Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

For the Southern Post. The Officer of the Guard. The sun had already sunk in the west, amid the gor geous coloring of a southern horizon, and the last streaks of dav were beginning to disappear, when a company of men might have been seen wending their wav, in silence, through the trackless wilds of Florida. They might perhaps, have numbered a hundred, but their ■haggard looks and uneasy pace, showed that they had been wearied by a long and toilsome march. They carried their knapsacks loosely slung over their should ers, and their sunburnt eoun’enances gradually assum ed an air of settled despondency, ns they looked around upon the savage wilderness on either side, now ren dered more gluomv by the sombre shades of twilight, and thought that here they must pass a restless night, and pernaps find a bloody grave. It is perhaps a prin- ! eiple in our nature, that we should couple darkness with terror, and that the existence of the one should frequently be productive of the other But there were circumstances connected with their situation, still more calculated to produce despondency, if not to cause ter ror. They were in the heart of the Indian territory, and surrounded by objects dear to the Indian’s heart. They were invading the most secret and sacred haunts of the red man, and were perhaps, even now, trending upon the consecrated mounds, that contained the re vered ashes of his ancestors. For these they knew be would contend, until his pulse should cease to throb, and bis heart to beat. Here, perhaps, in the days of their glorv, they had gathered around the council fire of their chiefs, and ns they passed the sacred calumet,' listened to the deeds of daring recounted hv their ven erab'e heroes. And after having been driven from post to post, and forced to abandon the most desirable por tion of their territory, it was thought they would, here, amidst the relics of their former greatness, and in the very theatre of their glory, make an effor’, the more to be dreaded, as it was an effort of despair. Such were the thoughts, coupled with the circumstances of time and place, that infused despondency into the hearts us those, in other circumstances, daring soldiers. M cantime, they had gained a p irtion of the forest | more elevated than that immediately around i’, but by so gradual an ascent, ns scracely to be perceivable. This place was chosen fir a camp, and preparations were accordingly made for passing the night as com fortably as possible. Tile ground, as is usual in that portion of the country, was covered with long grass, which served the double purpose, of beds for the sol diers, and provender for the horses; while, at small dis tances, were huge pines, the growth of ages, w hose clustering tops towered towards heaven, and formed a canopy which partially warded off the dews of night. The sentinels had been posted, the fires kindled, and the preparations for supper commenced ; and undor the influence of res' and cornfor , cheerfulness had again resumed her s.vav, and the merry joke began to ciicu h’e, when, as if by magic, a blaze of light streamed from the top of the tallest tree, at about the distance of a quarter of a mile off—another soon appeared in the opposite direction, and then unb’.her, and ano her, un til in every direction around the camp, the awful sig nals of destruction flashed upon the devoted band.— And then, to render their situation irtore appalling, the terrible war-whoop of the savage sounded shrill and clear in the stillness of the nigh', and ere the echo died away, it was taken up, and prolonged bv another, and another, until the very trees seemed gifted with utter ance, to peal the s'gnal no'es of death. A' the Sight of the first signal light, the drum beat to arms, and the soldiers hurried to their appropriate pla ces, i:i the utmost cons ernatiun. Many a cheek was 1 lam-lied then, that never blanched before, and “ the chilled blood rolled s uwly back to Us fountain,” in ma ny r, bosom that never liefore had heat with fear. T .ere is somethin;; peculiarly sanlin; and terr bl in die liid n.i war whoop at any time, but here every crr rnsianca c inspired to render it inure an. Tiie W! * i a id runted ch.iructer of the scenery, now render ed more strikingly uncouth by the unsteady flicker o’ t le camp fires, which threw their pule and ghastly light upon the hug,, trunks of the aged pines, which rose in spectre-like grandeur around—the insignia of the in- ] than s birthright—while far in the distance, flashe i! th >sc dreadful lights, w hich betokened the Indian’s re'! veatte, and around were lurking thft crafty and daring : toes of the white man. It was a moment ol aw-ful suspense -, the men grasp ed their arms more tightly, and drew their breath hard, as if they expected each one would be the list. The sentinels, meanwhile, retained their posts, nlthoog i they were raw militia, who had never before known the duties, or the dangers of warfare.—a striking illus tration of the influence that a sense of duty exerts up on the mind of man. Scarcely, however, had the last receding echoes ol the war-whoop died away in the distance, oefore the clear notes of the commander were heard—he seemed in the general consternation, to partake of his full share, and addressed the sentinels, who needed other encour agement, with, “ Look out there, you d—-. 1 rascals, or you will all he in hell in less thin ten minutes; the Indians will have them scalps of yours, before you know what you are about.” Then turning about, he bawled out, “ where's Lieut. Calhart ?” “ He’s officer of the guard, to-night,” said a soldier near him. “1' a it, I know that,” said the choleric Major. “Where is he ?” “ Yonder he Btands.” The Major now approached a young mail of a tall and manly form, graceful figure and martial appear ance, who was standing at the left of his company; with his right hand resting on his sword hilt, and the other hanging listlessly at his side. He seemed rather a spectator of the scenes enacting around him, than an acror in them, for he did not manifest any of the anxiety depicted on the countenances of his comrades “ Well, Lieutenant," said his commander, hustling up to him, “ I’m afraid we’ll all be in h—ll in lesh than ten minutes.” “Very likely," was the laconic answer. " Now, I want you to lake four men, and pa‘rol all round the camp, and see where the Indians are.” The Lieutenant started at so novel and dangerous a command, but said nothing—his captain interposed. “ Major, that is a strange order; it will do no good, and only risk the men’s lives to no purpose—for if the sentinels don’t kill them, the Indians will." “ I’ll go. Captain," said the Lieutenant. “ I came here to do my duty, and I'll do it." It was with some difficulty that he could induce the men to accompany him, but the example of a brave man has more influence than the greatest hopes of re ward, in such an enterprise as this; and the example was not wanting in the present instance. Besides, there was not so much danger in obeying this com mand, as might at first be imagined. The sentries would be afraid to hail at so great a dis tance frorfi the camp, lest they should discover their whereabout, and thus set themselves up as a mark fir the bullets of the Indians. And, on the other hand, the Indians, who probably did not number over a do xen, were most likely at a greater distance from the catnp. But as we have to do only with the L euten ant s adventures, as officer of the guard that night, we will merely say, they returned in safety, without seeing an Indian. After lus return, having visi’ed all the pos’s, the Lieutenant was atting by the camp fire, wnh his (ace burted tn Ins bands, and bis elbow* resting on hit knees, when tie heard the following conversation earned on in an under lone, by two aokliers, at a Itule distance from huu. “ Joe, you heard what a confounded rule they made about the ssni meU. w-dsry f" ■' No, I aint; what is it ?” “ Why, they passed a rule, that every aentinel the' ’•itch asleep, on duty, shall be shot; because they ea\ we are in the proximity, (Or some such word as that) o the enemy. You have to go out next time, don’t you 7” “ Yes—bftt Tin not going to sleep.” “ Well—you sec that man yonder, sitting On the log ? II ’s officer of the guard to-nighi, and if you don’t look out, he’ll take your gun from you, while you are wid* awake, just to shAw yon how easy an Indian could have done it.” There was a pause of some moments, during which the person addressed, took a deliberate survey of the L eutenant, and then said, in a drawling manner, that he intended should be emphatic : “ I’ll be eonfl idersted if he gets my gun. Bill!” The Lieutenant said nothing, but r ise to revisit the pi s‘s again, previous to the sentries being relieved.— He found all in ordei, until lie had proceeded about half round, when approaching one of the sentries who was stationed by a large tree, he saw, by the motions of his head, that he was, what is generally termed, “ nodding." He was seated wi h his arms, near the elbow, resting on his knees; and his gun, which had fallen from h s hands, wa« leaning against his should er, with the butt on the ground, between his feet. The Lieutenant approached him softly, a id placing himself liehind the tree, at his hack, took the gun gently by the barrel, and had almost drawn it from him, when the lock, catching by some part of his clo’hin -, awakened him. Suddenly jumping up, he seized his gun, and exclaimed— “ I’ll he d—d if I was as’eep. I was not asleep.” “ II r.v dare you then, sir,” said the officer, sternly, “let me approach you in this manner, without hailing, if yon were not asleep ?” “Well, officer—to tell the truth—l was asleep; but you know we have had a tiresome march to-day, and I could not help it.” " I have marche 1 with my compony all day, and have not had the opportunities of rest you enjoyed.” “ I was overcome, against my inclination, this time, officer. I hope you will not report me I” “ I musi do my duty, sir,” said the officer, sternly, as he turned to pursue his rounds. The sentinel resumed his station, with the feelingsof a man who knows he has to meet some fearful desti ny, which he cannot avoid, and yet has some faint hope that he may escape. The felon's death stared him in the face, and for the simple fault of yielding, when he could no longer resist, to the calls of nature. Nothing tends more to take away that firmness of character which belongs to man, and to destroy his self-posses sion than a slate of suspense. The criminal, condemn ed to die, when there is no hope of pardon, may look with calmness upon his approaching end; because, there being no alternative, lie can summon all his en ergies to aid in the only struggle, and bring his whole mind to bear upon one particular point. But only give him a hope of escape, an J you divide the mind—it wa vers between the desire of life and the fear of death— there is a conflict in himself, and as the two feelings must be equal, and opposed toeach other—each claims an equal share of the tnind, and preven’s its acting as a whole, which naturally destroys the force of action, in whatever nmn liter directed. Such were the feelings of the sentinel. But let us follow the officer He next approached a sentinel, who either, from ig norance or design, could not he persuaded to do his duty properly He hailed— “ Who comes there ?" “ Officer of the Guard.” “ Well, stand. ’ “ Wiiat comes next ?” said the officer, after he had remained standing a lew moments—“ 1 hope you'll not keep me standing here all night.” “five the countersign.” “Not here—die Indiana out there would hear it as well as you.” •' Weil—you may come a little closer. There—stand —give the countersign." * I'll give in your name in the morning, for wilful disobedience of orders,” said rite officer, losing patience, “ if you do not perform vour duty as you should.” This threat Was sufficient—for fearing the effects of the Lieutenant's anger, he said, respectfully— “ Advance, officer, sad give the countersign.” In the mean time, the relief had gone out, and the posts he vet had to visit, were occupied by the new set —approaching one, the sentinel, instead of hailing, em braced h s gun closely, and turning his back to the offi cer, exclaimed— “ I'll be d —d if you get my gun, mister." “Stop, you gump,” said the officer, “and do jour duty—l don't want your gun." Ttie soldier stopped, and looking back', without turn- j mg his body, said— “ Well.”' “ A-k, who comes there?" “ There’s no use in asking that—l know already.” “ Ask it, sir ; whether you know or not-.” “ Who comes there ?” " Officer of the guard. Go on.” Tne soldier, cither not understanding, or not wish ing to understand, w alked ff. “Stop, sir,” said the officei ; “ ask the next." “ What is it ?” “ Advance, and give the countersign." “ You ate close enough now, to give it." The officer sprang towards him, and seizing him by the collar, gave him a hearty shake, and then worked upon his fears so successfully, by threats, that he went 1 through the formula half a dozen times, from the Lieu- ! tenant's dictation ; and swore, by his hopes of happi ness hereafter, he never would trifle with an officer again. The labors of the night Were ended', and the officer was lying in Ilia tent, in vain courting the drowsy God, when a voice near him, in an under tone, said— “ Officer ?” “ Who is there ?" said the Lieutenant, striving, in the dark, to distinguish the outlines of tile speaker. “ The sentinel you found asleep to-night. Have you reported tne ?” '• Not yet." “ Officer, t oil did me injustice; I did not deserve such harsh treatment. Though I violated the law, Ido not deserve the penalty. Sleep overcame tne, mid I could hot avoid it. I had overtaxed my powers, and they relaxed their tension when I in >st needed their aid And though I do not fear death, when I can meet it as a man and a gentleman, I cannot help shrinking front being set up as a mark, for the bullets of my country men, and lor so small an offence.” “ My dear fellow,” said the Lieutenant, “ you need be under no apprehensions; you will not be reported. I thought it best to leave you in suspense, to prevent a repetition of the offence : but I will not inflict unmerit ed punishment upon a fellow soldier.” The stranger threw his arms round the Lieutenant, and burst into tears. They did hot disgrace his man hood, but were the pledges of his gratitude. He recei ved life from the hands of a stranger —tears were but a poor reward He could Only say; “ God bless you, offi cer," and rushed from the Cent The Lieutenant soon went to sleep, with the conviction that “ Mercy con'- fers a double blessing—it blesses him that gives, and him that receives." C. Greensboro’, Ga. NEW HOOKS. fl)8T received, Oliver Twist, complete in 5 vols.— •I Hannah More's Accomplished Lady —Miss Les lie's Complete Cookery—Keith’s Bfemoiisiraiion* of die truth of Christianity', wi'h illustrations— Manual of Con > etiology, with two hundred illustrations, fur sale by C. A. KLLH. Masonic Charts and Diplomas can lie turiu-hcd to Lodge* in this Aisle, by rslung on C. A. ft. Feb *1 I* TIIE SOUTHERN POST. For the Southern Post. The nanny days are gone. The sunny days, alas ! have fled, Which once diffused their genial light. And now there gathers round my head A dreary, cold, and starless night. Affection marks with melting eye, The trembling of iny spirit’s rest; And longs to ask what means the sigh That Leaves so oft my anxious breast. O! I sigh for the suny hours Which once illumed my spirits dream. When hope was fresh as morning flow’rs. That spring beside the summer's stream I do not sigh for festive halls; I covet not the gay saloon : Nor would I list to pleasure’s calls, My spirit craves a higher boon. But, O ! I sigh for vanished years, When spicy gales embalmed the day, And dewy eve distilled its tears Os joy, along my spirit’s W ay. I do not sigh for classic siiores, Where mu«ic flows in ev’ry stream, Nor do I long for India's Vores, To soothe my troubled spirit's dream. But, 0! I sigh fir the sunny land, Where once I s'rayed in joyous glee; Where friendship smiled on either hand, And ee'ry sound was melody. An exile from mv native bow’rs, Where friendship smiles, but not for me, I’ve naught to cheer my lonely hours, But my own plaintive minstrelsy. But Faith revekls a smiling land, Illum’d with brigh' and pecr'ess beams, , A land ot rest at G id’s right hand ; Titi », ZAt*. shall cheer my spirit's dreams. Mount Zion, Ga., Feb. 133d. STAFFORD LETTERS FROM THE WEST INDIES—No. 11. THE VIRGIN ISLES. St. Croix, December, 1333. To the Editor of the Southern Post: Dear Sir—A landsman who has never given much attention or enquiry to the investigation ot the science of navigation; would scarcely imagine the accuracy 10 which it has been brought. He may know that a rail road car or steam boat, if it meet with no accident by the way, will arrive at certain points at fixed periods, but would not suppose that a ship, traversing two or three th usand miles of a trackless ocean, driven by the furious winds hundreds of leagues out of their course, and perhaps where few, if any, oilier vessels were ever seen, could yet lie so skillfully navigated, more than three weeks out of sight and far from the land, as to tell you within thirty minutes of the actual time it would again re-appear ;" yet such was the fact, and twelve hours before we saw’the hills looming up in the horizon, the captain tolil us the time, within half an hour, when we should see them. It is, moreover, an interesting matter to an Ameri can, to know that the world is indebted to one of our countrymen for much of the accuracy to which this noble and highly useful art has been brought. Go where you may, you find “ Bowditch's Navigator," in the hands of every seaman. As the immortal Frank lin brought down the lightnings of Heaven to trace his silken cord, so did Bowd.tch command the sun, and moon, and stars, to fix the seaman's position with such unerring certainty that, with either of these to direct him, and die tables of the “Navigator" p i work otit his position, he b ddly holds liis sightless but unerring way. So hide attention had I hither'o given to ascertain ing the character or posit! in of the land we were ap proaching, I may sav it w as almost a terra incognita to my imagination. Should you have any curiosity, how ever, in the matter, by turning your atten'ien ton large map or globe, you will find us between the parallels of B J and 20 a North latitude, a little to the Nor hea-tward of Porto Rico, steering between rife little Island of Au guilla and Sombrero, through what is called the Som brero Passage, the first named being nearest to u-v yet having no high land, the lulls of St. Martins, a little farther South, first came up to our view, pre-en'ing a high ridge of broken peak", the most lofty of which are probably fifteen hundred feet ab.ne the sea. Next ap pears S'. Bartholomews, still farther South, and then the low shores of Anguilla immediately on our bows, the Dog and Pear Keys, and Saba Island a little to ihe Eastward, and Virgin Gurda to the Westward of our direct course for St. Croix. Between our present p sition and the large Island of Porto Rico, you wall see an innumerable number of small Islands and Keys, which are known as the Virgin hies. The whole of this little group are said, in “Edwards’ History of the West Indies.” to be about forty Islands and Keys, and are divided between the English. Span iards, and Danes. Os those we saw, Virgin Garda be longs to England; St. Johns, Si. Thomas, and St. Croix-, to Denmark. What gave Origin to the name of Virgin Lies to this little cluster of the larger group of 1-efeward Islands, is a mat er of some speculation and doubt—the most pro bable is\ that Columbus, who discovered and mired' some of the principal ones in l4‘J3, gave them this gen eral name, in honor of ihe eleven thousand virgins of the R imish ritual—his imagination being greatly exci ted by file lovely beauty and rich tropical verdure of some of the larger ones of the group, while the smaller Keys rising up so frequently liefore turn as he passed through them, may have induced him to suppose the number much greater than we now find them to be. One of the most beautiful of the little Islands vvto passed to the leeward, no comprehended in tne Virgin Srotip, was Saba, attached to the government of St. lartitis, a eOlortv belonging to the Dutch. It risesout of the ocean in the form of a sugar loaf, broken at the top, and is probably between two and three thousand feet above the wa'er. The innnhitnnts live in a valley entered from the table land at the summit, and from their high altitude, ate said to occupy one of til* most healthy spots known in the West Indies. A beautiful bright moonlight bfought us, about 11 o’clock at nigh', in sight of S'. Johns, supposed to he about fifteen miles distant How we Could See land at nigh’, at that distance, you will perhaps find it difficult to comprehend ; but if you were once to see the lovely phenomena of a tropical moonlight, where the column of a newspaper can be distinctly read, and ihe air and sky ane so calm and serene, y m can readily imagine how distinctly distant hills may he seen above the ho rizon i Our -nptain, with the desire to gratify every wish of his passengers, shor eue l sail during tl e night, that vva might not near the land until day lien l , and then have the opportunity of a view- of the whole extent of this Island, as we ran down the coast. We were-, accord ingly, up early in the morning and improved the oppor tunity, of a careful survey, from the ship’s deck, of this beautiful spot, said to be 'he garden of the West Indies. From the Ocean the Island presents a succession of peaks, crow ned with a rich growth of sugar cane and shrubbery, to their summit, sometimes on the ridges, hut most frequently lower down the sides, you see the wind mills tor grinding canc; and still low er, the sugar houses and residences of the planters, surrounded by little clumps of shrubbery. The pa aengers, generally, expressed the nforit lively gratification with the cheering beauty of the prospect. About twelve, we reached our rirt —the long-louked-for haven of our hopes, of which will endeavor to give you some further account in my next. N. COMMERCIAL BANK, ) Macon, Feb. 11, 133 J. j DIVIDEND No. 7. fIMIE Board of Directors have this day declared a ■l Dividend of E ght per cent, for the last twelve months, on the capital stock paid in, payable io stock holders or their legal representatives, on and afier Tuesday next, the I2th instan’. Feb 16_ 17p _ G. B. CARHART, Cashier. DP. JAMES M. (.KEEN ¥NFOR\IS the public of Macon and its vicinity, that ■ he has opened an establishment for t l e reception and treatment of Patients suffering from C ironic Dis ease, oi reouirmg the performance of Surg cal opera- I lions, m which those who may la* under his caret will be subject to constant Medical supervision, and every exertion made to promote iheir speedy and complete recovery, lie has also an aii.r men! provided £ .ranch i Negroes as may tie confided to his care, by their own ! crs. Planters and others, residing at a dir sure, msy rely on as much attention being bestowed on iheir ser va ms, at if under their immediate super ntendance— ![ Tilt establish mem is conveniently hica'ud, (next do ir to his residence.) in a salubrious «itusti->n The medi. cal charges wi 1 he lb aw usually made by the Phvsi. 1 ciaits id M iron; those for board Al< ~as modems s» ilie siah; of rite market and otlwr circumstances will TO. * Sint rerrit (l9.it. OFFICE, ON THIRD STREET, ONI DOOR PROM MULBETtRY STREET, AMs OPPOSITE TIIE CE.VTRiL HOTEL. MACOX; SATI'IUtV FEBRUARY 23, 15.39. &T An eleciior*. will I* held, this day, at the several precincts in this for Colonel of the 50th Regi-; merit, G. M., in psX. act ol Col. Wilson, resigned. WAM feting- of the State Rights Party will he held at the Court IIou«=c, This Afternoon, at 4 o’clock, for the purpose of ntk —lainating candidates to the State Con-! vention, in May * DT On Tuesday, y evening last, at about 8 o’clock, an other daring attcr* -»pt was made to set fire to the ware houses in this city—The ware-house of Mr. Wm. P. Rowland was fir-* * discovered to be on fire. The fire was placed, by incendiary, between the wall and I ceiling of the t.oi » reting rt orn. The material user) to communicate the "fire was of an extremely combustible nature, anti hut the timely discovery, must have ended in ihe destruction of the ware-house. Tins fire had scarcely Vte»ccn put out, ere the alarm was given in another guarte;*. of the town, in the ware-houso of i Messrs. i*i, Grnybill &■ Cos. It was here com municated to the otion, as in n former instance, but discovered in liui« _to prevent any material loss. We learn also, that were marks discovered of an at tempt to set on ft are another ware-house, on the same evening, which to have been extinguished of it self. Much was the consequence of these j attempts, and the a-esult will, no doubt be, an increased j vigilance, which s-,uns indeed, now, to have liecomr necessary to our reservation from the devouring t .| c . \ ; menti tT On the firs * page of this paper will be found a part of the speccF-» of Mr. Clay, on the subject of aboli tion petitions, whi -wdi will lie concluded in our next. — We hardly need, presume, to bespeak for it a peru sal. That lliis e>c siting question lias berm the subject of address, by Mr — Clay, is sufficient, of itself, to de mand attention ft-wjin every Southern reader, which it will no doubt jvc Mr. Clay's views, we think, are sound and correc- w, and will tend very much to the set tling of this perpl»=»Tiiig an j dangerous question. WASIIXL NGTON’S BIRTH-DAY. The anniversa e —y of this event was duly celebrated, in this place, on esterday, by the parading of the two : Volunteer Corps, and the meeting, with them, of the j citizens, at tire P* —setbyteriaa Church.when the last Ad dress of Wirehm. :nn was read by Lieut. Morgan, and au Oration by L. Nisbet. The rejoicings of the occasion was cor»_ tinned, in the evening, by a ball, gi-|| van at the Centres 1 Hotel. The occasion appeared to be honored by a relaxation from business, and due respect paid to the memory of the Father of his Country. Er Mr. Buck i ngham, the Lecturer, (of whom our readers will recol we apolte laat week,) «• under ' stand, will shortl pay us a visit. He will he greeted here by large an, K respectable audiences. W’Thc follow, -inggentlemen have been elected Di rectors of the Bz —ancii of (ha Central Rail Rond and Banking Cornpa *—»y, in this city, for the present year. James Res, 0. Saltmarsh, Daniel Gunn, Isaac Scott, Edward P. Tracy. At a mealing the Board, Edward D. Tracy was unanimously ele-g—-ted President. ttr The follow**- mg gentlemen hive been elected Di wetorsuf the Urzw_ ncli Marine and Fire Insurance Hank. ,in this place: James Goilda*— <J, Charlas Campbell, Washington !-“■ «je, John L. Jones, John B. Ross- At a meeting of the Board, James Goddard, Esq, waa uuamimouwL -w elected President. itT We find Ekrqo following curious and amusing re petition, in a of the Charleston Courier, giv ing an account i» f the two mile day races. It is, no doubt, perfectly * —orrsn, as regards its grammatical con struction and ra phraseology, and equal to the famous That. ' The tu or said, in speaking of the word that, that that that whmx < h that lady parsed, was not the that *hkh that gentle- man requested her to analyze.” \Vinn cnll'W —-tl up for the second heat, the! grey gelding | jlnyotl "Possum” ntui hacked out from hediuse, without doubt, he supposed I» would be backetl out by Hump back, in tmse ®ie wits backed for the lient. Tne contest, tlitirw —loro, appeared to be between Humpback atk 1 Cadmus; but when it came to ttie scratch it -vivas very apparent that there was, !no contest. Jhmpback's back, wns, from the. j tart, in /rim* of Cadmus —and in coming in, Cadmus wm of Humpback. HEART— -RENDING INTELLIGENCE. The New York papers of Tuesday an nounce sad •»idings. By the arrival of the} j Cambridge, < l.tpt. Bursley, at that port, we j learn the of three New York pnckt!t ships by a gale, on the 7th ult., on the | western of England, and a lamentable loss of life. Capi. Smith of the Pennsylvania, his first and mates, about seven of the crew and fot_m r oft 1 e pasStengers, have perish ed. The Oxfo rd and the St. Andrew are the other two ptM^nkets. The went on shore in Bootle Bay, on the nig!*'*: of the 6th, with all her masts standing. r Jk iic next morning the passengers, thirteen in n m-imher, with the captain and crew, landed in with their luggage. Tne masts fell in ■the course of the night. The St. A. '*id't:\v struck on the Burbo Saids. The passen yr—rers were taken off by a steam vessel, the Victoria. High encomiums are paid in the ■Liverpool papers to the cool and steady conc®uct of Capt. Thompson. The ship wns a t«zMal wreck. Besides tb »csethree, the Lockwoods, a Brit isli ship, me"* the lame fate, and 40 or 50 pe nulled. The Cain It—sri'lge, which fortnnntclv wcntlier od lira gain, ■brings files of lira London papers totlic evening of the Bth, and Liverpool to the 10th of Janury, both inclusive. THE 6ale. No less than 13 columns of the Liverpool Mail are filled with details 6f its ravages, [n that town the damage was so general that not one street entirely escaped. Tireat numbers of chitnnies were blown down, crushing the houses in their fall, roofs were carried away, garden walls prostiated, <Sic., and, in some iu l.stances, entire houses were reduced ta heaps |of ruin. Several lives were lost; but, in a i very extraordinary number of coses. |>er.so:is i who wore buried by toe fall of bricks and ruins, I ■ were subsequently extricated alive, and for the Iniftst port little injured. i Tne disasters among fie shipping were ter rible. Tne ship Lockwoods, with a great number of passengers on hoard, went up the North Bank, her fore and main masts foiling in the shock. She was boarded by the same steam vessel, tlte V ictoria, which took off thirty-three pnssenge s, and about seventeen of the crew. Forty or fifty persons were Mieved to have perished on board the Lockwoods. The packet ship Pennsylvania vv >nt on Vie same Nort i Bank, about a quarter of iii leeast waid of the Lockwoods, where her hull war nearly covered by the sea. The captain, crew and passenger- were seen in the rigging on Tuesday, the Bdi. On that evening the Vie. toria steamer put o(F to their assistance, and was within of them the next morning, but could reutler them no aid. The sufferers were seen in the rigging, and their cries could be heard. On ■ of the passengers, Mr. Thompson, of New York, had lieen -een by Capt. Nye, of the Independence, at Lcasowc. lie reported | that himself and tlire ■ other passengers mid 5 seame.i, left the ship in one of the boats, which was swamped, an I the othereignt were drown ed. Mr. Tuornpson ascribed his own safetv to a life-preserver which lie had on. It was reported on the 10th, that 26 persons had been rescued from the Pennsylvania—44 from the Lockwoods, and 23 from the St. An drew. Tne accounts from the interior are quite as frightful as those fiom toe sea const. At Man c iesier the vioence of tne storm was terrific. In the surrounding country, the destruction of trees was immense. In one park alone 150 were prostrated, and 170 more very much in jured by tile loss of large limbs and branches. At Blackburn, no less than eleven factories had tlie.r chitnnies levelled, doing great dam age in their fall. Toe storm extended to Ireland, committing great ravages in Dublin, and other places. Near to the spot where the Oxford was wrecked, the steamer Red wig, a tender for the mail, went ashore. So vio'ent was the hurri cane, that, although the Red wig hud three an chors out, and her full power of steam on, one of the cables snapped, and the other two an caOrs dragged, the vessel going bodily on shore, till at last the captain was obliged to slip his cables to avoid running into tire Oxford. The wind then drove the Vessel on Irer beam ends, and, being unable to get her head to windward, she went on shore sideway. From the Texas Te'pgraph of Jan. 23. The house of Mr. Marlin situated at the Falls of the Brazos, on the east Iwtik of the river, was attacked on the 3d instant, by a par ty of about seventy Indians. There were fortunately at the time, five men in the house, who defended it with remarkable courage. The Indians made three different charges upon them, hut were as often repulsed, with the loss of several of their bravest warriors. At length finding ail their efforts to dislodge this little hand of h aoes inerfectuel they retired bearin'* witli them their dead and wounded. Not oue of toe five iv hi defended tiie house was in jured. Immediately after the Indians had retired, a message w is despatched to t he near est settlement below toe Falls, and a company of 48 cit.zetis wete soon raised, and started in pursu t ol' the Indians, Unfortunately howev er, they neglected to send spies in advance of the main company; and they had not p oeeed ed o i the trail more six miles from the house of Mr. M; trim when they were suddenly fned upon from a thicket, by a large bo Iv ofsava ges. Thirteen were instantly killed. Toe survivors did not return the fi.e. hut fled imme diately to the house of Mr. Marlin where they still remained tit the time toe messenger left. Among those who returned 7 were severely wounded, two mortally. Tm’s melancholy even thus roused the whole surrounding country. A company of a' out sightv men, has l>eeii raise I at Washingro \nnd have marched to join the compa-y at M>. Marlin’s. Tie Milam Guards from this city, were on their march to the Fal.s of tiie Br .zos. when this skirmish took place. It is probable therefore that a force of nearly two hundred h< n, aie now in pursu,l of the Indians. Tue principle village of the Keachies, is situated at a distance ofonly sis y miles from the house of Mr. Marlin ; it is probable, therefore, that the companies will proceed directly to that village in search of the murderers. V7e trust I they will not turn back, until they shall have j completely destroyed every wigwam and lo 'g j belonging to this horde of savages. RARE OPPORTUNITY! Drawing, painting, penmanship, nnd the FRENCH. SPANISH, ANI) ITALIAN LANGUAGES, may now lie acquired in a short time, and a' very rrtodera'e chnrgps. Classes have been formed in French, Drawing, Wri ting and Book-Keeping, and those who desire to learn any of those branches are requested to make early ap plication, as the number of pupris will he limited. The Ladies are respectfully informed that the room is reserved for their exclusive use, from 11 o’clock in the morning, until 1 in the afternoon. Room «n Third Street, over the store of Messrs. Rea A. Cotton, where Ladies and Gentlemen are invited to call nnd examine the specimens. Macon, Feb 23 tq>. ARCHITECTURE \«(U BUILDING. EfAHE Subscribers offer thteir services to the citizens .1 of Macon, and the surrounding country, in the vnri ui« branches of which the above is includ' and viz : CARPENTERING in its various branches, ARCHI TECTURE, and furnishing plans and drawings of all kinds of buildings, from the domestic cottage to the sumptuous palace; and embracing die bouses of busj. ■ess to suit anv kind ot commercial intercourse. They have, for a long time, devoted their whole study to thi business they profess, and believe, from their past ex j'cnence in the various branches of their profession, lint anv person employing them will be satisfied witli 'heir perf irmanee. Tliey respectfully solicit a share of public putrodage. A. F.BM ER WOOL! Fab Vt 18, CHESTER HILLS GRAND JI RT PRESENTMENTS. Grand Jury of Bibb coantjr, (Punne! Nr* . T ,. 2 >) tor 'he November aijourned Term, 133i in maluatf our Presentments, have bestowed m>oii them our mos' earnest and maiure deliberation ; end feel a deep rearer, that the preture presented of rl.s redraft of our coon tv has »• much ofdarknriss and gloom. I lie number of shops has. inGrcTsefj to an alarming ex eat; and the many viqea coiftrnftteJ by he owners ami visiters of such (Unites, arc »> titimere ou«, it needs no comment from this B< Iv.oalv remind the community in which we reside, that'alt should f.-ej a deep concern in tins rarer. Too much is gpneral r expei. ed of Grand Jurors, in ma'era of tins IcjiigJ v> li-reas, i' is a in ter of common interest to afl go and members of society. Fl.gr vi da'ion are dujlvc ra* muted by retailers, in sell.ug liquor to slaves. AWWh no member ( ,fth s J , ry has p„t ve kio ledge oftb* ye , from the crowds of slav s s> nor-.jiju If Visiting Hn i sarr Minding such ula-e-, many intoxicate \ bungs us to the rone!us on, tha' it ought to be conHu! sue evtde ice of thrir suilr. The picture presented in some of w streets of evenings, i,iusive evident ot great negligence on the part of office, u-htee sworn duty it is to inquire into infractions of the Law. And hir'her, ihe mice dtsguVcJ, an I secret tr.idino with ra.groe. en.oles ihe dishonest retailer to prosper, in n 1 o o Jre ‘° ntSl merchan! ’ aad & ro ' v lat on the property ! JK!?, ®‘lter evils which invest otir community; >ie ot winch occupies a p >r:ion of each a id everr 1 resen'incnt in every county in the See—'lie \ieo of Gam ding . 1 oat our cnv is infested, t. a great ' ' files’b a ch ,j r: “' rrs ' indulged largely in vices j >1 this kind, all must admit; hut nme confe strictly I ","±1 r/r? knowledge. M my, no doubt, areola character too low to clrifm admi tance into re-pecta!)’* ! mteds'rK »'if o:Wsare mrnofhgh and horns able mmls bu how a sm, not only the huth-mimled sport*. 1 b ;“ , me " °C ri ' c i K ' c tab,t; professions, framed by i !!fl . I T uaefl i‘ a ' ' 'irnatneTal to society, hav, oc i sucked m u the v r ex, from which so few ever e. cape . It is not ur G imble ", ns men, bu- a the ves • and Gaming, we would aim allthe p>wei of the Law and t P hv f?r 0 ffi, 10 H' A co ."".n"'»ly shiraM have no sympa tar rt fife.i'der«; individual feelings should be'sacri •ed for the public go >d. Nor should offenders against the Laws e-cu |,p . in consequence ol the wealth' and - -i lining us themselves.or their friends and relatives U e nitre with bur fftlow-Jurors of Muscogee county! tlint ,t is nit by prosecution alone that crime is to b* put down. Let every man of good sand tag in the county, say, that vice and virtue are dissoluble ; and t mi al, vigil n e and exertion on their par', as ci izeas. son,! be used to pun.sh all slanders of virtue and vi >la bons ot Li w , mid it will do more fir the pr iinotion of g aid w ar and morality, than ail tlie Pre.-entnienti of U.and Jur.i.s, from the rganizatioti of the county up wT ' v - W , u ‘Other cosrur with that boJ\, thai the Irequent elevation to the first offices in the bar, »l men n Hortons for their want of moral worth,a id lien complain that ihe laws are no'cnforced is as II they expected offenders would pio3ccC e or punish one another!" One other suhjecr, to which we wish to call the at* ten ion of Hie Community, is, the Election bf Const tbles and Magistrates. 1 uere is too little attention paid to this mailer, bv the orderly and business part of the commumiy 'Lie co sequences are, that persons are elec ed totally unh; tor office, or p .s essmg a to al dis incli iation to sec the Laws enforced. In 100 many in stances Al.igis rates are wholly ne.-lectful of :heir'duty in tawing small Bonds for crimes committed of hign penal offence, and take irresponsible had. This we hope, will he remedied for the future, bv the Law hiring s r.ctly and rig and y cnfirceil on such offenders. And it is to lie hoped, .nai ad officers having Bench War rant or Processes on capital offences, wifi, without favor or aflectiou, discharge their duties to die Lest of tnoir skill and abilities. Li a community like ours, where erime is common, and where such diversity of opinion exists among Grand Jurors, a, to die tune that crime, or offe, ces should lie noaceJ ; some believing I heir oh. g- tun ex e.ids froiu Cjc.rt to Court; Home t’oiVi the t nu* they n? eive tire it subpoenas; while u.lirrs only from the tune they are sworn m. It we have not transtendins powei conferred us, we would sugffio the wholeSonra enactment of a Law Ua make it the duty ol the C er < within hvc days from the a. j mr.nnent of each C urt' to make out a yen.re ot die Grand Jury, hand it over so the auenn, whose duty it shall l.e within ten days thereat,er, o serve the Jurors with subpoenas, ,vi h f,l power to swear each and every Juror as he is s- rve ' to the same oaths they now swear. In that event’, i e e wou.d be no and .ub as totbetimewhenthevshoi.il take cognizance ol offences. Tne result w here.,f in our bumble opinion, would laj the preservation oi'm .ny ut “nr best citizens from degradation and ruin We recommend ti e strict prusucubun of the Law against persons who are in die habit of c rry mr weapons prohibited by Law. We enjoin it on all good citizens, w herever an occurrence of the kind presents use I, to take n, -t.ee of it. and have it dealt w.tti as the Law uirecto. Another violation, of a serious magnitude, is the fre* qnent practice ot slaves carrying weapons, which are prohibited by Law to wh.tt persons. And we, i S Grand Jurors and citizens, enjoin it on all Pa roF, Mar-hals overseers and others, to have an eve single m tbG mab w ,'|, la,eVtrJ ,nslallce °f 'he* kiud may be rigidly dealt We have examined the Clerk’s B.siks of the Superior Court, a |,| h id die records up, and in that neat style fur which that officer is so disti igui-hed. J We have also examined into the condition of the G or School fund kept by the same officer, and find toe am Mint regularly apportioned and paid out. for which vouchers w ere exh bued to correspoud We have also e xamined the B «i.;s ofihe Inferior l. ..ur, and hud them in a good c mdition, kept bv the same officer; and much prii-e is due to said officer, t r the st u t man ler in whic i lie makes npp ican's or L'Cr;nse to ret i 1 sp ri nous liquors, conform to the Law 111 giv ng tends a id go «l seenrity, and die necessary oa h, ( vhicli ate-e Act requir ■■) which is nea Iv re c>- ed in the Lee i-e Book. An Iwe recomme id the Ma ornn! Cy ouuciltoi istruct dieir Clerks to strict -1 enforceit on till applicates to him. We have exam m and lie Cdunty Treasurer’s Books, and fi i I them kepi , a s'yle sat si'actorv. fd this bode wall vouchers to eorre-p m l with the different charges in Ins account current. We fi „I an unexpended bal fonee in Ins hands, of l ifty-S, ven Dollars and Twenty ivMi? 1 We recommend the Inferior C .uri to levy In extra Tax f Fifty percent, for he present year, to rase funds to meet their iiabtrtie*. We tender to lire Honor. Judge King, our acknowl edueuip.lt* tor his cotir eou- at entinn so ffijs te.dv a id for the pa’ieace and perseverance with which he’ has and "charged his official duties during this protracted l rrm. We nU > tender onr ihnn\* to the S »lic : tor tor h.s open, frank, a id eo ir e hut towards this ho Iv during the pres<*n' er nos service. Were-piesi that ..ur Prerentme its he published in each ol ihe pul he vn • t of this plnce On mod ,rt of S. M. S r .ng, Snhciior General pro. lem- ” is Ordered, That the abavc Presentments be published ■n 'he P tpers ol tie city, accorffin- to die request of lira Gn.n J Jury. o, RICHARD W. ELLIS. Foreman. George vv ire', P er S uV>« Win. R. C ue, Claibom M. Vaughn, *'• Per ,v y, J »;in Baily, Wnu J. Rice, John Holzendorf,- D. ft. Wilsoni Tno«. AT. Elis, M irtin H ill, Ferney Green, Thus. T. Napier, Myron Barrlelt, (»c ». B. W.ircJlaw, John Bownia'ir, Simeon L John Ciinpbell, Alfred CJopion. We ob.eci Is a large portion of the above Piesenf men'.", ha'n on accou itof die matter and manner; aud we most earsesiij object to the printing. ALFRED CLOPTON, JO IN GAMPBELL „ A Tnte Extract from the Tinu'es ot the Superior Court, 15:h ft'eb. IS3J. H. G. ROSS, Clerk. fifty dollars reward. RAN AWAY from the house of the subscriber, li ving ia Crawford county, on the night ot the 2i instill', n Mack fellow by the name of ANDREW.— He is about five feet six i ches high, between 40 and hO years of age, thick se', and has a "Car (or lump) on h.s breast, about the size of a 12} cetr piece. He has a brother in Augusta, bv the name of Cuffee, (belong, ing to Col. Gardner, of that place) I will pay ths above rewarel for his apprehension and commitment 14 any jail, so that I can get him. JACOB FUDGE, Sr, Fth 16 17 0 Kr The Augusta Chronicle, arid Savannah Geor gian, w ill copy the above three rimes, and forw Srd their account. Auction nnd Commission Rnsinrm. r |MIE undersigned has commenced a regular basic ■ nes« in the nb >ve Imv, and solicits the patronage ..f the public. Refer to Messrs. Rea &. Cotton, Macon. “ Scott dr Morrell, Now York. “ Win. Pi'terson Jc C y Snv.a inahi Mr. Charles II 'rtridge, " ' Roller' Col'i is, Charleston, Messrs. Farrar &• Haves, “ Mr. G. McLaughlin, Angus's. a. it. McLaughlin. N R Sales may lie expected on WEDNESDAY in each wick, uunl lurdter uouee, fab u rrw