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Simpson ; ‘Suppose we go ?
had not gone.”
Now Mike, in fact, had
Though dismissed by Etheria, who had
counted upon being protected home by
Israefel, the chivalric Irish youth had
merely retired to a short distance, behind
an angle ot the garden fence ; where, part
ly from curiosity, but principally from a
sincere interest in the unprotected situa
tion ot the ladies, he lay jicrdu, holding
himself and his shillalagh in readiness for
instant action,should it be required,and in
his secret heart ardently hoping for the
opportunity.
“Hark!” said Sarah Jane, again.—
“There’s a footstep i
“Yes !” whispered Etheria, faintly. “I
hear it!”
The »tep advanced—then paused. The
person was approaching down the lane,
and as yet concealed by the garden pal
ing-
“Oh, gracious!” half sobbed 3fiss Simp
son. “It’s really awful.”
Again the step was heard—firm, slow,
and solemn. A tall dark figure became
dimly visible, wrapped from head to foot
in sombre drapery resembling a pall.
- Etheria felt faint,and Sax-ali Jane trem-
Tdingly retired.
“Etheria !” said a solemn voice, “Is it
thou 1”
“Israefel!’’ faintly murmured Etheria.
Then there was a breathless stillness.—
Spirit doubtless communed with spirit, in
a silence too eloquent for words. Sarah
Jane looked ori in awe. Miss Scruggs, in
the intense interest of the scene, forgot
even the dog and the gun.
“In yonder world,” said Israefel, raisin
I wish Mike I mained spell-hound near the spot, upon
i beholding their approach turned and fled
not gone.— but was in a moment overtaken and borne
along in custody of the guardians of the
peace.
‘What means this outrage V enquired
Miss Scruggs senior, with virtuous indig
nation.
‘What was you runnm’ away for ?’ re
torted the policeman : ami Miss Scruggs,
finding resistance vain, was forced to ac
company the mob, helpless, though boil
ing over with wrath.
L pon the arrival of these official digni
taries the tumult suddenly ceased, and
everybody calmed down a little, had time
to look at each other.
Then .followed
exclamations!
‘Rebecca /’ shrieked Miss Lorinda ; and
sank upon the ground, besides the halt-
fainting Etheria.
‘Good heavens / Lorinda/’
‘Lor if it ain’t the l.iisthress !” gasped
Biddy.
‘Thunderan’ turf! lint is it Biddy Brian
I sec ?’cried 31 ike, in amazement.
‘Why 31 ike O’Finnigan—Is this you?”
‘An’ mistber Martin too ! But this bates
Banagber!’
•Oh, Mr. Martin!’ said Sarh Jane, pite
ously.
‘Miss Simpson ! Is it possible! And
Miss Hopkins!’
‘And tbat Scraggins, I declare!’cried
Miss Scruggs.
Scraggins.groaned. Sarah Jane hung
‘Humph !’ muttered Bowles, “gen-
Metnan looks tall enough to take cure
of himself.’
‘My friend,’ resumed Harry Martin,
hesitatingly ; ‘my friend, though a gen
tleman of irreproachable character,
and perfectly sane in all respects, has
yet one unfortunate peculiarity—’
Here everybody pricked their ears ;
and Miss Hopkins lifted her drooping
head, striil adorned with the crysan-
themuru poke bonnet, and gazed wildly
upon the speaker.
“He is liable,” resumed Martin, “to
become at times firmly possessed with
a series of bewildere^ijthe idea, upon which lie acts so long
i as the illusion lasts. In short—”
“In short,” said the policeman de
cided, in short, lie’s a monomaniac, lie
is; a lunatic.”
Here Sarah Jane uttered a shriek,
and Etheria fainted dead away.
“Come!” said Israefel in a gruff
voice, “let alone that nonsense, wiil
you, and don’t let us all be making
foolsof ourselves. Cull a hack, Mike!
That confounded dog has lamed me
so tiiat—ogh!” And Israefel, who had
risen to his feet, sat down again, help
less.
“There’s no hacks in this part o’
the town, sir,” replied Mike. “It ’ud
take an hour to get one, and you and
Miss Mary Ann is catchin’ your
deaths o’ cowld sittin’ there in the
mud.”
her head and. wept, while the rest of the
parly stared at them and at each other in
speechless amazement.
‘Sure,’ said Mike, who was the first to
our liouse must a
spilled the whole
turned inside out, an’
bilin’ of us out o’ win-
his arm aloft, and pointing slowly and sol- | recover his power of speech. ‘Sure, but
emnly to the moon,now just emerging from
her obscurity, “Jn yonder world, and those
glorious realms of bliss which mortals call
stars—”
Here Miss Scruggs, anxious not to lose j the meanin
a word imprudently thrust her head above
the palings.
At the same moment, the man with the
‘Comc,gen’]emen,I want to know what’s
of all this here!’ remarked
the. policeman, authoratively
‘It means thieves/’ replied the gardener,
looking at JJiss Lorinda Scruggs. ‘This
gun, attracted by the rustling and move- here woman has been and robbed my gar
ment so near him, lifted his head above , den for two nights past.’
the bushes, and stared at Miss Scruggs.
31 iss Simpson, looked up, beheld these
past
Miss Scruggs screeched
‘I found her,’ pursued the gardner, ex-
two physiognomies in close proximity just i citedly, ‘I found her only just now, hid
above her head. Whereupon she uttered a away among the tig bushes in the garden,
faint shriek. where she’d got in by a whole she’d made
In a moment Mike was on the spot,! in the fence /’
flourishing his shillalagh. I Miss Lorinda turned pale.
“What is it Miss,” cried Mike,in hreatli-1 ‘You’ll please to come along with mo,
less eagerness. , ma’am.’ said the policeman decisively,
“Where is he ? where is the murtherin ‘you and this ‘tother one. You’re as like
thief of the wurld ?” as two peas, and if you was engaged to rob
“Here!” answered an equally excited tlm garden, she was of course an accom-
voice on the other side of the paling— I plice, and no doubt posted to watch at
“hero he is! here’s the thief—help me to , the corner.’
git hold of him !*’. . ' At this atvfal accusation, and the pic-
The man with the gun, (who was no j ture which it conjured of a public trial for
other than Judge B ’s gardner,) was j
frantically rummaging amid the tig-bushes, j
“Here!” cried he to Mike—“lend us a
hand. Help me to get a hold o’ him !—
He’s been a robbing my garden !”
“Come out o’ that,’’ cried Mike, fierce
ly ; also joining in the search, ‘come out
wid ye, ye raurdtberein villan!’
Miss Scruggs gasped.
“Come out this Minit, or I’ll shoot,”
cried the gardener.
Miss Scruggs screeched.
By this time they had each gotten hold
of an arm, and dragged Miss Lorinda help
lessly forward.
“Bedad!” exclaimed Mike, letting go
his hold, and starting back ; it’s a famale!”
Phew !” whistcled the gardener, in un
controllable surprise.
At this signal a fierce hay was heard,
—rolJinii’ the garden—Miss Lorinda" came
forward, and made a full confession of the
manner and the motive of her coming thith
er on this particular evening.
‘It was only,’ she falteringly concluded,
‘it was only because I had some doubts as
to whether the person they were to meet
was a ghost or a mortal that I was induced
to take the step.’
‘Very probably, ma’am ;’ remarked the
policeman incredulously. ‘That story may
do for children, but persons of your age
and mitre, ma’am, dont generally believe
in ghosts.’
‘Ask Miss Simpson.’
‘It—it is true,’ faltered Sarah Jane ; ‘at
least—so far as we are concerned.’
‘And where, Miss, is the Spirit you was
expecting to meet.’
Miss Simpson faintly indicated Tsraefel.
and Grip came tearing through the hushes, who, seated on the damp ground, pale and
W “Gracious heavens, Israefel!” cried dizzy from Mike’s blow, w
heavens,
Etheria, leaning helplessly against the arm
of the Kindred Spirit beside her—gracious
heavens ! what is the cause of that dread
ful tumult ?”
“Fear not, my Etheria !” replied Israe
fel, protectingly—“fear not : What harm
can approach thee where thy Israefel is
nigh !”
At this moment the moon, which had
zzy from Mike’s blow, was engaged in
mopping his bleeding forehead with iris
wet pocket-handkerchief.
‘Humph / worry spiritual he looks !’
said the policeman, eyeing him suspicious
ly ; ‘I think it’s you, sir, we'll have to
take along to the wateb-’us. A born pick
pocket. if ever, there was one !’ he mutter
ed to himself.
‘I ll save you that trouble,” said Harry
“At last,” said Israefel, stooping his lof- > sponded Bowie
been gradually unveiling her face, emerg- Martin, stepping forward. You know me,
ed entirely from the clouds, and shone and I can answer for the character of this
down in broad silvery radiance upon the ! gentleman—also for the lady.”
scene. | ‘Cert’nly, Mr. Martin, if you say so,’ re
looking disappointed,
and turning with additional asperity to
Miss Scruggs, he accosted her with—
‘Now, mum, for your case /’
‘I,’ said that lady, boldly, in conscious
innocence and self-respect, ‘I am Miss
Scruggs of the boarding establishment on
Poplar street.’
‘Werry good, ma’am,’ observed Bowles,
stolidly, and wholy unaffected by the an
nouncement of the name and station of his
prisoner, he stood waiting further explana
tion.
‘I came here,’ continued Miss Scruggs,
ty head, so as to gain a view beneath the
poke-bonnet; “At last I gaze upon the
features of her—”
Miss Ilopkins, remembering the bonnet,
instinctively bung her head.
“Look up,Etheria ! look up,and—”
Something in his tones,, or in the cold
and clammy touch of the hand which
grasped hers,caused Etheria to comply
with this request.
She gazed on the face of her Spirit
Love!
With a wild shriek, she started hack.
“Gracious heavens ! Mr. Scraggins ! !”
‘Perdition! Mary Ann Hopkins ! !’
The Spirit Bride, half swooning, sank
upon the ground.
Israefel, gazing wildly around, turned
to fiee.
“Catch him ! howld him !” yelled Mike,
scrambling hack through the palings at
the sound of Miss Hopkins’ scream.
It was at this moment that Grip, a huge
mastiff - , came tearing toward the spot, sum
moned by his master’s unintentional whis
tle. Seeing Israefel making hasty de
parting strides, and hearing Mike’s eager
adjurations, as familiar to his canine'cmn-
prehension, the intelligent animal flew
upon the sacred person of Israefel, and
seizing him by the skirts of bin garments
pinned him to the spot until Mike caine
U P-
‘Faix, ye was frightenin’ the lady, was
ye, ye spalpeen ? Take that for yer pains !’
And as he spoke, Mike brought down his
formidable weapon full upon the sacred
head of Miss Hopkins’ Spirit Love. But
in an instant he found his own throat
grasped by some one behind.
“Hold him off, Harry,” gasped Israefel,
faintly, ‘and drive off this confounded ani
mal, or I shall be torn to pieces.’
‘Murther !’ cried Mike, writhing to free
himself from the grasp on his throat.—
“Murther! Help/ ’
Now no sooner did Bridget Brian hear
this cry of distress from her lover, than
woman-like forgetful of her wrongs, she
rushed to the rescue, and seizing Israefel
by his long lank hair, tore therefrom sev
eral good-sized handsfull; then turning
upon Mike’sotherantagonist, she described
upon each side of his face five parallel,
perpendicular streaks of alivid hue.
‘Keep off/' cried Mike’s antagonist to
Biddy; and at the same time tightening
his grasp upon Mike’s throat.
‘31 urther !' yelled Mike. .
‘Help /’ shrieked 3Iiss Scruggs.
‘Tuieves /.’ roared the gardener.
‘Fire /’ screeched Biddy ; “Fire / mur
ther ! help!’
The dog howled in chorus to each.
Next momeut rapid footsteps were
heard approaching down the lane. The
police, with several passers by, attracted
by the uproar, were hastening to the
spot.
Miss Rebecca Scruggs, who had re-
with the same virtuous aspect—T came
here in pursuit of a thief.’
‘Ah !” ejaculated Bowles, brightening.
‘Of the woman,’ continued 3Gss Scruggs
turning her eyes severely on Bridget—‘my
domestic, whom I suspected of being in pos
session of stolen property. It was my in
tention to trace her to the place of deposit
of these articles, and then to inform the
police.
‘Much obleejed to ye, I’m sure ma’am !’
said Bridget, flushing scarlet with indig
nation, and dropping a low courtesy. ‘An’
where's yer proof, if ye plase ma’am ?’
Hero 3Iiss .Scruggs narrated Bridget’s
suspicious conduct for rome days past, and
especially during the evening, and begun
also to give a iist of the various articles
which had from time to time been missing
from her “establishment,” headed by the
never-to-be forgotten silver spoon.
“When was that ’ar spoon missing,
mum /’enquired Bowles.
“Just one year and three months ago,
next week,” replied the exact 3Iiss
Scruggs.
‘Humph /’ ejaculated Bowles gruffly,
again disappointed in his hopes of dis
tinguishing himself in Crabville, by ma
king an important arrest. ‘Humph / your
case won’t stand, mum. But what did
bring you hero, any ways ?’ he enquired
fiercely of Bridget.
‘Faix’ I was a fallyin’ Mike here, to
see wid me own eyes what he could be
after,’ answered Bridget, glancing re
proachfully at her lover.
•And J,’ respond Mike, returning the
look with interest, ‘I was purtectin’
the ladies. Ax 3Iiss 3Iary Ann, here,
if it’s not the truth I’m speakin.’
But the crest-fallen Miss Hopkins
had no spirit to reply; whereupon
3Iiss Simpson took upon herself to cor
roborate Mike’s statement.
‘Now, Mister Harry,’ cried Mike,
with a sudden rise of spirits—‘Now
it’s your turn, it is.’
Seeing that the whole party were
awaiting the explanation thusuncere-
moniusly called lor, Harry Martin step
ped forward.
‘I was induced io follow my friend
Mr. Scraggins, from regard for his per
sonal safety.’
Head’ks Satan’s Division, )
October, 1863. ji
Special Orders, )
No. 2. (
I. Ail persons enlisted by bis Majesty
on earth, are hereby appointed his special j
agents, because of their loyalty and strict |
obedience to bis orders, and be congratu- j
Iates you on your success in bringing suf- j
fering and destitution on bis enemies lor
lie has the most undoubted evidence of
your zeal iu his cause—by the large num
ber of poor careworn women, and ragged
children, and the thousand female appli
cants for work at Davis’s clothing bureau;
and his satanic Majesty hopes you wili
still show your loyalty by a continued obe-
dicncets tohis orders.
II, Buy all you can, as low as possible,
and sell it for all that the necessities of
the people will compel tliem to give, and
make them believe there is no more iu the
world only what you have ou hand, for
you know a lie well stuck to, is as good
as tlie truth.
HI. Be very careful not to give full
weight, or measure, and if you have any
tainted meat, or other damaged article on
hand, let the poor havetbat at a reduced
price—say one cent the pound cheaper
than a good article, for yju know it wont
do for the poor to live too well in this
world—as they have a kingdom promis
ed them hereafter-
IV. If you have a contract for women’s
work, be sure you don’t allow them to
earn more than one pound of beef in a day,
or a pound of bacon in three days, and by
this means you will soon get rich from
government contracts, while the poor fool
“I’ve got a garden hand-cart here,” I " otnen l' avc ' ,0 better sense than to work
said the gardentjr, “and if the gen’le- ou ^ a mtune or you.
, , , ,, y T ,,, V. li a poor woman comes to you tor
man can t make out to walk, why I II
wheel him home for fifty cents. It aint
so fur off.”
if a poor woman comes to you
i assistance or work—be sure to insult her
j if you can, make all the Proselytes, and
! Prostitutes you can—as tamales once en-
This proposal was acceded to on 1 listed make the best of recruiting agents
the parts of Scraggins and his friend,
Harry Martin; and Israefel was accord
ingly lifted and comfortable deposited j
in the hand-cait, which was brought
round by Tony for the purpose.
“Wot’s to be done with this ’ore
lady?” enquired Bowles, stooping down
and with his hands on his knees, at
tentively surveying the inanimate
countenance of Etheria. “In my
opinion she’s nigh as dead as a hcr-
rin.”
“There’s room enough for her, too,”
said the gardener.
“No, no!” screech Etheria, recover
ing her senses for an instant.
Israefel also muttered a remon
strance—in which was indistinctly
heard the words, “lobster” and “wood
pecker.”
Whereupon Miss Ilopkins, with a
faint shriek instantly relapsed.
“I’ll get my seed-frame,” said the
gardener, as inspired with a new idea.
“It’s clean, and strong enough to bear
a lady.”
He accordingly soon appeared with a
sort of long and narrow wooden frame
in which was stretched a canvass cloth
—used for drying seeds and fruit in
the sun. Upon this the inanimate form
of Miss Hopkins was carefully laid,
and covered over with Sarah Jane’s
cloak.
.Everything being thus arranged the
procession started homevvardjled by the
Spirit Bride reposing upon the seed-
frame; escorted by the policemen, and
the rear brought up by the band-cart
containing Israefel, who had now fall
en into a half doze.
We leave it to the reader to imag
ine the utter amazement of the re
maining inmates of the Misses Scruggs’
boarding house; (including 3Iiss Ilop
kins 1 Pa. and Sarah Jane’s grandma,)
upon beholding this lugubrious proces
sion entering at the front gate, togeth
er with all that was said and done up
on the occasion.
for your master's service.
VI. you who are engaged in the liquor
traffic are injuring the cause of your mas
ter by selling too high, you should sell it
I cheaper than anything else, as it is one of
his 3Iajesty’s best recruiting agents, and
I causes them to report much earlier, and
j more promptly at these headquarters.
VII. Depreciate the currency all you
| can by every groundless excuse, and be
| sure you get it all if possable and bring it
I with you to these Headquarters.
VIII. Go to Church often, wear very
long faces—and don’t forget to wear the
livery of Heaven—which you stole to
! serve the Devil in. Obey these orders,
and you shall be rich, and live well at no
other cost than that of your immortal soul,
which will be required of you when your
terms of service expires,
Southern papers copy as before.
BELZEBUG.
Tin* ItlarySand Coup d’ElaJ.
i The New York “Herald,” of the Ofeli
instant, treats with virtuous horror the ee-
! cret correspondence and orders of Secre
tary Seward, Generals McClellan and
Banks, directing the seizure of the Legis
lature of 3Iaryland while in session in Sep
tember, 1861. and the imprisonment of the
members in Forts 3IcHenry and Lafay
ette. It was a remarkable, affair, and well
calculated to excite the appearance of in
dication even in the “Herald.” The fol
lowing is not a had imitation:
Hereafter Kinglak’s picture of Louis Na
poleon, s coup d'etat will be more readily
helived, and its statements will pale their
ineffectual fires when contrasted with the
fierce flood of light thrown upon the Mary-
land transaction by this extraordinary
publication. That the documents forming
the pamphlet have been taken from the
files of the War Department there can he
no doubt. They are in their very nature
, of the most secret and confidential char
acter; and we can eas’d v believe that Sec
retaries Chase and Stanton, in tiring off
this terrible rejoinder to Mr. Montgomery
Blair’s Rockyille manifesto in behalf’ of
the so-called conservatives of the Cabinet
i were well satisfied that a period has been
reached in this Cabinet war, in which ci
ther they or the so called conservatives
o underand go out. On what other
must
Next^daytiiere was a general break- : hypothesiscanweexplain the recklcs.
, Yi . ii-i tearing aside ot the view lr<
ing up of the respectable establish
ment.
Miss Hopkins’Pa, (who bad not a
particle of his daughter’e spiritual na
ture,) took her away to reside for an
indefinite time with a maiden aunt.
She was afterwards married (we are
told of her own free will) to a wealthy j
grocer.
Sarah Jane and her grandma (which j
latter venerable lady never forgave
the abduction and destruction of her
second best bonnet,) went oifa visit to
a relative, and returned no more to
Crabville until six months after, when
Sarah made her appearance there as
Mrs. Harry Martin.
Mike and Biddy, in consideration
of the gross insult offered the latter
by Miss Scruggs, gave tbat lady warn- ;
ing on the day following the incidents
above related. They are now keep- j
ieg a fruit and cook shop in Crab-,
ville.
Scraggins returned borne. We are
assured by one who enjoys his confi
dence that he has, since that eventful
evening on the Point, betrayed but
one subject of monomania; which is an many familiar faces,
intense dislike of ladies with red hair j have our best wishes
and who are at all inclined to- cmhon-
l>oint.
Slnlr Ilouil Appointments:
We learn that Dr. Phillips, formerly
Auditor upon the State Road, has been
appointed by Governor Brown, Superin
tendent, to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the death of 3Iajor Rowland. This ap
pointment we consider a most excellent
one, and are informed that it met the de
cided approbation of the President who
learned of it as he passed through this
city. The Doct-or is too well known in
Georgia to require any commendation
through the papers.
3Ir. George Hillyer, of Walton county,
has succeeded Dr Phillips to the Auditor-
ship of the Road, lie is a son of the lion.
Junius Hillyer, was formerly a member
of the Georgia Legislature, and is a young
man of decided ability. lie has been in
the service, and we believe was in the
army at the lime of his appointment.
Atlanta Corf
A southern cotemporary says, among
the killed and wounded in ahe late battles
before Chattanooga, we can count over
thirty printors and editors, a significant
fact,, when wc remember that this class
composes such a-small part ot the popula
tion of the South. In all there are only
about eight hundred printers in the Con
federacy, hnd half- of them are in the ar
my,
from the Mokan-
na of usurped authority, which is to be
here found?
While Secretary Seward is laboring in
these latter days to place himself before
the country as the friend of the border
States and the Conservative pillar of the
Cabinet, out pops this flood of official doc
umentary evidence from the secret archi
ves of the 3Var Department, showing that
the conservative leader of the State De
partment was the orginizer, more than
two years ago, of a Jacobin measure un
surpassed in audacity, whereby the Col
onel of a Wisconsin regiment was made
the instrument of seizing and imprisoning
the entire Legislature of a sovereign State
in session assembled, this Colonel appear
ing with his armed retainers in both Hous
es at the same moment, and having au
thority to use force without stint or mercy
in case of the slightest resistance.
Col. TToatitb* 1 ISc^iuiculi
This regiment which has been encamp
ed in our suburbs for some weeks, is now
on its way to different quarters 1 'The men
have set furlonghs, after which they will
report on the coast, beyond their original
boundaries, where the music of war will
greet their ears occasionally.
While we shall he deprived of seeing
the regiment will
for health, success
and a safe return to their homes.
Atlanta Con/., 2Sih.
Hon. Thos. II. Watts, Governor
elect of Alabama, addressed a large
audience of ladies and gentlemen at
the Citv Hall in Selma yesterday iore-
ncon. His remarks were truly patri
otic, and elicited much applause. He
made a most thorough-going war-to-
thc-knife and knife-to-ihe-hilt speech,
and expressed utter contempt for the
very word submission.
Mr. Watts endorsed the administra
tion and complimented the President up
on the ability lie has shown in the man
agement of the war. lie declared our
prospects never before so bright as at
present, and said he had the best of
reasons for stating that the demolition
of Rosecrans would occur before the
end of this month. If true to ourselves
we would easily win our independ
ence, and occupy a prominent posi
tion amongst the nations of the earth
in a very short time.
Mr. Watts will speak ot Montevallo
to-day, on the arrival of the cars. May
he have to hear him as large and pa
triotic an audience as he entertained
at Selma yesterday.
Misstssijqricni.
mortality is on
regiments and
AFFAIRS ABOUT VICKSBURG.
After all their bluster, the Yankees
seem to have made precious little by
their capture of Vicksburg. It was
an empty triumph. In a military
point of view it has availed them but
little, while disease has swept off thou
sands and thousands of their men. A
letter to the Chicago Times, in de
tailing the condition of affairs there,
says:
'1 he health of the trops is far from
good. Iu some commands sickness is
wide-spread and alarming. Some reg
iments are nearly half on the sick list
One battery (Bolton’s Chicago) is re
ported to have but live really well in
it. The general complaints in camp
are dysentery, ague, and malarial
fever. Tiie present month is consid
ered the worst in the year for these
diseases.
Among the negroes
the increase. Whole
camps are being decimated. They die
by dozens, scores and hundreds: They
literally perish as the beasts of the
field; with little more attention or
sympathy bestowed on them before or
after death. The deaths in Colonel
Gilerist’s regiment averaged 24 per
day for some time, It will not num
her over :J000 to-day, and still disease
and death bold high carnival in its re
pulsive precnits. Other colored regi
ments and camps are in equally bad
condition. Wherever the negroes as
semble iu camp pestilence marks them
for her own. Their destiny is being
fearfully accomplished.
General Sherman’s army corps is
still encamped on Big Black, and suf
fering greatly from intermittent and
malarial fever. The atmosphere of
that region is laden with disease, if
one may believe half they hear.
Camps are continually changed from
one locution to another, in hopes of
improving the sanitary condition, with
but little abatement in the amount
or character of the sickness. Many
regiments have less than two hundred
effective men. The 1st Iowa battery
are more than hall on the sick list.
Other commands are in the same con
dition. Much discouragement and
despondency prevails as a conse
quence.
The Yankees complain of the little
comfort given them by our people in
that part of Mississippi. The letter
continues:
It has been claimed that many gen
uine Union men were found in this re
gion. Old planters on the line of the
march were said to have welcomed us
with open arms, volunteered their ser
vices as guides, and in various ways
proved their devotion to the old Union
and their hatred to the Confederate
Government; hut, on minute investiga
tion, it was found this attachment to
us was more in appearance than in
reality. None of these men assisted
us in any essential manner to my
knowledge.
None of them contribute anything
of their substance to the Union cause,
unless the contribution is a forced one.
None of the men proposed joining
the Federal army, or even came away
with it as refugees, to my knowledge,
although it would be strange, indeed,
if there were not a few of the latter.
All of them who acted as guides, from
choice or compulsion, skuled out of
sight in the rear on our approaching
the rebels, unwiling to commit them
selves by their presence. All of them
asked protection for their property.
These are literal occurrences however
unpalatable to some. That an uncon
ditional Union man may exist among
them all is possible, hut exceedingly
improbable. ,
Ail prospects of an immediate ad
vance on .Mobile are dissipated. The
project is abandoned for the present
and General Ord’s (Thirteenth) army
corps is still encamped at Pascagoula,
as we reported a week ago. Appear
ances indicate several weeks of inac
tion yet.
Xsakec Money.
The Secretary of War, Hon. James
A. Seddon, has given General Winder
the following order respecting money
sent to the Abolition prisoners now
confined in the city. It reads thus:
“Y'ou will hand over such gold as
may he sent to the prioners, announc
ing to them that, being money recog
nized by both Governments, it is hand
ed to them in kind, and that if at .any
time they wish to convert it into Con
federate money, it will be sold for
them, on application, at the market
price in this city. Ifthe amount re
ceived he in Federal paper, in cannot
he handed over to them.in kind, as it
is not recognized as money by the
Confederate Government nor can its
use or circulation he allowed; hut it
will at their option he converted, at
current rate of exchange into Confedj-
erate notes, and such notes delivered
to them, or will he retained in kind
for future use.”
Clerk of the Hohkc of Kepi-cseutaliroa.
We are pleased to learn that L.
Carrington, Esq, the efficient and pop
ular Clerk of the House during the last
Legislative term, is a candidate for re-
election. 31 r. Carrington was a faith
ful and efficient officer. He was always
at his post, is an excellent reader, and
a man of untiring energy and endur
ance, and always # polite, affable and
accommodating. We see no reason
why lie should not he re-elected over
any man who may oiler for the posi
tion. 3Ir. Carrington reduced the ex
penditures of the clericial department
about $10,000 annually, by dispensing
with the large number of sinecures
who have usually been employed iu
consideration of influence used in the
election. For stopping this public
source of corruption and drain upon
the Treasury, and for his well-known
competency and experience, Mr. Car
rington deserves the endorsement of
a re-election. Angus Const.
A Foreign Opinion on Rc-construction auil
the War.
The London Times recently published
a very able article on reconstruction be
tween the North and South. The Times
says that the Union can never he restor
ed by the sword, if at all. That if the
war is looked upon as a mere struggle for
conquest, the North cannot be successful
whilo there remains only a resolute min
ority in the Southern States determined
to fight to the last. The Times remarks
further, in regard to the war :
Every captured city will absorb a Nor
thern army, and every Northern army
of occupation will be a source of renewed
hatred and enmity to the Yankees in
their career of conquest, and the cit
ies of the Southern jfhast may fall into
their hands one by one, but every victory
adds full to the original flame of secession.
When a nation like the South is fight
ing for bate existence, all terms of sub
mission are impossible. The invader may
cut deep into the country, but the soul
of the national life escapes his sword, and
his cruelties only quicken the pulse of the
heart of independence. The Federals may
gain point after point, but they cannot
conquer the hatred which they have raised
and inflamed themselves.
Tlie Situatiou.
The announcement of the passago of the
Tennessee at Bridgeport by a column of
Federal troops, developes to some extent
the plans of Gen. Thomas. Bridgeport
is 28 miles west of Chattanooga, the rail
road connecting the two points. While
we hold Lookout Mountain on the north
west side of Chattanooga, and thus com
mand the railway at its base, it will be
impossible for Thomas to secure supplies
for his main army in the city. He
expects by the movement of this column
in our rear to induce the abandonment of
Lookout Jlountain, and open communica
tion with Bridgeport, Shelbyviile, and
3Iurfreeesboro’.
The movement now being executed by
the enemy, wo have the best reasons for
believing,has been for some time anticipat
ed, and its proposed results can only he at
tained by the employment of overwhelm
ing numbers. The enemy cannot hold
the railroad till Lookout 31ountain is
abandoned. By force it cannot be taken ;
by the movement now commenced it posi-
bly may be. .If Thomas gain the 3Ioun-
tain and possess the railroad he will be
content to remain quiet till the opening of
the Spring campaign. In the effort to se
cure these ends another battle will be
fought, and that speedily. Bragg will not
yield Lookout 3Iountain without a struggle
and to gain it a Federal force is now ad
vancing from Bridgeport.
We have no news from East Tennessee.
Our force moved towards Knoxville is
strong enough to cope with that of Burn
side. We have before stated that we did
not believe that any destructive or haz
ardous attempt would be made to cross
the river at Loudon. There are ferries
higher up, and if Cheafham and Steven
son are the equals of Burnside, Loudon
maybe flanked perhaps without danger.
Knox. Ileg., 29l/i.
From Dr. F. 1’. Porcher's “Botanical Resources.'’
Grurral Dirrctious for C'oI!€ctif>£ and Dry
ing ITIetlicinai Hub^tnuccN of tlif Vr^ctablc
Kingdom.
DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING.
All leaves, flowers and herbs should be
preferably gathered in clear, dry weather,
in the morning, after the dew is exhaled'
The roots of medicinal plants, although
more advantageously gathered at certain
periods, to be hereafter specified, do not
lose their medicinal virtues in consequence
of being dug in mid-summer. It is pro
bable that most of those imported are thus
collected by savages, or ignorant persons,
when the plant is in full leaf, it beiDg then
more easily recognized.
Plants, annual, should ho gathered at
the time when their vegetation is more
vigorous, which is gcncraly from the time
they begin to flower until tlieir leaves be-,
gin to change.
Plants,biennal should in most instances,
be gathered in the second season of their
growth, and about the time of flower
ing.
Roots of annuals are to be gathered just
before the time of flowering.
Roots of biennials are to be gathered
after the vegetation of the first year has
ceased.
Roots of perennials are to be gathered
in the spring, before vegetation has com
menced. Roots should be washed, and
the smaller fibers, unless they are the part
employed, should be then separated from
the body of the root, which, when of any
considerable size, is to be cut in slices pre
vious to being dried.
Bulbs are to be gathered after the new
bulb is perfected, and before it .has begun
to vegetate, which is at the time the leaves
decay. Those which are to be preserved
fresh should he buried in dry sand.
Barks, whether of the root, trunk of
branches, should be gathered in the autumn
or early in the spring. The dead epider
mis or outer bark, and the decayed parts
should be removed. Of some trees (as
the elm) the inner bark only b> preserved.
Leaves are to be gathered after their
full development, before the fading of the
flowers. The leaves of biennials do not
attain their perfect qualities until the sec
ond year.
Flowers should, in general, be gathered
at the time of their expansion, before or
immediately after they have fully open
ed ; some—as the Rose Gallica—while in
bud.
Aromatic herbs are to be gathered when
in flower.
Stalk and twigs should be collected in
autumn.
Seeds should be collected at the period
of their full maturity.
Mnj. Gen. Geo. Thomas.—It has been
already stated that this individual, who
is now connected with Rosecrans’ army,
is a native of Southampton county, Ya.
A lady who resides at Jerusalem, the
county seat of Southampton, informs the
editor of tho .Spirit of Age that Thomas
distinguished himself in the war with 3Iex-
ico, and ou his return home was presented
by the ladies of his native county with
a handsome sword. After the begityiing
of the present war, aud Thomas had de
termined to array himself against the
South, ho wrote to his sister to send him
that sword. ’Pile truehearted, patriotic
woman replied that he could not have a
sword presented by the women of Virginia
to turn against their brave fathers, sons,
and brothers, who were fighting in de
fence of the land' whose birth-place he
had disgraced, and that instead of sending
the sword to him she would prefer seeing
it trust through his traitorous heart.
f Petersburg Ex.
From tho Constitutionalist.
[.COMMUNICATED.]
A. War tax—direct taxation—the Con-
fouorato Currc-3157.
By etymology, currency means that which : s
running, or passing from one to another. Confed.
crate not. s are thus, a running measure of values
rhey havo lost this attribute or faculty of moas".
uriug. It may be assured that this lo«s of charac
ter is the result of the excessive volume, or a-
mount, now in circulation. Nor can It be doubted
-s suggested by Mr. Memminger, tbat if this vol-
n me were reduced to one liuudred and fiiij mil
lions. the prices of all articles of home production
would be brought down, nearly, to their normal
condition. There would still exist disturbing in-
tiuences to counteract this law of prices Articles
of home productions would be affected by the in
cidents of war, such as the fewer number of i re
ducers and tho scarcity of implements. Foreign
articles ot consumption, must, of necessity, rule
at high prices. But, in general terms, as an in
ti xible law of political economy, if money of cir
culation running notes—be made scarce, the
demand for them, would iucrease. And so. if the
proposed reduction he effected, four times as much
flour and bacon would be offered for a dollar, as
can now be obtained.
The evi^s of aredundant circulation cannot be
over estimated. The operations ot war, tho
transactions of trade, the supply and distribution
of food, and the general well-being of society are
all disturbed or deranged by it. If tire march of
our victorious legions be not paralyzed by it, it has
certainly placed tire necessities of life almost be-
youd the reach of tho soldiei’s wife and chil
dren.
To remedy this imminent public calamity, the
reflections of our best financial heads, and the im
pulse of our most benevolent hearts, have accord
ingly been engaged. Mr. Toombs lias proposed an
elaborate scheme, which would be perfectly ac
ceptable if it-were only practical; and, moreover,
as finance is a subject ot icy coldness, his plan
could not bear the heat of liis invective.—Mr.
Gregg’s plan of the forced loan of a certain pait
of ail property, would be eminently effective if
men could be mduceti to mortgage that property.
It would, moreover, achieve more than is contem
plated unless his scheme comprehends provision for
future expenditures of war. It is only proposed
just now, to withdraw four hundred millions from
circulation, whilst his plan would place in the Trea
sury resotnces amouming to one thousand millions.
Mr. McFarland, a Bank President of Richmond,
proposes a combined loan to the Confederacy. By
this plan each State would contribute its quota
in three forms: 1st. By State bonds;‘dud. By cor
poration subscriptions; 3d By Individual subscrip
tions. Such, also, is iu substance tho plan of Ex
Governor Morebead, of North Carolina. This
scheme has everything to recommend it; but it is
obnoxious to the objection of being complicated,
and dependent on many agencies whose coopera
tion could not be expected, if we arc to judgo by
the superior financial sagacity of our Governor
Brown, in balance sheets. Promptitude aud de
cision are the elements of all financial, as of all
military, success. In either, long debates destroy
the hopes of the country.
To reduce the circulation, to an amount requir
ed for the transactions of society: to secure an an
nual revenue somewhat proportioned to our war
expenditure, to fortify public credit; and to con
firm faith in Confederate Bonds, by ample Confed
erate income; direct taxation is the true aud legti-
mate means. An objection is made, that direct
taxation is unconstitutional, as it must be appor
tioned to representation; aud a census must pre
cede representation. This provision is adopted
by onrs, from the old Constitution. It was just
and proper guard of Southern institutions under
tlie old Confederacy, but what meaning or applica
tion it can now have, it is difficult to conceive.
We have now a solidarity of interests; and this
system of taxation would bear ou all States
alike.
An immediate tax of five or six per cent, upon
all property, assuming tho present cadastre or as
sessment of the several States as a basis, would
soon roll-back upon the Treasury one half of the
present circulation. It would give credit to the
existing bonded debt, of which, the interest is not
secured by any permanent or tangible provision.
It would relieve the country from what Mr. Gregg
properly terms, a cumbersome job—the tithing
system. It would relieve us from the odious im
pressment which invades our privacy by public
officials. Government would then enter the mar
ket and buy as individuals. Impressment being
abolished, f dH would be brought to market aud
distributed, instead of being hoarded. No month
ly maxima of prices would be required. Impress
ment aud a maximum of prices are twin sisters,
equally vexatious, and equally ineffective. As
this plan proposes to remove many evils, it is equal
ly recommended by the simplicity of its machin
ery.
Each State makes up its cadusfle or assessment
book, minimally. Take the last, and either
through the agency of State Collectors, or if pre
ferable, by confederate officers, collect the amount
as imposed by law of Congress. It would bo
vastly economic of employees and thgir commis
sions. and, what is of equal value, it would be
expeditious. To revert again to the Constitution
al objection against direct taxation, it may bo
averred that no man can tell what is meant by the
term. I speak of constitutional lawyers and inter
preters- It was a subject of debate under the ar
ticles of the first confederation. In the conven
tion which adopted the old Constitution, Mr. King,
of New York, formally asked the question,
•‘What is the meaning of Direct Taxation?” Aud
according to Mr. Madison's debates, no member
gave an answer. With closed doors at Richmond
the late Congress debated this crucial question,
but with what result we are ignorant. The Su
preme Court of the United States, expounded the
iaw of apportionment, representation and census,
but did not draw the line between direct and indi
rect taxation. To us of this Confederacy, where
no controversy can arise about negroes or Indi
ans, the debates would seem to be idle. To the
common understanding of men, a tax on property,
ora capitation, is direct. A tax by excise or on
imports, is indirect. Iu the former case you pay
diiectly, in the other case it is paid by you through
other agents. Free trade is the father of direct
taxation.
A direct tax of five or ten per cent is a war tax.
It is proposed as such. Peace, with its renewed
energies and numerous resources, will present
other modes. It-will be deemed heavy. So also
are all the conditions of war: There are moral
aud physical suffering still heavier. In this war
for freedom from alianeo with a barbarous, vindic
tive race, our people will patiently bear all tha bur
dens of the conflict. To say that we cannot bear this
rate of taxation would be to declare, that we, of all
civilized uations, are incapable of this effort. Capi
talists and agriculturists, will readily perceive,
that five per cent on assessed values, is equal to
two-thirds of all the dividends or profits, that can
be derived from their properties. One third is left
for our economic inaiutainance. The Austrian
subjects of Lombardy—Venetian Italy, pay this
rate, in time of peace, for tho liberty of being
slaves. We can pay it to live as fremen.
Tbe ministry at Richmond, must rise to the
“height of this great argument.” It is the duty
of Mr. Memminger. as our "Chancellor of the
Exhcquer,” to present his matured plans to Con
gress. If defeated, he shoulJ resign. It is idle
to usk Congress to initiate laws for regulating cur
rency and high prices. The initiation must como
from the Treasury, lie there sits above the in
fluences which limit the horizon, or cloud the vis
ion of aspirant members of Congress, with closed
doors, beseeching light from constituencies. It
thu3 comt-s to pass, that tho fatal bill discrediting
Treasury notes of certain dates, lias brought odi
um upon Mr. illemminger, whilst, as we are told,
this lamentable error, destructive of public credit,
is the inspiration of Congress. It was hoped that
our constitution would have given Ministers or
Secretaries of State, a seal in the lower House, to
explain or defend their measures. In this crisis,
it is important that we b6 governed, and not that
a Secretary should fill a place. • Popular aphorisms
express public wants, and the feeling of a people.
In France they said, under Louis Phillip—le Koi-
regne, il ne gou verne pas. The king reigns, but
does not govern. Let Mr. Memminger, at the
next session submit a matured seheme of finance,
and if he canuot control, let him resign, the min
istry being thus defeated.
Plblicola.
*Loiuctioa of Prices.
Tha Confederate Society, at Euterprize, Miss .
formed for the purpose of a general reduction of
prices to near the old standard, has been remark
ably successful thus far, as will be seen from tlfh
following statement of the secretary to the Mont
gomery Advertiser:
As I informed you would be the case, corn is
now selling to the soldier's families at 3>1 P er
bushel. The extortioners were selling cotton
yarns at $-22 to $30, aud through the society s
merchant, L. B. Moody Co., we entered the list
and sold at $19, and we are now making, arrange
ments with the cotton factories of Georgia to sell
at a much reduced rate.
They sold rice at 33 cents per pound: we sell »•
18 cents. They sold salt at $45 per bushel, with
an upward tendency; we sell at $33, and hope to
bring it lower still- They sold flour at tfa si*cv
we sell at $33. They sold sugar at rji Pf
pound, with an upward tendency; we sell at $ ,0' •
Now, we see no reason why a similar society,
here, would not bring about a like reduction in
the prices of the necessaries ot life. Ihc exj' ri
meut is, at least, worth a trial.