Alexandria Gazette

Western Pleasure Excursion.—The Americans generally are inclined to do whatever they undertake upon the largest and boldest scale. In steamboating, rail-roading, banking, and in fact in everything which can be made to go upon the high pressure principle—even in temperance and in dietetic reform—we are sure to aim from the first at the maximum of power, speed, morals, or health.—But while the people of the whole country are pretty much alike in these respects, it will be seen from the subjoined that in the matter of steamboat excursions for pleasure, we, of the east, must as yet yield the palm to our western brothers and sisters. We have not, like them, been able to make up a pleasant party, to go picknicking it for thousands of miles. Eastern frolics in this way confine themselves to short trips of a day or so up and down our rivers—to steamboat, or sloop frolics to Cape May on the Fishing Banks; while the Pittsburghers, it seems, think nothing of putting on their hats and bonnets to be off to the Falls of St. Anthony. A glance at the map will shew that this little tour comprised some thousands of miles, and penetrated deep into the wilds of the Upper Mississippi.—Pennsylvanian.

The Pittsburgher of Thursday, gives the following particulars:

"The steamboat Pennsylvania, under the command of Captain Stephen Stone, arrived at our port a few days since, from a trip to the Falls of St. Anthony. The party, who went on board of her, amounted to about sixty, and were composed of ladies and gentlemen, a large proportion of whom were from this city.—They had every thing that could contribute to their enjoyment—good music, good company, plenty of dancing, and fine spirits. On their outward voyage, they left St. Louis on the 2nd instant. The falls are now accessible by steamboat navigation; and, in order to reach them, the company had quite a novel and romantic excursion of seven miles over a beautiful prairie in wagons supplied by the politeness and hospitality of the commandant at Fort Snelling. We understand there is a perpendicular fall in the water of about eighteen feet. But there is a smooth rapid for about two miles above the falls, making the whole descent about sixty feet.

The party visited the Indians in the neighborhood of the falls. They saw them in their wigwams and villages. The Indians, to the number of several hundred, entertained the company with a dance called the Buffalo Dance, in which we imagine there was a good deal more life and animation displayed than in one of our cotillions. When the company were about to take their departure, the Indians, in full costume, commenced the War Dance. Whether the ladies got frightened or not, we cannot say: but we are told they did not stay to see it out.

The party were accompanied to the Falls by General Wool, of the United States Army, and General Brooks, the commandant of the Station at Prairie du Chien.

During their absence, no accident occurred to mar the pleasure, or endanger the safety of the company. The passengers in the Pennsylvania from this city, were much gratified with the trip, and give glowing descriptions of the scenery, the native beauty, and verdure of the vast uncultivated regions through which they passed. When such excellent opportunities are afforded through such fine steamers and such clever commanders as the Pennsylvania and Capt. Stone, of exploring the boundless forests of the west, we should not be surprised if the attention of our Eastern friends should become directed to trips of this kind in preference to loitering in warm weather in the neighboring cities on the Atlantic coast."