River, was early laid off; but in process of time, it went into decay, and New-Berne took its place. This latter was named from Berne, in Switzerland, and is one of the most interesting towns in the United States. Situated immediately in the fork of the Neuse and Trent River, which form a bay on the eastern side, the location is favourable for health and trade. The water views are not surpassed in beauty in any part of the world; and for these reasons, and because it was rather central between Albemarle and the Cape-Fear, power, wealth, and fashion early centred here. Here was at first located the seat of government, and the palace built by Governor Tryon was the finest edifice of the kind on the American continent. The Pamlico country is a fine farming country: it abounds in fish and oysters and game, in corn, wine, and cattle. Here, as in the Nag's Head region, the creeks are often navigable; and sometimes, to a spectator at a little distance, ships seem actually to be gliding through the woods. Sometimes you can step from either bank on board the vessel, and corn is shipped at the crib. We are getting now into the forests of pine, the turpentinetree; and, as we travel at night, the blazed trees gleam like spectral apparitions. The turpentine is obtained by boxing the trees; and when this raw material is distilled, the spirit forms spirit of turpentine, and what is left is rosin. Tar is obtained by burning the trees when they die or cease to yield turpentine. We can now smell, in all directions, the smoke of turpentine distilleries; and on inquiring, we learn that this is one of the most profitable occupations in the United States. Money is plentiful, trade is brisk, and the people contented. Pursuits are now becoming diversified: there is more trade and more activity. The forests have changed somewhat in appearance: the people, too, have changed and we are getting into a speculative and commercial community. For some time the seat of power in NorthCarolina, and the centre of fashion, the Pamlico region still exhibits signs of the stirring passions of which it was once the principal theatre in the State. The country looks forward to very important improvements; and if it can succeed in obtaining them, it will grow rapidly in trade, wealth, and influence. NEW-BERNE.-Forty miles from this ancient city is Goldsboro', a depot on the Wilmington Railroad, and it is also to be the eastern termination of the Great Central Railroad, which will be more fully described hereafter. Now, the people of New-Berne are determined to have a railroad from Goldsboro' to their town; and the country is a very fine one for such a road. It is entirely level—it is also firm and well timbered with pine. If this road is built, New-Berne will become a large city, and even now it is the principal town on the Pamlico waters. It is, besides, interesting in many particulars. As already stated, it is an ancient place; and the dampness of the air covering the houses with moss and lichen, gives it a still more venerable appearance. It contains many relics of the olden times; and its streets and hotels present characters different from any we have yet seen. Here we meet with the hardy and heroic sailors who navigate the waters along the dangerous coast of the State; and we see also a picturesque population from the neighbouring islands, swamps, necks, and peninsulas scattered about the broad waters of Pamlico Sound. OCRACOCKE INLET.-This is the principal inlet from the ocean to Pamlico; and through it passes a great deal of commerce. BEAUFORT. This is a town and seaport on Bogue Sound, in the county of Carteret. It is the best harbour for ships between Norfolk, in Virginia, and Pensacola, in Florida; and there is water enough (over nineteen feet) on the bar, (the ridge of sand that bounds the Atlantic coast,) to float the largest vessels. The town occupies a magnificent site; and one who has not been there can form no idea of the beauty of the surrounding scenery. The citizens can sit in their houses and see the rolling waves of the wide, blue sea, one and a half miles distant; and on the north of them is North River, and on the south New-Port River, streams that are in themselves little seas. Here can be enjoyed sea-breezes and sea-bathing; and fish and oysters and wild-fowl furnish a continual feast. A great city might be built up here: all that is wanting is to have a railroad communicating with the interior of the country. They talk strongly of having one to Goldsboro' or to NewBerne; and, no doubt, some day there will be one. The General Government ought to have established a navy-yard at this place the harbour is sufficiently capacious, and it is in the midst of the finest materials for ship-building, and a region abounding in naval stores. CLUB-FOOT AND HARLOWE CANAL.-An attempt has been made to connect the harbour of Beaufort with the Neuse River, below New-Berne, by a canal; and this is called the Club-Foot and Harlowe Canal. OLD TOPSAIL INLET is the inlet to Beaufort; and if the canal alluded to could succeed, it would carry the extensive trade of the Pamlico waters through an inlet safer and deeper than that of Ocracocke. WASHINGTON is a handsome and flourishing town on Tar River. It is a rapidly growing place; and from it is shipped a vast amount of naval stores. Here, as in New-Berne, are many turpentine distilleries, saw-mills for sawing lumber, commission stores, and other industrial investments; and at either place, one is forcibly impressed with the capabilities of the country, and the comparative ease with which the inhabitants make a good support. Tar River, at Washington, spreads out into a broad and beautiful expanse of water; and from here to the sound has been called Pamlico River. In travelling from the Albemarle country, we have come over level roads, and passed through uninhabited swamps and over broad sheets of water; but we have found that the features of the country have sensibly changed. Forests of pine are becoming more abundant; and we now behold, on every side, the long moss which makes the woods look like an army of ancient patriarchs with hoary beards. It streams in long, gray locks, or flakes, from the branches of the trees; and gives an indescribable air of quaintness and romantic beauty to the scene. Corn and shingles and fish are no longer the chief commodities; and tar-kilns, turpentine distilleries, and lumber-mills are often seen. We pass whole fields of barrels; and we begin to hear new names, new terms, and almost a new dialect. The appearance of the soil is lighter; and sometimes we pass over sandy tracts that give us a foretaste of the region we are approaching. The country, divided by the waters into a thousand different interests, presents as many kinds of people; and among all, with all their peculiarities of manners, dress, and dialects, we observe the universal characteristics of plenty, contentment, cheerfulness, and hospitality. Every one can easily make a luxurious living: every one who tries, whatever be his means, can make a good support and lay up for a future day. Whatever becomes of the world, without some signal judg ment, beggary and starvation will never here be known: it will always be a land of plenty and the home of cheerfulness. THE pines the towering, dark old pines, The breath of winter only leaves A deeper, darker shade of green, And wild, low whispering, strangely weaves As if young summer's shade was there, And floating through the wailing air. Strong linked to earth those branches hi Each page of nature with the lore Is meet for age or glowing youth. From thoughts which burn and deeds tha A soothing antidote is here. And there, those wild and gloomy pines, What is the lesson? Slave of earth |