of fable in the confines of conflict.  Capt.  Lyon’s decision, urged thereto by Col.  Blair, was made without calling a council of the rest of his advisers.  They heard of it, however, and, though brave and loyal men all, they gathered around him in his quarters at the arsenal, Thursday evening, and besought him earnestly to change his purpose.  The conference was protracted the livelong night, and did not close till six o’clock, Friday morning, the 10th.  They found Capt.  Lyon inexorable,—­the fate of Camp Jackson was decreed.  Col.  Blair’s regiment was at Jefferson Barracks, ten miles below the arsenal, at that hour.  It was ordered up; and about noon on that memorable Friday, Capt.  Lyon quietly left the arsenal gate at the head of six thousand troops, of whom four hundred and fifty were regulars, the remainder United States Reserve Corps or Home Guards, marched in two columns to Camp Jackson, and before the State troops could recover from the amazement into which the appearance of the advancing army threw them, surrounded the camp, planting his batteries upon the elevations around, at a distance of five hundred yards, and stationing his infantry in the roads leading from the grove wherein their tents were pitched.  The State troops were taken completely by surprise; for, although there had been vague reports current in camp of an intended attack from the arsenal, the cry of the visitors at the grove, ‘They’re coming!’ ’They’re coming!’ raised just as the first column appeared in sight, found them strolling leisurely under the trees, chatting with their friends from the city, or stretched upon the thick green grass, smoking and reading.

* * * * *

Beaufort district,—­past, present, and future.

The sovereign State of South Carolina seems from the beginning to have been actuated by the desire not only to mold its institutions according to a system differing entirely from that of its sister States, but even to divide its territory in a peculiar manner, for which reason we find in it ‘districts’ taking the place of counties.  The south-west of these bears the name of its principal town, ‘Beaufort.’  It is bounded on the west by the Savannah River, and on the south by the Atlantic.  Its length from north to south is fifty-eight miles, its breadth thirty-three miles, and it contains about one and a quarter millions of acres of land and water.  Considered geologically, Beaufort is one of the most remarkable sections of the United States.  As recent events have brought it so prominently before us, we propose to consider its history, capacities, and prospects.

From its proximity to the Spanish settlements in the peninsula of Florida, its beautiful harbors and sounds were early explored and taken possession of by the Spaniards.  It is now certain they had established a post here called ‘Fort St. Phillip,’ at St. Elena,[B] as early as 1566-7; this was probably situated on the south-western point of St. Helena Island, and some remains of its entrenchment can still be traced.  From this fort Juan Pardo, its founder, proceeded on an expedition to the north-west, and explored a considerable part of the present States of South Carolina and Georgia.