CHARLESTON, S. C. THE frontispiece of this number of the Family Magazine, presents to our readers a view of the city of Charleston. The The population of Charleston, including the suburbs, is probably 40,000. Of foreigners, the French form a considerable proportion, but Charleston 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. 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 of state supremacy is proverbial, should retain the 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. 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. The publick and private edifices of Charleston are not remarkable for architectural elegance, but Agriculture, which has given to the South, its are, for the most part, plain and substantial buildings. chief influence and importance, has hitherto been the The burnt district, the theatre of a ruinous and ex-most reputable occupation of the wealthy, but, in tensive fire which happened about a year ago, is accommodation to circumstances and the spirit of sold out to purchasers upon the condition that hand- the times, many of the most distinguished citizens some 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. 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 Cincinnati railroad, (the most wonderful project of valuable city libraries in the Union. The Mechanthe age, and which is now in progress,) for the West also. In the course of ten or fifteen years, Charleston will, in all human probability, be one of the most thriving and important commercial emporiums in the whole Union. It may not outstrip New Orleans, situated at the mouth of the Mississippi and which has peculiar advantages, but it will unquestionably be the formidable rival of that flourishing city. icks' institute or lyceum is an association for the diffusion of popular and useful knowledge, and has a library of several thousand volumes. The Banking institutions of the city are numerous, and, for the facilities of trade, are placed upon the most liberal footing. There are three daily and tri-weekly newspapers published, "the Courier," "the Mercury," and "the Patriot," and one monthly magazine entitled, "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 POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, IN 1836. part from the clearing of the forests in the neighbouring 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 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. 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 follows: Maine, the northernmost, Aggregate of the middle states, members; the orphan asylum for the instruction and Indians, 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 The entire population within the limits of the United States, Indians included, amounts, therefore, to sixteen millions, six hundred and eighty thousand souls. inch in diameter, and always directed upward. The seeds are ripe in autumn, and if permitted to hang late will fall apart and scatter themselves. The wood of the silver-fir is light and slightly resinous, and the heart is yellowish. It is sometimes used for the staves of casks for packing fish; but for this purpose many other kinds of wood are preferred. The resin of the pines is extracted by means of incisions in the body of the tree, at which THE coldest regions of North America are the native country of this species of spruce. In the United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, it is called Silver-Fir, Fir-Balsam, and Balsam of Gilead. It does not constitute masses of woods, but is disseminated, in a greater or less abundance, among the hemlock and black spruces. Farther south it is found only on the summit of the Alleganies, and 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 best in a moist sandy loam. Its height rarely exceeds forty feet, with a diameter of twelve or fifteen inches. The trunk tapers from a foot in diameter at the surface of the ground to seven or eight inches, at the height of six feet. When standing alone, and developing itself naturally, its branches, which are numerous and thickly garnished with leaves, diminish in length in proportion to their height, and form a pyramid of perfect regularity. The bark is smooth and delicate. The leaves are six or eight lines long, and are inserted singly on the sides and on the top of the branches; they are narrow, rigid and flat, of a bright green above and a silvery white beneath; whence probably is derived the name of the tree. It flowers in May, and is followed by cones of a fragrant odour, which are nearly cylindrical, four or five inches long, an sap vessels of the alburnum. In the silver-fir this substance is naturally deposited in vesicles on the trunk and limbs, and is collected by bursting these tumours and receiving their contents in appropriate vessels. This resin is sold in Europe and the United States under the name of balm of Gilead, though every body knows that the true balm of Gilead is produced by the Amyris gileadensis, a very different vegetable and a native of Asia; perhaps the name has been borrowed in consequence of some resemblance between the substances in taste and smell. The fresh turpentine is a greenish transparent fluid of an acrid penetrating taste; given inconsiderately it produces heat in the bladder, and applied to wounds it causes inflammation and acute pains. It has been highly celebrated in England, and is recommended in certain stages of the pulmonary consumption. Brown. THE RUNAWAY. NEVER shall I forget the impression made on my mind by the rencontre which forms the subject of this article, and I even doubt if the relation of it will not excite in the mind of my reader emotions of varied character. Late in the afternoon of one of those sultry days which render the atmosphere of the Louisiana swamps pregnant with baneful effluvia, I directed my course towards my distant home, laden with a pack consisting of five or six wood-ibises, and a heavy gun, the weight of which even in those days when my natural powers were unimpaired, prevented me from moving with much speed. Reaching the banks of a miry bayou, only a few yards in breadth, but of which I could not ascertain the depth, on account of the muddiness of its waters, I thought it might be dangerous to wade through it with my burden; for which reason, throwing to the opposite side each of my heavy birds in succession, together with my gun, powder-flask, and shot-bag, and drawing my hunting-knife from its scabbard, to defend myself, if need should be, against alligators, I entered the water followed by my faithful dog. As I advanced carefully and slowly, Plato" swam around me, enjoying the refreshing influence of the liquid element that cooled his fatigued and heated frame. The water deepened, as did the mire of its bed; but with a stroke or two I gained the shore. morning, when I will carry your birds, if you choose, to the great road." The large intelligent eyes of the negro, the complacency of his manner, and the tones of his voice, I thought, invited me to venture; and as I felt that I was at least his equal, while, moreover, I had my dog to second me, I answered that I would follow him. He observed the emphasis laid on the last words, the meaning of which he seemed to understand so thoroughly, that, turning to me, he said, "There, master, take my butcher's knife, while I throw away the flint and priming from my gun!" Reader, I felt confounded: this was too much for me; I refused the knife, and told him to keep his piece ready, in case we might accidentally meet a cougar or bear. Generosity exists every where. The greatest monarch acknowledges its impulse, and all around him, from his lowliest menial to the proud nobles that encircle his throne, at times experience that overpowering sentiment. I offered to shake hands with the runaway. "Master," said he, "I beg you thanks," and with this he gave me a squeeze, that alike impressed me with the goodness of his heart, and his great physical strength. From that moment, we proceeded through the woods together. My dog smelt at him several times, but as he heard me speak in my usual tone of voice, he soon left us, and rambled around as long as my whistle was unused. As we proceeded, I observed that he was guiding me towards the setting of the sun, and quite contrary to my homeward course. I remarked this to him, when he with the greatest simplicity replied, "merely for our security." Scarcely had I stood erect on the opposite bank, when my dog ran to me, exhibiting marks of terrour, his eyes seeming ready to burst from their sockets, and his mouth grinning with the expression of hatred, while his feelings found vent in a stifled growl. Thinking that all this was produced by the scent of After trudging along for some distance, and crosa wolf or bear, I stooped to take up my gun, when sing several bayous, at all of which he threw his gun a stentorial voice commanded me to "stand still, or and knife to the opposite bank, and stood still until die!" Such a "qui vive" in these woods was as un-I had got over, we came to the borders of an imexpected as it was rare. I instantly raised and mense cane-brake, from which I had, on former occocked my gun; and although I did not yet per- casions, driven and killed several deer. We enterceive the individual who had thus issued so peremp-ed, as I had frequently done before, now erect, then tory a mandate, I felt determined to combat with him on "all fours." He regularly led the way, divided for the free passage of the grounds. Presently, a here and there the tangled stalks, and wherever we tall, firmly-built negro emerged from the bushy un- reached a fallen tree, assisted me in getting over it derwood, where, until that moment he must have with all possible care. I saw that he was a perfect been couched, and in a louder voice repeated his Indian in the knowledge of the woods, for he kept a injunction. Had I pressed the trigger, his life would direct course as precisely as any "red-skin" I ever have instantly terminated; but observing that the travelled with. All of a sudden he emitted a loud gun, which he aimed at my breast, was a wretched shriek, not unlike that of an owl, which so surprised rusty piece, from which fire could not readily be me, that I once more instantly levelled my gun. "No produced, I felt little fear, and therefore did not harm, master, I only give notice to my wife and judge it necessary to proceed at once to extremities.children that I am coming." A tremulous answer of I laid my gun at my side, tapped my dog quietly, and asked the man what he wanted. My forbearance, and the stranger's long habit of submission, produced the most powerful effect on his mind. "Master," said he, "I am a runaway. I might perhaps shoot you down; but God forbids it, for I feel just now as if I saw him ready to pass his judgment upon me for such a foul deed, and I ask mercy at your hands. For God's sake, do not kill me, master!"" And why," answered I," have you left your quarters, where certainly you must have fared better than in these unwholesome swamps?" "Master, my story is short, but a sorrowful one.My camp is close by, and as I know you cannot reach home this night, if you will follow me there, depend upon my honour you shall be safe until the the same nature gently echoed through the tree-tops. The runaway's lips separated with an expression of gentleness and delight, when his beautiful set of ivory teeth seemed to smile through the dusk of evening that was thickening around us. "Master," said he, " my wife, though black, is as beautiful to me as the president's wife is to him; she is my queen, and I look on our young ones as so many princes:-but you shall see them all, for here they are, thank God!" There, in the heart of the canebrake, I found a regular camp. A small fire was lighted, and on its embers lay broiling some large slices of venison. A lad nine or ten years old was blowing the ashes from some fine sweet potatoes. Various articles of household furniture were carefully disposed around, and a large pallet of bear and deer skins seemed to be the resting-place of the whole family. The wife raised not her eyes towards mine, and the little ones, three in number, retired into a corner, like so many discomforted rackoons: but the runaway, bold and apparently happy, spoke to them in such cheering words, that at once, one and all seemed to regard me as one sent by Providence to relieve them from all their troubles. My clothes were hung up by them to dry, and the negro asked if he might clean and grease my gun, which I permitted him to do, while the wife threw a large piece of deer's flesh to my dog, which the children were already caressing. Only think of my situation, reader! Here I was, ten miles at least from home, and four or five from the nearest plantation, in the camp of runaway slaves, and quite at their mercy. My eyes involuntarily followed their motions, but as I thought I perceived in them a strong desire to make me their confidant and friend, I gradually relinquished all suspicion. The venison and potatoes looked quite tempting, and by this time, I was in a condition to relish much less savoury fare; so, on being humbly asked to divide the viands before us, I partook of as hearty a meal as I had ever in my life. his camp. A few nights afterward, he gained the the abode of his wife, and the very next after their meeting, he led her away. The children one after another he succeeded in stealing, until at last the whole objects of his love were under his care. To provide for five individuals was no easy task, in those wilds, which, after the first notice was given of the wonderful disappearance of this extraordinary family, were daily ransacked by armed planters. Necessity, it is said, will bring the wolf from the forest. The runaway seems to have well understood the maxim, for under night, he approached his first master's plantation, where he had ever been treated with the greatest kindness. The houseservants knew him too well not to aid him to the best of their power, and at the approach of each morning, he returned to his camp with an ample supply of provisions. One day, while in search of wild fruits, he found a bear dead before the muzzle of a gun, that had been set for the purpose. Both articles, he carried to his home. His friends at the plantation managed to supply him with some ammunition, and in damp and cloudy days, he first ventured to hunt around his camp. Possessed of courage and activity, he gradually became more Supper over, the fire was completely extinguish-careless, and rambled farther in search of game. It ed, and a small lighted pine-knot placed in a hollowed calabash. Seeing that both the husband and wife were desirous of communicating something to me, I at once and fearlessly desired them to unburden their minds; when the runaway told me a tale of which the following is the substance:: was on one of these excursions, that I met him, and he assured me that the noise which I made in passing the bayou, had caused him to lose the chance of killing a fine deer, "although," said he, " 'my old musket misses fire sadly too often." The runaways, after disclosing their secret to me, About eighteen months before, a planter was re- both rose from their seat, with eyes full of tears. siding not very far off, having met with some loss-"Good master, for God's sake, do something for us es, was obliged to expose his slaves at a publick sale. The value of the negroes was well known, and on the appointed day, the auctioneer laid them out in small lots, or offered them singly, in the manner which he judged most advantageous to their owner. The runaway, who was well known as being the most valuable next to his wife, was put up by himself for sale, and brought an immoderate price. For his wife, who came next, and alone, eight hundred dollars were bidden and paid down. Then the children were exposed, and, on account of their parents, brought high prices. The rest of the slaves went off at rates corresponding to their qualifications. The runaway chanced to be purchased by the overseer of the plantation; the wife was bought by an individual residing about a hundred miles off, and the children went to different places along the river. The heart of the husband and father failed him under this dire calamity. For awhile he pined in deep sorrow under his new master; but having marked down in his memory the names of the different persons who had purchased each dear portion of his family, he feigned illness, if indeed he whose affections had been so grievously blasted, could be said to feign it, refrained from food for several days, and was little regarded by the overseer, who felt himself disappointed in what he had considered a bargain. and our children," they sobbed forth with one accord. Their little ones lay sound asleep in the fearlessness of their innocence. Who could have heard such a tale without emotion? I promised them my most cordial assistance. They both sat up that night to watch my repose, and I slept close to their urchins, as if on a bed of the softest down. Day broke so fair, so pure, and so gladdening, that I told them such heavenly appearances were ominous of good, and that I scarcely doubted of obtaining their full pardon. I desired them to take their children with them, and promised to accompany them to the plantation of their first master. They gladly obeyed. My ibises were hung around their camp, and, as a memento of my having been there, I noticed several trees, after which I bade adieu, perhaps for the last time, to that canebrake. We soon reached the plantation, the owner of which, with whom I was well acquainted, received me with all the generous kindness of a Louisiana planter. Ere an hour had elapsed, the runaway and his family were looked upon as his own. He afterward repurchased them from their owners, and treated them with his former kindness; so that they were rendered as happy as slaves generally are in that country, and continued to cherish that attachment to cach other which had led to their adventures. Since this event happened, it has, I have been informed, become illegal to separate slave-families without their consent. Audubon. On a stormy night, when the elements raged with all the fury of a hurricane, the poor negro made his escape, and, being well acquainted with PHILOSOPHY and RELIGION show themselves in all the neighbouring swamps, at once made direct-no instance so much as in the preserving our minds ly for the canebrake, in the centre of which I found firm and steady. |