Year: 1861




EDITOR JOURNAL 1t will be old news
when you receive the present letter, to state
that the Baptist Church of this city was
consumed by fire after 6 o'clock yesterday
morning. No suspicious are entertained
that it was the work of design ; it was OBJ
viously owing to the defect of a fue, and
caught from the fire kindled by the sexton
in the lurnace Although the building is
pretty much of a ruin, and the fire a heavy
blow to the congregation, it has demonstrat-
ed in a most conclusive manner, the value
of our steam fre-engines. The want of a
central alarm, and the frozen condition of
some of the hose, caused an unfortunate de-
lay in the case of two of them in getting to
work. But when they did come into play,
they did what no ordinary force of hand
engines could have done-they kept the
fire within its original limits and un-
doubtedly saved property enough by that
means to pay for themselves. Our citizens
are, of course, so far well satisfied with
their capacity and performance.


The walls of the Church edifce are not
materially injured, and it is probable the
floors are safe to a great extent. Of course
the building could be repaired, if the con-
gregation should allot to do so, at a COM
paratively small expense. They have how
ever contemplated removing to a more eli
gible site, and bought a valuable lot for
that purpose, year or more since. Unfor-
tunately there was no insurance on the
building destroyed. The Sabbath School
Library, a very valuable one, was saved, as
also the melodeOn, and some other movable
property. This is the first severe fire we
have had for a considerable time


No very important bills have been passed
by the Legislature since my last letter. A
great number have been introduced. but
mostly Of merely local character. One
very important one was introduced on Fri
day last, by the Committee of Ways and
Means, providing for loan of $4,000, till
May next from the Sinking Fund, to meet
the current expenses of the State. It passed
the House, but has met with some objec-
tions i'll the Senate, where it is still delayed
The question with that body seems TO be,
whether the money should be borrowed
from the Bank of the State, SO rs not to de-
lay the distribution by the Sinking Fund,
of that amount Of school money, while the
COMMITTEES think it more important to leave
the Bank at liberty TO accommodate the
public TO the largest degree. The Senate
will probably decide the matter one way Or
the other to-day.


The new state officers have now all Ell
tered upon their duties, and are habituating
themselves to their new positions as rapid
ly MS possible.


& tough hickory staff has been placed on
the dome of the Capitol instead of the pine
pipe-stem first erected, and the national flag
now waves out cellantly from it.


We have hal a remarkable. ''spell
of clear cold weather, not intense, but
seasonable, and severe enough TO prevent
wheat and fruits from coming forward so
rapidly as to be killed by later frost.
The veteran -4Etna Insurance Company
seems to be losing much of its prestige
among our citizens, not because its solvency
or integrity is questioned in the smallest
degree but beeause numerous other COM
panies afford inducements to parties in the
way Of participation in profits, thus reduc-
ing the premiums while such companies,
if not as wealthy as the A3tna, are safe for
all the liabilities they assume. In that state
OF the case, companies operating on basis
| like that of the A1tna must change their
tactics or lose their business.


Southern affairs look sqnslIy. Mississippi
/ is behaving outrageously, and whispers are
uttered Of conspiracy and treason at
Washington. But if war as TO come, per-
haps it may as well come at one time as
! another. ScRIBg.
Our WEEKLY for January 3lst is, we