Newspaper Page Text
Correspondence of the New York Express.
Washington, April 20.
Curious developments arc daily coming
to light, und anon some of our Loco Foco
Wriends and fellow-citizens will have rea
sons as plenty as blackberries, tor being
turned out of office. If all rumors be true,
there never was more of an Augean stable
than the New-York Custom-House. I have
just heard of the case of the Inspector and
Collector at Albany, who has not
been called upon to settle up his account,
though he has been in office since 1833, nor
has he paid over a dollar of his fees or e-
His returns, it is added, are
regular enough, and exhibit about S3OOO in
fees received by him, though there never
has been any accounts between him and
the Collector. The fault is an oversight in
the office in omitting quarterly settlements;
which being the way they have been done
there, you see the propriety now and then
of changing at least someone man in of
fice.
Mr. Van Burcn and his administration,
it appears, kept up his and its character to
the very end. Not only Judges and Con
suls made in the last hour of March 3rd,
before the breath was fairly out of the bo
dy of one whose vacancy was to be filled,
■ but even midshipmen and cadets were po
litically well attended to. Not only were
all vacancies filled, but they shot beyond
their term, so as to fill up places to be, a
year ahead, at least as to the cadets ! This
was pushing spoils with a high hand—and
yet, the sweet innocents of the Globe and
Post growl, because we won’t let them keep
all, as well as steal all, of places ahead !
The Secretaries and Post Master Gener
al have most laborious duties, and are the
hardest working men in the country. The
midnight lamp finds Mr. Bell in his office,
and Mr. Ewing is not less hard-worked. —
Mr. Granger gets through an immense a
rnount of service also, in a department
where labor annually accumulates to an
appalling extent. Mr. Webster’s work is
half done before other people are up in the
morning, and he, therefore, retires early.
Mr. Badger being anew comer, is less
known to the citizens generally than the
other Secretaries —but all who do know him
are charmed with his suavity and simplici
ty of manner. His address will give him
an exceeding popularity.
From the Richmond Whig.
THE LOCOS AND A BANK.
The Locos have said so much about the
of a Bank, and lavished
much abuse upon those, who differ with
them in opinion—arraigning their inconsis
tency and honesty, that it may not be amiss
to advert to the views of their idol on this
subject. Gen. Jackson, in several of bis
Messages, expressly admitted the constitu
tionality of a National Bank, and in his
Veto, he stated that “ had the Executive
been called upon to furnish the project of
such an institution, the duty would have
been cheerfully performed.” But we sub
join extracts:
Extract from Gen. Jackson’s Ist Message to
Congress.
“ If such an Institution is deemed essen
tial to the fiscal operations of the Govern
ment, I submit to the wisdom of the Legis
lature whether a National one, founded up
on the credit of the Government and its rev
enues, might not be devised which would
avoid all constitutional difficulties, and at
the same time secure all the advantages to
the Government and the COUNTRY that
are expected to result from the present
Bank.”
Extract from Gen. Jackson’s 2d annual
Message.
“ In the spirit of improvement and com
promise which distinguishes our country
and its institutions, it becomes us to enquire
whether it be not possible to secure the ad
vantages afforded by the present Bank,
THROUGH THE AGENCY OF A
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES,
so modified in its principles and structure
as to obviate constitutional and other objec
tions. It is thought practicable to organ
ize such a Bank, with the necessary offi
cers, as a branch of the Treasury depart
ment ; based on the public and individual
deposits, &c In times of public emergen
cy, the capacities of such an institution
might be enlarged by legislative provi
sions.”
Extract, from Gen. Jackson’s 3 d Message.
“ Entertaining the opinions heretofore
f expressed in relation to the Bank of the U
nited States as at present organized, I felt it
my duty in former messages frankly to dis
close them in order that the attention of the
Legislature and the people should be sea
sonably directed to that important subject.
Without a more particular reference to the
views of the subject then expressed, I leave
it for the present to the investigation of an
enlightened people and their representa
tives.”
Extract from Gen. Jackson’s Veto Message.
“ That a Bank of the United States, com
petent to all the duties which may be requi
red by the Government, might be so organ
ized as not to infringe on our own delega
ted powers or the reserved rights of the
States, Ido not entertain a doubt. Had
the Executive been called upon to furnish
the project of such an institution, the duty
would have been cheerfully performed.”
Notwithstanding these repeated & strong
declarations in favor of a Bank, the Locos
never abated one whit in the ardor of their
support of the “ Greatest and Best.” He
was the beau ideal of all that was great
and good. He was the quintessence of De
mocracy, and all he said or did was genuine
Republicanism. And yet these noisy, in
decent and voracious demagogues have the
effrontery to assail others for entertaining
the for which they lauded
Party annals exhibit no more
shaml. ‘-ss inconsistency and profligate im
pudence. But the truth is, the spoils con
stitute the Alpha and Omega with them.
John Randolph, in representing one of the
chief of them as a man of seven principles;
five loaves and two fishes; sketched the
whole tribe All their principles—all their
patriotism is resolvable into the one com
prehensive term, spoils. Give them the
spoils, and they arc content; all things are
going on prosperously ; the skies are bright
and brightening of a cloudy day. But strip
them of the spoils—forthwith tho Heavens
are overcast; the soft, balmy breezes of
the South arc piercing North Westers ; and
the world had better come to an end forth
with, than to go on at this rate !
The People have come to estimate them
and their motives at their proper value.
From the Southern Patriot.
PRESIDENTIAL PROFESSIONS AND
PRACTICE.
It is a remarkable fact, that such of our
Presidents as have been among the sturdi
est asserters of the rights of the States and
the warmest defenders of the principles’ of
the Constitution, have exhibited the broad
est contrasts between their acts and their
opinions before and after their accession to
the Executive Office. Power does effect,
at times, marvellous revolutions in the
minds and hearts of men. Mr. Jefferson
sailed into office under the flag of State
Rights and strict construction. He was
the father of the school of literal interpreta
tion of the National charter. In a very few
years where did his political position leave
his principles ? He purchased Louisiana.
There was no warrant for this but in the
loosest Constitutional implication that can
be conceived. It was the ultraism —the ve
ry extremity —of the general welfare doc
trine. Well, no one blamed Mr. Jefferson
when the public necessity did not admit the
questionable wisdom of the act. No one
called Mr. Jefferson the enemy of State
Rights when he applied the National trea
sure for the purchase of territory that could
not have been gained unless by war and
bloodshed.
Mr. Madison was also trained in the
school of rigid construction. He furnish
ed the texts, and his was the authority on
which rested the extreme application of
State Rights theories. He was seated in
the Chair of State as a State Rights Presi
dent, by almost popular acclaim. Among
the test principles of the State Rights Re
publicans of that day, in Virginia, was un
compromising opposition to a National
Bank. Where did the necessities of his
official position place Mr. Madison when
his principles were put to their practical
proof? He, like Mr. Jefferson, was com
pelled to compromise with his political con
science. He sanctioned the charter of a
National Bank. The war had left the
country cursed then, as now, with the evils
of irredeemable paper money. The con
viction was overwhelming, within and
without the walls of Congress, that such an
institution was tho only instrument of de
liverance from this curse, the parent of so
many other moral curses. The Statesmen
of that day were, many of them, compelled,
if not to offer up their abstract constitution
al opinions, as a total sacrifice on the altar
of patriotism, to consent, at least, to so im
portant a modification of their principles,
as to leave them in a state of lamentable
contradiction between their theory and their
practice.
Monroe Rail Road. —Notwithstanding
the pressure of the times, this expensive
structure is still going ahead. Tho com
pany are making strenuous efforts to com
plete the Road to Griffin this summer—the
Iron Rails, Plates, &e. for which, some
650 odd tons have arrived in Savannah from
England within a few days, and may be
daily expected here per boats.
Macon Telegraph, 27i1l ult.
Fire at Swainsborough. —The Court
House of Emanuel County, at Swainsbor
ough rvas entirely consumed by fire on the
night of the 10th instant. We understand
but one Record Book was saved, the bal
ance, together with all the Court Papers,
were lost. The Sheriff of the County has
been accused, and a true bill found against
him by the Grand Jury. Our informant,
however, thinks him not guilty, and that
there is not even circumstantial evidence
against him.— Sandersvi/le Telescope.
Another Incendiary .-The stores of Messrs.
Walton & Kemp, and Mr. Leverich, in
Dorsier street Nos. 2 and 3, from custom
house, were discovered to be on fire yester
day afternoon, at half past three o’clock, the
fire proceeding from some sheds in the rear
containing tar and other combustible arti
cles which were no doubt fired by the hand
of an incendiary. The firemen were
promptly on the spot, and proved excee
dingly efficient on this occasion ; but from
the nature of the articles in store, consist
ing of salt, sugar, lard, coffee, &c. consid
erable damage was sustained. The sur
rounding buildings sustained but little dam
age.
We learn that three unsuccessful at
tempts were made to set fire to this proper
ty prior to the successful one, and suspi
cion rests on two individuals, for whom the
police are on their look out.— N. O. paper.
Hoax. —The Louisville Gazette, from
whence proceeded the story of the resusci
tation of John White, who was hung in that
city on the Bth ult., pronounces the story to
be the veriest humbug that has been done
up lately. The editor says he did not warn
the reader at the time,against the deception,
because he thought he would at once per
ceive the fabulousness of such a monstrous
story, got up for the express purpose of ta
king off the morbid appetite too prevalent,
for the marvellous and horrible.
Remarkable Application of Galvanism .—
At the last meeting of the Horticultural So
ciety, a paper was read on an ingenious
method of preserving plants from bugs and
snails, by means of apieceofzinc four in
ches wide, with a band of copper one inch
wide, fastened to the centre with zinc nails.
This being cut into convenient lengths and
placed round the plants to be protected, the
I snail or bug crawls up the zinc until its
; horn*, touch the copper, when it immediate
ly feels a galvanic shock and retreats, and
as often as it makes the attempt to pass tho
copper baud it is shocked and driven back,
the moist body of tho snail acting as a con
ductor of electricity.— English paper.
The Mint. —We learn on unquestionable
authority (says the New Orleans Advertis
er) that the United States Mint at New Or
leans has not done work enough for the last
three months to pay its expenses.
The result was brought about in a great
measure by the conduct of tho late Admin
istration, which drew out of the establish
ment a largo quantity of the specie allotted
to it by law as capital to work upon, and
thus prevented bullion brokers from sen
ding in their gold and silver to bo coined,
for the simple reason that they could not ob
tain new coin on demand in exchange for
their deposite.
Repeal of the Sub Treasury. —On Thurs
day last, the House of Representatives of
Pennsylvania passed a resolution, which
had been previously acted on in the Senate,
instructing the Senator and requesting the
Representatives in Congress, to vote for tlic
repeal of the Sub Treasury Law, and pro
viding that the Governor forward copies of
the resolution to the Senators and Repre
sentatives. The resolution was carried by
a handsome majority.
Grievous to be Born. —Mr. Cuthbert,'a
Senator in Congress from Georgia, publish
es in the Globe of Thursday, an elaborate
article on Mr. Webster’s course on the sub
ject of Abolition. He says he “has ceased
all personal intercourse with Mr. Web
ster.” Pesbaps Mr. Webster may be able
to bear up under this affliction, but he must
suffer immensely. A lady of Philadelphia,
once told Talleyrand that she had a very
bad opinion of Bonaparte. “Madam,” was
the reply, it will pain the Emperor greatly
to learn this fact.— New York Herald.
KENTUCKY ELECTIONS.
The returns from the late election for
members of Congress in this State come in
slowly, thus far however, the Whig cause
has sustained itself, although it was feared
on the eve of the election that some Loco
Focos would get in, in consequence of the
running two Whigs in some of the districts.
The following is the result as far as heard
from.— Augusta Chronicle.
MEMBERS ELECTED.
Garret Davis, (adm.) in the 12th District.
Thos. F. Marshall, (adm.) in 10th District.
William O. Butler, (opp.) 13th District.
John White, (adm.) 9th District.
L. W. Andrews, (adm.) 11th District.
W. H. Field, (adm.) Bth District, probably.
J. B. Thompson, (adm.) sth Dist. probably.
John Pope, (adm.) 7th District.
Five Districts to be heard from.
From the Savannah Republican.
FROM FLORIDA.
It is with pain we record the following
particulars of another recent Indian mur
der in Florida, furnished by one of our at
tentive correspondents, and received yes
terday by the arrival of the U. S. steamer
Gen. Taylor, Capt. Peck.
PILATKA, May 5, 1841.
Gentlemen , —The express from Micano
py, which arrived at Pilatka this evening,
brings the intelligence of another murder
committed by the Indians at Fort Tarver,
within eight miles of Micanopy, on the 4th
inst. A citizen teamster had started from
Fort Tarver on the morning of the 4th, and
was found soon afterwards laying dead
near a pond about a mile distant. It is
supposed that the unfortunate victim was
murdered while watering his horses at the
pond. The discharge of the rifles was dis
tinctly heard by several individuals. When
they arrived, however, at the pond, the In
dians had fled. Another item to expedite
the close of the war. Yours, &c.
Since the above was in type, the steamer
Chas. Downing, Capt. Dent, has arrived
from St. Augustine, bringing us the follow
ing letter:
Office of the News, >
St. Augustine, May 4, 1841. \
THE ELECTION OF DELEGATE.
The election of a Delegate to Congress
from this Territory, took place on Monday
last. There are three candidates, 2 Whigs
and one Loco Foco. The following is the
result, as far as heard from :
Whig. Whig. Loco.
C. Downing. T.T.Ward. D.Levy.
St. Augustine, 126 5 137
North River, 6
New Switzerland, 5
Picolata, 3
Mandarin, 27 14 27
Jacksonville, 95 17 55
St. John’s Bluff, 53
Black Creek, 37 2 72
338 38 305
We have no Indian Intelligence to com
municate, as nothing has been heard from
Tampa, or the movements in that quarter.
MURDER OF GEN. LEIGH READ.
The last Floridian says that he was shot
on the morning of the 26th ult., by Willis
Alston—that Alston stepped out of a house
after Read had passed a few yards beyond
the door, and deliberately shot him with a
double-barrel gun, loaded with slugs and
pistol balls—that Read lived but a few
hours. The jury of inquest brought in a
verdict of wilful Murder. Alston was com
mitted to prison on the evening of that day.
MURDER.
Mr. James H. Wright, late keeper of the
hotel in Knoxville, was shot on Sunday
morning the 25th ult., by Israel Champion
and died the next day. From the circum
stances we have heard detailed respecting
it, the difficulty between them appears to
have been of a trivial character, and grow
ing out of the purchase of the hotel by Mr.
Champion, who was its present'occupant.
They met near the Court House, while one
or both, were on their way to church, and
after exchanging a few words, Champion
drew a pistol an I discharged it at Wright
who, it is understood, was unarmed. Both
were respectable members of society, and
had largo families. Champion has her n
committed to Jail in this City, to await his
trial in August next.-Macon Messenger.
BURGLARY AND MURDER.
A burglary and murder of the most atro
cious character were perpetrated at St.
Louis on the 17th ult. A letter from there
gives the following account ofthe catastro
phe: “Or: the 16th of April there was
deposited in the warehouse of Col lier& Pvt
tus, near $06,000 in specie—one young
man and a middle aged one slept in the
store. In the middle of the night the store
was entered by burglars, who murdered
two clerks, Weaver and Jesse Baker, and
set fire to the house, after having, as it is
supposed, plundered the vaults, in which
it is said, there were at the time about two
hundred thousand dollars. The building
was consumed, also the roof of an adjoin
ing house. The goods in the latter were
much injured by water from the engines.
When tLe fire was discovered, the first who
entered found the elder clerk murdered
near the front dqor, cut up in the most hor
rid manner with knife and pistol; owing to
which, it is presumed lie made violent resis
tance. The other was murdered in his bed
asleep. His remains were not found.—
Collier & Pettus have not saved scarcely
any thing, their papers and all their books,
it is feared, are consumed, and the second
and part of a third warehouse are entirely
destroyed.
“No clue has yet been discovered as to
the murderers. In addition to the above
two men, another was killed by the falling
of a wall. One of the inmates was seen
near the door ofthe store at eleven o’clock,
and it is presumed the villains rushed into
the store past him. They did not succeed
in getting any money it is thought; as soon !
as they can get to tiie fireproof it will be |
ascertained for certain. The excitement
here is very great. The populace would
hang any one they could ascertain was en
gaged in this horrid affair.”
A dark picture. —A correspondent of the
Express, on the Ist of January last, com
menced keeping a record of the murders
and suicides chronicled in the newspa
pers which he was accustomed to
and the result is as follows:
From that date to the first of April,
there have been 74 murders and 63 sui
cides. Ofthese, 19 came to sudden death
by intemperaancc; 12 by taking lauda
num, and other poisons; 7 by hanging ;
themselves; 7 by cutting their throats; 8
by drowning, and five by shooting them- :
selves.
Os the murders, 6 were in New-York,
6 in Ohio, 4 in Georgia, 4 in Now-Orle- J
ans, 2 in Virginia, 2 in Vermont, 2 in
New-Jersey, 2 in Kentucky, l in Arkan
sas.
Os suicide, 32 were in New-York, 8 in
Pennsylvania, 7 in Massachusetts, 6 in
New-Orleans, 2 in Connecticut, 1 in Maine, i
1 in Kentucky, 1 in South Carolina, 1 in
Wisconsin, 1 in Rhode Island, 3 in Virgin
ia.
(It is remarked that the melancholly list :
is far from being complete.)
Something Wrong —Crimes of every
grade are hourly upon the increase.
House breaking, picking pockets and for
geries on a scale of magnificence, arc dai
ly coming to the public eve. In many in
stances of this sort, where the wretches
have been detected—by some defect of the
law’ or lenity in the administration of jus
tice, or collision between the police and
these scoundrels, they have been set at lib
erty, again to prey upon an unsuspecting
public. In Boston, the burglar who stole
nearly $20,000 worth of Jewelry out of one
establishment, was allowed to go at largo
after he had given up the property. In
New-York, cases of this sort are not unfre
quent, and even in our own city there does
not seem to bo that rigid infliction of pun
ishment which some cases seem to demand,
where circumstantial evidence does eve
ry thing but incontrovertibly prove tho
villainy. When a rogue, known to be such,
is once secure in the hands of the police,
he should behold with an iron grasp. At
least he should be so marked that lie never
would again perpetrate his outrages in the
same city. The fashionable English pick
pocket, who was arrested at one of the de
pots last week in Market st. was liberated
the next day. Unquestionably he was the
same fellow who relieved a number of per
sons of their pocket hooks at Christ Church,
during the funeral exercises on Tues
day.—Philadelphia North American.
ST. DOMINGO AS IT NOW IS.
The following description of the present
state of that island is from the pen of a
French naval officer :
“We embarked on board of the frigate
Nereide on the 24th December. On the
28th we were at fort Royal, to receive or
ders from the Admiral, who despatched us
on the 29th to St. Domingo, where we were
to take on board the five millions of francs
with the Consul General had informed us
were ready. We have been three days at
anchor in the famous Republic, and all that
I can say to you of the misery of the peo
ple will scarce suffice to give you any idea
of it.
“ I have been every where, and every
where have seen nothing but degradation
and corruption. Men in rags compose the
army and exhibit a most ludicrous military
masquerade. Cavalry on foot manoeuvre
like horses at the word of command, trot,
gallop, &c. Both officer and soldiers are
without shoes ; one lias spurs tied by a
cord to his naked feet, another has made
himself spurs with a piece of iron driven
into a wooden sole tied to his foot, and one
whole company which I inspected minute
ly had not a single musket which would
‘go off. The officers in rags ask charily.
“ Slothfulness, poverty in its most hide
ous i! rm—and in tin: negro it is must hide
ous—alone mos t your eye at the town of
Port an Prince. The fields are overrun
by brambles, leg-wood trees, and the rapa
cious lichens, which obstruct tin’ roads and
destroy the old plantations. With the ex
ception of a few gardens, which here and
there are cultivated by th- negroes—gar
dens far inferior to those of our worst
slaves—there is no cultivation whatever.
*• The only product ofthe island is coffee
and that every year diminishes so mate
rially that the time is not far distant when
it will produce none at all. No more is
planted, and the old coffee plantations are
not even taken care of. The owners gather
the crops from their own fields, in the midst
ofthe briars and weeds, no laborers being
to be bail, tho one not being willing to work
! for tho other.
FROM TEXAS.
j Thestcam packet Savannah,Capt.Wade
arrived yesterday morning from Galveston
bringing us dates to the 28th of April from
that city, to the 24th from Houston, and
Austin to the 14th.
The Austin Gazette says that as Lieut.
Rice and two others were out hunting a few
days since they had three horses stolen from
them ; they immediately commenced a
search and soon succeeded in retaking their
own horses, and also in bringing oil’ two ol ;
j the Indian’s horses.
The Tonkaways are said to have driven
in from a Caddo camp, which they discov- j
ered on tho Yegtia, upwards ol one hun- ;
dred horses, & among them the race horses j
which were stolen from Austin in Feb. i
last.
Commodore Dumanoir and other officers j
ofthe French frigate Sabine visited Hous- :
ton a few days ago, and were invited to a j
collation, at which the Mayor, presided.
& in the name of the City Council tendered
them the freedon of the city. Previous to
the entertainment a salute was fired, arid
says the Houstonian, the whole affair
passed off very pleasantly.
The Galveston Herald ofthe 27th, has
the following: “Should the present dry
weather continue but for a short time lon
ger, we fear the cotton crop w ill be mate
rially’ injured. By a gentleman recently
arrived from the brazos, we learn that the !
planters were already complaining of the
want of rain. Owing to the backwardness j
of the spring, cotton lias not been planted as j
early as usual ; and much of that which j
has already come up has a puny, sickly,
: appearance, occasioned by the drought.”
According to the Houston Star, “gold |
j and silver lias become a perfect drug since
the news of the loan.” That paper says:
“Bids at auction can only be made in
‘Treasury Notes ;’ gold is not receivable;
—that’s pleasant.”
The steam saw mills near Houston arc
said to be in full and active operation ; and
a brick establishment has been started near |
town, which promises to overcome the obsta- j
cles which have heretofore prevented the
making of good brick.
Internal Improvement seems to-be going
on in the Western part of the Republic.—
The Houstonian says: “We have learned
from a gentleman who has just arrived from
the West, that on the lltli inst. a collation j
was given in Victoria, to Capt. Ferguson j
and officer of steamboat Swan, in celebra
tion ofthe arrival of that boat at the foot of
the Raft and within eight miles of that
place ; thus proving the entire susceptibil
ity of that river to the navigation of steam
boats as high up as the raft. We further
learn that under the charter passed by the
last Congress, a canal is being cut around
the raft, and the enterprising contractor,
Captain Bray, confidently expects to have
it completed by the first of May.”
Gen. Sam. Houston arrived at San An- j
gustiric on the Bth ult., said to bo in fine
ri
health. lie was greeted by his constituents j
in the warmest manner and tendered a pub- I
lie dinner which he declined.
On the frontiers every thing appears to I
be quiet. No further news of Indian or j
Mexican invasions.— N.O.Pitaune, May 2. j
THE YANKEE PEDLAR.
The New York Courier and Enquirer
says:—“The Hon. David O. Shattuek, who
has recently been nominated by the Whig
Convention of Mississippi for the office of
Governor of that State, affords another stri
king evidence ofthe benign influence of our
institutions, in developing as well as rewar
ding the efforts of perseverance, however
humble the individual who possesses it, and
the distinction which may ho looked for
ward to by talent, however unbefriended
by fortune or family friends. Mr. Shat
tuclc went first to North Carolina as a poor
pedlar from New England, and remedied
the original defects of education by a stu
dious application to books; while in the
pursuit of his bumble calling till he fitted
himself for the ministry in the Methodist
Church, and became a jifteaclier in the ser
vice of that denomination.
He moved in 1828 to the South West,
where be was soon elevated to the bench,
and discharged his judicial duties like an
able jurist, having really raised himself
to distinction by his unassisted ami unre
mitting efforts. lie is now nominated to
the Chief Magistracy of a Sts.te & we hope
will be elected. W T e have no quarrel
with the hereditary aristocracy of other
lands ; hut it is impossible not to prefer the
aristocracy of indivi dual mind which finds
its elevation in those attributes of nature,
which no where else have so free play as
in our own favored country.”
Every Thing ought, to be well done. —A
good many capital things are told of the
lato William Grey—a distinguished mcr
chantof Boston. He was familiarly known
by tho name of “Billy Grey.” Ho left at |
his death a large estate, and used to say
that the chief source of his worldly success
was his motto, “What is worth doing at all
is worth doing well.” On one occasion ho
had reason to find fault with a mechanic
for some slovenly job. The mechanic re
collected Mr. Grevwlin.il he was in a vorv
1 bumble position, so lie bore the rebuke v, itli
j impatience. “I tell you what,’ said hi.
! -Billy Gray, I shan’t stand such jaw from
you. Why, I recollect you, when you
| were nothing but a drummer in a regiment.
| -And so 1 was,” replied Mr. Grey, ‘so I
! was a drummer—but didn’t 1 drum well —
j eh! didn’t 1 drum welll” — riiitai. Stand
ard.
Interesting Ancient Relic. —ln 1*54 u
white oak tree was cut in the town ofLyons.
Wayne county, (N. Y.) two miles west of
the village, measuring fourfeet in diameter
In the body of the tree, about three and it
half feet from the ground, was found a larg
j and deep cutting by ail axe, severing tin
1 heart ofthe tree, and exhibiting, with per
! feet distinctness, the marks oftfio uxo at the
| present time. The whole cavity thus ere
| ated by the original cutting was found to h
j encased by four hundred and sixty year.-’
growth—that is. was concealed beneath
4 hundred & sixty layers of timber, which
had grown over it subsequent to the cutting
must have been in the year 1271, or
one hundred and eighteen years before the
discovery of America by Columbus. Tin
cutting was at least six inches deep.
SINGULAR CASE.
A French paper called the Audience,
contains a letter from a private correspon
dent, datedGibraltcr, the 28th Feb., which
I states that an opulent British merchant,
| named James Box well, long resident there
had been tried and convicted ofthe murder
jof his daughter,on circumstantial evidence
1 and that on the way to execution the cou-
I viet saw’ in the crowd another Englishman
named John Keats, w ho had been extreme
! ly active in collecting evidence against him
The convict expressed a desire to die in
peace with all mankind, und to pardon this
person, whom lie had considered his great
est enemy. When the convict readied the
scaffold, the executioner was preparing to
execute the sentence of the law, when a
voice was heard in the crowd exclaiming
—-“It is I that am guilty, and not the con
vict.” This exclamation was made by
John Keats. lie confessed that it was he
who carried off James Box well’s daughter;
that he had cut otl'her hair during her sleep
and stolen one of her dresses, which he had
steeped in blood ; and that the generous
pardon granted to him by his victim had
caused him to reflect on the enormity of his
crime. Tho executioner immediately with
drew the rope from the convict’s neck, and
the cap from his face, w hen it was discov
ered that he was dead, from the effects oft
terror. The atrocious John Keats was
conducted to prison amidst the exclamation
ofthe populace, who wished to tear him to
pieces.
The French Intend to Manufacture their
Own Needles. —ln a late debate in the
Chamber of Deputies, touching encourage
ment to domestic manufactures, it was sta
ted that hitherto one third of tho needles
used to come from England, and two-thirds
from Germany. But these being now con
sidered two hostile countries, the French
are determined to make needles at home :
that is if the smugglers will let. For what
vigilance can keep out a packet of needle's?
Debt of Honor. —Here is an old anecdote
worth the room it occupies : —Charles James
Fox, in his frolicksome days, w r as called
upon for payment by a tradesman, who held
his bill for two hundred pounds. Charles
said lie could not then pay him. - How
so ?” said the creditor ; “ you have lying
before you bank notes to a large amount.”
“ These replied Mr. Fox, are to pay debts
of honor.” The tradesman threw the hill
into the fire. “ Now, sir,” said he, “ mine
is a debt of honor, which I cannot oblige
you to pay.” Charles iinmedllUely pafil
the man.
An Ancient. —ln the Boston procession
in honor of the deceased President, the ban
ner of Ward Six was borne by Mr. Samuel
j Thaxter, the only survivor of those who
I bore standards in the funeral procession in
! honor of General Washington, which took
| place in Feb. 1800. The Boston Post says
j that Mr. Thaxter, who is one of the good
old stock of the sturdy men of the past,
whom age does not wear out, did not spare
himself a stop ofthe whole long march, and
returned to the Ward Room after six hour's
service, as vigorous as when he left it.—
At 5 o’clock in the afternoon one of his sons
called at his house to see how ho boro the
fatigues of the day, and was informed that
his father had gone out to take a walk !
This, remember, was after a five hours
march in the morning, carrying a heavy
standard.
The Face of the Dead. —There is some
thing in the sight of a dead face which stirs
the deepest feelings ofthe human heart.—
It is not easy to analyse this sentiment. It
has in it wonder, terror, curiosity, and in
credulity. It is a great— great lesson.No
living ‘tongue can say so much as those
closed, pale, ice cold lips, and they have
smiled, jested, commanded. Light words
havo fallen from them.
I ■Wi ll !!■■■————■
A MEETING of the Commissioners of the
Poor Scltool for W ilkes county, will take
place in Washington, on SATURDAY the 22d
instant, (it being the 4th Saturday.) All who
have claims for Children taught under the Com
mon School Act, are requested to be punctual in
their attendance, taking care to have their ac
counts regularly made out.
ROYLAND BEASLEY, Secretary
and Treasurer for B. C.
May 13,1841. 37
JVetice •
tNow in Wilkes Jad, a Ncgr •
Man by the name of WILLIS—
dark complexion, and about eigh
teen or twenty years of age. Says
he belongs to James Griffin, of
Madison county, Georgia. The
owner is requested to come for
ward, prove property, pay charges, and take him
away.
GEO. - W JAR RETT, I>. Sheriff
Mtj v IS,
