and expenditures, the dull but endless repetition of the "Fulton folly." Never did a single encouraging remark, a bright hope, or a warm wish, cross my path. Silence itself was but politeness veiling its doubts or hiding its reproaches. At length the day arrived when the experiment was to go into operation. To me it was a most trying and interesting occasion. I invited many friends to go on board to witness the first successful trip. Many of them did me the favor to attend as a matter of personal respect; but it was manifest they did it with reluctance, fearing to be partners of my mortification and not of my triumph. I was well aware that in my case there were many reasons to doubt of my own success. The machinery, (like Fitch's before me,) was new and ill made; and many parts of it were constructed by mechanics unacquainted with such work, and unexpected difficulties might reasonably be presumed to present themselves from other causes. The moment arrived in which the word was to be given for the vessel to move. My friends were in groups on the deck. There was anxiety mixed with fear among them. They were silent, sad, and weary. I read in their looks nothing but disaster, and almost repented of my efforts. The signal was given, and the boat moved on a short distance and then stopped, and became immovable. To the silence of the preceding moment now succeeded murmurs of discontent, and agitations, and whispers, and shrugs. I could hear distinctly repeated, 'I told you it was so; it is a foolish scheme; I wish we were well out of it.' I elevated myself upon a platform, and addressed the assembly. I stated that I knew not what was the matter; but if they would be quiet, and indulge me for half an hour, I would either go on or abandon the voyage for that time. This short respite was conceded without objection. I went below and examined the machinery, and discovered that the cause was a slight maladjustment of some of the work. In a short period it was obviated. The boat was again put in motion. She continued to move on. All were still incredulous. None seemed willing to trust the evidence of their own senses. We left the fair city of New York; we passed through the romantic and ever-varying scenery of the Highlands; we descried the clustering houses of Albany; we reached its shores; and then, even then, when all seemed achieved, I was the victim of disappointment. Imagination superseded the influence of fact. It was then doubted if it could be done again; or if done, it was doubted if it could be made of any great value." Fulton obtained a patent for his inventions in navigation by steam in February, 1809, and another for some improvements, in 1811. In the latter year he was appointed, by the Legislature of New York, one of the commissioners to explore a route for a canal from the great lakes to the Hudson, and engaged with zeal in the promotion of that great work. On the commencement of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, in 1812, he renewed his attention to submarine warfare, and contrived a method of discharging guns under water, for which he obtained a patent. In 1814 he contrived an armed steamship for the defence of the harbor of New York, and also a submarine vessel, or plunging boat, of such dimensions as to carry one hundred men, the plans of which being approved by government, he was authorized to construct them at the public expense. But before completing either of those works he died suddenly, February 24th, 1815. His person was tall, slender, and well formed; his manners graceful and dignified, and his disposition generous. His attainments and inventions bespeak the high superiority of his talents. He was an accomplished painter, was profoundly versed in mechanics, and possessed an inventive faculty of great fertility, which was always directed by an eminent share of good sense. His style as a writer was perspicuous and energetic. To him is to be ascribed the honor of inventing a method of successfully employing the steamengine in navigation, an invention justly considered one of the most important which has been made in modern times, and by which he rendered himself both a perpetual and one of the greatest benefactors of mankind. Some of Fulton's relatives still reside near the spot where he was born; which is further interesting from the fact that the parents of the late Mr. Calhoun, of South Carolina, for a long time lived there; some persons allege that it was the place of his birth. Lancaster is known, also, as the residence of the Hon. James Buchanan, who removed here from Franklin County upwards of forty years ago. Mr. Buchanan lives in a plain, but substantial brick house about one mile from Lancaster. It was lately the residence of Hon. W. M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury during General Taylor's administration. The estate, which is a delightful one, is surrounded by fine shade trees. It is called Wheatland, from the splendid agricultural district adjacent. The Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, one of the most brilliant lawyers in Pennsylvania, and at present the representative of this county in Congress, has also resided in Lancaster for many years past. He is a native of Caledonia County. Vermont. Personally, Mr. Stevens is one of the best men living;politically, he is known for his extreme measures, which, were they less sectional in character, would render his position in Congress much more popular and commanding than it is under present circumstances. It is his splendid personal and intellectual qualities which sustain him; in the absence of these, with his strong sectional views, he probably never would have been heard at all in the councils of the nation. Thomas M'Elrath, Esq., of the firm of Greely & M'Elrath, proprie~tors of the New York Tribune, lives in a handsome retired mansion, one mile north of Lancaster. Hon. Ellis Lewis, the eminent jurist, and one of the Supreme Judges of Pennsylvania, also lives at this place. He is regarded by many as one of the most learned exponents of the law in this country. His occasional contributions to our periodical literature have aided this reputation; these, although thrown off in his idle moments, may be regarded as the poetic cream accumulating upon the surface of a fine intellect, and which the more substantial elements of the law refuse to skim off. Judge Lewis has a daughter the wife of James H. Campbell, Esq., of Pottsville-who also enjoys a conspicuous position in the literary circles of our country. Gliding, as she does, over the clear, transparent water of poesy, Mrs. Campbell has a mind and heart to realize all its varied beauties, and sings them in the purest and sweetest strains. One mile northwest of Lancaster, the State Railway intersects that of the Lancaster and Harrisburg line, thirty-six miles in length. The former extends to COLUMBIA, ten miles distant. Columbia is one of the most active and flourishing places in the State, delightfully situ ated on the Susquehanna River. It is in the midst of public improvements, radiating in every direction. The Pennsylvania canal commences here, following the valley of the Susquehanna to Northumberland, where it branches into two divisions, following respectively the north and west branches of that river. Below Northumberland, at Duncan's Island, another division, and by far the most important one, crosses the Susquehanna, and follows the Juniata to Hollidaysburg, situated on the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains. The Tide Water Canal meets the Pennsylvania Canal at Columbia, and follows the course of the river to Havre-de-Grace, in Maryland, thirty-six miles. The Baltimore Railroad extends to York, where it unites with the main road from Harrisburg to Baltimore. The principal trade of Columbia is in the descending lumber of the Susquehanna, in which a large amount of capital is invested. Some business is done, too, in the coal trade; but it is comparatively unimportant, confined to the more bituminous qualities for domestic purposes. One of the richest deposits of iron ore in the United States is situated within a few miles of the place, which is also surrounded with numerous furnaces and machine-shops, flour and grist mills, &c. The longest and most substantial bridge in the State, and probably in the Union, stretches across the Susquehanna. Its length is over one mile and a quarter, and is adapted both for railway cars and vehicles, as well as for towing boats across the river. A short distance above Columbia, a bold and extensive ridge of white sandstone emerges from the surrounding formation, which, at the Susquehanna, towers several hundred feet in rugged, perpendicular cliffs, entirely overlooking the banks of the river below. This description of scenery, however, is peculiar to the Susquehanna, and is even wilder some ten miles below. About two miles above Columbia is the residence of Prof. Haldeman, one of the most eminent of American Mineralogists and philosophers His residence is eminently worthy a gentleman of fortune and cultivated taste-being, probably, the most stately edifice in this part of the country, while its situation is altogether unsurpassed for bold, romantic profile, and delightful prospect. The view on page 61 is afforded from his spring-house, a short distance from the dwelling. The village of MARIETTA, one mile distant, is situated on the banks of the river. Eleven miles from Lancaster is the village of MOUNT JOY, pleasantly situated in the heart of a beautiful agricultural region. Cedar Hill Seminary, near this place, is a well-known school for young ladies. The place is otherwise without general interest. ELIZABETHTOWN, eight miles further, is a village of some six hundred population. It is a short distance from the railroad, on the turnpike between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. Nearly all the villages along this once crowded thoroughfare have lost their former interest and prosperity, since the diversion of its trade to the lines of railroad and canal. After leaving this place, we enter the range of Conewago hills, some six miles wide, one of which is tunnelled. A splendid bridge crosses the stream a short distance beyond the tunnel, which is nearly one hundred feet in height. This structure has just been completed, and is one of the most substantial of the kind in the State. The entire railroad, indeed, has recently been very much improved, |