Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-03-28
NEW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE.

|
We make the following extracts from
private letter. dated New Orleans, March
18th, believing they will possess general
\ interest -
"The o2d Feb. was celebrated as we do
the Fourth of July in the North. 1t was
beautiful, warm, sunny day, the various
companies of soldiers were all out IN iuii
dress, had sham battle, &c, creating quite
an excitement but the "Contnental Corps
was the center of attraction they were all
fine looking men, thoroughly drilled, and
dressed in the old Continental regimentals.
Wherever they went, they were greeted
with applause Every person appeared to
be out of doors, and don't recollect ofever
before having seen SO many handsome
wome in one day. a Noticeable thing to
i Northern man, was the number OF pretty
children, generally accompanied by parents
! or relatives, but always under charge of
negro nurse. This day saw thousands OF
persons passing, and the streets blocked up
with people, yet, did | not see single
\ familiar countenance, or a single face that
! | ever before beheld, not even one of my
fellow -passengers--the first day in my life
| ever passed without seeing friends or
J, relatives
1 Sunday is the great day here for amuse-
ments, and next Sunday, if fine weather,
will be one of the gaycst, and most irreYe-
rent Of tile season. Then the tiremsn Will
have their grand annual celebration and
!, will march through the streets with accom-
panyinp bands OF music. There will also
be ..balloon ASCENSION Partisan Amuse-
, ments," bull fight" &c. The majority of
il the population are French, Greoles and for
eigners generally, henc these things may
: be expected.
II Last Tuesday in company with DR.. u, /
!, went down Charities ST., to the French
: markets. This is the richest street in the
/, cit y, and is full Of elegant French stores,
1 containing rich imported goods. The mar
D kets extend three squares and are very
e vide they are great curiositles to Il stran-
. ger, particularly upon Sunday. This day,
b though twelve o'clock, they were filled
: with every thing, dry goods, poultry, game.
d vegetables Of all kinds and seasons, as well
e as fruits and flJwers, and stands ornament
t ed with large mirrors, where handsome la
: dies stopped and got as good cup OF coffee
/, or chocolate as can be had in the world.
I'VE continued on to the Mint, register
: ed our names, and were shown through the
t establishment by guide. Here wesaw the
d precious metals undergoing ayariety of tor
5 lures until they were turned out cash money
e FIRST we were shown the melted metal be-
. ing run into bars then these were passed
; between rollers till they were reduced to
: strips of one exact thickness: next they
t were cut by stationary .''wad cutter into
: circles or wheels while by another machine
i. the edges were milled and finally they were
g put into powerful machine by the hand
ful, coming out again perfectly stamped on
both side and edge, faster than ! expect to
= make money
n 1--WE then went down to the "Arcade"
c to see negro sale, as this was yet new
: sight 10 me- The "Arcade" is large bar
> room, probably eighty feet front, the bar
i extending the full length n the back par,
: ofthe room, while in front and facing the
n bar, are three or four auction stands, for the
? sale of slaves. The room was full OF people
g and the bar did 'thousand dollar business -
: About twelve o'clock some porters brought
: out number Of settees and chairs for the
public and then the sale commenced
+ The auctioneer was joyial looking man,
apparently good customer Of the aiore-
t said bar; he was quite humorous, cracking
! a number of jokes at the expense of the
+ slaves and others aud once ortwice hitting
: Greeley aud his reports Of "Hil's Slave
b Sale" The Slaves did not bring quite so
r high prices as Of late, and were knocked off
I very rapidly, some Of them laughing and
: desiring TO know their purchasers and 9TH
Z ers quite sober and apparently Indifferent
in the afternoon ! went up to Congo
f Square to see the balloon ascension. 1t
5 was just rising as arrived and large crowd
!; were enthusiastically checrngit as it grace
J. fully lowered towards the skies. 1t sailed
oyer towards Lafayette, hut as owamps are