From Charleston.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Charleston, Feb. 13th. 1861.
I have just seen Maj. Anderson, not in person, but by an exact likeness of him, taken by Mr. Cook, of this place, one of the most skillful artists (acknowledged to be) in America.
Mr. Cook was permitted by Gov. Pickens to visit Fort Sumter on Friday last, for the purpose of photographing Major Anderson and his officers, and I visited his Gallery this morning to see them.
Mr. Cook informs me that he was treated by the Major and his officers with great kindness and consideration, and they took marked pains to show him everything about the establishment; nor did he enjoin secrecy upon him at all, and spoke in condemnation of the thousand false reports in circulation about himself, and, also, of the many bogus letters purporting to be from him. Mr. Cook got the impression, perhaps, directly from the Major and officers, that they sympathized with the South, and would never, if possible to avoid it, come in deadly conflict with their brethren of the South.
‘" But all these things availeth naught, so long as Mordecai, the Jew, sitteth at the King's gate. "’
Major Anderson appears to be about forty-five to fifty years old, is about five feet ten inches high complexion a little brown, large, dark hazel eyes, hair a little grey and worn in the usual style — to one side, nose a little squeline, mouth moderately wide, forehead side, and not very high, countenance calm, but remarkably firm, with firm grip of the under jaw, denoting determination and strong will, clean shaved and neat Whilst his countenance denotes great determination, it also to speaks great benevolence.
I know of no one is your midst now to whom I can liken him, but has almost a fac simile face of the late Mr. Edwin Porter, for many years a large and contractor in your State, of whom you or your older readers no doubt have a distinct recollection.
I saw Gov. Pickens, also, this morning, for the first time to take a good look at him. The Governor and his suite visits the fortifications to day, accompanied by many of the dignitation of the city, on the steamer Edisto.
He is evidently a man of mark, and I should judge, from his appearance, that he was not only‘"born insensible to fear,"’but that he remains to He is a man of heavy build, not more than five feet eight or nine, about 60 years of age, broad, heavy, fleshy face, nose a little ‘"pug,"’ but not so much so as to destroy at all the idea of intellect, broad forehead, dark-blue eyes, brown complexion, wide mouth, very plain in his dress, clean shaved, and has the appearance of a good, plain country gentleman, in whose society any one might feel easy and free — especially those who liked a good dinner, and a bottle of Heidsick.
Altogether, Gov. Pickens is the man for the times, and has proved himself, of late, especially, equal to the emergency, and has made but few, if any, blunders in the management of complications thus far. I know of no one in your city, now living, to whom he bears any resemblance, but is not unlike the late Samuel Taylor, for many years a prominent member of the Richmond Bar.
Everything begins to assume the air of quiet, and the return of business.
Vessels are coming in freely, and sales of cotton large, and at high prices.
Virginius. 