Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

money.

Messrs. Nash and Woodhouse have it for sale.

A punning New York auctioneer-no other than | Hampden as the noblest exemplar of manly independence Keese-once said when Bacon's Essays sold for twelve and which history records before the days of Washington, we a half cents, that it was "too much pork for a shilling," and are sorry to observe that Dr. Green falls into the common so we think of "Kaloolah." Nevertheless it is the book of error which supposes him to have embarked with Crom the month, and will furnish enjoyment to a vast number of well for America and to have been stopped in the Thames readers, during the listlessness of the dog-days. We could by an Order in Council,-thus representing him as ready to wish for no more delightful task, under the reign of Siri- abandon the great principle of civil freedom for which he us, than a dozen such volumes, in Mr. Putnam's choice afterwards laid down his life. The fact has been establishstyle of publication, to be read supinely beneath a large ed by Miss Aikin and fortified by Mr. Rives that such could shade tree in the country. not have been the case,-that the order in council to arrest the vessels was revoked almost as soon as it was made; so that if they had really embarked for the purpose of gorg to America there was nothing to prevent the execution of their design-and that the order itself was dated 43 days before the final judgment of the Court of Exchequer in the matter of the ship-money. To believe the story of the em barkation, therefore, would be to impute to Hampden an ungraceful retreat from a controversy which was still pending and undetermined-"a hypothesis," says Mr. Rives, to which the whole tenor of his life and character stands in contradiction."

SERMONS BY THE LATE THOS. CHALMERS, D.D., LL. D., Illustrative of Different Stages in his Ministry. 17981847. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This is the sixth volume of the series of Dr. Channing's Posthumous Works simultaneously published by the editor at home and by the Harpers in this country. It comprises a period of half a century in the dates of the sermons which it contains, the concluding discourse being the last ever written by the gifted and lamented author. Apart The style of Dr. Green, as exhibited in this Address, from the doctrinal character and moral teachings of Dr. though condensed, is neither simple nor pleasing. We are Channing's Pulpit Essays, there is a certain attraction in reluctant, however, to base an opinion upon a pamphet the style that cannot fail to win the attention of the reader. which the author has had the bad taste to place for publicsIt presents a happy medium between the severe and the tion in the hands of a printer in another state, for we know ornate, the stream of eloquent thought flowing on ever bril-not what allowances to make for blunders of the press. We liantly and forcibly. As specimens of rhetorical beauty, the sermons of the present volume are by no means the best that might have been selected, but the design of the compilation seems to have been rather an illustration of his ministry under different aspects than a monument of his literary merit.

[blocks in formation]

Those who are familiar with Washington Irving's graphic delineations of scenery and incident (and what educated American is not ?) will readily believe that the present work is a delightful one. It forms the tenth volume of the new edition of the "Complete Works" which is now nearly finished. The sale of these charming books, we learn, has been beyond the expectation of the publisher, so that those who would secure the best and only complete edition of Irving, should not delay purchasing any longer. It may soon be difficult to procure the volumes.

This book may be obtained of A. Morris.

have marked no less than twenty-three awkward typograph cal errors, which are apparent to every reader-how many mistakes may be latent, it is impossible to say. Certain y there must be something wrong in the following passage. allusion to Patrick Henry :

"Tutored in such a school, we need not wonder that the cal denomination he had witnessed only to abhor; and earliest efforts of his genius were directed against that cleriwhen in after years, he spoke amidst cries of Treason

Treason!' those words of fire, which caused the ears of those who heard to tingle, till all men woke up, at once, as frum a trance, and catching up the sound, sent it onward, and onward still, in louder and yet louder peals of reverberating thunder."

We trust this is an error of the types, if for no other reass than to teach Virginia professors how ridienlous it is to exploy Pennsylvania workmen to do what can be so much better done at home; as all will acknowledge who will compare the bold, clear typography of Mr. Rives' Discourse, printed by Shepherd & Colin of this city, with the deformed pages of this Pittsburgh pamphlet.

* See " Discourse on the Character and Services of John Hampden, &c. By W. C. Rives, Esq."

INAUGURAL ADDRESS, delivered before the Board of Trustees of Hampden Sidney College, January 10th, 1849. By L. W. GREEN, D. D., President. Printed by Johnston and Stockton-Market Street-Pittsburgh. 1849 AN APOLOGY.-We have recently discovered with us feigned regret that a poem published as original in the We rejoice to see the efforts that the friends of Hamp-March number of this magazine for the present year, enti den Sidney College are now making to revivify that vene-tled "Song, Translated from Jacobi," is a plagiarism from an rable institution of learning, for many years past in a de- English author. The person from whom we received t clining state. The new President, Dr. Green, will doubt-most shamelessly stated it to be his own, and as our cen less effect much in this good work. He enjoys an enviable dence in his integrity was unwavering, we were induced reputation as a profound scholar and accurate thinker, and publish it. As bis design was rather to win the creds of the Address before us furnishes abundant and gratifying so beautiful a translation, than to play off a trick upon our evidence that he is no unworthy successor of those great selves, we forbear to give his name. Comment is quite names in the annals of Virginia, which are associated with unnecessary upon so discreditable a performance, but wema? the earliest and best instructions of these halls of science. say, in general, with reference to borrowed articles that am In the exordium of this Address, Dr. Green alludes in imposed upon Editors as original, that the practice of sse effective language to the foundation of the college and pays tricks argues a small mind, and has always received the m a passing tribute to the memory of that great man, whose probation of gentlemen. We are secure from such impor name stands first, conjoined with one scarcely less illustri-tions, in all doubtful cases, by requiring a responsable some ous, in the title which it bears. Accustomed to regard John' with the article.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM—JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETor.

VOL. XV.

RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER, 1849.

Fremont's First and Second Expeditions."

NOS. 9 & 10.

ly a terra incognita, novel, wild, magnificent. How many studies for the pencil must not the evening bivouac exhibit, or the rousing of the The first exploring expedition made by Lieu- camp at dawn of day, or the line of march-how tenant (as he then was) Frémont, commenced much that is grotesque, picturesque, arabesque ? June 10th, 1842, and ended towards the close of The march would be subject to hazards enough September following, having thus occupied some- to give it the dignity of danger, yet not so hazwhat less than four months. Frémont was acardous as to render it gloomy. Liberated from companied by a party of twenty-one men, most- the obligations of law and of opinion, neverthely Creole or Canadian voyageurs, men accustomless the principle of order and subordination ed to danger, and enured to fatigue and privation. would be secured among them by a sense of muMr. Preuss, a German, went out as topographi- tual dependence. The appearance of the councal assistant, a man named Maxwell as hunter, try passed over and its productions, the elk, and the famous Kit Carson as guide. The party started from a point near where the Kansas empties into the Missouri, in latitude 39°, about 400 miles above St. Louis.

the antelope and the buffalo, and the various incidents of the journey, would serve to break agreeably the usual monotony, while life in the open, salubrious air, with continual exercise, would lend its exhilarating influence and ban"During our journey it was the customary ish ennui. Such is the picture which the imagipractice to encamp an hour or two before sunset, nation would body forth in starting upon such a when the carts were disposed so as to form a sort journey. But for the first thousand miles, at of barricade around a circle some eighty yards least, the picture far exceeds the reality. The in diameter. The tents were pitched, and the

horses hobbled, and turned loose to graze; and prairies, indeed, after first entering upon them, but a few minutes elapsed before the cooks of on the margin of "the plains," present vast, the messes, of which there were four, were busi- boundless scenes of Eden-like verdure and unly engaged in preparing the evening meal. At rivalled beauty. And indeed such magnificent nightfall the horses, mules and oxen were driven

in, and picketed-that is secured by a halter, of prospects occasionally re-appear during the prowhich one end was tied to a small steel-shod gress of the march across the plains," when a picket, and driven into the ground; the halter sea of vegetation and flowers they spread out in being twenty or thirty feet long, which enabled one vast level, or are seen swelling into superb them to obtain a little food during the night. ridges or sloping away iu shadowy declivities. When we had reached a part of the country, Still it must be confessed in spite of all its rich where such a precaution became necessary, the and poetic effect, when first the delightful panocarts being regularly arranged for defending the camp, guard was mounted at eight o'clock, con- rama is unfolded to the view, that in a few days sisting of three men, who were relieved every the traveller's stock of admiration becomes sentwo hours; the morning watch being horse-guard sibly impaired, and ere long perhaps quite exfor the day. At day-break the camp was roused, hausted. The prairies, like the females of the the animals turned loose to graze, and breakfast South Sea islands, are not more, but the less generally over between six and seven o'clock, when we resumed our march, making regularly charming for being naked. There is an intimate

a halt at noon for one or two hours."

connexion between beauty and utility, and the prairies exposed to the full blaze of the sun, or to the unbroken sweep of the wintry wind, are found not to wear so well as the forest-crown

There would seem to be not a little of the spirit of chivalry, romance and poetry in an expedition of this kind. Leaving the dust and tur-ed scenes. moil of the busy world far behind them, these The animation of the party is greatly heightvoyageurs setting their faces westward, embark ened when they encounter the buffalo, roaming into a vast expanse lying beyond the pale of civi- in dark masses over the plains. "Indians and lization and of law. All that is commonplace is buffalo," says Frémont, "make the poetry and left in the rear;—before them all is comparative-life of the prairie." As the surge of emigration

"REPORT OF THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842. Printed by order of the House of Representatives." By J. C. FREMONT, U. S. Topographical Engineers.

VOL. XV-66

sweeps on westward, the Indians and the buffalo will be gradually exterminated, and at length the prairies will be divested of their poetry and life. Frémont gives the following picture of a

buffalo hunt, in which he engaged on the 1st of We were too far off to hear the report of the

July:

guns or any sound; and at every instant through the clouds of dust, which the sun made luminous, "They were now somewhat less than half a mile distant, and we rode easily along until with- we could see for a moment two or three buffalo in about three hundred yards, when a sudden dashing along, and close behind them an Indian agitation and wavering in the band and a gallop- stantly again they disappeared. The apparent with his long spear, or other weapon, and ining to and fro of some which were scattered along silence and the dimly seen figures flitting by with the skirts, gave us the intimation that we were such rapidity gave it a kind of dreamy effect, discovered. We started together at a hand-gal- and seemed more like a picture than a scene of lop, riding steadily abreast of each other, and real life. It had been a large herd when the here the interest of the chase became so engross-cerne commenced-probably three or four huningly intense, that we were sensible to nothing dred in number; but though I watched them else. We were now closing upon them rapidly; closely I did not see one emerge from the fatal and the front of the mass was already in rapid cloud where the work of destruction was going motion for the hills, and in a few seconds the movement had communicated itself to the whole crowd. A crowd of bulls, as usual, brought up the rear, and every now and then some of them faced about, and then dashed on after the band

on."

On the 9th of July Frémont caught the first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains at the distance of about sixty miles. It was the snow-covered "Long's Peak." On the following day he reached St. Vrain's fort, situated on the South Fork of the Platte at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. and about seventeen miles from Long's Peak. From this post the party turning towards the

a short distance and turned and looked again, as if more than half inclined to turn and fight. In a few moments, however, during which we had been quickening our pace, the rout was universal, and we were going over the ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty yards, we gave the usual shout (the hunter's pas de charge) and broke into the herd. We entered on the side, North, bent their course in the direction of Fort the mass giving way in every direction in their Laramie, distant about 125 miles. Near the borheedless course. Many of the bulls less active ders of Horse Creek was found a geological forand less fleet than the cows, paying no attention mation which the winds and rains easily mould to the ground, and occupied solely with the hun-into a variety of forms. The white herbless rock ter were precipitated to the earth with great force rolling over and over, with the violence of the resembles masonry, and at one place it forms a shock, and hardly distinguishable in the dust. half-moon of two or three hundred yards diameWe separated on entering, each singling out his ter with enormous bastions at either end. Along game. the line of parapets rise lofty domes and minarets, giving it every appearance of an old forti

[ocr errors]

My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the West, under the name of Proveau, and with his eyes flashing, and the foam flying from his mouth, sprang on after the cow like a tiger. In a few moments he brought me alongside of her, and rising in the stirrups, I fired at the distance of a yard, the ball entering at the termination of the long hair, and passing near the heart."

Upon another occasion a vast herd of buffalo was seen debouching in dark columns from the hills, towards the river, until Frémont and his party were entirely surrounded by their incalculable numbers, stretching for miles in front and in rear, and leaving around the travellers an open space of only two or three hundred yards.

fied town. On the banks of White river are similar curiosities of a still more extraordinary character.

Fort Laramie, a post of the American Fur Company, stands on the Laramie, (near where it empties into the Platte,) on high ground, and its lofty, quadrangular, clay-built, white-washed walls and bastions give it rather an imposing appearance. "A cluster of lodges, which the language told us belonged to Sioux Indians, was pitched under the walls, and with the fine back ground of the Black hills and the prominent peak of Laramie mountain strongly drawn in Upon reaching the head of the Platte river, the clear light of the western sky, where the sun Frémont with a small party, including three In- had already set, the whole formed at the moment dians, proceeded up the valley of the South a strikingly beautiful picture." This post was Fork, while the rest of the company went up the established for the purpose of carrying on a trade borders of the North Fork. On this route Fré- with the Indians, they exchanging buffalo rebes mont witnessed an instance of the wholesale for the usual articles used by the savages incluslaughter of the buffalo committed by the In

dians:

ding tobacco and ardent spirits. The American Fur Company indeed was averse to the intro"The buffalo started for the hills, but were in- duction of liquors among the savage tribes, “bat tercepted and driven back toward the river, bro- in the present state of things, when the country ken and running in every direction. The clouds is supplied with alcohol, when a keg of it wil of dust soon covered the whole scene preventing us from having any but an occasional view. It purchase from an Indian every thing he possess had a very singular appearance to us at a dis-es, his furs, his lodge, his horses, and even his tance, especially when looking with the glass. wife and children, and when any vagabond who

as money enough to purchase a mule, can go tance from Fort Laramie is three hundred and to a village and trade against them successfully, is impossible for the Fur Company to disconnue its use." The Company as a regular trader interested in the preservation of the Indians; ut the vagabond casual dealer, indifferent to the ate of his victims, is only intent on wringing rom them his immediate gains.

[ocr errors]

to do them justice." Doubtless some adventurous artist, possessing the enthusiasm of Catlin, would find in this region some of the finest subjects in the world, where suddenly bursting upon

snow-crowned mountains, pile upon pile, Pelion upon Ossa, all glowing in the pearly light of a splendid summer day, while here and there, between frowning ridges, lay crystal green lakes and valleys carpeted in richest verdure, with cataracts pouring from rock to rock.

twenty miles, or nine hundred and fifty from the mouth of the Kansas." Proceeding on his march Frémont found himself in an Alpine region of the Wind river mountains, where the water froze in midsummer. The magnificent effect of this bold scenery was enhanced by its sudden contrast with the previous prairie journey of a thousand miles. Lieut. Frémont attended a dog-feast, where Frémont thus depicts a sun-rise in this mounthe women and children were sitting outside tain region: The sun has just shot above the he lodge, and we took our seats on buffalo robes wall, and makes a magical change. The whole pread around. The dog was in a large pot over valley is glowing and bright, and all the mounhe fire in the middle of the lodge and immedi- tain peaks are gleaming like silver. Though ately on our arrival was dished up in large wood- these snow mountains are not the Alps they have en bowls, one of which was handed to each. their own character of grandeur and magnifiThe flesh appeared very glutinous with some- cence, and will doubtless find pens and pencils thing of the flavor and appearance of mutton. Feeling something move behind me, I looked round and found that I had taken my seat among a litter of fat young puppies. Had I been nice in such matters, the prejudices of civilization the explorer's eye were seen a vast succession of might have interfered with my tranquillity; but fortunately I am not of delicate nerves. and continued quietly to enjoy my platter." Lieut. Frémont found Fort Laramie a very suitable place for a military post to keep the neighboring Indians in check, and to protect the immigrants on their route to Oregon. Accordingly some comContinuing to ascend the mountains, the party panies of United States troops have been lately admired the stern grandeur of the rocky sumordered to establish themselves at that command-mits towering above, and in striking contrast, ing point. From this fort Lieut Frémont pro- scenes of exquisite verdure, numerous lakes, ceeded up the North Fork of the Platte, by the roaring water-falls, and brilliant Alpine flowers. Red Buttes, a famous landmark, and the Hot Here at the height of ten thousand feet above Spring Gate. Here the mountain sheep was the Gulf of Mexico were noticed a squirrel-like found in great numbers and two or three of them animal, a sparrow-like bird, and flocks of the were killed. This animal is provided by nature mountain-goat clambering over the rocks like with horns which are sometimes not less than Alpine chamois. Fatigue, hunger and the rarity three feet long and a foot and a half in circum- of the elevated air now affected Lieut. F. and ference at the base. These horns serve to pro- some of his men with headache, giddiness and tect the animal in pitching down precipices when vomiting. At last after encountering great diffichased by wolves. This animal, indifferently culties and much suffering, Frémont found himstyled the mountain sheep or goat, would seem self on the highest point of the Wind River rather to resemble the latter, being not woolly, Mountains-being 13,570 feet above the Gulf of but coated with a hair like that of the deer. Mexico. On this summit a solitary humble-bee July 31, the party reached the valley of the lighting on Frémont's knee, proved that the reSweet water, and on the following day they en- gion of animated nature had not yet been surcamped at Rock Independence, another con- passed. The mountains exhibited features of spicuous landmark, being of granite, 650 yards terrible convulsion and the prospect was immense long and forty high, upon the base of which are on every side. It was observed that the reinscribed many names of travellers, &c. Au- port of a pistol expired almost instantaneously. gust 8th, they reached the SOUTH PASS. Ap- Here the flag of the United States was unfurled, proaching it from the mouth of the Sweet Wa- and Frémont congratulated himself upon having ter, a sandy plain one hundred and twenty miles reached the loftiest peak of the Rocky Mounlong, conducts by a gradual and regular ascent tains; since known as Frémont's Peak." He to the summit about seven thousand feet above now returned through the valley of the Sweet the sea, and the traveller without being reminded Water, the North Fork of the Platte, the Platte, of any change by toilsome ascents, suddenly finds and the Missouri, to the mouth of the Kansas, himself on the waters which flow to the Pacific his starting point, which he reached on the 10th Ocean. By the route we had travelled, the dis-' of October, 1842.

66

66

The valley of the Kausas is a prairie country, | a more Southern latitude, provided a Pass should the soil rich, the "bottoms" well timbered. The be found somewhere in the vicinity of the Misvalley of the Great Platte is of the same char-souri line? acter and abounds in luxuriant grasses. From the Forks of this river to the Laramie river the soil is sandy. The valley of the North Fork is destitute of timber, but produces fine grass. On his return during September, Fremont found the whole country looking like a garden. The Sweet Water valley is a sand plain included between mountains of primitive rock.

[ocr errors]

August 21, the party reached the valley of the Bear river, the principal tributary of the famous Great Salt Lake. According to the rule of omne ignotum pro magnifico," the trappers and travellers of this remote region had invested this lake with many superstitious terrors and were accustomed to lending a pleasing horror to their conversation around the fires at night, by stories of a terrible whirlpool on the surface through which its waters found their way to the ocean by some subterraneous channel. Early in September, Frémont and his companions beheld the great inland Salt Sea, the Dead Sea of the West, spread out before them in a sheet extending far beyond the reach of vision. Large islands, some mountainous, here and there dotted the expanse of water. On the 9th. Frémont with four others embarked on the Great Salt Lake, in a precarious India-rubber boat. As they proceeded, the water assumed a beautiful sea-green color, and the saline spray falling on the hands and arms of the voyagers at once encrusted them with salt. Landing on an island, they observed a deposite of the larvæ of insects about fifteen feet wide and eight inches deep, and the cliffs and rocks were iced with an in

On the 29th of May, 1843, Capt. Frémont set out upon a second expedition to the far West, in compliance with the instructions of the Chief of Topographical Engineers. His party on this occasion consisted of thirty-nine men, including several who were in the former expedition. Mr. Preuss again accompanied him as topographical assistant. Thomas Fitzpatrick was employed as guide. A free young colored man of Washington city volunteered to go with the party and manfully performed his part. Two Delaware Indians, an old man and his son, went out as hunters. The party was armed with carbines and took out a 12lb. brass howitzer, managed by three men, under the charge of Louis Zindel, a Prussian, long a non-commissioned officer of artillery in the Prussian service. Twelve carts drawn each by two mules carried the campequipage and provisions and a light-covered crustation of salt. Ascending a rocky peak wagon conveyed the instruments, telescopes, some 800 feet high they obtained a fine prosbarometers, thermometers, &c. The intended pect of the Lake enclosed within rugged mounroute was now up the valley of the Kansas river tains. The island proved to be a rocky hill and to the head of the Arkansas and beyond in about twelve miles in circumference. A magquest of a Pass through the mountains in that pie and another larger bird were the only living direction, so that the main object of this explo- things seen on it. At night after kindling large ration would commence where the former one fires, for the purpose of "astonishing the naended at the South Pass. Proceeding up the tives," they slept secure, lulled by the roar of Kansas they arrived on the 8th of June at the the ocean-like surf. They returned in the mornhead of that river, where it is formed by the con- ing to the main-land. Five gallons of the Lake fluence of the Smoky-hill fork and the Republi- water, roughly evaporated over the fire, yielded can, and continued to march along the monoto- fourteen pints of fine salt. Leaving the vicinity nous borders of the latter and so by the South of the Salt Lake, Frémont proceeded to Fart Fork, St. Vrain's Fort, Medicine Bow river, and Hall, a trading post, distant from the frontier of Sweet Water to the South Pass, which they Missouri via. Fort Laramie, and the South Pass. reached on the 13th of August. This Pass prob- about 1,300 miles. It is situated in a valley, ably destined to be of so much importance in fu- formed by the confluence of Portneuf river with ture, is twenty miles wide and its elevation Fré- Lewis's fork of the Columbia, which it enters mont now found to be 7000 feet above the level about nine miles below the fort. Frémont reof the Gulf of Mexico. It is about half-way commends this as an eligible post of relief før between the Mississippi river and the Pacific emigrants, the country west of it along the CoOcean. Its latitude is somewhat over 42°, being lumbia being a sort of desert for three hundred about the same with the city of Boston. Now miles. Passing by the picturesque American if Mr. Whitney's grand rail-way project could Falls of Lewis's fork, and the outlet of a subterhave been carried into effect, and the road loca- raneous river through a gloomy volcanic region, ted so far North as this, would it not have en- they were hospitably entertained at Fort Boise countered great obstacles from frost and snow, on the Lewis's fork or Snake river, by Mr. Pay for a considerable portion of the year, which ette of the Hudson's Bay Company. This fort is would be entirely avoided by running the road in only nominal, it being simply a dwelling house,

« AnteriorContinuar »