The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-21
COMMUNICATED.
On THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
April 9th, 1866.

MY DEAR STANDARD:-I am now on
the nice, comfortable, trim little Coast
Packet, "Lafourche," with the jolly
Baranco for captain, and the accom-
modating Mr.. Minor as clerk. There
is an air of comfort about this-I sup
pose in comparison with the mammoths
Il may say little boat, that have not
found in many of the larger steamers
on the river. The state rooms are
rooms indeed. A man can turn round
without knocking himself to pieces Ell
ther one side or the other, and have
plenty of room to put on his coat
without opening door to let his elbow
out. The fare is good, and every effort
is made to make the passenger feel at
home. While am writing this, quite
a lively crowd of passengers, ladies
and gentlemen, are enjoying themselves
in the after cabin. Dancing, waltzing,
singing, music, games-such as We
used to play in our childhood and
youthful days-serve to while away the
evening and they seem to be really hap
py-indeed, one would suppose, to see
them, (the ladies) that care had never
thrown its cloud or shadow across their
fair and beautiful brows. Alas for me-,
1 am not acquainted with any of thei
party and am forced to take back seat
and enjoy the scene as best I may, in
the capacity" of spectator. This
steamer is tri-weekly packet to Bayou
Sara from the Crescent City. Capt.
Brown, who commanded this excellent
boat before and during part of the
war, is still aboard of her, and as usual
presents pleasant and humorous face
to the passengers, indeed adds much
to their enjoyment.
The river is very high at the points
along the &C s. and nuei tve- 5Eses
tanned that : iIl cenls ever 31e aos
and overflow The country Z Is1rn .a.s
a crevasse at (airn 5 pisce aa1e
slight depres ~ II taa ae .e
has raised so nope
that it is bur
from ST. Lou reports
er of several looy :. aat q
a corresponding fall below; but the
spring rise is yet to come. Great
depths of snow are reported in some
of the Western States. If there should
not be considerable fall in the Mis-
sissippi before those SHOWS melt and
run down there will be but litl8 '#
on the lowlands bordering . hs
"Father of Waters" I heaf ai ay
eral miles of the new lt d tls
neighborhood of Lake Pro- aaa
melted away before the gres
of water.
Before I close this, I ms ~
unexpected correspondence, L cannot
forbear noticing the steamer Common
wealth" She belongs to the Merchants
& Peoples line, which I believe is in
opposition to the "great monopoly"
the Atlantic & Miss. Company. Altho
making no pretensions to being pas
senger packet" I have rarely met with
better accommodation or q greater
spirit to oblige. I have forgotten the
name of the Clerk, and indeed Of all
tho officers, but this I would say to
your readers, if they should happen to
be waiting at the Gulf for steamer,
and the Commonwealth. should happen
to 'pass their way" they will miss q
great deal if they do not go aboard of
and make the trip on her. AS an
evidence of the generous disposition OF
her officers, would mention the fact
that there were some twelve or four
teen Methodist ministers aboard, who
were going to the N. D. Conference,
, who were taken to the city from st.
Louis free of charge. / may write
again. In the meantime, as Artemus
says, ADOo.
crI