The hydraulic press., 1860-01-07
A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE.

The year 1859, deceased last Saturday at
midnight, was crowded with memorable
| events. In it occurred the one bundreth an
nversary of the birth of Schiller. Handel
and Burns-a melodious trinity, who were
severally honored by the most spontaneous,
hearty and universal ovations ever dccreed
10 kindred servitors of the race by admiring
millions. The humane lesson of these eel
cbrations was painfully contraSted with the
three months war in Italy, which caused
the death Of at least 100000 brave fellows,
by force or disease, made thousands of Wild
ows and orphans, -and sowed the seeds of
future conflicts. In FIR off China, the per-
severing attempts of Europeans to compel
an exclusive and jealots people into rela-
tions of neigbbofly reciprocity, Ted 20 more
bioodshed and the ighominions defeat of
British valor on the waters of the Peiho-
a defeat which gave americans an opportu-
nifty to EXHIBIT the noblest friendship Dur
ing the year, the last of the many expedi-
tions that have dared the regions of Arctic
desolation ended the suspense concerning
the fate of Sir John Franklin. and found the
ice-entombed remains of some of his Follow
ers. This expedition was the last effort of
a constant wife, whose fathfulness will ever
be an example and a theme in history
Some Of the worlds greatest souls have de.
parted Metternich, the willy minister of
Austria, who was powerful when the first
Napoleon lived and continued so for half a
century afterwards, went out in the tempest
of the Italian war. Humboldt the most
learned andcosmopditan modern brain, who
condensed into his Cosmos" the sum of
mans knowledge of the Universe he, too,
departed, calmly, at the very time he fore
saw, with Gods sun shining in his rener-
able face. Bruneland Stephenson, ube great
mechanics of England, the builders of river
tunnels, tubular bridges, Crystal Palaces
and Great Easterns-also lay down in death;
followed by Leigh Hunt-the young hearted,
freedom loving poet, who was contemporary
with Byron, Shelley, Colerdge, Wordsworth,
Southey, Scott, Keats, Moore and Campbell
and by our own sunny, pure minded r.
ving-historian, essayist, humorist and prose
poet, who gave new melody to a language
already softened by an Addison and Gold
smith. Horace Mann went with them after
doing as much, by his successful efforts to
rafn rf
education, as any other man Of his time for
the elevation of the masses. The past year
has been further remarkable for the destruc-
tive storm on the English coast, in which
the Royal Charter went down with four hun
dred souls; for unusual volcanic activity and
the earthquake of Ezereum; for the discovery
of another planet, rs predicted by Lever
rier, the finder of Neptune; for the rich
silver discoveries in Western Utah; the
threatening San Juan AFFAIR." for the wild at
tempt of ''old Brown" at Harpers Ferry, to
achieve freedom for unasking s!aTes-an at
tempt followed by great panic, Union
wide excitement a brave death scene aud
lii-tlmed Congressional agitation; Tor the
mountebank fearlessness of Bondin, who
crossed Niagara on a stretched rope; and for
the balloon flights of Wise and La Mountain,
surprising all previous attempts at nari-
eating the air. Spain was about to war with
the Moors again, after an interval of ceptu-
rios; and the reported conclusion of treaty
of alliance between our government and the
Liberaists of Mexico, renders the prospect
of little fighting for Americans not i'm
probable Across two oceans canse fearful
rumors, and the old year expired uader the
broeding shadow of prospective strife, yet
amid an under current setting towards pro-
gressive achievements and ultimate peace.
So mete it be.