Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-09-22

to settle. James, the next, is calm, quie
thinking young man, of 20, and, in man,
respects, strongly resembles his father
Willie is the youngest of all MIR. Calhoun'
children, about Is years OF age and the PEE
Of all. The two last are students in the
South Carolina College, and at home during
the vacation.
1 dressed for Dinner, and when l sa,
down to the table was soon at home, and
felt as much so as If | had known every
member of the family for the last twelve
years.
Everything that is 10 be had in the South
and on his table. He is very spare eater,
and his temperance is so we'll known, that
| need not allude 10 it.
| u
The view to the southwark of his house
Is very beautiful, extending over hill and
dale: the Senecca river passes through his
| plantation, and forms the principal branch
Of the Savannah river, by which the pro-
duce of his plantation is sent to Hamburg,
opposite Augusta. His house itself stands
1000 feet above the level of the sea, and
about 200 feet above the Seneca river
In sight of the house and office is the negro
! quarter, on hill 100 feet above the valley,
and one-eighth of mile from the man
sion. The houses are built of stone, and
joined together like barracks, with gar
dens attached, and large open space in
front. There are, perhaps, severity or
eighty negroes on and about the place
The largest part of his negroes are in Ala
bama, where Mr.. Calhoun owns large
plantation, and which is under the manage
ment of his son Andrew, (aluded TO as his
eldest son. who has the reputation of being
one of the best cotton planters in Alabama.
Towards sunset Mr.. Calhoun gave me an
invitation to walk over his farm. | gladly
accepted. After leaving the mansion, we
proceeded towards the valley at the south
of it. We descended to the valley passing
by the negro quarter. Here Mr.. Calhoun
stopped a few moments, making inquiries
in regard to some who were sick; among
them, seated under cherry tree, was an
aged negro man, who was, as he informed
me, the Oldest on the place, and enjoyed
some particular privileges. He was allow
ed to cultivate some four or five acres OF
land for cotton and other things; the pro-
ceeds of which became his property, and
sometimes produced $50 or $50 season.
This is privilege, however, that Mr.. Cal
houn allows his slaves. and all have a patch
containing more or less acres of cotton
These patches are near the negro quarter
for their convenience. The negroes culti-
vate the cotton at their leisure. MIR. Cal
houn has it poughed for them by his hor-
Ses and ploughs, and they hoe it in their
spare time. These darkies are as shrewd
in getting the highest price for their little
crops as white planters, and are as perfect
ly ccnVersant with the fluctuations in the
cotton market in Liverpool and New York
as a cotton broker. Mr.. Calhoun has no
drivers.-He has an overseer, Mr.. Freder-
icks, who superintends his planting inter-
est-a very intelligent and faithful man.
Leaving the quarter, we passed down to
mill at the foot of the hill on which the
negro houses are built. From the mill we
passed into large field Of Indian corn, and
l assure you l do not eXaggerate when l
say | never saw such splendid agricultu-
raj sight in my life. The field is in the
low ground or bottom, and covers t20
acres. The average height is 12 or IA
feet "a sea of dark green, waving with
tassels and glossy silk of every hue and
color, and is grand beyond descriptions
From this we passed into a cotton field,
which is as large or larger, covering over
l2O acres, and extending over hill and flat,
high and low ground. 1T was the first
time ! had ever seen cotton growing, and
il was new and novel sight to me. Mr..
Calhoun explained to me the process of its
cultivation. 1t is planted like Indian corn,
and cultivated with even greater care it
Is hoed four times. He pointed out to me
the blossoms; the first day after the bios
som appears, the flower is white: the next
day red and the third it drops off, and the
cotton boil begins to form. l. was in this
stage saw it. 1t is pleasant mode Of
farming. There is nothing wanting on the
farm; fields of oats, of wheat, of potatoes
and rice, and all in forward state. The
rice field occupies part of the low land,
near the Seneca river, and IFS pale green
was in striking contrast with the dark green
OF the corn. The farm is model farm
1t consists of about 1000 acres, 400 of
which are in cultivation. Mr.. Calhoun's
striking method and arrangements are seen
! everywhere. .-....s ..
We returned to the mansion about dark.
Soon after, tea was served to the family, on
the piazza. Afterwards, we adjourned to
the drawing-room. Mrs. Calhoun played
several favorte tunes upon the piano; and
at ten p. NJ. all separated for the night,
and retired to bed, and dreamed of the
extraordinary individual whose guest was
for the time being.
The next day arose at daybreak, and
found that Mr.. Calhoun was up before me,
and had rode on TO the plantation. He
was absent about an hour. When he re-
turned breakfast was served in the dining
room.-Afer breakfast he retired to his IL
brary, and left me to amuse myself as /
pleased. His habits are very regular, and
presume they are the same one day as
another, when at home. He rises at four
to five O'Clock; exercises on horseback OF
in long walk over the farm for an hour