our pistols had the usual degree of loudness, but was not the snow line, where we found a feldspathic granite. I wreck, and narrowly escaped the loss of all his had remarked that the noise produced by the explosion of papers, with the lives of himself and several of his associates, in descending the stream where it passes through a ridge by what is called a canon.* During the morning, they had passed three cataracts in their boat, and were delighted with her performance. The next was more threatening. It was a narrow chasm, between perpendicular rocks from three to five hundred feet high. As the little boat bounded along down the rapids, amid the deafening roar of the waters, they tried to steady her by placing three men on a crag of the rocks with a long rope made fast to the stern, but the force was too great, the men were jerked into the stream, and narrowly escaped drowning. They cleared rock after rock, and were so elated with success that they broke out with singing the Ca foot had stood before, felt the exultation of first explorers. It was about two o'clock when we left the summit; and when we reached the bottom the sun had already sunk behind the wall, and the day was drawing to a close. It would have been pleasant to have lingered here and on the summit longer; but we hurried away as rapidly as the ground would permit, for it was an object to regain our party as soon as possible, not knowing what accident the next hour might bring forth. AL We reached our deposit of provisions at nightfall. Here was not the inn which awaits the tired traveler on his return from Mount Blanc, or the orange groves of South America, with their refreshing juices and soft frag-nadian Boat Song, and were in the midst of the rant air; but we found our little cache of dried meat and coffee undisturbed. Though the moon was bright, the road was full of precipices, and the fatigue of the day had been great. We therefore abandoned the idea of rejoining our friends, and lay down on the rock, and in spite of the cold slept soundly." On his return down the valley of the Great Platte River, he encountered a disastrous chorus when the boat struck a concealed rock at the foot of a fall which whirled her over in an instant. He says: "Three of my men could not swim, and my first feeling * Pronounced kan-yon, a Spanish word, signifying a tube or barrel, and denoting the passage of a river between very high, perpendicular banks. was to assist them, and save some of our effects, but a sharp concussion or two convinced me that I had not yet saved myself. A few strokes brought me into an eddy, and I landed on a pile of rocks on the left side. Looking around, I saw that Mr. Preuss had gained the shore on the same side, about twenty yards below and a little climbing and swimming soon brought him to my side. On the opposite side, against the wall, lay the boat, bottom up, and Lambert was in the act of saving Descoteaux, whom he had grasped by the hair, and who could not swim; Lache pas,' said he, as I afterward learned, 'lache pas chere frere.' Crains pas,' was the reply, Je m' en vais mourir avant que de te lacher.' Such was the reply of courage and generosity in this danger. all in cases, kept on the surface, and the sextant, circle, and the long black box of the telescope, were in view at once. For a moment I was somewhat disheartened. All our books-almost every record of the journey-our journals and registers of astronomical and barometrical observations-had been lost in a moment. But it was no time to indulge in regrets; and I immediately set about endeavoring to save something from the wreck." Favored beyond expectation, he succeeded in recovering all his registers, with the loss of one journal containing a variety of notes. A few blankets and one or two instruments were saved. The boat floated about a mile and a half, and was there stopped by fragments of "For a hundred yards below, the current was covered with floating books and boxes, bales of blankets, and scat-rock which filled the char nel, leaving no space tered articles of clothing; and so strong and boiling was the stream, that even our heavy instruments, which were large enough for her to pass. The party climbed up the rocks, and were fortunate enough to rejoin the rest of the party, who had gone overland, at Goat Island that evening. after a painful tramp over the rocky desert. Yet his journal shows that he noted the geological structure of the country at every step, and described the Hot Spring Gate, which constitutes the entrance to the Rocky Mountains. He reached St. Louis on the 17th of October. and Washington on the 29th, and before Winter was over, had finished his report to the War Department. When the report was sent to the Senate and ordered to be printed, Dr. Linn. Senator from Missouri, made a motion for the printing of some extra copies, accompanying his motion with a glowing description of the expedition. After describing the routes ex plored, he said: Over the whole course of this extended route, barometrical observations were made by Mr Fremont, to ascertain elevations, both of the plains and of the mountains; astronomical observations were taken to ascertain FREMONT WRECKED ON PLATTE RIVEK latitudes and longitudes; the face of the country was marked as arable or sterile; the facility of traveling, and the practicability of routes noted; the grand features of Nature described, and some presented in drawings; mili tary positions indicated, and a large contribution to geology and botany was made in the varieties of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses, and rocks, and earths, which were enumerated. Drawings of some grand and striking points, and a map of the whole route illustrate the report, and facilitate the understanding of its details. "The result of all his observations Mr. Fremont had condensed into a brief report-enough to make a document of ninety or one hundred pages; and believing that this document would be of general interest to the whole country, and beneficial to science, as well as useful to the Government, I move the printing of the extra number which has been named." The publication of this report created great interest, even in Europe. The London Athenæum of March, 1843, says: We have rarely met with a production so perfect in its kind as the unpretending pamphlet containing this reThe narrative, clear, full and lively, occupies only 76 pages, to which are appended 130 pages, filled with the port results of botanical researches, of astronomical and meteorological observations. What a contrast does this present to the voluminous emptiness and conceited rhodomontade so often brought forth by our costly expeditions. **** His points of view are so well chosen, his delineation has so much truth and spirit, and his general remarks are so accurate and comprehensive, that under his guidance we find the Far West prairies nearly as fresh and tempting as the most favored Arcadian scenes, the hallowed groves of which were never trodden by the foot of squatting emigrant or fur-trader" THE SECOND EXPEDITION. No sooner was this service completed than our enterprising adventurer planned a still more extended and important expedition. He asked, and now easily obtained, orders to complete his survey across the continent to the mouth of the Columbia River. Having made his preparations at St. Louis, he there parted with his wife, and advanced to the frontier of Missouri as his point of departure. While resting here, he received from Mrs. F. a package of letters and dispatches. On his return, a year after, he learned, for the first time, that among the dispatches sent to St. Louis was an order suspending the expedition, on the ground that he had made his equipment too military, in having obtained from the arsenal at St. Louis a small mountain howitzer in addition to his rifles. This countermanding order the heroic woman detained, so that it never reached him, because she would not subject her husband to the disappointment of having his enterprise frustrated at the outset. It was doubtless very irregular in her to do so, but those who have hearts will easily put a proper estimate upon an act so resolute and self-sacrificing. Leaving the frontier of Missouri in the month of May, 1843, he reached tide-water on the Columbia in November, and was hospitably entertained at the English Fort Vancouver by Dr. McLaughlin, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. Having thus accomplished all that was in his orders, he might have come home at his ease by sea, or, tarrying till Spring have returned on his tracks. But his ambition sought a wider range. The vast central region of North America, a tract at least seven hundred miles square beyond the Rocky Mountains, had never been explored, and he resolved to make a Winter's work of it, with his twenty-five picked men, relying upon game for subsistence. The maps had intersected that region with conjectural rivers, rising near the head of the Arkansas, and flowing in different directions to the Pacific and the Gulf of California. One, called Buena Ventura, was represented as running due west all the way, and emptying into the Bay of San Francisco. Gov. McLaughlin sketched a map of the projected route, and Fremont believed that such a river must have bottom lands, where he could Winter, with plenty of game, and grass for his horses. He set forth on this expedition in a south-easterly di- · rection, passed the Oregon Mountains, and descended to the low country, and then skirted along east of an enormous chain of mountains, covered with impassable snow, and, to his surprise, found only a barren desert; no Buena Ventura-no grass-no game--no tidings of a river from the few Indians they met; nothing but death from cold and famine before them. Something must be done. His astronomical observations, which he never remitted, told him that he was now in the latitude of the Mexican settlements at San Francisco, and but seventy miles distant; but the snowy mountains lay between, while no Indians would venture to be their guide in such a terrible journey. We will let Col. Benton tell the story, in the 134th chapter of his second volume: "No reward could induce an Indian to become a guide the perilous adventure of crossing this mountain. All recoiled, and fled from the adventure. It was attempted without a guide-in the dead of Winter-accomplished in forty days-the men and surviving horses-a wofu: procession, crawling along one by one, skeleton men leading skeleton horses-and arrived at Sutter's Settlement in the warmth, and budding flowers, and trees in foliage, and beautiful valley of the Sacramento; and where a genial grassy ground, and flowing streams, and comfortable food, made a fairy contrast with the famine and freezing they had encountered, and the lofty Sierra Nevada which they had climbed. Here he rested and recruited; and from heard of the party since leaving Fort Vancouver. this point, and by way of Monterey, the first tidings were "Another long progress to the south, skirt:ng the west ern hase of the Sierra Nevada, made him acquainted with the noble valley of the San Joaquin, counterpart to that | of the Sacramento; when, crossing through a gap, he skirted the Great Basin, and by many deviations from a right line home, levied incessant contributions to science, from expanded lands not described before. Senate, the diplomatic corps, the officers of the State, &c. Above these again galleries were formed, hung with drapery, between the clustering columns, for ladies. Immediately in front of the altar was a crimson platform, on "In this eventful exploration, all the great features of which two crimson chairs were placed, and two the western slope of our continent were brought to light-pries Dieu, for the accommodation of their Mathe Great Salt Lake, the Utah Lake, the Little Salt Lake;jesties. Above, high up in the air, hung an at all which places, then desert, the Mormons now are; elegant crimson canopy, lined with white and the Sierra Nevada, then solitary in the snow, now crowded spotted with the imperial bee in gold. Accordwith Americans digging gold from its flanks; the beauti-ing to the programme all persons were obliged ful vallies of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, then after that hour the various ecclesiastical dignito be in the building before 4 o'clock. Soon alive with wild horses, elk, deer, and wild fowl, now smil taries of France, including the bishops suming with American cultivation; The Great Basin itself, moned by the Emperor from the provinces, and its contents; the Three Parks; the approximation of made their appearance round the grand altar in the great rivers which, rising together in the central full canonicals. At 6 o'clock the Cardinal Leregions of the Rocky Mountains, go off east and west, gate was received by the clergy, his Eminence toward the rising and the setting sun. All these and being accompanied by his Roman attendants. other strange features of a new region, more Asiatic He wore a crimson robe, such as that used by than American, were brought to light and revealed to the Cardinals of St. Peter's on the occasion of public view in the results of this exploration. Eleven a church festa. A throne was provided exmonths he was never out of sight of snow, and some pressly for the Cardinal. Shortly after his times freezing with cold, would look down upon a sunny arrival the boom of cannon announced the ap valley, warm with genial heat; sometimes panting with proach of the Emperor, the Empress. and the the Summer's heat, would look up at the eternal snows imperial infant. The officiating priests then which crowned the neighboring mountains." chanted a preliminary service, and the tones of sacred music sounded through the building and hightened the effect. Before long ladies appeared dressed in blue, vailed in white and transparent drapery. They were the ladies of the Imperial Court in attendance on the Prince and her Majesty. He returned to Washington in August, 1844, and the remainder of the year was occupied in preparing his reports for the Department, which were communicated to Congress, and when published, greatly increased his honorable fame as a geographical investigator, and an enterprising and successful explorer. [To be continued.] BAPTISM OF "THE CHILD OF FRANCE." Shortly afterward the Emperor approached the platform in front of the altar, dressed in the uniform of a general of division, and wearing the grand cordon of the Legion of Honor. The Empress was robed in blue, vailed with white lace; her brow was ornamented with a NOTWITHSTANDING all the efforts of Louis Na-superb ornament of diamonds and pearls, the poleon to induce the Pope to come to Paris to baptise the young heir to the imperial throne, he has not succeeded. The Pope consented to stand godfather, but he could not be persuaded to go to Paris to administer the baptismal rites. He, however, sent a Cardinal to officiate in his stead. The preparations were extravagantly gorgeous, and the ceremonies imposing. They are described as follows: The baptism of the infant Prince took place on Saturday, June 14, amid general rejoicings. The procession of the Cardinal Legate, followed after a short interval by the cortege of the Emperor and Empress, took place according to the official programme. All along the route their Majesties and the Imperial Prince were repeatedly cheered. The enthusiasm was, in fact, universal. The interior of the magnificent cathedral presented a most animated and picturesque scene. On each side of the grand nave, and between the main columns, decorated with crimson and gold drapery, a series of seats were erected, also hung with crimson velvet and gold decorations. Through a vista of an assembled multitude in official costumes, interspersed with the gay toilettes of ladies, there was seen the grand altar, with its quaint. pointed and spiral illuminated architecture of the thirteenth century. Round about the altar seats were erected for the legislative body, the hair being drawn back a la Imperatrice. Their Majesties took their seats before the altar as the guardian of the imperial child advanced. At this moment the voice of the infant was distinctly heard, as if he sought to announce his presence-an event which appeared to create some merriment among the circling crowd. The baptismal service then commenced at the high altar, and the heir to the throne was sprinkled with the blessed water. The Emperor and Empress afterward signed the baptismal register, first witnessed by the envoy of the Pope. Prince Oscar, of Sweden, then attached his signature, followed by Prince Napoleon, the Duchess of Hamilton, the officers of State, and other persons whose attestation Court etiquette demands on such occasions. The Emperor then took the infant and held it up to the multitude, amid the vivas of all present. This feature of the ceremony was in imitation of Napoleon I. on a similar occasion. The Empress appeared to be deeply affected, hung down her head and wept. The ceremony had now closed, the infant left the glittering scene, and the Emperor and Empress arose to depart. The shouts of the multitude outside the building proclaimed the close of an event which has baptized the heir of Napoleon III. to the hereditary rights of Emperor of the French. The godfather of the child (the Pope) was of course represented by the Legate, while the Duchess of Baden represented the godmother, the Queen of Sweden. John was born at the family seat, Cabellsdale, near Lexington, Fayette County, Ky., Jan. 21, 1821, and is, therefore, now in the thirty-sixth THE subject of this sketch, although a young man, is not altogether unknown to a large por-year of his age. He was educated at Center tion of his fellow-citizens; and in his native State is one of the most popular men of the day. His family is one of the oldest and most respectable of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His grandfather, John Breckinridge, was a staunch Democrat-a party leader in his day. He was elected to the Senate of the United States in 1801, and was United States Attorney-General in 1805-6. He was the author and advocate of the resolutions of 1788-89 in the Virginia Legislature. Many members of the family have been celebrated as statesmen and divines. The celebrated Presbyterian clergyman, Robert C. Breckinridge, is an uncle of the present nominee for the Vice-Presidency. John Cabell Breckinridge is the only son of Cabell Breckinridge, a distinguished member of the bar, deceased some eighteen years since. College, Danville, Kentucky, from which he graduated with distinction. His talents for composition and elocution were early developed; and although full of boyish fun and frolic, he could accomplish wonders on close application. After graduating at Danville, Mr. Breckinridge entered the Transylvania Institute, where he studied law under Chief-Justice George Robinson, Judge A. K. Wooley and Thomas F. Marshall. On receiving his license, Mr. Breckinridge emigrated to Burlington, Iowa, where he commenced the practice of his profession, as the associate of Mr. Bullock, a relative. Not satisfied with his prospects in Iowa, he returned to Kentucky, and for a time was settled in Georgetown, where he was married to Miss Birch, of that place. Soon after his marriage, from inducements offered, Mr. Breckinridge returned to Lexington, where, except during his |