The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-08-07
The following Is an extract from the Pari. cor
Resemblance of ;be y Y Exuress.

The following i. extract from the Pari. cor
respondence Of the n. Y. Express:
About ten days ago. the London Times coined
an American anecdote, which it located on the
banks Of the Hudson. Having done this, il pro-
ceeded 10 state that The anecdo,e was exceedingly
well told, and above all, highly characteristic
Of course it was copied into Galgnani's Nessen-
ger, and IRON thence was translated into some of
the French journals. Ii fell under the eve Of Il
friend of mno, who Processes to be wag. He
wrote couple Of national anecdotes some hat
on the model Of the London bully, and sent them
to Gaiignani. who, in duty bound, took no
manner of notice Of them. This friend. Lowev-
er. knowing my intimacy with the Express, has
gwen me copy ot TIE correspondence for inser-
ton in your paper. Here ii is:
Aiessrs. Galignani: Gents.--I saw in your pa
per Of the 22d inst. article from the London
Times, recring capital steamboat, anecdote H.
Illustrative Of the daredevil habits Of our country
men. The same story appears IN The Debats and
Constitutional, Of Monday, where it is spoken
Of eminenily characteristic of American nun
ners. As these Illustrative anecdotes are better
Than arguments in producing impressions, " can
not have too many of them. 1 therefore take the
liberty OF sending you two specimens from a late
number Of tho .Sew- York Buncom5e Flagstaff,
paper quite as incapable of paImlng oil fiction
tps fact 10 the London Times
New YoRKER.
To make the matter clearer, give the steam
boat story in the language of the original
HIGHLY CHARAcTERIsrIc-S time
sso, the American government, scared Mt the pro-
dlgIous loss OF IT'S citizens by steamboat explo-
eions, and being perfectly aware that these catas-
trophies originated in wlful Negligence or temery,
imposed a fine Of $500, half of which was to fall
10 the informer, on any vessel which should leave
any mooring place, without previous inspection
of her machinery by government officers. Two
steamboats, were lying one morning in the Ilud-
son, bound for the same place, and announced to
start at the same hour, that there VAS the ex-
hiiiratiog prospect Of race at full speed all the
way. The Inspector a; his post, but as he
could attend 10 only one vessel at a time, it was
evident that the captain who got the certificate
first, would gain 10 or ID minutes start. Great,
therefore, was the evaporation on board the
steamer left for the second turn So great in
deed, and uncomfortable, that the passengers,
though not fond of throwing away dollars, pro-
posed to club the amount Of the fine, and start
without inspection. 1t might be full quarter of IN
hOur before they could be assured that their boiler
was not ieaky or their machinery unsOund, and
this was more han American nature cenld bear.
So they broachcd the idea 10 the captain, who
caught at it instantly With the true sagacity Of
bis country, he merely suggested amendment,
that he should inform against himself, and thereby
save half the penalty io be subscribed for. This
settled, he jumped ashore, lodged the inforna, ion
against his own boat, rushed back, gave the word
to his engineers, and away they went, with fires
up, safety valves lashed down, and crew as
happy as speed, Jeopardy and triumph could
make them. Whether they were all blown up
has not been told, but the conclusion is highly
probable.
The following are the auccdote. laid 10 the
credit Of the Flag Staff:
NATIONAL ANEcporE.-A few DAYS since
young Englishman Of rank arrived in this city
and took lodgings at the Irving House. On Fri
day last, IL happened 10 be dall weather, and il
consequence, the young gentleman became ex
eeedinyy gloomy, and On Saturday morning ht
was found suspended by the neck ia his ward
robe. The servant who made the discovery sup
posed him dead, but on approaching the body, h
received a severe kick in the ribs, with a rougI
oath and command To clear out and mind hi
business. Two hours afterwards the Young gen
tleman appeared at breakfast in excelen, spirits
ard evidently refreshed by his truly national rem
edy for hyPochondria.
CHAeAcTERIsrIc ANEcDoTE-It is wei
known that the French are fond Of committing
suicide by Jumping off from high places. An il
lasssation Of this took place Sunday last
which happened to be the fe,e Of ST. Greneviie
Al about 4 o'clock in the morning, six French
men, all under Is years Of age, were seen march
ing down Broadway, attended by band pa win.
Marsei!ies Hymn. On reaching Trinity Church
they stopped and ascendcd to The very pinnacle
Of the steep!e, an elevation Of at least 200 fee,
They then joined hands, assumed peculiar att;
tade, in compliment to ST. Greneville, and iumre
of, while the band below played '.doura pau !
Patric." We have not heard The result but il
highly probable tina, they were ali smashed, or a
least severely bruised.