Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-06

charming correspondent whose graces OF
intellect are only equaled by her goodness
of heart-whose contributions to Ameri-
can literature, viii, we venture to predict,
make her beautiful FOREST HOME" spot
thoroughly classical
You inquire with much apparent emPresss-
ment, "What about the Southern University
what think you of the chances of a realiza-
ton of your wishes9' In reply 1 regret to say
that our ''chances of realization" are EN-
phatically matter of chance. In an affair
like this, dependent upon the decision Of a
body of men, no one can predict the result
with any degree of certainty. So many diff
ferent judgments are to be satisfied, or over
ruled; so many diverse tastes are to be
grati6ed or reinquished, that one must
be a prophet, "yea, and more than a proPh-
et," to predicate anything as to the final
! decision. But when one comes to the ''solid
merits of the case" BEN LoMoND, the
beautiful, is certainly the place, of all 9th
ers. 1t has, within the past fortnight, been
surveyed by a scientific engineer, whose
report will be made through Col. Gwynn, to
| the Committee on Location. He fonnd the
plateau to be six miles in circumference, con-
sisting of two "bulges," Gas he termed them,)
connected by an isthmus called ''the Mar
rows" He also found all the requisites which
we claim, and in addition extensive strata Of
a peculiar sandstone, admirably adapted TO
the building of fine edifces, and which he
says lis to be found in only one other spot in
the United States, and that is a point near Bos-
| ton.
have just returned from q visit to Ben Lo-
mond, and confess that in point Of beauty it
must be unsurpassed As stood upon the
summit and gazed upon the unrivalled scene
! beneath. recalled a remark of your fair COR
respondent "CLARA," who in speaking of it
said, that it "realized more fully her idea of
| Italian scenery than any she had ever yet
SEEN" 1t would approach very nearly to
mine of Northern Italy, if the SUBMITS of the
far away 'Short Mountain" were envelOPed in
a mantle of rosy cloud, and crowned with a
diadem of snow. AS it was, the scene was
sufficiently beautiful to be Italian-nay, more,
to be american. Around and below us the
foliage gowed with Autumn's burning dyes, -
-kingly crimson and gold, with orange and
emerald, and richest brown, all blending into
each other like the changing shades of the
Kaleidoscope, and presenting gorgeous rich.
ness, and velvety softness of cOlOring, which
no hues save those of the rainbow, and thu
sunset cloud, could ever hope to rival. Away
to the North East curved a wall of mountain
perfectly level along the summit, terraced up,
on the sides, and covered with glowing foliage
4 till it seemed to me an arc of some NOR,
majestic Coliseum, hung with gorgeous ban
ners, and rich draperies of Tyrian dye
Detacbing themselves from this Titanic struc
ture, rose here and there an isolated peak,
stretching down almost to the village, which.
lay directly in front of US, its white spir,
| glistening in the sunshine,-and thence tn,
landscape spread away to the North and North
west a vast expanse of hill and dale, of forest
and farm, until the distance blended all into
a soft, empurpled cloud. Miles away doomed
up the dark blue heads of the "Short Noun
tain,'' rising ike an immense citadel with ram
parts and battlements, and
"Huge as that tower which builders vain,
Presumptuous piled Shinar's plain"
Along the railway came rushing the Iron
| Horse, with his white banner, and his sable
train, but from our eyrie his followers might
| have been deemed the tiny black chargers o.,
| the Gnome King with flag of truce in the
vanguard, and the rspidity with which they
vanished, as it were, into the " bowels of the
earth" just before reaching the village, rath-
er favored such illusion. Turning away
with a sigh from the beautiful scene, l almost
wished myself young student with all the
riches Of literature before me, that l might
here sit down and enjoy them in spot so en-
inently favorable to what "the Colonel" calls
{" calm contemplation, and poetic ease.'
| am quite certain that in this matter of To-
cation I am free from all sectional feeling, the
objects and influences of this enterprise are so
| elevated that they overpoWer all mere preiu-
dice of place. l wish this Institution to be
| located wherever it will best succeed, and that
! Ben Lomond is that point is my honest con-
viction. The sound judgment and strong
| practical sense of Bishop Otey could see at a
| glance its perfect adaptability to the purpose,
and as this is an enterprise where practical
sense should rule Customary taste, can but sim
cerely hope that the honorable committee may
look upon it in the same light as does our re-
verend Bishop. But, whatever may be the
result of their deliberations at Montgomery,
we shall have the satisfaction of knowing tina
we possess an important educational point =
our citizens feeling this are determined to
make it one; they will use their influence, and
give literally of their means to advance the
interests Of fine, first class Institution estab-
lished at Ben Lomond, and even should the
Episcopal Bishops not deem it expedient to
place their University there, venture to pre-
dict that there are other sagacious, and far
seeing Educationalists, who will only be too
happy to avail themselves of its advantages
~ Among the consuls aud commercial agents
Of the United States 10 foreign countries is Mr.
Perry Med. Collins, whose official residence il upon
she AmOOr river which is in Tartary, not yet an
nexed to Russia but nevertheless, for all CONNER,
cial purposes, under the dominion Of the Gar.
MI. Collins, who is Californian belonging 70
Sonora, has recently traversed ASIA and indeed the
whole breadth Of the Russian empire from west 20
east, and he is the first American, it is said, Who
has done It.
The Echo du Paci6que, a French California pa
per, gives an account of MIR. Collins journey lie
repaired 20 his distant post, il seems from ST. Pc
tersburg, passing through the int rior Of Asia and
Siberia. He descended the Amoor aud visited the
great city of the AandshoOs, LOGON, where he was
received with baTbarous pOmp by the Governor OF
the country, in pavilion upon the bank Of the
river but was not permitted to the city. Like
true Yankee, however, he succeeded in evAding