Southern miscellany. (Madison, Ga.) 1842-1849, September 24, 1842, Image 2

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Chapter V. The Withlacoochec— The first fight—John’s peculiar sensation on that occasion—The second enccunter — Attack in the breast-works-The music of a rifle-ball an exception to the i ule—Seminole dentistry—Battle at eight —John is wounded —Short rations and hard fighting—Desperate onset-Thc armistic—The coun cil—A dainty morsel—-The surprise—The relief— Re turn to camp Smith. It was early, on the second day after our departure from Fort King, that our advance guard reached the batik of the Withlacoo chee. As we approached to the bank of that wild stream, whose tawpy waters glide with a lazy current, amid cypress swamps and sleepy lagoons, on to the ocean, as still and calm as if its glassy surface had never been ruffled by human power —suddenly the sharp crack of the rifle peeled upon our startled ears, and from a thousand throats came the terrific war-whoop of the savages, who lay concealed upon the opposite hank. I felt a thrill of excitement run through eve ry nerve. It was the first time that I had ever heard that blood-curdling yell, and I was soon to participate for the first time in mortal combat. I cannot describe my feel ings at that moment. It was not fear—it was not anger made me tremble —but my mind was oppressed with a strange com pound of mingled emotions. There was a sort of indefinite, indescribable sense of im minent peril—a feeling of suspence, the more painful because of its uncertain brevi ty. Perhaps my last breath was in my nos trils! It was hut for a moment —hut in that brief moment a life-time of thought ran through my brain. And the unfinished bus iness of an ill spent life pressed itself upon me. ******** One vol ley—a shout of defianco—and my agony was over—and the next moment when a riderless horse came dashing past, his flank all stained with blood, I felt at ease amid the danger and din of battle, and snuffed the sulphory atmosphere with as much compo sure as a veteran. A sharp fire was kept up on both sides for near an hour, when finding it impossible to cross the stream at that point without the aid of boats, the army fell back to a little distance from the river, and (passed the night in the breastworks thrown up by Gen. Clinch, on the night previous to the battle of the Withlacoochee. At sunrise qn the following morning, we were again in line, and moved down the river, a distance of about two miles, where it was understood there were less natural ob stahles to prevent our crossing the stream. On again approaching the bank, which we did about nine o’clock, we met with a recep tion similar to our first greeting, which we returned with a free good will; and the spirited interchange of compliments was kept up without intermission, until near one - o’clock in the afternoon, when the red ras cals, for reasons best known to themselves, declined the sport. During this spirited affair, many of our men were killed or wounded. Amongthose mortally wounded, was the gallant Lieut. Izard, a gentleman and soldier, deserving a better fate. Retir- ing a short distance from the river, we threw up breast-works, and passed the night with out interruption. About 10 o’clock on the following morning, the enemy paid us a call on our own side of the river, and for the space of two hours, their rifles kept up as enlivening a tete a tete with our vugurs and muskets,“as one might wish to hear.” For a time the rifle-balls whistled about us like hail, and many of our men were obliged to acknowledge, some with a groan, others with a curse, the receipt of those “ leaden mes sengers of death.” But to me there is no “ charm to soothe,” in the music of a rifle ball, and in spite of all my philosophy, I found it difficult to bear in mind, at the mo ment, the well attested fact that “ they are harmless so long as one can hear them whis tle.” Another name or two was added to our listof killed and wounded. Among the latter was that of our brave old General himself, who was indebted to the enemy on this oc casion, for the performance of a novel den tal operation—a rifle-ball having passed through his nether lip removing one of his front teeth. The old gentleman is not in command of more than a corporal’s guard of this class of troops, and, as a matter of course, was rather vexed at the rascals for thus depriving him of one of his veteran front rank men. It was night—the merry notes of the tat too had but just ceased to send back their faint echoes from the surrounding gloom, when, as if by appointed signal, the whole woods, on every side, was lit up by the blaze of their rifles, while the welkin rang with the rattling report, mingled with that horrid Indian yell, to mo more terrible than their weapons. For a time the blaze of fire-arms almost illumined the dark scene, while the solemn woods for miles around reverberated with the deafening peels of our musketry, or the sullen ioar of our single field piece, which, like the hoarse voice of the mastiff amid tho yelping kennel of lesser throats, towered above the din at intervals. I was in the act of raising from my knee, in which position we had been ordered to fire, when I felt a sudden twinge in the left arm. “ I wish you’d keep your ram-rod to your self,” 1 remarked to my tile-leader, who was loading as if he had a covy of partridges in his eye. ** Take that, and be d—d to ye,” said he, as he discharged his piece and commenced re-loading, too much engaged to hear rne. “ I’ll bet that cut some o’ your fur, you d—d yelling panters ye.” “ Zip,” exclaimed one, as a hall whistled past his head—“ a miss is as good as a mile—” “ I wish I had a pair of cast iron hoots that came up to my shoulders,” cooly re marked the third man on my right, as he bent upon his knees. “ Stand up to your rack, Boh, and never mind the length of your hoots,” replied his file-leader. “Oh, my God!” groaned one, and the next moment two men were seen dragging a poor fellow towards the surgeon’s quar ters. “There’s a man got an Indian’s commis sion in his pocket, pat,” said a wreckless fel low in my nearing. “ Come, boys—it's no time to be indulgin’ in levity; load and fire in quickest time’s the order,” replied our old Irish corporal. “ They’re coming closer —see ! the flash of that rifle was not thirty paces off.” “ Here goes the lead-colic in that fellow’s neighborhood,” said another, as he let fly the contents of his piece in that direction. 1 had paused foi a moment, not seeing any thing to shoot at; hut as the enemy were evidently advancing, and their fire seemed to take more effect, I attempted to seize my nun, hut my left arm refused to perform its office, and my hand hung benumbed and useless at my side. Upon examination, I found the blood streaming profusely from a wound in the fleshy part of the arm just be low the elbow. It was a rifle-hall instead of my friend’s ram-rod, that had attracted my attention hut a few moments before. — Though the wound was slight, it incapacita ted me for service, and I was ordered to the centre of the enclosure, where I was com pelled, much against my will, to remain in active amid surrounding strife and confusion. It was late when the enemy tetired. Daybreak was their signal for renewing the onset. Owing to the great disparity of force and the scarcity of ammunition, it was not deemed prudent to make a soitie, espe cially when it was evident tltt such an ex pedient could only result in dispersing the enemy, whom, we were too well assured, was concentrated at this point, and whom, it was the object of onr general to entertain and keep together until reinforcement, and a concerted action with Gen. Clinch would enable him to make a decisive movement. An express had been despatched to Fort Drane, and while a part of oui force kept the enemy at hay, numbers were employed in constructing boats, with which to cross the river when we should receive the necessary supplies. But no succour came—our pro visions were soon exhausted, and after a few days, a more formidable enemy than the savage foe stared us in the face. Fam ine, with its lean and haggard aspect and sunken eye, stalked through the camp, dis spiriting the brave and unnerving the strong. Another express was despatched, and yet no telief. Still was Gaines the same reso lute and intrepid leader that he had been in younger land more glorious days, and his noble example cheered and encouraged his suffering soldiers when precept would have failed. The wily savages were not ignorant of our condition, and at the time when we were reduced to the extremity of eating our poor horses, who reeled as they walked, many of them suffering from wounds, and all perishing for food—they renewed the fight with redoubled energy and the most determined desperation. They had grown holder—they set the tall grass and leaves on fire, and while the volumes of flame and smoke curled over our heads, they rrtade one desperate effort, as if they would scale our works, which we could not repel only in the last extremity, owing to the scarcity of our ammunition. When they approached near enough, under cover of the smoke, to bring them almost within pistol shot, the Louisian ians gave them a reception that mad* them recoil like vipers from the file. During the night of the sth of March, the seventh since our encampment in the hi east-works, a voice hailed our sentinels from the opposite side of the river, and informed us that, (to use the speaker’s own words) “de Injun say birr, done tired fight, and want to make tra tyand on the following morning, their delegates, under the protection of a dirty white flag, made their appearance, and were met with a corresponding number of our own officers at some distance from the breast works, where a palaver ensued. While this sage council was sitting cross-legged upon a log, engaged in their efforts to effect a diplomatic adjustment of the difficulties which had embroiled the two nations in war, a respectable showing of the bulwark of the nation was paraded iu full view of the camp. I sat upon a log with my wounded arm in a sling, devouring a dog’s heart roasteu without salt, while the treaty was going on. I was meditating upon the probable result of the armistic, when 1 observed a sudden commotion among the red gentry, and im mediately a loud volley of musketry broke upon my ear. The next moment the woods were red with flying Indians, shouting “ Clinch ! Clinch !” as they dashed head long in the direction of the river. The gen tlemen of the council stood not upon theNr der of their going, but went, abruptly de ferrinsall further deliberation until “ to-mor row. 19 The whole camp was in commotion —joy lit up the smoked and haggard coun tenances of the men—and 1 dashed my dog’s heart to the dogs, and threw up my cap with joy, as I saw through the smoky woods the blue jacket of the gallant Clinch, approach ing at the head of his brave Georgians, and kuew that relief had come at last. After delaying a few days—during which time it rained incessantly—in order to give the Indians an opportunity of renewing the negotiations which his van-guard had so sud denly interrupted, hut which they did not do—Gen. Clinch, who no longer enjoyed supreme command in Florida, obeyed the instructions of the Commander-in-chief, by withdrawing the army from the Withla coochee to Fort Drane. Arrived at this post, our own General, having resigned his command into the hauds of Gen. Clinch, took his leave of those who had been his as sociates in his brief but arduous campaign. ( To be continued.) The Drunkard not the worst Man. —A gentleman stepped into a tavern, and saw a filthy drunkard, once a respetable man, waiting for his liquor. lie thus accosted him: “G — , why do you make yourself the vilest of men ?” “ I ain’t the vilest,” said the drunkard. “ Yes you are,” said the gentleman: “ See how you look—drink that you vvill be in the gutter.” “ I deny your poz-zi-tion,” said the drunk ard. Who—who is the vi-vilest the temp tempted, or the tempter ! VVho—who was wor-worst, Sa-Satan or Eve?” “ Why, Satan,” said the gentleman. “ Well—well, be-behold the temp-temp ter!” said he, pointing to the bar. The argument was irresistible. The barkeeper j flew into a passion, and turned the poor i'el j low out of Ins house without his dram.— I Magnolia. 3 CD Iff *l* Ji ISi IE It SS3 o§©l LL A Y „ An Indian Juggler. —To those who have never witnessed the extraordinary feats of this singular class of beings, what we are going to relate will doubtless appear too marvellous even for the pages of romance ; but experience has sufficiently demonstrated the practicability of things which by the un initated can he referred only to the opera tion of magic. Indeed so singular and ex traordinary have some of these performances appeared, that even the mighty Haber, the conqueror of Hitidoostan, has dedicated a portion of his interesting memoirs to a des cription of them, without, however, attempt ing their elucidation. The juggler who now had the honor of entertaining the Maha Rajah and his party, was evidently a master of his art ;* and proceeded at once, assoon as his distinguish ed audience were seated, to astonish them with his dexterity. He first handed an egg round the circle, and then placed it in his bosom itt order to hatch if. He requested the Ranee to signify the bird she wished to see produced, and the gentle Meena having named a dove, the symbol of her own inno cent heart, it accordingly flew forth from the broken shell; and fluttering around for an instant,soared into the sky with rapid pinion. This trick was frequantly repeated, a differ ent bird appealing at every successive trial, by desire of one or other of the spectators; and a shower of Rupees, by order of the Ranee, repaid the ingenuity of the juggler, who, thus encouraged, prepared for fresh efforts. Having desired one of his attendants to bring him a branch from a noble Mango tree which stood at a short distance, the juggler took it in his hand, and held it forth, all green and blossomless as it was; uttering certain incantations, and making a variety of grimaces indicative of the internal workings of a powerfully agitated spirit. Gradually, to the astonished eyes of the spectators, one blossom appeared sprouting forth, then an other and another, till the amputated branch was nearly covered. Wonderful as this feat appeared, it was totally eclipsed by that which followed : for as the juggler still held the branch extended in his hand, and con tinued his incantations, the blossoms fell one by one; and in the place of each appeared an incipient Mango, which gtadualy swelled out to the largest and richest size of that delicious ft uit. These having beer, gather ed by the juggler’s attendants, were present ed in a golden salver to the Ranee and her party, though none could he prevailed on to taste a fruit which they verily believed to he the production of magic alone. Tremendous applause and a Royal lar gesse followed this extraordinary feat, and thi*j uggler once more addressed himself to his singular exhibition. Taking in his hand a coil of rope which lay on the stage he flung it up with considerable force in the air; when, strange to say, one end remained fix ed above, the other falling down on the stage of the mountebank. Taking hold of this he kept it firmly extended in a sloping direction from the summit -, when, wonder upon wonders, a tiger appeared on the top in the act of decending the rope, which he actually did with great caution and preci sion, while many of the spectators fled screaming from the claws of the monster. Their panic, however, was very much in creased when they beheld a lion following the tiger down the rope ; and then a buffa lo, an elephant, and sundry other annimals, which were fortunately taken possession of by ihe attendants of the juggler and con veyed behind the scenes, without causing any other mischief than the needless fright their first appearance had occasioned. •Sonic of the jugglers will tell any person their thoughts, cause the branch of a tree to blossom and to bear fruit within an hour, hatch an egg in their bosom in less than fifteen minutes, producing whatever bird may be demanded, and make it fly about the room, etc. etc.—Beksier. Almost, an awful Suicide. —The Philadel phia Spirit of the times states that a strange scene occurred in one of the courts of that city on Tuesday. A good looking Irishman was in the dock, arraigned on a charge of participating in the late riots. His wife, a pretty English woman, was sitting on a set tee near the clerk’s desk. He keeps a small grocery and liquor shop in St. Mary street, and she attends it. Both love to “ drink.” All at once, about two o’clock in the after noon, the court was electrified by what ap peared to he the sudden discharge of a pis tol, and at the same moment the woman al luded to gave a slight shriek, clapped her hands to her breast, and fell hack, while a torrent, apparently’ of blood, was gushing forth from her bosom. The officers gather ed around her. All believed that an awful suicide hud been committed in the presence of the law, and as a shudder pervaded every frame, the woman was lifted up and examin ed. To the consternation of all, it appeared that she had secreted a bottle of porter, in her bosom, and that the heat had occasioned the cork to fly out from its imprisonment. She had thrust her fingers into the bottle in vain. The red stream still poured out. No wonder it had been mistaken, not for a tor rent of beer, but for a torrent of blood. Queer Auction. —We were much struck— we can scarcely say amused—a few morn ings ago, while passing a ready-made coffin establishment, which was being sold out un der the hammer. “ There’s a fine, large sized article now,” said the auctioneer, lay ing his hand with professional carelessness upon a black walnut dead-man’s box ; “how much shall 1 say for you, sir? Just your size—fit you exactly ! Shall I say three dol lars ?—only three! Three—ee—ee—ee— an —a —assi—an-aff—aff—aft’—does any bo dy say ? Fit you precisely ; looks as if it was made for you ; just the height; going— going—.” “ your coffin,” exclaimed the gentleman —a tall, portly, red-faced fig ure —as he bolted out of the shop and strode up the street witli the speed of a locomotive. We had no disposition to bid, and so walk ed on.— New- York Aurora. Pretty fair. —“ Bill, I’ve been trying a bout town all day to borrow five dollars, and have come to you as a ‘dernier resort.’ ” “ Yes, and dern your resort /” said Bill, “ I’un opt of soap!” The straight Way to Heaven. —An itene rant preacher, of more zeal than discretion, was in the habit of accorsing those he met in the walks, and inquiring into their spirit ual welfare. Passing along a country road that led through a small settlement, he met a simple-looking country fellow driving a cart loaded with corn. “ Do you believe in God, sir?” said he to the country man. “Yes, sir,” was the instant reply. “Do you read your Bible, pray to your maker, and attend divine worship regularly ?” and this string of questions was also answered in the affir mative. “Go on your way rejoicing, my lad,” continued he, “ you are in the high way to heaven.” Clodpole flourished his whip, and drove on, much delighted, no doubt, with the pleasing intelligence. An other person came up at this time, and he also was interrogated with an uncetemoni ous “ Do you believe in God, sir? “What have you to do, sir, with what I believe?” replied the person accosted, with a look of surprise. “ You are in the gall of bitter ness, and the bond of iniquity,” cried the of fended preacher. “ Look at that poor lad whistling along the road, and driving his cart before him, he is in the straight way to heaven.” “It may be so, sir,” said the per son interrogated, “ hut to my certain knowl edge, if he’s going there, lie’s going with a cart load of stolen corn.” The old Lady and the Cobler over the Way. —Some years ago the husband of an old lady, residing in a country village, hap pened to die suddenly without making a will, for the want of which very necessary precaution, his estate would have passed away’ from his widow, had she not resorted to the following remarkable expedient to avert the loss of her property : She con cealed the death of her husband, and pre vailed upon an old colder, her neighbor, who was in person somewhat like the de ceased, to go to bed at her house, and per sonate him, in which character it was agreed he should dictate a will, leaving the widow the estate in question. An attorney was accordingly sent for to prepare the required document, and the widow, on his arrival, appeared to be realizing the greatest afflic tion at her good man’s danger, but forthwith proceeded to ask questions of her pretend ed husband, calculated to elicit the answers she expected and desired. The old cobler, groaning aloud, and looking as much like a person going to give up the ghost as pos sible, feebly answered, “ I intend to leave you half my estate ; and I do think the poor old shoemaker, who lives over the way, is deserving of the other half, for he lias al ways been a jrood neighbor.” The widow was thunderstruck at receiving a reply so different to that which she expected, but dated not negative the collier’s will, for fear of losing the whole of the property, while the cunning old rogue in bed, who was him self the poor old shoemaker living over the way, laughed in Iris sleeve, and divided with her the fruits of a pioject which the widow had intended for her sole benefit.— English Taper. MfisooHaumyo I'UIILISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING AT THE VERY LOW PRICE OF TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS PER ANNUM —ONE DOL LAR AND FIFTY CENTS FOR SIX MONTHS ALWAYS IN ADVANCE. MADISON, GEO t Saturday, September 24, 1542. A WORD TO OUR PATRONS. With the present number we conclude the first half-volume of the “Southern Miscel lany”—and it occurs to us that there could be no more appropriate time to indulge a few words of familiar chat with our numer ous readers. First, we would speak to those good friends, and true, who, in the infancy of our undertaking, came manfully and gen erously forward to our aid, and, with their cash payments in advance, enabled us to make the “Miscellany” whati/iis: we need not define it. To you we return our most grateful thanks; may your shadows never grow shorter, your numbers fewer, or your purses lighter—but may you live long in the land you have aided to enlighten ! Next we would have a word with that still larger division of our friends who we may call subscribers, hut who yet lack only two dollars and fifty cents of being patrons. To such we would say, that there is a dif ference between us ; a difference which we would never so willingly settle as now— which never could be more opportunely set tled than now —and which, like all other diffeienccs, increases as it grows older. In downright earnest though, we appeal to all such as are in arrears to avail themselves of the present time to liquidate our little claim. We have not been troublesome or importu nate ; we have given you six month’s cred it, without grumbling, and now all we ask is, that you should comply with the terms to which you subscribed; we have broken none of our promises to you, and we ask you to make good yours to us. We know that it is but too common an opinion, that printers and editors are etherial beings—that they can live on air, public opinion,or almost any thing as intangible, hut we can assure you, dear reader, it is a very great error; they can no more live on nothiug than can com mon people—nor will their creditors be con- tented with nothing a bit sooner than yours would. We beg you will take these things into serious consideration ; and now, w r hile you are filling your long pockets with the proceeds of your year’s labor, do not forget that we have labored for you, and that our bill is unpaid. Seriously and soberly—and such is our aversion to dunning that we can not do it in a serious tone, whatever our ex tremity—but seriously and soberly, dear reader, we are in want of money—immi nently in want —and we appeal to you in the hope that you vvill, by the discharge of the small debts you owe us, enable us to pay others of greater magnitude, and of great importance to our future well-being. We wait to see who will and who vvill not —if any such there be—respond to our call. Now, last hut not least, we would exhort the borrowers of the “ Miscellany.” We can’t feel ill towards you, for your very fault proves your taste and good discrimination. We can’t feel ill towards you, dear readers of the borrowed “Miscellany,” but we would feel a much higher degree of individual res pect for you, if we could see your names on our subscription book, with “ Paid, $2 50” opposite. Avery great heresy has got into your heads, dear borrowers. You think, because the loan of the “ Miscellany” costs us nothing,because it is already’ printed, that you are doing us no harm to read it, week ly, in this way. Now, so far as the equity of the thing is concerned, you might as well ask the Conductor to let you ride in the cars to Greensboro’ every Saturday, free of charge ; your passage would cost the Com pany nothing—the cars are bound to go, and it does not take a single additional puff of steam to carry you A half-dozen of you would not think of borrowing another pas senger’s ticket and passing it round till you all got a ride with it. Then, why will as many of you read the good things in a neigh bor’s “Miscellany?” You should abhor to do so, as much as you would to borrow his dinner, “ or his horse, or bis ass, or his man servant,” or— —anything that is his. We trust you will he admonished by the above persuasive arguments to discontinue the practice, and come forward and subscribe like high-minded,honorable men, and hence forth read your own “ Miscellany.” COTTON MARKET. Madison, Sc2>tcmbcr 23. —Business during the past week has been animated. 789 bales of Cotton have been received since our last, 41G of which were purchased by our Merchants, at 7 to 7.1 for square hales, 6f to 7 for round. Below we give - tho quotations of the principal Cotton markets in the country. By comparing those of Augusta, Savannah and Charleston with our own, it vvill be seen that taking freight into consideration— our market offers as fair ju ices to the planter as any other. Charleston, September 17.—247 hales of the new crop sold at prices ranging from 71 to SJ. Augusta, September 21. —New Crop com ing in brisk—7 to 8 cents, quoted as the ex tremes of the market. Macon, September 15.—We quote for the week to 7 cents. Savannah, September 17.—We quote midling to midling fair 7 to 7^ —fair to fully fair, 71 to 7f —good fair 8 cents. New Orleans, Scptem/ftr 10. — Extreme quotations from G to 10 cents. Mobile, September 10.—Sales range from 8 to 10 for good midling to fair. Columbia, ( S. C.) September 15. —5 toSJ extreme quotations. New York, September 14.—Uplands and Florida sold at Gl to Sl —Mobile and New Orleans 61 to 9. {tT 53 Produce is beginning to come in rapidly from the surrounding country. — During the past week 17234 lbs. prime Ba con have been received. Did you ever sec so much hog meat, Mr. Whig ? * THE WEATHER. For the past few days the weather has been quite cool, even chilly in the mornings and evenings. The sky lias been overcast and heavy, and the fitful gusts of September wind rustle as they pass the first fallen leaves that lie curled and blackening upon the side walk. The shrubbery and trees have as sumed a sickly yellow-green, and the once bright mantle of earth looks sombre and old. The year is in the fall—and all nature proclaims “ The melancholy days are come, The saddest of the year.” Aye, the saddest of the year, when all we behold reminds us of our own ultimate des tiny—when every fallen leaf, every wither ed flower recalls to our memory some dear de parted one, now no more. How few can look back to the gay springtime of life, and not remember with a sigh the buds of pro mise or the blooms of hope which they have cherished in their hearts, only to see them wither and drop “ like leaves in wintry weather!” The season is a sober one; would that we might learn wisdom from its teachings. The Virginia Banks resumed specie payments on the 15th instant. The “Lynch burgh Virginian” expresses its confidence in their ability to maintain their ground. THE “SOUTHERN WHIG,” OUK PAPER, AND OUR TOWN. In our paper of week before last we took occasion to say that Congress had adjourned after one of the longest and roost unprofit able sessions since the organization of the Government; and concluded oor brief par agraph by expressing our belief that,all that had been done for the good of the country might have been effected in a session of one month. This we believed, at the time, to be the almost unanimous opinion of politicians of both pat ties : indeed it was but the em bodymeut of what wo had seen expressed in the papers of both sides, as well as in those which, like ourself, claim to be neutral in politics. But what think you, reader ? The editor of the “ Southern Whig”—a paper printed in the town of Athens, in Clarke County, in this State—has had the almost in credible sagacity to discover in that little paragraph, a most flagrant violation of our professed neutrality ; and, for this, gives us such a lampooning in his last paper as he seldom deigns to bestow even upon his po litical antagonists. His attack upon us re minds us of one of Dickens’ characters, who, according to that author, was wont, for the sake of “ argyment,” to make strange is sues with his friends. On one occasion, Sol omon Daisey, a quiet little man—with no more disposition to provoke a quarrel than we felt when we penned the objectionable paragraph—remarked that the moon was, or soon would be, in the full ; upon which the very wise John Wjllet looked the little man full in the face, with a very significant stare, and replied, “ you let the moon alone, and—and—l’ll let you alone.” Now, the editor is much more wordy, and no doubt conceits himself vastly more witty than was John Willet, on the occasion alluded to ; hut the idea that he has the peculiar guardian ship of Congress, is just about as modest and sensible as John’s conceit that lie was the guardian and defender of the moon ! Per sonally, we do suffer beneath the caustic ire of his first paragraph ; and the only conso lation we have, is in the fact that the “ South ern Whig” happens not to he the leading paper in the South—and its circulation is, we believe, confined within the limits of the Union. But for this circumstance, we would most certainly be “and dto everlasting fame,” by the all-potent pen of this most belly-potent editor. Asa tasteofliis quality— as a specimen of his boyish, undignified and unprovoked attack on us—we give the fol lowing extract. We hope the reader vvill observe the close relation between his text— our paragraph about Congress—and the general tenor of his rodomontade. After duly announcing us, he says : “ We think it advisable, after he has writ ten one or two more literary periodicals and family newspapers into general notoriety, that his services should be engaged as a leg islator. How the Whig and Democratic party missed it, when they did not put his name on one of their Congressional Tickets. And how the country would he benefited if we had many such men among us, men that could do as much in one month, as it takes such men as Calhoun, Buchanan, Wright, Crittenden, Rives and Talmadgenine months to do the same thing. If the editor cannot leave the * Southern Miscellany’ for so tri fling an object as benefifting his country, in her councils, we trust that in future he vvill throw aside his modesty, and letMr.Calhoun and the great men of the nation have the ad vantage of his advice. The nation can af ford to loose vvliat the last Congress spent, if the Editor of the ‘ Southern Miscellany’ will only let us know when Congress should adjourn, and how long it ought to take them to transact their business.” There now—there’s a gore for you •. How would you feel, reader, if you were in our place ? Wouldn’t you begin to think there was a tide in your affairs 1 Nominated to Congress, simply for declaring our convic tion that the last session was a rather unpro pituous one for the country ! We doubt not many have gone to Congress for telling less truth; nevertheless, we consider that there is just about as much provocation for the gentleman’s irony as that churlish crea ture had for his, when he told the boy to try and see how loud he could thunder, because the youngster would not admit a ceitain clap to be the loudest he had ever heard. Now, had this come from some more dignified and influential source than the “Southern Whig,” wecanuot promise exactly how we would have borne it: we might have pined to death with “ a green and yellow melan choly,” or we might have indulged in am bitious dreams, and, possibly, have thought of abandoning the “ Miscellany” and taking to the stump ; but as it is—considering the source—in either sense, it is harmless—can neither excite our chagrin, or vanity—and we pass it by “ as the idle wind,” &c. “ But,” says the sagacious editor, “ this is not the only smalt thing in the ‘ Miscel lany.’ It has one of Judge Cone’s able law decisions, and is going to publish more of them,” &c. “ The Judge will, no doubt, tickle the * Miscellany,’ and the ‘ Miscella ny’ will tickle the Judge.” Wonderful to tell! Isn't that a thrust, now ? Wonder if the Judge has been passing sentence upon the “ long Congress” too 1 Be that as it may, we are completely overwhelmed by such arguments ; we have not one word to say to such an accusation, so far as we are concerned, and must avail ourself of the “idle winds” again. “ But the smartest thing in the 1 Miscel-