NO. XII.-VOL. IX.-DECEMBER, 1843. 736 6. The Infants' Grave. By C. M., Williamsburg.....735 18. Sonnets. By Miss Anna M. Hirst, Philadelphia..749 7. Slavery in the Southern States... 8. A Visit to Luther's Cell. By T. C. Reynolds, LL.D...... 19. The Birth of Love. By A. B. Meek..... 754 9. Mr. Webster's Bunker Hill Oration. Reply to...749 10. Mr. Simms as a Political Writer. The Social Principle-the True Source of National Permanence. An Oration, Review of..... 21. The Guardian and Female Institute, Colur ia, Tennessee..... 758 755 vol 8-9 PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER. Long, Col. Henry....Lagrange, Georgia... Turner, David B.... Richmond, Virginia.. A PARTING WORD TO OUR PATRONS. At the close of the volume, the Messenger thanks you for your favors and bids you adieu. To some of you, this is a final greeting; but why should it be? Most of you we hope soon to salute with a "happy new year." For the next year, our hopes and expectations are high, as our efforts will be great. We have already announced that we aim at TEN THOUSAND subscribers. Could not TEN THOUSAND Southerners, who ought to sustain this, and every other similar Southern Enterprise, be readily counted out? If so, why will they not lend us their aid? Nothing is truer than that it is the interest of every subscriber to increase the circulation of the Work. The more patrons, the more influential and the more excellent the Messenger can and will be made. Let every subscriber, then, enlist one or two of his friends, and our number is obtained at once. Won't the friends of the Messenger set about this thing? When the Messenger was in its infancy, the Hon. R. H. Wilde obtained near 100 subscribers, in Augusta alone, and for several years collected and remitted every stiver of their subscriptions. Here was a gentleman, whose genius has explored foreign and domestic Literature, who thought the success of the Messenger identified with the cause of Southern Literature and ardently enlisted in its behalf. The example is worthy of imitation. We have sent off a few extras to some of our patrons. The number was too great to send them to all; but we wish every one to consider it as addressed to him, and to act accordingly. He will find it all in the November number. In conclusion, WE WOULD URGE YOU TO REMIT. You thereby save us a vast discount, without loss to yourselves. We do not see how any can have the unfairness to discontinue without paying up. Yet some do and give us much trouble. As a great inducement to subscribers, 3 vols. (1842, 1843, 1844) will be furnished for only $9:2 vols. (1843 and 1844) for $7,50. Our terms are always IN ADVANCE. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-BENJAMIN B. MINOR, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. VOL. IX. RICHMOND, DECEMBER, 1843. New York, Sept. 28, 1843. DEAR SIR,-Your friendly note, requesting something from my pen for the columns of the Southern Literary Messenger, came to hand during a temporary absence from the city, which I trust will account for my answer having been delayed so long. For years I have been a constant reader of the Messenger, and having always regarded it as among the very first of our periodicals, was not a little rejoiced, that notwithstanding the death of its late indefatigable and worthy proprietor, the work was not only to be continued, but was in hands every way worthy and competent to sustain the high standard of its well earned reputation. ว่า The torrent of reprints, poured out in diluting streams by the mighty agency of steam, is not always calculated either to refine the taste, or strengthen and improve the public mind, and still less to encourage and build up a national literature. Indeed, there is altogether too much of such reading at present, and what is still worse, there is not always sufficient care and judgment exercised in selecting that which is read. It is a hard contest for a periodical to compete in the market with these reprints sold at a shilling per volume. We are, however, much mistaken if the worst has not already come; and the dawn of a brighter and a better day is near at hand. As to contributing to your columns, I fear I shall be able to do but little in that way, being at present wedded to the law-of a certain kind of raw material, in the way of Rough Sketches of Rough Adventures, I have, however, an abundant supply on hand! NO. 12. Spanish interpreters ;-let the reader imagine this and he will be able to follow me in my journey through such scenes and which I only regret my want of leisure to clothe in as you will find roughly sketched in the leaves I send you, more becoming attire. for success in the laborious task before you; tardily indeed to be wooed for Love and not for lucre." B. B. MINOR, Esq., Ed. S. L. Messenger.} J. N. REYNOLDS. ROUGH NOTES OF ROUGH ADVENTURES. BY J. N. REYNOLDS. Recommence ascending the Volcano. The Araucanian Pine. Deserted by our companion. Fissures in the mountain and emissions of sulphurous steam. Region of perpetual snow and mode of making our way over the slippery surface. Appearance of the crater. Magnificent prospect from the summit of the mountain. Descent and arrival at the residence of the Cacique. An Araucanian banquet. Getting out of a dilemma. Sickness of Curillanca and its advantage to us. Playing the physician. Unexpected difficulties. Visit to the ruins of Villa Rica. Cure of Curillanca and establishment of our reputation as a great medicine. Journey southward along the base of the Andes. Beautiful lakes. Visit Legen Pangi, or the White Lion. Crossing the Valdivia en cheval. Visit to the commissary. Arrival at Valdivia. Situation, &c. of that city. Productions and trade of the province. Tour northward. Progress up the Tolten. Journey along the banks of the Imperial. Respect shown us by the Indians. Remains of the city of Imperial. Wh the scheme of the South Sea Expedition in 1829 was laid aside by the authorities at Washington, and there seemed no prospect of reviving it with success, for some years to come, I embarked in a private enterprize for the purpose of increasing my knowledge of regions, as yet but little known, in the Southern Hemisphere, and of bringing that knowledge to bear on my return, to the consummation of an enterprize I had so much and so deeply at heart. The mere making of a book, therefore, formed no part of the plan of that preliminary gymnasium-excursion, and the We were too much excited to sleep soundly notes I took have remained in my desk to the present time during the night and were up with the dawn, imalmost as they came from my pen at the close of each day's adventure. After having cruised for months in our tiny patient to proceed. Rousing Grandon, we directbarks amid “thick ribbed ice" in the regions along the An- ed him, in company with the friendly Indian, to tartic circle, and afterwards in the milder climes of the return with the horses to a spot we had passed the Pacific Ocean; I left the vessels for the purpose of explo- preceding day, where they could find water and ring the interior of that almost classic region occupied by pasture; and there to remain till we should rejoin the unconquerable Araucanian tribes, and lying South of the Republic of Chili. The conquering armies of Spain, him. As soon as there was light enough to enable while in the zenith of her power, after overrunning Mexico, us to make our way over the rough lava, we rePeru and Central America, were vanquished and driven commenced the ascent, accompanied only by the back by the invincible Araucanian, who, with naked valor, triumphed over the steel clad warrior. Of this region but little was ever known even by the Spaniards, and for two hundred years past, it has remained a kind of terra incognita to the civilized world. Let the reader imagine that I had penetrated, no matter how, into the interior of this country-among the richest on the globe; proceeding from the Pacific Ocean I had reached the Andes in 40° south latitude, had commenced commissary. He set out in high spirits, expressing his determination to accompany us to the very summit of the volcano, should we succeed in reaching that elevation. The rise was very gradual for the first league, as we took an oblique direction up the side of the mountain, inclining to the south. The piles of lava scattered around were of vast size, but not apparently of so recent formation as those at the volcano of Antuco. the ascent of a volcano, and at the distance of several miles from its base, had encamped for the night, in company with Grandon, who combined the rare qualities of We were now entering on the highest region of companion, friend and servant, some Indian guides and vegetation, covered exclusively by groves of the VOL. IX-89 Araucanian pine, which extended to the very edge | ported by the strong staff-indispensable for such of the lower limit of perpetual snow, and grew on excursions-with which we were provided. But a soil consisting entirely of decomposed lava. We new and more serious impediments than we had had never before seen such fine specimens of this yet encountered were before us. These consisted singular tree. The trunks, in many instances, shot of immense channels, or ravines in the snow, some up perpendicularly to the height of 80, or 100 feet, of them one hundred feet in depth, and varying almost without any diminution of their thickness, from ten to thirty feet in breadth. The frequency (which in the largest was about two feet diameter of these fissures continually obliged us to make at the base,) and then sent forth a number of hori-long circuits in order to get round their extremizontal branches, the ramifications from which, run-ties, and rendered our progress, for the space of ning out in the same direction, formed a sort of an hour, tediously slow. natural roof, which had a very picturesque appearance. The fruit of the Araucanian pine is greatly valued by the natives, and often constitutes an important article of subsistence. It consists of nuts, contained in a large external covering in the form of a cone, which sometimes holds many hundreds; they are somewhat smaller than the chesnut. Immediately above this region of abysses the snow presented a firm and even surface, but to reach it we were obliged to pass for more than three hundred feet along the top of a narrow connecting ridge, in some places not more than six feet in width, and flanked on either side by deep ravines, to the bottom of which a single false step From the region of pines, we ascended at an would have precipitated us. Having made our angle with our former route which brought us far- way over this obstacle without accident, we prother to the north and west. Having reached an ceeded for the next two hours, unobstructed by any additional elevation of 1000 feet, we observed an thing except the steepness of the acclivity and the immense fissure in the rocky side of the volcano, occasional smoothness of the encrusted snow. It as if a portion had been blown off by a violent ex- was now 11 o'clock; the sun shone forth from a plosion. From this chasm issued a dense volume cloudless sky, but the thermometer stood at only of steam, so strongly impregnated with sulphur, 38° and the wind was chill and piercing. Our path that we could not inhale it for a moment without a now inclined toward the south-east side of the sense of suffocation. The quick rise of the ther-mountain, where it is connected with the main mometer on the proceding evening was now accounted for. The change in the direction of the wind had brought it in contact with this and similar emissions of hot vapor before it reached us, and hence the sudden increase of temperature which had alarmed the interpreter and excited the superstitious fears of our native guide. At a much greater altitude, on the same side of the mountain, sweeping over the wintry peaks of the interminawe observed other fissures, from which currents of steam appeared to be constantly escaping. These openings doubtless act as safety valves to the volcano. chain of the Andes. Here we found the ascent less abrupt, while fissures in the snow were no longer observable; the intensity of the cold entirely counteracting the influence of the sun and rain, which produced these phenomena in less elevated positions. As we continued to mount, the thermometer fell to 28°, while a strong south wind, ble Andes, gave additional effect to the keenness of the air. It is probable that we should have been unable to withstand its paralyzing influence, but for the increased circulation of the blood, occaNotwithstanding the progress we had made, the sioned by our incessant toil, and the mental exsummit of the mountain was still at a vast distance, citement arising from a survey of the evidences, and our companion, disheartened at the prospect scattered on every side, of the awful convulsions and greatly fatigued, declined persevering in the which had once taken place around us and beneath attempt to reach it. Finding persuasion of no avail, our feet. The explosions, however, could scarcely we pursued our way alone, while he retraced his have been so violent here, as at the volcano we steps to the edge of the pine grove, there to await had visited on the mountain frontier of the proour return. After surmounting several craggy vince of Conception. The latest eruption had points, we at length stood on the main body of the been in the year 1818, when cinders and ashes only snow, which was sufficiently solid to bear our were sent forth; but these in such vast quantities weight and at the same time not so smooth as to as to cover the country and almost entirely to derender our foothold insecure. Half a mile above stroy vegetation. A shower of ashes fell even in this point it spread out in vast beds of dazzling Valdivia. Immense masses of cinders still lay whiteness which seemed as if coeval with the around the summit of the volcano, all of late origin mountain it covered. The cold increased and the as contrasted with the lava, the whole of which is surface became still harder, as well as more slip- very old. Indeed, on no portion of the mountain, pery and difficult of ascent, as we advanced. We or of the country at its base, did we see any thing found the easiest mode of progression was to dash resembling recent escoria. With reference to the on as rapidly as possible for about a hundred yards, north side of the volcano we cannot however speak, then to rest for a few moments, braced and sup- as we did not examine it, and the war, which was then raging between the Indians inhabiting the previously planted our staff, with a flag attached, plain in the same direction and some of the more rude in construction, but still bearing the stripes northern tribes, prevented our exploring that sec- and stars, on the summit of the volcano of Villa tion of country. Rica--January 15th, 1833. At half past eleven o'clock we had reached the In going down, we adhered as closely as possiextreme elevation, which appeared to us about the ble to the track by which we had ascended. At same as that of Antuco. We were much ex- the upper edge of the pine grove we found our hausted, though on the whole suffering less from interpreter waiting, as he said, with much solicifatigue and oppressed respiration than on a former tude, for our re-appearance. Proceeding forward occasion. The benumbing effect of the keen pier- without delay, at half past 6 o'clock we reached cing wind prevented us from making our observa- the spot whither Grandon had been sent with the tions as minutely as we could have desired; we horses. Mounting one of them we hurried on at had, however, a good view of the mouth of the a brisk pace, and by 8 o'clock in the evening arricrater, which we supposed to be at least one thou-ved at the dwelling of the Cacique, much weasand yards in diameter-probably considerably more. ried, though greatly delighted with our excursion. From this orifice smoke issued at intervals, with A little grove of apple trees, at a short distance much impetuosity; but in rushing out did not fill from his residence, we selected as the place for the entire opening. Sometimes the wind caused our encampment at night. it to roll back, when the dark column would divide Having given a little entertainment to the chief into several branches, which curled upward as if before setting out, we found him preparing to make rising from various apertures, but were afterwards the return courteous. He had ordered a small reunited in one volume as at first. The internal explosions appeared to be very light; but the air around the summit was surcharged with the effluvia of sulphur. beef to be killed, and a quarter of it being dressed, was served up a l' Araucania, at about half past 8 o'clock-half an hour after our arrival. The feast consisted merely of the beef, boiled, and a What a view did the pinnacle we had gained com- few roasted pines, served in large wooden trenchers. mand! Surely the traveller receives an ample re- We sat on skins spread in a circle upon the cleanly ward for his labors in the magnificent spectacles swept area before the door, the food being placed they enable him to contemplate. To the south, in the centre. We should have mentioned that, in the high, craggy points of rock, towering in un- addition to the solid viands, each individual was clothed grandeur far above the beds of snow and supplied with a bowl of soup and a neat wooden ice, as well as the main ridges of the mountain, spoon. The Araucanian host considers it a mark frowned in dreary contrast with the white, glitter- of respect in his guest to eat all that is set before ing covering which sheeted the acclivity imme- him; to omit doing so is not unlikely to give ofdiately below, and with the region of vegetation still fence. The task on this occasion was somewhat farther down. When M. Charles, the Icarus of discouraging, though I doubt if appetites could his day, ascended from the bank of the Seine, and have been readily found, better fitted to accomplish beheld the city of Paris fading from his view; it. There were certainly not less than one hunwhen the Alps and Pyrennees were lost to him; dred pounds of provisions to be discussed, and when all he could behold of Europe was but a though Grandon offered to bear his full share of speck in the immensity of space, and he thought the burden, it was still a doubtful undertaking. he was quitting the atmosphere of Earth for that The commissary, however, volunteered to get us of the moon; he was not, even at his loftiest ele- out of the dilemma, having, he said, frequently exvation, on a level with the platform of Upper Peru, tricated himself from similar embarrassments on or much more than midway to the height of the former occasions. The place we had selected as pinnacle from which we now looked down. Never our resting-place for the night was about 200 shall we forget the silent and awful grandeur of yards from the chief's lodge. At this point were that scene. To the N. W. by W., lay the lake placed Grandon and the interpreters, while we sat of Villa Rica--its bosom, smooth and bright as a down to partake of the banquet in front of the shield of silver, and the river Tolten, which thence wigwam and send supplies to our outlying friends. takes its rise, winding like a glittering thread from Making a beef-bearing Ganymede of our Indian its margin. To the South were two other large servant, trencher after trencher did we dispatch to and beautiful lakes, which we had discovered in them, which still returned empty, much to the ascending, embanked on the east by the eternal satisfaction of our hospitable entertainer. A pormountains, and hemmed in on the west by the first tion of this food was packed away for the morrow's range of secondary formation, clothed with trees in fare, and the residue either eaten, or carefully full foliage. For upwards of half an hour we concealed among the bushes. enjoyed the sublime prospect; and then warned by the intense cold and recollecting the distance we had to return, commenced our descent; having Nothing can exceed the gravity observed by the Caciques in their intercourse with visiters, especially on occasions of festivity. In all their ac tions, in giving directions to their wives and ser-leagues distant, in order to procure certain plants vants, the most calm and dignified deportment is that grew there, the healing virtues of which, if preserved. This chief had only four wives, who properly extracted and applied, would doubtless all resided in the same house, and were all in at- restore him to health. On the shore of this lake tendance at the feast. Their manners were modest we knew the town of Villa Rica had formerly and unobtrusive, and their cookery, though simple, stood, and had hit upon this plan to obtain a sight was clean and palatable. of its remains. The confidence which the patient reposed in our medical skill, added to his alarm at what we had told him, completely overcame the instinctive jealousy of the Indian; or perhaps prevented such a sensation from arising in his mind, for he not only unhesitatingly assented to our proposition, but directed his son to prepare the horses, and accompany us wherever we chose to go, if it were entirely round the lake. Considering that our fatigues of the previous day had entitled us to some indulgence, we did not rise until the sun was an hour and a half high on the morning of the 16th, and even then Grandon, with his head buried in his poncho-for the fellow cared little about his feet if his upper works were but well covered-insisted that it was scarcely daylight. The most difficult part of our negotiation with Aware that a slight circumstance might induce the Cacique was yet to come. The site of the the chief to alter his mind, we lost not a moment ill-fated town of Villa Rica, which it was our ob- in availing ourselves of his permission, leaving the ject to reach, had not been visited by any white Commissary to entertain him in our absence. One man since the destruction of the place. No part of the other two interpreters positively refused to of the Araucanian territory had been guarded with go with us, declaring that he would rather forfeit such scrupulous care. The natives had seldom the emoluments of his appointment under the gobeen even willing to talk about it in their inter- vernor, which were seventy two dollars per year, views with their neighbors at Valdivia. In our than risk his life in attempting to visit the old town journey from that place, the interpreters had uni- of Villa Rica. His companion, Pasquales, less formly been of opinion that we should not succeed timid, or perhaps more avaricious, consented to in this portion of our design. While deliberating go, on condition of receiving a few dollars as a on the best means of opening the subject, an inci- douceur, which we readily agreed to give him: dent occurred, which we made the instrument of insisting, however, that as we had by this addiforwarding our views. This was the sickness of tional pay virtually effected an insurance on his the Cacique. About 8 A. M. he paid us a visit life, he was bound to lose it, if necessary, in our and complaining of being very unwell, requested service. Grandon said he was too sick to ride us to cure him; a feat which he deemed we could that day, and imploringly besought us to leave him easily perform, as we had procured medicine from behind; he also delicately expressed a wish to the volcano to cure so many invalids in Valdivia. know what line of conduct he should pursue, in Here was a requisition on our professional skill the event of our parting proving a final one. We which we had neither expected nor were very well do not state these facts for the purpose of magniprepared to meet. Having, however, assumed the fying the dangers of the little adventure we had character of doctor it was necessary we should then in view; but rather as a sample of the disendeavor to support it, so with great seriousness trustful feeling which the history of the past has we proceeded to count the pulse and examine the tended to create in the minds of the borderers, tongue of our illustrious patient; asking him at with reference to their Araucanian neighbors. the same time a number of questions, with all the After formally making over to Grandon the mule minute particularity, if not with the scientific acu- and the divers little nick-nacks, intended as premen, of a true son of Esculapius. We then sat sents to the Indians, contained in our trunks, we down for about ten minutes, during which time we took horse, and accompanied by our interpreter pretended to be absorbed in deep reflection. This set off for Lake Lanquon, on the western bank of over, we informed him that he was sick, very sick, which Villa Rica once stood. A narrow path and that if a remedy were not speedily adminis-bearing off to the N. E. led us through a rich and tered, we could not answer for his life: that we beautiful tract of country, streaked, here and there, had not, unfortunately, any medicine with us likely to be of service to him, as what we had brought from the volcano was only applicable to a certain class of diseases altogether different from his complaint but, nevertheless, being anxious to save him, on account of the kindness with which he had treated us, we had determined to make an effort in his behalf. Before we could render him any assistance, however, it would be necessary, we told him, to seek the borders of a lake, about three with little strips of prairie, which seemed to extend to the very base of the Cordilleras. We had proceeded some distance, and were moving along at an easy pace, when our Indian guide suddenly reined up his horse and said he could not proceed farther. On demanding an explanation, the manner of the interpreter satisfied us that he had been playing false. We taxed him with his duplicity. He became still more confused, and finally confessed that the chief's son had acted from his sug |