There are Ninety-eight Depots on the Company's Railway, giving about one every seven miles. Cities, Towns and Villages are situated at convenient distances throughout the whole route, where every desirable commodity may be found as readily as in the oldest cities of the Union and where buyers are to be met for all kinds of farm produce. EDUCATION. Mechanics and working-men will find the free school system encouraged by the State, and endowed with a large revenue for the support of the schools. Children can live in sight of the school, the college, the church, and grow up with the prosperity of the leading State in the Great Western Empire. * * * * * PRICES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT--ON LONG CREDIT. 80 acres at $10 per acre with interest at 6 per ct. annually on the following terms: Cash payment $48.00 Payment in one year 48.00 " in two years 48.00 " in three years 48.00 " in four years 236.00 " in five years 224.00 " in six years 212.00 " in seven years 200.00 40 acres, at $10.00 per acre: Cash payment $24.00 Payment in one year 24.00 " in two years 24.00 " in three years 24.00 " in four years 118.00 " in five years 112.00 " in six years 106.00 " in seven years 100.00 Number 17. 25 Cents. THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY. DEVOTED TO Literature and National Policy. MAY, 1863. NEW YORK: JOHN F. TROW 50 GREENE STREET (FOR THE PROPRIETORS). HENRY DEXTER AND SINCLAIR TOUSEY. WASHINGTON, D.C.: FRANCK TAYLOR. CONTENTS.--No. XVII. The Great Prairie State. By Mrs. C. M. Kirkland, 513 A Winter in Camp. By E. G. Hammond, 519 In Memoriam. By Richard Wolcott, 527 A Merchant's Story. By Edmund Kirke, 528 Shylock _vs._ Antonio. By Carlton Edwards 539 A Heroine of To-Day, 543 National Ode, 554 The Surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, on the Mississippi. By F. H. Gerdes. Assistant U. S. Coast Survey, 557 Reason, Rhyme, and Rhythm. By Mrs. Martha Cook, 562 The Value of the Union. By William H. Muller, 571 War Song--Earth's Last Battle. By Mrs. Martha Cook, 586 Miriam's Testimony. By M. A. Edwards, 589 The Destiny of the African Race in the United States. By Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, D.D., 600 Was He Successful? By Richard B. Kimball, 611 The Union. By Hon. Robert J. Walker, 615