The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-06-19

10 leave Ga!eHa yesterday morning, ana
will be here to-day, perhaps before we
go to press. If so, we can probably give
our readers the result of the Wing Ma
tional Convention. Mr.. Wood, of the
Newton, always brings us news later
than that received from any other quar-
ter.
Monday morning last, brought to our
landing another one of those elegant and
unsurpassed steam packets of which the
waters ofthe Upper Mississippi have the
present season been so prolific. The Ben
Campbell, long expected and anxiously
looked for, came in between eight and
nine o'clock of that morning and was, as
matter of course, boarded instantly by the
greater part of St. Paul. A glance was
sufficient 10 convince us that few such
boats-in all probability none-in point
of strength, durability and complete finish
throughout every department, had ever
visited these waters, if we except the
Die Vernon, and she is not superior. The
Ben is steamboat from the keel to the
top Of her chimneys, and would so be con-
sidered in any port of the United States,
East or West. She has been built under
the immediate superintendent Of her able
commander, Capt. NJ. w. Lodwick, with
out reference to cost in any PARTICULAR
No better or more substantial hull have
we ever seen afoat. Forward and aft, the
timbers are Of the best seasoned white-oak,
with extra bolts and fastenings. Outside,
she is sheeted with boiler-p!ate. 1t ap-
pears when examining her hull, that the
ice of Lake Pepin, or even the boulders
above Fort Smelling, which so annoy our
St. Anthony friends, would stand very
little chance in contest with her. Her
machinery is also an article of the very
best Pittsburgh manufacture, with all the
latest improvements. Itappears almost i'm
possible for any part of to become deran-
ged so as to produce the slightest acct
dent, without the engineer having pre-
vious warning that something is wrong.
The " doctor is complete and thorough
practitioner-one that viii not prove neg
ligent of his important and responsible
duty. Attached is a fire engine and APP
paratus, which will flood any part of the
boat in three minutes. The engine room
and deck quarters are high, clearly, COM
Portable and airy. No better plan
for all emf rant boat could possibly
be adopted. Notwithstanding the i'm
mensity of the machinery, and the sub
stantial and iron-bound character of the
hull, the Ben is very light draught boat
for her size. Capt. Lodwick informs US
that he can carry $50 passengers, and
their baggage, and so tons of freight, on
three feet water. The cabin is a GEM
Nothing could be more neat or in better
taste. The saloons are high, wide and
we'll proportioned, and the state rooms
as large and comfortable, and as well fur
nished and fitted up, as the sleeping apart
nlents of the best hotels of our Western
cities. There is no gold finish about the
cabin, but the style is equally or more
costly, and much more pleasing to the eye
A goodly number Of Galenians and others
from below, were passengers this first
trip. They all speak of the boat and her
Accommodations in terms of the highest
praise. Her worthy and enterprising
Captain is so well knownin these waters,
that it is unnecessary for us TO say aught
of him here. We regret to find him in
rather poor health, from constant labor
and exposure the past seven months, in
experimenting the construction of his
boat. The buoyant atmosphere and bra
cling breezes of the Upper Mississippi
will soon bring him out, however. or
the strangers among the officers, there is
MIR. Thomas E. Patterson, the accomplish
ed clerk, an Ohio river boatman, who, as
he halls from our own old " stamping
ground" we can endorse as gentleman
OF easy and accommodating manners; at
home in all the various branches of his
business; good looking, and, we believe,
we Can safely whisper to the ladies, d
bachelor. Our old Saltwater friend, Mr..
Parker, occupies the post of assistant
clerk. The other officers are all careful,
competent men in their various depart
ments Of business. With others of St.
Paul, we took trip to Fort Smelling upon
this magnificent craft and what we have
said: and much more we could saw. but
81 Iofo.