The southern press., 1851-05-03

times. The English Protestants did the same at
the time Of the reformation, and even in the law
abiding town Of Boston they bufnt a convent to
demonstrate their zeal and orthodoxy.
EATING ONES WAY NTo POWER.
Some great men eat their way into power as
mice do into a cheese. The "godlike man" seems
to have adopted this practice Of late and is deter
mined to drown all his enemies in toasts and bum
pers. Ifthere is any truth in the old saying that
Gin pino peritas, he is devoted to the Union, for
his attachment increases with every glass he
swallows. am, however, inclined to believe
there is great danger Of his becoming dyspeptic
before the campaign is over, and that his last feast
will be that Of Belshazzer.
PETER FARLEY.
perceive this distinguished literary character
has lately been appointed to the most honorable,
il not the most profitable, consulate in the gift Of
the government. There is no man living who
has published 80 many books with SO little expence
Of thought or invention, or who has so success
fully practiced the system Of free-sosm in itera-
'ture. He has foraged in almost every man 5
fields, and reaped his harvest everywhere without
sowing. Ifa book of new travels was published,
Peter forthwith set TO work, SKINNED all the
cream, seized on all the most interesting facts and
adventures, disguised the plagiarism in his own
peculiar scholastic or schoolboy-style, and sent
them into the world as his own lawfully begotten
offspring, without. a hint of acknowledgment of
the source whence they where derived. II he met
with fine passage in any contemporary writer, he
seized it without ceremony, placed it in his great
omnibus, and rode off triumphantly with the
spoils, without the least intmaton that might lead
the reader to knowledge Of the real writer
don't speak at random, for distinguished literary
friend of mine once seriously contemplated prose-
cutting Peter for making free with his works, and
ifnot actually taking the credit to himself, at least
omittng to credit the real author. He is, in short,
perfect jackdaw in literature, figuring in borrow
ed feathers, and making not only reputation but
fortune by plucking others. II must BE- ack-
nowledged, however, that he does not stand alone,
though certainly the most conspicuous of the class
Of literati which fourishes by sucking the brains
of the few, who supply all the raw material for
these manufacturers of second hand mammoth pc
riodicals, whose claim to public patronage is
founded on the quartity Of plunder, and the num-
ber Of second-rate pictures they can furnish at the
lowest prices.
OF the claims of Peter to this, certainly one of
the most desirable and gentlemanIy situations in
the gift Of the government, the public will proba-
bly, be at loss to Judge. But there are ''myste-
ries" at Washington as well as Paris. The late
consul, Mr.. Walsh, is certainly greatly superior
to Peter in talents and requirements, and is more
over Federalist Of the school Of the Secretary OF
State. From his letters to different editors OF
newspapers, which have been in course Of publi-
cation for years past it is also evident that he has
as little sympathy with the progress Of European
freedom, as the President himself, or any of his
ministers, since he takes every opportunity Of
misrepresenting the character and views of the
real republican party in France, and laudng Lou
is Napoleon whose conduct is, to say the least Of
il, equivocal, and whose republicanism beyond
suspicion. How far he was justifable, as pub
lie agent, in some measure representing his coun-
try, in writing these letters expressly for pubica-
ton, is another matter. think he was decided
ly wrong, and deserved to be superseded, though
his letters are certainly excellent compositions,
abounding in literary, scientific and political in
formation. This is not, however, the point in
question. II is, what claim had Peter Farley to
be his successor' Why was he selected from a
mass Of applicants, some. Of them at least his su-
perior in public services. and public estimation.
Can il be that Peter is one Of the contributors TO
the charitable fund Of so 900 dollars, to enable
Secretary Of State-not being bachelor-to
shave house to live in," and to entertain the
diplomatic corps which "is twice numerous as
il was twenty years agoi" The public would
doubtless like to know the names of these liberal
benefactors, in order to judge whether il is really
possible for great statesman to be grateful.