The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-08
April 9th, 1853.

Cot Benton's Long and EventfiA Career
Dra'oimg 10 Ciosc.-The Washington cores.
pondent of the New York Times, under date of
March 27, snys:
Col. Benton is about closing his long and
eventfu career. He is almost the last Of the
old veterans Of the men who were in the height
OF their glory during the days Of Gen. Jackson,
and who then made the whole country ring with
the echo Of their contcnding blows He has
been confined to his room for the last few weeks
In the pleasant weather of February he was
often to he seen riding slowly, upon his splendid
black horse, along the avenue, keeping near
enough to the sidewalk to enable him to return
the courteous salutations Of the many friends he
wss sure to meet. But he soon became TOO
feeble for this and was scarcely ever out Of his
chamber. Now he is confined to his bed almost
entirely, suffering great deal Of pain, but
bearing it with characteristic fortitude, and in
spite Of it all, working incessanily ut what he
styles his magnum opus the abridg gment of the
Congressional Debates. He has completed the
work nearly to 1850. and says he only homes
to live long enough to bring it down to the present
time, His familiarity with the more recent dis.
cnsssions Of Congress renders the labors COM
paratively. easy, and three or four months of
| comparative health would enable him to bring it
to q close. But it is very doubtful whether
| this will be vOuchsafed to him lie suffers from
nm internal cancer, and it may end his life al.
most ut any moment. He is cheerful resolute
as ever, and especially glad to SEQ his ffiends-
Ills indomitable courage is conspicuous in the
lncessant vigor with which he continues to work
His review Of the Dred Scott decision was writ.
ten under intense suffering and in spite of pain
| he persisted i'll having every proof sheet ready
| for the mail by which his publishes would ex.
pect it.
Tho Steam Dretlge Leviathax.-We visited the
| steam dredge Leviathan, at:the Long Dock, Jer:
sey City, in company with DISTINGUISHED corns
of engineers and others, yesterday at o'clock
| +. M- The nlschine is a rotary dredper, cana.
bic Of digging in any depth. up to 25 feet, and
con be raised and lowered at all times without
throwing. it ont'of gear or stopping the engine
a!des,derat"m sought for during the last century
machine had been operating for some boury. and
had unfortunately struck a. rock and thereby
crippled three ofsthe buckets; but with praise
worthy perseverance,, her proprietors continued
the work, and with watciGin hand, her .opera.
tons were closely scrutinized. The fSsnlt Is in
AZ mthotes. by actualme eSsuremento of tho scow,
showed 245 yardss'or at The rate Of $3.50 wards
in ten hours. This stupendoGs performances can
be realized when it Us reflected that one lcI,bjc
yard contahsthree ordinary cart loads AtitIto
the above result % per cent pe tho additional
work OF the crippled buckets, a1dAtle aastonikh.
ing ratesof 4, ,200yards ,is shownsjn tan gLouIsl
truly an ssconPlisRm ment worthy 81 ~ name; %
The machine appears 70 Bs pafg suIsd Is
ofahe Mississippi tos slsaaa aaS H;sySSs. b
nal e oo,smsrss. i ~. 49, s &
ssss { & Ss
epna IsltsS sqsS y ;dts k7 ~
is, sad q b 4 4 +; =
l5las A ii5 4 M IS