The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-03
Letter from Columbia. q. G..
CORRESPONDENCE OF TnE RICHMOND DAILY prspArcu

COLUMBIA, y. u, Jan. 81, 1850
since the date Of my last. all branches of bust.
ness have shown decided Improvement Msr.
chants have taken their annual account of stock
hired their clerks for another year, and manv of
tnem have gone North to buy new goods Most az
.he goods sold here as In the South generally, are
brought from New York. A very few of The sta.
PIE goods are imported direct from Europe IN
Charleston, but not sufficient to afford anythino
hse encouragement to the friends of "direct trade
with Europe" Merchants will consult peculiarly
interest before patriotism, and SO long as il is for
their advantage to trade with New York thew n N,
go there, regardless of all the fine theories about
building and freghtipg vessels in our own ports
Europe is too far distant for merchants to 90 and
buy their own goods. while they can we'll snare
the time and money for trip to some large city
where they can ''see the fashions make their
purchases at home, in just about the time it would
take their orders TO reach the European market
by the most "direct line" that can be formed
The weather here has been unusually mild
throughout the winter, with the exception Of two
days (23d and 24th( which were cold enough TO
form ico on the ponds at midday. All the earlier
spring flowers are now in bloom, and gardeners
are getting quite busy. Fresh shad ere abundant
and cheap, and green peas will doubtless be for
sale in two weeks from this time.
Wehave unusual supply Of amusements and
entertainments in town this season. Prof Ryan
entertained the citizens by courss of "lectures
and readings" NJ. Leo. Taylor is now as:opish-
ing the natives with his wonderful feats Of magic
and ventrilOquism The New Orleans Opera Troupe
advertise TO appear shortly, "when will be pre-.
sentcd all the fayorite operas-ticke.s one dol
lsr'
The Burns Festival was a decided success. A
very able and appropriate address was delivered
by Prof. J. s. Rey nOds, of South Carolina College
after which the ticket holders and invited guests
sat down to a magnificent supper, where wine,
wit and wisdom mingled with mirth and music,
to proloDg the entertainment into the "wee sma
hours syaunt the twa."
The Farmer aud Planter" made its appearance
on Saturday. in new dress, and is now decidedly
the best locking agricultural journal in the coan'
try. The publisher seems to have discarded tho
too prevalent notion that ''any sort Of o looking
thing was good enough for country farmers" and
presented a journal, which will compare favora-
bly, in appearance with any Of the Northern ma
gaziRes- The contents of the Farmer and Plsn-
tor must recommend il to the favorable consde
ration Of sgcicutursts throughout the South.
In my last letter, | stated that new daily pa
per. to be called "The Disunionist," TO be is
sued shortly. But it has never appeared. The
Carolina Bulletin" came out on .he 18th. The
"Buileiin" is under the management of MIR. Il. H.
Britton, who has long been connected with the
press in this State and is R capital newspaper.
The railroads are carrying very few passengers
at this time, but freight trains run heavily oad-
ed, as planters are taking advantage Of the mild
weather to push forward their CoTToN.
ORANGE COURTHOUSE, WEATHER, FRESH