Newspaper Page Text
MISCELLANY.
WUNMI\RE ON TUB RUL*
Is my specii! engine re nly 1*
•1 n a moment, sir; ihe engine m*n will be hero ui
ceetly. What speed do y>a wish !’
At leant a mile a mnute/
• Very good sir; the line is perfectly clear, and with
only one light carriage it can ho easily clone.
• 1 shall not wmt even that; l have nil my despatch
es ready in my p icket, and shall go upon the engine!
• You will hardly have ♦yes left in your head il )ou
do, sir. Better ha e a first class carriage put to.’
‘.Never fear; Ia in tolonbly accustomed to that s >rt
of thing. Never blink an eye in the longest ofyoui i
tuun<l.’
• Very wall, sii ; you know beat. *Tis your tram,
and of course you may either ride on ihe ingine or in
u carriage, as you please.’
• The engine, then ; and pray he smart; every mo- .
ment spent here is lost.’
I stood during the foregoing conversation upon the j
platform of an extensive railway ststion in u large yown
in the north of England. My interlocutor was the res
ident superintend* ut. I wis the bearer nfd spi'ches
of greut importance for a London morning newspaper,
und somewhat more than three hours was tho utrr.ot
♦•pace ol time I could all’ird to shoot over the 200 miles
of rail which eepaiated me from the office in the Strand.
it was a pleasant summer evening, und the rich ra
dience of the getting run streamed through ihe sky
ligh aof the hu .e iron roof, and sp ukl and among the
%vi hos interlacr and bars and holts which stietched, in
vistas ol -ingles und Joz-itiges, and ail manner of mull;-
eiuilical figures beneath it—ho met si ic rslers of the
terminus. On the half dozen lads which divided the
two platform* I iy, as usual, long strings of first and
sec >nd class carnages, in the process of being fuihish*
ed up by a Uzy gang of corduroy clad podt-is. On the
left line oi roils stood rny sped*l engine, brig.it and
braz m. an I shrieking as it shot its spiral column of
lushing, whi thug steam upward from th • brass cone,
whi.h appeared to act a-chimney for the fierce vapour.
• Bom© iiaJt-d’ 2’ n potters, policemen, and newsvt-nd*
er*. stood carelessly about in see ihu start; and the
Ht.ker ol the • special/ a gret<y looking mass ol soiled
uaiun. wuti a wonddifully dirty face, clambered me
chanically about the engine, after the manner of his
tribe, lude sly rubbing the me al with a h.mdtul of oily
rags,
I wa# growing fiJgity and impatient. Throwing a
glance upwirds, i saw that tae uri no longer lighted
the high windows—the station was fast assuming the
dusky grey of the evening.
•What can bo the matter with Westhorpe ?’ ex
claimed the superintendent. *llfl doui stay long here
if that’s the way he doe* his duty.’
•I have sent two poiti-r* alter him/ said * policeman;
• hi icported himself til t >t duly this morning.
•Wiist ! ho has be u ill?’ ►aid t.
•lie s ne’er the rune in n, sir, since Mary Slant* died
eo suddenly/ replied ihe policeman.
•Oh, bother! wo can’t allow love-sick engine d.ivcrs
on this line/ struck in the superintendent.
•But why don’t yon let mo novo another man if this
Mr. VYestbO'pe ot yours is not hi foi his work ! You
hive pleiry of hands 1 suppose?’
•Why yes. sii ; but tho tut is, that our men have
been a good deal woiked lately,and as YVe.-lhorpe sent
word this morning i at lie was mi dy to emus back to
duly, we madu our arrangements accordingly^
••Seven o’clock past/ i replied glancing at to# station
dial; *if you do not sla;t me in five minutes 1 counter
mind the cnj’ne, aud will have my own remedy by
Uw/
JJ jl before the five minutes we e elapsed, the tardy
engine-man made his sppenance. Ho was muffled
up in a snaggy peajicket, a handkerchief was wound
louud the lower part of /ns face^umVof I 'n/s forehead,
front of lih cau wr me bright hollow glare ot his e) es
Arid ihe clammy pallor of his cheeks Attributing tho=e
appearances, however, to mere pissing indisposition, I ,
took no particular notice of them; nor did I remark
with any attention, although it was visible enough, the
restless, neivoua state in which the man appeared to
be: bis hand tie.ubhd, he glanced quickly rouud from
face to face, and then began, in un odd, fiJgeiy manner,
to button aud unbutton a button in hiajicket. These
appearances ni’ght have alarmed uie ul another lime,
but 1 was too t agei fir the start to attend to th* in.
• I say, V\ esthurpe. exclaimed the superintendent, *if
this is the way you choose is treat vour employers, I
can tell you that you shan’t lung be one of their cm- I
ployed, my fine fellow.’
The engine-man muttered something. I know not j
what, and iiiechaun ally got upon the engine.
•You bhuul the Hi ea o’clock train at Brarnsby
station —do you hear Westborpe?— and the one o’clock
goods-lfuin ut Thoriiley Cross ; they will wait lor you
in the siding-. And, I s3y, mind you keep a good
look-ont; dont spare the wuisile i and go easy through
the station#.”
•O.i, 1 il look after all that,’ I ciclaimed, nodJing lo
(he superintendent a* 1 clambeied upon ihe engine.—
•You know Ibat i’lU all old iail-*ay bud. (Jood night.
“o’l !>•( the grass grow onJvr our wheels. Come
now, Mr. \\ esihorpe, go ahead, and let's have a lasle
of the quality of the • Tartj.ua.’
Ihe engine man touched his cap, pulled one level
down, thrust another back, the driving-wheel stirred,
■lid violently round ad -sen of times wilhnu advanc* ‘
ing, and then * buiug/ according to tha technical ex
piession. we moved along ihe platfoini. tbesupeiin
tendent following us and reiterating inatrucliona In
the dnver,
1 he loud, panting • chee— chre—chea’ of the engine j
rapidly grew quicker, and we lulled eloug the outskirts
of the station—by poluetnvn with buudlea of w hue
and red tings, and pom rtleaning upon switch handles;
and, with trivial jolta from one inteilecing line of tails ;
In another, giazng long, motionless lines of massive
first-class cariisges, anj arrays of coarse trucks; and ;
bv the opening ot sbrds, fiom h> r,ce Ihe liid glvanis
of iurnices and the ringing ot hammers, tlearned and
snJ rallied ; and by biasing, shrieking pilot-engines,
liow motiouleas, the hot cindcis dropping all glowing
ly beneath t um. anon crawling backwaids sod tor
warda as erigmea at railway-stations always do, as if
they had something on their iniuds end could not lest
peaceably. And then came the loud, tearing rush,
with winch we flew under bridges ; the whistle end
the dlsu al sin ick, slid ins smoldering blast of vti am
and damp-rushing air as we to e through a abort tun
nel, and so in we were fairly upon our way lu the open
eounliy, the lights and high chimneys of the great
manufacturing town sparkling and towering behind,
and tie loro us the tields, stretching awsy on cither std'-
from ma l ing line ul rails, ami juel basing Ihsir distinct.
iie> in tlio rising evening mist.
•On, Me. W esihorpe! crack on t A good supper,
and a better bottle of wine for you, wh< n we get lu
town !’
•Think ye, ir!’ said the man, but without looking
into my face; and then turning away, he begeu to
grope lor aonu-thing in the mailing on winch he stood,
muttering all Ihu while lo himself. There was some
thing odd, iudctcubjble in Ihe man's manner; end I
observid that the stoker looked at him with evident
tineasincs*, end addressed turn not a word.
All tint while the epred of the engine was rapidly
Increasing. ‘The clattering ol ihe opening and shutt
ing valves, as they alternate y let on and cut oil the
aleatn. grew fitter end faster, till they rattled like the
continuous roll of e drum. The hedges by the wayside
ll w by in a long, dusky line, which might have been
•hiuW, or alone wall, oi wooden palling-. The sway
ing mo ion of the engine grew to be a quick, swinging
jolt. Jhe white polea which supported the tree ol
the tlectuc telegraph flew hy as though defiling in rap
id procession ; bridges loomed a moment before us
like dark stupes culling Ibe sky. and then, with a stcaia
shriek end a bound, were left behind. Oh !—along
hi-h -mbiiikmenls—down with a sweep between deep
cuttings—treat stationa, with tbeir neat waiting-room#,
end nigh ktgnal-polea, and railed pl-tforrna ! Orison-!
Milestone aftet milestone flew by. Ihe alesrn mon
ster seemed instinct with life. It bounded like a mad
thing oti Ihe rai’ | the Couplings ol the tender creak
ed and strains I; tha glare lro u Ibe furnace and the
lighter gleam from our Mg, eye-like lamp, flew like
flashes of aurora borealtaaloug the green alopea of cut
tings ; Ihe red hot cinders from the chimney went
tpaikling aloft into tha air, and, although not a breath
of wiud was stirring, a hurnCane, culJ and piercing,
such as the eye could beaidly wuhatand, appeared la
be tearing hy us back in the louraoiue high*..
Mo tar all was well. We were going at a great but
not unprcredanlrd speed and I was 100 well acquaint
ed with railway uawlling to feel nervous. I knew the
line * clear, any tha night was quite bright enough
fjt u lu pciceiro ny signal bslf-a mile ol).
Me an while, \Yc-.ll.orp* lord f.d, l -;■••'>>’ w*i fc
the engine, urging hackw .r.U und torwarda the handl
es of the lever, a- they worked with the rnec h irii-rn
ua th >ug the wou'tl increase then speed. H * *** ,uv *
er still for h moment, and kept continually stamping
and shuffling with his feet. The sinker lent Winsl
the rails, clutehing them, as it sliurk m*. In an
ed anxious manner, I could observe il this by the |
light of a very larga and brilliant lamp, which hung •“ .
a book cloao to the guago which tells the height of the -
water in the boiler.
On, on, on !—mile afiei mile anil station nl er hm
lion ! On by dark clump# oftrees—and ps**t the light*
ol villages and ao|ita>y fami-hmrse*—-Jiid across long,
dim expenses of wild, open country ! v\e might be
already from twenty-five to tbiity miles on our j >mney.
•Taitaiu* goes bravely/ suid I, making an eli irl to
speak, and shouting the words into W esthorpe’s chim
Tho stoker caino up close to u#, und iMencd for
the reply.
Th© eriffine driver looked quickly Imm one to the
other of ua. Ins eye glared like a w iUI hi iu*t s, and th* u
he suddenly excliiimd t his I -110 %-la *oiner,—
•Coke, J ©(fries, cuke ! More steam, ni r< steam !
ihe gentleman must have iniue •team ! Never mind
Me !—si earn— steam !’
1 wua a tattled with this burst, *o was Jeffries, as !
found the stoker uus called. He hesitated.
•Coke—coke !’shouted Westhorpe. ‘By the heav
ens übo*e us there, do your duty, or over you go on
the rails !’
The ian still lingered with the spade in hie hand
Wtathorpe kicked open the furnerc-door. I heard tb
roar ol the fierie li e above ttie howl of wLut appear and
to he the tornado wo vveie stemming.
I inte p -srd.
•I think wo’iti getting over the ground very well/ I
faltered.
Jv tines in -de a motion, as much os to sny, ‘There
you see !’
•You don’t want to go quicker V said Westhorpe.
speaking lo v and very fast.
1 shook my h ad.
• Well, I do!’ roared the excited man. ‘Coke, Jif
fies, coke !’
And he struck the stoker violent blow with hi*
clenched list. For a moment l stood slop* tied. I
would have given all the wo/Id to be bf. al and sound
on the Jrea ient p<t of the dreary eoutmoii we wen
pasting. J* tfies. without a word, took up the spade,
und threw ihe black masses into the fire, which crack
led and roared again. By its glare, as he sioq/cd, 1
saw that, under us mask ot smut, lta i co was deadly
pale.
And still on, on ! The engino appeared to fly.—
The qiisiter-mi!e*ttou?s seemed to shoot by us quickly
as did the telegruj h-polcs a quarter of an hour and
the sway wm teirilic.
•Music !* ahouKd W. slhorpe, ‘music ! We ll have
I music ! Here’s my boiling-water oigmi !’
And us he ♦poke, he sit on the atenm-w hiatle : its
| scream went thioug und through my bitin. 1"e
{ ker lot/ki dat me. I saw he was trying to catch my
| eye, and the expie-sion of his lace was one of emitter
; nation and huirur. All at once the humble whistle
ceased.
•It might give warning/ Wralhorp muttered; *and
j besides, it’s wailing the steam.’
j I shuddered. Suddenly the drivel turned from the
engine, and stepping to the tender, gaze l ng and anx*
; inusly back. Jt|}-ies took advantage of ills aumsnt,
; and ciu'chcd mu by the arm.
I Hush J’ he said bre ithleaaly.
•VV hat is the matter with the rnan ?’ I mid.
‘Hush ! lie is mud. I thought so these two days.
Mad ! I fell the cold sweat break out nt every pore.
I A mile a minute with a mad driver! My flesh cispt,
, at and I got sick and faint. _ „
j mud m.-B’er h-m. Come on !
j “tVorJs were hardly ulteicd cio Wcs’.Uorpe
i sprung—bounded round.
•I heard you!’ he shouted; *1 did! Treachery,
treachery ! two to one ! But, cme. come, come !’
i There was a moment’s pause : not one of the three
1 stirred. Then I saw Jeffries’ baud gliding towards a
heavy hammer which lay close to him. The maniac.
! for such he was, glared from one to the other of us. 1
could not fix his eye, but I felt that he wa*ched mv
every movement. I gasped fur breath, Jeffries’ hand
t was close to the hummer, when, with a yell which rune
high into the air amid the thund r ofmw onward pa/ e,
Westhorpe flung himself upon the .-toker. Ha ho i ob
served his manceuvre to gain possession of the hatnmei.
•You would, would you ?’ the madman growle I out
between his clenched teeth. —‘then take it!’ He flung
his arms around the wretched man. who clutched con
vulsively at any object vvi hin his grasp.
‘Sive tneT ho scrcameJ ; ‘save aic, for dear God’s
suke !’
I3ut I was paralysed. With one superhuman rff/rt
VV esthorpe tore the wretch f r oin his crouching position.
and with limbs which appeared to work and swell wi ll
iron muachs, tuss/d the strong man like a child in his
arms, and shouted a maniac yelling lauih.
•Help I help !’ screamed Jeffries; *oh !oh! my wife
at home !’
These \7cic his last worJs.
•Then g'* home to her !’ shrieked Westhorpe, and.
with another demoniac I ough, he heaved the struggling
victim high in the air, an I I heard the dull, dead, plashy
dint with which ha was dished to pciccs on tha stony
ground.
Westhorpe turned suddenly roord. Md!* he
shouted, at tho lull pitch *f his voice,—‘mad ! I be
lieve you !—I am !—I am ! —mad! mid! mad!* He
clenched my collar, and diew mo to him
child in hi* anna. ‘.Vlad !’ he tepeaied,— yes ! 1 tri
ed long to keep it down !—oh, I fought wi h it! —wrest
led with il! And I and to myself, No. lam n t mad.
when I knew I was! Mad! I believe you! —I am
mad I— I feel it now ! I know the pit asu'e ol it !
God ! who would be sane—ha !ha ! ha ! —if he knew
wb*t a life a madman’s is **
He unloosed his grasp of me. and I shrunk info a
corner us the space before the boiler, almo t unable to
articulslo. The paroxysm appeared to p iss away for
the moment, and ho stood muttering. Then calc burg
up th spade, he act himself to trim the Cues mrw.--
A thrill of hoirur again passed through me; we were
go ng at a pace to which all othefs that I had ever trv
| t iled were child a play. I tried to compose myself to
my fa e. If the engine did not leap off the rails, it was
evident that, sooner *>r later, we inut anive at the ot
i ••ruction which would, as with one luighty blow, smile
us into dust forever.
Again he turned to rnr, tnd, drawing me towards
him, looked mta iny face. The madman had the mas
tery. Supporting hmiscif by a side-rail, he gazed l
me. O that lustioua, hi od>h t eye!— that ghastly,
working, twitching viaage ! At length hs spoke,slow
ly. nay, calmly,—
*We are now going faster than ever mortal man
tmellrd since the world was a world/
He paused, and the frightful swaying of the engine,
•ml the lightning-like | lav ol the rattl ng rmchai i*m
fearfully attested Ins woids.
•How ft do y u th nk wo a e going 1* Inquired the
maniac, still speaking w th the greatest sppariiit calm
ness.
•Not much under a hundred mile# an hour/ I gasped,
•hull that, he replied. Now tell me,do you think j
spirits can fly as fist V
Nevut stisll I foiget the sepulclusl tone in which the
question was pul. He piusud, but without, however,
appearing to wait f>r an answer, arid looked wistfully
at the furnarr-dooi, its dimensions milked by four
linca of red light.
1 imagined that in his pre*ent mood I could soothe
him down, and regain th it m ual inastary over him
which the aaue, by ermines* and aelfpoaeasion, so fre
quently acquire over uc times of mental disease. Cheer
ed by this girarn of hope, I looked hi nr steadily in the
face, and began to apeak m mild, coaxing accents,—
•Do you think wo need trouble ourtelvsa to keep the
engine at such speed ?*
•I fear wc must,’ he said sadly : ‘thcie would be dang
er in a mile an hour leas.’
I paused, completely puzzled. What were the train
I of ideas pissing in the idsdman’s brain \
♦You hava boen ill!’ 1 continued, In the same coax
ing, fondling tone.
•No—yea, yes—oh. tarry, very ill; Westhorpe spoke
with apparent languor und difficulty.
•Particularly within the three list days V I resumed
lie slatted back, and exclaimed tieruety, •|||~no, nut
ill—drunk !’
•Drunk !* I echoed, mechanically : a flash of light
rroooed ine—the mau was suffeiing under delinuru
trcmcnt ,
•Yea, drunk !’ he shouted, wnh all his fonntr wild
ness. • Drunk ! yes ! I've been drunk since h*r death ;
I shall ha till my own ! Drunk or mad, tbers’s little
difleiencv! I tell you I must dink—it lays her-it
.h< r ui< •in ‘• She h .uni.- ;n* fhe ,< ,
cute# me, m-l l must have drink ! drink ‘
lie darted hick, struck his fort-hesd with li:s clench
ed tist. nn i then suddenly producing • small, empty
phial, he lurnnl awy hi-* head, and in a hilt-suiather
ed vo cs said, ‘Rrud the label.’
I d.d.
••Frusft.c Acid Poison. ,
Hr* sprung round as th Uih he had been shot.
‘I didn’t “ive it tu her I —I didn't —she took t t>f her
accord! IL-fne l.i i shu did!—hut she look it
because i suid al.e should never be my w ife. I trnher
’ murl rei ! -her mur l re*, though I dhln l gi w the
p /if-oa ! I murdeitJ the only Woman I ever loved —I
did ! ti ni help mi l ! Oil, Maiy—Mary B'ane ! —but
y.iu’ro revenged ! V. u hive never left me auice !
you hung over my bed at night—you walked by my
*idu in lit u * sunlight in the streets—you sal w ith
your clammy h ind in mine in tho theatre —you looked
over tint glass as Id ank burning spirit-*—you rale
with me (in the engine ! 1 have seen you every whfre
I— cveiy wlfcie ! Ah ! ith ! I tea you now ! you fie
following u-! —following us through the night ! |ut
vou ah ant calc h us! y >/u ahan t! —you than t !
i And tho muiisc started up,and with a howl hk(j a
wild beast urged on tho levers, und, actually BCiedni
! mg with terror, lugged and strained at any portion nl
(tie raitl.ng ma biuery he t ould leach, a* though toln
ciea-e tho speari.
1 oluuiik and >wn why should I not confess it 7 —per- ;
ii Cily Cowed. At that m i ncut wc flew into a tunnel,
| The mi* of llie lantern aud ihe half opened lurnnc#
llicke.f i on the v lulled ro f ns we traversed thrj
lium il passage, amid what ujqrea ed a squall of hot)
iOs nip and shewed VY stlunp©. his limbi twitching
| and v*-ry feature convulsed wil l tenor, clinging W j
j an I on the engine,
A iii J i.eiit, and we are again beneath the open ni ’hf.
j The j aroxvsm appear/d ti> havo pnsafd away lor Utc
j moment, mid the mani re uqain turned to rne.
•Y -u saxv her face, eh ? wasn’t it ghastly I It wbs
j ju*l m sbo lo ‘kdout *>! her coffin—just !’
1 s lid a couple ot wuidi, I knew not what.
•1 II •hew her someth'll tout toted the HI iJiidh, a.-
fer a pause. -1 think she’d l-lit to see it.’
A tuber pan**.
•IV,-II tl!ls.’ DcfEiJ at laigih, and I reccivtl a rare
i fully i|t*d hioan-pnpfr pare l hoin hu hand. Hoiurn*
| ed iWay wln*n lie had given it, s though upublu to
w itch ;.i* opening, *Uulie it/ hu said, *\ithln hick
j lO IJif.
I did o. ’l’he first envtlopc was one of pa
j pi ; under it was another of seme what in >ra delicate
j texture ; then cams wrap pur a'P r wruppoi*/ until I
’ thought as I undid them vwdi a trembling hfud, Ihu
j the wh > e packet woul 1 pio v e a ui* ro •*
waste paper, i w.is deceived, howevor, 1 corns kt length
l) a carefully I Tied envelope of cilk paper, i lory it
open, shel eiing it from the iusli ut air. anil, to my ut
J ter AUiH’Z'Nilrnt, found tts contents to bo—a ball and. zen
withered libidos of grass! An ruvwluniaiy cxc.iniatiun
| rs aped mr,
• Have—you—done it ?’ mu ,, ef , ’d e*thorp*, gnash
! ing the ve/v words between li teeiii.
•Glass !’ * exclaimed ; -h re’s nothing but gras* !’
He bounded ruuuJ, clutch’ and the withered In rings
: in his hand. and. holding it !• fr in the au, shouted,
; 9h*, Mary Ml.ne, tee! Grass from yur ui ivy.
Mary ! Grass pui>d by your murderer. Ma y ! O
(J >d ! night alter have 1 p n*:-ed upon the *‘d ths>
covered y u and whenever I left il I rurifdthe. g r •**
Hjaitixi mv bent! O Mary, Mary! in‘rcy P*ty •
Oil, I loved you ! ind>*d indeed. Mary. I did! I
would have been h good hosusnd. Ma r y ; iu*lc*'d, in
. deed I would! but t was not to be—my lob\, 10-t
V,jr > ! ,| Cm xmrst be-
I t and shown glorioudv down up
| oil us. upon the dusky country side, the speeding.
; gleaming, roaring machine, and the distorted face and
foaming lips of the engine-driver.
As he puu-ed he appeared to listen. I watched him
narrowly. The expessitm of his face chanced, he
clasped his h ind*, rai-ed them ; and the countenance
which a moment ago was harrowed, and convulsed by
mad terror, its ever# muscle racked and riven, gradual
ly reljxed ; a smile stole round the month-—you could
see it hem*.tii the froth which stdl oozed from the lips;
and then every (entire became instinct and dilated with
a yearning, grateful j y.
•I you! Oh—oh, Mary, Mary, pay those
woTd-* aguir, ! God b!es you. Mary ! your fare is like
.n angel’s naw ! L)o, do §3y them again,— 1 forgive
you !*
He listened, snd. Heaven help me! I, listened too.
i I* ,r T be spirit’s voice. I hear/I hut the roaring of our
non race. Not so Westhorp; his face gleamed and
j h s eye again HparkUd.
•God’s thanks, M.iry ! God’s thanks I am pmlon
e 1 !’ and then covering hr# face with his hnods. he
burst into a loud fit of weeping; and in a moment sunk
down, a sobbing, quivering mass, upon the engine mat.
Now was mv time—no v or never. I looked forth.
! Ahead of us sparkled the lights of D . They
i rtf,e miles—many miles away ; but minutes at our
! pace would shot u# in splinter# through the
j wall* of ibe station. W* s'borpc lay sobbing I i*t®ric-
I ally ; f h<d enough of acquaintance with the locomo
; tivo to know the mechanical process of shutting off ihe
siearn. and gr. ping the handle of the lever, I turned
/ the lute of the fierce vapour fmrn the mechanism.
1 he wheels bad not spun round t single turn when
W esthrope. a# if by instinct, sprung up. and. with a
roar of hoarse furv. dragged me from the machinery.
One of his l uge hands were c lutched round my throat
I writhed under the working-* of his iron inus'de#
while with the oilier he wenched the lever, and I ft It
the steam on again. I groaned faintly. He relax
ed his hold of my neck, and grasping me bv both shouf
ilen. drew rne to him. Ima le one eflbrt onCKfrncgle.
I wining mv leg round his. by a sudden wrench I sue- j
ceeded in fl nging him backwards with a heavy crash,
partly Upon the engine floor, partly upon a hot dost in*
cJ to contain g'enae. fool#, and other useful implements
jin n*c “f accidents. The advantage was hut for n
moment : I fell his strength rising beneath mv weight ,
like a f’iton’a. \\ ith one bound he was on hi* feet,
grasping me, n struggling maw, in hi# arms.
• There, go after J* ff.ies !’ lie roared.
My muscles involuntarily contracted, I ceemed to
shrink into a hall, ■* I frit by the winding up. a it were, •
of the muscular power of his arms, that he whs almost !
in the act of flinging me down the h : ph embankment j
we were then shouting across. All at once he scream
’ cd out, —
*D— !D
nal to stop! Stop I—ha—ha—hs!—stop ! D—,
the station we’ll go through it! Through through
walls, houses, streets! Stop !—hi—ha —hs !’
I held my breath. 1 was still grasped in his arms.—
My h+id spun round and round, blue and yellow flash
es appeared toilluino my brain ; the quarter milestones
seemed tumbling past, one on the top of the other; the
awav off the engine increased ; it rocked, and hounded,
and rcored down the incline leading to the station. I
so* pbaming past the lights in the hecag# and en
| gine-ehed </ . I heard the exulting scrcsm of the mintsr,
mingled with shoots, and whistles, and the ringing of |
bells which seemed to rise <>n eveiv alls. I saw the
dusky lines “f standing csrriiget ; lmw the glitter of J
the brilliantly lighted station; I saw tho flyrng group# *
upon the platform ; I saw pillars, Itmpa, engines, on*
mass— one confuaed, gleaming, shooting mats ! Ii
gasped , then withs yell which seemed to transform
nil nstu/e into that wi!J, ghistly, deuth shriek, we— 1
we dashed on——
On nothing !
Now, then, tickc ts. |-Irte ! Gentlemen, get your
tickets ready ! D—station.gentlemen ! Ten min- 1
1 utrs allowed for refreshment, gentlemen !’
I started up with a stammering cry, J
•Holla ! holts ! w hot’s the matt* r with you ? You’ve
been grossing and mosbii.g in your llttp for the last
hall hour/
•iVestborpf* Westhorpe!’ I gasped,
•The mm’s asleep s’ i II! What ths dues do you
mean by Westhorpe ? Rouse up man, tnd let us hsvc
some stout and sandwiches 1’
j 1 sank back.
•It ws# a dream, then !’I muttered.
•Ay. s railway niuhtrnsre, my boy ! Did not I warn
you of that beefsteak pi® at Leeds ? But what was it
all about ! You were thinking of tome of your x*
p'esaing work were you not t*
•I was. Think God it was but • dream :ts you say.
a Railway Nightmare !’
HEARING WITH THE EYE.
A Visit to a Deaf and Dumb School at Lsipsie%
bt a f wfins.
From Morris'* and Willis's Home Journal.
Teaching the desf snd dumb to Star with ths sye, ‘
•nd tesr-hing thnn to know how to epssk by s?e ng
I ‘if > ‘ • ‘ Ii i.J' 1 . lit t(- J 1
veniivo benevolence oi wbch iho patient ond j (
German* should have a* enthusiastic cm!it ns whs gi-1
vcn to Howe tor the lighting of the windowlrsa cell in 1
which was locked up the mind of Laura B'idgman.
Under the guidance of o tiirrid of Horace Mums.
i |)r, Vogel.) mv brother **n*l ( joined L)r. Bartlett. ot
Philadelphia, in a vi%il to tlie *t fioo\ where tUi difii- 1
cult tuition is prac tised. We were shown -it once in- .
to one of the fehooi-ro im, where, while wrailinj for !
the principal, we sjw a teacher employed in the initm
ry lesson. Ten or fifteen deaf and dumb hoys sat at a
long table with shies and pencils, and the mn ter, sea
ted at the upper end. hud one pupil s’anding at Ins
knee, whom ho w is instructing, while the others look
ed on. As he pronounced the letters of the nlph bet,
the hoy imitated the motion of his lip*, and thereby
made the same sound; aiding bis imitation ot it by
placing his hand on theni is'er** breast wA feeling the
vibration and then trying the vibration of hts own.
, The other bnv*. me intime, wrote on their slates the
letters they taiv spoken ; waiting their turn for exper
iment with the master.
It is curious to one who has never before t ought of
It, what a ditlereut gate the mouth is to the different
cnmers-otlt — hoiv diderenllv it lets out A from 13, C j
from I). These teachers of the deaf and dumb find no
difficulty in miking the exit of ev ry letter of the al
phabet distinctly recognisable hv the eye only . Ihr
hoy* at this table were beginner*, but they already
knew their letters thus by sighj. when spoken I h‘*
little fellow who tv is up for bis lesson was a complete
personification of Sh>ik*f earUs Puck, a roy. laughing,
untroubled urchin, whom it was almost a pity to help
of his locked up self into a less happy world—d'gging
into n pure spring to ict in upon it a muddy river—
and his imitation utterances of the letter* were very
discordant and unnatural, a* would he expected from a
deaf and dumb beginner. The entrance of the princi
pal of tlm school interrupted our acquaintance with
him. and we fdlnwcd info another apartment, to see
the upper rlas-, not wiihnnt a pressure of mv hand on
•he head of my little fivorite. and a smile of intelligence
mag net i ally quick in return. At n table in this same
roun, by the way, the son of an A list dan nobleman
was pointed out t > us among the new scholars —i
straight, well-limbed bid of fou’teen, who. bv bis mel
ancholy countenance, seemed to have bp. n made more
fully Q.vjie than the other boys of the extent of their
com 1)011 calamity.
The upper dies, numbered s >me eight or ten lads,
who were being taught to hear arid apeak by a deaf
and dumb tuthr. (By hear, l mean, of course, under •
stand wh at is said) This tutor was a perfected pu
pil nf the institution, and a sufficient poof of the prac
ticability of the system. He was born deaf ami dumb.
lui lie conversed eh) / Tie was a young man of
twen’y-five, very intelligent-lookin':, anil differed from
other profile only in the intense expression of search
ingness in his countenance—a gß2# as if he was try
ing to look to oogb you into another man— natural e
nough wh n you reflect that he converse* habitually
with people by only seeing them talk. Not under
standing the In gu.lge. I could not, of course, judge of
the correctness of bis aeren'oation, but lie answered
the questions put to him with great readiness, only
with a litle m-ire cultural rffint ami more twisting of
the bps lhan ot'ier people. He fuirul no itlflti u r
understanding what ny brother said to tTm— though
Americans, even in speaking Herman, wove their
mouths much less ihnn the Germans. In this national
immobility of the exiern*! organs of speed), indeed,
lies a formidable nbsw !* to the success of this system.
either in Unjlmd or America. W e and < “* r ♦ a, b in £
. . .l irlf the angular sounds to
side the man"’ ......
me nonest Gorman bps do finch visible justice.
It was odd, by tlie way, to see mv brother endeavoring
* > make the tutor hear a question when his back was
turned—the latter perfectly unaware that he was spo
j ken to. though ho bad heard all that was said to him
before.
Tlie experiments wiih the fins* were exceedingly
interesting. To see a once deaf and dumb man talk
ing to deaf and dumb hoys, w ho afterward* wrote w ith
chalk upon the wall what ire h and heard and they had
sten him say, was a scene th.il ha t in it elements for
the sublime. It seemed to *e, indeed, somewhat as*
clairvoyance does li’ e venturously forcing a door that
(ioil has pointedly shut. [ speak only of mv impres
sion rtt the time. I looked along the bench, however,
to see if T could detect among the youthful heads an
embryal Mo)ocli. r lignin, political, or moral, whose
senses it had been thus necessary to lock from action
on the world. None there looked to me as fbe had
in him the stuff for dangerous greatne-e.
I regret exceedingly that the name of tlie benevolent
inventor of this system lias slipped from mv memory.
His physiognomy is ranked from a philanthropist, and
be looks nt home in the school to which he has devo
ted Ids life. | think he said it had been in operation
! fifteen years, but mention is made of it in one of the
well known Reports of Horace Mann, to which I refer
those who wish for more particular information. One
i *hade I must put in with the light of tlie picture, and I
do it solely in the hope of cuffing the attention of the
’ worthy principal to the subject, since I couM not name
! it without apparent intrusion through an inep f eter.
I ami—“ seriptn verba mnnent l refer to the want of
. personal cleanliness in the pupils, ami a closeness of
air in the school rooms, tint were really off’ nsive. The
majority of the boys, and all the masters, were e* i
denily suffering for fresh air—pale and unhealthy, as
well as neglectful of their persons. Thi* (a every
one know* who has travelled there) is n Germanism.
an I the country needs, as an vater to the progress < f
education, h missionary to preach ventilation. To de
stroy a hoy’* health while supplying him with intelli
gence to enjoy life is like tlie Indian's lengthening his
blanket—adding to the bottom a piece cut from the
L, r*
This nyi'rnt f hearing with the eye gives : valua
ble hint to those who sr merely dent ; hut, as an uri- j
suspected accomplishment, it would rnuke dancer* us
havoc among secret-. Fancy a man in the pit of a
theatre who could hear over with an opera glass every
6ndy whom he could see t.iikm;. How many inter
views between Napoleon and the statesmen of Europe
are and cacti bed iu memoirs, where the writer speaks of
seeing the countenance* *nj gesticulation* of the talk
er*, yet only guesses at the d<ift of the conversation !
How judges, conferring iu whispers on the bench, dip*
b-matist* at court, speculators on ’change, betters at
play, lovers out of eur shot, might insensibly reveal se
cret* to one of the-e listeners! Me tternich would find
employ for a man with such an accomplishment.
FOREIGN.
LATKIt FUOtl EVMPK.
Ati lil V Al* OF THE OAMURIA.
Fifteen D:iy% Later Front Kiiropc.
I'll* sliamer Cambria arrived hi Boston mi ihe IS ti,
altar • [ >**ge ut lulls uvrr 13 d..y lium Liverpool.—
She brought In Boston 78 pa*enget*.
The niovl prominent p d.lical news liy this arrival,
it the cblrleratom oi l > Republic > f Cracow, the last
remnant of Poland. by Ilia comuined power*ol liu-tu,
Austria, and Prussia.
Tho o ton ms kel hi* been very rid ed. The
Mancha* ir I ratio leal very indignant *t tile present
inovi iiivnl su| poriad by rptculalor* only. Upward*
of 28 UUO ha;* tiring taken by speculator* siiiiu lues
•lay last, t a rue of ill ae-i if oleos ■ penny.
The Engl *h port* a a to Ire o|irrird,
I Dalian Corn i* quoted at f.B 5B shilling* par quar
ler. Atni ilean Flour had ailvancad on* shilling par
b. mil, in Liverpool, closing on Iho 3d III*!., wnh a
downnaid tendency.
Twelve of ilm Koyal family of i'er*ia hnv* died of
the eliolsra. Till* plague i* eitemling Westward,—
Tourt.an thousand person* hive died of.il in Bagdad.
The cholera ha* *Uo appeared in Spain.
The Spanish paper* call on France and England lo
establish a monarchy in Mexico, <o save that country >
fnmi falling into the Arnrricau Union.
Ireland ia enjoying more tranquility, end I .milord*
hive adopted atticieot and aucceulul meusure* for the
relief of the people.
lien. Flores, the South American renegade, ; i*.
portid 10 have aailcJ Iroin Spun with on Ihouaiud
monarchists lo conquer the Republic of Ecuador.
The Steamer Ureal Britain la atilt on the racks.
Belgium ha* opened her porta until October tat,
1817, and export of find la positively prohibited.
The P..pc baa authorised ’.lie people of K me to nr
junta then own local police, which la deemed an im
mense concession.
The Queen of Portugal la in a critical (loiitmn.—
The Rebellion is very genual, and It la supposed that
►he will ba compelled to abdicate.
Firh (rntiWti have ktokett out in Indi*. The Brit
i-h :m- picpirmi for in* \ cm quest.. l
protested against lsi occupation ol Crtcmv.
Pailiuir.ent meets 10th January.
domes™.
Correspondence of the National Intel! genet r.
NISVV-YOliK. Uxckmdkii 12, 1810.
S'pnm navigation on the North liner continue* tin- j
intenupttd. and probably will for a lew days longer, |
ultuough it is now extremely cold. Y cslerday was j
mild, with a In avy fall of rain ; but Ul night ti from
very herd. There ie. therelore.no prospect that our !
oiinb will again open this season.
It is stated in the paper a of the day that Commo
dore Sthwaut had reiunud t> Philadelphia without
orders to proceed to take command of the Gulf squad
ron. Iu the interview he had with the President, the
latter is arid to have desired to leave to the veteran
Commodore the discretion to attack the castle of San
ban .1 nan d’Ulua or not, as he might decide , an I thr.l ,
the Commodore stub •• N' ; if you will order me to go i
and take that fiiftrch*. 1 wt 1 obey your order! cheer
fully, and do my best to t ike it ; hut I cannot assume j
the responsibility nf iho enterprise.” The Govern
ment, it is N*id. would not give the order under the*
circumstances; and so the Commodore went back to j
Plulaib Iphia. Such i* the #tnrv. I
Now 1 cm assure the (.’ominodore that there is nt
leant one gallant pi st captain in our navy who would
hive scud, in the same situation, as Capt. StewuM
did act. In n conversatimi which the writer of this
I it r recently held with he captain referred toon the
subject of attacking the fortress San Juan d’Ulua, he*
remarked that, it he was ordered to ass nth it, be would
obey bis orders; •• but.'* be added, after some further
ob* nations on the subject,•• in my opinion . the KnU
of the vessels necessary to capture that castle are not
yet laid.” lie then proceeded to explain it* situition,
•or* ngth, tier, compared with vHial it was whu attack
and by the* Fiench.
Captain —-r appeared to be well acquainted with
the surrounding country. He said that, within a fe”
mile.- of the fmtress there wae a fine and convenient
landmg pi ice on u l-each. That, with a sufficient
Imd force and the necessary mean* of assault, it might
he fiicci ssfully spproihd. Iu such an assault the
Navy m ght he successfully employed.
It is highly probable that Cen. Scott’s plan of ac
tion i* somewhat similar to that abo* e sted. It
sui It aie his views, the gieat question will be, I* he
amply provided with the necessary force and imple
ment*? If be is not. when will he be? Hi* friends
think that In sixty dy* he will be ready for action
whan vi r that action may be; mid that belore the mid
dle of Match hi* work w ill he done. I hope these an
tieipation* m.y he reuhz-’d, but l have my apprehen
sions—not that Gen. S*ctt will lie fouud wanting,
but that the Government will not j erf* rm their part in
due season.
Our capitalists ands me of our bank* are greatly
disappointed that the specie clause in the Subtr* aau r y
lull is ril to he repeale I, or ui least suspended. I have
never (relieved that ti e Government would consent n
either until they had rt.iii.ed. hv experiment, that
they could not sell .si.r per cert, stock at par to a large
atiuruin, ami iiru it ix y —nt OiwvuTCt wticu tfTey crcK
new loan.
Sticks generally are very heavy. Some sales have
have been made nt reduced prices.
United Stales s ices, new | an. offered at par ; u r ew
thoupin-d dollars sold at par , deliverab| in four
months mote offered. \V hil* such is the stite of the
nuilut, hjw n it possible to obtain anew l ion.
R. W. O.
Correspondence Charleston Evening News.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14th. 1816.
f j Bmh branches of Uongre-s met again to-day. In
the Senate, after the presentation of some petitions
and (be reception of several repott* f o-n the Depart
ment*, Mr. Crittenden called up a resolution offered
by him last week, instructing the Gommiitee on Mil
itary Adairs “ lo bring in a bill, to increase, during the
. present war. the pav of lion commiss'oned officer*,
musicians and p'ivate- of the a mv, including the vol
unteers; and als > to provide f>r the grunting of certif
icates of merit, to such of them as may distinguish
themselvrg hv personal sets of extraordiua'V devotion
or bravery ; and that those to whom are
g r anted *>ha!l receive in virtue thereof, additional p'ay.i
etc.”
Mr. Crittenden supported h?x resolution by an elo
quent speer h. in which lie referred to the practice of
European Governments in stimulating the courage of
their private soldiers, hv adequate remarks. He referr
ed more e-pecjailv to Nap dcon. in whose dav. the s'ar
of iTie Legion of IL nor shore ks ofen upon the breast
of the piiva'p soldier* a a of the noble born.
Mr, Benton offered an amendatory resolution, di- j
rrrting the C’ommitiee to inquire into the expedien
cy’’ of increasing the pay. and al* of placing tlie Army
on the ‘■a’Tie footing as the Navy, in icbuion to prize
momv. In the course of some rem* r ks on the subject.’
he argued that tlie most hem fb ial effec ts would e*ult;
fr.im tlie carrying out of he policy indicated bv hi-* res- :
nlu'ion, in relation to prize money, and appealed to ih.’
Senate, aa to w! ether any harm could result from a
prelim nary inquiry into tho expediency of such a
movement.
Mr. Crittenden though it would look better if the
Senate t ok it f r granted that the Ixaveiy of our sol
diers deserved reward. In hi* npin’on an inquiry into
the expediency nf reporting a bill, would imply doubt.
Mr. Wrstcott wis opposed to the granting of eertitl
r te* of merit. He thought it w ould lead to the cstali
liHiment of nn order of nobility, and at all event*
would he a dangerous precedent. He was however,
willing to give the bind.
Mr. Crittenden rejoined. He assured the gentleman
that there vv * not the |en-t danger of subverting the
institution* of the Government, bv granting certificates •
of merit. There wm no mor# danger in this, than in J
the granting of medals to ti e General* of tho Army, i
It was a cheap mode of rewarding the *oldier, and
much more congenial to his feelings than a mere pe
cuniary rew*d.
After fj'ther discussion, the amendment of Mr.
Brnton was carried by a vote of 24 to 20. The reso
lution a* amended was th**n adopted. So the Com
mittee will be directed to inquire into the expediency
of'he matter. lam told there is no doubt of their le
porting a hill.
This mat er having been disposed of. tlie Senate
proceeded to ballot for th* Military Committee. On
, the first ballot Mr. Sevier wasrho* n Chairman of tbs
Committee on Foreign Affairs ; Mr. Lewi* ditto of the
Finance Committee; Mr. Dix, of the Committee on
Uomrn*'Ce; Mr. Di< k n*on. nf the Commille on Man
ufafttires; Mr. S'uyeon n Agriculture, Mr Benton
us the Military Committee. The remaining Commit*
Imi were filled by resolution. ‘Lite Chairmen were
()n the Militia. Mr. Atchinson ; Naval Affairs. Mr.
1 Faufield; Public Lands. Mr. Lirerse; District of (Jo
lumhiii. Mr. Cameron; I dian Afliirs, Mr. Bagby ;
Judifis'y. Mr. Asblev; Pnat Office. Mr. Nilea; I*at
mta, Mr. Colquit; ‘l’rnitorie*, Mr Weatcott.
In lha House, the Standing Coinmittrea were an
’ nounced. ‘There were only two rhanges in tha Chair
! men. Tho-e were the appointment of Mr. Vance a*
as Chairman of tha Committee on Manufactures, in
the plai tof Mr. Adam*, and of Mr. MrDowill on the ,
I Committee on tha Diatiict of Columbia, in place of
Mr. Hunter. The complexion of the remaining Com
mittees dura not msteiislly differ from those of lurt
►esaou.
After ill* disposal of snme unimp .riant mailers. Mr.
B w.lrn of Alabama, made a formal annunciation of
the death of Mr. McConnell, whose melancholy death
occurred in this city some time ago. The n-oul n so
lutions were then adopted, after which, the House im
mediately adjourned.
There is a rumor afloat that Mi. K et haa eipressed j
a wiah to tie rrcalled, unit that Mr. liagby will go to
Fiance. I doubt i', for ilia filler cannot afliud it. It 1
lakes a great deal of money to accept eoch mission, 1
anil Mi. U. la not troubled with nvri much. Beaidcs
he has a largo family dependant upon him.
salt and democracy.
The Democracy hereabouts, have been endeavour
ing to peiauads the people that the only duty upon
an article la always juai eo much adJrd lo ihe price,
and rice t’rrsn—in other words, if the duly upon sail
fur instance, is reduced twenty coni* per sack, it will
cost the coneomor jnl twenty crins leu. Now hi u<
*ve how this Free Trade theory haa been confirmed
by facia, lie it known ih*l the Free Trad*. Demo
cratic Tar iff. ha- been in operation sine* Ihe first day
of the preicnt tuonrh, and that lb* duly on eilt, under;
thia Tariff, I* twenty percent, ad valorem, or about’
twelve ernti per sark; w hile und. r the W hig Tariff
11l ? I ..IW.I-l ,bt l‘ -j * I ‘.1..-':,-b i.f 4 b ,'jj 1 *-i Iy .
two e* ru- per sack —a and tl.’fence ot jit venty centj.
In the months of June and July t im, when tha Brii
ish I'rtnil wj.i under distUiisiui), suit w.is sold iu d, }
Savannah market at one dollar per sack, and the good
kind hearted, confiding peeple wete told that under tlm
reign of Fipo Tmdc they would he rnablrd to |u T
their fall supply at eighty cents! ‘l’lie British Tariff’
wax enacted, ami we find, as bile ns the ffOth Dcioher
that silt was hi.l! Mold at one dollar. One of our Corn
! mercial House*, thought that th vprice was soon to bo
j reduced, that they might as well save the twenty cents
! duty and so vvaicluM.st and a caigi to pst the practical
| workings of the new Tariff. The Ut 0} December
j came, and iff British Tariff’went into operation, when
> according to Democratic logic, salt was lo drop down
m eighty cents! VV hat was the le-ult ? (),,
of December, there wjh q i*ale flight hundred sacks
.1 one and liar, thirty-seven and u half cents , ami on
Friday lasi, (the ISth.) there was another mU of two
ihotisuil sack*, ai tut dollar, sixty two and a half
\ reals,per suck / A part of the cargo VV:M g q ljM)( , (l t ’
I Charleston, Iho very f .cus of Free ‘l’i ade, an I sold ih oro
I it two dollars and la cutq fire cuds per sack !
\Y oiidertul cun ft rm at ion this indeed, of the correct*
nc>s of Democratic logic, and ol the economy of Do.
mocrutic principlrH! The duty on salt is twen'y
cents le*s loan under the Whig Tariff, and vet dm
j Southern planter is paying from sixty two and n half
cents to one dollar an 1 tweutv-five cents per t,u k more
than under the VV big Tauff’; in oilier waids, J.dm
Bull pockets all the pnJits tuder the pre-ent ‘l’uriff
and tiie planters none—the Government loses twenty
cents and the American citizen from tnxty-two nnd a
h ilt C< nts to one dollar twenty-five cr n s per sm k —all
on account of t he POI.U Demociicv nntl the glorious
niumph <1 F-.e ‘Trade! Are we ml righl.wl.cn we
say that the Tauff *f 1846 is iu.lecd a lLitish Tariff'-
and the party whiih us miuh it any thing but un Amer
lean t-aity ?
We may be told, that this ad’ ance in price has been
owing to the s arcuy of the artnle iu 1 |je inirket.
Our ieplv is, that this admission is only a confirmation
ot the W hig d.'mine, v z: ifiut prices depend not up
on Tuntfs, but u; 0:1 H e supply and,tho demand. It
al'O piove* the tiller fi lacy ol the Democratic theory
(hat the duty ‘filers nce*san!y into the price of tho
impoiled uiti. I*\ and shows that iho true Ante*icari
policy is to to ter A rnc-rn an industry. 01. J | f) b*i For
eign juiciest#, us well as puces, take rare •! themselves.
fSau. Hi pull cut. )
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.--! he Waging.
Inn Un ml ol i vij.o oils | lojeculiiin of the ivar.
In nlliisum to Hie .inju siiion* mule m M. xi
co it suy* :
VV tiive ulreadv firmed it cordon in the noith and
vxrii:, which cuts oIT an extensive portion of her north
•rn territory, and all the California®. i’ampico is iu
•nr
•nr position, a* the basis of Inline an ; fmb r militarv
oper.u ons Oilier blows are to be struck, of even a
more ftfiinidihb’ eba ae'er. Other Mrongliold# must
fall in o oui power, i lie capiloD of N#\v Mexico, Chi
* • huabua. New L on, Tuinmbpa*. anil ad the Cal for
-1 ! fiias 111 our smn—ull her priucijMtl pong < ccupied
. by our squadron —vs hat can she xpict but tlou #)ie
I j *6 c*. ve. during the nr, addition 11 blow* at and mom
J dir ful di-asiers ? 7be luoger, too, the war is post
* poo id the heavier the expense* incurred. the greater
! the indemnity which we shall claim ai her hands in
1 \ the t Italy • J peace”
VV 11 ti Mich cncigetic proceeding* in view it i* to bi
. j regretted that tho nine m w re imer.te were not called
f*r sooner T. is is ih <e*a*on for nnlimr.v operation*
,in Mexico. It might also Ik* naked, will the nice new
j r giineot* be 1 nou.h ? I ti** V'Junteeis übeadv in the
! field will reach the term of fhen enlistment in Jun .
Is itsiXppoeed that die war will be concluded before that
1 lime ?
In all probability the PresiJ. nt is looking to the
Mexican Congress iu the expectation that some steps
1 j will be taken by that body for the terminal ion of ho •
I tilit'e*. He still calls for the two millions of dollars
Ito be used its negotiations. Santa Anna will take lha
: wonet, no d<ubt, it he car* get it —and as much more
as Mr, POI.K may choo#e to fn nislt. If peac# should
! not follow, the Mex cin thief on find use for ii in
| paving his troop* nnd in strengthen ng his military re
sources.— Balt. American,
Mil. (’lay ix True SrxATK—The Washington cor
respondent of the Philadelphia North American stales
that letters have been received .it Wat dngtor). from
responsible g utrees in K* ntucky, intimating tl e p ol a
lulilv of VI r. Clav’a el c'i n to the vacancy in lha U.
S Hen ale, to occur by Mr. Mtoeheid’s reliiement,
who declines to be a candidate.
Un\Ti mplatft) Attack ox Vxha Cur*.—'Tha
j following i* said t be the mode nf the intended attack
on Vera <’r*'Z. ‘The [dan nt operations i* to concen
trate our fo<r s at the mouth of the Antigua river that
ernptn s into the Gulf a short distance to the North of
* Vrri (’ruz. and lo ascend it to where tb* high road
from Vera Cruz to Jilapa crosses that stream. From
that point, it is stated, the avenues to Vera Cruz ran
le fullv commanded, ami the invrrm nt of the town
be made with a certainty of its sp edv fall. Willi the
town, it is believed, will go the Castle ofd’Ulloa.
Naval—The New Yoik True Sun ol Friday ls-t
hivr—• Commodore rstew irt, it is understood, will take
command of the Ohio, now fitting out at Boston, and
sail in a few day* wi h sealed ode r *. The officers are
to report ihcmeSve* on board on Saturday next.”
‘Tho barque Fredonia. purchased at Boston a few
day* ago by th** (lot rnment, i* to he sent lo the Guff
of Mexico, moored in some port, and used as a ho piful
slip. For the purpose of greater security, she will be
furnished with an anchor weighing three thousand
j pound*.
The new ship Cru<ndrr, which wna also purchased
j bv the Government, will carry out a cargo of coal to
j the Squadron in the Gulf.
R cut rna FavpAitive Guir Cottoiv.—Dip raw
cotton into a mixture of equal parts (each hv measure)
of nitric and sulphuric and. Common sulphuric and
nitric* arid, of the specific gravity of 145. *
It will tike about 3ff seconds to h- come well satur
ated ; then [ires* it to remove the acid , wn*h it till no
arid tnte is perceptible; dry in a warm room, anJ use
the same an powder, with a pn reunion cap.
Mr. T. W. Starr, nf Philadelphia, the g< ntleman to
whom the public is indebted for the ahnue, has rrwtdo
the following experiment* colion, prepared accord
ing lo the*e direction*, v'z :
6 grain* cotton sent the ball 2$ inches into a hem
lock joist, at eight parrs.
10 grains goal rffa powder *nt the ball
into the a*m* joist nt the same distance.
Consequently making the cotton more than double
the poorer nf the p mder, and sending the ball one inch
further into the wood.
N. T3. I’iie same quantity of powder was fried •
of cotton, and did not send the ball out of the rifle bar
rel.
The balls used weighed 45 to the pound.
1 gram of cotton was tried in a pi -Ink 3 inch hiffel,
and it threw the ball, through a 1$ inch board, and
sunk it into another one trehind it the diamt ler of the
ball.
I*. S. The p'stol halts weighed 112 to the pour.J.
LOSS OF Tin: CIf\KLE!*OX MAIL.
An eilract finn rbe office ( >f the Wihninßlon
t'hronicle, dat"d •• Friday. Dec. ISih, 13 o'clock A.
M.” convey# the f..(lowing intelligeticw of the Ins* of
ihe whole of the Mails marie up at Charleston, on
Wednesday last.
The steamer Ola.lialnr, Cepl. Fpiilh. which left
here vca er.lav f>r Chs'hatnn, but wiih.jut proceeding
any farther llisn seres- ihe main bir, has )Ul relumed
i wiih Ihe *lemer Vsnderl.ill rat tnw. FromCept. Pot
ter, of ihe Vanderbilt, wo learn Ihe following parties
j let*.
“The V. came out of Chwleaton at her unl hour
on Wednesday, about 3P. M. At 10. nflCeorcetown.
ihe wind wh.ch had bfen blowing fir aoni* time in
heavy guala, set into a furmuv gale from the East. c-
Ctintpanled with some nut. At about 11 Ihe steamer
was thrown upon tier beam end*. After a while ahe
righted, not having licen eseentMljt rlsmegeil. At 2
on Thursday morning *he was again thrown on her
Iresm end*, in r rudder mo ‘h crippled, both wheel hnu*-
e* nearly demolished, Iho Mail apartment broken open,
end all the Mail* from ihe Sotirli l.ken in *1 Charlea
lon. together with Ihe Charleston Marl, swept Into the
1 ocean. 7 lie main moat wus cut away—lh# steamer
| righted egain in a shari time, and lint having her tns
rlitneiv Injured, ptocrodid on hn wny,*th wind ® o *’