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©limpsfs of iCru> Dooko. DICEY LANGSTON. [ Frotn the Women of the American Revolution,” by Mrs. E. F. Ellet. New-York : Baker & Scrib ner, Publishers.] The portion of South Carolina near the frontier, watered by the Pacolet, the Tyger, and the Ennoree, comprising Spartanburg and Union Districts, witnessed many deeds of vi olence and blood, and many bold achieve ments of the hardy partisans. It could also boast its full complement of women whose aid in various ways was of essential service to the patriots. So prevalent was loyalism in the darkest of those days, so bitter was the animosity felt towards the whigs, and so ea ger the determination to root them from the soil, that the very recklessness of hate gave frequent opportunities for the betrayal of the plans of their enemies. Often were the boastings of those who plotted some midnight surprise, or some enterprise that promised rare pillage —uttered in the hearing of weak and despised women-—unexpectedly turned into wonder at the secret agency that had disconcerted them, or execrations upon their own folly. The tradition of the country teems with accounts of female enterprise in this kind of service, very few instances of whieh were recorded in the military journals. The patriots were frequently indebted for important information to one young girl, fif teen or sixteen years old at the commence ment of the war. This was Dicey, the daugh ter of Solomon Langston, of Laurens District. He was in principle a stout liberty man, but incapacitated by age and infirmities from tak ing an active part in the contest. His son was a devoted patriot, and was ever found in the field where his services were most need ed. He had his home in the neighborhood, and could easily receive secret intelligence from his sister, who was always on the alert. Living surrounded by loyalists, some of whom were ner own relatives, Miss Langston found it easy to make herself acquainted with their movements and plans, and failed not to avail herself of every opportunity to do so, and im mediately jo communicate what she learned to the whigs on the other side of the Ennoree River. At length, suspicion of the active aid she rendered was excited among the tory neighbors. Mr. Langston was informed that he would be held responsible thenceforward, with his property, for the conduct of his daughter. The young girl was reproved se verely, and commanded to desist from her pa triotic treachery. For a time she obeyed the parental injunction; but having heard by ac cident that a company of loyalists, who on account of their ruthless cruelty had been commonly called the “ Bloody Scout,” intent on their work of death, were about to visit the “Elder settlement” where her brother and some friends were living, she determined at all hazards to warn them of the intended ex pedition. She had none in whom to confide; but was obliged to leave her home alone, and by stealth, and at the dead hour of night.— Many miles were to be traversed, and the road lay through woods, and crossed marshes and creeks, where the conveniences of bridges and foot-logs were wanting. She walked rapidly on heedless of slight difficulties; but her heart almost failed her when she came to the banks *)f the Tyger —a deep and rapid stream, which there was no possibility of crossing except by wading through the ford. This she knew to be deep at ordinary times, and it had doubtless been rendered more dan gerous by the rains that had lately fallen.- Hut the thought of personal danger weighed not with her, in comparison to the duty she owed her friends and country. Her moment ary hesitation was but the shrinking of na ture from peril encountered in darkness and alone, when the imagination conjures up a thousand appalling ideas, each more startling than the worst reality. Her strong heart battled against these, and she resolved to ac complish her purpose, or perish in the at tempt. She entered the water; but when in the middle of the ford, became bewildered, nnd knew not which direction to take. The hoarse rush of the waters, which were up to her neck—the blackness of the night—the utter solitude around her—the uncertainty Jest the next step should engulph her past help, confused her; and losing in a degree her self-possession, she wandered for some time in the channel without knowing whither jo turn her steps. But the energy of a reso lute will, under the care of Providence, sus tained her. Having with difficulty reached the other side, she lost no time in hastening to her brother—informed him and his friends of the preparations made to surprise and de stroy them, and urged him to send his men mstantly in different directions to arouse and “am the neighborhood. The soldiers had §© H ¥ SHI IR 53 Ch OITISIR AIE ¥ ®A Sn ‘fff IS * just returned from a fatiguing excursion, and complained that they were faint from want of food. The noble girl, not satisfied with what she had done at such risk to herself, was ready to help them still further by pro viding refreshment immediately. Though wearied, wet, and shivering with cold, she at once set about her preparations. A few boards were taken from the roof of the house, a fire was kindled with them, and in a few minutes a hoe-cake, partly baked, was broken into pieces, and thrust into the shot-pouches of the men. Thus provisioned, the little company hastened to give the alarm to their neighbors, and did so in time for all to make their escape. The next day, when the ‘ scout’ visited the place, they found no living enemy on whom to wreak their vengeance. At a later period of the war, the father of Miss Langston incurred the displeasure of the loyalists in consequence of the active ser vices of his sons in their country’s cause.— They were known to have imbibed their principles from him; and he was marked out as an object of summary vengeance. A par ty came to his house with the desperate de sign of putting to death all the men of the lamily. The sons were absent; but the fee ble old man, selected by their relentless hate as a victim, was in their power. He could not escape or resist, and he scorned to im plore their mercy. One of the company drew a pistol, and deliberately levelled it at the breast of Langston. Suddenly a wild shriek was heard, and his young daughter sprang between her aged parent and the fatal wea pon. The brutal soldier roughly ordered her to get out of the way, or the contents of the pistol would be instantly lodged in her own heart. She heeded not the threat, which was but too likely to be fulfilled the next moment. Clasping her arms tightly round the old man’s neck, she declared that her own body should first receive the ball aimed at his heart ! There are few human beings, even of the most depraved, entirely insensible to all noble and generous impulses. On this occasion the conduct of the daughter, so fearless, so deter mined to shield her father’s life by the sacri fice of her own, touched the heart even of a member of the ‘Bloody Scout.’ Langston was spared, and the party left the house fill ed with admiration at the filial affection and devotion they had witnessed. At another time, the heroic maiden showed herself as ready to prevent wrong to an ene my as to her friends. Her father’s house was visited by a company of whigs, who stopped to get some refreshment, and to feed their wearied horses. In the course of con versation one of them mentioned that they were going to visit a tory neighbor, for the purpose of seizing his horses. The man whose possessions were thus to be appropri ated had been in general a peaceable citizen; and Mr. Langston determined to inform him of the danger in which his horses stood of having their ownership changed. Entering cordially into her father’s design, Miss Langs ton set off immediately to carry the informa tion. She gave it in the best faith; but just before she started on her return home, she discovered that the neighbor whom she had warned was not only taking precautions to save his property, but was about to send for the captain of a tory band not far distant, so that the “liberty men” might be captured when intent on their expedition, before they should be aware of their danger. It was now the generous girl’s duty to perform a like friendly act towards the whigs. She lost no time in conveying the intelligence, and thus saved an enemy’s property and the lives of her friends. Her disregard of personal danger, where service could be rendered, was remarkable. One day, returning from a whig neighbor hood in Spartanburg District, she was met by a company of loyalists, who ordered her to give them some intelligence they desired re specting those she had just left. She refused, whereupon the captain of the band held a pis tol to her breast, and ordered her instantly to make the disclosures, or she should “ die in her tracks.” Miss Langston only replied, with the cool intrepidity of a veteran soldier, “ Shoot me if you dare ! I will not tell you;” at the same time opening along handkerchief which covered her neck and bosom, as if of fering a place to receive the contents of the weapon. Incensed by her defiance, the of ficer was about to fire, when another threw up his hand, and saved the courageous girl’s life. On one occasion, when her father’s house was visited on a plundering expedition by the noted tory Captain Gray with his rifle men, and they had collected and divided eve ry thing they thought could be of use, they were at some loss what to do with a large pewter basin. At length the captain deter mined on taking that also, jeeringly remark ing, “ it will do to run into bullets to kill the rebels.” “Pewter bullets, sir,” answered Miss Langston, “ will not kill a whig. ’ — “ Why not ?” inquired Captain Gray. “It is said, sir,” replied she, “ that a witch can he shot only with a silver bullet; and lam sure the whigs are more under the protection of Providence.” At another time, when a com pany of the enemy came to the house they found the door secured. To their demand for admission and threats of breaking down the door, Miss Langston answered by sternly bid ding them begone. Her resolute language induced the company to “ hold a parley”; and the result was, that they departed with out further attempt to obtain an entrance. One more anecdote is given to illustrate her spirit and fearlessness. Her brother James had left a rifle in her care, which she was to keep hid till he sent for it. He did so, by a company of “ liberty men,” who were to re turn by his father’s dwelling, On arriving at the house, one of them asked the young girl for the gun. She went immediately, and brought it; but as she came towards the sol diers, the thought struck her that she had neglected to ask for the countersign agreed upon between her brother and herself. Ad vancing more cautiously, she observed to them that their looks were suspicious; that for aught she knew they might be a set of tories ; and demanded the countersign. One of the company answered that it was too late to make conditions ; the gun Was in their possession, and its holder, too. “Do you think so,” cried she, cocking it, and present ing the muzzle at the speaker. “If the gun is in your possession, take charge of her /” Her look and attitude of defiance showed her in earnest; the countersign was quickly giv en ; and the men, laughing heartily, pronoun ced her worthy of being the sister of James Langston. After the war was ended, Miss Langston married Thomas Springfield, of Greenville, South Carolina. She died in Greenville Dis trict, a few years since, Os her numerous descendants then living, thirty-two were sons and grandsons capable of bearing arms, and ready at any time to do so in the maintenance of that liberty which was so dear to the youth ful heart of their ancestor.* *The preceding anecdotes were furnished by Hon. B. F. Perry, of Greenville, South Carolina, who re ceived them from one of Mrs. Springfield’s family. Sketches of Character. CAUSSIDIERE. Among the Revolutionary notabilities whom the overthrow of the French Monarchy, in February last, brought conspicuously before the eyes of Europe, one of the most remark able is Marc Caussidiere, the ex-Perfect of Police under the Provisional Government : not that he is a man who bears the impress of genius on his brow, like some of his col leagues, or who is even gifted with a high order of talent; but that he is the type of a class, whose turbulence, conspiracies, person al daring, recklessness, ignorance, and wrong headedness have made them a noted, hated, and dreaded body—the horror and antipathy of all regular Governments, whether Mon archical or Republican—the leaders of the Communist workmen and partisans of the Red Republic. Caussidiere, the beau ideal of this danger ous class, was born at Lyons in 1809. His parents, at the time of his birth, were plung ed in the most abject poverty, from which Marc with all his plotting, has seldom been able to escape. He took part in all the insurrectionary movements, whether at Lyons or other places, which have occurred since the Revolution of 1830, and his well-known fame in this re spect, coupled with certain personal qualities, made him a great favorite with the ouvriers Republicains; for he was a good-natured, kind-hearted, jovial fellow—ever ready for a debauch or a row—free with his money when he happened to have any—sticking close to his friends in bad fortune as well as good— always willing to be the foremost in any dan ger—always steady in his detestation of the infame” Louis Phillippe, and in his devo tedness to ultra Republicanism. In the plotting and preparations which pre ceded the frightful insurrection of 1834, Caus sidiere took an active part, but he did not hap pen to be at Lyons when the revolt broke out. No sooner, however, did he hear of it than he endeavored to support it by creating an insurrection at St. Etienne, where he then was. He did effect a partial rising of the mob, and even got so far as to build barricades and begin firing; but he and the other ring leaders were overmatched by the police and soldiery, were captured, and lodged in gaol. In the struggle which preceded the arrest, Caussidiere came into personal collision with a police agent, and it was alleged that he slew him by stabbing him in the back. On his trial, however, along with the other in surgents before the Chamber of Peers, he was acquitted of the charge of murder, but was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, on the charge of conspiracy and insurrection.— He was ultimately released from confinement, in consequence of a general decree of am nesty, and once more betook himself to his old trade of conspirator, at which the Revo lution of February found him busy as ever. His means of living at the time is said to have been derived from a salary which he had from the Reforme newspaper, for travel ling through the provinces to push the circu lation of that journal. Into the revolution of February he plunged with all the ardor of gratified hopes long deferred ; and on the or ganization of the Provisional Government, he had address enough to get himself installed in the Prefecture of Police. But even in this responsible situation his plotting spirit was not laid aside, and for the part which he took in promoting the insurrectionary demonstra tion on the 15th of May against the Nation al Assembly, he is now a refugee from the Republic, just as he was a detemi under the Monarchy. Caussidiere is a man of gigantic stature and strength, with a little head, who speaks generally in argot, or French slang, inter mingled with an abundance of oaths and sac res. His whereabout since his disappearance from the National Assembly has not yet been ascertained. Many are of opinion that he has not left Paris, but lies there in secret for better times. —lllustrated News. Xnuspapcv 2lnaUcts. GRATITUDE OF A FISH. At a meeting of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophial Society, held on Monday, some most extraordinary statements, relative to the instinct of the brute creation, were made by a visitor, one Dr. Warwick. From the fol lowing specimen we think he might venture on an extension of the Arabian Night’s En tertainments, with every prospect of success. He said that when he resided at Dunham, the seat of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, he was walking one evening in the Park, and came to the pond where fish, intended for the table, were temporarily kept. He took particular notice of a fine pike, of about six pounds weight, which when it observed him darted hastily away. In so doing it struck its head against a tenter hook in a post, of which there were several in the pond, placed to prevent poaching, and as it after wafds appeared, fractured his skull, and turned the optic nerve on one side. The ag ony evinced by the animal was most horrible. It rushed to the bottom, and boring its head into the mud, whirled itself round with such velocity that it was almost lost to the sight for a short interval. It then plunged about the pond, and at length threw itseli complet ly out of the water on to the hank. He (the doctor) went and examined it, and found that a very small portion of the brain was protrud ing from the fracture in the skull. Lie care fully replaced this, and with a small silver tooth-pick, raised the indented portion of the skull. The fish remained still for a short time, and he then put it again into the pond. It appeared at first a good deal relieved, hut in a few minutes it again darted and plunged about until it threw itself out of the water a second time. A second time Dr. Warwick did what he could to relieve it, and again put it into the water. It continued for several times to throw itself out of the pond, and with the assistance of the keeper, the doctor at length made a kind of pillow for the fish, which was then left in the pond to its fate. Upon mak ing his appearance at the pond on the fol lowing morning, the pike came towards him to the edge of the water, and actually laid its head upon his foot. The doctor thought this most extraordinary, hut he examined the fish’s skull, and found it going on all right. He then walked backwards and forwards along the edge of the pond for some time, and the fish continued to swim up and down, turning whenever he turned; but, being blind on the wounded side of the skull, it always appeared agitated when it had that side to wards the bank, as it could not then see its benefactor. On the next day he took some, voung friends down to see the fish, which came to him as usual, and at length he actu ally taught the pike to come to him at his whistle, and feed out of his hands; while to other persons it continued as shy as fish usu ally are. He (Dr. Warwick) thought this a most remarkable instance of gratitude in a 213