life. They have received me cordially at their houses-they have given me assistance with a delicacy and propriety which no American community can excel. For instance, the Senora caused me to be furnished with a clean linen shirt, and had all my dirty clothes (thanks to life in camp) washed.

The Catholic Padre, Manuel de Silvia, furnished me every comfort, and crowned all his attention to me by communicating in Latin that my friend Barnes had been heard from, and was alive. He walked with me arm and arm about the village, visiting the Alcalde, a most benevolent and kind-hearted man, and the principal places in the place, and his church among others, and gave me money and clothes to dress as a citizen, and save me the mortification of going to Cordova in American uniform-all at his own suggestion. He has done me the kindness to propose to carry or cause this letter to be sent to Vera Cruz, and in every thing has been truly to me a friend and a christian. God grant that his example may be imitated by all clergymen. By means of the Latin I could learn and communicate most that I could be made to understand, for no one understood English.

Casio Fernando, a citizen here, bestowed on me every attention, and gave me money with a delicacy so exquisite as to make it impossible to decline with grace, though of course I did so. Others made me similar presents; and one young gentleman, Jose Maria Villegas, of talent and excellent heart, seemed to exhaust his ingenuity in making me happy. As to comfort, I assure you it never in my life was more consulted by my most intimate friends. From some reason, all who approach me, particularly of the white or Spanish blood, bestow upon me more favors than I can name, and in a manner which I cannot refuse. For instancethe young man above named, since I commenced writing this, came in as I sat at my table, and handed me a dollar. Of course, I declined. He gently put his arm around my head, clasped it to his bosom in a manner so tender and a countenance so full of entreaty, that to say a word more would have been sheer brutality. Another young man very coolly came in since I commenced writing, and laid three dollars down on the table, with a sort of business air, and when I began

to decline seemed so inclined to be offended that I said no more. This gen

tleman is called Estevan Pons y Camp. There are two beautiful and interesting young ladies who have honored me with every attention that my situation required.

In short, I cannot describe to you the generous treatment I have received at the hands of this people-never shall I forget them-I would go from Vera Cruz, to visit the lady Senora Fernando for her kindness to me-God bless her and her household, is my fervent ejaculation-but it is låte, and I must close. Let this account of the kindness I have received, be published in justice to the Mexicans themselves, and that if our arms are ever turned upon them, those I have named, and all the inhabitants, may be remembered in mercy. My health is first rate. morrow evening at 4 o'clock, I start for Cordova. The Senora sends one of her servants to see me well there, and Mariana Fuster, a fine young Castilian, has kindly volunteered to accompany meso you can see I am kindly treated in more ways than I can describe.

To

I am informed I shall be kindly treated at Cordova, as prisoner of war, and exchanged in due time. My personal regards to every officer in my regiment, and especially to my Colonel and Major, Seymour and Lally, and Dr. Stephen. I am your most ob't serv't,

WHIPPLE, 1st Lt. Adjt. 9th Inf.

Woman.

The government of families leads to the comfort of communities, and the welfare of nations. Of every domestic circle, woman is the centre. Home, that scene of purest and dearest joy-home is the EMPIRE of woman. There she plans, directs, and performs the acknowledged source of dignity and felicity.-Where female virtue is most pure, female sense is most approved, and where feinale deportment is most correct, there will be found most propriety of social manners. The early years of childhood, the most precious years of life, are confined to woman's superintendence, and therefore may be presumed to lay the fountain of all the virtues, and all the wisdom to enrich the world.-SEL.

Esteem is the mother of love, but the daughter is often older than the mother.

Extensive Flouring Mills. Among the mechanical improvements of the age, are the Marine Mills of Cleveland, owned and run by Messrs. S. R. Hutchingson & Co. These mills are situated upon the river, and are used exclusively for flouring. They have 5 pair of 4 1-2 feet French burr stones, which (together with the other machinery) are driven by two high pressure engines. The cylinders of each are 16 inches diameter, 30 inch stroke. The steam is generated in two boilers, each 42 feet in diameter, 16 feet long, having two flues in each. There is a large heater with numerous copper tubes, through which the escape steam passes. These tubes are surrounded by water, which receives the heat of the steam it condenses, before it is forced into the boiler; thus using the escape steam as fuel. To the engines are affix. ed patent cutoffs, for using the steam expansively. The pitmans are both attached to the main upright shaft. The eco nomy in the use of two engines instead of one, appears to be, that while one engine is passing its centre, just then the other is in full power. The principal driving wheel acts also as a balance wheel. The five pair of stones are in a cluster on the 2d floor, and are raised on a platform. The upper mill stone is more than double the usual thickness. The common hopper and damsel is dispensed with. The grain is fed into the eyes of the stones by spouts. Attached to the bales are cast iron saucers; the spouts, which are moveable, are brought nearly in contact with the saucers. When the mill is at rest, no grain will run out of the spouts. When in motion, the centrifugal force distributes the grain in equal quantities between the stones.

As the

speed of the stones is accelerated, the quantity of grain thrown from the saucers is increased.

The next improvement I noticed, was the facility with which either run of stones was thrown in and out of gear. The ease with which the millers can do their work (never having to leave the one floor) puts this mill in that respect before all others I have seen. The packing is done by a very simple lever worked by the machine. The whole machinery of mill and engine occupies a space 40 by 50 feet, 4 stories high. With the consumption of 75 bushels of bituminous coal in 24 hours, 400 barrels of superfine

flour is ground. Coal costs 8c. per bushel. Adjoining the mill, but having a separate frame, is a warehouse capable of holding 30,000 bushels of wheat, and 10,000 barrels of flour. In the warehouse is a stand of ship elevators, capable of elevating 2000 bushels of wheat per hour. The whole cost of all this property has been less than $25,000. The engines and castings were made at the Cuyahoga foundry in this city, and the whole has been got up under the superintence of Mr. T. C. Floyd, the millright, to whom the milling interest hereafter must be much indebted. For economy, simplicity of construction, and compactness of machinery, the Marine Mills of Cleveland stand unrivalled; and as with us in New York, water power is a commodity not to be had, while steam power is within the reach of all, it would be well for our mechanics to avail themselves of improvements, without adhering to the idea that because we are the emporium of America, we are naturally so of the arts and sciences. If any party thinks I am mistaken, let them compare the results of other mills with the facts I have given.

In addition, the proprietors are now adding a machine for drying flour for exportation. As I understand the improvement, it consists in using the heat of steam; and while the flour is drying, it is kept in constant motion upon a surface that permits the moisture to pass of readily. A friend who has seen the machine in operation in a mill near this place, says that it resembles a wheelbarrow in one respect, viz: that it could not be improved; and further says it is applicable to any kind of flouring mills or warehouses, and is used for drying grain, flour, or meal.

Should this machine prove to be what is said of it, what a revolution may it not effect. The majority of the flour ground in the West is ground during the winter and spring months. The opening of navigation sends it forward to a market. The liability of souring, that exists in winter-ground flour, induces the miller and his factor to throw it into consumption as speedily as possible. If the price is low, the factor dare not take the risk What of holding it over the hot months. becomes of it? Every year's experience shows the immense losses that some parties suffer from the souring of flour; but these losses are light compared to what

they will be, if this or some other plan is not adopted to prevent it. Up to last year our home consumption and Southern export demand, have been equal to our supply; but with the rush of emigration to the West, nine-tenths of whom are producers, and who enter at once upon the prairies, or openings, and who the next year produce a surplus sufficient to feed half a village, what, I ask, is to be done with the surplus they will produce? So far as wheat is concerned, it may be exported in the grain without preparation; but corn, corn meal and flour, must have the moisture extracted without deterioration of color or flavor, before it is sent abroad, or undergo the same preparation if it is kept at home for a period of a few months. Without this precaution, capitalists will never invest in breadstuffs. With this precaution, they will. And when capitalists invest, remunerating prices must follow, as they have the power to affix prices.

These remarks pertain more particularly to the wheat regions of the North. What effect will a machine of this kind have upon the great staple, Indian corn -that most nutricious food for inan or beast? It is the principal product_of Yet our great valleys leading to the sea. after using all hitherto known devices, the risk of handling it is over one-fifth of its cost. This risk pertains wholly to its becoming injured by fermentation, produced by its natural moisture. If through this machine we are enabled to preserve this important product, (and should Great Britain continue to encourage its use, Indian corn will become the principal bread stuff used in the British isles, while their cattle and hogs will be fattened on it in the same manner as with us,) then the corn-growing states, having a sure market for their surplus, their interests become at once identified with those of their cotton-growing brethren. Then, without doubt, will Free Trade be triumphant. European operatives will be better fed, while American operatives will be better clothed and fed than any other. Journal of Commerce.

CITY STATISTICS. The number of streets, avenues and places which intersect the city of New York, is 375; of Banks, we have 33; Insurance Companies, 100; Periodicals, 50; Newspapers, 98; Miscellaneous Schools, 110; Moral,

RUSSIAN GOLD.-A report has been published at St. Petersburg of the produce of the gold mines in the Ural Mountains, which were discovered in 1819. They have proved to be a great deal richer than was at first expected-thanks to a new system of working them--and have become the source of a very fine revenue to the imperial treasury. Last year they rendered 68,880 lbs. of gold, which being estimated at 1250fr. the pound, amounts to 86,000,000 frs. The mines contain, also, a quantity of small particles of gold, washed down with the sand from these mountains-from which, together with that of Siberia, the State has, since 1819, derived no less than 717,000,000fr.-SEL.

"A SUMMER IN THE WILDERNESS, BY J. LANMAN." Published by D. Appleton, & Co., New York.

Mr. Lanman has given us, in this work, many striking descriptions of scenes and scenery along the route of his journey to the far west. He is an artist; and his readers at every step, enjoy some advantage from taste and habits of observation cultivated in the practice of his art. In regions extensive, wild and thinly populated, as those on which his route chiefly lay, his plan and style of writing are peculiarly appropriate. He has selected single scenes at the principal points, and briefly described them, without any attempt to exaggerate for effect, and in language very appropriate and correct. We have seldom seen a book of late years, even from a writer of greater age than Mr. Lanman, which showed at once so much cultivated taste for the beauties of nature, and such a degree of freedom from the prevailing and flagrant vices of style. The moral sentiments expressed in the work do no less honor to a young American.

INSCRIPTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

These figures, indistinct as they are, afford a pretty correct idea of thousands of those supposed hieroglyphics, which have been discovered among the ruins of Central America and Mexico. Large portions of them are so worn by time, as to leave the observer in great doubt respecting their original appearance: but those which are in the best state of preservation are so indistinct in their details, as to leave it very uncertain, whether they were significant characters or mere ornaments. There is evidently a great diversity in their details: but such as belong to the same group are of equal size and uniform shape, or at least enclosed by square figures of similar dimensions. These are disposed on different sides of sculptured figures, on columns, on the walls of temples, and in other positions, in several rows, usually occupying the places assigned to inscriptions in the ruins of Egypt and Assyria; and often bearing a striking resemblance to written characters, at the first glance. They especially resemble, in many instances, the hieroglyphical figures of the ancient Mexicans, which were disposed in the same order, and usually composed of much curving lines, intermingled with a few dots, liable to be thrown into indiscriminate confusion by a little injury to the surface of the material.

Strange as it seems, however, no person has yet offered any clue to the explanation of one of the figures, nor has any satisfactory proof been adduced of their being either significant or insignificant. There is such a general resemblance between them, that the few copies we have given above, may serve as fair specimens of many hundreds or even thousands; and if we should lay before our readers a much greater number, they would be able to form no more distinct ideas of their nature. If they are characters originally expressing words or things, they were unfortunately devised, because

ANTARCTIC DISCOVERIES. Captain Wilkes, who commanded the American Antartic Exploring Expedition, has published two communications in reply to some passages in the Narrative of the British Captain Ross, who, soon after commanded an Exploring Expedition in the same direction. Capt. W. is particularly scandalized by a statement of Capt. Ross, that the latter found a clear sea where the former had laid down "mountainous land." We make the following

extract:

I had no knowledge, until I saw the engraved chart in Capt. Ross's book, what was meant by the "mountain land," he had reference to. On the original chart, from which the tracing was taken that I sent him, there is not the least resemblance to the "mountain land" Captain Ross speaks of, or to the representation of it on the one that he has engraved. In the original chart, now in my possession, this "mountain land" is only twentyseven miles in length, while the engraved one in Captain Ross's book makes it 80 miles; and it is as much unlike it in every other respect. I must most positively assert that the land as it appears on the chart he has had engraved could not have been traced from anything that was in my possession then or since. Captain Ross admits that he was in possession of the publications in Sydney, wherein it was distinetly stated that our discoveries did not extend east of 160 degrees, east longitude; consequently there could be no reason for his believing the 'mountain land' was a part of our discoveries; and what will make it still more evident is, that Ross knew that Bellaney had sailed over the position that this "mountain land" occupied on the chart. Then why not have said so, instead of vaunting that he had sailed over our discoveries.'

The true policy of this country is that of peace. Dymond's calculation of the cost of an ordinary war campaign is, that it would be sufficient to endow a school in every parish of England forever.

INSECTS LIKE PLANTS.

Some account of that remarkable insect, the Mantis, will be found in our first volume, page 40. We introduce here the figure of another odd species, to add a few more facts relating to its habits; and those of some other kinds of insects not less remarkable.

The Mantis is one of those species of insects which have such forms that they may easily be mistaken for inanimate objects. Some resemble the leaves, stems or other parts of plants. We copy the following remarks from a late English writer. He speaks first of the Mantis.

"Although irascible and cruel, the mantis is essentially a cowardly insect. An ant will put the largest to flight; and even their own food, if it appear in the shape of a blue-bottle fly, will terrify them. When, however, the fly is not too large, it is curious to remark how cunningly it endeavours to entrap its prey. For this purpose it raises its body, and lifting up and joining its two fore feet, it remains for hours motionless, in the attitude of one praying. When a mantis espies a fly, even at a distance, it never takes off its bright green eye from its destined booty. The slightest variation in the movement of the fly is met by a correspondent one of the eye, without moving the head of the mantis. If the fly should not approach sufficiently near, or if, on the contrary, it should betray any signs of removing altogether, the mantis drags its body so cautiously towards its prey as to be almost imperceptible to the observer; it then stretches itself as near as possible to the fly, without absolutely shifting its place; and when it has approached sufficiently near, the long claws, hitherto raised and folded up, are thrown upon the victim with the rapidity of lightning. Ræsel asserts, that the mantis will hook up a fly at the distance of four inches. The insect thus caught is held carefully by the mantis, until it mangles and devours its

prey, limb by limb. Having finished its repast, the mantis cleans its claw, feelers, and head, with the greatest apparent care, and then sets forth in quest of fresh booty. Roesel says that a male mantis will eat four, and a female six flies, daily. (The figure in vol. ii. p. 40, represents the mantis devouring its prey.)

The Hottentots consider the species which is found in South Africa an insect of good omen; especially if one should, by chance, alight upon them.

There is another insect which belongs to a tribe very analogous to the last, but whose habits and manners are totally different. It has a great similarity to a leaf. This opinion is also entertained by the Indians, who believe that these insects grow on the trees like leaves; and that, when they have arrived at maturity, they loosen themselves and fly away. It has also caused Messrs. Kirby and Spence to observe," To such perfection, indeed, has nature in them carried her mimetic arts, that you would declare, upon beholding some insects, that they had robbed the trees of their leaves to form for themselves artificial wings, so exactly do they resemble them in their form, substance, and vascular structure; some representing green leaves, and others those that are dried and withered; nay, sometimes this mimicry is so exquisite, that you would mistake the whole insect for a portion of the branching spray of a tree."

There are also some other species, which are wingless, and therefore called walking-sticks. Throughout their metamorphoses these are stated to be more especially found only in the colder latitudes, while the winged species inhabit only the warmer parts of the world. They also bear great likeness to branches of trees, which induced one of the former mentioned authors to say, "I have one from Brazil, eight inches long, that, unless it was seen to move, could scarcely be conceived to be anything else than a small branch with its spray; the legs, as well as the head, having their little snags and knobs, so that no imitation can be more perfect."

Their habits have been stated to differ from those of the former tribe. These insects live on the trees, on the leaves of which they feed by night; they are very unsocial in their mode of life, being rarely found more than two in company; during the day they are found lying close