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SOUTHERN RECORDER.
zsiSf
by GRANTL.AND & ORME.
MIL.L.EDGEV1LLE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1831.
NO. 20 OP TCML. XU*
.
(Tf* Tlie Recorder ib published weekly, on Ho*'- his character before that tribunal to which he
rock 6trcet, between Wayne and Jefferson, at *JL ree |has with so much apparent confidence appeal
» DO, ‘ «Uin a very doubtfiTnd uoen&ble ligjX
Advertisements conspicuously inserted ai the usu- Inc address, it appears, is made public lor
! rites Those sent without a specification of the
number of insertions, will be published until ordered
nut and chawed accordingly. .
Sales of land and negroes, by Administrators, Exe
cutors or Guardians, are required by law to be held
on the’fir« Tuesday in the month, between the hours
often in the forenoon, and three in the afternoon, at
the Court-House of the county in which the property
is situate.—Notices of these sales must be given in a
ouhlic gaiette sixty days previous to die dny of sale.
v Notices of the sale of personal property must he giv
en in like manner, forty days previous to the day of
ile Also, notice to the debtors and creditors of an
estate must be published for forty days.
Notice that application will be made to the Court of
Ordinary for leave to sell land, must be published for
four months. _ . .
All business in the line of Printing, will meet wall
prompt attention at the Recorder Office.
“ Letters (on business) must be post paid.
jvVw .A d\ T pa‘\Vs cment g.
TO THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE observed, in the Georgia Journal,
under date of 53d June, a publication sign
ed by Jons VV. Graves, Poplar Grove, Clark
County, setting forth many grievances, oq the
subject of His Cotton being discovered falsely
packed, after a sale had been made of the
same to Jesee Ansly—and in order to exone
rate himself from this, and a previous charge
of a singular nature, brought agaiust him
through me, in the winter of 1828, he has n-
vailed himself of a certificate extorted from
Messrs. Heard & Cook, to impress upon the
public, the belief, that I have done him great
injustice, by being the medium through which
the detection was made, and the amount of
damages collected from his agents, Messrs.
Heard & Cook. This certificate, if it may
bo so called, or, attempt to subvert the truth
and correctness of a certificate made in Sa
vannah, in the year 1828, on actual inspection,
reads thus\Ve the undersigned, Factors
aud Commission Merchants, having attended
to the storage and commission business of
John VV. Graves for a number of years, state
that he has uniformly packed his Cotton fairly
aud correctly. We state, that the objections
made by Mr. Ansly, to seven bales sold to him
on a charge of their being falsely packed, was,
on opuniug the bales, unfounded, as the Cot
ton throughout, was equal, or better, than the
butt ends, where the Cotton was sampled—
In justice to Mr. Graves, on a charge of A. It.
Gordon., that three bales of suid Graves’ Colton
mis falsely packed some years ago, our Mr.
Heard states, that he sampled ttnu sold—this
Cotton, and so far as lie could see, there teas no
fraud whatever discovered."
1 will readily admit, that Mr. Heard made no
discuvery of a difference in the quality of some
bales, because, lie never examined the Cotton
before or after I had bought it, neither did I,
or any other person in this city, examine the
parcel of Cotton alluded to; for it was imme
diately shipped to Savannah, aud there re-sold
to Mr. Clias. Hoyt, who, on examination of
the middle of each bag, found some of them
packed witli inferior dirty Cotton. A survey
being made of it by two other respectable
Merchants, in no way interested, certificates
were given and a demand made on my agent
in Savannah, for £12,00 damages, which was
was paid. This amount was refunded to tne
by Messrs. Heard & Cook, from whom the
Cutton was purchased, and the certificate was
as l understand, forwarded to said Graves by
them.
I leave the public to draw their own infe
rence, as to the propriety of my conduct in
this transaction, from the above brief state
ment of facts.
Mr. Graves’s insinuations respecting myself
are unjust, and with.regard to Messrs. Heard
& Cook, or Maj. Heard’s testimony in favor of
Graves's uniform correctness in packing, the
public will readily perceive, that their state
ment is set aside, by the fact of their having
virtually acknowledged it to be otherwise, three
years ago, on the certificate of two or three
very respectable Merchants in Savannah.
AUSTIN It. GORDON.
two fold purpose; first, as “ a warning
to all those who may have cotton to sell in the
city of Augusta;” and secondly, “ to vindi
cate bis character from what of suspicion may
have attached, either from a want of knowledge
of the facts, or from the false representations
of his enemies, or those who found it neces
sary to injure his character to sustain their
own.” Before 1 remark upon these avowed
purposes of the address, permit me to call the
reader’s particular attention to one singular
fact, in the course Mr. Graves has pursued
in this affair, viz: that instead of resorting to
the Augusta Press, as a channel of commu
nication to the public, he has transferred the
seat of war to Milledgeville. Now what have
the people of Milledgeville to do with this
private controversy? I cannot conceive, un
less it be intended by Mr. Graves that the be
nefit of his warniug shall first extend to them,
and from my acquaintance with many of the
Baldwin Planters, 1 will charge Mr. Graves
nothing for the information, that the warning
is unnecessary as regards them. The whole
affair from first to last, transpired in this
city, where the cotton was stored—where
the contract was made—where one of the par
ties resided—where all the merchants reside
who signed the certificates—and where all the
Planters who certified, were, at t!]e time—ami
where there are three independent Presses,
whose columns are always open to the vindi
cation of an injured man. •
I repeat, why go to Milledgeville, to vindi
cate his character ? There is but one answer
to this inquiry, that will satisfy a candid mind;
and it is this: Mr. Graves knew, that in Au
gusta, my character and that of the certifiers,
was established on a foundation not to be sha
ken by his assertions—and that there were too
many disinterested witnesses at the exhibition,
about which so much parade is made by Mr.
Graves, of the truth of my declaration, that
the cotton was “falsely packed," and of the
consequent justness of my claim for an abate
ment in the price of that part of the lot
which wos'thus falsely packed. I will in this
place remark, in justice to myself, that in the
term “falsely packed,” no necessary inference
can be drawn, that the owner, packer, or-sel-
ler, designs a fraud upon the purchaser. It is
a technical phrase among the cotton buyers,
merely denotiuga difference in quality, between
the place lvhere the samples are diawn, and oth
er parts of the same bale, which may, and often
does exist, where no fraud, whatever, is intend
ed. In tiie case under consideration, I ex
pressly and repeatedly acquitted Mr. Graves,
so far as my own declaration served to effect
that object, of any previous knowledge of the
situation of his cotton, or design to commit
fraud; but confidently insisted, that by this
admission, the propriety of my claim for an
allowance in the price, was not thereby at all
impaired. The injurious effects to me, were
not increased nordiminished, by the innocence
or guilt of the seller. No agreement is ne
cessary, to enforce and make plain to every
understanding, this view of the subject.—
Moreover, Mr. Graves availed himself of the
chances of enlisting the prejudices and sym
pathies of the people ui the up-couutry on his
side, who have had the misfortune to be plac
ed in a like predicament. These are the mo
tives, in my estimation, which dictated the re
sort to the Milledgeville papers in the first in
stance. If “a warning to all who may have
cotton to sell in Augusta,” be intended mere
ly to influence the Planters to pay more strict
attention to the packing of their cotton, in fu
ture., and never to send any to market with
qualities in the same bale, varying in value,
from i to lj cents per lb, as is proven was the
case, in seven bales of his lot, by the certifi
cate appended to his address indicated by the
letter (E,) it is a very salutary and valuable
warning,and will beapproved by all merchants,
planters, Factors and manufacturers. But if
Mr. Graves would seek to produce the impres
sion, that that portion of the citizens of Au
gusta engaged in the cotton trade, are in
the habit of acting in bad faith in their dealings
with the planters m«l sellers of eottou, thein-
jsinuation is disingenuous, malicious, gratui-
tousj and eminently false; for it is proverbial,
I then went into the examination, and found | . A few more remarks; and I have done. All j "Because I expected my Prince that, after
the seven bales which have caused all this alter- the certifiers admit some difference in the quali-! so very strange a request, curiosty would urge
cation, “ falsely packed,” which 1 of course! ty of the Cotton, between the ends, from which thee to send for me.”
promptly objected to. Mr. Graves became dis- the samples were taken, and other parts of the\ “And wherefore,” asked the Prince, “dost
concerted &, angry— and in order that every sus-j bales. The only difference of opinion, is, as thou desire to see me?"
nir.ion miulit hp romnvpfl nf onv lincirm tn thn numher n f hnfr<i in fhnt Mifnntinn. mifi “I wish to tell thee £
picion might be removed, of any design or to the number of bales in that situation, and
‘‘ ' ~ of that difference—so that, alto
wish on my part to annul the contract. I offer
ed to submit the question', in the usual way,
whether or not the seven bales were as I re
presented them. To this proposition, after
some discussion, lie objected, and proposed a
reference upon a^lifferent principle, to which
I objected, it being contrary to my views of a
correct course. Some conversation ensued,
and finding him bent on having his own way,
ami refusing to me the prerogatives to which 1
knew myself entitled.; I assured him, that un
less he would make a reasonable deduction for
the difference in the seven bales cotton, I would
not take them—that I too had rights, and was
happily sensible of them. At about this
j stage of the controversy, 1 asked his permis-
I sion to show the cotton to some of my friends,
land if they would say I ought to take it, I
would still do so. This reasonable request
i was pettishly refused; when I informed him I
[would have nothing more to do with it, and
I left him, he threatening me at the same time,
i that he would sue me, and compel me, &c.
i&c.—which, of course, placed us at issue.
| Soon after, I learned that some gentlemen
j had been called by Mr. Graves, to examine
| the cotton, who had certified as appears under
j letter (A,) in the address. Learning the pur
port ol that certificate, and feeling conscious,
that the certifiers had exercised so much leni
ency to Mr. Graves, more out of disposition to
appease and mollify his feelings, than as a real
judgment upon the merits of the case, I proceed
ed on my part to select five gentlemen, who
are reputed as good, if not the best judges of
cotton, in the city; all “cotton buyers" loo:
who after the strictest examination, came to
The annexed certificate has been handed to
me by Messrs. Heard & Cook :
“ Augusta, SOrli June, 1831. _ J
At the request of Mr. A. U. Gordon, we I ( | )at j n n0 cotton-market in the United States,
state, that certificates, signed by several Mer- is morc courtesy, forbearance, and liberality,
chants of Savannah, alledging that there was j extended towards the sellers of cotton, than
mixed Cottons jn three bales of the crop of j itl t j, j s c ity. Mr. Graves makes an exception
Cotton of John VV. Graves, sold by us to him
some yours ago, was handed to us bv Mr. Gor
don, and the deduction of about 612, was
paid by us. No examination was made of the
Cotton before it was shipped. In justice to
Mr. Graves, our Mr. Heard must state, that not-
to the general proposition, which may be con
sidered as establishing its truth. The second
purpose, is " to vindicate his character from
what of suspicion may have attached, &c.’i
Now, if suspicion did attach, Augusta was the
[dace, where that suspicion should have been
withstanding, his cotton was as uniformly pack- attempted to be removed—where, upon a view
cd as a large portion of the crops of planters,— \ 0 f the subject of suspicion, a just conclusion
as it is* not unfrequently the case, in packing j Jotild have been formed ; but unfortunately for
, the refuse ot crops of Cotton, mixed Cottons the'gentleman, this was an ordeal from which
have been fouud in the bales thus packed, and-j | lc |, a j nothing to hope, but every thing to np-
doubtless often without the knowledge of the [ p ro hend. The public voice had already pro
planter. ^ [ nounced that the seven bales of cotton were
_ HEARD & COON. 1 falsely packed— certifiers, speculators, and all.
, The Georgia Journal, and bouthern Recor-: The alternative was seized, by giving up the
uer will publish the above once each, and for
ward their accounts to
A. R. G.
July 2
contest on the spot, and seeking consolation
for defeat, where the circumstances were not
known. Mr. Graves presumes strangely upon
the good sense of the public, to calculate up
on its award in his favor in this controversy.
It is well known to others as well as myself,
that Mr. Graves exhibited from the first con-
the extent
gether, matters being equal between the gen
tleinen who differ in opinion, I do most seri
ously contend, that those who support my o-
piiiion, are entitlcduto all the preference over
the others, which equal honesty and disinter
estedness, and superior practice, judgment
and skill, in the cotton trade, will command.
1 woulu not omit to remark, that Mr. Graves
I wish to tell thee a truth important to thy
self and thy people.”
"Name it.”
“Prince,” replied Kookju, “when two per
sons appear before thee in a cause, the weal
thy and the noble generally stand on the right
hand, and the poor and humble stand on the
left. I have heard in my solitude that thou
most frequently favor the noble and rifcli.—
This is the reason why I persuaded my liirher
lias taken great pains to vindicate his charac- to ask lortliy Lett Eye, it being of uouse to
ter from that charge, which I at least have ne-1 thee, since thou never seest the poor aud un-
ver brought against him. I did, to himself &i protected.”
others, at the time.wfreely acquit him of any j The Chan, incensed and surprised at the
design to deceive me in the purchase. I might j daring of this maiden, commanded his court
say much more, but too great space is already > to try her. The court was opened, and the
occupied by this very unpleasant controversy, president, who was the eldest Lama, propos-
It is sufficient for my purpose, to have shewn
—which I humbly conceive 1 have done—that
my judgment, ns to the quality of the cot
ton, was sound and correct, and my claim, for
an abatement in the price ol the seven bales,
just and proper.
I conclude, by referring the reader to the
subjoined certificates of Messrs. Alfred
Cumming, John Bones, and G. B. Lamar,
who it will be perceived are among the gen
tlemen who gave Mr. Graves certificates.—
Others could be obtained, if necessary, of
nearly the same import—these are considered
sujjicient. It may be supposed, without a
strict comparison, that their foimer certifi
cates, and these, conflict. They do not, more
than arises from a mere omission in the first
certificates. It is only ail addition to them,
and one which most unequivocally, together
with the foregoing matter, exempts me from
the slightest imputation of blame or disho
nor. In addition to which, die samples of
tilt Cotton have been preserved, and will be
cheerfully shewn to any individual who may
wish further evidence on the subject—aud
the names of a number of ruspecfablc per
sons, who saw the samples, and were present
at the "exhibition,” in the ware-house of
Messrs. Heard ifc Cook, to substantiate the
whole. I only ask of the public, a hearing
for my cause, and confidently and respectful
ly claim an award of acquittal at its hands.
J. ANSLEY.
Augusta, July 1st, 1831.
CERTIFICATES.
On the, 24lh of May, I wus present, by request,
at an examination of a lot of Cotton, the proper
ty of John VV. Grave?, Esq. which Mr. J. Ansley,
bargained for the day previous, and which he
subsequently refused to receive, in consequence
of alleged false packing in some of the hales.
1 then certified, and am still of opinion, that
there was not tne slij'htesl reason for believing
that any portion of the lot was falsely packed,
ed that they should try, whether her strange
on to pay for them, when yon had it not in yom
pbwer 1
Good people, hark ye; A few rules well
kept will contribute much to your happiocs#
aud independence. Never buy what yon do
not really Want. Never purchase on credit
what you can possibly do without.' Take
pride in being able to say, I owe no man.—v
Wives are sometimes thoughtless, daughter;
now and then extravagant. Many a time, whea
neither the wife nor the danghter would wil
lingly give a single pang to a fond father’s bev-
som, they urge and tcaze him to get articles.,
pleasant enough to be sure to possess, but dif
ficult for him to buy ; he purchases on credit,
is dunned—sued; and many an hour made
wretched by their folly and imprudence. OW
Robert presents his compliments to the ladies «
begs they would have the goodness to read the
lust eight lines once a week till they get them
by heart, and then act as their own excellent
disposition slinll direct.
Above all things, good people, never go
the conclusion expressed in the certificate
marked (13,) appended to the address—which
sustained my opinion in the fullest extent. Af
ter I itifotmed him the result of the survey of
the five gentlemen chosen by myself, I made
him two propositions, viz : first, to take the
balance of the lot, rejecting the seven bales, at
the original price; which he refused; and
second, to take the lot, including the seven
bales, at the deduction made by the gentle
men ; which was likewise refused. Mr.
Graves asserts, that lie was not acquainted with
the. characters of these gentlemen, and takes
special pains to inform the public, that they are
cotton buyers. I will inform Mr. Graves, what
the public (except himself) very well knows
—that the characters of these gentlemen stand
unimpeached and unimpeachable, before this
community—nay, more, are individually, ful
ly equal to his own opinion of his own charac
ter, which is, without doubt spotlcsa. The
last charge, that they are “cotton buyers,”
saves me the trouble of informing the public
on that point, as it is a material part of the| but feel it my duty, in justice to Mr. Ansley; to
trength of my cause. Were they not cotton ( say, that there was h difference in tlir quality of
70 THE PUBLIC.
I N the Recorder of the 22d ultimo, publish
ed at Milledgeville, Mr. John W. Graves, versation I held with him on the subject of
of Clark conuty, has published a number of the purchase of his Cotton, a most singular res-
Certificates in relation to a transaction in which tiveness, and sensibility, in regard to holding
it was my misfortune to be a party concerned : j himself liable for any difficulty that might a-
prefixed to which, are some remarks by that ! rise, should his cotton prove not fairly packed.
individual, which in the eyes of all, will be , I frankly informed him that there were fre-
>ny sufficient apology for placing myself in 1 queut occurrences of falsely packed cotton,
an attitude before the public which I had fond-1 and that on a recent occasion, in the purchase
ly hoped, no duty to myself or others, would of sixteen bales, I had been deceived by false
have required : viz ; that of a vindication of my
character and coudpct from the slightest im
putation of uufairness, in my intercourse with
>ny fellow-men. Such au imputation, I cod-
( ‘® ,vet0 m!, de in the publication to which
allusion has been made ; and to w hich I re
fer the reader.
The tone of Mr. Graves throughout, leaves
Me no alternative, than to acton the defensive;
and, notwithstanding the example set me by
“U- Graves, in his address, I shall studiously
avoid any latitude of expression not warranted
“J the facts and circumstances of the case;
^ the time has gone by, when blustering and
void charges pass for proofs. Mr. Graves lias
doubtless a right,, in common with every*citi-
sen, to his own opinion of men and things, but
*hen he appears before the public, with tho in-
entiou to inculpate the former, or give a false
coloring to the latter, he most blame himself
crone, if « a plain unvarnished tala’’ ehalUer&ve
packing, to the amount probably of one hun
dred dollars, and that I had resolved, in’future
to be more particular, and buy no cotton with
out strict examination, unless the seller was
known to roe to be responsible, or his factor
would guarantee that all was right—upon
which, he at once seemed animated and warm,
and remarked, that he would have “ no certi
ficates sent after him into the country;” that
the feelings of some of his neighbours .had
been greatly injured by them, and he would
provide agaist i( in his own case; and at length,
upon my persisting in my resolution not to
purchase without recourse, it was agreed, I
should examine for myself, and be satisfied all
was right, before paying for it. And, further
more, 1 informed him, that even after such ex
amination, should there be any drawback up
on me, in consequence of any difference iu
quality in any of the bales, I should, never
theless hold him accountable..
buyers, and in the daily practice of buying
and selling cotton, I should not rely as I do,
together witli other circumstances, upon their
certificate, as bearing me out of this difficulty
uninjured, &, proving to the world, that in the
attempt Mr. Graves lias made to defame me,
lie has overshot his mark, and involved him
self in a labyrinth, perhaps even too intricate
for his wonderful ingenuity to extricate him
from.
As to finding it “iiecesstfry to injure his re
putation, to sustain their own,” 1 cannot, for
my life, see the application. My reputation
was as fair then, as it was before, or is now,
and needed not, that I should use means to
sustain it. And if it did, 1 am at a loss
to perceive how my reputation was to be re
paired, by impeaching that of Mr. Graves;
and if it be to othe.rs this allusion is made, 1
apprehend they will be found no less able and
willing to place Mr. Graves in his true posi
tion before the public, tiian I have been, in
deed, mention is made, in the address, about
a “certain person” <Scc. This, is an affair not
of mine ; but it is believed Mr. Graves and
tlie public will be placed in possession of
more—proofs than lie will find digestible by
his irritable and peculiar sensitive organs.
Mr. Graves would also make the impres
sion, that in consequence of the news being
received of a slight decline in tlie price of
Cotton, abroad, I was influenced in the objec
tions 1 made to his cotton. I am not certain
enough to assert positively, but aui strongly
impressed with the belief, that 1 had not heard
of this decline, if any, uuti) after the exami
nation and objections were made But it is
not material. The insinuation is gratuitous,
and unworthy of notice,—and will meet its
refutation, in the breasts of all those, with
whom, in this city, I have had constant inter
course for the last sixteen years of my life; to
the award of whom, I freely surrender the
keeping and defence of my character, from
the calumny of Mr. John IV. Graves.
To individuals unacquainted with the caus
es, it will now appear unaccountable, consist
ently with honesty of purpose in all, that a
number of honorable and discerning mer
chants, can so radically differ, as to the fact of
the difference in qualities of cotton. To those
acquainted with the nature of the cotton trade,
* it will occasion no surprise, that those persons
who are not in the daily habit of purchasing
&. selling, should differ in opinion, ns to quali
ty and value, from those whose constant busi
ness it is to do so. So far as credibility is
concerned, all the certifiers stand upon an e-
quality. They are honorable men—all above
suspicion of a wilful violation of trutli—but
this admission, so justly due to all the gentle
men, militates not against the assertion, that
neither Mr. Graves’ certifiers, who find but
little difference in the cotton, nor the planters,
can, from the nature of things, be so compe
tent to decide upon the quality or value of
cotton, as those gentlemen who sustain me in
my opinion, who are in tlie daily habit of pur
chasing and selling. Besides, as before re
marked, the gentlemen who certified favorably
to Mr. Graves, did sq, more out of sympathy
for his situation, and a laudable design to heal
his deeply wounded feelings, than from any
settled design to express their judgment upon
the quality of the Cotton. They were, io fact,
teased out of it, as were the gentlemen who
sustained me, out of their second certificate-
It is withjno purpose of disparagement to the
Planters, thht I affirm, ffiey are not generally
considered judges of the qualities of cotton.
They know good cotton from bad, when they
see it in bulk, or in samples. But they can
not judge of the relative value of cotton, when
in market, with any approach to accuracy
And the truth of this assertion is so generally
known, that it finds a witness at every turn in
the cotton market.
tlie Cotton, in some of (lie bales, which, accord
ing to the custom of this market, would justify
him in voiding tlie contract made previous to tlie
thorough examination of the bajes, as well in tlie
sides as ends. A. CUMMING.
June 23th, 1831.
I have seen a publication of Mr. Graves, res
pecting a difficulty between him and Mr. Ansley,
arising from tlie sale of a lot of Cotton, by tlie
former to tlie lutler. My opinion respecting that
transaction, us given in a certificate, conjointly
with the other persons whose names are affixed
thereto, remains unchanged. I would observe,
however, that n number of respectable persons
(whose judgment in such matters ought to lie ful
ly equal to mine) think that there was such a dif
ference in a number of bales of the lot, as to jus
tify Mr. Ansley iu rejecting it.
1st July, 1831.
JOHN BONES.
I was present during tlie greater part of the
time, and heard all tlie matters of dispute, be
tween Mr. J. VV. Graces and Mr. Jesse Ansley,
relative to the sale and purchase of a lot of Cot
ton fin Messrs. Heard & Cook's Warr-liouse, in
the month of May last.—At tlie request of Mr.
Ansley, and in justice to him, 1 give it as my opin
ion, that lie was not bound to pay for and receive
the said lot of cotton, under the circumstances
of tlie case. Cotton of different qualities was
found in the same bale, and though it evidently
occurred unintentionally, and did not constitute
what I conceive to be falsely packed, yet it was
sufficient to prejudice the resale of it, which
would have operated unjustly oil Air. Ansley.
G. U. LAMAR.
Augusta, 27th June, 1831.
M£sc£Lx,A»nr.
[Translation from the Russian.]
THE LEFT EYE.
A ricli old man who had resided at the extre
mity of tlie camp, quite apart from the rest, had
three lovely young daughters, tlie youngest
of whom, named Kookju, was as much dis
tinguished for her beauty as for her extraor
dinary wisdom.
One morning as he was about driving his
cattle for sale to tlie Chan's market place, he
begged his daughters to tell him what pre
sents they wished him to bring them on his
return. Tlie two eldest asked him for trink
ets, but the handsome and wise Kookju said
that she wanted no present, but that she had
a request to make, which it would be diffifealt
and even dangerous for him to execute. Up
on which tho father, who loved her more than
the two other?, swore that be would do her
wish though it were at the price of his life.—
“If it be so,” replied Kookju,'“do as follows:
sell all your cattle except the short tailed ox ;
and ask no other price for it except tlie Chan's
left eye." The old man was startled, however,
remembering his oath and confiding in the
wisdom of his daughter, lie resolved to do as
she bade him.
After haviog sold all his cattle, and being
asked far the price of the 9hort tailed ox, he
said that he would sell it for ncthing else but
the Chan's left eye. The report of this sin
gular and daring request soon reached-the
ears of the Chan’s courtiers. At first they
admonished him not use such an offensive
speech against the sovereign; but when they
found that he persevered in his strango de
mand, they tied him and carried him as a mad
man to the Chan. The old man threw himself
at tho Prince’s feet, and confessed that his
demand was. made at his daughter’s request,
of whose motives he was perfectly ignorant;
and the Chan suspecting that some secret
must be hidden under this extraordinary re
quest, dismissed the old man, under condi
tion that he would bring him that daughter
who had made it.
Kookju appeared, and the Chan asked
“Why did’st thou instruct thy father to de
mand my left eye?”
proceedings was the effect of malice or of wis- debt to a tavern. To grog, to toddy, to sling,
to bitters! Oh horrid! what a bill! Neverowe
your shoemaker, your tailor, your printer, yout
blacksmith or labourer. Beside the bad policy
of keeping in debt, it is downright injustice to
those whose labor you have received nil thp
benefit of.
How happy’s the farmer who owes not a pound.
But lays up his fifty each year that comes rouriCj
He fears neither constable, sheriff, nor dun,
To bank or to justice lias never to run—
IIis cellar well fill’d and his pantry well stored^
Uc lives far more blest than a prince or a lord:
Then take my advice if a fortune you’d get-#
Pay off what you owe—and keep out of debt.
—:ooooo:—
THE HORNED SNAKE.
The tales of the nursery have thrown soniq
suspicion on the Natural History, if not the
actual existence, of this seprent. There is,
perhaps, no one, who cannot remember the-
time, when, around the blazing hearth, at win
ter’s eve, he hung wandering and alarmed bit
the gossip of the good Nurse, while she re
counted the marvelous memoirs of this malig
nant foe of our race. How he rolled after his
terrified enemy like a hoop....pursuing him In
all his windings, with almost human dexterity
aud malice—meeting him at every turd—driv
ing him from his hiding place—standing erecj
on the end of his tail, to survey the ground
when his enemy had eluded his pursuit—aud
iu tlie madness of his fury striking his deadly
weapon into the gnarled oak, behind whicU
his victim bad sought safety, causing it in q
moment to wither and die. These marvels,
which so aptly agree with the credulity of ear
ly years, are apt to lead the riper judgment
to reject the whole as a table ; thus eschewing
together the wonders of fiction, and the reali
ties of fact. For, without doubt, some of the
peculiar characteristics attributed to the ser
pent in the nursery tale, belong, as authentic
accounts, to its natural history...as will appear
from the following statement, made to us by ati
intelligent & scientific gentleman of this town,
A few years ago a young man of respecta
bility in this town, passing through a wood
about two miles distant, encountered one of
these serpents, which immediately attacked
him. without being at all provoked. His eye
chanced to fall upon it at the moment it half
thrown itself into the hoop form, and having it
stick in his hand, he fortunately parried the
blow aimed at him, by striking the reptile us
it threw itself towards him. Not discourag
ed by his failure, the snake renewed the
charge—the gentleman stepping backwards
and defending himself, with bis cane; for he
had heard of the danger of running from the
foe. In this way he defeuded himself suc
cessfully against eight 'several attempts to
strike him. Tlie enraged.creature at every
failure immediately throwing himself into the
same form and springing towards him, with
the tail foremost. After the eighth effort, the
serpent, whether from exhaustion, or the blow!
he hud received, was unable to resume the form
in which it had continued its attacks, though
it made several unsuccessful attempts to do so;
and was killed by the gentleman and brought
fa town, where it was examined by the gentle
man who has furnished us with these facts.
It was' between seven and a half, and eight
feet long, and seven inches iu circumference,.,
of u light ash colour, with dark ash spots along
the back....tapering in its form, and with u
hard horny substance, about two iuches long
at the end of the tail, which was sufficiently
pointed to iuflict a wound. Under the tailj
about half inch from the point was a slit about
an inch long, through which, when the point
was pressed slightly upwards, projected a small
polished tube about the size of a common
straw, brought however, to a point—through
this tube it is supposed the virus was injected
into the wound made by tlie horn, which pres
sed upon a bag or sac of poison, situated at
the spot where the horn was joined to the bo
dy. When the point struck, any object, it was
dom.
The first step was to scud Kookju a log of
wood, cut even on all sides, ordering her tc
find out which was tho root and which the
top. Ivookju threw it into the water and soon
knew the auswer, on seeing tho root sinking,
while the top rose to tlie surface.
After which they sent her two snakes, in
order to determine which was a male and
which a female. The wise maiden laid them
on cotlon, aud on seeing that one coiled her
self in a ring, while the other,crept away, she
judged that the latter was a male, and the for
mer a female.
From these trials the Court was convinced
that Kookju bad not offended the Chan from
motives of malice, but at the inspiration of wis
dom granted her from above. But not so with
the Chan : his vanity was hurt, and he resolv
ed to puzzle her with some questions in order
to make it appear that site was unwise. He
therefore ordered her before him and asked—
“On sending a number of maidens into a
wood to gather apples, which of them will
bring home the most ?”
“She” replied Kookju, "who instead of
climbing up the trees, remains below, and
picks up ihostTliat have fallen off from matu
rity. or the shaking of the branches.”
Then tlie Chan led her to a fen, and asked
her which would be the readiest way to get
over it; and Kookju said, “to cross it would
be farthest, going round nearest.”
The Chan felt vexed at the readiness aud
propriety of her replies ; and, after reflecting
for some time again enquired—
“Which is the safest means of becoming
known to many ?”
“By assisting many who are unknown.”
“Which is the surest means of always lead
ing a virtuous life J"
“To begin every morning with a determined
resolution, and conclude every evening with a
good action.”
"Who is truly wise ?”
“He who does not believe himself so."
“What are the requisites of a good wife."
“She should be beautiful as a pea hen, gen
tle as a lamb, prudent as a mouse, just as a
faithful mirror, pure as the scale of a fish, she
must mourn for her husband like a she camel,
and live in her widowhood like a bird which
lias lost its win
The Chan astonished at the wisdom of the
fair Kookju ; yet enraged at her having pre
sumptuously reproached him with injuries, he
still wished to destroy her.
After a few clays he thought lie had found
means fur attaining liis object. Ho sent for
tier and asked her to determine the true wortli
of all his treasures; after which he promised
to absolve her from malice in questioning his
justice, and to admit that she intended us a
wise and virtuous woman ever to warn him.
The maiden consented, yet under the con
dition that the Chan would promise her impli
cit obedience to her commands for four days.
She requested that he would eat uo meat during
that lime. On tlie last day she placed a dish
of meat before him, "Confess, oh Chan ! that
all thy treasures are not worth as much as this
joint of meat.” The Chan was so struck with
the truth of this remark, that he confessed
the trutii of it, .acknowledged her as wise,
married her to his son, aud permitted her con
stantly to remind him to use his Left Eye.
—:o ooo:—
FROM THE WILKSBARRE GLEANER.
OWE NO MAN.
Pray take my advice, if a fortune you’d get,
Payoff vvliat you owe, and then keep out of debt
This may be bad poetry, but, depend upon
it, it is excellent sense. It is au old saying
that “ the debtor is a slave to the creditor."
If so, half the world enter into voluntary ser
vitude. The universal rage to buy on credit,
is a serious evil to this country. Many a va
luable man is ruined by it.
There was Titus Thornhory, who was ?n
industrious man. He had ns good a farm as
lay it. the north Parish of Applebury. But
unfortunately he gave way to the prevailing
fashion of getting in debt, and a sad life he
led of it. At 30, he owed £200. His farm
yielded about that sum. lie would not live
without purchasing some things, and as all the
money he could raise went to pay principal
and interest on his debt, lie had every thing
to buy on credit. So at the year’s cud, with
interest and cost, and loss of time and extra
charges for things because he did not make
ready pay, he was just as deeply involved as
the year before. Thus liarrassed, dunned and
dunning, vvas poor Thornbury, for20 years.
Not so with his cousin Ned Foster. He
vowed he'd owe no mau. The product of hie
farm was about the same as that of Thornbn-
ry’s, but as he was not forced by duns or exe
cutions to sell it out of season, he got. the high
est price ; as lie paid for things when he bought
them, he got his things 2 per cent cheaper
As he paid neither interest nor cost, and lost
no time in running to borrow money or seb
his creditors, he laid up £06 a year, and lived
quite as well as his cousin and infinitely hap
pier.
When poor Thornbury saw a man riding up
the road, his anxious look told him As plain
as look could tell, “ plague on that fellow, he
is come to dun.” VYhen-a sudden rap at the
door announced a visitor, no matter how late,
he turned pale and looked sorrowfully anx
ious, until the visitor was known. Many a
man goes into the store for a single artlcle.—
Looking round, twenty things strike his eye;
he lias no money, buys on credit. Foolish
man! Pay day must come, and ten chances
to oue, like death, it finds you unprepared to
meet it. Tell toe, ye who have experienced
it, did die pleasure of possessing the articles
bear any proptutidlYso the pain of being called
lightly elevated....thus at the same time pres
sing upon the sac at the root, and protruding
the tulie through the slit directly to the wound-
The gentleman who killed it, states, that as
well as he could ascertain, the serpent leaped
forward about a length and a half, or about
twelve feel, at each effort it made to strike.—
The motion whs quick and strong, and con
sisted in throwing itself from the hoop form
into a straight line, while the force it employ
ed seemed to push it forward about four ibqj
at every exertion.
These facts may be implicitly relied upon, us
both gentlemen are well known, for Veracity
and honor. The snake itself was examined-by
many of our citizens, who will avouch the
truth of this statement. Several, we under
stand, of the same tribe have been killed in
this neighborhood. We hove heard of no in
stance of a person’s being struck by them;
though accounts have been furnished us of
dogs, &c. being suddenly killed by some un
known ffieans, while hunting on the adjacent
mountains. These have been laid, we know
not bow justly, to this formidable serpent.
From our limited reading on such subject^
we are perhaps wrong, in sujpposiug this crea
ture to be a non-ckscript. The Cobber Ct>
rastes of Liniueus, with its hundred species,
seems to have nothing common with this ser-
pent—the head, and pot the tail, giving to it its
peculiar character. The Coluber eqvaticus of
South-Carolina, appears to come nearer to
tho description here given ; but in that, thefe
is no oi.fcer peculiarity than that of the horny
substauce at the end of the tail. The mode
of offence and defence, do not appear to isb
different from those of'other serpents. We
must leave tine subject however to more learn
ed heads than ours. Will Dr. Mitchell ha so
good as to furnish us
regard to this wuader ol tbj
? rigpsft!