Fiew of the BOTANIC GARDEN at ELGIN inthe vicinity of the

CITY of NEW

YORK.

time of the purchase, the land was exceedingly rough and broken; but by its present possessor it has been brought to a state of the highest cultivation and embellishment. Verbal description, in general, conveys but an imperfect idea of the objects intended to be described, but more particularly so when those are connected with scenes in what may be termed the rural department of Nature. To the eye alone

"The pomp of groves and garniture of fields"

must be presented. In our description, therefore, of this delightful spot, we shall confine ourselves solely to those arrangements in it, which have utility for their object.

This establishment is enclosed by a well-constructed stone wall, and within this enclosure is a belt of forest trees and shrubs with which the whole is surrounded. The interior is divided into various compartments well calculated to instruct the student in the science of botany by exhibiting to his view not only the plants which are used in medicine, but those which are cultivated by the agriculturist, and which are ememployed in the arts and in manufactures.

A nursery is also now forming by which our tables may be furnished with the choicest fruits of the earth, and a department is devoted to experiments upon the culture of such plants as may be advantageously introduced into this country but which are now annually imported from abroad. Elegant and extensive conservatories and hothouses have been erected, which experience has already shown are well constructed for the cultivation of plants from every quarter of the globe. Here already may be seen an assemblage of Nature's choicest productions from every climate and from every country. The language of a celebrated poet may with justice be here applied:

One cultivated spot there was that spread
Its flowery bosom to the noonday beam,
Where many a rosebud rears its blushing head,
And herbs for food with future plenty teem.

Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the public spirited founder of this institution. With a patriotism which many feign but few can feel, he engaged in an undertaking of high importance to his country and his profession, and has brought it to a state of perfection which may cause it to vie with institutions of a similar nature in the old world, and which the wealth of princes and the labour of ages have been employed in rearing. For ourselves, we consider the cause of science as the cause of our country; we are therefore happy to learn that its present proprietor, with the view of perpetuating the benefits of this establishment to his profession has made an offer of it to the State of New-York upon liberal terms. From the many inducements which that opulent and enlightened State has already made for the improvement of their schools, colleges, and other public seminaries of learning, they will, doubtless, gladly avail themselves of an opportunity of adding this to their former benefactions for the promotion of science. Under the direction of those to whom the interests of learning are entrusted it cannot fail to exalt still more the reputation of that State for its wise and magnanimous policy, and add celebrity to our national character.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

MEMOIRS OF HAYTI-LETTER IX.

The Cape, Island of Hayti, April 13th, 1804.

PRIOR to the commencement of March the English were upon terms of close friendship with Dessalines. Their officers arriving in the different ports of the island, were received with the most flattering attention and respect. There was nobody like "les Anglois," and during their stay, an American was scarcely noticed. This fervency, however, soon disappeared, and a coolness ensued. The cause of it was the refusal, on the part of Dessalines, to enter into negotia

tions, with an agent sent by the British, for the exclusive trade of the island. The governor-general stated as one of his objections that there were many species of merchandise, such as claret and some other products of France, that were absolutely necessary for his people, with which the English could not supply him. This supposition was no doubt founded upon the knowledge that the produce and manufactures of France could not be imported into Great Britain, without, however, reflecting that supplies of that kind might be furnished through the United States. But Dessalines must have had a more powerful motive for his refusal. He had sense enough to perceive that he would be rendering himself dependent upon Great Britain, and that from the nature of the monopoly, he should be compelled to pay for American produce, a much higher price than if his commerce was without restrictions.

I believe I have yet made no mention of the navy of Hayti. Being yet in its infancy it is but small, consisting of some gun barges, and several small schooners and sloops which carry perhaps two to six small pieces of cannon. Their occupation is principally to convoy boats laden with produce and foreign merchandise, in their expeditions along the coast to and from the large towns. The only officer of any magnitude whom I have seen, is commodore Dublin, an English negro, who commands a schooner of about sixty tons burthen, the largest vessel in the service. This great naval character wears an appropriate uniform, though not by any means a splendid one, and swaggers through the street as big as though he were commander of a ship of the line. Besides him, I am led to believe, from the following circumstance, that there are some other officers who have claim to rank. One day when Dublin was riding commodore in the harbour with his pennant at the maintopmast head, there comes a small sail into port, of about twenty tons, who fires a salute and displays also a commodore's pennant. On coming to an anchor, Dublin's first lieutenant, the commodore being ashore, orders him to douse his flag, and send his boat on board. The captain, with a " diable," refused to do either, when the other, in an equal tone of anger, said "he would make him, foutre !" The captain then got into his gig which was manned with two hands, for the purpose of going to shore, bidding defiance to the threats of "the first lieutenant of the Thunder-bomb." The lieutenant again hailed him, drew up a guard of marines on his quarter deck, and ordered them to take aim at the gig. At the sight of the muskets pointed at them, the boat's crew were struck motionless. The captain violently enraged at this cowardly conduct, drew his dirk, and presenting it alternately at the breasts of his men, swore that if they did not proceed, he would plunge it into them, whilst the