Year: 1866

From our Special Correspondent


MEMPHIS, August "A 1866.


Landed here this morning at 5 o'clock, after
very pleasant trip from Natchez, on board the
steamer Ruth Ihad watched all night for this boat
at Natchez, and when boarded her inmy mostau-
dacious and fercest manner, Twas seized andled to
a fine, wide stateroOm where my baggage was
deposited. After refreshing sleep with dreams
of the Crescent City, had bath-a real bath
the greatest of all luxuries in hot weather and
about the best addition to the comforts of
steamer that can well be imagined. After these
and other refreshments, began grand tour of
inspection around this great inland, four-decked
floating city-the most remarkable and the most
comfortable boat have ever seen. There were
but few passengers, but it seems as if there would
have been room enough for five hundred. Every
attention is paid to cleanliness and in all essential
points of board or lodging, the passengers of the
Ruth receive as much attention and enjoy as much
comfort as the guests of one of our hotels On
the cabin deck and in the cabin, everything il
conducted in still and quiet manner, without
that clatter, hustle and hustle peculiar to second
rate hotels and steamboats,. I must say, however,
that this solemn stiffness was varied by an oc-
casional explosion of adjectives from the boiler
deck, and by series of wood-pile orations so
vigorous as to put to fight the more fastidious
class Of listeners.


The Ruth is not fast boat, or rather it is not
deemed prudent or economical to make as good
time as she might be capable Of. This lower rare
Of speed greatly lessons the risk Of explosion az
well as the consumption of fuel and the wear and
tear of the boat. When people are in hurry,
they had better start day or two sooner. For
my own part prefer a steady and moderate rate
of speed with safety and comfort, to a dangerous
straining after an extra mile per hour.


The officers of the Ruth are consideTate towards
passengers. and their commendable bearing has
visible effect upon all subordinates and servants.
shall bear them in pleasant remembrance for
their kind attentions to me- ! could say no less of
the officers of the Pauline Carroll, on which left
New Orleans week ago and came as far as
Natchez. The Pauline is not so splendid an affair
aB the Ruth but is conducted on the same prin-
ciples, and affords about the same comfort.


With all due allowance for my love of the Missis-
sippi river the grandest and most beautiful of all
the water-Courses of the world, it is matter of
no small surprise to me that passengers going
North from our lovely metropolis, Gf they must
go0 should prefer any other route. From the
time when the domes and steeples of New Orleans
| sink behind the green oaks until the stream runs
clear through northern prairies, the banks of the
Mississippi form perpetually varying panorama
of beauty. had rather float in coal boat from
Pittsburg to the Belize than to have effaced from
my memory all recollection of the rolling floods,
the eddying currents, the green banks and the
majestic detours of this king of rivers. Though
the eye is often panied with the traces of the shot
and torch of wanton invaders, one is consoIed
with the reflection that it is only the work of man
that has fallen under yandal hands, and that the
greater and better works of nature still remain
to cheerus with their beauty and to comfort Us
with their promise.


But if the people of New Orleans wish to enjoy
real comfort they must stay at home. do not
believe there is more pleasant city on the CONT
nent, and but few if any, more healthy. am
| sorry I started, but will not turn back now.
leave this evening for Louisville by yway of Paris
Clarksville and Bowling Green almost q straight
line of railroad, a newly opened route which will
describe in my next. HALEwIsA