Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-05-17
Editorial Correspondence of the st. Paul Times.
An observation-disclosures -EuffaIonian Letter.
ALONG THE LINE, Nav Sd, 1856.

ALONG Tue LINE, May Sd, 1856.
Homeward bound but before leaving, pro-
pose to note n few incidents of general interest
to the readers of the TINES. In my last stated
that Albany was settled during the war of the
mistaken. Albany was settled number of years
before the breaking out-of the war, and is one
of the oldest towns on the river. Its general APP
pearance is already familiar TO the readers of
the TINES, and it is not my purpose, therefore, to
weary them with details, but to alude to some
of the Public Buildings and then leave the good
old Dutch town to the fostering care Of future
generations. A brief description of the Capitol
has already been given. Next in Importance is
the State House; marble building with large
dome. Near to this is the City Hall, quite sim
liar in size and design. Both these buildings
are in the immediate neighborhood of the Capt.
tol. The Cathedral, recently erected by the Cath
olics at cost of $3.50, 900, large ediice, built
of brown stone, and occupies very cOnspicu.
Gus position. One window alone costs So, 00O-a
present from the Pope of Rome. There are large
nunber Of Catholics in this city, and hence the
magnitude Of their church. Beside these build
ings, there is a Geological ediice, erected at
tremendous cost to the State-a magnificent
State Library, another great expense to the State
"a large Pententiary-an excellent Hospital
an Orphan Asylum-an Asylum for ldiots-a
State Normal School-Femalc Academy-a State
Arsenal and United States Arsenal, and thirty
churches The city being the Capital of the
State, these buildings necessarily follow, and add
very materially to the reputation of the place,
which in other respects has but little to boast Of;
and yet the longer one remains in Albany the
better he likes it. Invariably strangers at first
sight pronounce it miserable hole, and Judging
, from first impressions, it certainly is, but when
these impressions are removed Albany is not so
bad after all. The citizens are kind and genial
in their natures ,--inteligent and enterprisng in
their business. Here is where large number of
stoves arc manufactured and sent all over the
Union, and here too is where most of the silver
plate knives, forks, spoons, SC. &c. furnished
our Western and Eastern Hotels, are turned out
by Mr.. s. ID. Brewer, who has been engaged in
the business for the last twenty years, and
whose articles have superiority over all others.
Specimens of his work be found in almost
every public house in the West. would suggest
to the person who may lease Mr.. Fuller's new
hotel in st. Paul, to consult with Mr.. Brewer
before he furnishes his house, as feel sure it
would be for his interest.
Albany continues to increase and decrease in
population. This seeming contradiction rec
oncile in this manner: while large number are
continually leaving the country for the city Gas
the late census fully proves to be the CASEY an
equally large number are leaving the city for the
West, and this eternal fuctuation has had and
will have, tendency to keep Albany not only
where it has been but where it now is, while
Western cities continue to increase in wealth and
population in a manner scarcely creditable. A
better knowledge of the West and its resources,
will almost depopulate just such cities as Alba
ny, Troy, Hudson, &c, and if | do not greatly
mistake the signs OF the times, the process is al
ready going on. But have said enough of Al
bany-so good by to the Capitol of the Empire
State.
business calling Inc again TO Boston, | had Il
few hours to become familiar with the city and
its inhabitants, and with some Of the "reminiscences
OF the past which are held in such sacred esti-
nation by the citizens. There are many relics
want of information the stranger scarcely ever
sees them. Among them will note the fact that
bali from the British cannon during the war of
the Revolution, lodged in the brick of the Brat
tie st. Church, directly opposite the Quincy
House, ard remains there still, visible to any
who is anxious to see it. The church standing
there then, when the congregation were obliged
to carry weapons with them to Divine Worship,is
the same church now, and is in good state of
preservation. Near the corner of Washington
and State streets the first man was killed on the
opening OF the war, and near BY the building in
which the enemy sheltered their horses is now
occupied a clothing establishment and for
other purposes. Several streets below. grim and
grand stands Faneul Hall, s'the Cradle of Liber-
ty,'' where once rung out in clarion notes for
Freedom, the voices of those patriots now hush
ed IN Death. Here, too. is where Webster, Win
throp, and 9th ers later in life, woke the dead
past and summoned the old wall to their aid to
give utterance to their eloquence! They have
passed away, but the old building still remains.-
silent but effective orator, calling up thousand
memorable scenes in the history of our country.
90 not wonder that the Bostonians feel proud of
t-let it remain forever.
In the year l,66 it was customary for the men
OF those times, to meet under a tree on the corn
er OF Beaver and Washington streets, and dis
cuss the tyranny of King George. 1t was under
this tree that pledges were made and oaths taken
to submit no longer to the yoke of thraldom i'm
posed upon the infant colonies by the mother
country, and while the broad branches of the old
oak shut out the rays of the noon day sun, fire
was kindled in the breasts of all who were con-
gregated there, which eventually burst forth and
swept the enemy from the country, Here, too,
is where the plan was formed to pitch the tea in
to Boston harbor, and which act, carried out, re-
suited so glorously to the cause of Liberty. The
old tree has gone to decay, but its memory is still
green, for where it STOOD now stands large brick
building, in the center of which, above the second
story, fac smile of the old tree is preserved in
stone, and just beneath it the figures 1866, And
then.there is Bunker Hill, of which every one knows
and hundred other little incidents, familiar to
every citizen of Boston, but unknown to MANY
who should be acquainted with these relics of the
past. le who visit Boston hunt them up. for IL
will awaken in your bosoms renewed love for
those institutions which were purchased at the
sacrifice OF so many precious lives, and which is
should be our duty to hand down untarnished to
Al