! CHARLESTON, S. C. THE frontispiece of this number of the Family Magazine, presents to our readers a view of the city of Charleston. The population of Charleston, including suburbs, is probably 40,000. Of foreigners French form a considerable proportion, but Charle ton has many adopted citizens, who have resorted to it from every section of the globe. The mercantile Charleston is situated in lat. 32° 47′ north, and class is composed, in a great measure, of settlers lon. 80° 00′ 52 west from Greenwich. It is a from the New England states. The citizens of peninsula formed by the Ashley river on the west, Charleston are proverbial for their hospitality, chivalCooper river upon the north, and the Atlantick ocean rous feelings, and elegant and refined manners. on the south and southeast. The harbour is one of They entertain the nicest sense of honour, and are the finest in the United States, and is well protected prompt to revenge an insult, but no people are more from hostile incursions by castles and forts. The generous in their friendships, more steadfast in their city is located on a flat and even surface, but appears attachments to the worthy, or more observant of all to considerable advantage upon entering the harbour. the proprieties that characterize civilized life. A The houses which are chiefly of wood have a dusky true Carolinian is a high-minded gentleman all the appearance, arising partly from their antiquity, and world over, and into whatever errours he may be partly from the corrosive influence exerted by a betrayed by inadvertence, he never forgets what is saline atmosphere upon painted buildings. With due to the honour of a man and the pride of a souththe exception of Broad street running through the ron. The planters, who constitute the most wealthy city from east to west, and Mutiny street, extending portion of the citizens, reside in the country during its entire length from north to south, the streets are the winter and spring, but spend their summers in for the most part narrow, but less circuitous and ir- the city when they do not travel, which they often regular than those of Boston and some other of our do, scattering the proceeds of their large incomes, older cities. The principal publick buildings are with no niggardly spirit, over the whole length and the court house, city hall, guard house, fire-proof breadth of our common country. Many of them (state) building, custom-house, St. Andrew's hall, have summer-houses upon Sullivan's island, a few South Carolina society's academy, Charleston col- miles from town, whither they resort in unhealthy lege, orphan house, medical college, hospital, poor- seasons, or in healthy ones, for relief from the heat house and jail. Of the churches, the most venerable of the city, and to enjoy, with their families around (since the destruction of old St. Philip's by fire,) is them, the fine and salubrious sea-breezes. The the St. Michael's at the intersection of Broad and ladies of Charleston are less ambitious of costly Mutiny streets. The steeple of this church is very dress and personal decoration than those of Baltibeautiful. Its total altitude from the pavement to more or New York, but what is saved by this species the top of the vane, is 186 feet three inches. The of economy is generally expended in fine equipages. length of the vane is seven feet three and a half Their complexions are usually less fair and blooming inches. St. Peter's, a new Episcopal church, is than those of northern females, but southern brualso a neat and chaste edifice, built in more modern netts are often very beautiful. The fashionable style. St. Philip's, which was founded in 1713, and promenade of the ladies of Charleston is King destroyed by fire in the winter of 1835, is being re-street, where they make a fine display in carriages, built upon its ancient plan which was very grand barouches, and as pedestrians from eleven o'clock and imposing. Besides these, are Baptist, Metho- till one in the early part of the day, and, at this dist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Unitarian, Catholick, season of the year, from four to six in the evening. Universalist and French Protestant churches. The It is a little singular that Charleston, where the pride most influential, if not the most numerous sect of Christians in Charleston are the Episcopalians. The standard of pulpit eloquence in this city is at the present moment more elevated than formerly, and it boasts of divines of distinguished talents and piety. The publick and private edifices of Charleston are not remarkable for architectural elegance, but are, for the most part, plain and substantial buildings. The burnt district, the theatre of a ruinous and extensive fire which happened about a year ago, is sold out to purchasers upon the condition that handsome buildings shall be erected, which, when completed, will doubtless improve greatly the appearance of the city. Horticulture is much attended to here. The principal fruits cultivated are the fig, orange, peach, pomegranate and grape. The gardens are embellished with every species of flower foreign and indigenous, and relieved by shrubbery of a rich and beautiful foliage. On the anniversary of the Horticultural society, fruits and flowers of every flavour and hue are exhibited publickly, and to those who offer the most rare and curious, premiums are awarded. On these occasions, the ladies are often the most successful competitors. of state supremacy is proverbial, should retain the name of King street for its most aristocratick thoroughfare, while Boston, nearly a half century ago, proscribed the name as a badge of toryism, and substituted that of State street instead of it. In view of this matter, we can only say, that names are not always the signs of things. Agriculture, which has given to the South, its chief influence and importance, has hitherto been the most reputable occupation of the wealthy, but, in accommodation to circumstances and the spirit of the times, many of the most distinguished citizens and largest landed proprietors are now ambitious to give to their sons a liberal and thorough mercantile education. The commercial prospects of Charleston were never more flattering, than at the present moment. Its exports in rice and cotton-the staple productions of the South-have always been large, and to increase the facilities of trade, an enterprising company of merchants, including in the number several heavy capitalists, have recently made expensive arrangments for a direct intercourse between Charleston and Liverpool, the effect of which will be, to render the former an important city for the Southern country, and, in connexion with the great Iso. ncinnati railroad, (the most wonderful project of valuable city libraries in the Union. The Mechange, and which is now in progress,) for the West icks' institute or lyceum is an association for the In the course of ten or fifteen years, Charles- diffusion of popular and useful knowledge, and has on will, in all human probability, be one of the a library of several thousand volumes. The Bankmost thriving and important commercial emporiums ing institutions of the city are numerous, and, for the in the whole Union. It may not outstrip New Or-facilities of trade, are placed upon the most liberal leans, situated at the mouth of the Mississippi and footing. There are three daily and tri-weekly which has peculiar advantages, but it will unques- newspapers published, "the Courier," "the Mercury," tionably be the formidable rival of that flourishing and "the Patriot," and one monthly magazine enticity. tled, "the Southern Literary Journal.' Charleston is, upon the whole, an agreeable and desirable place of residence. The affection of the native citizens for the spot is unextinguishable, and strangers who make it their home, soon become greatly attached to it. In a moral, literary, religious and commercial point of view, Charleston possesses advantages which entitle it to a high rank among the principal cities of our country. Prejudices have been entertained against Charleston as an unhealthy city, but without reason. It is, we believe, one of the healthiest places upon the face of the globe. By accurate calculations drawn from a comparison of the bills of mortality of Charleston, and the principal cities of Europe, it would appear that the former, in proportion to its number of inhabitants, and, notwithstanding the occasional prevalence of destructive epidemicks, deserves to be regarded as pre-eminently healthy. A gradual improvement has taken place in the climate, arising in part from the clearing of the forests in the neighPOPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, IN 1836. bouring lowlands, but more especially from the at- THE population of the United States, at the prestention which is paid to cleanliness, and the preva-ent time, may be approximatively estimated as lence of social order. In none of our cities is there follows:·a more effective police;-in none are the streets kept in better order;-in none is there less insubordination and fewer riots. The perfection of the social arrangement from which these results flow, arises from the fact, that the slaves, who compose the lowest class of the population-a class which in the free states, is always the most turbulent—are kept under due and wholesome restraint-a restraint however, which is not inconsistent with their enjoying many privileges and more leisure than even Northern domesticks. Maine, the northernmost, 555,000 300,000 330,000 700,000 110,000 220,000 2,315,000 2,400,000 360,000 1,600,000 80,000 500,000 4,040,000 1,360,000 800,000 650,000 620,000 3,430,000 1,300,000 8,00,000 550,000 320,000 120,000 250,000 3,340,000 900,000 350,000 500,000 70,000 2,220,000 50,000 50,000 20,000 5,000 400,000 Charleston is remarkable for its charitable institutions. Of these the most richly endowed are the South Carolina society for the education of children and the relief of the destitute families of diseased members; the orphan asylum for the instruction and support of orphan children of both sexes; the Fellowship society, a charity foundation for the benefit of the rising generation; the St. Andrew's society and the New England society, embracing each of them, benevolent objects. The literary character of Charleston has always stood deservedly high, and it has given birth from time to time, to some of the first minds that have adorned the nation, within the forum or the halls of Congress. Such advocates as Grimké, King, Pettigru, Legare, Hunt, Dunkin, and Mimminger would grace the bar of any court in Christendom. Charleston college is a respectable institution. It is under the charge of a talented faculty, and affords facilities for acquiring an excellent education. Many parents, therefore, prefer educating their children at home, as they have substantially all the advantages which they would enjoy abroad at the best Universities, besides deriving the additional benefit resulting from parental advice and tuition. The Literary and Philosophical society for publick debates and lectures, founded in 1811, is an association of great respectability, and exerts a considerable influence upon the literary character of the city. This society has a valuable museum attached The entire population within the limits of the to it, and a large collection of rare and curious birds United States, Indians included, amounts, therefore, which are in a fine state of preservation. The to sixteen millions, six hundred and eighty thousand Charleston library is one of the largest and most souls. Aggregate of the southern states, Indians, The seeds are ripe in autumn, and if permitted to AMERICAN TREES. THE coldest regions of North America are the native country of this species of spruce. United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, it is called In the Silver-Fir, Fir-Balsam, and Balsam of Gilead. It does not constitute masses of woods, but is dissem-times used for the staves of casks for packing fish; inated, in a greater or less abundance, among the but for this purpose many other kinds of wood are hemlock and black spruces. Farther south it is preferred. The resin of the pines is extracted by found only on the summit of the Alleganies, and means of incisions in the body of the tree, at which particularly on the highest mountains of North Car- it exudes from the pores of the bark and from the olina. Like the other spruces it generally flourishes sap vessels of the alburnum. In the silver-fir this best in a moist sandy loam. Its height rarely exceeds forty feet, with a diam- trunk and limbs, and is collected by bursting these substance is naturally deposited in vesicles on the eter of twelve or fifteen inches. The trunk tapers tumours and receiving their contents in appropriate from a foot in diameter at the surface of the ground vessels. This resin is sold in Europe and the Unito seven or eight inches, at the height of six feet. ted States under the name of balm of Gilead, though When standing alone, and developing itself naturally, every body knows that the true balm of Gilead is its branches, which are numerous and thickly gar- produced by the Amyris gileadensis, a very nished with leaves, diminish in length in proportion vegetable and a native of Asia; perhaps the name different to their height, and form a pyramid of perfect regu- has been borrowed in consequence of some resemlarity. The bark is smooth and delicate. leaves are six or eight lines long, and are inserted The fresh turpentine is a greenish transparent fluid The blance between the substances in taste and smell. singly on the sides and on the top of the branches; of an acrid penetrating taste; given inconsiderately they are narrow, rigid and flat, of a bright green it produces heat in the bladder, and applied to above and a silvery white beneath; whence probably wounds it causes inflammation and acute pains. It is derived the name of the tree. and is followed by cones of a fragrant odour, which ommended in certain stages of the pulmonary conIt flowers in May, has been highly celebrated in England, and is recare nearly cylindrical, four or five inches long, an sumption. Brown. |