Various Intelligence.

RICHMOND.

In beginning this part of our work, in which we design to attend more particularly to the present and passing stream of things, we are happy to report that our City, the capital of our Commonwealth, is at this time, in a fair and prosperous state. The weather thus far has been uncommonly mild and genial; and the prospect around us is as smiling as winter can possibly permit. The health of the inhabitants, generally speaking, was hardly ever better. Our population is estimated at about thirty thousand inhabitants, and is rapidly increasing. New buildings are shooting up on all sides to adorn our hills. Many of them are sightly and handsome, and all may embrace much comfort and contentment within. The Capitol which now holds the assembled wisdom of our State, in session, has been repaired in good time, and in very tolerable The new Court-House, too, on the square, is nearly finished, and is already occupied by the courts for whose accommodation it has been provided. The venerable judges of the Court of Appeals are on the bench, in one of its most commodious rooms, with the lawyers before them to aid their researches, and Themis herself unseen, with her even balance, at their side, to dictate and sanction their decisions. So Law shall still be the guardian of our Liberty; and so may our imperial City flourish forever!

taste.

THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.

Ths Southern Literary Messenger for this month, the first in the new year, has just appeared in its usual handsome style. It has gone back, we observe, very properly, to its old title; and seems to be kindling up into something like its old spirit. Some of its former contributors, too, appear to be rallying about it again. We are particularly pleased to greet Lieut. Maury, (of Lucky Bag memory,) coming down from his Observatory where he has been "looking out upon the stars" to good purpose, as his interesting article in this number may serve to show; and we may hope that some others of his social lights will soon follow his track. Some of them, indeed, are gone to brighten other spheres; but a few are still left that may yet enliven its columns. At any rate we shall

trust that the work will now continue to live and flourish under the auspices of its new and promising editor, who has already given us some agreeable proofs of his capacity for the chair.

We may add that we have always felt a lively interest in this periodical from its first establishment by the worthy and indefatigable White; and shall continue to do so as long as it shall continue to pursue its proper, and truly honorable mission, which is to excite, encourage and develope the literary taste and talent of our Southern States.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The House of Delegates and the Senate, united again, are now meeting regularly every day; and both bodies seem well disposed to despatch the business of the session, with proper spirit, and in due time. As yet, however, nothing of any special interest has been before them; nor is it yet certain what they will do to promote the great and permanent interests of the State. The subjects of Internal Improvement, and Popular Education, will doubtless claim their attention, in some form or other, and, it may be, in such "questionable shape," that many may feel themselves called upon to “speak to it,” or about it; and so we may have able and animated debates at least.

We understand that the important subject of the revisal of the Criminal Code is now before the able Committee of Courts of Justice of the House of Delegates, who will report upon it before long; and it is thought that this code will be discussed and digested before the close of the session. The Civil Code, we learn, will hardly be reached before the ides of March.

THE CAMPAIGN.

The preparations for the electioneering campaign of the Spring, are going on, we observe, with great spirit, on both sides. Our daily papers teem with notices of meetings for the appointment of delegates to the Conventions which are about to be held here next month, the Whig on the 23rd, and the Democratic on the 28th. We shall have, no doubt, a lively contest when the time of action comes, for great interests are at stake on the issue; but how it will end, as we are not prophets, but only historians, we shall be able to tell after the event, a little better than we can before it.

WASHINGTON.

We have nothing very important from the City. Congress and the Supreme Court, are of course in session, and important subjects are before them but in the former at least, though much, as usual, has been said, little or nothing has yet been done. In the Senate, on the 4th inst., Mr. Calhoun made an able and interesting speech, on his resolution, in which he defined his position in relation to the war with great force and spirit; but the resolution was afterwards laid on the table at his own request. The debate on the Ten Regiment bill is proceeding. In the other house nothing of much importance has yet occurred.

The Great Gaines Case.-This far-famed and highly interesting case has been decided at last in the Supreme Court, and in favor of Mrs. G. The opinion of the court was read by Judge Wayne. The value of the property involved in the case is supposed to be about fifteen millions of dollars. By this decision the title of Mrs. G. is virtually established to the whole of this estate, situated in the City of New Orleans, or consisting in plantations in Louisiana. A writer in one of the papers says:

"The scene in court on the delivery of the decision was a thrilling one, and quite unusual in the presence of that solemn and dignified bench. Messrs. Clay, Webster, Jones, (the latter gentleman was her principal lawyer) and other distinguished members of the bar were present, besides many ladies, who had come to share Mrs. G.'s feelings on the occasion, from all of whom a tide of congratulation poured in upon their victorious friend.

No time was lost in telegraphing the news to the General in New York, who is expected here this week.

Eminent Jurists regard the general results of this suit as of the first importance, both as illustrating the high character and value of this Supreme Judicial Bench, and the dignity and efficiency of the laws in settling the rights of property."

The Pea-Patch Island Case. The question of the title or ownership of the Pea-Patch Island on the Delaware river, opposite Delaware city, which was referred under the act of Congress, and by the apointment of the President, to the Hon. John Sergeant for argument and decision and which was recently argued before him at Philadelphia, by eminent counsel on both sides, has been decided by Mr. S. in Washington, in favor of the United States. A letter writer adds: "The opinion was very long, and very elaborately drawn, containing many things, of historical interest to the States of Marylaud, Delaware, Pennsylvania

and New Jersey, and a mass of information, legal and historical, which will make the opinion valuable as a state paper. It was decided that the Pea-Patch Island originally belonged to the State of Delaware, and not to New Jersey, and that the property in this Island was now vested in the United States under a transfer made by the State of Delaware in 1813."

In the argument, or opinion, many interesting reminiscences were stated connected with the boundaries of Maryland, and of the contests between Wm. Penn and Lord Baltimore under the original grants of territory from the Duke of York."

Scenes in the House of Representatives.—Interesting scenes were presented in the House, to-day, January 13. About one o'clock, Mr. Clay appeared in the Hall, and was cordially greeted by many of the members. Among those who left their seats for the purpose of meeting Mr. Clay, in the lobby, was Ex-President Adams. The meeting between these veteran statesmen was exceedingly pleasing to both, and their warm and mutual congratulations were gratifying to the crowd around.

GREAT BRITAIN.

We have nothing very new or important from Great Britain, or the rest of Europe.

The last steamer, the Cambria, arrived at New York on Tuesday evening the 10th inst. brought London papers to the evening of December the 31st and Liverpool to the 1st inst. The news is favorable in almost every particular; but of no great moment, in any respect.

LIBERIA.

We are happy to note here that this highly interesting Colony, so happily established by our American Colonization Society on the Western Coast of Africa, has solemnly declared herself to be a free, sovereign and independent State. We regret that we have no room for the official declaration of the fact, and other proceedings on the occasion; but we congratulate all the friends of the original enterprise yet living upon this auspicious event; which we regard as historically important and interesting in the highest degree. We may add, that we contemplate it with the more satisfaction because we look upon it as intimately connected with the history and honour of our own State, and country.

Literary Intelligence.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Adverting to our brief notice of the Annual Meeting of the Society, on the 16th ult., in a former part of this number, we add here some forther particulars of the proceedings, for the information of the members, and all concerned.

After the reading of the Report, the Librarian submitted a list of donations and loans of books and manuscripts, which had been made to the Society, by various persons, during the past year, as follows:

DONATIONS.

Washington's Life of Marshall, (1st Edition,) 5 vols. 8vo.; Gillies' History of the World, 3 vols. 8vo.; Port Folio, about 20 vols.; Analectic Magazine, about 10 vols. By William Maxwell.

Smith's History of Virginia, (Richmond edition,) 2 vols. 8vo.; Beverley's History of Virginia, (2nd edition,) 1 vol. 8vo. London, 1722. By Charles F. Fisher.

Stith's History of Virginia, 1 vol. 8vo. By Socrates Maupin.

Memoir of Mrs. Shuck, 1 vol. 18mo.; Memoir of A. W. Clopton. By the author, Rev. J. B. Jeter.

Literature of American Local History; 1 vol. 8vo. By Hermann E. Ludewig, of New York.

Proces Verbal, &c., or Proceedings at Paris relative to the Bust of LaFayette, Presented to that City, by the State of Virginia. By Wyndham Robertson, of Abingdon.

Howison's History of Virginia, vol. 1st, 8vo. By the author, R. R. Howison.

Foote's Sketches of North Carolina, 1 vol. 8vo. By the author, Rev. Wm. H. Foote, of Romney.

The Bland Papers, 1 vol. 8vo. By Charles Campbell, of Petersburg. Campbell's (J. W.) History of Virginia; Kerchevall's History of the Valley of Virginia; Gordon's History; Neal's History of New England, (London, 1719,) &c., &c., about 20 vols., of various sizes; also a number of pamphlets, some of them rare and curious. By T. H. Ellis. An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies, and a Letter to the Clergy of Virginia, in Reply to the Answer of the Lord Bishop of