CHAP. XXVIII.] VIEW OF CITY. 105 



laugh at some vain-glorious boasting about &quot; our destiny,&quot; none 

 can doubt that from this stock is to spring the people who will 

 supersede every other in the northern, if not also in the southern 

 continent of America : 



&quot; Immota manebunt 



Fata tibi .... 



Romanes rerum dominos.&quot; 



Soon after our arrival we walked to the levee, or raised bank 

 of the Mississippi, and, ascending to the top of the high roof of a 

 large steamer, looked down upon the yellow muddy stream., not 

 much broader than the Thames at London. At first I was dis 

 appointed that the &quot; Father of Waters&quot; did not present a more 

 imposing aspect ; but when I had studied and contemplated the 

 Mississippi for many weeks, it left on my mind an impression of 

 grandeur and vastness far greater than I had conceived before 

 seeing it. We counted thirty-four large steam-ships lying at the 

 wharf, each with their double chimneys, and some of truly mag 

 nificent dimensions. The vessel we had chanced to enter, had 

 her steam up and was bound for St. Louis, and we were informed 

 that she would convey us to that city, a distance of 1100 miles, 

 in five days, against the current, for eighteen dollars, or 4/., board 

 included. 



We next went, for the sake of obtaining a genera] view of the 

 city and its environs, to the top of the cupola of the St. Charles 

 Hotel, the most conspicuous building in New Orleans, finished in 

 183G, the lofty dome of which is of a beautiful form. Within 

 the memory of persons now living, there were to be seen on the 

 site of this massive edifice, ducks and other water birds, swim 

 ming about in pools of water, in a morass. The architect began 

 the foundation by placing horizontally on the mud a layer of 

 broad planks two and a half inches thick ; in spite of which, the- 

 heavy building has sunk slightly in some places, but apparently 

 without sustaining material injury. 



If a traveler has expected, on first obtaining an extensive view 

 of the environs of this city, to see an unsightly swamp, with 

 scarcely any objects to relieve the monotony of the flat plain save 

 the winding river and a few lakes, he will fee agreeably disap- 



E* 



