early times-had the railway once contemplated and urged before the legislature been built, uniting the Tennessee river and Mobile bay-both sections of the State would have been in the enjoyment of a more prosperous condition. As it is, North Alabama has been left wholly dependent, for a market, upon New-Orleans, through a circuitous and dangerous navigation of fifteen hundred miles. Now that the enterprize of the States of Georgia and of South-Carolina has pushed railway improvements to Chat tanooga, the produce of these counties finds a more eligible and cheaper route up the Tennessee, and to the seaboard at Charleston and Savannah. But opinion in Alabama, strange to say, is still in doubt in respect to the advantage of these new facilities. Her public men are not agreed upon the policy or benefits of this connection with the Atlantic cities. The construction of a small railway, of thirty miles only, intended to open a communication between the Tennessee valley and the Coosa river, has, for some years, been a favorite measure with a portion of South Alabama. The Tennessee river, as may be seen by a glance at the map, flowing towards the east, takes a remarkable turn to the south, just as it leaves the State of Georgia at the point uniting it with the State of Tennessee. After running parallel with the Coosa, at some thirty miles from the latter river, it turns again north, and leaves Alabama at the point connecting it with Mississippi. The southern point of this bend is Gunter's landing. A line of railway, thirty miles in length, would, from this point, bring together the Tennessee and Coosa. It would break away the mountain barriers which divide the commerce of the two sections of the State, and unite the productions of that region through which the Tennessee flows, with the country watered by the Coosa; and not only pour into the Coosa and its wide-spreading Alabama the wealth of that country, but link the people of the two sections in closer social ties. Another line of railway, very easy of accomplishment, would avoid the falls at Wetumpka, and unite the upper country with Mobile-for it is to be observed that, between the upper and lower falls of the Coosa, a fine stream flows, upon which steamers now regularly ply with safety. In the valley between the Raccoon and Talladega lies an exceedingly interesting country. It is impossible, without seeing it, to form a conception of the

capabilities of its soil, or of its noble scenery. Innumerable springs of water, clear as crystal, gather into a thousand rivulets, and, rushing over rocky precipices, bathe valleys rich in mineral resources and highly fruitful in grain and cattle. There iron, coal and marble, lie in profusion, and a hardy independent yeomanry, displaying the health and strength of a mountain population, live in that happy medium which neither rejects the comforts of life nor sinks under its luxuries. Shut up within their mountains, these people have been treated with injustice. They have quite too long been denied proper outlets for their products to the proper market. Georgia, with a proper sagacity, appreciating duly the wealth which is thus locked up in mountain fastnesses, has penetrated them with her railways, and opened the way for their traffic with cities, hundreds of miles remote. Alabama, in like manner, would render available the resources of her rocky empire, by opening like avenues to her own seaport town, Mobile. For this it is not, even now, too late. A proper system of internal improvement would equally enliven and increase the agriculture and the commerce of regions which are now withering from the denial of both, and over the whole State the rich current of national prosperity might be made to circulate freely, and animate a country, which needs only the succor of art to develope the most wondrous bounties in the gift of nature.

The country lying between and on the Lookout mountains and the Coosa river, is not only extremely fertile, but the scenery is beautiful. A great number of springs of medicinal waters are embraced within these limits; and a few well-conducted hotels are only wanted to render them favorite resorts for those seeking health and pleasure. Upon one of the highest points of the Lookout mountain, in Cherokee county, are springs, within a few hundred yards of each other, with every variety of mineral waters-chalybeate, white and red sulphur, &c. Hither the inhabitants of the banks of the Coosa go in summer, in search of pleasure and pure air. Magnificent views greet the eye on all sides. On the north, the Lookout gradually extends into Tennessee, and you behold the blue outline of the distant ranges far upon the horizon. On the south, the Talladegas more abruptly rear their rocky precipices, full of historical associations. Occasionally, noble waterfalls

are seen on this ridge, one of which is certainly, for its ex tent, not surpassed in the southwest. It lies near a remark able sheet of water, known as Blue Pond, about a mile from the great stage road leading from Gunter's landing to Montgomery. Upon the most lofty ridge of the mountain. runs a creek, called Yalloo. Pursuing its way along slight slopes of the mountain, the creek suddenly dashes its transparent stream over a perpendicular chasm one hundred and sixty feet below. A convulsion of nature has torn out of the mountain a mighty mass, leaving a cleft some fifty feet in width. Fragments of the rock have fallen back intothe ravine, and there they lie, as if just precipitated over, piled up in confusion, resting in disordered masses, a wild array of fragments, that seem only just now to have subsided from the convulsion. On the west of the wall, the rushing stream has worn away the rock into a gigantic hall, whose roof stretches over the spectator, inspiring awe and admiration. Into the basin of the cataract, a vast body of water, foaming as it goes, is hurled over rocky terraces that still show, sweetly rising amidst green shrubbery, and always glittering with spray. The air is ever full of the mist of the cataract, and at noon, when the sun pours its rays into the chasm, two splendid rainbows may be seen, hallowing the stormy picture as with the smile of

heaven.

Returning to the Tennessee valley, let us take a glance at the internal improvements of that region. Early in the history of the State, a very large appropriation was made by Congress for the purpose of building a canal on the Tennessee river, around the Muscle shoals. These shoals embrace a portion of the river between the towns of Decatur and Tuscumbia. After the expenditure of an immense sum, the canal was abandoned, and now remains a ruin, to attest the folly of schemes of internal improvement, begun without calculation, and carried on without purpose. A company of enterprizing citizens soon after commenced the construction of a railway between the same points. It was finished, and was for a time in successful operation. It encouraged the friends of internal improvement in that part of Alabama to hope for an extension of it. But, unfortunately, the disasters of 1837 paralyzed the enterprize, and it sank beneath the two-fold operation of bankruptcy in the proprietors and the indifference of the State.

North Alabama has given some superior intellects to the counsels of the State. Among those entitled to peculiar respect, are the names of James Jackson of Lauderdale, and of James W. McClung of Madison-now both dead. Mr. Jackson was an Irishman of remarkably strong intellect. He was possessed of a graceful address, of uncommon frankness of manner, much enthusiasm of temper, and, to the possession of all the virtues of the heart, he united the most agreeable endowments of person. His judgment was good, his intellect was earnest, and, had he lived, Alabama would no doubt have escaped many of those dif ficulties which have too frequently resulted from an erring policy, the vices of bad politicians, or the weaknesses of better men. Mr. McClung was a native of Tennessee, and nephew of Hugh L. White. He was ambitious of political distinction, and had the endowments to secure it. He was a high-spirited, frank and generous person, seeking distinction, but without making undue sacrifices for it. He, too, died prematurely for his own reputation and for the interests of his country.

The western part of Middle Alabama is sandy, and, if we except a strip of prairie soil running across Pickens, Sunter, Marengo and Greene counties, rather sterile. These last all embrace fine cotton-growing regions, and are filled with an independert, refined and gentlemanly population. No part of this State contains a people more refined in manners, more highly intellectual, or furnishing more perfect examples of the hospitable and elegant southern gentleman, than Greene and Marengo. A traveller who would visit the Fork of Greene and Marengo especially, would find himself in a society at once polished and intelligent. Living on plantations of exceedingly rich capacities, owning homesteads of great elegance and comfort, surrounded by large bodies of slaves, who look to them as protectors and generous heads of families, and never as cruel masters, the Virginian and South-Carolinian have established in these regions a community in which wealth seems to contribute alone to social intercourse, and to hospitable rites. Tables, groaning under their abundance, manners easy and accomplished, conversation improving and cheerful, distinguish the household, and render the visitor as gratified as he is welcome.

Until the winter of 1847, Tuscaloosa was the capital of

the State. This town lies on the Black Warrior river, at the head of steam-boat navigation. Though apparently a plain, it is a basin. On looking from the top of the capital, one sees the surrounding hills standing as a rim about the city, and the Warrior pours out its flood as if through a broken side. Until lately, the capacity of this place for manufactures had not been developed. Dependent upon the patronage and monies dispensed by the Legislature, the thought of adversity seems not to have entered the minds of her citizens, while the place remained the seat of government. When it became evident that the capital. would be removed, a series of lectures, by one of the citizens, drew the public attention to the introduction of manufactures. His suggestions were acted upon, and the result has been the establishment of two factories-one of cotton and the other of paper. Both of these are now in successful operation. The cotton factory is a substantial brick building, one hundred and fifty feet in length, by fifty wide, four stories high, and constructed in the most finished and elegant style. It manufactures coarse cotton cloth of superior quality, and is capable of containing six thousand spindles; and, with the number at work, (we think about two thousand,) realizes all that the most ardent proprietor could have prophecied.

In the grave-yard of the city of Tuscaloosa lie the remains of two citizens of Alabama, whose worth and usefulness in its society, and devotion to its interests, require a notice at our hands. These are Constantine Perkins and Alexander M. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson was a native of Kentucky, and removed to Tuscaloosa about the year 1832. He established, we believe, the first States Rights newspaper ever printed in the State, and took an early and decided stand in favor of the South-Carolina doctrines, which then began to agitate the southwest very powerfully. He was a man of great sim plicity of character, but possessed of a clear and manly intellect. He was full of warmth and soul-his large brain appearing to absorb all the energies of his system. His bodily powers gave way before its exercise. An exceedingly amiable temper made him unfit for that malignant warfare in which political men of his time were compelled to engage. But his firmness and moral courage, his candor and honesty, compelled the respect of enemies and