of the leaf. Of these the principal is the heart-leaved cucumber-tree. It was introduced into England in 1801. It attains the height of forty or fifty feet, and bears leaves from four to six inches in length, and from three to five in breadth. It blooms in April, and the flowers are yellow, streaked with reddish within, and three or four inches in diameter. The acuminate magnolia grows as far north as Niagara, and abounds in the Cumberland mountains. It was discovered in 1736, by John Bartram, sent to England to Peter Collingson, and soon propagated in Europe by layers. Trees of large size are now numerous in England, France, and northern Italy, forty and sixty feet in height, which bloom abundantly. In the old Bartram botanic garden, near Philadelphia, is one eighty feet high, and three feet in diameter, which was brought from Lake Erie in 1753, and furnishes most of the seeds of this species annually sent to Europe. Moist situations on declivities or narrow valleys are favorable to this species. The wood is remarkably light and chosen for canoes. Where it abounds it is used for joiner-work. The Ear-leaved Magnolia (M. auricolata), or longleaved cucumber-tree, is also known in some parts of the United States by the name of Indian physic and washoo. The leaves are deciduous and smooth, spatulately obovate, cordate at the base, with blunt approximate auricles. It grows to the height of thirty or forty feet, straight, with wide branches pointing upward. The leaves are eight or nine inches in length, four or six wide, and of a light green; and, on young trees, often much larger. There is a round lobe on each side of the petiole. The footstalks are short and radiating, which gives the clusters of leaves the form of an umbrella. It flowers in April and May, and the petals are white. It is found on a portion of the Allegany range, in North Carolina; and a variety of it in the western parts of Georgia and Carolina. The bark is infused in spirits for a sudorific in fevers. The Conspicuous-leaved Magnolia is a Chinese tree, and the Purple-Flowered Magnolia is a native of Japan; and neither of them has been extensively introduced into the United States. The Magnolia Grandiflora, or largeleaved magnolia, we have yet to notice, and this is the most splendid species of the kind, the most admired and the most cultivated. It is known by several other names in different parts of this country: as the laurel-leaved and large flowering evergreen magnolia, bay-tree, laurel-bay, and big laurel. It is an evergreen, with oval-oblong leaves, shining on their upper surface, and rusty beneath. The flowers are erect, with from nine to twelve petals, expanding. "Of all the trees of North America," says Browne, "the largeleaved magnolia is the most remarkable for the majesty of its form, the magnificence of its foliage, and the beauty of its flowers. It claims a place among the largest trees of the forest, varying from one hundred feet and upward in height, and from two to three in diameter. Its head often forms a perfect cone, placed on a clean, straight trunk, resembling a beautiful column; and, from its dark green foliage, silvered over with milk-white flowers, it is seen at a great distance." The leaves are from half a foot to a foot in length, and three or four inches broad, smooth and polished, and varying considerably in form, being oblong, oval, acuminate, &c., &c. In our southern states, the flowers appear in April or May, but in the north, as in England and France, in June or July; and some i of the varieties continue in blossom until the frost. In the size of the flowers, as well as that of the entire plant, this splendid species excels its congeners: their diameter being from six to ten inches. The length of the flowering season, is another very great advantage: most of the other species of magnolia giving out their flowers at once, and soon dropping them. In autumn, when the vessels are left bare, they tiful and delicate appear. ical, and, when they open. a few seeds, which remain !.. days hanging by slender filament ing of a blood-red color, they very rich and striking display. Peculiar attention has been directed to the M. magniflora by foreign gardeners, and numerous varieties have been produced, which have been regarded by some as distinct races. Among these are distinguished the obovate, roundleaved, Exmouth, rusty-leaved, lanceolate-leaved, elliptic-leaved, &c. its geological character. While their attention was attracted to many natural wonders in the more mountainous 10gions, the most conspicuous among them was the "natural bridge" which they described as follows: "It is situated in Walker county, about a mile from the road, and on the The native regions of the splendid property of a man by the name of West, tree is comprised within the maritime but yet would well repay a traveller by districts of South Carolina, Georgia, the beauty of the scenery for deviating Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana; and a little from his regular route. It ocup the Mississippi to Natchez, extend-curs in that geological deposite termed ing a little way into North Carolina and Texas on the Brazos. It was introduced into France in 1732, but not extend.ed until after 1760. It was admired by the Indians, who used the bark of the roots, mixed with snakeroot, in fevers. the millstone grit, the lowest one in the coal measures-the only rock which, in Alabama, exhibits the truly wild and romantic grandeur of Nature. Before reaching it, our imaginations had been considerably elevated by the descriptions given by our guide; but, notwithstanding, when the reality broke upon us in its full magnificence, we found that our expectations fell very far short of the truth. This grand structure of the Great Architect spans about one hundred and twenty feet, while its height is about seventy. A smaller bridge connects it with the bluff beyond. The propagation of this noble and elegant tree may well excite particular interest in Alabama, as well as in other of our southern regions, to which the soil and climate adapt it. As twenty or thirty years' growth is necessary to bring one of the plants from the seed to the first flowering season, that manner of propagation should never be resorted to, for purposes of ornament. If layers "The symmetry of the main arch will are resorted to, they must remain two make it almost indestructible, though of years before they are ready to be potted. course its regularity has only been proCare is required, in transplanting them, duced by the undermining and breaking to place the earth well about the roots, down of the rock which, at some byand to keep it well shaded for several gone time, existed below it. The cleavweeks, The Exmouth varieties some-age marks of the massive sandstone of times bears flowers the second year, with great care. Among the objects worthy of the attention of men of taste and public spirit in Alabama, and our other new states, is the planting of shade-trees in the towns and villages: among which the magnolias hold a prominent place, especially the grandiflora. NATURAL BRIDGE IN ALABAMA.-The Natural Bridge over Cedar creek, near Lexington, in Virginia, has been noticed at length on a previous page, in our description of the beautiful scenery of that state. Alabama, too, possesses a "natural bridge," which is spoken of as rivalling the far-famed one of Virginia. Professor Toumey of Alabama, state geologist, and an associate, have recently been traversing that state, investigating which it is formed cause it, even in the more minute construction, to resemble an artificial bridge, as these lines make it appear as if built with regularlyworked blocks. Beneath it are many pieces of broken and partially waterworn rocks-materials, as it were, left by the builders; and these, together with the mighty escarpments round about, would impart a most grand aspect, even if that were not produced by the bridge itself. A little spring trickling from between these broken masses make it a frequent resort of the deer, which abound in that part of the country, and whose numerous footprints on the soft soil indicate a favorite lick. Lofty hemlocks and beech trees growing on the bridge, and near by, shade it from the rays of the sun." THIS state is bounded north by Tennessee, east by Alabama, south by the gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, and west by Louisiana and Arkansas, from which it is separated by the Mississippi river. It lies between 30° 8' and 350 north latitude, and 10° 12′ and 120 42' west longitude, from Washington. Its entire outline measures 1,203 miles, of which large portions lie along the Mississippi and the Tennessee. Extreme length from north to south, 337 miles; mean breadth, 135 miles; area, 45,760 square miles. There is a gentle declivity in the east part of the state toward the Tombigbee river; but the grand general slope is toward the Mississippi, having abrupt bluffs at a considerable distance from the bank, and leaving a wide, low tract of land between them, which is subject to inundations. That part of the state is crossed by the following streams, which are small tributaries of the great river of North America, viz.: Yazoo, Big Black, Bayou, Pierre, and Homochitto. Pearl river, a considerable stream, has its source in the central part of the state; and flowing south-southwest, nearly parallel with the Big Black, for a distance of eighty miles, then turns south-southeast, runs one hundred and fifty miles, and empties into the Rigolets between Lake Pontchartrain and Boyne. The soil of the state is generally thin, but in some places very rich, especially on the narrow border of lowlands along the bank of the Mississippi, above mentioned. Cotton, indigo, and tobacco, flourish so well, that they have been, in turns, the staple productions. Indian corn, potatoes, and various other useful plants, are also cultivated with great success. Among fruits, peaches and figs are the most abundant; but the climate is favorable to almost every kind except those confined to the tropics. The indigenous trees most abundant are the pine, oak of different varieties and species, hickory, sweetgum, liriodendron, tulip-tree, beech, persimmon, blackwalnut, blacklocust, honeylocust, redmaple, dogwood, chinquipin, spicewood, papau, &c. The great reedcane (arundo gigantea) formerly abounded in the low grounds; but it has been nearly rooted out. The temperature at Natchez is variable, and, although usually mild in winter, has sometimes been as cold as twelve degrees, Fahrenheit, above zero. Frost is always experienced there, in some degree, in the course of the cold season, and snow is occasionally seen; so that it is not surprising that neither sugarcane nor orange-trees are to be found above thirty-one degrees of latitude. The climate is about two degrees colder than on the Atlantic. In summer, heats and drought are often unintermitted for a long period. The state is generally healthy, although intermittent fevers are common along the banks of some of the streams. The prevailing winds, as in the southwestern states generally, are westerly, and chiefly from the north west. The first settlement made in this state by Europeans was by the French at Natchez in 1716, when a fort was built by permission of the Indians, a powerful tribe, who inhabited the bluff. In 1723 the foreigners were involved in a war with the natives, which was terminated by a body of French troops marched from New Orleans by Governor Bienville, who were too powerful to be resisted by the savages, and they submitted. In 1729, the French having become very numerous at Natchez, the commandant (Choteau), by ill-treating the Indians, excited them to revenge; and by a sudden attack, while the garrison were secure and unprepared, they cut off about seven hundred persons, of both sexes, leaving alive scarcely enough to carry the news. The Indians, however, were soon driven from their homes by the fear of their powerful enemies; and as the French made no further attempt to occupy the place, it was left desolate until the year 1763, when it was ceded to Great Britain. From that time a few respectable settlers arrived from Europe, New England, and elsewhere; but the events which took place for some years subsequently were very unfavorable to the populating of the country. The fort at Natchez was taken several times by the Spaniards, English, and Americans. In 1781, Governor Galvey, of Louisiana, conquered Florida, and by the treaty of Paris it was ceded to the United States. On the 7th of April, 1798, congress, by an act, authorized the president of the United States to appoint commissioners to adjust the claims between Florida, Louisiana, and the acquired territory north of latitude thirty-one degrees and west of Chatahoochee river; and on the 10th of that month made provision for a territorial government. A territory was therefore formed, and named Mississippi territory, which included, not only the present state of Mississippi, but also that of Alabama. An act of congress was passed on the 9th of July, 1808, admitting a delegate from Mississippi; and on the 17th of June the assent of Georgia was demanded to the formation of two states out of Mississippi territory. But, although the demand was acceded to, it was not until December, 1817, that any change was made. A petition had been presented on the 21st of January, 1815, from the Mississippi legislature, praying that a state might be constituted. A favorable report on this petition was` made in December, 1816; and by an act passed March 1st, 1817, the people were authorized to hold a convention, which assembled in July following. A constitution having been drawn up, it was adopted August 15th, and was confirmed by congress in December following. The government consists of a governor, and a general assembly of two houses (a senate and a house of representatives). To be a candidate for the senate, a man must be twenty-six years of age, a citizen of the United States, have brought to light curiosities of the for four years previously an inhabitant most interesting nature. of the state, and one year an inhabitant of his district; he must hold, in his own right, three hundred acres of land in Mississippi, or an interest in real estate of one thousand dollars' value, at the time of election and for six months previously. Senators are elected for three years. To be candidate for a seat as a representative, citizenship of the United States is required; two years' residence in the state, and one year's residence in the county, city, or town of which he is candidate an age of twenty-one years; and the ownership of one hundred and fifty acres of land, or five hundred dollars in real estate for six months. Voters must be free white citizens of the United States; twenty-one years of age; residents of the state for the last year, and of their district for the last six months; enrolled in the militia, or exempts; or have paid a state or county tax. On the shore, at the foot of the bluff, are strewn great numbers of tubes, re sembling, at first sight, the bodies of old trees, formed of iron ore, and filled with earth, and which appear to have fallen from the bank. The remains of numerous kinds of extinct animals are contained in the ground at different depths; while on the present surface a mound has been opened, which contains bones and implements of men of a race anterior to the present red men; and trees of great age were growing over the spot. POPULATION. According to the census of 1850 the population of Mississippi was 605,488, by counties, as follows: Northern District.-Attila, 10,999; Bolivar, 2,577; Carroll, 18,485; Chickasaw, 16,368; Choctaw, 11,403; Coahoma, 2,780; De Soto, 18,052; Itawamba, 13.311; La Fayette, 14,069; Lowndes, 19,547; Marshall, 29,690; The governor is elected by electors, Monroe, 21,131; Noxubee, 16,257; and holds his office two years, and until Oktibbeha, 9,171; Panola, 11,459; Ponhis successor shall be duly qualified. totoc, 17,112; Sunflower, 1,060; TalHe must be thirty years of age; twenty lahatchee, 4,643; Tippah, 20,740; Tishyears a citizen of the United States; aomingo, 15,148; Tunica, 1,314; Winsresident of the state five years; and the owner of two thousand dollars for the past year. There is a supreme court, and from four to eight judges of the supreme and superior courts, who hold office during good behavior, but may be removed by address to the governor of two thirds of both houses of the legislature, or by impeachment by the house before the senate. The age of sixty-five limits the term of judgeship. The sixth article of the seventh section of the constitution forbids any minister of the gospel or priest to hold the offices of governor, fieutenant-governor, or a place in the legislature. No officers of the United States, except postmasters, are admitted to offices in the state. The geology of the western border of Mississippi has some most remarkable features. The land on the bank of the great river appears to have undergone wonderful revolutions; and recent investigations in the vicinity of Natchez ton, 7,986; Yallabusha, 17,260. Total, 300,561; of which number 133,672 were slaves. Southern District:—Adams, 18,621; Amite, 9,624; Claiborne, 14,903; Clarke, 5,477; Copiah, 11,710; Covington, 3,348, Franklin, 5,904: Green, 2,018; Hancock, 3,672; Harrison, 4,875; Hinds, 25,310; Holmes, 13,930; Issaquena, 4,478; Jackson, 3,196; Jasper, 6,174; Jefferson, 13,393; Jones, 2,135; Kemper, 12,517; Lauderdale, 8,708; Lawrence, 6,485; Leake, 5,535; Madison, 18,173; Marion, 4,410; Neshoba, 4,560; Newton, 4,466; Perry, 2,438; Pike, 7,357; Rankin, 7,227; Scott, 3,979; Simpson, 4,735; Smith, 4,071; Warren, 19,998; Washington, 8,389; Wayne, 2,892; Wilkinson, 16,638; Yazoo, 13,582. Total, 304,927, of which 174,495 were slaves. NATCHEZ, the principal town, is advantageously situated on the summit and side of a high bluff, on the eastern bank of Mississippi river, three hundred and |