regret. There is but little incident in the book, (though we understand there was a good deal of it in her life, probably of too private a nature to be given to the public;) but the letters are axcellent, and display a lofty character. We are particularly pleased with those to Gerrit Smith, of New York, on the subject of slavery, which are written with a force and spirit that we cannot too warmly commend.

LINES ON THE NATURAL BRIDGE.

66

"The Natural Bridge in the county of Rockbridge to which it has given name, is the most sublime of Nature's works. It is in the ascent of a hill, which seems to have been cloven through its length by some great convulsion. The fissure, just at the Bridge, is by some admeasurements, 270 feet deep, by others only 205. It is about 45 feet wide at the bottom, and 90 at the top. This of course determines the length of the Bridge, and its height from the water," (a small stream passing under it, called Cedar creek.) Its breadth in the middle is about 60 feet, but more at the ends, and the thickness of the mass, at the summit of the arch, about 40 feet. A part of this thickness is constituted by a coat of earth, which gives growth to many large trees. hill on both sides, is one solid rock of limestone. the semi-elliptical form; but the larger axis of the ellipse which would be the cord of the arch, is many times larger than the transverse.” ** * "The view from below is delightful in the extreme. It is impossible for the emotions arising from the sublime, to be felt beyond what they are here so beautiful an arch, so elevated, so light, and springing as it were up to Heaven! The rapture of the spectator is really indescribable." [Jefferson's Notes on Virginia.

The residue with the
The arch approaches

How grand-how graceful-is that airy arch!
Crown'd with its living cornice, oak and larch;
And springing to the sky-divinely fair-
For Art to view with rapture and despair!

And was it then the Spirit of the Storm,
Hiding in clouds his miscreated form,

With meteor spear, that smote those rocks aside,
And bade their startled pediments divide,

For yonder naiad with her scanty stream,
To tinkle through? O! this is Fancy's dream.
'Twas genial Nature made the magic pile,
And own'd the fabric with a gracious smile.
I see her now: bright Wisdom sketched the plan,
And bade her follow as his pencil ran.

Then calmly conscious of celestial power;
She took the mass as 'twere a simple flower,
And gaily threw it o'er the dark ravine,
To bind the breach, and hallow all the scene..

And so she made it by her sovran will,
The mighty model of her plastic skill;
That man may try to imitate in vain,
Nor she herself shall make its match again.
Beyond the mystery that Egypt hid
From after ages in her pyramid,

And all that Wit hath ever wrought of stone;

It stands sublime-eternal—and alone !

Like that bright bow that spans the summer sky;
To charm the earth till Death himself shall die.

And now, fair Nature, whom I long have wooed,
And won at last in this wild solitude;
(As Numa sought his goddess in her grot,
And found her there in that secluded spot ;)
I fain would blazon this thy work abroad,
And spread the glory of its maker-God.
For well I know it was no power of thine;
But his, that made it, as it is, divine.
But ah! I feel no language can impart
The warm emotions of my glowing heart;

And, lost in wonder, I can only gaze,
While Silence owns the impotence of Praise t
Richmond.

Various Intelligence.

RICHMOND..

In beginning this part of our work, in which we design to attend more particularly to the present and passing stream of things, we are happy to report that our City, the capital of our Commonwealth, is at this time, in a fair and prosperous state. The weather thus far has been uncommonly mild and genial; and the prospect around us is as smiling as winter can possibly permit. The health of the inhabitants, generally speaking, was hardly ever better. Our population is estimated at about thirty thousand inhabitants, and is rapidly increasing. New buildings are shooting up on all sides to adorn our hills. Many of them are sightly and handsome, and all may embrace much comfort and contentment within. The Capitol which now holds the assembled wisdom of our State, in session, has been repaired in good time, and in very tolerable The new Court- House, too, on the square, is nearly finished, and is already occupied by the courts for whose accommodation it has been provided. The venerable judges of the Court of Appeals are on the bench, in one of its most commodious rooms, with the lawyers before them to aid their researches, and Themis herself unseen, with her even balance, at their side, to dictate and sanction their decisions. So Law shall still be the guardian of our Liberty; and so may our imperial City flourish forever!

taste.

THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.

Ths Southern Literary Messenger for this month, the first in the new year, has just appeared in its usual handsome style. It has gone back, we observe, very properly, to its old title; and seems to be kindling up into something like its old spirit. Some of its former contributors, too, appear to be rallying about it again. We are particularly pleased to greet Lieut. Maury, (of Lucky Bag memory,) coming down from his Observatory where he has been "looking out upon the stars" to good purpose, as his interesting article in this number may serve to show; and we may hope that some others of his social lights will soon follow his track. Some of them, indeed, are gone to brighten other spheres; but a few are still left that may yet enliven its columns. At any rate we shall

trust that the work will now continue to live and flourish under the aus pices of its new and promising editor, who has already given us some agreeable proofs of his capacity for the chair.

We may add that we have always felt a lively interest in this periodical from its first establishment by the worthy and indefatigable White; and shall continue to do so as long as it shall continue to pursue its proper, and truly honorable mission, which is to excite, encourage and develope the literary taste and talent of our Southern States.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The House of Delegates and the Senate, united again, are now meeting regularly every day; and both bodies seem well disposed to despatch the business of the session, with proper spirit, and in due time. As yet, however, nothing of any special interest has been before them; nor is it yet certain what they will do to promote the great and permanent interests of the State. The subjects of Internal Improvement, and Popular Education, will doubtless claim their attention, in some form or other, and, it may be, in such "questionable shape," that many may feel themselves called upon to "speak to it," or about it; and so we may have able and animated debates at least.

We understand that the important subject of the revisal of the Criminal Code is now before the able Committee of Courts of Justice of the House of Delegates, who will report upon it before long; and it is thought that this code will be discussed and digested before the close of the session. The Civil Code, we learn, will hardly be reached before the ides of March.

THE CAMPAIGN.

The preparations for the electioneering campaign of the Spring, are going on, we observe, with great spirit, on both sides. Our daily papers teem with notices of meetings for the appointment of delegates to the Conventions which are about to be held here next month, the Whig on the 23rd, and the Democratic on the 28th. We shall have, no doubt, a lively contest when the time of action comes, for great interests are at stake on the issue; but how it will end, as we are not prophets, but only historians, we shall be able to tell after the event, a little better than we can before it.

WASHINGTON.

We have nothing very important from the City. Congress and the Supreme Court, are of course in session, and important subjects are before them but in the former at least, though much, as usual, has been said, little or nothing has yet been done. In the Senate, on the 4th inst., Mr. Calhoun made an able and interesting speech, on his resolution, in which he defined his position in relation to the war with great force and spirit; but the resolution was afterwards laid on the table at his own request. The debate on the Ten Regiment bill is proceeding. In the other house nothing of much importance has yet occurred.

The Great Gaines Case.-This far-famed and highly interesting case has been decided at last in the Supreme Court, and in favor of Mrs. G. The opinion of the court was read by Judge Wayne. The value of the property involved in the case is supposed to be about fifteen millions of dollars. By this decision the title of Mrs. G. is virtually established to the whole of this estate, situated in the City of New Orleans, or consisting in plantations in Louisiana. A writer in one of the papers says:

"The scene in court on the delivery of the decision was a thrilling one, and quite unusual in the presence of that solemn and dignified bench. Messrs. Clay, Webster, Jones, (the latter gentleman was her principal lawyer) and other distinguished members of the bar were present, besides many ladies, who had come to share Mrs. G.'s feelings on the occasion, from all of whom a tide of congratulation poured in upon their victorious friend.

No time was lost in telegraphing the news to the General in New York, who is expected here this week.

Eminent Jurists regard the general results of this suit as of the first importance, both as illustrating the high character and value of this Supreme Judicial Bench, and the dignity and efficiency of the laws in settling the rights of property."

The Pea-Patch Island Case. The question of the title or ownership of the Pea-Patch Island on the Delaware river, opposite Delaware city, which was referred under the act of Congress, and by the apointment of the President, to the Hon. John Sergeant for argument and decision and which was recently argued before him at Philadelphia, by eminent counsel on both sides, has been decided by Mr. S. in Washington, in favor of the United States. A letter writer adds: "The opinion was very long, and very elaborately drawn, containing many things, of historical interest to the States of Marylaud, Delaware, Pennsylvania