The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-06

The project of LOUIS NAPOLEON for the
anne xation of Savoy and Nice to France
has brought those provinces into prominent
notice. OF the Capital of the latter the N.
Y. Evening Post has the following readable
article:
On the coast Of the Mediterranean, among
other bills, and promontories almost innumer-
able, and amid some of the most fascinating
scenery in the world, there is one rocky en-
inence that deserves particular notice. 1t
is no wild, unfrequented place (; inaccessi-
BILE except to the bold adventurer or to the
hardy peasant. Its rocky projections have
been toned down with skillful care; its rich
foliage has been trimmed and disposed with
artistic taste; gravelled walks climb in tor
tuous curves around its steep sides, and rich
tropical plants, huge cacti and orange trees
alternate with the more familiar arborea of
the neighboring country. Along the care>
fully kept paths rustic seats beneath luxuri>
ant shade trees invite the stroller to repose
and at every step he sees, between the waiv-
+. ing foliage, rare glimpses of distant groves
and villages, Of snow crowned mountain peaks
and of wide spreading blue waters, dotted
here and there with quantity shaped sails,
or with dark trail of smoke, showing where
some steamer is passing with her load OF
tourists and merchants towards Genoa, Leg
horn, Rome or Naples.
Going up the hill-the circuitous routes
make it quite a journey-you will meet with
plenty of companions. Here is faultlessly
dressed Frenchman, here portly John Bull
with couple of pretty daughters, here an
American with bis family, and there a Rus
sian or German. All dressed alike, in the
universal costume, dictated by the tailors of
Rue Richelieu or the Boulevards, yet each
preserving his individuality sufficiently for
the observer to determine at a glance to
which nation the passer by belongs.
Arrived at the top of the hill the view
becomes more than beautiful, and aspires to
sublimity. In front of the spectator is that
most classic and historic of seas, the Medi-
terranean, dancing in the warm glow of an
Italian sun. Behind spreads out sloping
amphitheatre of fields, here and there varied
with groves of misty olives, or with houses
and villages, and bounded by the mountain
range, above which can be discerned the
still higher mountains of Piedmont. To the
right long line of coast stretches far away,
bordered for mile or more with elegant
villas, while nearer, at the foot of the bill,
lies city with wide though not regular
streets, large, sumptuous houses and river
spanned with graceful bridges, passing
through its centre. To the left the view is
still more animated, and on that side is q
city too, but quite contrast to that before
mentioned. 1t is a quaint, curious little city,
with odd churches, queer overhangiDg houses,
distressingly narrow and tortuous streets, and
people dressed in strange gay costumes,
swarmiDg about like ants. Then there is
port with vessels that from the heights
above look like mere toys, and what appears
to be wall or battlement by the seashore,
but which is in reality only long row of
shops, the roofs of which are used as pro-
menade by the good folks of the place. There
is, however, genuine fertilization on the
brink of Jutting promontory, which shoots
out into the sea from the right, and shuts
out any further view in that direction.
Of course there is but one place in the
world which answers to this description,
and that is Nice, or, as the Italians call it,
money, it is doubtful whether any place of
resort on the European continent can offer
any more delightful attractions. The soci-
ETY. is picked from among the aristocracy of
England, Russia, France and America.
The Hotels are, in size and style, nearer
like that of New York than any others in
Europe. Every afternoon there is rem
devious of all the visiters on public square
that borders upon the Mediterranean, and
is shaded with orange and olive trees, 80
that the beating of the surf mingles with
the MARBLE of the birds among the branches.
Here come in carriages the lady visitors,
and here their male friends meet them. It
is altogether an interesting exhibition of
choice samples of the high life of Europe.
French is the prevailing language.
In the old part of Nice, however, it is
quite different. There the people are poor
and queer looking, and speak Italian-or
rather patois of that tongue-dress in the
most outlandish costumes, and have too
much to do to loiter half the day on the
public squares. The two parts of the city
are as they can possibly be.
But beside these natural and social divi>
sions, Nice is at present a city divided
against itself in political way, also. The
rumored annexation to France of the prov
inces of Savoy and Nice-which, indeed,
Napoleon's last speech makes something
more than rumor-has created great ex-
element in the city of Nice. There is
strong party in favor Of annexation, and
they are led by the hotel keepers, the mill.
ners and tradesmen, who in such an event
will import their wines, silks and Partisan
articles free of duty. But the great mass
of the people, including all the outlandishly
dressed folks in the old town, are decidedly
in favor of remaining under the rule of Sar-
DINA.
SLAVERY IN 17l5.-The following are
some statistics of the old colonial days.
One hundred and forty years ago, in the
reign of GEORGE l., the ascertained popu.
lation of the continental colonies were as
follows:
White men. Negro slaves.
New Hampshire. .......... $500 $50
Massachusetts,. ............s4,00o 1000
Rhode Island. ............ 1900 500
Connecticut. 10000 1900
New York. 1T 900 1000