The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-01-13

MEMPHIS, TENN, Jan. 9TH, 1859.
In my last, informed you I had reached this
place, and wac chartered at the Gsyosa. On risi
from my bed next morning, tie frst object that
attracted my attention from the window OF my
room, was the broad expanse OF the Father OF
Waters, stretching out from North TO Southwest,
j. mejestic grandeur.
The Mississippi differs from all other rivers in
the extent OF its over lows. in its "bluffs" and
"bot.oms,' III its "sDags" and "sawyers" In
fact. ft is strongly 6ividuas ed and stands alone
in the commonwealth of waters Al low water
| the traveller fOds the stream quits narrow, with
high bluffs and sand banks visible on either
side, and IL unaccusfoDed to the river, cannot
realize that 10 short time how the sceno NAV be
ehanged-the valley filled TO oserfi owing, aud the
| houses and trees he sees tine high banks. actu-
ally below the singh" level of the river and re-.
Quirfng the pr lection OF artificial tauks oc 'ie.
Wees" as THEY are termed. The 'ssnag" 10 formed
by a large tee Il ating down stream, and get.
ting its roots firmly anchored in the bad of the
river, with its branches mp stream. The saw.
yer is tree iinbedded by its branches or top
down stream, the current alternately depressing z
it below the surrsce, and rising IL up again. The
constant caying Of it's banks, and changing Of the
stream or bed of the river, causes great mum.
hers OF trees to fall in, forming serious OBJ
stTuctens TO navigation. The Mississippi differs
from all other rivers, in the great variety OF craft
awsrming ts waters. The "rsft." the 'keel boat y
the sfat boat" the "dug out" the "stern Wheel
er," or "wheebarrov boat" the freight boat, the
frs' aud second class passenger boats, contrived
and capital-ali have q peculiar individuality
All the steamboats, are hat bottomed, and stana
almost wholly out Of the water, some Of them
drawing only thirty inches water, that they may
pass over the Lars when the river ID low. IL has
been humorousiy remarked, that Mississippi
at can rUu a heavy dew. The first class ,ht Is
really deserve the name of II ,atins palaces" aud
for comfort .nd luxury have no equals in the
world These boats three stories high, the
lower deck, which 10 nearly on the water level.
containing the engines, machinery, &c. the other
two decks, he sta g rooms aud saloons. officers
quar- ters. g.; the whole surmoupted by the pilot
hou 90 Tne vast wheel house, tall chinpsys aud
towering steam pipes, are striking features In
these monster vesseis-msny of which are up
wards of $50 feet long. All Of the engines are on
the high pressure principle. trip on q Nissis-
sippi stesmsr gives you 81 mpre into the varies
ties Of Western life, for representatives OF every
class 10 be found on them, as distinct as were
the ciasses Of animals in Moab ark.
On Sundty, after our arIival here, We went to
church, at Wesley Chapel, to hear the Rev. George
Carter, of the Virginia Conference with whom
10 bad travelled since leaving Lynchburgs He Is
his way to Mississippi. to assume the duties II
The Prosessorship in the University at oxford, to
which he has recently been elected. Virginia
loses ono of her best ministers, but Mississippi
gains = ripe scholar, pious and devoted man OF
God. At night, heard Rev. Wm. G. Williams,
also of she Virginia Conference. ou his way to
Texas, aud also with whom We had travelled G.