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6.Our friend Maunsel White, who has made a part of New-Orleans, and in many respects magna pars, for a longer period than the American history of the city extends, favors us occasionally with some most interesting reminiscences of the "olden time." We published last year his descent of the river in a flat boat in 1801, and the incidents of that "wild and perilous adventure," which might have deterred a stouter spirit. There is a world of romance in the history of those days, but it has all passed from ours, and has been gone ever since, in an unhappy hour, Fulton dreamed of the steamboat, and sent it puffing and blowing over our waters. We can fancy the keen interest of the boatman, the anxious and inquiring passengers, the busy preparations, and the thousand hair breadth 'scapes of the voyage then:

-THE OLDEN TIME IN NEW-ORLEANS AND YELLOW FEVER.

"In dreams they fearful precipices tread,

Or shipwreck'd, labor to some distant shore:
Or in dark churches walk among the dead-

They wake with horror and dare sleep no more."

However, we have a sketch to present the reader, showing how the great commercial Tyre, with her merchant fleets traversing every ocean upon earth, looked in her "swaddling clothes," creeping about on hands and knees, lisping English, fifty years ago or thereabouts; for to this deponent's memory "runneth not counter." The cobwebs of half a century hang heavily here. We seem to have reached a dim antiquity indeed, and wonder whether Homer or Agamemnon were not contemporary. In good sooth, in running back thus to those fabulous epochas, our friend looms up in fancy as a very Methuselah! But the frosts of all this period have fallen lightly; or he has found, (perhaps in Plaquemines,) that perennial spring, sought so vainly and despairingly in Florida, by the men of yore.

However, our friend is scarcely yet a sexegenarian, and has much still to do in his day and generation, and seems little disposed to enjoy altogether the otium cum dignitate of country life and hospitalities. We find him in the councils of the State at all times ready to serve as he was to defend her in the days of Hickory Packingham. We hear of his deeds of practical good daily. His labors in behalf of the University of the State have been unremitting and important. We are familiar with his valuable donation for the establishment of a branch of Commercial Instruction and Political Economy. These things he will not forgive us for mentioning; and for them and divers others of a like complexion, there will most undoubtedly have to be a retribution hereafter. Strike, but hear me," at least! J. D. B. DE Bow, Esq.

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SIR,-The morning was calm and bright. A cloudless sun poured down its rays, and the waters of the Mississippi were smooth and still, except when slightly agitated by the ripple made by the stroke of our oars. We landed our fleet of flat boats a little above Gravier, and within ten steps of Tchapitoulas streets, at 10 o'clock in the morning on the 1st of August, 1801, after a passage of 60 days from Louisville in Kentucky. The writer, then a mere lad, thought New-Orleans to be a very queer looking place, and was astonished at the jargon of strange tongues. The city at that time was in the hands of the Spaniards, and Don Manuel Salcedo Governor. It was a fortified town. There was a moat or ditch cut around it, and an embankment with palisades and several small redoubts placed at convenient angles. These works were in a state of decay at that time, and were of no defence to the city. They ran from the river where Canal street now is, back to Rampart street, thence down to Esplinade street, and from Esplinade to the river, below where the mint now stands. There were three gates, through which people passed from 6 o'clock in the morning until 9 o'clock at night, when they were shut. At each gate was placed a sentry-box with a corporal's guard. In

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those days of Spanish rule a corporal was an important man, and marched before the Governor, when he took his evening's walk on the levee, to clear the way should any one dare approach him, without a low bow, or without leaving a wide birth. The free and easy Kentuckians were particularly obnoxious, as they could not comprehend why a mere man in the shape of a Governor should be any better than themselves, and looked with astonishment at the deference paid by the Spaniards to such a decrepid old fellow as Governor Salcedo then was.

The day after our arrival a case or two of yellow fever was reported in the city, and we hired a house in the Faubourg St. Mary, in Poydrass-street, between Magazine and Tchapitoulas streets, the only house at that time in that square ex cept one. This place was then considered in the country, and beyond the limits of yellow fever! It was a low, one story building, with four rooms in the body and two galleries. While the family with whom I resided were arranging this residence, I was occupied unloading the boats then laying at the levee in front of Tchapitoulas street. Our cargo was rolled out and across that street into the stores of Mr. Lylle Jaspie, who then lived at the corner of Gravier street, fronting the river. On the other side of Gravier street lived the captain of the port, in a wooden frame building. On the corner of Common street there stood a small sailors boarding-house, and between that and the gate or ramparts of the city there was no building of any kind, but only an open piece of ground, extending from the river to the woods, at that time not cleared away beyond where the State-house now stands. All that space of ground between Common, Poydrass, Magazine, and Carondelet streets was used for vegetable gardens. Where the St. Charles Hotel now stands, and all the buildings between Gravier and Common streets, was old Mr. Percy's cabbage garden!

But I am digressing-I must return. After we got out our cargoes of flour, tobacco and pork, and the hands were paid off, and all our bold Kentuckians had started for their far homes, we began to think of selling out. In the meantime, the yellow fever began to spread, and a gentleman from Kentucky, who came down and lived with us, and who was continually out in the city, took it, but escaped after eight days' illness. Mrs. E. was then taken down, and died in a few days. This event broke up our house-keeping, and Mr. E., with his only child, and the writer, took up our abode in the city at Madam Chabbot's, a house as well known at that period as is the St. Charles now. The fever continued, and several were taken to their long homes from this house. My room was opposite to what was called the Hospital Room, out of which I saw a fellow-boarder taken the day before. Alas! there was no help for it, but to take my chance. On Monday night, after about one week's residence here, I found myself sure enough "a case," and in the morning, not having made my appearance at breakfast, a servant, dispatched to my room, told the story of my fate. Doctor Flood was sent for; he came, looked at my tongue, felt of my pulse, gave me some medicine and left me. In the meantime, in came Nanny, a great stout, strapping Negro woman, who wrapped me up in a sheet, took me up in her arms as one might take a baby, and carried me off nolens volens to the hospital-room, where she placed me in a bed, occupied, perhaps, before, by hundreds who had died. I became very sick. The medicine had its effect, and Nanny was very attentive. Wednesday passed with one other dose-and on Thur-day morning, Madam Chabbot, a good hearted lady, and by birth an Irish woman, came to see me. I was dozing away. She lifted up the mosquito net, and the room being dark, took a long, steadfast look at me, pursed up her mouth, shook her head, and departed. I remember that look to this day; but I said to myself, somewhat out of humor, "I am a better fellow yet than you think for, old woman-zounds!" and turned myself in a hurry in the bed. In a few minutes in came Nanny, bringing something on her shoulders very much in my fancy like a coffin. I exclaimed involuntarily, "What now?" The energy with which I spoke, roused the old woman, and she came quickly to the bed-side, drew up the net, and looked at me in seeming surprise. What's the idea, Nanny," said I; "are you about to bury me alive ?” "No," said she, don't you see it is nothing but a bathing-tub!" suspecting at once that I had mistaken it for a coffin. "Ah! well," said I, somewhat relieved, I must confess, by the announcement. "Where is the Doctor?" "He is coming, and will be here before I get the water ready. Doctor Deluge soon made his appearance, and ordered Nanny to place me in the tub. No sooner said than done; for in Nanny's arms there was no use in kicking, and down she set me in the tub, with a weuch as stout as herself on each side, with a large bucket of cold water in their hands. On they poured it, unsparingly, bucket after

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bucket. It seemed as if the very Mississippi were pouring over me. The shock was terrible, but I had no time for reflection. I was quickly taken out, wrapped in a dry blanket, and placed on a table, like a dead man. All now commenced rubbing with dry towels, with all their might and main. They then put me into bed, on a new well-aired mattress and clean sheets, and covered me over with blankets, until I thought I should have been suffocated. The doctor left without uttering an other word. I begged Nanny to take off some of the blankets, telling her I was better, and did not wish to smother. She indulged me in this very natural wish the moment she found my skin warm. I began very soon to perspire freely, and finally fell asleep, and did not wake until late on the morning of the next day, (Friday ;) Nanny was near me, and with a smile on her grum counte

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nance, asked how I felt. " Hungry!" said I, fiercely, "you imp of darkness." The good Madam Chabbot, heaven rest her, was soon at my bed-side, tcok me by the hand, and seemed happy to think I was safe. But don't be imprudent," she charged me. The next morning, Saturday, I was up, rather weak, to be sure, but still cured of yellow fever. Thanks to God, a good constitution, the Doctor and Nanny, etc.*

I am your obedient servant,

MAUNSEL WHITE.

Customs..

Excise.

Stamps..

7. THE BRITISH REVENUE.

An abstract of the net produce of the Revenue of Great Britain, in the years and quarters ending the 5th of July, 1847 and 1848, showing the increase or decrease thereof.

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The law recently passed by Congress, known as the Retaliatory Act, is very vexatious and annoying in its provisions, and has given universal dissatisfaction in this community. The charge upon American letters in England when taken by our steamers, to be sure is too great, but we do not see how we remedy the evil by taxing the letters an equal amount here. The cost of taking letters and papers under the new law from New Orleans to Liverpool, is as follows:

New Orleans to New-York..
"Retaliation" tax..........
Steamer postage........

Letters.

Papers.

.$0 10......$0 3
...0 24.......0 4
.0 24
..0 4

0 58....
.......0 11

These charges are enormous, and cannot but have a most injurious effect upon the now friendly intercourse between the two countries. Upon newspapers, the tax is

* Cold water should never be applied in the last stages of yellow fever, or on a weakly constitution. But I sincerely believe, if applied at the proper moment, it would prove an efficacious remedy. Several were treated in 1801 in the same way, and nearly all recovered.

doubly severe. Thousands who now send a paper across the Atlantic, must now, from motives of economy, abandon the practice. The cost of English papers to American publishers is also increased to an onerous degree. A London daily costs five pence sterling, which gives a yearly

Cost of.....
Postage......

Cost for year.......

.$31 20

....12 52

.$43 72

Few papers in New York have less than four London dailies, to say nothing of the large number of weeklies, that go to make up an amount equal to the whole subscrip. tion list of a country press, which depends upon its city exchanges for news. The whole operation of the retaliatory law is vexatious and unproductive of the least good, and the sooner Congress repeals it the better, for every reading or writing person in the country.

9.-VENEZUELA.-MARACAIBO BLOCKADEd.-decree.

Art. 1. The port of Maracaibo, and coasts adjacent,* are declared to be in a state of blockade. This blockade will, for the present, be effected by a division of the maritime force, composed of six vessels of war: this number to be hereafter increased. Art. 2. Vessels of war of friendly or neutral nations are permitted to enter, remain in, and sail from Maracaibo, the government being persuaded that they will not, in any way, assist the conspirators.

Art. 3. The blockading force will prevent the entry of all merchant vessels; and any intending to enter after notice that the blockade exists, shall be detained and adjudicated according to law and international rights. For the notice above alluded to, eight days are fixed for the Island Curacoa, and its dependencies; fifteen for the other West India Is.ands; forty for the United States and Europe, from the date of this decree.t

Art. 4. Vessels coming from distant ports, and which can show that they had no knowledge of the blockade, shall not be in any way moiested; they shall not, however, be permitted to enter Maracaibo, but may proceed whithersoever they determine.

Given under my hand, and the seal of the Executive Power, and countersigned by the Secretary of State, of War, and of Marine, in Caraccas, 11th May, 1848, 19th year of the law, and 38th of Independence.

(Signed)

DIEGO B. URBANEJA.

By order of his Excellency the Vice-President of the Republic. in charge of the Executive Power, the Secretary of State of the Departments, of War, and Marine. Venezuelan Consulate, 23d June, 1818. FRANCISCO MEJIA.

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PUBLISHING BUSINESS.

1. Orta Undis and other Poems. By James M. Legaré. Boston: W. D. Ticknor. 1848. We are indebted to the author for a copy of a neat little volume with this caption. It embraces a collection of those effusions of his pen, which have given him at a very early age, a bigh reputation in song. Many of the pieces have much merit, and they are all characterised by a true poetic fervor and tenderness. We knew the author in more youthful times; and it was our fortune to share the instructions of a common alma mater. He had even then began to assume position. It rejoices us, after a lapse of several years, to find him still upon the bright road to fame."

From the volume before us, we extract a few verses on the death of Hugh S. Legare, which we have always thought very fine.

By a minute of the Secretary of State, dated 17th May, 1848, the "coasts adjacent to Maracaibo" comprise all within what is properly called the "Saco de Maracaibo," between Cape San Roman, in the peninsula of Paraguana, and the "Punta de la Espada," in the Peninsula of Goagera.

By the same minute, these terms of notice are partially extended, viz. : for vessels coming from Europe, to 60 days; from Demerara and the West Indies, (excepting Curacoa and its dependencies, St. Thomas and Santa Cruz.) 30 days. During the terms of notice respectively allowed,

the Blockading Squadron will notify to all merchant vessels the existence of the Blockade by a minute ou the vessel's register, &c.; and only in case of attempting, after such notice, to enter, will vessels be detained.

ON THE DEATH OF A KINSMAN.

I SEE an eagle winging to the sun-
Who sayeth him nay?

He glances down from where his wing hath won:
His heart is stout, his flight has scarce begun-
Oh hopes of clay!

Saw he not how upon the cord was lain

A keen swift shaft;

Like old Demetrius the sun had he
Beheld so long,

Now things of earth no longer could he see,
And in his ear sang Immortality

A pleasant song.

Icarus like he fell when warm and near
The sunshine smiled:

How death wrought out in every throbbing vein, He rose strong-pinioned in his high career-
In every after agony of pain
Thy dust remains, thy glorious spirit where
Minerva's child?

His bitter craft!

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2. Index to the Reviews and Periodicals of the day, by the Brothers in Unity Society of Yale College. New-York: G. P. Putnam. 1848. This volume supplies a valuable place in regard to every library. It is the result of immense labor, but will save infinitely more in the usages to which it may be applied. We have often and often had to search over a hundred musty books to find what at a glance this index gives. We can tell where to put our very finger upon information upon almost every subject of the most valuable kind, which is scattered through the reviews and magazines that have been published in the last fifty years, in Europe and America. The whole number of books indexed in the volume is 560. The present edition being nearly exhausted, a new one will be published, containing in addition, the names of all the authors to articles in the North American, a list of American publications, &c. The price of the work is very low, and all should have it.

3. The Western Journal, ot Agriculture, Manufactures, &c., &c., by M. Tarver & T. F. Risk. St. Louis, monthly. June, 1848. With the present number, the first volume of this interesting magazine closes. We have watched its progress with much interest and favor. Established in the heart of the north-west, and embracing all the extensive interests of that prosperous section of the Union, this publication ought to receive a large support. We have always welcomed it to our table for the information it imparts. The original papers are always numerous and the selections good; the senior editor, Mr. Tarver, we have known a long time as a very able writer and thinker. To his enterprize, we wish, with all our heart, "God speed."

4. Farmers' Library: John S. Skinner. June, 1848. We have not had time yet to pay our respects to this veteran agricultural editor, who has now become the proprietor of the journal he has raised to so well earned reputation. Mr. Skinner will remove it to Philadelphia and change the name for one he regards more national-" The Plow, the Loom and the Anvil." The title will explain itself. Success to our contemporary in all his efforts to advance and extend American industry.

The Farmers' Library has been printed three years, and six handsomely bound volumes, of 600 pages each, are offered by Mr. Skinner for $15, or if more than one set be taken, $12. He should soon ran off his supply at these rates.

5. Bankers' Magazine: Baltimore. 1848. The second volume of this work is now completed, and as the best index to its merits we furnish the table of contents.

I. Bauk Statistics of each State: showing the condition of the whole; with the location, name and capital, and names of President and Cashier of every Bank in the U. S., arranged in States and in Towns alphabetically.

II. Finances, Debts, Revenues, and Expenditures of every State in the Union, and of the U. S. III. Important Law Decisions in the English and American Courts respecting Banks, Bankers, Bills of Exchange, Brokers, Promissory Notes, Stocks, Corporations, Bank Notes and Commercial Law.

IV. Essays upon Currency, Banking, Finance, &c.

V. Biography of Distinguished Bankers, Girard, Rothschild, Ricardo, Coutts and others. VI. Historical and Statistical Notices of the Currency of Hamburg, Russia, France, Great Britain; of the Bank of England, Bank of France, &c.

VII. Railroad Maps of Great Britain and the United States, showing the location of every Railroad route in Great Britain, and proposed routes from Baltimore and Boston to St. Louis. Published Mouthly, at three dollars per annum.

EDITOR'S NOTE.

In this and the last number, we have used a smaller type and thinner paper, so that the work appears smaller than it is. As the hot weather passes away in New Orleans, and men can work again with spirit, the reader may rely upon our accustomed enlargement of the Review. We have always given more than we bargained for, when the volumes are considered.

Apropos of volumes. We have now five, handsomely bound, and should be much pleased to receive orders for them. Our number is limited, and as the reprint required an immense outlay, we trust the friends of the work will interest themselves in getting orders for us.

We again beg most earnestly for remittances from all who are indebted to the Review. Many of our advertisements are again left out. If the parties will bear with us, they shall have their full compliment of months.

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