Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-05-31
Familiar Letters from Europe.
NUMBER TWENTY.

! Familiar Letters from Europe.
i NUMBER TWENTY.
/ New YORK, Sept, 1855.
/ Dear /" \: It was with the deepest regret
that left dear old Edinburgh and not without
fond hope that might again visit place SO full o
delightful "reminiscences. We left the city in the
cars for York. Were going quite rapidly, say
about fifty miles an hour, when the cars ran off the
and though it was the work Of few moments il
seemed an age before all was quiet once more
Imagine my feelings, (for l had time to think, ;,
when expected every moment would be my last
in this world! Oh such picture as was pre-.
scented to us. We found ourselves seated in the
bottom of the car, Tor rather it was turned on the
side,) broken glass all around us, and the wood.
work all broken into splinters, which were project.
ing in every direction. With difficulty we crawled
out Of the window, and fastened to the assistance
of two ladies in the car next to us-one very old
lady and the other her daughter, both screaming
terribly for relief. Our delight was indeed great
when we found we could walk, had no limbs broken,
but only bruised, and our establishment was with
out bounds when we witnessed the state of affairs
and found that not life was lost, not limb bro
ken, with the exception of one man, the fireman,
whose chest was all crushed in. His agony was
terrible, and it required three or four men to hold
in the road, the locomotive ran off the track as
we were turning curve, ran down an embankment
of fifty feet, through stone wall, and lay over on
its side, perfect wreck Of departed worth. The
baggage van, which followed, mashed to pieces,
and my trunk so completely demolished that we
were obliged to tie it, contents and ALL in piece
Of tarpaulin, and handle with the greatest care.
The car which We were in and which was next to
the baggage van, passed on in advance for some
distance, when it was turned over twice and landed
at the bottom Of the embakment. The cars here
are different from those with us, being divided into
three apartments, each one accommodating six or
eight persons. We occupied the center apartment
alone, while the two ladies above spoken Of were
in the rear The apartment in advance Of US was
so completely shattered that no human being in it
could have escaped with life. l'-
Never-no, never-were people ever so perfectly
humbled before their Maker-never so conscious of
his almighty powers, and never were thanks poured
out to His merciul ear by hearts so filed with true
gratitude. Indeed, to look around, it was but to
wonder that we still lived, so miraculous was our
escape.
After short delay, train came from Berwick,
distant three miles, and we left the scene of
utter destruction. Continued on to York the
same evening. Searched for a trunk-could find
none Of any size, and found that the English man
ufacture is not so convenient as American.
York is very ancient city, said to have been
founded some years before Christ. 1t was long in
habited by the Romans. Constantine the Great
was born there Visited Old York Minister, a noble
Did pile displaying all the beauties of gothic archi
lecture. 1t was founded by Of the Saxon kings,
but has, from time to time, been much enlarged
and improved. Heard divine service there
The ruins of St. Mary's Abbey and the city wall
ire very interesting. The latter, though built by
he Romans is well preserved and affords fine
promenade and good view of the country.
Passing through large manufacturing valleys and
unnes miles in length, we reached Manchester, |
he great manufacturing city Of England since
he time of Henry VIII and Edward VI At first |
comprised chiefly wooden, but now cotton is |
he greatest manufacture. The iron factories are |
lso extensive and fine. Visited several of iron,
ilk, and cotton, all of which pleased us; but the
trouble in gaining admission into the
never before experienced, annoyed
s exceedingly. But for the indomitable perseve-
ance of one Of our party, in whose vocabulary
here is no such word as CAN'T or FAIL, we would
ot have had the pleasure of contrasting Manches-
er with Lowell.
Left Manchester and reached Liverpool in few
ours Visited the principal buildings and took
leasant ride through the city. The docks of Liv.
rpool are even greater work than those of Lon.
on, but We did not see them. One thing pleased
.e much here-the construction of the markets,
hich are commodious, sometimes two stories high,
lean and airy 1t is really pleasure to walk
trough them. Went to church, and whilst in
ngland have taken particular notice of the English
durch, but do not admire the spirit with which it
conducted Ny conclusions may seem harsh and
70 partial, but give them with sincerity. /
It seems to me that it is only in America that
ligion partakes of the true Christian character,
ee from severe bigotry. 1t is astonishing the ;
eat influence that state government has upon :
ligion, seeming to deprive it Of all purity and
,cerity-reducing it to q mere FORM Indeed,
ere can be no religious sect that would resist i,
is influence and not become bigoted, overbearing,
and given to persecution, if supported
the public treasury and protected by the State.
hen this is the case, the country grows rich in
e churches, rich in fat lazy pastors, devoted to
tward forms and ceremonies which are as desti- :
Ee of real religion as wanting in spirituality as
pockets Of the poor citizen who gives his hard r
rnings to their support, is Of the means to live.
When in Italy was disguised with the oppres-
n Of the church, and gave my objections; and
" that have seen England, which, though h
rdly to be compared, urge the same objections h
ainst the Established Church. The church is pro. II
ted by the strong arm of the law and supported ~