SELECT POETRY. OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG. BY DOCTOR C. c. cox. Fling out our flag from the gallant mast, O'er the sea, like a mountain bird! For it breathes a charm in that tender light, While he looks on Peace, as she nestles bright It speaks to his heart of his mountain home, And he knows that his sons are free if they roam, Let it stay through the night on that lofty spire, They will hail its lights as kindred all, Should the thunder growl o'er the raging deep, And the lightning's wing flames bright, 'Mid the sabre stroke and the cannon smoke, It has waved since then as a holy shield And summoned full many a battle field And the speaker's heart would burn and bound While the voice poured out to the crowd around, It has spread its wing over peak and vale, It has folded its pinions in silent grief, For the death of the true and the brave- 'Mong the flags of the earth it floats to-day, And on be its flight! till from every strand It shall flutter as wild and free As it now looms out from our own gay land, Let it live till the last great day of time, Triumphant hang unfurled And when the fair earth shall no more be given For the home of its stars so bright, May they turn in love to their native Heaven, And dwell in eternal light! SIMILES ON A WIFE. A wife domestic, good and pure, A wife should be like echo true, Like a town-clock a wife should be, But not, like clocks, harangue so clear Young man, if these illusions strike She whom as bride you'd hail, Must be just like, and just unlike An Echo, Clock and Snail. THE SKATING SONG.. Away! away!-for the rosy light Gleams bright o'er the eastern hill; And the slumbering echoes shall startled awake, Away! away!-'tis a glorious morn, O'er the sleeping wave below. The golden beams which the day-god sends But the brightest smile that his godship lends, O, there's never a tone of music's own, And the slumbering echoes shall shouting awake, New Yorker. Old Scotia boasts her Macks and O's, SNOW. Brave Winter and I shall ever agree, A cheer for the snow-the drifting snow! I rejoice in it still, and love to see The ermine mantle on tower and tree. THE BRIDE. BY GEORGE LUNT, ESQ. They've decked her maiden loveliness In which she won my youthful heart; For oh, it brings those hours anew, When life was like a dream of joy, When she was all I thought her, true, And I, a happy, careless boy, And o'er her brow of radiant white, And clustered in her dark brown hair, Are gems of gold and pearly light, That shine like stars emblazoned there: But oh, more dear than gold or pearls Are those pale, withered token-flowers Which once adorned her glittering curls, And still recall those happier hours. THE RICHMOND COUNTY MIRROR: WEEKLY PAPER PRINTED ON STATEN ISLAND, DEVOTED TO SCIENCE, LITERATURE, & NEWS. THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. SELECT TALES. LOVE AND VANITY. BY THE HONORABLE AUGUSTA NORTON. Is human love the growth of human will 7" "It is very strange," said Caroline St. Clair, starting suddenly from her seat, and ppcing the room with hurried steps; "it is very strange I cannot learn to love the Lord Frederick Fitzmaurice; the perfection of every thing one could wish for, as every body says; handsome, rich, talented and amiable!—and it is equally strange, and alas! not less true, that I cannot help loving Charles Moray, whom nobody seems to think has any thing particular to recommend him. It is true, his strange manner is rather against him; but then, although he seems cold, and almost indifferent to other people, he is never so to me; and this, in my vain eyes, is just an additional reason for liking him. 44 "The sun shines bright when all's awake, On earth and o'er the deep; I like the moon which shines on me chance of being able to like him afterwards. Well, as it is your advice, I shall make the experiment," and Caroline rose to leave the room. "Nay, Caroline," interrupted Charles, "stay a little; would indeed be a fearful experiment, and one which I should not feel justified in recommending to any one, far less to you, in whom I feel so deeply interested. What I meant to say is that if you knew Lord Frederick better, you would probably like him better, and I was going to suggest that you ask a longer delay before finally deciding." tions fixed on another, look in my husband's face and So reasoned Caroline, the only child of Sir John and Lady St. Clair, and having arrived at this extraordinary conclusion, to the library she forthwith proceeded. She found Charles Moray reading, and laying her hand gently on his shoulder, apologised for interrupting his studies. "You never interrupt me, Caroline," he replied, "you know you never do; so sit down and tell me what you want." "Your advice, dear Charles; it is rather on a strange subject, but there is no other unprejudiced person whom I can apply to." My best advice you shall have; but do not be too sure that I am unprejudiced; for I fear the best of us are only so when we take no interest in the point in question; and this you know, Caroline, is not very like Caroline blushed slightly at the implied compliment, and seating herself in a window opposite, so that she could study his expression without herself being exposed to a like scrutiny, she began to state her case. Still, though they are much too indulgent to press it, I know my father and mother wish me to marry Lord Frederick, and that consideration ought to outweigh my wayward predilection for Charles. I also know that, could my proud father see his darling daughter's heart laid before him-did he but suspect the passion she is cherishing there-it would bring his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave: and this consideration ought-not only to make me hate that passion, but feel indifferent to its object: and yet," she continued, and she shook her head mournfully as she spoke, "I cannot subdue it; itly to be the case when you are my client." has gained a place in my very soul, too strong, my conscience tells me, for any other human affection to hold there, and I must submit to its control. Still my family need not fear,"-and unconsciously she walked more proudly through the room-" If Catharine St. Clair can- He listened with deep attention, nor could Caroline not make her father and mother happy by marrying Lord discover the slightest emotion which betrayed any thing Frederick, the object of their choice, she will not make beyond the brotherly regard he had always professed for them miserable by uniting herself to any one against their her, until she came to that part of the narrative which inclinations. No, no! mine alone be the misery, the touched on her own indifference: "And now, Charles," proper penalty of encouraging a love which my reason she concluded-"here is the puzzling part of the affair; tells me to be wrong. "But," she continued, after a I do not love Lord Frederick, I feel that I never can."pause, "my unhappiness will not be the only fault of When he heard this declaration, a dep flush of pleasure that encouragement; at least, if Charles loves me as I suffused his usually pale countenance, and as Caroline love him, he will be miserable too when he finds that cur caught the gratified expression which sparkled in his love is hopeless, and can only be indulged in at the ex- dark eyes, she felt almost certain he loved her. It was, pense of my father's curse; and to be the cause of mise- however, but for a moment he allowed his feelings to get ry to Charles is more than I could bear. Oh!" she pas- the better of him, for instantly resuming his former quisionately exclaimed throwing herself on a sofa, and bu- et manner, he replied to Caroline's repeated question as rying her face in her hands "better marry Lord Frede-te what it was best for her to do, with the most perfect rick than this! It may be still time to save Charles; he has never said he loves me—perhaps he does not; and if I were another's, his better principle would soon enable him to get over any little predilection he may now feel for me. Though I cannot love Lord Frederick, I could at least be a good wife. I think I know what constitutes that. I would endure every thing; in sickness I would watch over him, in sorrow sympathize with him, and if he were joyous, I would even try to smile with him; but then," and she shuddered as the idea came over her"should a thought of Charles steal across my mind, how I should hate myself! Oh, how could I, with my affec calmness. "Why, if you neither do love him, nor ever can, I should say that you ought not to accept of him; but I can scarce think it possible for any one to know Lord Frederick and not to like him. He is one of the most perfect characters I ever met with; and when you call to mind your father and mother's wish to see you settle, their strong prepossession in his favor, and how well he merits their high opinion, I should think you would not find it very difficult to comply with their wishes.” " "That would scarcely be honorable Charles," replied Caroline, "because I feel convinced time can make no alteration in my feelings toward him, and I respect myself and him too much to trifle with him. If I marry him it must be to study resignation to my fate, not with a prospect of bettering it; and therefore, if it is to be done, perhaps the sooner I begin my hard lesson, the easier I shall find it." There was a tone of melancholy in the voice in which Caroline uttered this last sentence which almost proved too much for Charles' philosophy. He longed to throw himself at her feet, and there breathe out the confession of a love he had felt for her for years-a love at least as ardent, as exclusive as her own, but he was so well aware Sir John would consider him no fit match for his beautiful daughter, that he had kept this secret of his heart locked up from every human ear, and now he felt was not the time to disclose it. "If," thought he, "of her own free will and accord she refuses Lord Frederick, I may then, with a quiet conscience, continue to love her, but if, from any hint of mine, she were induced to come to that determination, never again should I know what peace was. I know he is every way more worthy of her than I am, and Heaven forbid that my own selfish wish should ever interfere with the chance of her happiness." By thus reasoning with his better feelings, Charles was enabled to resist a temptation which had nearly proved too much for him; and upon so difficult a subject, he begged her to be guided by her own good sense. And is this the result?" she said, with a bitter smile, "is this the result of all your researches after that knowledge of the world on which you so much pride yourself, Charles? Had you spent those years you have devoted to the study of strangers in foreign lands, at home-you would at least have known more of its feelings and affections-you would perhaps have known that at this moment I am the creature in the least likely to be guided by my own good sense." 'Perhaps I might, Caroline," he replied in a tone of deeply wounded feeling, "but as it is, you must see my inability to speak on a subject I so little understand.— What indeed can a cold philosophising student of the outward customs of foreigners know of the inward feelings of the heart and home?” “And yet, thought Caroline, as a smile of triumph passed over her countenance, " never did I feel so well convinced of his knowledge of both as at this moment." And it was with a resolute step she left the library, and with a lightened heart she wrote a polite refusal to Lord Frederick. It is now time to say a little about Charles MorayFrom all which I think it would appear, Charles, He was the orphan son of an intimate friend of Sir John that you recommend me to marry him now, on the mere | St. Clair, whose ward he was, and to whose guardian We will not stop to follow Miss Vivian through the crooked path she thus marked out for herself: suffice it to say she had drawn her conclusions from but too intimate a knowledge of the human heart, and the accuracy and truth and accuracy of her calculations were but too well proved by the result. ship he had been committed when still a child. Sir John hurt by Caroline's reproachful manner, I will minister instantly took him to his own home, and ever since had to his vanity by a thousand little attentions, which, in acted the part of a parent toward him. He was posses-that hour of mortified affection, will be to him like sunsed of a small, though what is generally termed an inde- rise to the benighted traveller." pendent fortune, and was now on a visit of a few months to his guardian, previous to taking up his residence on his own estate in Scotland. He was aware of Lord Frederick's attachment to Caroline, and had been endeavoring, ever since his return from the continent, to school himself into seeing her become the wife of another with some degree of patience: but now that he had heard her declare her indifference to him, and knew from herself that she had refused him, he once more allowed himself to love her; and week after week stole on, leaving no trace behind except the record of their increased affection. Still, when Caroline did pause to think-ous, and though it was dreadfully selfish to steal him when, for a few moments, she awakened from the dream from dear, dear Caroline, still, if he would ride alongside Poor Caroline's ride was a sad one; there was the agwhich had taken such strong possession of her, she was of her horse she would feel secure. If they walked she onizing feeling of misplaced affection, of outraged confinot happy. Her conscience told her she had preferred was sure to feel fatigued almost immediately, and com- dence; and that still small voice which in her happier her own gratification to that of her indulgent parents, pelled to take the arm Charles was so polite as to offer.hours had only whispered blame for preferring her own that she was encouraging passion at the expense of prin- In the house it was the same thing: if she sung Charles happiness to that of her father and mother, had now ciple; and there was a certain indistinct anticipation of must take second: she was foolishly timid and could ne- increased into an accusation too loud for any sophism to retribution which would steal upon her in the silence of ver sing alone; if she played, he must turn the pages;- silence. Her brain was on fire, and giving the reins to the night, and send the blood mantling to her forehead, in short, he was forever by her side, and so well did she her horse, she sought, by bodily exertion, to calm the fe though there was no human eye there to witness it.- play her part, that, at first, he fancied that, without a ver which raged within; but it would not do; and checkAnd Charles, too, had his hours of reflection and self- great breach of politeness, he could not act otherwise.-ing Selim to a walk, she bent her head on his mane and accusation. It is strange how natural sophistry seems By degrees, however, his politeness assumed a much wept bitterly. to the mind of man, and how often, by its false reason- warmer character; he neglected Caroline almost entireing, we try to reconcile our consciences to what we well ly, and at last, much to his own surprise, found himself know to be wrong. But the still small voice cannot al- desperately in love with Miss Vivian. It is human naways be so silenced. and although Charles said to him-ture to feel neglect, and to resent it; and Caroline did self, and said truly, he had never tried to win Caroline's affections, and had never told her that he loved her, he still knew that he had won that confiding heart, and that latterly he had taken no pains to conceal how completely that love was returned. burned on his brow, she read the truth. Caroline was a creature of impulse, as we have seen; she was sensitive to a painful degree, too; but she was also proud; as the truth first flashed upon her, she thought she must have died upon the spot; there was a sickness of heart—an annihilation of all she cared about, of all which made life dear to her, which nearly struck her to the ground; but pride came to her aid, and fixing upon Charles a smile "more terrible in its reproachlessness than Gorgon hideousness," she said, with a quietness almost unBy an appearance of great helplessness and depend- natural, "I had forgotten to order my horse-will you ence upon Mr. Moray's assistance and support, which ring and do it for me?" And then, without giving him she knew would gratify his pride, and which she knew time to answer, she walked composedly out of the room, well how to assume, Nora soon managed to usurp almost and before Charles had time to collect his tempestuous the whole of his attention, If they rode, she was nerv-feelings, he saw her dash past the window on her beautiful pet, Sulim. sometimes feel mortified to see all the attention, once so vant. She walked into the drawing room one beautiful About this time a distant cousin of the St. Clairs paid them a visit. She was young, beautiful and accomplished; but though her manner seemed artless, and her heart warm, she was in fact, cold, worldly, selfish and vain. Caroline had not known Nora Vivian sufficiently long to find out her true character, and welcomed her Charles had promised to accompany her to the village to Clair Park with unaffected pleasure. Had she but a few miles off, to assist her in fixing on a stte for a cotknown-could she have anticipated the viper she was ta-tage Sir John was anxious to have built for an old serking to her bosom, how different would have been her greeting! Miss Vivian had had much intercourse with the world, and profited thereby; and she had not been long in the house with Charles and Caroline before she discovered the attachment that subsisted between them, and determined to interrupt the course of their innocent affection. This was the sole object of her actions by day and her thoughts by night; and for some time she could hardly conceal how much her vanity was mortified by the slow progress she made in her heartless schemes. Caroline was so confident in her own affection, so confiding in Charles', that no hint Nora could give, distinct or implied, ever gave her a moment's uneasiness; and then, though always polite, Charles' manner toward her was so cold, so distant, that she felt her very pride concerned in winning him from Caroline. "One smile from that piece of indifference," she said to herself one day, as she sat musing how she ought to proceed, "would be worth more in my eyes than the adulation of a multitude-but how to obtain it? I see I must alter my plans, and as I cannot rouse her suspicions, I must try and work upon his vanity. I will at tract to myself, by imperceptible degrees, and in a manner which no politc person can refuse, all those little attentions which are now so exclusively her own; she will feel this and resent it. The vanity of woman has bccome proverbial, but my experience proves that of man to be greater; thefore, while Charles Moray's pride is To this Nora instantly assented, but Charles made no reply, and upon Caroline turning towards him, she was surprised to see him standing irresolute in the middle of the room. She smiled confidently on him and again asked him if he was ready to accompany her. If to-morrow would do as well, Caroline," he replied with some confusion-"I should be delighted to escort you-but I have just now promised to Miss Vivian to stay at home and practice the duet we were trying over last night." "Strange," thought Caroline, "to prefer practising a duet with Nora to walking with me!" but adding aloud, "Very well, Charles, though it is too far for me to walk alone, I can very easily ride there," she turned and left the room. "And has it come to this!" she at last passionately exclaimed, as she slowly raised her head, and threw back the long, dark ringlets which clustered round her burning cheeks-" has it come to this, to tears? and does Caroline St. Clair weep because she could not make her passion yield to principle, and because a just and retributing God has now made the object of her idolatry the instrument of His vengeance? I know—” she continued, as she raised her tearful eyes to the clear smiling sky, "I know if I have inclined my heart to any evil way, Thou wilt not hear me—but now, now in this hour of agony, when I pray to thee for strength to tear that evil from my soul-Thou wilt not refuse thine aid unto thine offending but suffering child-Oh, give me the strength patiently to endure what I have but too well deserved. Enable me to veil from every eye, especially from his, the desolation he has caused; and do Thou enable me not only to endure, but to smile upon, misfortune, even as thine own clear sky smiles upon a world of wickedness." Thus did poor Caroline try to strengthen herself for the trial she felt awaiting her, but she had received a blow from which she never recovered, and although she struggled on, and even smiled on those around, hers was not the quiet smile of happiness; it was too bright-too like the lightning flash to speak of peace within; and those who were well versed in the mind's deep philosophy, might have traced its meteoric brightness home to the cloud from which it emanated; its brightness might have dazzled, but could not hide from them the darkness of its origin. Caroline's sole aim and object seemed now to be to conceal from all around her the grief that was destroying her. There were times, indeed, when she almost wished Charles knew the agony she endured, that something might bring home to his truant heart the blackness of Before she had proceeded many steps, she remembered his ingratitude; but she chased the wish from her heart, she had forgotten to order her horses, and returned to as something too lowering, too humbling, to gain admitthe drawing room to do so: she gently re-opened the tance there. "Never, never," she exclaimed, striking her door, and found Charles leaning over Nora at the piano, beating heart, "shall he see the havoc he has commithis arm, unforbidden, thrown resting around her waist.ted here; perhaps the time may come when a little exThey started at her approach, a cold shudder caine over Caroline, and scarcely believing she saw aright, she fixed her eyes on those of Charles-they sank beneath her searching glance, and in the conscious flush of guilt that perience will give him to feel how he has outraged the heart which trusted him, confided in him, loved him as no other woman will ever do again, but never shall he hear this from my reproaches. No, though the struggle a death which has already begun, I will be to him, in all appearance at least, just the same as I have always been." And Caroline acted up to her resolves with a firmness scarcely credible. She read to her father, drove out with her mother, rambled and rode with Nora and Charles as before; she omitted no duty, neglected no attention, and if she ever gave way to her feelings, it was in the silent solitude of her own chamber, or on the neck of her faithful Selim. It is strange how blind are those around us to the change from health to sickness, if it be but gradual!— How, day by day, the cheek may pale, the eye grow dim, the strength decay, and none remark the change! And so it was with Caroline-none saw her heart was breaking-none saw that she was dying, till she sunk exhausted beyond the chance of recovery. my heartless vanity has occasioned." He rang the bell, and gave orders for his instant departure, nor did he halt by night or by day until he reached his destination. How often, in the course of that journey did the thoughts of all that had passed come over him, till his heart burned and his brain maddened! How often did he vow that if Caroline were but spared, a life of devotion should prove the sincerity of his deep repentance, the fond devotedness of his once more doating heart. But vain were his vows, vain his repentance! He reached Clair Park on a beautiful autumn afternoon; the setting sunbeams fell redly on the oaks and elms which clothed the richly wooded park, already clad in all the varied hues of October; and glittered on the Gothic windows of the old hall in waving masses of burnished gold. the leaves caused her to look up; one glance told her that the figure she saw in the conservatory was Charles, and before she had time or strength to forbid his approach, he was beside her. "Caroline," he exclaimed, as he took her wan hand in his; "can you forgive me? can you pardon, angel as you are, the wretch who has sacrificed your happiness and his own to a vanity as weak as it was heartless?" It was some moments before Caroline was able to reply. A bright flush flitted over her face, then settled into one deep red hectic spot on one cheek, while all the rest of her countenance was of a marble whiteness-at last she spoke, and it was with a calmness which seemed to herself almost unaccountable, and with which Heaven alone could have inspired her. "Charles," she said, "I have long since forgiven you, it would ill have become one standing so much in need All looked so like what he had often seen it before, of forgiveness from Heaven, to withhold it from you on that Charles tried to persuade himself his fears were ex-earth; but oh! for the sake of that peace of mind without which life is but a living death, never yield again to the unrestrained influence of those passions which have destroyed us both. In me, Charles, behold an example of their desolating effects; and if ever again you feel your principles in danger of yielding to these temptations, oh! let this my dying warning, sound to you like a voice from the tomb, and arouse you in time to save you! Too blest are my sufferings if they can save from a single pang one still too dear!" up a steep part of the approach, the low moaning of the A beam of pleasure passed over Sir John St. Clair's Several months previous to this, Nora left Clair Park, and was very soon followed by the deluded Charles, who went to lay his heart, his fortune and his fate at her ti-aggerated; but as the post-boy slowly walked his horses ny feet. She started with well-feigned surprise, and then having begged of him to rise, with a politeness that chilled him, she proceeded with the utmost coolness to inform him that his case was hopeless; that she had been engaged for some time before she had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and that she was to be married to his fortunate rival next week. This was retribution; but his cup was not yet full. Nora saw the wound she had inflicted, and with a heartlessness which but too well accorded with the rest of her behaviour, she determined to probe still more deeply, and concluded her reply to Charles by saying she never could sufficiently express her regret at the mistake which had occurred, but that really she could not understand how it had arisen, for that, as far as she herself was concerned, she could honestly declare her regard for Mr. Moray had never been anything beyond that friendship which their country intimacy seemed to her completely to justify, but which she would not have suffered herself to indulge in, had she not seen or fancied she saw an attachment subsisting between himself and Caroline St. Clair, so strong as to defy every danger. Charles' eyes were now opened, but it was too late, and he hurried to the Continent to brood over that disappointment which he felt he but too well deserved.— One day, as he sat musing in his room and gazing listlessly on the lake of Geneva, which lay stretched in all its beauty before him, his servant brought to him a let ter. "From home, sir," said he, as he laid it on a table and left the apartment. The word 'home' sounded strangely in Charles' ear. "Bless you! Caroline, a thousand times," faltered the repentant Charles, "but you must live-you must not die, my Caroline! you must live to comfort your father and mother; to chcer me on my difficult course;' " and he gazed intently on her face. Gently and with many fears did Lady St. Clair com- "Heaven will do both, Charles," she replied; "that municate this piece of intelligence to her dying daugh-heaven which enables me to feel my hand in yours, to ter, for during anxious watchings of many a long night know once more that you love me, and yet to say, 'I and day something like a suspicion of the truth had am content to die."" And a smile, happy, triumphant, dawned upon her. But, contrary to her expectation, pure as that heaven she spoke of, settled on her dying Caroline seemed quite pleased to hear that Charles was countenance. in the house. Charles gazed on her for some minutes in silence, fear"He will comfort you, mother, when I am gone," she ful to interrupt a tranquility so beautiful; but the coldsaid, "thank God, I can now die tranquilly!" ness of the hand he held in his alarmed him, and he rose from his knee beside her, saying he would shut the door, as the evening was chill. "He is anxious to see you, Caroline; may I tell him to come?" asked Lady St. Clair. The hectic flush, which a moment before had burned on Caroline's cheek, "The cold will not hurt me now, Charles," she faintdied suddenly away when she heard her mother's ques-ly replied; he felt his hand convulsively grasped by hers, tion, and a deadly paleness overspread her countenance he heard one short, deep sigh, and he saw she was no as her head fell back on the sofa on which she was reclining; at last she slowly raised it again, and pressing her forehead against her mother's hand, who was leaning alarmedly over her, she said faintly— "See him! Oh no!-I have loved him too much, mo "I have no home now," he mentally exclaimed, as ther-he would again estrange my thoughts from that he took the letter up. "I once had a home, and friends, but now! 1 am an isolated being with none to care for me, not worthy of being cared about." He opened the letter with a degree of apathy which seemed strange in one so young. It was from his guardian, Sir John St. Clair, informing him, in all the agony of a fond father's heart, of Caroline's illness. "Come to us, dear Charles,"—the broken-hearted old man concluded;-"come to us in this-our night of gloom; we are indeed in need of a true friend, and no where, I am sure, could we find so sincere a one as yourself." This was indeed a severe blow to Charles; he, in a manner the murderer of Caroline, to be written to by her father in this fond, confiding manner!-it was too much for human nature to bear. "I will at least go," he exclaimed, in the tortures of a self-accusing conscience, "and view the wretchedness heaven where I hope so soon to be. I am glad he has "You shall not, then, my beloved child," replied La- "Yes, mother," interrupted Caroline, with a faint smile, “tell him that to-morrow he may see me," and Lady St. Clair left the room. Yes, to-morrow," continued Caroline, “he may indeed see me, for I shall not be able to see him thento-morrow, I feel, I shall be beyond the reach of temptation." The room in which Caroline was, had always been her favorite sitting-room; it opened into a convervatory, which again opened into some beautifully-kept pleasure grounds; and in consequence of an occasional difficulty of breathing by which Caroline was annoyed, both of these doors were now open. A rustling sound among more. He saw by the smile which still illuminated her countenance, that her once erring but now purified spirit had fled to its native home-but he felt his vanity had killed the only thing he ever truly loved on earth. LACONICS. It is the labor of a small, but very industrious worm, that by degrees produces those coral rocks, whereon the proudest vessel finds a breaker and a grave; and, in a similar manner, it is by the silent, ceaseless operation of moral principles, that a nation is transformed, for better or for worse. Scholars we would have, gentlemen we would have, but we would have Christians also. Condemn not in others what seem to be faults, until you are sure you are right yourself. Flatter no man to gain his favor; for by so doing you add falsehood to hypocrisy, and lay yourself under an obligation to yield him respect which you cannot yield, and which he does not merit. A rich man is a slave to his feelings-a poor man to his wants. Grief, after all, is very similar to smoking in a damp country-what was at first a necessity, becomes afterwards an indulgence, The Mirror. FRANCIS L. HAGADORN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. The Mirror has been well defined are sought for by the reading community, who like to have the news sent up hot, with their coffee. houses of the legislature should severally nominate a candidate before going into joint meeting. In the Assembly, N. P. Tallmadge received 77 votes and Addison The ease with which daily news can be furnished Gardiner 42. But in the Senate Mr. Tallmadge was from the grand news market, operates very much against nominated by thirteen, but the eighteen other Senators; the circulation of a weekly paper located so near the cibeing all of one party, could not agree on a candidate.ty. Few persons will read a weekly journal who can NEW BRIGHTON, N. Y. FEBRUARY 16, 1839. State of N. York is to do without a U. S. Senator! Poor fellows! So the Senate cannot nominate, and the have access to a daily, unless it be a paper devoted to some favorite subject, or remarkable for the variety or utility of its articles. Many patronise your paper from local pride only, and not for its intrinsic value. You will naturally ask, "how shall I conduct my paper to avoid the rock that others split on, and make it sought for" I will give you my opinion frankly-it will cost you nothing, and if it is of any use to you it is at your service. RICHMOND COLLEGE. Ir will be learnt with pleasure by the majority of our citizens that this creditable institution is already doing well, and rapidly progressing to its completion. The charter secures to this College full University powers, and it is intended to make a judicious use of all these in the briefest possible time after sufficient funds are raised to secure permanency to the enterprise, and to warrant a final settlement. The New Brighton Association was among the first to endow the institution; and the hand some donation of fifty lots of land upon Bard's Hill (the highest eminence on the island) has been followed up by several auxilliary contributions in funds. The high standing of the many literary gentlemen who compose the present Board of Trustees is sufficient to warrant success in any enterprise wherein they should engage; and when it is added that the personal wealth of the members of the Board is sufficient to complete twenty colleges if necessary, we think little doubt can remain as to the ultimate success of the project. The erection of Richmond College is drawing toward Staten Island a patronage from many distant parts of the Union, and must necessarily tend to gain a new notoriety for this charming little spot of earth. The editors of the several gazettes of New York are lending their generous influence, and the pervading good feeling extended by kindred and well established institutions of the city, no doubt contributes to the alacrity with which the good work progresses. MISSISSIPPI.—The editor of the Vicksburg Sentinel, (V. B.) writing from Jackson, where the Legislature is in session, says "The whigs held a caucus or meeting last night, and resolved to vote for Mr. Henderson as U. S. Senator. They say they can elect him by a majority of three, and I suppose they will do so." Henderson is elected by a majority of five. DELAWARE. In this State all seems settled except First, your paper is too dear: (no country paper ought fixing the time and place of the election, which the law to be over two dollars, and that always paid in advance. of the State requires to be designated during "the Jan- It is made so by the great labor bestowed on it to render uary term," and inasmuch as that term has passed, the it neat and elegant in its typographical appearance, and Delaware Gazette thinks that an election cannot take and as there is not one person in fifty who binds his paplace until next year. One of the Senators cited the in-pers, this labor is almost entirely thrown away, which, if stance of Kenzy Johns, who was appointed by the gov- expended on more common and a larger paper, with a ernor in 1794, in consequence of a like difficulty, and re- greater variety of matter, would render it much more de fused a seat by the U. States Senate. This precedent seems to clear the whole ground, and make it apparent that the minority must rule the state of Delaware for this year at least. MARYLAND. The legislature of Maryland, on the MICHIGAN.—The term of Mr. Senator Lyon expires WASHINGTON'S BIRTH DAY.-R. James, the excellent caterer of Nautilus Hall, proposes to lay a public supper table on the evening of the 22d inst; around which we expect to see assembled the patriotism and chivalry of our little island. sirable. Second-Yours is a neutral paper. This, I hold, is wrong, for no man should be neutral in a country like ours. Politics must occupy the attention of every man now, more or less; hence you should have a political department, and give us a dish, if only on first principles, or extracts from works on political economy; or if you care not to lift the battle axe in defence of either side, then lash both, spare not the rod on those who make a trade of politics to fill their pockets; give us good articles from the able advocates of both sides of the contending parties, and invite replies from either, always compelling every person to give the initials of his name to his article. Third-The interesting subject of agriculture should occupy a portion of your weekly sheet. This has been too long neglected in this county, and deserves your particular attention. Our Farmers are now beginning to stir! Many now see that they are only beginning to farm. The prejudice against "book farming,” as it is It was a cherished plan of Governor Tompkins to found a College on this Island. A charter had been obtained and other necessary preliminaries partially arranged, when the whole was checked by the death of the governor, and the charter has long since expired by its own limitation. It is said to have been a part of his plan to remove Columbia College to this island, and the Coroner was that she came to her death in consequence called, is gradually wearing off. Now and then we find governor himself had made a donation of sufficient ground for the erection of the necessary buildings. And while we make mention of the eligible and healthy location selected by the liberality of the New Brighton Association for the buildings of Richmond College, it is well that we speak of the coincidence which designates the same location for the present institution and the meditated College of a former day. STATEN ISLAND GRANITE COMPANY.-This new company is about to lay a rail-road from their quarries to the landing at Port Richmond, for the purpose of facilitating the transmission of large masses of stone to the city, where it already finds a ready demand at the highest prices. The descent of the road is to be forty feet in order that the loaded cars will propel themselves by gravitation. U. S. SENATORS. L. E. L.—By the late arrivals we learn that Mrs. Mc- of having taken an over dose of Prussic acid, which she TEXAN FLAG.-The commtttee of the Texan Con- ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. FRIEND HAGADORN:-Some time since I told you that I might at some future time offer you my views on the management of a country newspaper. Every reflecting VIRGINIA. Both branches of the Legislature of Vir-person who gives this subject one moment's thought will ginia have designated the 15th of February as the day see that there is ten times the difficulty in keeping up a for going into an election for Senator. The term of Mr. weekly paper in the immediate vicinity of large cities, Senator Rives is drawing to a close, and it was suppos- that there is in more remote places. A large city being ed that the Whigs and Conservatives would unite ou a the grand vortex toward which the whole current of candidate, but the Richmond Enquirer now supposes news is constantly setting, which, after being "done up that the late irruption between these incongruous elem-in bits to suit purchasers," is again distributed through ents of the opposition may result in a failure to elect. the country by the more or less faithful agents of Amos NEW YORK.-It is necessary in this State that both Kendall. Hence the avidity with which newspapers a man reading some useful work on agriculture; presently his farm makes rather a better appearance than his neighbors', his crops are better, his stock of hay is improved, and the superior skill with which his whole establishment is managed, excites enquiry. His neighbors ask, "how is this? When, for the first time in their lives, they learn that he is a "book Farmer," and takes the trouble to profit by the experience of others as well as his own. You should also furnish articles from the best works on kitchen gardening, with an original article occasionally, and I feel confident you will receive the patronage of almost every farmer in this county, who would take your paper on this account if no other. A paper thus arranged, devoted to the agricultural interests with a fair portion of miscellaneous matter, cannot fail of being well supported. These are my hasty views on the management of a country paper, and I think that if connected with your skill, they would prove both useful and profitable. Yours, REMARKS. J. C. T. We give the foregoing frank, good-natured epistle as a specimen of that kind admonition which we are daily receiving, verbally and otherwise, from the many friends whom fortune has vouchsafed us. From among these, our sooth-saying correspondents, it may be remembered that about a year since we took a peculiar liking to one |