DETROIT, January 9, 1848.

MESSRS. DOUGLASS & DELANY:

DEAR FRIENDS:—The first number of the NORTH STAR has been received. We are exceedingly pleased with it. Enclosed $2 is for one year’s subscription. You had better adhere to the cash system: it will save labor, and prevent embarrassment.

A brief synopsis of matters and things here may not be uninteresting.

For some weeks past, great efforts have been made to enlist and equip a regiment of Michigan Boys for Mexico. Six companies marched recently—all young men, in prime life. Many were in tears, and all looked sad. Last summer, Captain McReynolds left here with 104 young men for the Halls of the Montezumas. The Captain returned a few days since, wounded; and, I understand, reports only 34 of his men alive, and 17 fit for duty. Comment is unnecessary. What a sad—what a diabolical thing is war!

Our legislature, at its last session, abolished the Death Penalty. The past year has been unusually prolific in murders. A few months since, a man near Niles, in the western part of the State, was shot down, robbed, and his body left to rot in the woods. Not long since, a colored man, in this city, had his brains beat out, while in his own bed, by a drunken rowdy. On Christmas eve, at Pontiac, an altercation took place between two men: one stabbed the other, and he died next day. Last Saturday evening, in the shadow of a Christian church, in the most respectable part of the city, a young man was stabbed to the heart, and, without a groan, fell down a corpse. I was well acquainted with him. He was a native of Germany; and a very industrious and worthy young man. His murderer was from the same country. These terrible murders have thrown the city into consternation; and we bid fair to rival New Orleans. Many think these outbreaks of passion and revenge have been occasioned by abrogating the death penalty: and the legislature will be flooded with petitions to reinstate it.

We shall soon have one of the best rail roads in the country, and one of the largest depots on the continent. it is 880 feet long, by 100 feet wide—built of brick, and timbered in the strongest manner. The Boston Company, who purchased this road from the State, have infused new life into the whole concern, and are rapidly pushing it to New Buffalo, its terminus on Lake Michigan.—There is one feature in the operations of this company worthy of commendation. If any of their servants or laborers are disabled by accident, they do not stop their wages and discharge them, but they receive their usual pay until fit for duty. Our city continues to improve. Efforts are now being made to erect a commodious Exchange, on an eligible site, now occupied by dilapidated old buildings. The growth and improvement of our city is much retarded by the land proprietors. They are mostly old Frenchmen and their descendants. They are devoid of Yankee enterprise, public spirit or liberality. They will neither sell, lease, nor improve their property. The consequence is, some of the best business locations in the city are covered with old rookeries that would disgrace a country village. In fact, they are a dead weight upon the corporation.

This is the first winter we have not been honored with the assembled wisdom of the state. The capitol has left here, and gone to the woods to a place called Michigan, in Ingham county. We don’t miss the legislature; and, as regards morale and intellect, they ought to have been sent into the woods years ago.

Yours, respectfully,

HURON.