ginning, and we had even fallen asleep over it-and slept on for generations to wake up on a bright spring morning, in this year, and realize it at last; or, at least, see it all in glorious vision before our eyes! For we have no doubt now that we shall finish the work with due speed. And will not all the world acknowledge, after this, that we are a most steady and pertinacious race, as well as a scheming and spouting one, and that we can actually accomplish great things as well as talk about them?— if they will only give us time.

A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC.

We read, some time ago, a short article in the daily Whig of this city, pleasantly entitled "A Gem for the Virginia Historical Society," and which ran in these words: "H. A. Muhlenburg. Esq., the author of the Life of Gen. Peter Muhlenburg, noticed by us some days ago, says in one of his notes, "The regimental color of this corps (8th Virginia Regiment of the Line,) is still in the writer's possession. It is made of plain salmon-colored silk, with a broad fringe of the same, having a simple white scroll in the centre, upon which are inscribed the words,' VIII Virga. Reg't.' The spear-head is brass, considerably ornamented. The banner bears the traces of warm service, and is probably the only revolutionary flag in existence.' It is a great pity the Historical Society cannot get possession of this flag, furni hing as it does such a noble memento of Revolutionary glory," &c. We thank the Whig for this complimentary hint, and have no doubt that our Historical Society would be happy to obtain such "a gem" as he would give her, and would esteem it indeed as a precious jewel, reflecting brightly, by association, the honor of the State which she naturally feels as her own. But we really cannot help thinking that it belongs still more properly to the State herself; and that it would grace the Capitol even more becomingly than our hall; and we rather wonder indeed that Mr. Muhlenburg has not thought of giving it this destination; if it

were only to perpetuate, in the best way, the fame of his distinguished relative, already entwined with our history in its fairest praise. We throw out this hint for him, and for our General Assembly; and for any and all others whom it may properly

concern.

THE PAST PRESERVED.

Within translucent halls above the moon,
Where ether spreads beneath a blue lagoon,
And faintly 'mid a web of cloud and star
The still earth gleams unfathomed leagues afar,
The Past and Future dwell, and both are one,
An endless Present that has ne'er begun.
The new-born infant dead in Norway's cold,
The Pharaoh lapt in hieroglyphic gold,
All fronts that show the pure baptismal ray,
And all whom Islam bids repent and pray,
And Trajan's worshippers and Timour's host,
In calm light live on that eternal coast,
Where change has never urged its fluctuant bark,
Nor sunless moon has faded into dark.

For all that each successive age has seen
In this low world is always there serene;

And e'en the glow-worm, crushed by Nimrod's hoof,
Lives like the Assyrian king from pain aloof.
There all is perfect ever, all is clear,

But dimmed how soon in this our hemisphere,
Where e'en the deed of yestereve grows pale
In twilight thought before this morning's tale,-
Unless for Sons of Memory, who by lot
Enjoy the bliss of all things else forgot;
Dwell in the house above, and from that hold
Entrance mankind with wonders manifold;
And making that has been once more to be,
Reclothe in foliage bare Oblivion's tree.-J. Sterling.

Darious Intelligence.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

The new President elect of the United States, General Zachary Taylor, was solemnly inaugurated, and entered on the duties of his office, on the 5th ult., (the 4th falling on Sunday this year,) in the presence of a large concourse of citizens from all parts of the country attending to witness the scene.

His Inaugural Address (since published) was short, sensible, and altogether suitable to the occasion.

The Cabinet as it was afterwards nominated by him to the Senate, and confirmed by that body, stands as follows:

1

John M. Clayton, of Delaware, Secretary of State.

Wm. M. Meredith, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Treasury. Geo. W. Crawford, of Georgia, Secretary of War.

Wm. B. Preston, of Virginia, Secretary of the Navy.

Thos. Ewing, of Ohio, Secretary of the Home Department.
Jacob Collamer, of Vermont, Post Master General.
Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, Attorney General.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

This body adjourned over on the 19th ult., to the 28th of next month, when it will meet again to complete the revisal of the laws. The session was one of unusual interest, and will be memorable for the passage of several acts of the highest importance to the State.

From the Times.

IMPROVEMENT BILLS OF THE LATE SESSION.

With a good deal of care and labor, we have prepared for the information of our readers, the following list of the various works of internal improvement, to which the aid of the State was granted during the late session of the Legislature, with the amount of that aid in each case, whether in form of direct appropriations from the Treasury, or of a release of money due to it, or of a guaranty of Compa

nies' bonds, or of authority to the Board of Public Works to make subscriptions in behalf of the State, or finally of a transfer of stock now held by the State in an existing work.

We think that most of our readers will concur with us in the opinion, that although the amount of liability likely to be incurred by this legislation is considerable, it is by no means such as to excite alarm for the credit of the State. According to the reports of the committee of Finance, at the close of the session, the present income of the Treasury is more than sufficient to meet the interest of the present debt, and of these appropriations also, whenever they shall be called

for.

DIRECT APPROPRIATIONS.

Blue Ridge Railroad Tunnel $100,000 annually, say

Macadamizing part of Staunton and Parkersburg road, $20,000

per annum,

Do. North Western Road $30,000 per annum,
Stem of Moorefield and Alleghany Turnpike,
Turnpike-Fork's of Sandy to Kanawha Road,

Alleghany and Huntersville Turnpike,

Madison and Page

do

do

do

Richlands and Kentucky line do

do

Turnpike from Harrisonburg to Moorfield in Hardy and Frank

DEBT RELEASED.

$400,000

60,000

60,000

4,500

2,500

5,000

1,500

650

2,000

2,500

5,000

1,000

$544,640

By a bill passed, the State releases to the town of Portsmouth, the purchase money for the Portsmouth railroad, vìz:

GIVING THE STATE'S GUARANTY.

$50,000

James River and Kanawha Company-Dock Connexion, $350,000
Do-South Side and Rivanna do
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company for repairs of canal, 200,000

Virginia and Tennessee Railroad-three fifths-$150,000 in 1849; $300,000 in 1850; $400,000 in 1851; and each year thereafter,

$1,800,000

Orange and Alexandria Railroad-(additional fifth) total
Blue Ridge do. to Staunton-three fifths,
Guyandotte Navigation-three fifths,

540,00

90,000

45,000

Clarksburg and Philippi,

do. do.

6,000

Red Sweet Springs in Alleghany, through Rich Patch to Bote

tourt,

do. do.

7,200

Howardsville and Rockfish do.-increased to three fifths

21,000

Tazewell C. H. and Fancy Gap do—three fifths,

19,200

Buchanan and Little Kanawha,

do. do.

7,200

Charleston and Point Pleasant do-(additional,)

8,000

Williamsport (in Wood) and Parkersburg do-three fifths.

3,000

Hampshire and Morgan do.,

6,600

Coal River Navigation,

6,000

Hardy and Winchester do-increased to three fifths,

18,000

New Market and Sperryville,

30,000

Virginia and Maryland Bridge Co. [when $25,000 subscribed,]

STOCK TRANSFERRED.

By the bill amending the charter of the Southside Railroad Company, the state transfers to that work its stock in the Petersburg and Roanoke Railroad amounting to,

10,000

$322,500

SUBSCRIPTIONS AUTHORIZED-AMOUNT NOT ASCERTAINED.

Ringwood and West Union Turnpike-three fifths,

Smith's River Navigation-three quarters of two fifths.

LO*