Some of this building on piles is done slide upward and downward in this in the southern part of Boston, and in groove. the borders of Roxbury. Quite a large engine factory was built, a year or two since, at a place called the 'point,' in Roxbury, on piles. It stands on about 60 of them. It is not far from the lead factory, described in a late number of this magazine. And I know of several other factories, and one or two considerable wharves built in the same manner. One is sustained by from 150 to 200 piles. Indeed, most wharves, unless they are of solid stone work, must be built in this manner. How else could people build them as they often do, in the water? But here a number of curious questions, if you have any curiosity about you, will come into your minds. How can they drive down these great stakes or posts in the water? And how thickly do they drive them? And why do they not decay, and let the buildings and wharves fall? But one thing at a time, I always say; and if you will have patience, I will try to answer all your questions. They are driven down, when they are to be placed in the water, in the following manner. A floating frame work of timber is prepared, on which stand two very large, strong, and high posts, so closely and evenly framed together, that there is just room enough between them for a block, say a foot in diameter, and for this block to slide. Then there is a channel or groove cut all the way, and the large iron block is made so as to The space between the posts is also wide enough to admit the pile or piece of timber to be driven down. The raft or battery is then floated along, and so placed that the pile, when placed upright where it is to stand, is exactly between the two high posts. A strong rope is fastened to the iron weight of which I have before spoken, and then passed over a pully at the top. Perhaps the posts are 20 to 25 feet high. The other end of the rope is fastened to a windlass. Now when they wish to drive down a pile, they turn the windlass, and draw up the huge, heavy iron block to the top of these high posts. When it arrives at the top, there is such a contrivance there I can't very well describe it, but you could easily understand it, if you were to see it-that the iron block lets go of the rope, and slides down in the groove by the the way it came up, with great swiftness, and with tremendous power; and strikes on the top of the pile, and drives it down. Not far enough at once, it is true; but the block is drawn up again many times, and the blows repeated. They set them more or less thickly, as they choose. Those on which the State House in Amsterdam is built, are about two feet apart. They are oftenest, however, from eight to ten feet apart; but sometimes no more than six. They are usually from eight to twelve inches RAMBLES OF RICHARD ROVER. RAMBLES OF RICHARD ROVER. Ir was Saturday, and nearly night, and I was yet several miles distant from the house of a friend, with whom I wished to spend the sabbath. Fearing I should not arrive, and finding the roads difficult and the darkness approaching, I inquired for a public house. But there was none near; and I was referred to a hospitable gentleman, a mile from the road, whom the people said would undoubtedly entertain me. I reached his house just before dark; but, to my surprize and regret, the gentleman himself was absent, and his lady refused to receive me. However, she was kind enough to direct me to another plantation where she thought I might be received; and to suffer a slave to walk a little distance with me,-'carry me,' as the Virginians say-and put me into the right road. It was dark when he left me to return to the house of his mistress. Just after he left me I came to a place where the road forked, as had been told me. I was to take the left hand division. The fork was in the woods, and as I approached it, lo! two men stood there, conversing together. As I believed them to be colored men and had heard many stories of thieves and robbers, and as my escape from Tom Cooke was still fresh in my recollection, I was afraid. But what could I do? Go back I must not, for where could I go? There was no way but to go forward. Should 15 I go boldly on, or timidly? Quick as thought, I decided on the former course. So I walked, with a bold and firm step, directly by the men, at the distance of only a few feet from them. They seemed to pay very little attention to me, notwithstanding my fears. So I passed on, gradually taking courage. When I was so far from them that I thought they could not hear my footsteps, I began to run; and few, it seems to me, could have run faster. I ran on till I saw a light at a distance, in the field; to which I directed my steps. It proved to be the house I was in search of. But, though the gentleman received me with kindness, he could not entertain me even for the night, for his house was small, and his family were sick. He did what he could, however. Though dark and rainy, he took a lantern and conducted me, through the fields, half a mile to the house of his father, who consented to keep me till the sabbath was over. You may easily guess that I rejoiced, after wandering an hour or two in the dark, to find comfortable lodgings. The gentleman at whose house I had stopped was a deacon in a neighboring church,and though by no means as grave as some deacons are, a very good sort of man. He had a large family, who crowded around the stranger, eager to know his country and hear his adventures. I told them many things; but I was too much fatigued to gratify their curiosity very extensively; and I soon obtained permission to retire for the night. The sabbath was spent at home by most of us; though I believe the deacon himself attended church. Towards evening many young gentlemen and ladies called at the deacon's to see his sons and daughters. I was struck with the different manner in which the sabbath was regarded in this part of Virginia, even among religious people. It seemed to me more like a play-day, than a day for worship, public or private; though I must confess that there was no noisy mirth, nor any intemperance. I will relate an anecdote which will serve you as a specimen. A pedlar had put up there about the same hour with myself. He had a great many knicknacks to sell, but of course did not offer to exhibit them while the Sabbath lasted. However, it was not yet near night, when the young gentlemen and ladies who were visiting there, pressed him so hard to allow them to see his goods that he consented. But either for the sake of conscience or appearance, he refused to sell any thing until Sabbath was over, and I have reason to believe he kept his word. This was doing well, it must be confessed; but it would have been still better had he nobly refused to exhibit his goods at all. I forgot to tell you that 1 spent the Sabbath within about a stone's throw of the house of my friend, whom I had wished to find. There was only a river between us, but the ice in the river was in such a condition that there was no possibility of crossing it, had we been disposed to make the attempt. But my friend, of course, did not know of my arrival; and for myself, I preferred waiting a few days rather than run any considerable risk in attempting to cross the stream in its present condition. On Monday morning I left the deacon's hospitable mansion, and proceeding down to the mouth of the river without crossing it, I took passage in a boat which I found there, for Gwyn's Island, a small island in the Chesapeake bay, near the mouth of the Pyanketank river. My adventures on this island I will relate in my next letter. Yours, &c. RICHARD ROVer. A PERSIAN ANECDOTE. SAADEE relates that he saw a wild Arab, sitting among the jewellers at Bassorah, and telling them this story. "I was once so worn out with the journey, that I could not keep up with the caravan, and was left behind in the desert, without a drop of water or a bit of bread. In the midst of my misery, I found a bag; and I never shall forget my joy when I thought it was parcher corn, nor my vexation when I found it was pearls." To the thirsty traveller the shell is as good as the pearl. Where no food is to be bought, a tile is of as much value as gold. A man that breaks his word, bids others be false to him. A wager is a fool's argument. THE MAGNY. THIS is a curious shrub, abounding in Mexico; but it has also been transplanted into other countries, especially into Florida. from five to eight feet high, and from a foot to a foot and a half in diameter. The leaves, if leaves they can be called, for they seem more like huge limbs than leaves-descend from the top to When the Magny is full grown, it is wards the ground, and are so thick and |