Newbern weekly progress., 1859-12-06
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. ], 1859.
An Interesting Letter.

The following very interesting letter written
by gentleman of extensive information and who
formerly citizen of North Carolina but now
a resident of New York. will be read with much
interest. The letter was addressed to personal
friend of the writer at whose request ii is publish
eds the author having kindly consented to its ap
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cffptfon OF the great Central Park now being I'M
proved and adorned at New York, and the only
reliable statistics which have ever been published
concerning that immense undertaking:
New YORK, Sept. 14th, 1859.
Deer Doctor Misunderstanding that you have
returned from the Virginia Springs, where you
have been mingling with the gay throng who
frequent that popular place of summer resort for
our Southerners, generally, l thought that in
your comparative retirement to the duties of pro-
fessional life in a country neighborhood, few
lines from friend, now residing in this great
metropolis, might not be considered tax upon
your time and patience too onerous for you to
bear. therefore proceed to infict upon you the
punishment of reading, at your leisure, the follow
ing "pencellings ty the way
Our city at the present time is quite full of
strangers, many of whom Southerners, just
returning from the various fashionable watering
places of the North, where they have been spend
ing the hard earnings of the Southern darkies
in revelling in luxury and ease, and contributing
to swell the purses of many Northern fanatics,
who Gid they possess the power would rend
asunder this beautiful Union, by precipitating the
country into a general the ''nigger
question, The cotton crop of the South, worth
some t,oo hunderd million Of doitars, together with
other agricultural products has contributed large
Iy to build up this great Metropolis, and also to
|
Northern friends instead of attempting to array
one section of the Union against the other should
studiously labor to cement the bonds of Union,
by which we are now held together, and thus
transmit to other generations the sacred boon,
which have received from our forefathers.
New York City has apparently never been more
| prosperous than at the present time. Some por-
| tons of Broadway much obstructed by
building materials that it's quite difficult to make
your way through that great thoroughfare. Many
large and truly magnificent buildings to be occu-
pied by our wholesale merchants, are in
course of erection on that beautiful street. which
in their vast capacity for business purposes as
we'll as their exceedingly tasteful architectural
arrangements, will put to the blush thousands of
stately storehouses which have hitherto been re-
garded perfect palaces for business.
| On the ground where the old 90 Broadway
Theatre - formerly stood store house of white
marble front is being erected for one of dry
goods firms, at cost of an annual rent of sixty
thousand dollars ! The " Fifth Avenue Hotel"
which fronts on Madison Square, Broadway, 5tll
Avenue 23d and 24th Streets is perfect gem in its
way, and already hundreds of our Southerners,
with their wives and daughters, are feasting the
good things provided for them by the accomplish
ed Alabamian who dispenses its hospitalities
Itis proposed to introduce into this house, steam
1" Dummies for hosting the guests to the upper
floor, without subjecting them to the fatigue of
walking up stairs, which you know is always la
borious and especially SO Immediately after din
ner. In the dining of this hotel you
no walls at all, it is all columns and French plate
mirrors; and before taking a seat at the table, it
is quite necessary to look to your toilet arrange
ments, as the least speck or impertection on your
dress is reflected by the immense of mirrors
around you, and exposed to the full view of hun
dreds of charming maidens, who cling to the
arms of their lovers, in their promenades to an
eligible seat.
Some two weeks since accepted an invitation
from friend, who is in business in the city, (and
has his re sidence at Carmansville some 8 miles
ont,) to accompany him to his home and spend
the Sabbath. l found this most delightful trip,
we went out by the steamer on the Harlem River
and returned on Monday morning, driving my
friends own team. Going out we passed Black
wells Island which is the place where most ali
of the Public Institutions located The
grounds are pleasantly and tastefully laid out,
and present quite an attractive landscape to the
eye. At and near Carmansviie there are many
things to interest you. The country residences
are generally fine: and many of them command
! a full view either Of the Hudson or Harlem Riv-
ers. At this place reside the family of the lare
Mr.. Audubon, of Louisiana, whose work OF
" Onithology is the finest ever produced. Two
copies of this work can be found in our State.
IN. c. one in the public library, and the other in
the Female School of the Rev. Mr.. Smeads at
Raleigh. The cost has heretofore been $500 for
the four Volumes but the sons of Mr.. A. propose
to get up a cheap edition, which viii much in
the professor. so years of age, quite stylish
and accomplished lady, and is very handsome.
and full of energy. She has a school for the
benefit of her grand children, and is a charm to
the whole family circle. Near this place, reside
also the reputed widow of the celebrated Aaron
Burr; (uhe riUat and perhaps superior of Alexan-
der Hamilton.) She is known as % Madame Ju-
MELEE and is nearly one hundred years of age.
and has her physical and mental faculties still
unimpared She has property here of 200 acres
of land, which purchased forty years ago for
mere trife. but is now worth some five thous
and dollars per acre. She lives in magnificent
style, and her method of driving out is with foul
horses; the near horse front and wheel being
topped with a rider after the old European fash