Alabama State Intelligencer

THE INTELLIGENCER.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1831.

Could the renowned Henry Hudson visit once more the scenes of his early glory, and behold the colony of the New Netherlands, rising in her might and making such miraculous advances in building houses, digging canals, running stages, steam boats, and above all, perfecting the noble art of sailing ships, he would scarcely be able to recognize her highlands, her islands, the spacious bay of modern New-York, or the majestic river which bears his own name.—Even we of the present day, are continually surprised at the improvements going forward among the descendants of Amsterdam, more especially with that portion of them who conduct the press. Instead of waiting for the news there, as has been the custom in other parts of the Union, the publishers of the daily papers have runners by land and water, to hasten on the coming tidings. Instead of boarding ships after their arrival in port, as happens at Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and Orleans, we find some of the presses provided with the swiftest and most substantial kinds of pilot boats, capable of weathering any storm, which beat out to sea in search of the news bearing ships, when they are yet many days sail from home. These they manage to board in spite of wind or wave, and having obtained the desired information, return with equal certainty and celerity to gratify the longing multitude.

By means of the swiftest river craft, and the finest sea vessel yet known to the world, the New-York printer possesses a decided advantage over his brethren situated in any other quarter of the Union, and has rendered the elements themselves subservient to his purposes.

The merchant who had been fretting for several days at the delay of his homeward bound ship, will probably take up the Courier and Enquirer the morning succeeding a sleepless night, and find to his surprise, they are reported in its columns still several hundred miles off; but all well. It sometimes happens that the papers of a vessel, and whatever of moment has transpired during her cruise, will be announced in the city papers long before the outer signal posts on the sea beach have any knowledge of her approach. Such expedition and unwearied industry must add to, and greatly facilitate the operations of commerce. It creates a market for intelligence, and gives employment to a great number of men and boys, (printers and seamen,) who cheerfully take their turns to labor by night or day, in furnishing the great emporium of our country with the earliest news.

Judging from the progressive improvement in the Courier and Enquirer, its continually increasing circulation and augmented means for obtaining information, we may infer that it will soon become in the United States, what the London Times has long been to the United Kingdom.