Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09
LETTERS FROM THE WEST.
WRITTEN FOR THE NATIONAL 1srrII1orscrn !
Glimpses Of Society an Cincinnati.

Il
Glimpses Of Society an Cincinnati
BURSET HOUSE, (CIScNSATI,) November 1854
The most delightful weather has welcomed us back to
the metropolis Of the West" The mornings, indeed
not quite yet bracng enough for old stager and
in hurryng through round of visits before the almost
universal dinnerhour of the polite 1.-TWO O'clock the
temperature is often felt to be warm Bright skies
and clear atmosphere make more than contentedly
thankful Cincinnati looked better to my eyes
have the hills and wales and forests that surround
1t ever appeared more richly and variousy beautiful
than now
An old friend from England has been traversing the
city and its envrons with me- making excursions to the
neighboring heights-Mount Auburn, Clifton, Walnut
Hills &c.; up and do the bangs of La Belle ryiere''
as the old French settlers called the Ohio taking glance
at the Vineyards stripped of their fruit and peep
into the cellars of the wine producers and is no ex
aggcraon to say that he is amazed at what he seem
Indeed he assures that he has done little in his
journal than the repetition Of wonderful awonder-
full u in different forms of ampifcaon since the hour Of
his arrival His opinion that Cincinnati is glorious
place. was perhaps not less orcbly felt less viva
ciousy expressed in consequence of the comforts find
at our hotel. Coleman is trump. He is making the
Ban what the Asor has long been and revves to the
traveller the remembrance Of the pleasant hosts Of the
latter In the tasteful and comfortable parlors appro-
priated to have had delightful reunions
with old friends of at least ten fifteen years. standing
including several Of the ceyerest and most accom-
pished would wish to meet with III the most
genial hour My friend has suggested the idea of
densing for your enlightenment (ehem y the information
about society in Cincinnati which communicated to
him during our g octes cenasque." SO here goes
The "Queen City," as this somewhat fayorite name
would lead you very easily to imagine, is excessively
ambitious place, and perhaps nowhere in the world
people constantly controlled by the merely
ventiona ideas Of social position, wealth. fashion, &c
and, as matter Of course nowhere in the world do the
actual possessors Of such advantages WELD less disputed
sway. AS Sir Giles Overreaoh said of Lovcl-
Their fortune swellstkem It's rank rank of some
kind, at least"
But what rather oho, constitute rank in this West
metropolis? There at least three well defined
classes Of aprants to this distinction One comprehends
the old Buckeye families they still lovingly
caedhose who either pioneers themselves to this
region when it "bare creatisn' Ito Daniel Web
sters excellent phrase, their immediate descendants,
and who by the gradual increase of the value Of land
and houses, by the fruits Of continued and we'll
directed enterprise and industry now auent be-
yond the imagnations of many European owner of q
baronecy and possess, besides, in city which has
sprung up like exhalaton, certain ancient repute
the prestige Of antiquity of at least whole half of
century!
Another class embraces those who came hither about
1829-'30; merchants who have become, like those Of
Tyre in olden days. "princes of the earth !" bankers
who do not deal in grinding the faces Of the poor law
yers physicians surgeons and others who have reached
the highest SUBMITS Of their professions.
third class includes number Of families possessed
of ample in money, considerable culture,
small amount of social tact and TALENT but compare
lively new corners, looked upon with condescendngly
patronisng air by the other two sets.
OF course individuals belonging each Of these classes
penetrate into the others. Many and women who
cultivate the sapor home with the best am
lies of oil. Yet the partitions which divide them are
clearly Disseminated and determined the Buckeye
set" the Broadway set" the New England set" &c.
You need assurance my dear friends that with
inevitable procvity to make the of every thing we
have mingled freely with the best Of all these circles
Few things are better than dinner evening with
any leading family of the Buckeye set where can
pick up, in the pleasanest way hundred tales connect
ed with the story of Cincinnati and its surroundings
Yet we can pass, without dsparagement invdious
comparison to social circles of later origin and therein
equally enjoy the Injuries of life the varied produc
tons of genius choice libraries the creations Of the
chise and pencil, and the many -coored and inspiring
associations of Eastern old abodes mingled with the pc
cuiartes Of Western homes, each modifying and height
ening the other.
There is one feature Of Cincinnati society which might
perhaps be initiated with advantage in elder
munities the esteem in which Of letters
and artists held The different circles, already
ticed vie with each other giving substantial sup
port well delicate attentions few eminent mus
cans painters and writer's who have settled among them
You quite to meet them at every large party
and two Of the distinguished will most likely
be found at the recherche dinners the snug suppers OF
the best representatives of all the SETS the au
thor gives lecture the musician concert, or the ar
list exhibition Of production, the lecture-
ROOM the concertha the studio viii surely be graced
by the presence of the fair the most polished and
the spirited in the various social circles An old
friend Of yours gave last year course OF lectures to
ladies' on English literature, at four ocock in the after
noon The price Of tickets placed at an unusually
high figure Yet large and brilliant array of the cs
Of the city married and unmarried attended regularly
throughout the whole 1t is not in every city Of
much greater gretensons that such attendance SO
steady and perseverng, Of Of high culture and
social position could be secured at such ON hour.
Adieu my dear old friends, for the present. Il.
FIVE MEN sHor-At Cairo, Illinois, on Tuesday last,
an extraordinary and exciting occurred, of which
the ST. Louis Republican gives the particulars negro
named Spencer became very obnoxious to the people Of
Cairo by his lawlessness and bad character. He
to appear before Justice and entered court
with key Of gunpowder UNDECIDED, under his arm, and
loaded revolver in his hand and threatened to blow up
the building If he did receive justice He dis
rroad lad hoor ~ boat haf he