CHAP. XXXI.] COUNTRY-HOUSES. 199 



This tornado checked the progress of Natchez, as 

 did the removal of the seat of Legislature to Jack 

 son ; but it has suffered still more, since steam navi 

 gation has been so much improved, by the all- 

 absorbing importance acquired by New Orleans as 

 the great emporium of the whole trade of the Missis 

 sippi. There are, however, so few bluffs on the 

 great river, so few places where the channel will 

 remain constant for ages to the same spot, that I 

 cannot doubt that this city must, in time, become 

 large and prosperous. 



It augurs favourably of the future prospects of 

 civilisation in America, that here, as elsewhere, we 

 found the society most agreeable in places which 

 have been the longest settled. If the political 

 opinions and notions of honour cherished by the 

 majority of the citizens at Natchez, had had their 

 due weight in the legislation of the State, the fair 

 fame of Mississippi, and her credit, would have stood 

 as high as that of any other Southern State. Many 

 of the country-houses in the neighbourhood are ele 

 gant, and some of the gardens belonging to them laid 

 out in the English, others in the French style, In the 

 latter are seen terraces, with statues and cut ever 

 greens, straight walks with borders of flowers, termi 

 nated by views into the wild forest, the charms of 

 both being heightened by contrast. Some of the 

 hedges are made of that beautiful North American 

 plant, the Gardenia, miscalled in England the Cape 

 jessamine, others of the Cherokee rose, with its 

 bright and shining leaves. It had already put forth 



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