black fellow here again interposed, saying with a broad grin, "Massa means horse foot, I guess: niggar sometimes eat him-but hogs eat most." On looking at my venerable friend rather quickly I thought I perceived a suppressed smile upon his lips, and that he slightly winked at the negro when he told him with some severity of manner to "clear out and mind his own business." At length, after passing the light houses at Sandy Hook, we launched fairly into the ocean, and soon reached the celebrated fishing banks. Here we anchored, and nearly every one commenced with hook and line to capture their unseen prey. For some time my attention was engaged in listening to a young man with a very poetic cast of countenance, who was explaining to a small group, among whom I was the most conspicuous, why a certain tract of hilly country on the sea board was called the highlands of Neversink. The reason was most singular and I wish you to remember it. He concluded a long Indian tradition by stating that this high ridge of land was called neversink, because however far vessels receded from the shore it was never known to sink below the horizon so long as the sailors kept their eyes steadily fixed upon it! This I consider to be a most curious fact as connected with either optical science, or natural history. The wind blowing pretty fresh I was soon so overcome by the rolling and pitching of the steam-boat, as to be violently affected with sea sickness, and went below, where getting into a berth, I became unconscious of every thing except my own miserable situation, until we returned at night to New-York. Here I took leave of my "companions des

voyage" better pleased with their conduct than I was with their appearance in the morning. They were a comparatively intelligent and very communicative company of men; and I am sure that I cannot feel otherwise than grateful to some of them who gave me the various explanations of objects altogether new to me, (and which I now send to you) with such an exuberance of candour, and such unquestionable correctness."

This is rather a long extract: but as Mister Green appears to have been highly gratified, with the information it contains, some of your readers may perhaps pick out a new idea or two from it likewise.

BEAUTY OF COLOUR.

"Look on this picture and on that."

Looking out of my first floor window this morning, I saw what I consider ought to produce a respectful and kindly feeling in the breasts of white people towards the black population of this commercial emporium. Two negresses were engaged in very earnest conversation. What the subject of it was I did not exactly learn some few sentences I heard distinctly, but shall not repeat them; for as their palaver appeared to be quite a confidential affair, it would be a breach of good manners in me to expose even the few unconnected observations I happened to overhear; particularly as I believe there was no treason in them. The most conspi,

cuous of the twain I shall describe to you with some minuteness, and am willing to swear to the accuracy of the description, inasmuch as I took notes of her appearance while she stood beneath me. She was rather a tall woman-say five feet eight or nine inches; of a really good figure: with a countenance expressive of both intelligence and good humour; so that it was quite delightful to see her laugh. The "ebony" of her cheeks, the "topaz" of her teeth, and the carnation of the lining of her out-turned lips, formed a coup d'œil of the most interesting kind, as she indulged in frequent fits of joyous cachinnation.-Her dress consisted of a peach-coloured silk hat, tastily trimmed, and modest in its shape; yet sufficiently open to exhibit the whole of her broad, round, plump face. Underneath the said hat I could perceive the edge of a blond-lace cap, and from its outer extremities two wings, very prettily vandyked, descend, meeting gracefully under her receding chin. Over each temple was suspended a large bunch of the finest black wool, carefully separated in the middle, for the undoubted purpose of showing to advantage a smooth, and rather prominent forehead, which reflected the sun's rays with dazzling brightness, something like a newly washed port-wine bottle. Her shoulders were covered with a plain muslin cape, giving a sort of girlish appearance to the otherwise womanly contour of her perShe had on a light coloured calico frock, with the large fashionable sleeves; a black silk apron, fawn coloured kid gloves, black morocco shoes, fastened above the ancle with narrow ribbon, crossing a stocking of open work, like spider net, giving quite an attractive appear

son.

ance to a foot, so well formed as to have little or no "fore and aft" about it.

I particularly observed that she dispensed with one very common, and ridiculous appendage to the female dress the general rotundity of her person rendering that excrescence superfluous. In her right hand she held a brown silk parasol, with a white border, and without fringe, having an ivory handle. On her left arm reclined a long, flat paper box, from which I inferred she was a fashionable coloured milliner; between the fore finger and thumb of the same hand she held a paper, the address, probably, of the lady to whom she was going to exhibit her wares; and from her little digit depended a handsome green reticule, from which protruded the corner of a white handkerchief. You may now have her before your mind as distincily as I had her before my eye, when I took these memoranda.

The "tout ensemble" of the other female was somewhat different, she might have been a poor servant in a poor family; or, perhaps, a washerwoman. The straw bonnet by which her cranium was surmounted was crushed, as though a cart wheel had passed over it, while her coarse blue gingham gown, checked apron, stockingless legs, slip-shod shoes, and heavy, sprawling feet, pointed her out as one of those miserables to whom neither nature nor fortune had paid very particular attention. She had a dirty bundle in one hand, and an old umbrella in the other. But here the disparity ended. They were friends, and in that their more than republican equality consisted. It is likely they had not seen each other for some time, for both appeared overjoyed at

the meeting, and each had a great deal to say. Short anecdotes, shrill exclamations, such as "you don't say so, Amelia !”—and "it's true, as I live, Laura !" passed rapidly between them, while the real hippopotamus laugh, peculiar to the African race, and so decidedly superior to the common English horse laugh, burst simultaneously from both ladies, and echoed, like the dying rumblings of a thunder clap, up and down Broadway. The nudge of the elbow conveying as much meaning as the words accompanying it-the gentle poke in the ribs, intended to excite the diaphram into motion, and compel the physical powers to exhibit proof that the mental had appreciated the joke, by a grin of approbation, were freely indulged, and most cordially reciprocated.

In short, no two people could appear more happy, nor to enjoy with a more complete equability each other's society. On the side of the coloured lady there was nothing supercilious, whilst on that of the coloured woman there was no cringing timidity. The difference of circumstances and appearance was entirely lost sight of by both parties, and nature exhibited herself, untrammelled by pride, prejudice, or false shame. With such a coloured image of female amiability before us, can we wonder that the Ethiopian fair ones should excite the admiration or secure the affections, of their white brethren, of either the clergy or laity? My decided opinion is that

we cannot.