States, or foreign nations. Our bread and provison staples are so varied that, in the ordinary course of providence, seasons of scarcity must be less frequent here than in almost any other part of the whole earth; and, owing to these and other causes we shall not be liable to the frequent and severe pecuniary revulsions that occur in countries where a large portion of the inhabitants subsist on the food, and labor on the raw material, produced in distant lands. Nor is the growth of this region less interesting in a social and national point of view: the development of the centre will constitute a social barrier between the North and South, neutralize their prejudices, and serve to hold in check the efforts of each to control and give direction to the policy of the Nation. Genius, talent and learning will be naturally attracted to the centre; because here they can exert a greater degree of influence upon the minds of their contemporaries. And here will congregate the arts which embelish and refine, as well as those calculated to produce wealth and comfort and finally, whether for good or evil, the central States will not only give form and tone to our national character but control the destiny of modern civilization. This is no chimera. Man, in connection with this subject, is to be regarded as the offspring of nature; and, resist her influences as he may, she still asserts her prerogative and impresses upon her children of different climes, distinctive forms and colors, indicating the region of their origin; and harmonizes their mental and moral natures-their tastes and desires-with the physical condition of the country they inhabit. The correctness of these conclusions is sustained by the history of civilized man, from the earliest ages to the present day; and however reluctant the more northern and southern States may be to assent to these views, we are persuaded that every intelligent and well informed individual will recognize their conformity with the laws of nature and the active influences that mould the character and control the destiny of man in every state of his social existence. The history of the European race in Missouri is embraced in a period scarcely exceeding the life of one individual. In 1820 the State contained but 66,586 inhabitants; in 1850 the population had increased to 682,907. An although her progress has not been equal to that of some of the other new States, yet, when we take into consideration the effects of those causes which have been noticed as retarding her growth, and the accelerated increase which has taken place within a few years past, we find strong reasons in support of the opinion that her future career will be unrivalled by any other State in the Union. It may be admitted that Illinois contains a larger quantity of fertile soil, in proportion to its area, and that in a commercial point of view its location is not less favorable; but the vast mineral resources of Missouri constitute an element of wealth which, in connection with her agricultural capacity, will in time place her the first on the list of American States. For it must be remembered that the wealth drawn from the mines, so far from diminishing her agricultural capacity and profits, is calculated to increase both, by affording a home market for a greater variety of products. The causes which hindered the growth of Missouri in times past are gradually disappearing; and others calculated to promote its progress, are beginning to operate with manifest efficiency. As evidence that a decided change is already going on, we notice that the increase of population for the two years ending in 1850, was 93,936, being 16,902 more than the increase of the four years ending in 1848, and we learn through the public Journals from different parts of the State that the emigration this season exceeds that of any previous year. Our railroad projects, if prosecuted, will greatly accelerate the settlement of the districts through which they are located; and if nothing should occur to check the present tide of foreign emigration, it may be regarded as a reasonable estimate to set down the population of Missouri at one million and a half in eighteen hundred and sixty; but that would give us only about twenty inhabitants to the square mile, scarcely a tithe of the number that she is capable of supporting in a comfortable condition. With a population as dense as that of Massachusetts, Missouri would contain about 10,000,0000 inhabitants, and we hazard the prediction that even a greater number will be attained in the lifetime of many now in existence. We have taken this hasty glance at the present condition and future destiny of Missouri, not in a spirit of boasting, but for the purpose of suggesting to the minds of our citizens a profitable train of reflection. The youth who is about to enter upon the serious business of life, should contemplate the effects which will be likely to flow from the mighty changes we have indicated, and project his plans with reference to their occurrence. The time is propitious for laying the foundation of his fortunes; and by the exercise of a reasonable degree of industry and economy, if his schemes of life be well digested, the current of events will bear him on to the attainment of all that he can reasonably desire. The man of riper years who is looking forward to the education and establishment of his children, may profit by recurring to these views: he should bear in mind that his offspring are destined to act their parts in a community widely differing in its condition from that to which he himself has been accustomed; and should study to prepare them for that state of society in which they are destined to act as members. The vision of the political economist, who aims to give direction to the varied pursuits of mankind, must continually embrace the future; or the changes going on will falsify his doctrines even before they are promulgated. He must study profoundly the resources of the next generation, as well as the wants and conveniences of the present; for the purpose of judging how the burthens incident to social progress may be distributed, and so imposed that each shall be made to bear their just proportions. For, although praiseworthy, yet, it would be an unreasonable sacrifice on the part of our present population to exhaust their means in making improvements for the enjoyment of the five or, perhaps, ten million inhabitants of the next generation, without transmitting a portion of the burthen with the benefits. This is a question upon which the progress of improvements in Missouri must, in a good degree, depend for some years to come; and it may be profitable to give it a passing consideration in connection with our subject. We are aware that a very respectable and prudent class of men hold the doctrine that neither individuals nor governments should incur an obligation with a view to its being discharged by their successors. This may be a sound maxim in countries whose resources are fully developed, and where the population has reached its maximum; but cannot be regarded as applicable to a state in the condition of Missouri. Let us take the case of our projected railroads as an instance. Any attempt to construct them by means raised immediately from our citizens would be perfectly vain; nor is it probable that the time will arrive during the existence of the present generation when these works would be undertaken upon this principle. And if we suppose the next generation, convinced of the importance of the work, should undertake its accomplishment, they would be compelled to pay the entire cost: and would consequently be in no better condition than if we had done the work entirely on their credit, provided we pay the accruing interest, Then it would seem to follow that whatever amount we may pay towards the construction of permanent works, whether it be five, ten, or fifty per cent of their cost, is so much bestowed upon those who succeed us. But in Missouri it would not be the descendants of our own citizens only that would enjoy the benefits of their labor and enterprise; but emigrants from other States and foreign countries would come in for much the larger share. Upon the principle of dividing the burthen of making permanent improvements between the present population and that which we may reasonably expect to have twenty years hence, it is in our power to carry out a thorough system of internal improvements with complete success, provided due regard is had to the amount that may be invested without materially affecting the ordinary pursuits of the community. But after all that may be said, the burthen of our successors is only contingent; for in case the value of the property created remains equal to its cost, they will be fully indemnified for the discharge of the obligations which may become due in their time. We have made this digression in view of the question which is being discussed in many counties in our State touching the policy of subscribing for stock in works of public improvement. We have considered the subject in all its aspects, and feel persuaded that no other method yet devised for raising the means of constructing public works, is more safe to the community; nor, in a social point of view, more just in its operations than county subscriptions. By this means the property of every individual is brought to bear upon social objects; and the selfish speculator on the enterprise and public spirit of his neighbor is made to impart something for the benefits which he derives from public improve ments. We are pleased to learn that county bonds are beginning to be favorably regarded by capitalists, as a safe mode of investment, and should their credit be sustained by the punctual payment of interest, they are likely to become one of the most efficient social agents that has yet been discovered. In reference to the future population and wealth of Missouri, we have said she was destined to occupy the first place in the list of American States; but it will depend mainly on the present generation whether her moral grandeur shall correspond with her wealth and numbers. The privilege of giving direction to the social institutions, and tone to the moral character of the millions who are to succed us, cannot be too highly appreciated by every citizen of Missouri. The foundations of the social and moral institutions of this mighty State are to be laid by us of the present generation; and where is the individual so regardless of the future glory of his State, and the approbation of his race as not to desire that his name should be recorded as a coadjutor in this great work? Improvements in the moral and social condition of a people are of all human undertakings, deemed practicable, the most difficult. A slight error tolerated, or perhaps unperceived, in the beginning takes deep root, and gaining strength with time, becomes so interwoven with the social fabric that its entire cradication defies every human effort. Hence we should aim to exclude from all our institutions every vicious principle, and transmit them, if possible, to our successors free from every vice that may tend to corrupt and destroy them. And let us continually bear in mind that our duties are commensurate with the privileges we enjoy; and, that we shall incur the just censure of mankind and the displeasure of the Creator if we neglect to improve the talents committed to our keeping. ARTICLE II. CHEVALIER CLAUSSEN'S IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRE- From the London Mechanics' Magazine. We have now the pleasure (exclusively we believe) of laying before our readers the specification at length of the important improvements in the preparation of flax, by Chavalier Claussen, which have recently attracted so large a space of public attention, and were emphatically referred to by Sir James Graham in the Free Trade Debate in the House of Commons (Feb. 13), as giving promise of a new career of prosperity to both the farmers and manufacturers of this country. Sir James had been present the day before, at a Meeting of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, when a long and interesting paper on the subject, by Chevalier Claussen, was read, but which did not enter into any of the details of the new processes by which the improvements in question are effected. The paper, after treating, first, of the reasons in favour of an extended cultivation of flax and hemp in the United Kingdom of which the chief are, the relief it would afford to the agricultural interest, the deficiency of the existing supply of cotton, and our dependence for even that limited supply on foreign countries-then proceeded to show the suitableness of our climate and soil to the growth of these plants, and the large profits which the landowner and farmer might fairly anticipate from an application of their industry in this direction. The existing processes were next discussed: and as a knowledge of these is very necessary to a clear comprehension of the value of the improvements which Chevalier Claussen has introduced, we extract the following particulars from this part of his paper: The Under the system of preparing the flax, hitherto followed, four modes of steeping or "retting" the plants are resorted to. first consists of the plan of dew retting, or allowing the flax to remain exposed on grass land for a considerable number of days. exposed to the action of the rain, dews, and atmosphere. The plan, however, is one which, from its obvious inconveniences, is not calculated to meet with general approval in the present advanced state of agriculture, and is indeed very rarely adopted. Probably the best mode of steeping the flax is that of placing it in running streams, according to the mode adopted in Courtrai, the principal flax-growing district in Belgium. The flax so prepared generally realises a much higher price than any other de, scription of flax. There are, however, certain peculiarities in the waters of the river Lys which makes it admirably adapted for |