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high claims for originality. No one can Lejusti- 1
lied in taking exceptions to the character of the |
Durchess eitlier as the anther lias delineated it, !
or as it is represented hy Miss Tree. In (act, it
admits o( an exctdiem moial, and its representa
tion reflected much credit to tlu author, actress,
asui managers of the theatre.
Cut l am digressing.
When about iitteen, accident introduced me to
the acquaintance ol to o lads of the same age, like
jnysefl, great admirers ol' the drama, and who had
been (as they told me) for some time past cogita
ting upon the practicability of getting up an ama
teur dramatic asso nation. They proposed their
plan to me; 1 readily asseuted, agreeing to take
an active part. To work we went, lu the course
ot a month, by our united exertions, we procured
twenty-five members; and in less than two months
we had a stage, scenery, chesses, decorations,
fights, trap-doors, and all the requisite paraphcna
tato commence with. Three or four young la
lies of our acquaintance, one of whom was a hat
rimmer, another who stood behind a counter,
a a dry-goods store, and two mantua-makers, in
le kindest manner possible volunteered to sup
•ort such chaiacters ol thcr own sex as should j
e incideni.il to the pieces performed. They I
■ ere each of them decidedly pretty, and two of j
hem eventually displayed much talent. The
rst piece we performed, which was a mslo-dratua,
atitled ‘The two Gsliey Slaves,’ went otf ve-y
ell rhe second, however, the title of which I
isremembar, was botched, or, to use a more
■clinic it phrase, murdered. Aud 30 it continued,
hie night our performance would be verv credita
!e, another night the reverse. This society we
imad, in compliment to a celebrated actor of
ae present day, me ‘Bootheniatn’
It continued in operation nearly two rears,
• hen unfortunately its members were suddenly
bliged to decamp, tearing stage, scenery, dres
escs, decorations, lights, trap doors, &c. to pay
*nt, which was, somehow or other.jjsix month's
hs in arrears. But such things will happen dai
y. The way of it was thus. We were quietly
proceeding with the tragedy of ‘Virginia*,’ a
chaste production from the prolific pen of our
•alented cotemporary, Mr. Knowles,- and were
•n the fourth act, when, at that interesting; crisis,
ms*, as the lather plunges the fatal butcher knife
: nto the bosom of his daughter-—just then- just
it that juncture, ia came that important person*
,ge. the owner of the premises, pushing aside the
loorkeeper with the utmost sung- froid, and in a
oud voice he imperiously demanded the pnvtnent
if his rent. He was followed by three or four
aen, one of which was, that big man among the
nail try, ’yclept the constable. At this liiiex
ected intrusion, the Roman father sfopt short—-
ue Roman daughter forgot that she was dead,
;ot up and looked astonishment,—and the audi
■mce were in doubt whether to laugh or be alarm
:d. Between the constable and Yirginius an al
ercation ensued which finally came To blows and
resulted in a general row. * Patricians and ple
bians mingled indiscriminately in the fight and
such a screaming as there was’among the'females
I never heard ! Virginia w-lsanuncommonly pret
ty girl, and not bemg myself involved in the mflee,
1 dexterously managed to take her down through
one of the stage trap-doors into a coachmakcr's
shop, w hich was in the room below—and, fear
of discovery, we bundled together into one of
several coaches against which we blundered in the
dark. Interesting situation! in n stationary coach,
dark night, and both half-frightened to death !
The battle above continued; the Roman, land
lord and constable were hard at it, aud it was a
full hour before the contest subsided. By this
time the fair Virginia had revived a little, and
opened her eyes (I suppose ;) it is a supposition
only, for she asked where she was? ‘Where,
where am I ?’ said she, in a plaintive, love-sick
voice, very like Juliet when she wakes ia the
tomb of the Capulets.
‘ln my arms,’ said I. giving her a palpable as
surance of my protection by an expressive bug.
J then mentioned to her that the uproar above had
ceased, and proposed that we-should endeavor to
find our way out of the building. She objected
at once, pleading her agitation and the extreme
darkness in which we were enveloped. ‘lf we
undertake it. dark as it is, we may meet with an
accident,’ said she; ‘in tlie morning I shall feel
better, and, as it will then be light we may get
into the street without difficulty.’
To this 1 assented. 1 had iro wish to go, as it
was her desire to stay. I was tired of holdup
her in my arms however, and gently placed hoi
in a recumbent position upon the' other. She
soon gave nasal indications of being asleep, and
I strongly felt an inclination about iny eyelids of
indulging myself in that same state of temporary
forgetfulness, but, in spite of it, resolved to keen
awake, lest we should oversleep ourselves and be
Jiscovercd in the morning by the mechanics
Vhen they came to their work.*
Alas! my fears proved but too true—so it hap
icned. N'othwithstanding my resolution, 1 (hop
ed into a deep slumber, and was aroused in the
torning by the proprietor of the shop himself,
lading me in aloud and imperative voice, to get
ut ! What a situation ! Jf was broad davlight,
«o ! ‘-Get out!” he cried—“get out!—and rur
ug to Virginia, unfeelingly '‘commanded her to
iUe same. Two or three of hbs journeymen
* re standing at his elbow tittering, much amused
tlm exhibition of Virginia’s alarm and my un
ancealed chagrin.
“Tt’s one of the Romans,” remarked a nnli
ious looking fellow, curling his disagreeable ten
ures into a sneer.
iou mean one af tha fools," emphatically
ibserved another. ‘‘You hussy, you !” he eon
.aued, severely reprimanding my com .anion
-ita an expressive shako of the head. “A pretty
•ituation indeed for one of your sex !” *
“What funny dresses,” grinned a dirtvface 1
ittle apprentice boy, startling with wonder "at my
toga and \ irgjnia’s robe. “What queer dresses
thy ve got on.”
“\V hat shall we do with them?" significantly
inquired the journeyman who had first spoken
unxions tor some sport at our expense. “Shall
■we take them to the watch-house where the others
ale ?”
••No; let them go," answered the proprietor of
■Hie shop—“out with them into the street—they’ll
get enough of it before they get home.” '
Here the apprentice boy, to amuse liimself
stuck a pin into the calf of one of my let;,*. J
started with the pain, and the youngster laughed
in my face. Enraged ; chastisement; heescaped
however by taking shelter behindthe journey
men. J
“Here’s the door, sir,” continued the proprie
tor ostentatiously pointing with the forefinger of
his hand, as much as to say “if you don’t go I’ll
kick you out.’’ This hint was so very broad that
we eouH not pretend to mistake it, and were eon-
S J tj tMy obliged to m ike $ tfrttfe »f n-'^dt
Humbled—confused—ashamed, we issueJ in
to the street, where we were hailed with a loud
shout from a mob in front, which had collected
there to talk over occurrence.* of ill 1 oreeeed iug
night. Such huzzaing and such shouting.
“Hoot! hoot!’.
“For shame ! tor shame!”
“Hiss! hiss!”
“Turn ’em out!”
Such were the cries with which we were salu
te!; a portion of the crowd followed us, windows
were thrown open, people put out theii heads to
look aud laugh as v. e passed,—and, sure enough,
as the coschmnker predicted, we did tret enough
of it before we got borne. Not while 1 live shall
I forgot the humiliation of that unlucky affair.
As regards those engaged in the riot with the
constable, landlord, Ate. some fifteen or twenty of
them were secured and taken to the watch house,
the noble centurion among them. In the morning
they were brought before that oso “dressed in a
little brief authority," yclept the Mayor—who,
after hearing the case, reprimanded the older
member* very concisely, but severely. The gal
lant Virginia* undertook to defend himself with
a speech, which doubtless would have been ol
more length than Othello’s love-tale, but as his
language was rather abusive at the commence
ment, he was not suilered to proceed with it.
“What!” he in bgnactiy exclaimed—“not al-
Juwed to defend my reputation ?”
“Silence, sir:” bawled out a red faced, tipstaff
at the piicn of Ins husky voice, from a remote
corner.
"Silence !*’ cried another, imparting additional
emphasis to hi* com mind by striking the butt end
of ins staff with force agaiust the floor.
“Silence !” vaemvated a third. A fourth took
up tlia cry ; w,tb tstjunding violence', they strficti
nil their staves of office at once upon the floor,
and “silence! silence!” made the welkin of the
Mayor's office ting again. There 'teds silence.
A ou could have heard a pin drop.—lt was a mo
m*nt of suspense—a crisis of incertitude. His
Honor was engaged with his pen.
ror the better information of my readers, it
will be necessary to state that ia the centre oi'au
ordinary inkstand, there is a large hole, into which
the pen is dipped in erder to obtain on the nib
thereof the necessary modicum of black flui 1;
around The circuiu :renec, situated like*the thir
teen stars upon our national coin, are several
small*** holes, into one of toe latter it is customary
to stick the pen when we are done with it. There
fore be it known, that upon the desk of his Hon
our was one ot these inkstands ; in the centre of
which was one of the aforesaid large holes, and
around the circumference thereof were several of
the smaller holes. And be it further known, that
his Honor, having finished writing, positively and
emphatically stiu k the identical pen, which he
iiad used, into one of the heretofore mentioned
'mailer holes. It is an incontrovertible fact!—
Ho next stretched liimself hack m his official
c l ,a,r ‘ ‘'l'di, hem!” said he, twitching up his
shirt collar; then deliberately taking a pinch of
sou f. and then authoritatively fixing his eyes upon
the deplorable group of Romans before him!
• J'.u, hem!” ho again ejaculated, trilling with
thcr feelings, like a cruel angle/, dangling his
prey upon his hook at the end of his line; or. to
make use ol a m ire explicit metaphor, deriving
silent gratification from their fears, liken cat with
the tortures of a mouse.
“hb, hem!” lie repeated for the third time,
and then got up Irmn his chair and stood upon
his iegs. Now the h cut of the Romans palpita
ted. \ irginius looked pale, and even Dentatus
exh.bitcd signs of apprehension. Tears stood
trembling upon the eyelashes of Jcilius—he
thought of his t( rmagf-i t mother at home, and
°* 1 '■ “ 'gdlation she would bo '• lire to bestow
his back for being out all night!
“I-.li, hem!” said his Honour for the fourth
time, and lie raised his right arm, as if about to
commence a speech; not a w ord did he utter—
not ,i «v i able; and his hand dropped listlessly to
his side again. More and more did the hearts of
the humans quake. Instinctively they felt that
something momentous was at hand.
“hli, hem! tor the fifth time his Honour re
peated, and again elevat ed his right arm as if about
to speak. “Young men,” said he, in a tone of
mingled compassion and severity—“l am sorry
to see you situated as you arc ! l ain—upon my
soul, 1 am! 1 feel for your parents; 1 feel tor
H'<u! you have shamefully disturbed the peace
Ot our peaceable «ormmmity ; ami, in fact, you
.uv guilty ot a not! ’ Here he paused for breath.
• 'uminonning tip all his energies, in a burst of
concentrated emotion, lie magnanimously ex
claimed, “Y on arc hereby sentenced to pay into
the treasury of the commonwealth a fine of one
cent each.”
Thus was brought about the quietus of the
ljist dramatic association to which J belonged.
A LOAFER.
A Solloqin/. »• |he seat itself is well enough,
it is substantial, and it reminds me of abundance,
but I cant say 1 like these books, they are an an
noyance to tlie covering of the head ; mine, how
ever, ts a shocking bad hat. If one of these
steaks which have hung here was before me well
oressed (I can’t say as much of myself) 1 would
va.ve invitation and fall to—l hate ceremony.—
leel rather chilly-—1 will make a philosophical
experiment, and see if there is any heat in the
moon-shine; there certainly should be, for she
borrows her light from the'sun, and it would he a
pity it she didn’t get a little heat along with it.
1 hey say the moon is inhabited—l wonder if ,any
poor, lonely disconsolate devil there, like me. is
looking at the dark colored planet. There is a
more just appreciation of merit in the moon, or
any othei planet than this one. I have seen a
more loafer-looking gentleman than 1 am, clothes
and ah, at the bar before now, and our legislative
hall are full of them. There is no coming at mer
it lrom outside appearance. Now 1, for instance
look as ragged as a shell-bark hickory—but I
have a soul as big as a market-house. Trouble
mid love, and whiskkey, if its new, will deprave a
man, no matter where he graduates; but I am
too proud to beg, and a little too lazy to pound
stone. There is no chance for the display of -e
--nius in any thing—Mr. McAdams has left for his
successors—it is servile imitation lie would ex
pect of us. I would try poetry if [ could borrow
n _met an attic I should sa>% to be classic,
if I could raise a good sui? of clothes, I could
live better—l could then go to the Hotel’s at 11
o clock—call lor drinks, rat their lunch, and
tell the proprietor to charge it—that’s allthe go
1010 1 I H work a few days, to raise a
a second-handed suit, to play the gentleman a few
weeks. |f k were not for the social qualities of
my heart, I would imitate Cincinnati!* and to
"gnculture, but I’ll wait until some of these ng
r™VYe ,Dtmsted vvi,h distribution of the
subdivisions of the public domain. I wish 1 had
THE GEORGIA MIRROR.
been a state jdhen tbe surplus was distributed, I
should havi been rich now. and unembarrassed
with poor kin. I cannot account lor the bad
taste ol the musqnetoes, for if they were to go a
little farther they would fare better, and sup on
the rich blood ofawell fed gentleman—-be would
never miss a quart—l have none ta spare—thus it
is the whole world is picking at me !* ant the cor
oner will, iu sll probability, pay me the last visit.
The dread of bis oppressively polite attentions will
drive me to reformation in spite of my vagrant
habits ‘T will abjure sack, live clean, take, phys
ic twice a week,” aud become a temperance lec
turer, md then I shall make as striking a hit ats
other great geniuses have before me, including
a converted Jew. There is only one step from
the ridiculous to the sublimo; convert inverted
subverted.”— Missouri Saturday JXeus.
THE RUSSIAN SERF SYSTEM.
The New York American is publishing a ser
ies of “Letters from the Old World,” by a Lady
of New York, which are of a most interesting
character. They are written with great vivacity,
spirit and ability. The writer has an admirable
faculty of avoiding tediousness in detail Her
descriptions are full of life, spirit anJ interest,
and proclaim the author to be a lady of a high or
der and acquirements. We haj’e deri
ved ihuch pleasure and instruction from a peru
sal of her letters.
From one ofthetn we copy the subjoined high
ly interesting description of’slavery, as it exists
in Rusiu. The letter from which we make the ex -
tract, describes the writer’s journey (in sleighs)
Irom Moscow to Odessa, over the wide extended
Rusian steppes, or prairies, as we would tail
them iu this country, She says:
“We passed through numerous villages of pea
sants who belong to the various estates. These
villages are composed of tough log huts that, ehed
with straw, and are all situated on some long street
sometimes a mile in length. Sum ; estates have a
population of a hundred thousand serfs, who be
long to the soil, and work the ground either for
their masters or for themselves. Jn tbe latter
case, they have commuted their services for a spe
cific sum per annum ia money, seldom over 05
per head. The income of many of the feudal
lords is immense, though sometimes, when a suc
cession of short crops produces a dearth, the
lord of the soil is bound to purchase and trans
sport from a distance the means of subsistence
for those serfs and their families who have not
commuted their time. In order »o give von an
idea of the wealth of some ofthese nobility. 1 will
mention one of them. Prince Cheremeteif owns
180,000 male slaves, (the females of the family
are never counted.) All his male slaves pay lfim
a capitation of ten roubles, (two dollars) and all
they can earn beyond is their own. Some ol his
slaves, as well as some of those belonging to oth
er nobles, have acquired immense wealth by tur
ning their attention to traffic in the Bazaars ; but
ns slaves they can never belong to the estate of
merchants, nor aspire to any employment under
government, neither can their child en. They
also are slaves, and either they or their parents
could be sent back to work upon the estate at
the will of their master, unless they have commu
ted for life. This I think is the hardest part ot the
£erfsystem of Russia— I think that whenever a
slave, who has commuted either for life or a term
of years, has by his talents and industry accumu
lated a ceitain sum, (to be fixed by government,)
he should be permitted to bny his freedom or that
ol his children. Many proprietors receive large
sums from successful slaves, who buy their free
dom. Prince C’heretnetief, it is said, has refused
from several wealthy slaves 200,000 roubles each
I'm their liberty, which he refused upon the plea
that he was proud to have it said, his slaves were
so well off. Much larger sums than this have
been offered and refused in other cases. Avery
extensive building was shown me in Moscow, as
an Hospital, built by Cheremetief, for sick slaves
from his estates. In general, the .Serf system is
preferred by the peasantry, as it rids them from
many burthens which the government imposcson
the tree citizens. They can always commute
their time for a very stnah annual sum, and, in
case-of sickness or accident, can come back upon
the estate for support Those who have not the
ambition or desire to commute, (and the mas- i*
composed of such,) must be supported by the es
tate to which they belong when the crops fail
\» ith such any attempt to abolishtlic Serf system
would create a revolt. Before emancipation
could take effect, and the seeds of civil liberty be
sown, the serfs would have to receive the school
master in place of the ignorant and debased priest
hood, who enthral their minds and perpetuate
their ignorance. Perhaps there is not in all
Christendom, a more priest-ridden people that
the mass of the population in Russia. This is
the‘ti ne policy of despotism. Light and liberty
will never originate with either extreme of this
system. From the middle ranks must emanate
the spark that at one time or other will set this na
tion in ablaze, and which will purify it from the
remains of its ancient barbarism.”
From the New-Orleans Bulletin.
SUMMER RAMBLES
Texas—Genera) features and beauty—Natural
Vineyayds—Springtime—Rambles continued
Montgomery— Late frosts— New Cincinnati -
Osceola— tsnliuilla Springs— Landscapes—
Sentiments, rellections—Scenery— Coni lu
lling remarks.
In our various rambles through Texas, we
were particularly struck with the general beauty of
the country—its high rolling praries—-its post
oak openings—its live-oak groves—its lawns
and parks—its bine skies and amber sun
shine—the richness of its son, and the general
ease and comfort with which health and longev
ity may be sustained in that sunny land. We have
rambled from the Sabine to San Antonio and high
upon the Brasos to Tenoxticlan and Nashville,
and down the Colorado to Matagorda, and the
champagne country bordering upon the Sea.
We had used our linen roundabout in the month
June. But what matters it -the former was my
companion for a month or more, while the latter
was thrown aside in a single day, or hour, it may
be, and not resumed again till another norther
should siyeep across the prairie, and whistle about
my ears. The most remarkable feature, perhaps
to the eyetdf a stranger, in this wide extended re
gion, is the richness and variety of the foliage and
dowers, and the exuoerance of the different gras
ses which spring up spontaneously, and every
where cover the soil. I liousands of acres of gram
ma grass, and wild rye, and field peas, and
myriads of wild grasses, without a name, en
cumber the soil, and give nourishment to innu
merable herds of wild cattle that frolic through
the land. The grape, the luscious grace, is eve
ry where indigneous to the country ; and we have
travelled a circuit.of five hundred miles together
and never lost eight ofth tin fora single d.iv. Tkev
would turuisu a:i immeusa quantity of'wine of
the fir.->t quality, and not inferior!;) those of Italy
and the .’South of France. They will, one day or
other, be extensively cultivated and afford a lu
crative business to thousands lroui the only couii
tties who it present are equally destitute of both
bre id and wine.
\l e lelt Houston nti the morning of tlie 23d
Mty to revisit tlie Trinity. The sky was bright
above us, ami the earth green under our fret; and
though sweet April had suuk iu the warm arms
ol May, still, even in this land of the bright South
the reign of Summer had not yet begun—uot a
leaf, not a flower, not a blade of grass, had lost a
hue under the beams of thesun, and many a bal
my aud refreshing shower, iu this region, during
a long and happy spring had nourished the ver
dure and enlivened the bloom.
Yl e rode on our way rejoicing through pine
forests, and oak openings aud laughing prairies,
filteen miles to Cypress Creek—where we ob
tamed comfortable lodgings and breakfast, and
then resumed our journey, and rode twelve miles
further to Hause’s, near another branch called
.Spring Creek. After this we crossed a small prai
rie or two, and then passed through woodland and
iorests nearly the whole distance, twenty-two
miles, to Montgomery, the seat of justice for the
county of that name. This is anew town, be
tora mentioned well situated in the interior, aud
iu the heart of a fertile district and is fast improv
ing*-Lawyers, and doctors, aud c! or try, and mer
chants and meebatib’s, are wending tl.eir
v. ay thither ; many of whom, no doubt, will have
reason to exclaim, in the language of an old song.
“A land I have found, where true joys abond,
To dwell I’m determined on that happy ground.”
Fioin Montgomery ws took an aid trail to
Ware’s, twelve miles distant. We crossed the
San Jacinto when/.ti! to it* banks. We sent our
horses before us, and followed upon a fallen tree
which lies across the stream. We passed in this
neighborhood some of the best timbered land that
we saw in Texas. The weather was very cool, and
there had been a hail storm in the vicinity two or
three days before, and we have to record as a uo
velty in Texas, a slight frost on the. Jdtii May.—
1 his however, was a tune days wonder, and may
never happen again. A ride of twelve miles
through an elevated and charming region of coun
try brought us to Big .Sandy, so called ; upon
the borders of which u s found an emigrant by
the name of Thompson, lie had a tan-yard
here and manufactured leather, .'file soil here
abouts is very sandy, but heavily timbered with
yellow pine. The woods were every where filled
with the luscious grape. A ride of seven miles
brought us to Cox’s to dinner. He has a league
of choice land here ; and one of the prettiest sit
uations we have seen. VVe would recommend
to emigrants who ore'luoking for a healthy beauti
ful country, and rich fanning districts, to turn
their eyes in this directi n.
djfcut a mile distant from Cox’s the road forks
and the left hand ranging out W. N. W. takes
you to Cook’s about 7or 8 miles distant, and so
on T 2 orlo miles further to Osceola on the Trinity.
The right hand fork leads to Hadley's .and to Neir
Cincinnati, a distance of 12 miles. Tills region
is well watered and well timbered, elevated and
healthy—and must very soon become densely
populated. Its vicinity to steamboat navigation
renders it doubly valuable. New Cincinnati is a
thriving village on the west bank of the Trinity
about ten miles bi low Osceola, ft has a sulphur
spring near it, which is strongly impregnated with
magnesia and is quite medicinal. But the Sail
nilla Springs about six miles above the Bcdais
Bayou, are the most remarkable perhaps on the
continent, and w ill be discribed at length in our
next number. The fountains are bold and beau
tiful, and was formerly the resort of extensive
herds of deer, and buffalo, and other animals,
which have made traces therefrom all directions;
w hile the untutored Indian, in by-gone days made
this bis liuntiig ground, erected his wigwam, and
encamped here for the benefit of the waters.-
They will probably supercede the use hereafter
of the Saratoga water in the North; and means are
in progress to furnish an immediate supply for
Mobile, Natchez and New-Orleans, These Springs
issue from a “valley of sweet waters” just at the
foot of a romantic range of gently rolling hills,
which expand into beautiful landscapes far be
yond, and afford charming building spots that o
verlook the valley and the river. Game and fish
are abundant—natural parks of deer arc open to
the sportsman, and the disciples of Isaac Walton
may amuse themselves at their favorite sport in
the laxes Arcokisa and Bcdais, or the river close
at hand. 1 cannot express the pleasure with
which I have abandoned myself to the captivating
charms of t he season and the jilacc—l seemed to
respire against (lie spring time of nature and of life
---life which was every where blooming with love!,
—in all the branches of the trees—nil the leaves
of the forest—;il 1 the herbs of the field-amt the
songs of the birds. Oh! how superior tire the
beauties of nature to the beauties of art.
In concluding my rambles in Texas, 1 mav re
mark in the language of He Toqucvilie, as ap
plied to America in general, that no power upon
earth canclose tXani the emigrants that fertile re
gion which offers rcyaurces to all industry, aud a
refuge from all want. Future events of whatev
er nature they may be, will not deprive the Texi
ans of their cl-mate, their harbors, or their exub
erant soil. Nor will bad laws revolutions, or
anarchy, he able to obliterate that love of prosperi
ty, find that spirit of enterprise, which seem to be
the distinctive characteristic of the Anglo Amer
ican race, or to extinguish that knowledge which
guides them on their way,
FROM TEXAS.
By the Cuba we have received our files of Tex
ian newspapers; they contain no news of impor
tance. •
Doctor Ashbell Smith, Surgeon general of the
army, committed a violent assault upon S. 11.
Everett, president pro tern, of the Senate, for
words spoken in debate, and a committee was ap
pointed to investigate the affair.
An extensive bed of bituminous coal was dis
covered above the tails of the river#]razes, said to
be of excellent quality.
1 he frontier of Texas is harrassed by watider
ing parties of Indians. Mr. Morgan who resided
near the falls of Brazos, had been killed, and
three women carried off by a band of fifteen sava
ges. A company of rangers was sent in pur
suit. 1
Persons recently arrived from that part of the
republic, state that immense herds of buffalo are
ranging there, which are so tame that they can
be captured almost as easily as domestic cattle.
Lleuterio Mendez, a retired colonel, has pub
lished an address to the northern towns and the
city of Metamoras in Tamauhpas, calling upon
them to declare in favor of the constitution of
1821, and against the consolidated government,
l’iie Colonel husa numberofpartisans.aad his due
ti nes met with a welcome reception tluo*i<*h Ol , t
’hat .State and th- adjacent one of Uoafiula
Truly .Mexico is the country of revolutions.
Louisanian.
TOM FLORIDA.
Tall4ha3S£k, Jan. 12.
We publish below a letter from Win. J. Bai
ley, Esq. of Magnolia, giving thu particulars of
the Indian tight near that place noticed in our
last, and iu which the whites'met with more de
cided success than in any other contest during
the war. This affair reflects the highest credit
on ail engaged iu it.
Sir—Ou Friday the 4tb inst. about three
miles from this place, on or near the road lea
ding to Tallahassee, fires were discovered where
a party of Indians had camped ou tha 3 , by
Mr. Hall, who was out huniing. Mr. 11. return
ed to Magnolia and made the necessary report
of having found camps. I immediately raised
ten men besides myself, and went forthwith to
their (ires, took their trail and pursued them to
the river, where we found them crossing all but
live or six ha I two *s and. (>.ie of them was chopping
a palmetto, and was shot by one of ourmcn who
had he-'-! sentjnto the swamp below. At that
th- Indians commenced yelling ami firing at us
which was promptly returned—the firing becaine
genera! ou both sides and lasted about thirty
minutes. The Indians withdrew from the river
,:md we found there was no chance for any nijie
fun with them ou this sid-v, went out of the swamp,
got our horses and pushed down to the hrid-'e
that crosses the .St. Marks near this place, and,
wont up on the east side. In going up the river trail
! discovered an Indian hunting; I gotoffmy horse
and requested the men to remain till I couldcre-n
up and give him a shot. I followed him about a
half mile before 1 could get close enough to give
him the confers of m/ rifle. At last l got in a-
Imu* a hundred yards of him *-hs bad no? discov
ered me until 1 took a deliberate slut at Tlis back
■•* he went walking on tin ed re of tit * swamp.
At the crack of the gun h* stumbled, and I
thought was going to fall, but recovered and went
into the swamp, which was -about ten steps dis
tant, and hid himself from me. I think lie must
have got into th - river a* we hunted the swain a
closely for him. We then went to the fire they
hn-l hniit on the east side of the river, found *
number of shot bags, blankets ice.; C, m nd also
where they had burned their bloody cloth in*
and raked up the bloody leaves in order that ue
should not be able to discover it; we then took
their trail and pursued it about a mile, constantly
finding blood and clothes that they had stuck un
der logs (Sec. We at last found a large number
of packs hid behind logs, we opened and burned
them; while we were engaged at that, three niea
went in pursuit of another trail. nH saw one run
into a sinkhole; they shot and killed him; we
then hunted around, but could uot find any more.
On retiming to the fire where we burned the
tilings, thrjc was discovered bv some of the men,
at which time we made a charge; on arriving at
the fire they were gone. YVe then looked offto
wards the river, and saw one ru inhig ; wp took af
ter hint,and my horse being fleeter than tJieo&ere,
I came up to him first. As soon as I got up in
about fifty yards of him, I dismounted-; at this
tin e he turned to shoot and did so ; but this time
1 was a< a tiec, .and took deliberate aim at him a*
he run, and broke Ids back. We took two scalps,
three rifles, some deer skins, die. So ended our
Indian fighting. We were out all day of Satur
day and Sunday, nut could make no further dis
covery in consequence ol their being so many cow
trails.
There was none of our men hurt : Mr, Be i
inmin Byrd was shot through the h :t. 1 can, in
justice to the men say they acted bravely through
out, or ia otiici wotds Ido net care to Have men
with me to act any better than they did.
The Indians were about thirty in number, and
from the best discovery we could male. I think
we killed and wounded from ten to twelve.
From the ( l olumbus Enquirer.
BRUNSWICK AND FLORIDA RAIL
ROAD COMPANY.
\\ e are gratified to learn by a gentleman just
arrived from toe South, that the meeting of the
Stock holders of this Company at ThomasvilJe on
the 7th, was numerously amended, and that the
greatest enthusiasm and confidence prevailed,
flu the fist day 5i>427,0t)0 of the stock was taken,
and the first instalment of 5 per cent, paid in.
i he Subcsribers continued to arrive, and it was
supposed that about half a million ot the stock
would be settled for during the meeting. Several
of the up country delegates, and among them the’
one lioin Columbus, bad not yet arrived. Gen
eral Ihinn'ton, who has formerly been understood
to be connected with the Spaulding Road, is now
connected with this enterprise, and is elected as
one ot its directors. The Company, we under
stand, contemplate a speedy connection with Co
lumbus by a branch from some point in Lowndes
or i Lomas counties, passing near Albany, and
thence up the valley of the Ivmchefoonatc to this
place, f his will give us a speedy and pennainent
outlet to the Atlantic at ail times. The accom
plishment of the entire work is now almost beyond
a doubt. 'l’he amendments obtained to the char
ter at the late session o-f the Legislature, are of
such a nature as to give the company nearly all
the advantages of the State Bond system, without
any one ol its objectionable features. They are
similar to, though more extensive lhan those
granted to the Company at this place.
The Directors elected are Col. Thomas 11-
King President, General James Hamilton ot
South Carolina, Francis Janes of Lowndes, J-
Davis of Palmyra, Gen. H. Jones of Lee, and
Col. Blackshear and Dr. Ray of Thomas. The
Load quarters of the company will be at Thomas
ville, at which place is the office of the resident
Engineer. Monceure Robinson, the principal
engineer, one of the most distingushed of bis
profession in the Union, was present at the inee
t-ng, and has passed over the greater part ot the
route. He is highly pleased with the advantages
of the location, and speaks in the most enthusias
tic terms of the prospects of the enterprise- A
branch is contemplated by the Floridians, from
Tallahassee to Thomasville, of 3.5 miles distance.
This will then give a complete intercouse lrom
the Atlantic to the Gulf at St. Marks, by Iy 1 ’
Road. The necessary intercourse with St. -J 0 '
sephs can be carried on by the river and St. Jo
sephs road. Gen. Hamilton, we have understoot.
will consent to visit Europe to make the necessa
ry negociations for the company.
The population of the city of Washington, by
a late estimate, is set down at 23,677. exclHSU*
of the editor ofthe Globe.