"ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.-The Trustees of Jefferson College at Washington, Mississippi, have the satisfaction to announce to the public, that the institution is now prepared for the reception of students. Upon its reorganization, some exposition of its prospects will be naturally expected, and it is with great satisfaction that the Trustees are enabled to declare, that at no period of its history have their anticipations been so sanguine as to its stability and success. "At the head of the College is the Reverend A. Stephens, who fills the chair of ancient languages. In this gentleman are united the accomplishments of a thorough philologist, and an elegant belles lettres scholar; he filled the chair of ancient languages in the university of Nashville with brilliant reputation. In addition to the high commendations of President Lindsley of that institution-sufficient in themselves to place the abilities of their subject beyond all cavil-he is among the first to carry into successful practice in our colleges, if not to introduce, the recent improvements by German scholars in philology, which has reduced, in an extraordinary manner, the irregularities of the Greek grammar; and his address upon the effects of education, and their influence on our republican institutions, have elicited the general admiration of the first scholars and critics of the nation. "To the President is also committed the departments of rhetoric and belles lettres, of intellectual and moral philosophy, and their kindred branches. "In the former, to the study of the standard and established authors, will be added the improvements of Whately, including logic; and in philosophy, the tenets of Locke and his school, designated as the sensual system, will not be entirely followed, but the corrections of later writers of Scotland, Germany, and France will be adopted. The student will be aided in his researches by the views of Stewart, Reid, Kant, and Cousins, and the eclectic system of the last-named philosopher will be the basis of the course. "Under the supervision of the President also, the classes are to be thoroughly exercised in composition, declamation, and debate; branches of study which under our free institutions are indispensable to every citizen, and which have at all times been but too much neglected. "Chemistry will be taught upon the most approved plan, and illustrated by practical experiments, with which the students will be themselves familiarized. Instruction in mineralogy and geology, branches of education every day gaining importance and favour, will be given, with the aid of a cabinet of minerals and fossils, with which the professor is amply provided. Exploring excursions will be made by him in company with the students, for practical experiments; and botany and natural history, so nearly allied, will on such occasions as opportunity permits, become objects of study and explanation. "For exercise, in place of gymnastics, the military drill will be substituted, and practised daily by all students. For the attainment or preservation of health, and the acquisition of graceful motion and manly bearing, no means have been found superior in its results, or more agreeable to the student. "To the young, of whatever nation, home education and home discipline, are of lasting moment. Destined as they are, at no distant day, to direct the government of the country, it is essential that they should be identified with their fellow-citizens, that they should imbibe public opinion, and be imbued with the spirit of the laws which wisdom and experience have framed for the prosperity of the State. "At this very moment, a formidable contest has commenced between the North and the South, from the possible results of which the eye of the patriot instinctively revolts. The issue can only be known to the great Disposer of all things; but it surely becomes us to preserve our children from any influence that might mislead their judgment or weaken their patriotism. To do this effectually, WE MUST KEEP THEM AT HOME!" Of churches and ministers in the state of Mississippi, there are at present seven episcopal, with the ritual and doctrines of the Church of England, presided over by a newly-appointed bishop, the Rev. Dr. Polk, a most intelligent and gentlemanly man, with whom I had the pleasure to pass an agreeable hour at the house of the rector, Mr. Page. The RELIGION AND EDUCATION. 445 bishop had recently been in England, and was charmed with all he saw, and especially with the improved condition of the English church and clergy. He was about setting out for Texas with the rector, on an exploring tour, to see whether any opening presented itself for the establishment of a Protestan Episcopal Church, in that new and rising republic. The Methodist Episcopal Church has eight districts, with about six ministers to each. The Baptist Association is by far the most extensive, as it comprehends 155 churches, 78 ordained ministers, and 7 licentiates, though the number of the baptized is only 231, and of attending members of congregations 4668, or not more than about 30 attending members to each church, and less than 3 baptized members to each minister or teacher. The Presbyterians have 39 churches, 35 ministers, and 4 licentiates, but there is no register of their congregations. There is yet a large field for education and religion to work upon, before the population of Mississippi will be as orderly as that of the North, if that indeed can ever happen, so long as the cherished institution of slavery exists; for while every family in which there are domestic slaves, and every plantation on which there are working hands, furnishes a school in which the rising white youths learn, both by theory and practice, how to give loose to their most unbridled passions, and are unchecked either by precept or example, in the full exercise of their power over those whom they have bought and paid for, and therefore use as they see fit-there is little hope that they will learn to curb their vindictive feelings, when aroused by any circumstance arising out of their intercourse with their own class. The papers of Natchez, even in the short space of the few days that we passed there, literally teemed with the records of excesses of all kinds, murders, duels, affrays, acts of incendiarism, and crimes which would make up a calendar too large for a month in any country but this; I give only a few of the many that came under my eye in less than a week, from April 22 to 26. "AFFRAY.-We regret to observe in the Caddo Free Press, an account of a rencontre which took place at Natchitoches, between General Bossier, senator from that district, and Mr. D. S. Burnett, ex-sheriff of the parish of Natchitoches. Two pistols were fired, by which General Bossier was severely and Mr. Burnett slightly wounded. The cause of the quarrel is not stated." "ANOTHER ATROCIOUS MURDER was perpetrated at Richmond, Madison parish, Louisiana, about 100 miles above this city, on the 15th inst. A few days before, a dispute had taken place relative to the shipment of some cotton. On that day, a Mr. Booth, one of the parties concerned, with a pistol in his hand, suddenly accosted a Mr. Rusk, another of the individuals arrested, with, Sir, I understand you have threatened my life,' and instantly shot him through. Rusk fell, and in a few moments expired. Booth was instantly arrested by the sheriff, and committed for trial. When our informant, who witnessed the assassination, left, great excitement prevailed." "AFFAIR IN VICKSBURG.-The two Vicksburg editors had a fight with pistols on the 24th, as we have been informed. They fired three times at each other in the morning, unsuccessfully, and had to take it out at another meeting in the afternoon, when at the first fire, Major McCardle, of the Whig,' received a fleshwound above the thigh. McCardle is a noble fellow, and we are glad that his wound is not considered dangerous." CHAP. XXX. Points for commerce - City of Mississippi-Description of Natchez - Plan and buildings - Patience or indifference of hotel boarders · - Public edifices - Companies Banks Fradulent practices of these establishments--Bursting of the bubble-Consequent distress-Arrear of law cases in county courts Newspapers of Natchez-Silence on AbolitionSpecimen of Irish oratory Americanized. THE two most important points in the State of Mississippi for commerce, are, at present, Natchez and Vicksburg, to which, perhaps, may be added Port Gibson and Grand Gulf. These owe their importance chiefly to their being seated on or near the banks of the Mississippi, from which Natchez has begun already to carry on a direct trade with Europe in the shipment of her cotton, ships sailing 300 miles up the river to load. One of the latest vessels cleared from hence, was the ship Talleyrand for Liverpool, taking a cargo of 2,160 bales of cotton, valued at 1,296,000 dollars, and the freight of which alone was 14,960 dollars. From Grand Gulf, another ship, the Franklin, cleared a few days before, taking 1,886 bales of cotton, worth 1,111,998 dollars, for Europe. But the spot of greatest promise in the future annals of this country for commercial operations, is, undoubtedly, the projected seaport of Mississippi, on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, to which but a small portion of the State is contiguous. The following description of it, from the Register |