The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-22

received in season we lay it before our readers
out of its regular order:J
On THE MISSISSIPPI,
June 9th, 1858.
Our voyage down the Ohio yesterday was
exceedingly agreeable after the great annoy
ance and fatiguing delay of which we were
the ctms the day before. The Ohio became
gradually greater river, receiving those no.
BILE tributary steams, the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers. Immense forests of cotton
wood trees occasionally lined the borders Of
the river as we neared the Mssissippi; and in
imitation of that great stream, the Ohio be.
gan TO show evidences of fckleness in its
course, tearing away its banks at opposite
sides by turns, engulphing earth aud trees in its
course. This, be it understood, is done when
the river is higher than now. 1t is at present
comparatively placid and the shoals rather too
near the surface for safe and easy navigation,
as our experience shows.
Yesterday we Joined our friends. the Louis.
vile delegates, on board the Eclipse, and
travelled the greater part of the day on that
magnificent boat, and spending a pleasant
time. was out of patience with the officers
OF these boats while we were detained but
must do them the justice to say that they are
most obliging and kind hearted gentlemen.
Had l been situated as was Capt. Wilson of
the Empress, | should certainly have assisted
the Eclipse off. That fine boat cost about
$l6O,OOO, and was only half insured. Had she
remained aground few days, while the Ohio
was falling, she would have been a wreck
and almost total loss. You can have no
conception of the splendors of this floating
palace. Her entire length is 366 feet. Her
saloon, which is the second story, is 300 feet
long, and she has yet third story just be-
hind the wheel house, which is called "Tex-
as,' and which is most comfortably fitted up.
and where number of passengers may be
accommodated on pinch. The main saloon
is deliberately finished in the gothic STYLE.
painted white, with a great deal of gliding.
The doors Of The state rooms are all painted
with scenes admirably executed, and the state
rooms, which are spacious, are furnished
most elegantly. La the ladies' department
there are no two rooms furnished exactly
alike, yet each has the gorgeousness BETTING
palace. There are rs gentlemen's state
rooms and % for the ladies each can &C.
commodate two persons. She has had on
board of steerageN and cabin passengers as
many as oOO at one time! The Eclipse is
furnished with baths, and pipes (embracing
length of 1000 feet,) are laid in all direc.
tons to supply hot and cold water at different
| parts of the boat, for all the wants of passen-
gers and crew as well as putting out fire.
Her engines are very powerful. Her smoke
stacks are very high, and when lying on the
ground horse and rider can pass easily
through them. The carving and painting of
the Eclipse are very fine, and it is a great
credit to the West to say that the entire
work-the boat and its ornamental features
was done in Louisville, Kentucky. The EN-.
press is but little inferior TO the Eclipse. Her
styles less ornamental but exceedingly chaste,
while she is very agreeable boat. These
boats are floating palaces-immeuse aquatic
ho'els-where the comforts are little inferior
to the first class hotels Of the large cities and
the fare as good in every particular.
About 100 miles below Louisville, | saw
upon the river bank a house, one end of which
was part of the wheel house of the IN fa,ed
LUCY WALKER" which blew up several
years since near Louisville. Her name in
large black letters on the white ground was
nearly complete, the ar" alone being gone.
iief SAD enough upon beholding it and recur.
ring to the fate of one who persisted with her !.
the lamented PEGRAx-one of natures noble.
men; admired for his bright talents and be.
loved for bis virtues; as generous being as
ever lived. Few that knew him as the writer
did could behold the memorial Of his fate on
the bank Of the Ohio without feeling his eyes
moistened with unbidden tears.
Last night we passed Cairo.e at the junc-
ton of iae Mississippi and the Ohio-a town
which is drowned out every now and then