Daily national Democrat., 1860-12-12
Dailg gational 1cmutrat
Correspondence, from Renicia.
BENIcGA, Dec. 7th. 1860.

HTeHeh, Republlcan Members OF the LeglS-
lature elect, Editors, and common people
like myself arrived at this "ancient me-
tropos" an evening or two since, and tarrv-
ing on the way at the Custom House long
enough to get "a clearance" registered nv
name at the Solano House, and was lodged in
three-bedded-one two, and two one-horse
room, with snorer-a regular rip-snortcr
in the next room and after getting into
snoozc, young man, who had just returned
from Washoe, and who informed me that he
was about to sell out shotel and restaurant
at Suisun City and open similar establish
ment in the Esmerado mining district, both
cred me for an hour. Being regularly talked
to sleep, dreamed of "leads, Indications
and, in my vagaries, imagined myself rated
at not less than $1,000 a foot-"cash," not
f'time
arose at 6 o'clock-my custom, always,
OF morning-and never did behold more
lovely dawn, or a more enchanting view.
1t was as Willis somewhere says zone of
those belonging TO the Lord, where morn
ings were first made" The Bay lay sleeping
quietly as an infant slumbers, roseate with
the reddening dawn; the sails, like the duck
described by Dana the poet, sat Swinging
silently, their canvass wings tapping in
the gentle breeze The town of Martinez one
of the most beautiful villages of the State,
shaded by its Druidical groves of weeping
oaks, reflected in the placid waters, and its
line of hills. with that "high old" peak
Mount Diablo-the central point of the Call
lfornia surveys-looming up in the distance.
This view alone is worth the trip. Talk
about your Bay of Naples San Francisco.
San Pablo, Suisun and their sisters, with
the Straits here, are not to be surpassed in
the world
Rambling over this whilome California
Capital, which, like its National prototype
is truly, in the expressive language of John
of Roanoke, "a city of magnificent distances, >
observed a considerable Improvement as
well as room for more. Three brick build
ings, erected during the past three years
The new Arsenal, built of Benicia stone,
from the Government quarry, which is one
of the best built structures of tha kind in
the Union, is already enclosed, and the brick
buildings, for the quarters of the officers and
men, are in the progress of erection and com
pletion
After my ramble. feeling that bath would
be good Institution, for hold that "cleau-
illness is next to Godliness"-I went to the
only place there where were signs of water,
and, upon ordering one "lot," was informed
that warm water was cut of the question,
aud, as the Irishman said of his dram of the
pothean, offered him by St Peter, declined
TO take it "eowld." My sable professor in
formed me that bathing didn't pay, although
he had reduced the price to "two bits" He
would like to accommodate, but it would
cost him at least dollar to heat up As |
didn't feel dirty enough to stand that "rase, "
in the language of another culod Professor,
was contented with my ordinary morning
additions"
At IL o'clock, | visited the Collegiate In
stitute, decidedly one of the first, as it is one
of the most thorough, educational insttu-
:ions in the State. The system pursued here
is one of solidity, rather than show. There
is no "cramming," "phrasing," or mouth
ing to catch the popular ear, but pupils are
fitted for the real, active, trying duties of
life; with the boys educated at this institu-
tion, there is no occasion to utLearn errors in
after life, the most difficult of all trials which
follow defective education. No one has
felt the effects of educational training for
mere show, and for popular exhibition, more
keenly than the writer of this The Insti-
tute buildings are ample, roomy, well ventil-
ated, and like "the city set upon hill" and
by the way, Benicia, like the ancient capital
of the world, might well be styled "a seven
hilled city" and to carry out the figure still
further, at dawn this morning your CORES.
ppndent was awake by the gable of a
flock of wild geese, flying, in their V shape,
over this more modern capital Of the Golden
State The location of the buildings is salu-
hrious and commanding full view of the
Bay and the town, the Landing, the Bar
racks, the Pacific Mail Companys Works,
Martinez, Pacheco Valley, the hills, and the
oary-headed Mount Diablo beyond The
grounds are extensive, and the appliances for
healthy exercise unsurpassed water is bro't
fran nat ctn1 nd ha mi ne
of ablution well regulated. Mr. Flatt, the
Principal and his accomplished lady, exercise
q parental care over the pupils entrusted to
their care; while a wholesome morality is
t.Ae gailing principle, everything approach
ing sessqfia,eism is religiously tabooed. AS
regards politics, the boys have been left us
free as air A number of stump speeches
were made on tAe Dreckinridge, Bell and
Everett, and Douglas side. A Presidential
vote was taken-Douglas came out ahead
,3reckinridge next; Bell and Everett got the
spffrages of the readers of Bonner's Ledger
which Everett writes for, and Bacba"aa
wiH write for (?j after the 4th OF March
and Lincoln, three solid votes. Per CONTRA
the young ladies of Miss Atkins Seminary
,vele for lincoln, the rail-splitter, almost to
a man.
In common wita npn ladies and gen.
tlemen, attended the exhibition at IL A NJ,
on Wednesday, The young gentlemen who
read essays. and performed difficult music
.upon the piano. reflected credit upon them
selves. their teachers, and the Institution.