Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-01-17

gentleman who resided for some time in this
place, but went Southwark for the benefit Of
his health. 1t was sent to us for publiea-
ton, to answer numerous promises made
before his departure. The writer must ex-
cuse the liberty We have taken with the let
ter as it was too long for publication
ToMe Ealttor Qfthe indicator
PENSACOLA, Florida, Dec. %, 1856.
Dear Eusebius, At last have reached
the place of my destination. | am housed,
aud though do not feel quite at ease yet,
still, being freed from those concomitants Of
a long, disconnected route, anxiety and care
| have gained much in the way of rest and
quiet, so that | am enabled now to rctros-
pect calmly the line of my transit, without
beng overcome by that nervous irritability,
which, on my arrival here, attacked me,
whenever | wished to do So You do not
wonder at that, for you know my affection.
Cheerfully looked forward to the ap-
proaeh of my departure from Virginia, I'M
til | was seated in the cars, when, all at
once, the sunny aspect of my future darken-
ed and unlucky prosentiments almost over
whelmed me. | regretted leaving Staunton,
which, during five years residence, had
become second home to me. [ regretted
losing that feeling of security and rcpose,
which everyday associates, familiar objects
and scenes impart to the man at home.
regretted having declined an agreeable sit
uation offered me there All these things
preyed heavily upon my mind and harassed
me not little.
Such was the state of my spirits when I
was about to realize those bright visions Of
rosy south--of a warm atmosphere, so al
Turing to inyalids--of flowers and unknown
things-which had all lost their enchant-
ment and made me feel more acutely the
hopelessness of the present 1t was cold,
very cold, and I sat by the stove shivering
between a crutch and stck--a trial for a
cynic, but not for Christian. And dear
Eusebius, the Arrowsmith hoax, Of which
undoubtedly you have heard, and which
then, was discussed in the papers, did not
serve to abate my discomfort. | disereditcd
it, because it bore the stamp of exaggera-
ton; but oxaggeration generally has some
truth at the bottom Who doubted the Sc
hastopol hoax? And who, after its contra
diction, did not think himself easily sold ?
We }irglnians, near as We are to the cotton
growing States, know Sory little about the
habits and domestieity of their population.
What we hear through Congress and the
papers has very little reference to these
things.
Mans mind is hike India-rebber. It Yields
to pressure without endangering its elasti-
city. Feeling depressed, reeolleeted that
it was about time for the meeting of the Sa-
yannah Convention, and enquired of the
Conductor whether any of the delegates
were on the cars. Notwithstanding dig
nifed air, be deigncd not reply. I saw
our clever ex-landlord in Richmond, 10. w.
lie has possession of the St. Charles Hotel.
Good luck to him.
After travelling several hundred miles
began to look for a change IN climate and
vegetation In fact, the country assumed
a different character. There were yerdar t
hills and districts Of table-land, alternately
swampy and solid, but on all sides fresh and
green-looking, covered mostly with novel
growth of myrtfes, magnolias. cypress. a
kind OF laurel, and many others In this
luxurlant disorder, the most pleasing tree to
me, and the most abundant was the live
oak, large evergreen tree from the branch
es of which depend, like drapery, masses of
moss, often several yards long. I have been
ted that this moss is an air-plant, receiving
Its noarishment from the miasna Of the
swamps. | have mind se dispute that. |
have noticed them in dry sections, and ano-
Their argument is, that this moss eJnfnes it.
self only to a few kind Of trees, hence con-
clude that 1t is parasite plant, generated
and sustained by popularity of the utlnos-
phere, and another pertaining to the tree
from which it floats.
We we're now rapidly advancing towards
the Pedee. Before we crossed it, resolved
to make myself acquainted with gentleman
present, who, by his eccen1yic remarks, had
attracted universal attentioM. lie was n
Doctor from Charleston or Savannah. BY
the time we had crossed the lazy Little Pc
dee, which engrosscd his attention for the
moment, |, with a question ON my lips,
searched his eye, when---crash I Here, Ger
tainly, occurred a gap in my existence, for
iiie hNAo eutug L EclucHlDef Nds, my lying
on the floor a few yards from my seat, with
sharp pain in nay forehead and my right
limb. | succeeded, however, in raising my
self, and in so doing, discovered that every
body was doing the same. The collision of
steam power that was to come off, had trans
PRED, the terrible duel was fought, and the
gladiators were on the ground Many were
wounded and bruised, but zone seriously -
We made a most miraculous escape.
There was moment of panic, bw seeing
the danger over, friends AND kindred rushed
together to ascertain the injury received and
TO congratulate each othep Persons whom
the shock had mceremeniously thrown a
gainst each ethey, mutually apolegized, and
each one had bis OVID taAe to tell. All had
their presentiments of the catastrophe.
But the Doctor. | had entirely forgotten
him. The shock had hurried him against the
stove, hruising him severely Being very
homely he said he was going to sue the com
pany for spelling bis beauty, which caused
general and hearty laugh.
We were again, however, soon seated
in another car, and on our way, and with
many interruptions, at length arrived here.
! must close this long letter, bat my val
ued friend, hope you may find in it some
thing to interest you. More, anon.
Yours, &C., d.