wet, and marshy,
the streets generally narrow, the build
ings of good quality, and of English achi-
lecture. Great expense and pains are
bestowed upon drinking houses, and they
are found in great abundance in all parts
OF the city. Many Of these rooms are
spacious, richly ornamented with French
and Italian paintings, and plenti(ully sto-
red with the finest of foreign wines md
liquors. The people are Heterogeneous
mass, made up Of subjects from every
cline and country. Al! professions and
trades are beautifully rewarded for their
toll, and few need to suffer the ills Of no.
verify, who are willing to receive their
bread by the sweat Of their brow. Yet,
poverty is there in all its most appalling
features, and appears to elicit but little