I hope that a very few years will see me again on the banks of the bonny Hudson with a sufficient fortune to make you all happy. I have just been informed that the person to whom Gen. Harrison's furniture is consigned is only waiting for orders to forward it, while the General is in daily expectation of receiving it and therefore does not think of writing; under these circumstances I shall assume the responsibility of ordering it on. I hope that my good old Grandmother and all my friends are well. I suppose Aunt Maria by this time is Mrs. Jacob S. Glen. Give my best love to one and all. Yours as ever,

RENSSELAER VAN RENSSELAER. Genl. Sol. Van Rensselaer, P. M., Albany, New York, North America.

Andrew Jackson.

General Andrew Jackson had a triumphant election and on the 4th of March, 1829, an imposing inauguration to the office of president. "Several surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution surrounded the old hero, when he took the oath of office as the seventh president of the United States." In this presidential contest there had been almost unexampled malignity of party feeling which discharged heavy guns; but the successful candidate constructed a cabinet wholly of his political friends. "It was done with decision, and then with inflexible honesty, a strong will, incorruptible integrity, and audacity which amazed his friends and alarmed his opponents, he began the administration of public affairs with great vigor." Among the visitors at Washington was Gen. Van Rensselaer not only to be present at the inauguration, but also to meet any proscriptive tendency that might be afloat. "General Jackson scrupulously rejected all party or personal considerations in regard to Gen. Van Rensselaer's politics, and behaved most honorably in his distribution of official patronage. When introduced by Mr. Livingston, the president took his hand in both of his own remarking that he had long wished to see General Van Rensselaer, and continued he: If there was any thing he could do for him, besides taking care of the present Post Office, he must mention it to him,' adding 'I well recollect your decided conduct in my state in 1797 (Tennessee) at the head of your noble troop of Dragoons, the finest in the service that you did not come to action was not your fault. You were also the first to draw your sword and shed your blood after the disgraceful surrender of Hull, the fall of Brock was a very great achievement. Your country owes you much Sir.' A miserable set of democratic cormorants at Albany applied to the old hero for the removal of Gen. Van Rensselaer from the Albany Post Office, but that splendid type of Revolutionary times made this high souled and patriotic reply: By the Eternal I will remove no man from office who carries British lead in his body.' He would not be guilty of such a wanton outrage."

A New Anecdote of Gen. Jackson.

After Jackson's first election in 1829, a strong effort was made to remove Gen. an old revolutionary soldier, at that time postmaster in one of the principal New York towns. He had been so fierce an Adams man that the Jackson men determined to displace him. Silas Wright had just left his seat as a Representative in Congress from New York, and was precisely the man to head a movement against the old Postmaster. His influence with Jackson was boundless. His force in debate made him a match for the giants themselves; and as Mr. Van Buren was then

Jackson's Secretary of State the combination was powerful. The old Postmaster, knowing that these two political masters were against him, went to Washington, called upon the President immediately upon his arrival, and was most courteously received and requested to call again, which he did several times, but nothing was said about the post office. The old postmaster now heard from his friends at home that the important document was on its way, so he resolved on a coup de main. The next day there was a presidential reception, and among the early visitors was Gen. After a cordial greeting by Gen. Jackson, he quietly took his seat and waited until the long train of visitors had duly saluted the nation's chief and passed through the grand east room on their way home. The President turned to his venerable guest with some surprise, as he noticed him still seated on one of the sofas, and entered into familiar conversation with him, when, to his amazement, the old soldier said, "Gen. Jackson, I have come here to talk to you about my office. The politicians want to take it from me, and they know I have nothing else to live upon." The President made no reply, till the aged postmaster began to take off his coat in the most excited manner, when Old Hickory broke out with the inquiry. "What in heaven's name are you going to do? Why do you take off your coat in this public place?" "Well Sir, I am going to show you my wounds, which I received in fighting for my Country against the English." "Put it on at once Sir!" was the reply. "I am surprised that a man of your age should make such an exhibition of himself," and the eyes of the iron President were suffused with tears, as without another word he bade his ancient foe good evening. The very next night the crafty and able New York politician called at the White House and sent in his card. He was immediately ushered into the presence, and found Jackson in loose gown and slippers, seated before a blazing wood fire, quietly smoking his long pipe. After the ordinary courtesies had been exchanged, the politician opened his budget. He represented the district from which the venerable post-master hailed; said the latter had been a very active advocate of John Quincy Adams; that he had literally forfeited his place by his earnest opposition to the Jackson men, and that if he were not removed the new administration would be seriously injured. He had hardly finished the last sentence, when Jackson sprung to his feet, flung his pipe into the fire, and exclaimed, with great vehemence, I take the consequences, Sir, I take the consequences. I will not remove the old man. I cannot remove him. Why, Mr. Wright, do you know that he carries more than a pound of British lead in his body?" COL. FORNEY.

Rensselaer Van Rensselaer to his Father.

My Dear Father, Barranquilla, March, 17, 1829. My home letters sent from Jamacia were fowarded from St. Martha to Bogota, it is truly a disappointment not to receive them here, but then having concluded from the bearing of Mrs. Visscher's letter to Edward, of February 1st, that nothing extraordinary has occurred in our family (excepting the marriage to take place on the 17th) I endeavor to agree with the tourist moralist who perhaps under like circumstances says: "In a fleeting world like this how foolish it is to fret and ever worry ourselves with the petty vexations of such a transient existence." It is however some consolation to know those letters are not lost but await my joining General Harrison. I was misinformed regarding his furniture, it was

forwarded by Mr. Bunch, the consignee, immediately after its arrival in Carthagena, and must by this time be near or at its journey's end. I therefore only wait John Glen's arrival, in his own home, to avail myself of his company up the river; though I should not stay if it was not certain that either himself or Edward will go on. I suppose the snow, of which I understand you have had such an abundant supply this winter, has made your city quite lively. Often times when pensively admiring the resplendent beauty of the moonlight nights in my tropical abode, do I think of pleasant scenes at home at such moonlight revels, and wish for the power of ubiquity that I might occasionally enjoy the pleasures of those sleigh rides, behind the jingling sleigh bells, in the society of "loved ones" who would not give refinement a cause to blush. Here snow is out of the question, nor have I seen a drop of rain as yet; the Schenectady road will give you an idea of these in a dry time, for the soil, but not the width as these roads are merely sufficiently wide to allow two loaded jacks to pass each other. Having spoken of the roads I will now give you a few of the phases of Society as come under my observation.

Being invited among the rest of Mr. Glen's family I attended several parties, one of which I shall endeavor to describe. It is customary at every Christening, which takes place at the eighth day after the birth of an infant, to invite all visiting friends and to close the evening with a dance. On this occasion Señor Jose Maria Peñez the "Juez Politico" was met at the church by his friends at the baptism of a son; each of the guests upon entering the aisle was presented with a lighted candle which he held in his hand whilst the Curate was performing the ceremony, of which by the way, not one word could be distinguished as the discordant sounds of the organ from the commencement, absorbed in the vortex of its own notes all other things, otherwise audible. The christening over, all the guests proceeded in regular order, two and two, accompanied by guards with lanterns to the dwelling, where the congratulations first took place. Then the guests after tasting such of the various kinds of potables as they fancied, partook of a great variety of cakes, and sugar preserves, y'cleped" dulces," after which they, according to the custom of the country filled their pockets. Appetites having been fully satisfied with the redundant stores of cakes, candies, liquors and cigars, the gentlemen felt themselves competent to perform the more pleasing part of their duties, on this evening, by waiting upon the ladies. The doors of the adjoining room were accordingly thrown open to the sound of music from a very good band, and lo! all the beauty of Barranquilla was discovered, seated round the dancing room in "dread array." I have frequently seen beauty so displayed at home in the same systematic, terrific order; and have felt more reluctance in encountering them, than I am sure I would so many throat cutting banditti; but on this occasion the beaux entering in a body were countenanced by each other through the trying ordeal in passing by the formidable assemblage. The round of reverencias were made to the lovely phalanx while filing by to our seats on the opposite side of the room. Each gentleman having selected his partner takes his stand on the floor and when all is ready the music strikes up, then the fair one marches up and takes her place opposite her accepted one when the giddy whirling and twisting commences. The dances generally are waltzes, though they have what are called country dances, but they partake so much of the nature of waltzes that I can scarcely distinguish them apart.

The ladies who have come under my inspection, in this province of Carthagena, are of an olive complexion, with features regular, small and generally handsome; their teeth, in which they appear to take much pride, are always beautifully white; their hands and feet small; the latter are ever drest in silk or satin stockings and slippers. Indeed they are more extravagant in the dress of their feet than any other part of their person. A beautifully figured tortoise shell comb is an indispensable ornament to their fine heads of hair; a figured crape shawl thrown loosely over is the only head-gear in doors or out; their eyes are as black as their hair. I had remarked the general use of cigars among all classes but was astonished to perceive how readily the elderly ladies could puff the nauseous weed, the mimic volcanoes of smoke were rising in every quarter of the room. A great mark of civility is to light a cigar and offer it to a stranger, if not accepted and smoked it is considered a mark of ill-breeding or contempt.

A little girl of thirteen years danced the fandango, a sort of lively jig or hornpipe which threw the company into extacies of delight. The ladies do not look with that feeling of indignation upon the immorality of either sex, that our fair skinned, rosy cheeks at home do; their ideas of delicacy are less fastidious than ours, as is proved not only in manners but in conversation. Character is nothing, money here is everything; but though so desirable you seldom meet rich natives; they, particularly the uneducated portion which is very great, are the most improvident fellows in the world. Like our Indians if they only have for their present need, they care not for the future; a showy dress and plenty to eat will suffice. Foreigners taking advantage of their dispositions soon realize a fortune. from their idiosyncrasy. The most common materials, if of a showy appearance are imported and sold at extravagant prices; a yard of striped calico, for instance, sells for $1.50, other things in proportion at fabulous gains. The people are ignorant and indolent, they work for very low wages but never work unless they want money. They seldom or ever betray a trust, though their promises cannot be depended on; they are effeminate and timorous not easily excited to quarrel; they look upon foreigners as "creatures of another sphere," and dislike to offend them as much as they could a Sprite. One of Mr. Glen's clerks, a very clever native, sometime since after watching Cato and myself at our daily exercise of fencing, very civilly asked, if I would object to try my skill with him. I was quite glad of the opportunity of trying the science of the natives, and this man particularly as he had boasted frequently at table, of the superior agility of his countrymen at the exercise and of his own skill, I wanted to know how my broadsword would work on a pinch with the machete. The tilting match was against him, it has been repeated frequently with the same result; he could guard against all the cuts very well but two and five, but the front give point would strike him every time. The trial has been quite satisfactory to me and to him too, for he is now taking lessons of me; but I hope and think there is no danger of coming to the real test of my skill. Another morning while Cato and myself were engaged in our gymnastic exercise, the thumping of our sticks collected a crowd of admiring spectators round our door; among the number two expressed a desire to try my skill against their machetta exercise. I consented and was gratified to find that they could not parry a skillfully planted cut, nor guard against an occasional thrust. pleased as here every man carrys a machéte, and as they always resort

to it in a fight, the idea of being a match for the best of them in an extremity was not an ungrateful feeling.

I have seen a funeral. The subject, a child of two years, a neighbor of mine, died about ten o'clock at night; when defunct, all its female relatives collected and a wake with all its Irish concomitants: drinking, howling, praying &c. commenced and lasted all night to my particular disquiet. Very early in the morning the body was borne to the church accompanied by the acting Curate-Padre Cantillo - a man of the world, a skillful rake and gambler-stopping at each crossing of the streets where the funeral service was chanted, and holy water profusely scattered over the remains. The service concluded at church, the body in simply a winding-sheet (coffins are never used for old or young) was again committed to the care of those who are hired for the occasion to be the howling mourners, and amid their noisy wailing was borne and consigned to its last resting place. The pillow on which a person breathes his last, though carried to the grave with him is never interred, but being an unhallowed article, or more probably the object of superstitious dread, when wanted no more is thrown over the sepulchral wall among the bushes, where the pillows of the dead hang as thick as blackberries.

This people are greatly given to superstition, which is much encouraged by their spiritual advisers as also strengthened by their religious rites and ceremonies. One of the good women of this town set the whole place in commotion by reporting her house to be haunted. Her story was that on a certain night a "bruxa" or Witch entered the house where a lady friend and herself were asleep in bed, her son of eighteen years in his hammock, and after daubing herself and bedmate over with patches of tar, proceeded to the hammock of the boy giving him such a violent blow on the breast, with the flat hand, that he was deprived of his senses and did not recover till noon of next day. She averred that the doors were all locked, and the witch consequently must have entered by the key-hole. The first use the boy made of his returning senses was very considerately to visit the Padre for absolution. The toothless bewitched old widow applied next day to Mr. Glen for a servant to sleep in her house as a guard, and it was full a week before any clue to the mystery could be obtained. It was finally discovered that the other inmate of the bewitched room, a buxom lass of twenty years, having silently enjoyed the effects of the scheme, could keep her joke no longer, but avowed herself the authoress of all the witches pranks, to the confusion of the sages and old women who had made so many profound speculations on the important event.

We had the Feast of the Carnival, which in Italy lasts some weeks, but at this place where so many are dependent upon each day's labor, they have been wisely reduced to three days, during which time work is out of the question, for all are full of fun and frolic. Upon what occasion the festival originated, I cannot now tell, whether in Paganism or some Ecclesias tical event. Here the aborigines of the country in their ancient dress appear to bear the principal parts, as it will be my part to shew in due order. The numerous masks who passed in groups, I observed to beat one another with sticks and in the scuffles, that would occasionally ensue for some bauble, I noticed the clothes fly in tatters, but only on one occasion an instance of a person's falling out of humor, and he poor devil, was well paid for his pettishness. A crowd of masks seized him and after rubbing his face, with a very rough weed, till it nearly bled, held him by the heels and arms extended horizontally in the air, whilst others beat him umerci