An old soldier of the American republic eager to avow himself a vassal of his Most Catholic Majesty and a good Spaniard! A confidential officer of the United States, in 1798, attempting to negociate through Dan. Clark, Jr., for Gov. Gayoso's plantation near Natchez for $10,000! All this, however, is alleged to be an adjustment of ancient balances in his favor on the tobacco contract with Gov. Miro. After this exposure of rank corruption, what may not be suspected of Wilkinson's connection with Aaron Burr, in 1806? He who could deceive Washington and Jefferson, and betray his friends and associates in Kentucky, was quite equal to deceive Burr, and then to betray him by a double treason, first to his country, and then to his friend. But this work of M. Gayarre through which the American public has been gratified by this contribution to their history, has not yet received the notice which my high admiration demands for its spirit so purely patriotic and nobly republican from a descendant of La Belle France; its laborious authenticity derived from original materials, enlivened by a style clear and perspicuous. There is throughout this work a con amore spirit, a sympathy with the fortunes and fame of the country, which could alone flow from the heart of a creole, a native of the soil. The public will look with high literary and patriotic sympathy to the future labors of so earnest and faithful a contributor to our history. It is said that this polished scholar is engaged in developing the conspiracy of Burr. Do the Spanish archives (copies of which concerning Louisiana are deposited at Baton Rouge,) throw any light on this other mystery of western history? The present writer was a witness to much of this affair in Kentucky; he has exerted no little pains to penetrate the secrecy of this strange movement amidst the overflowing prosperity of the West. Not however, much to his satisfaction; he will, however, say that the memoir of Davis, in his Life of Burr, is a most artful and unfair work, a disguised eulogy on his subject; almost ignoring the probabilities against the innocence of his friend. Yet it refrains from openly assailing the antagonists of Burr, while it leaves everything to implication. The public must look with impatience for M. Gayarre's labors on this obscure, yet interesting branch of American story. The annual increase in the receipts of leading staples at Chicago, for a few years past, indicate a commercial growth which is perhaps unparalled in the history of cities. Though this increase has been greatly accelerated by the opening of several important railways, and may not continue long at the same ratio, yet Chicago is destined to become one of the great commercial cities of the continent. She is located in the heart of a great cereal and meat growing region, and possesses facilities of transportation which enable the dealers in those commodities at all times, to chose between the eastern and southern markets, according to the inducements offered by the one or the other. The lumber trade of Chicago is another important element of her commerce, and it is not improbable that when the mineral wealth of Lake Superior is developed, she will become one of the great metal markets of the Union. The growth of Chicago has been regarded by some as calculated to detract from the commercial prosperity of St. Louis, but we are persuaded that the fears and the hopes of those who view the subject in this light, are without foundation. In one sense, St.Louis and Chicago may be rivals; but it will always be a rivalry which will promote the interest of both, and be of advantage to the country. If St. Louis is destined to be a city of the first magnitude, her commerce must extend over [not monopolize] the great basin of the St. Lawrence, at least so far down as to include Canada West; and it is obvious that the growth of Chicago will be the surest means of drawing the trade of the lake region in this direction. Without a great commercial city near the southern end of Lake Michigan, St. Louis could never expect to carry on any considerable amount of trade with the lake region. Should Chicago continue to grow, she will soon become the best customer that St. Louis will have, and abundantly compensate the latter for any trade drawn eastward from the valley of the upper Mississippi. It is generally conceded that Chicago and St. Louis are each destined to become great commercial centers, the one representing the basin of the St. Lawrence, and the other the valley of the Mississippi. And in view of these facts, we venture the prediction that the time will come when the business of the Michigan and Illinois canal, if sufficiently enlarged, will be at least equal to that connecting the lakes with the city of New York. It would be unreasonable for the friends of St. Louis, to expect to monopolize the entire trade of the upper Mississippi. That is debatable ground between the South and the East, and the commerce of that region will take the direction which is most conven ient and profitable to the country. St. Louis is the natural direction for the agricultural products of that region, but without a railroad running parallel with the Mississippi, it may be doubted whether she will get her fair proportion. But with such a work, completed to St. Paul, and the obstructions to the navigation of the Mississippi removed, St. Louis would have no just cause to complain of the loss of any trade which might be diverted to Chicago. We copy the following tables from the "Annual Review of the Commerce, Manufactures, and Public and Private Improvements of Chicago, for the year 1854." RECEIPTS OF FLOUR, for three years." SHIPMENTS OF FLOUR, by lake, for eleven years. January...$2.75@4.50 $2.25@4.00 $3.50@4.00 $5.00@5.50 February... 2,75-4.50 2.25-4.00 4.00 5.00 6.25-6.75 March...... 3.00 5.00 2.50-4.25 3.50-4.75 6.75-7.25 2.25-4.00 3.25-4.50 2.25-4.00 3.50 4.75 3.00-4.25 3.50-4.75 6.75-7.25 6.75-7.25 7.25-7.75 April 3.00 4.50 RECEIPTS OF WHEAT, for three years. 7.25-7.75 1854. Total............................................... do. 937,496 1,687,465 3,038,955 SHIPMENTS OF WHEAT, for three years. SHIPMENTS OF WHEAT, by lake, for thirteen years. Bush. Years. Bush. 1,986,264 883,644 437,660 635,496 1,206,163 1,250,489 PRICES OF WHEAT, for three years. 1852. 1853. Spring. Winter. January...31@42 50@65 70@76 45 50 70 65 1854. Winter. Spring. 78@86 92@95 106@115 85 117 120 130 140 85 104 106 120 130 80 100 100 112 120 90 125 130 140 150 90 128 130 140 150 66 75 70 70 65 70 66 80 79 73 July......37 .......37 39 68 August....40 43 65 September 44 50 69 80 90 100 120 130 140 |