The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-09-25

U. S. STEAMER "E. B. HALE"
on Cape Cod, Sept. Is. 1881.

Correspondence q the Republican.
U. S. SrEAxER "E. B. HALE,")
OfCape Cod, Sept Is, 1851.
3D. Repn6liea~ lit was my intention to
make up this first Of the series of letters prom
ised you, by relating incidents of travel from
Lansing to New York. But one, however, can
| remember, and that occurred in Canada.
saw blind man, drx~k, cheering for JEFF. Da-
Wis! If that isn't clear case of total deprav-
ity,' my theology is at fault.
Two weeks residence in the great city of
New York ought to enable one to write vol
ume descriptive of its wonders. To some of
your readers an account of what your cores
pondent saw or heard may be interesting. And
let me commence with Barnum's Museum, the
only rational place of amusement in the city.
Thousands of curiosties, gathered from every
quarter of the glObe-the former denizens of
air, earth and water, meet your eye. A living
HippOpOtamus, from the river Nile, is the chief
attraction. His weight is 100 pounds, age
three years, and his appetite startling. His at
tendant is an Egyptian, from Illinois, guess
Then there is the famous Sea-lion, also alive,
as an occasional roar amply attests. living
shark. with a murderous looking mouth, lives
peaceably in a tank with other specimens Of the
inny tribe. But it is useless to attempt des-
crlptiOn of all the curiOsties. One cannot gaze
upon them without admiring the industry and
zeal of the proprietor. To make the collection
complete, he ought to add himself to it, with an
/" Egyptian attendant"
New York is alive with military and naval
men-a great display of brass buttons and gold
lace. Hardly day passes but witnesses the
departure of companies or regiments for the
war. l saw the regiment of cavalry command
ed by Col. McReynolds, of Grand Rapids.
They are fine body of men. well equipped
and prepared for active service.
New York capitalists are doing nobly in fur
nshing money for the prosecution of the war,
and yet visit to the Office of Mr.. Cisco, the
Sub Treasurer, where subscriptions to the loan
are received, would convince you that the
plain people" are investing to the extent of
their ability. During the two hours passed
there, saw the millionaire and his cOachman-
the fine lady and her understandable owner
of marble front stores and the porter that sweeps
them out, each and all, put down their dollars,
in sums from one hundred to hundred thou
sand for the purpose OF ascertaining whether
We have q government or not
There is great activity at the Navy Yard.
Vessels purchased are being re-fitted, while a
large force is employed in the construction of
10 oh I
ed is new, built last spring. She is staunch
craft, very strongly built, carries four thirty
two Founders aud sixty men. We were fitted
for active service on the blockade, but were af-
terward detailed for service in the ordnance de-
partment. We are bound now for Boston, with
two huge columbiads for a gun boat building
there. Their weight each ia l6.5O0 pounds.
They carry ball whose weight is leg pounds
a modest little "chunk" that would like to
see journeying toward the " Sumpter" with the
compliments of Uncle Sam
We shall probably ply between the different
Navy Yards, transporting guns, shot and she'll
Our Captain is an old sailor, formerly a resi-
dent of Charleston. At the commencement of
the war, "secesh" offered him the command of
the first good vessel they could steal, but he
told them the old flag suited him best. Then
they confiscated his property, the savings of ten
years. service in merchant ships, and very kind
ly gave him permission to leave. There is
something in his eye, when speaking of his
wrongs. that convinces me of an intention on
his part to get even with them at the first op-
pOrtunity. His case is not an isolated one.
Our Surgeon was driven from New Orleans by
the rebels-lost all he possessed, even to the old
Family Bible. A funny article that, for their
use.
would like to give you sketch of our sea
life-will soon. But now we are nearing Bos-
ton, from whence this will be dispatched, and /
must close. A beautiful moonlight night is
this, and the backward reaching thoughts are
journeying homeward.
Truly yours, A.C W.