CHAP. XXX.] STEAM-BOAT ACCIDENTS. 173 



addition of a separate steam apparatus for pumping 

 up water and securing a regular supply by machinery, 

 instead of trusting to the constant watchfulness of 

 the engineers. On the whole, it seems to be more 

 dangerous to travel by land, in a new country, than 

 by river steamers, and some who have survived re 

 peated journey ings in stage-coaches, show us many 

 scars. The judge who escorted my wife to Natchez, 

 informed her that he had been upset no less than 

 thirteen times. 



On the left bank, about sixty miles above New 

 Orleans, stands Jefferson College ; a schoolmaster 

 from the North, speaking to me of its history, im 

 puted its want of success to the insubordination of 

 the youths, the inability of Southern planters to 

 govern their children themselves, and their unwil 

 lingness to delegate the necessary authority to the 

 masters of universities or schools. &quot; But they are 

 growing wiser,&quot; he said, &quot; and vigorous efforts are 

 making to improve the discipline in the university 

 of Charlottesville, in Virginia, which has hitherto 

 been too lax.&quot; 



We soon afterwards passed a convent on the same 

 bank, and I heard praise bestowed on the &quot; Sisters 

 of Charity,&quot; for their management of a hospital. 



At St. Thomas s Point, about seventy-five miles 

 above New Orleans, we passed a fine plantation, 

 which formerly belonged to Mr. Preston, of South 

 Carolina, a distinguished member of Congress, whose 

 acquaintance I made in 1842. There are, I am 

 told, nearly 1000 negroes here, and I am astonished 

 at the large proportion of the coloured race settled 



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