From "Travels in the Slave States of North America," made by G. W. Featherstonhaugh, F.R.S., in 1834-35, and published in New York in 1844, we find the following account of passing a coffle over New River : "In the early gray of the morning, we came up with a singular spectacle, the most striking one of the kind I have ever witnessed. It was a camp of negro slave-drivers, just packing up to start, they had about three hundred slaves with them, who had bivouaced the preceding night in chains in the woods, these, they were conducting to Natchez upon the Mississippi River, to work upon the sugar plantations in Louisiana. * * The female slaves were, some of them, sitting on logs of wood, whilst others were standing, and a great many little black children were warming themselves at the fires of the bivouac. In front of them all, and prepared for the march, stood, in double files, about two hundred male slaves, manacled and chained to each other. I had never seen so revolting a sight before! Black men in fetters, torn from the lands where they were born, from the ties they had formed, and from the comparatively easy condition which agricultural labour affords, and driven by white men, with liberty and equality in their mouths, to a distant and unhealthy country, to perish in the sugar-mills of Louisiana, where the duration of life for a sugar-mill slave does not exceed seven years! To make this spectacle still more disgusting and hideous, some of the principal white slave-drivers, who were tolerably well dressed, and had broad-trimmed white hats on, with black crape round them, were standing near, laughing and smoking cigars. "Whether these sentimental speculators were, or were not-in accordance with the language of the American Declaration of Independence-in mourning "from a decent respect for the opiuions of mankind," or for their own callous inhuman lives, I could not but be struck with the monstrous absurdity of such fellows putting on any symbol of sorrow whilst engaged in the exercise of such a horrid trade; so wishing them in my heart all manner of evil to endure, as long as there was a bit of crape to be obtained, we drove on, and having forded the river in a flat-bottomed boat, drew up on the road, where I persuaded the driver to wait until we had witnessed the crossing of the river by the "gang," as it was called. aware of this disposition in the unfortunate negroes, endeavour to mitigate their discontent by feeding them well on the march, and by encouraging them to sing 'Old Virginia neber tire,' to the banjo." Mr. Paulding in his "Letters from the South" gives a somewhat similar account of a slave-gang on march, from which we make the following extract: "First, a little cart drawn by one horse, in which five or six half-naked black children were tumbled like pigs together. The cart had no covering, and they seemed to have been actually broiled to sleep. Behind the cart marched three black women, with head, neck, and breasts uncovered, and without shoes or stockings; next came three men, bare-headed, half-naked, and chained together with an ox-chain. Last of all came a white man on horseback, carrying pistols in his belt, and who, as we passed him, had, the impudence to look us in the face without blushing." Negro-traders are of every variety from the rich, gentlemanly, even educated wholesale purchaser to the low, brutal trapper who is as devoid of decency as he is of humanity. These men, Mrs. Stowe remarks, are "exceedingly sensitive with regard to what they consider the injustice of the world in excluding them from good society, simply because they undertake to supply a demand in the community which the bar, the press and the pulpit, all pronounce to be a proper one. If there is an ill-used class of men in the world, it is certainly the slave-traders; for, if there is no harm in the institution of slavery,if it is a divinely-appointed and honourable one, like civil government and the family state, and like other species of property relation,-then there is no earthly reason why a man may not as innocently be a slave-trader as any other kind of trader." * * Now, I think I have dwelt long enough on the negroe-traders, of which Mr. Haley is Mrs. Stowe's example; and, I fear me much, but I have made my lecture longer than Mrs. Stowe's chapter, however, in future I will be more concise, that is, if you will allow me to continue, at our next meeting this key, which is intended to unlock the Key of Uncle Tom's Cabin. [Enter Mrs. Grundy.] MRS. GRUNDY.-Gentlemen, gentlemen!Supper is ready. Did you not hear me call you at least half an hour ago? "It was an interesting, but a melancholy spectacle, to see them effect the passage of the river; first, a man on horseback selected a shallow place in the ford for the male slaves; then followed a waggon and four horses, attended by another man on horseback. The other waggons contained the children and some that were lame, whilst the scows, or flat-boats, crossed the women it is later than I had any idea. I had intended MAJOR.-(Looking at his watch.) Why and some of the people belonging to the caravan. There was much method aud vigilance observed, to have introduced the proposed esplanade for this was one of the situations where the gangs, and the necessity of setting aside some place always watchful to obtain their liberty-often where the youths of the city might bathe, or show a disposition to mutiny, knowing if one or the establishment of public baths; however, two of them could wrench their manacles off, they I hope we may be able to take up this subject could soon free the rest, and either disperse them- at our next meeting. I intended also to have selves or overpower and slay their sordid keepers, introduced the clock-maker. Have you seen and fly to the Free States.* The slave-drivers his last? Free States! Alas, this refuge is now demed the oppressed black. Canada alone affords them an asylum. -P. D. Wise Saws? I discussed it last night by way of zest to a lobster salad, and I can assure you that it is quite equal to the former essays of the most genuine humourist which British North America can boast of. The volume abounds with quiet wit, and the fun, if not quite so broad as what we meet with in the preceding efforts of the ermined son of Momus, is not a whit less sterling. No one can say with truth, of the venerable Judge, that: "Superfluous lags the veteran on the stage!" LAIRD.-Sam was aye a choice pet o' mine, and I am blythe that he has na' fallen into the bog o' dotage! Can you conveniently gie us a flower frae the posie? DOCTOR.-The following sketch of before and after marriage, is in the clock-maker's happiest vein : AFTER-SUPPER SEDERUNT. DOCTOR.-As we have not succeeded in procuring type, I can give you no diagram this month, but I have prepared a few remarks, with three enigmas for the amusement of our readers. I intend to follow the plan adopted by English journals, and give no solution to these enigmas, unless particularly requested to do so. I have also prepared my musical chit chat, and you will find a rather grave song-words and music by [Doctor reads.] CHESS INTELLIGENCE. CHESS SOCIETY IN ST. PETERSBURG. It was only within the last few months that a of the Russian Empire. In Russia, no societies or Chess Society or Club was formed in the capital institutions, no matter for what object, can be formed without the special permission from the been rigorously withheld in almost every case Government, and this permission has hitherto where application has been made. It is gratifying, however, to find that at last the Emperor has been pleased to permit the organization of a chess club entitled "Societé des Amateurs d'Echecs de St. Petersbourg." This club numbers in its ranks some of the first nobility of the empire, and is governed by three directors, the Baron de Meyendorff, Lieutenant-General de Kluepfell, le Comte General Korecheloff Besborodko, and a perpetual secretary, viz., M. C. F. de Jaenisch (Conseillor de la Cour Imperiale, &c.). quested to draw up a new code of laws for their society. "Profoundly versed in all that relates to the practice and theory of chess, and conversant-almost above all other men-with its history and literature, Mr. Jaenisch, there can be little doubt, will produce a digest of the chess laws calculated to win the sanction, and become the guide, not only of his own countrymen but of chess-players throughout the world. "Boys and galls fall in love. The boy is all attention and devotion, and the gall is all smiles, aud airs, and graces, and pretty little winnin' ways, and they bill and coo, and get married because they hope! Well, what do they hope? Oh, they hope they will love all the days of their lives, and they hope their lives will be ever so long just to love each other; it's such a sweet thing to love. Well, they hope a great deal more, I guess. The boy hopes arter he's married, his wife will smile as sweet as ever and twice as often, and be just as neat and twice as neater, her hair lookin' like part of the head, so tight, and bright, and One of the first and most important measures glossy, and parted on the top like a little path in taken into the consideration of this society is the the forest. Poor fellow, he aint spoony at all. Is anomalies and absurdities which at present dishe? And he hopes that her temper will be as figure and render ridiculous the laws of chess. gentle and as meek and as mild as ever; in fact, At a meeting of the members, it was resolved no temper at all-all amiability—an angel in petti-that their secretary (M. C. F. de Jaenisch) be recoats. Well, she hopes every minute he has to spare, he will fly to her on the wings of love-legs aint fast enough, and runnin' might hurt his lungs, but fly to her-and never leave her, but bill and coo forever, and will let her will be his law; sartainly wont want her to wait on him, but for him to tend on her, the devoted criter, like a heavenly ministering white he-nigger. Well, don't they hope they may get all this? And do they? Jist go into any house you like, and the last two shall be these has-been lovers. His dress is untidy and he smokes a short black pipe (he didn't even smoke a cigar before he was married), and the ashes gets on his waistcoat; but who cares? it's only his wife to see it and he kinder guesses, he sees wrinkles, where he never saw 'em afore, on her stocking ancles; and her shoes are a little, just a little down in the heel; and she comes down to breakfast with her hair and dress lookin' as if it was a little neater, it would be a little more better. He sits up late with old friends, und lets her go to bed alone; and she cries! the little angel! but it's only because she has a headache. The dashing young gentleman has got awful stingy too, lately. He sais house-keepin' costs too much, raps out an ugly word now and then, she never heerd afore; but she hopes-what does the poor dupe hope? Why, she hopes he aint swearin'; but it sounds amazin' like it-that's a fact!" CHESS AT SEA. the ships Barham and Wellesley, on their last A game of chess was played by signals between homeward voyage from Calcutta to London. This is interesting, as being probably the first game ever conducted under similar circumstances. CHESS AT PRESENT. It has been remarked, that, although chessplayers and clubs have abundantly increased throughout the world during the last quarter of a century, yet we see nothing at all approaching the excellence of play of former years. DEATH OF M. KIESERITZKY. itzky, a gentleman long holding a distinguished We regret to announce the death of M. Kieserposition in the chess world. CHESS ENIGMAS. No. 1. By N. M. T. But really we must now to supper. [Exeunt. K R 5th; P's at Q 2nd, and Q B 5th. BLACK.-K at K 5th; P at Q Kt 5th. No. 2. By W. H. C. effected, and in three weeks the leaves had returned to their deep green hue, and in some instances growth had recommenced. But on no kind of tree is mulching more necessary than on newly transplanted cherry trees. Thousands of these are lost every season, after they have comQmenced growing, by the drying heat of midsum WHITE.-K at Q R 7th; Q at Q B 7th; R at K sq.; Kt at K B 3d; P at K Kt 2nd. BLACK.-K at K Kt 5th; Q at Q 6th; B at Kt 7th; Kt's at K sq. and Q B 7th; Ps at K R 4th; K K 6th; K. B 5th and Q 5th. White to play and mate in four moves. No. 3. By Esq. White to play and mate in three moves. LAIRD. Here they are, and scrimp indeed I maun mak them, for, as usual, you've left me nae room. However, here goes (reads :) MULCHING. mer, and the evil is sometimes increased by Some interesting facts on this subject were stated, and valuable suggestions made at one of the conversational meetings of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. S. WALKER remarked that he had used tan, sawdust, litter, leaves, &c., but he believed short, newly mown grass one of the best things, he had mulched a great deal with it, and found it laid close to the soil. He also recommended the succulent weeds of the garden or roadside. He found tan and sawdust to be useful merely by retaining the moisture. D. HAGGERSTON had found sedge from salt marshes best, particularly if cut short; a good watering upon it made it lay close to the ground. He found it excellent for strawberries. He had also found so as not likely to be blown away. Old hot-bed Mulching is a very easy and cheap practice, TO CLEAN CHESS OUT OF SEED WHEAT, This process, although known and practised for many years by a few cultivators, has become extensively adopted only at a very late period. It seems peculiarly adapted to our hot and dry sum-tree leaves excellent, if they had partly decayed, mers, and operates chiefly in preserving the moisture of the surface, and in preventing the growth of weeds. The moisture at the surface of the earth from rains and dews is quickly dissipated under a hot sun; and if this surface is allowed to become covered with a dense growth of living grass and weeds, these pump out of the soil and throw off into the air a much larger quantity of moisture than is evaporated by a bare surface of earth only. But if this surface is covered with a few inches of old straw, hay or leaves, the moisture is retained in the soil, and the growth of weeds prevented. As a general rule, we have found it most advantageous to leave the surface bare and keep the soil well mellowed till near midsummer, and then to apply the mulching. For a covering of litter, while it promotes the humidity, also prevents the heating of the soil, and in this way may retard early growth if applied too soon. There are exceptions, however; one in the case of large, deeply-rooted trees not affected by nor needing mulching, and the other where small plants, which are removed in summer, need the careful and constant retention of the moisture of the earth. We have succeeded, with scarcely one failure in fifty, in transplanting the strawberry in the drouth and heat of summer, by simply giv. ing the surface a mulching of two inches of barn manure, and on which the watering was poured when necessary. Indeed, there is nothing that better prevents the ill-effects of baking by surface watering, than a covering of this sort of a moderate depth. Mulching will, however, promote moisture in the soil, even when neither artificial nor natural watering is given, simply by arresting such as rises upwards through the earth. In one instance a striking illustration of this effect was furnished during a very long season of drouth, which injured and threatened to destroy a row of newly transplanted apple trees. Their leaves had already begun to turn yellow, and growth had ceased, but on coating the ground about them with a crop of mown weeds, a change was soon We announce the following to every wheatgrower who believes that wheat will turn to chess. The simple fact that the writer (and many others have done the same thing,) has eradicated chess from his farm, is sufficient to show the fallacy of the popular belief that "chess is only degenerated wheat." We have given great attention to this matter for more than twenty years, and we have never been able to find an instance of the conversion of wheat to chess; and the result of these investigations has convinced us that no such instance of transmutation did ever occur. We have often alluded to it, because we believe the point one of great practical importance; for so long as a man believes in the doctrine of transmutation, he will not take the pains necessary to extirpate chess from his grounds. MESSRS EDITORS,-I have thought of sending you something like the following, for the last twenty years and over, but always put it off. To clean all the chess out, take the riddles out of the fanning mill, leaving the screen in-take off the rod that shakes the riddles and screen; pour the wheat slowly into the hopper with a basket or a half-bushel; turn the mill a little quicker than for ordinary cleaning, and every grain of chess will be blown out, unless when three chess seeds stick together, which is sometimes the case with the top seeds. If every farmer will clean his seed wheat in this way, I will warrant that wheat will never turn to 1 chess after the land is once clear of it; but the difficulty will be to get the farmer to try it. It is too simple to be believed. I have seen some men who stand high as agriculturists, whom I could not make believe it, until I went to their barns and showed them that it could be done, and that effectually. This fact itself is worth much to wheat farmers, if they will only try it. Two men will clean from 10 to 15 bushels per hour. If the wheat is light, say weighing from 50 to 55 lbs. per bushel, considerable wheat will blow away with the chess; but with such wheat as we raise here, weighing from 60 to 64 lbs. per bushel, little if any of the wheat will be blown out. In some cases it is better to raise the hind end of the fanning mill about two inches from the floor; more wind can be given, and not blow away the wheat. Every man that tries this will find it answer, and every reader of your paper should tell his neighbor that don't read. I have not raised a wine-glassful of chess in more than twenty years; Before that I had lots of it, and was sure wheat turned to chess. A very extensive wheat raiser has agreed to come this fall, and make a part of one of my fields grow chess without sowing it, for which I have agreed to give him the remainder of my crop. He may destroy the wheat, but chess he cannot make it. OUR COUNTRY CHURCHES. in open spaces, seemingly deserted, while their frail, tottering spires point mournfully to the sky. We are persuaded that ignorance of any better mode of building, rather than intentional neglect, lies at the bottom of this deplorable condition of our country churches. They have been imitated to a great extent from the rude models which our early church edifices furnished, and rural taste has never come in to suggest her always beautiful decorations nor has American architecture supplied us with designs true to the idea of a House of Worship. We ask for nothing classic, nothing elaborate, nothing lavishly expensive, but we wish to see edifices appropriate, simple and beautiful. Some deviation from right lines and clumsy steeples, some adaptation to the location, and above all, some trees and shrubbery to give a rural effect are particularly desirable. Why not have a lawn, well kept, surround the church, the shade of our forest trees overhang it, and vines and ivy embower it? Every hour spent in decorating the grounds about the church will deepen the affection for it, while if its forbidding appearance be once changed into one winning and pleasant, the lessons which fall from its pulpit would touch many hearts now insensible to the beauties and truths of goodness and piety. LAIRD.-Noo Mrs. Grundy, (Mrs. Grundy reads:-) PARISIAN FASHIONS. à Scarfs and mantelettes in satin, taffetas, &c. are now much worn: the styles are various. The scarf mantille, will be in great favour. The favourite trimming is broad black lace. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE.-Dress of buff taffeIn a village the first object that attracts attentas: this dress has a double skirt woven tion is the church, and from it the general dispostion: the body, three-quarters high, opens impression of the place is formed. There is, to a in front to the waist; the piece forming the revers great degree,a just pride felt in the village church. is woven to correspond with the skirts: sleeves It is, by common consent, allowed to be the of pagoda form. Mantelette of embroidered muslin, expression of ideas of taste, and the type of an with deep frill of the same. Capôte of white affection which should be the deepest and holiest silk; the fanchon of blond: low at each side in our natures. It is a public recognition of the above the curtain are bunches of small roses, and great truth, there is a God," a public promise the trimming of the interior is roses and blond. to worship Him and keep his commandments, a public testimonial for the Great Supreme and a public invitation to the world to unite in worship and praise. The law of taste requires that the outward form of the church should, so far as practicable, embody these ideas. That there is a language in the contour of a building, is as true as that there is expression in the form and features of the human face; and an artist's power can speak his meaning in blocks of stone, and make them convey the thoughts of the reverential mind, and the feelings of the devotional heart. The pleasant countenance of one person assures the stranger of a kind heart and a sympathetic nature; while the cold and forbidding look of another, sends a chill through the veins. We often see that virtue and benevolence are written in the features of one man, and that vice and avarice lurk in the wrinkles of another's face. The same habit of observation directed to the expression of buildings, would enable one to distinguish at once their characteristics, and to judge correctly of their appropriateness. But no very great practice is necessary to perceive that the churches in the country do not impress the mind with the ideas we have mentioned. There is too frequently no element of beauty in them. Hastily constructed in no style of architecture, as cheaply finished as conscience would allow, with no tasteful surroundings, they stand the caraco and basquine bodies, opening in front In dresses for morning and the promenade, to the waist, are still in favour; many are worn with small capes à revers. Sleeves opening in the front of the arm, and either slashed or shewing the under sleeve, are very stylish, and becoming great favourites. Muslin bodies will be worn, with silk and poplin skirts, by young ladies, for home costume. Flounces will be in favour for all light materials, as well as the thinner kind of silks, such as taffetas, &c. Bonnets are worn open, and very much trimmed in the interior. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON FASHION AND DRESS. At an evening fête given in honor of a recent marriage in high life, several ladies wore dresses of white organdy muslin. Nearly all were made with three jupes looped up with bouquets of wild flowers, sprays of white lilac, or small bunches of green or unripe wheat-ears, attached to the dress by bows of gauze ribbon with long flowing ends. Bouquets or small wreaths of the same flowers as those employed in trimming the dress, were worn in the hair. One of the prettiest dresses worn on the occasion was composed of plain white tulle; the skirt trimmed with twelve scalloped flounces, finished at the edge by a narrow row of straw guipure, of an open work pattern, and as light and pliant as lace. Three bouquets ornamented the skirt, one on one side and two on the other. These bouquets all consisted of lilies of the valley with foliage, the whole formed of straw. In the hair a wreath of the same flowers was worn just above the neck at the back of the head. The wreath was terminated on each side by sprays of straw, lillies of the valley drooping over the neck and shoulders. These flowers, by candle-light, glitter like gold beads. We may mention a new style of bridal wreath which has met with many admirers. A few buds of orange blossom placed in the centre of small pendent bouquets of white rose-buds, form the only link of resemblance between this and bridal wreaths formerly worn. The remainder of the wreath is made up of small flowers composed of feather, and light foliage of all tints formed of crape. One of the new bonnets most remarkable for variety and elegance is composed of bouillonnés of white tarletane, lilac ribbon being passed under each bouillonné. The trimming consisted of a bouquet placed on one side of the bonnet. The bouquet is composed of drooping sprays of the small blue flowers called the Periwinkle, and the foliage is formed of crape. A Leghorn bonnet, we have seen, is very prettily trimmed with a small wreath of the hazel with its clusters of white flowers, nuts, and foliage, correctly imitated from nature. On one side the wreath is terminated by a tuft or bouquet, and on the other by a flexible, drooping spray. Among the articles just imported from Paris may be named a scarf of black tulle, ornamented with a series of large spots or circles of black velvet, alternating with ruches of violet color gauze. The scarf is edged with two deep frills or flounces of rich Chantilly lace. CANADIAN FLOWER GATHERER. BY MRS. TRAILL, AUTHORESS OF "FOREST GLEANINGS," OAKLAND, RICE LAKE, c. w. ADANTIUM CAPI LAIRE.-. -Maiden Hair Fern. Early in the month of May, may be observed by those who suffer their eyes to be occupied by what is going on among the lowly plants and herbs that spring up in their path, a most charming fern, known by the familiar names of Maiden's hair and Fairy feru, from its elegant lightness. It is one of the most graceful of all that graceful tribe of plants; its botanical name is Adantium or Maiden's Hair; it grows in wild swampy and tangled thickets; it may be seen by the roadside, but mostly does it love the rich, black, spongy mould on the banks of creeks, and there you must often have noticed it. At first the leaf comes up curiously curled, having the appearance of a brown hairy caterpillar. A few warm hours of sunshine or soft rain makes the leaf unroll, and the tender leaflets expand. In three or four days what a change has been effected? The thick covering of brown hair has disappeared-no trace of its infant dress remaining visible on the whole plant. The stem broomos smooth, and black, and elastic, like fine whalebone, supporting its exquisite foliage on foot-stalks of hair-like lightness, diverging in a semicircular form, and displaying fronds of the tenderest, most vivid green. Many other ferns retain the hairy covering, which forms a fringe of russet brown along the foot-stalks; and one in particular, that may often be seen in green-houses, is so clothed at its roots with this hair as to obtain from it the name of hare foot fern. This elegant species, the capillaire, preserves its color well in drying, and will bear the pressure of a moderately heated iron, if laid between many folds of soft paper. It may be then pasted down on a sheet of thick white paper by the application of a camel's hair brush dipped in common flour paste. Great care and neatness is required in this work, not to apply too much moisture, and with a bit of fine rag to press down the leaf or leaves in the natural form of the plant; it must not be twisted or distorted into any stiff figure, as much of the merit of the work depends on preserving the exact appearance of the plant. Many kinds of flowers can also be preserved in the same way by carefully disposing the petals and leaflets between sheets of blotting paper, and submitting them to considerable pressure. A box filled with stones is a good press, but a screw linen press is best if it can be had. Specimens thus preserved, when dry enough, should be pasted down and the stalks secured by a slip of common adhesive plaster placed across in one or two places very neatly. The botanical and common name may be written in one corner, or a list with figures appended as reference kept with the specimens. The ferns are easier to preserve than flowers; therefore I would recommend them to young beginners. PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.-Mandrake or May Apple. This was the first indigenous fruit that I saw in Canada; it attracted my attention on my first journey through the woods. I noticed, growing by the side of the road at the edge of the forest, a plant with two large palmate leaves, between the axils of which hung a yellow oblong fruit, about the size of a Magnum Bonum plum. The man who drove the horses told me it was good to eat, and alighted and plucked it for me, advising me to throw away the thick outer skin. The fruit was over ripe, and there was a rank flavor that I didn't quite relish. I have since become better acquainted with the plant, and as there are many things about it deserving of notice, I will give a description of it for the information of those persons who have had less time to study it. The roots of the May Apple are used by the Indians as a cathartic; they are reticulated. It is curious to see a bed of them laid open, and to observe the way in which they interlace each other like an extensive net-work. They are white, about the thickness of a finger, spreading horizontally beneath the surface of the soil. From every articulation a bud sprouts up, forming the leaf stem. The single leaves produce no fruit,— most probably they are the first year's growth; possibly it is from the second year's shoot that the fruit-bearing stem rises. I have often wondered if the May Apple has attracted the attention of the horticulturists. Could the fruit be improved by artificial culture? |