Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-12-26
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
w DARLINGTON, NJ c.. THURSDAY, DEC. Is. 1851
ChrIstmas Is Coming.

Christmas is Coming.
Tn fact it is almost come and were it not for the
little and big nggers begging for quarters and the
snoise and confusion and the Kooners," or howe
yer otherwise the confounded word spelled and the
ire-crackers and all the other unnamed horrors and
denominations we should be much inclined to rejoice
thereat But whether we rejoice or not, the time
which we're to have arriv have arroven, and eggnog
stock begins to look up. By the by, egg-nog is
most viEainous compound to get sober on. The get
ting drunk is rather pleasant than otherwise-at
least so we have been informed.
But many pleasant family circle will celebrate
the occasion by union of its members, some OF
them it may be, for the last time, while perchance
the vacant seat or the diminished number will re-
call the memory of those who have departed to join
the circle no more forever. 1t is the way of the
world 1t has been and it will be to the end of time.
Tie earth contains in her cold bosom more of her
children than can people her surface for ages to
come and the human heart in its strange recesses,
hides the memory of crushed hopes and buried plea
sures, which far outweigh in strength and sacred
the empty joys of the present the sicky an
tcipations of the future. Of the seventeen millions
who composed the population of the United States in
$780, at least four millions clods of the val
ley mere dust and ashes while of the twenty three
millions in 1850, full five millions will never see
another census But the dead sleep well, happier
because less miserable than the living, who toll and
suffer- fume and fret dreading yet unable to evade
the sentence of death which nature passed upon
them at their birth.-Daify Jour, 23d inst.
Historical Sketches Of North Curolinn, from 1884 to
1851. Compiled from Original Records, Official
mi fofe
graphical Sketches of her distinguished Statesmen,
Jurists, Lawyers, Soldiers DiUlnes, ETC. By JOHN
Fl. WHEELER late Treasurer of the State.
Sterne has mmortalizeda species of criticism which
we feel almost inclined to adopt towards the work
ioicing in the above somewhat extensive and slightly
preentious title In fact it strikes that it would
be our safer to say briefly, that the book is
two pounds and three ounces in weight; measures
nine inches and half in length, and six inches and
three-eghths in breadth, and is one inch and three
quarters in thickness that it is bound in muslin, and
has Wheeler's History of North Carolina" in con-
spicuous gilt letters the back, and having pro-
ceeded thus far to stop, certain of being borne out
by the verdict of discriminating public, who will
respect our scales and footrule if they should
be inclined to question our judgment
To expose the errors and short comngs of book
by native citizen of N Carolina would under any Cir
cumstances, be to ungrateful task, but espec-
ally would it be So where asin the present instance
the book purports to contain the records of her
ly fame, to hand down to posterity the biography
of her most distinguished sons Luckily for u.s. We
are spared the necessity of engaging in any such
task, the whole trouble and responsibility of which
are taken off hands by the wing press, with whom
it seems to be labor of love- rather than necessity
of criticism We must however be permitted to ex-
press our regrets that the ample materials which
the industry of Col. Wheeler has collected had not
fallen into other hands; that literary taste,
some eclectic discrimination, had not been used in
their selection and arrangement. While, from the
mnuteness of the details, and the number of the
families referred to- the book must possess sort of
personal interest to almost every native of the State,
and derive additional pquancy, and, if we may
be allowed to coin word, Suitability, from its allu
sions to living public it is yet much to be ques
toned how far such catch-penny course calculated
to advance the reputation of the author, enhance
the literary character Of the State although it
and doubtless will, replensh the Golfers of Colonel
Wheeler with an abundant supply of the almighty
dollar.
Nevertheless the book, with all its imperfections
its head, is which should be in the possession
of every citizen of the State both native and adopt
ed, as it contains mass of information not other
wise available or obtainable, or as the author trul,
but somewhat ungrammatcally remarks in his pre-
face because it will afford data to more extende
inquiry into the history of the State. By the way
is not data plural If the circulation of the histor
could only be confined within the limits of Mort
Carolina, we would have nothing to say against it
style grammatical construction, but since it mus
go forth to the world the only history of the State
we feel constrained to enter protest against it
acceptance specimen of the literary taste or pre-
fciency of her citizens. To the editor in the hurr
of composition, much can be pardoned, but to tn
book maker, who deliberately perpetrates murde
upon the Queens English, the highest penalty
the law should be applied. Of its partizan bias W
know nothing Of the inaccuracy of its statement
we need only cite the instance of the Cape Fear
Deep River Navigation, in which the subscription
the State is set down at $4,000. And then OF
friend Burr is 40.
Superior Court.
The extra term closed on Saturday afternoon las
and his Honor Judge BATTLE, left town yesterday
Although every exertion made by him to exp