66 drink, so these letters are thrown out to ascertain, whether you, friend, have any mental appetite for such food. Should they suit your taste, five chances to one, another parcel of the same series, relating to the further west, will follow these. But the author expects no such thing. The balance of the manuscript is rolled up, and packed away, in a tin box, there to remain incog-how long? forever? Perhaps not. Who can say, that it will not be read and lauded, a thousand lustrums hence? Who knows but the hidden fires of Vesuvius, or Mouna Kea, or Cotopaxi, are, at this moment, forming a subterranean passage to our "Federal City?" Who knows but Capitol Hill" will, one day, become the crater of a physical, instead of a political volcano, and that the very spot, on which the Temple of Legislation nor rears its bold and beautiful front, will send forth torrents of molten rock, to deluge the city, and even the "White House," mountain high, with floods of red hot lava? Who knows but Washington, the "city of magnificent distances," will be a desolation, a literal "mer de glace," a seat of solitude, a place of owls and snakes, through the long period of a Platonic year, or twenty-five thousand of our puny years? Who knows but some future vine dresser, or, more probably, some Maryland tobacco grower, will, while sinking a well in the solid lava, strike on one of the splendid pillars of breccia marble, which now adorn the chamber of confusion, or on the bust of Marshall or Madison? The The marvelous incident will be announced. The report flies on the wings of the wind, "that the ancient, long lost city of Washington has been discovered." The nations, which will then be, will all be agog to learn what works of art, what historic lore, what riches lie here entombed. literati, and the artists, from beyond the Rocky mountains will be here. Legislators from the new Republics of Kamtschatka and Patagonia will be here, in quest of wisdom from the records of their long extinct sister. Hither will come a balloon, driven by lightning, from the Sandwich Islands, and another from the refined city of Tombuctoo, filled with swarthy virtuosos, and with money-seekers, eager to lay hands on the "forty millions in the vaults of the Treasury," an account of which they will have read in ancient history. Some future Napoleon sets his troops to the work of excavation. All eyes watch their operations. Every object thrown out is closely examined. Numberless articles, which produce staring are disclosed. A pick-axe strikes the black statue of Jefferson. It is carried off, and converted to its proper use-into kitchen stoves. Next come forth the portraits of Washington and La Fayette, uninjured and bright, not having even the smell of fire. They are carefully preserved for other generations to gaze at, and admire, and worship, as demigods. A crow-bar sinks into a chamber of documents, which are so crisped, and yielding, that it goes through them, and falls into the room below, breaking many brandy bottles. The excavators now commence laying open the broad Pennsylvania avenue, where they find a motley mass of dead bodies, long strings of hackney coaches, pastry-shops, whose shelves are covered with charred cakes older than the loaf from Pompeii, now in the Museo Barbonico at Naples-billiard tables, champagne bottles, ten-pin-alleys, card-rooms, &c. &c. all revelators of the doings of other days. At length the workmen reach the Treasury Building, furnished with long rakes, with which they expect to draw out of the dark vault, bushels of dollars and eagles. An opening is made. A rake is let down. It scrapes, and scrapes, and scrapes, but nothing rattles. The wielder, wearied and vexed, draws out the instrument, and finds on one of its teeth a mouldy bundle of Treasury notes, without signature. The diggers next turn their attention to other streets, and at length, in the drawer of a case of minerals in C street, they come across the little round tin box. It is opened. Its contents are taken out, and handled with all the caution, with which an Italian antiquary unrolls a papyrus manuscript. The work is every where announced, in glaring capitals, Letters from the West. The whole world reads it with devouring avidity, and extols it to the stars. It is copied and placed in every library in the land, as one of the best records of the men and deeds of old times. And who knows, but all this will yet be real, bone-fide history? Who knows, but the author himself will be present, an eye and ear-witness of this rather posthumous renown. Now, friend, will not this be "glory enough?" Exulting in the full anticipation of it all, he bids you a long farewell. WASHINGTON, APRIL 24, 1840. CONTENTS OF LETTERS 1 LETTER II. Chrysoberyl-Mode of obtaining it-Albite-Talc, LETTER III. Middletown-China-Stone quarry-Feldspar, its uses- LETTER IV. Westfield-Bituminous Shale-Bird tracks in Sandstone LETTER V. Weathersfield-The place of onions-Its gardens-Hart- LETTER VI. Bellows Falls-Telegraph stage-Bridge-Village; scen- LETTER VII. Wavellite-Plumbago-Granite-Its numerous applica- LETTER VIII. Plymouth-Its Great Cave-Black river-Marble, of a LETTER X. New Hampshire-Its soil-Character of its inhabitants- 33 CONTENTS OF LETTERS FROM THE WEST. LETTER I. Mode of travelling-Vineyard-An old tavern-keeper- Gettysburg-Theological Seminary-College-Carriage LETTER II. Cove mountain-Temperance tavern-Simplicity--Vul- gar dejeuner-Caoutchouc mantle-Bedford-Junietta river-Napier-Sunday-Suffering pedestrians-Iron- hearted landlord-Patient wife-Alleghany mountain- LETTER III. Pittsburg-Smoke-Fort Pitt-Rapid settlement-Busy workshop-Penitentiary-Water Works-Professional LETTER IV. Wretched turnpike-The half-way-house-Canonsburg— Washington-National road, an honor to the Nation and LETTER VI. Enter the State of Ohio-Ferryboat, propelled by the force of the current-An ingenious contrivance--St. Clairsville-Sunday-Rev. Mr. Laird-A faithful guide, 59 LETTER VII. Face of the country-Productions-Italian cattle-Set- tlers from New England--Yankeeisms--No pine timber— Cambridge-Rich farmers-Domestic industry, LETTER VIII. Zanesville-Population--Rev. Mr. S.-Judge Putnam -The Muskingum river, a lovely stream-Falls-Water power-Public edifices--Mr. B.-Putnam Hill-Coal formations--Curious fossils--Cannel Coal in Ohio- LETTER IX. Uniontown-Porter's Inn--The hostess and her daughter |