The republic. (Macon, Ga.) 1844-1845, January 01, 1845, Image 1

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THE KEFUUEtC, IS PUBLISHED EVEKV WEDNESDAY, OVER J- D. WINN’S BRICK STORE. COTTON AVENUE, MACON, GA. A T *3,00 PE K AN N UM, IN ADVANCE. RATES OF ADVERTISING, &.c. One square, of 100 words, or less, iu small type, jj cents lor the first insertion, and 50 cents for each subsequent insertion. All advertisements containing more than 100 and less than 200 words, will be charged as two squares. To yearly advertisers, a liberal deduction will be made. Sales of Land, by Administrators, Executors, or Guardians, are required by law to be held on the first Tuesday in the month, between the hours of ten in the Ibrenoon, and three in the afternoon, at the Court House in the county in which the pro perty is situated. Notice ol’ these must be given in a public gazette, sixty itays previous to the day of sale. Notice to debtors and creditors of an estate, must he published forty Jays. . Notice that application «~rH Ire made to the Court of Ordinary lor leave to sell laud, must be publish ed four months. Sales of Negroes must he made at public auc tion, on the first Tuesday of the month, between the legal hours of sale, at the place of public sales, ill the county where the letiers testamentary, ol administration of guardianship, shall have been granted, sixty days notice being previously given in one of the public gazettes of this Stale, and at the door of the Court House where such sales are to be held. Notice for leave to sell Negroes must be pub fished for four months licibre any order absolute shall be made thereon bv the Court. All business .if this nature will receive prompt attention at the office of THE REPUBLIC. BUSINESS CARDS. JOB PRINTING asafflwsio SiV “sristsa ©ffr-zoa. With Neatness mid Dispatch. FLOYD HOUSE. IJ Y B. S. NE WCO M B. Macon, Georgia. Oct. ill,lßll. l-ls ' WHITING A MIX, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, Near the Washington Hall, Second street. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19,1844. l-tl * J. 17. J< >N KS & CO. CLOTII IN G STOIt K. West side Mullterry Street, next door below the Bis; Hat. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 13, 1811. 1 —ls MSBET & WINGFIELD, ATTO It Ni: V S A T I. AW. Office on Mulberry Street, oeer Kimberly s Hat Store. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19,1811. I—ls DOCTORS J. M. & Jl. K. GREEN, Corner of .Mulberry and Third Struts. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19, 1841. l-tl FREEMAN & ROBERTS, Saddle, Har n r s *, and IF hi p, nANVFAC T O It V . Dealers in all hinds of Leather, Saddlery Harness and Carriage Ti iminings, On Cotton Avenue and Second street, Macon, Ga. October 25, 1841. 3-11 Joseph n. skymolr, DEALER IN DRY GOODS, G ROC FRIES, HARD WARE, etc. Brick Store, Cherry Street, Ralston s Range, first door below Russell St Kimberley s. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19, 1841. l-tl GEORGE M. LOGAN, DEALER IN FANCY ANDei'r.V I*l.F DRY GOODS, Hard-Ware, Crockery, (Hass-It are, Stc. Stc. Corner of Secomi and Cherry streets. Macon, Georgia. Oct. ft), 1844. I—II D. & \V. <7L fss, DEALERS IN S T A I* 1. i: DRY GOO I) S, Groceries, Hardware, Crockery, fitc. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19,1814. 1-ts SAMUEL J. BAY & CO. DEALERS IN FANCY AND STABLE DRY HOODS, Ready Made Clothing, Hats, Shoes, &.C. Second street, a lew doors from the \V ashington Hotel. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 18, 1844. I— tl REDDING & WHITEHEAD, DEALERS IN FANCY AND ST A I*l.F DRY GOODS, thoc tries , Hard II are, Cutlery, flats, Shoes. Crockery, Stc. Sec. Corner of Cotton Avenue ami Cherry streets. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19,1844. 1-ts B. F. ROSS, dealer iu DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES. Macon, Gci rgia. Oct. 19,1844. 1 -tlj J. M. BOA ROMAN, DEALER IN LAW, MEDICAL, MISCELLANEOUS unit School Books; Blank Books ami Stationery of all kinds ; Printing Paper, Stc. Stc. Sign of the Large Bible, tiro doors above Shot welt's corner, west side of .Mulberry Street. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19,1844. l-tl B. R. WARNER, AUCTION AND 4 041. MISSION MER CHANT. Dealer in every description of Mere! andise. “The Public’s Servant,” and subject to leeeiving consignments at all times, by the consignees pav ing 5 per cent, commissions lor services rendered. Macon, Georgia. Oct. 19, 1844. l-tl L. J. CROSS, • Has for Sale DRY (iOOPS cy GROCERIES, boots, shoes, caps, and hats, Al John I). I fin its Old Store. Macon, Ocl. 25,1814. 2-ts If the Whigs redeem all their promi ses, we shall soon see rare sights. Here *s one of them : “O. Jimmy Polk! O, Jimmy Polk! When yon shall win the fight, The coirs will all come home to roost, We’ll milk the hens at night! The stars shall fry like sassengors, The sun shall melt away; All nature turn a somerset, When you beat Henry Clay!” ‘l’m off when you talk about working,’ a? the cork said to the ginger pop. W’hy was Benjamin Franklin the ty- Ont of the elements Because he ruled me lightnings with a sod of iron. BY 11. C. CROSBY. VOLUME t. MISCEL L ANY. From Hood's Magazine. THE GAMBLER'S LAST STARE. A SCENE IN MADRID. In an inner room of his counting-house, which occupied a wing of his splendid mansion in the Calle Alcala, sal Don Jo se Solano, one of the richest bankers in Madrid, ruminating with much sell-com placency upon the profitable results of a recent speculation, lie was interrupted in his meditations by the entrance of one of hi* clerks ushering in a stranger, who brought :i letter of introduction from a Ban ker at Mexico, with whom Don Jose had had occasional transactions. The letter suited that the bearer, the count de Yalle ja, was of a highly respected family of Mexican nobility; that he was desirous of visiting Europe, and more especially the country of his ancestors Spain ; and it then went on to recommend him in the stron gest terms to the Madrid banker, as one whose intimacy and friendship could not fail to be sought afier by all who became acquainted with his many excellent quali ties. The appearance of the count seemed to justify, as far as appearance can do, the high terms in which he was spoken of in his letter. lie was about eight and twen ty years of age, dark complexioned, with a high clear forehead, short, crisp, curling hair, an intelligent and regular counten ance, and a smile of singular beauty and fascination. His eyeswere the only fea ture which could be pronounced otherwise than extremely pleasing: although large, black, and lustrous, they had a certain fix ity and hardness ofexpression that pro duced an unpleasant impression upon the beholder, and would perhaps, have been more disagreeable, bad not the mellow tones of the count’s voice, and his suavity and polish of manner, served in a great measure to conteract the effect of this pe culiarity. Doing due honor to the strong recom mendation ol his esteemed correspondent, Don Jose welcomed the young Conde with llie utmost hospitality, insisted on taking possession of him for the whole of the day and without allowing him to return to his hotel, dragged him into his house, presen ted him to his son and daughter, and char ged them to use their utmost exertions to entertain their guest, while he himself re turned to his occupations till dinner time. At one o’clock the old banker re-appear ed in the sala, where he found Rafael and Mariqu ila Solano listening with avidity to the agreeable conversation of the count, who in his rich and characteristic Mexican Spanish, was giving them the most inter esting details concerning the country he had recently left. The magnificence of the Mexican scenery, the peculiarities of the Indian races, the gorgeous vegetation and strange animals of the tropics, formed the subjects of his discourse, not a little in teresting to a young man of tltree-and twenty, and a girl of eighteen, who bad never as yet been fifty leagues away from Madrid. Nor had the stranger’s conver sation less charms for the old banker. Yal leja had been at the Havanna; was ac quainted with scenes, if not with persons, with which were associated some of Don Jose’s most agreeable reminiscences; scenes that he had visited in the days of his vouth, when he laid the foundation of his princely fortune. To be brief: thea greeahle manner and conversation of the count so won upon father, son and daugh ter, that when at night-fall he rose to take his leave, the banker put his house a su disposition, and followed up what is usu allvamere verbal compliment, by insis tirigupon Yalleja’s taking up his abode with him during his stay in Madrid. Vai- Irja raised many difficulties on the score of the inconvenience or trouble he might occasion; but they were all overruled, and the contest of politeness terminated in the ; count’s accepting the hospitality thus cor dially pressed upon him. The very, next dav he was installed in a splendid apart ment in the house of Don Jose. Several days, even weeks, elapsed, du ring which Valleja continued to be the in | mate of the Casa Sulano. He appeared so very well pleased with his quarters, and on the other hand, his hosts lound no rea | son to regret the hospitality shown him, he soon became the spoiled child of lire family; Don Jose could not make a meal without Valleja was there to chat with him about Havanna. Rafael was the in separable companion of his walks, rides, anti out door diversions; while the bloo ming Marquita never seemed so happy as when the handsome Mexican was seated beside her embroidery frame conversing with her in his low soft tones or singing, to the accompaniment of her guitar, some of the wild melodies of his native country. Indeed, so marked where the count’s at tention to the young girl, and so favorably did she receive them, that more than one officious but well meaning friend hinted to Don Jose the propriety of instituting some inquiry into the circumstances and antece dents of a man, who it seemed not impro bable might eventually aspire to become his son-in-law. But the banker’s prepos session in favor of Valleja was so strong that he gave little heed to these hints, con tenting himself with writing to his corres pondent at Mexico, expressing the plea sure lie had in making the count’s«tcquain tance, and receiving him as an inmate to his house; but without asking for any in formation concerning him. In fact the letter Valleja had brought'was such as to MACON, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, ISl*. render any further inquiries nearly su perfluous. It mentioned the count as of a noble and respected family, and credited him to the amount of ten thousand dollars, a sum of sufficient importance to make it presumable that his means were ample. Before Valleja had been three days at Madrid he had obtained hisentiee to a house at which a number of idlers and fashionables were in the habit of meeting to play at monte, the game of all others most fascinating to the Spaniards. Thither he used to repair each afternoon accom panied by Rafael Solano, and there he soon made himself remarkable by his judg ment in play, and by thecool indifference with which he lost and won very consider able sums. For some time he was excee dingly successful. Every stake he put down doubled itself; he seemed to plav with charmed money; and the bankers I trembled when they saw him approach the table, and after a glance at the state ol tin* game, place a pile golden ounces on a card, which almost invariably' won the very next moment. This lasted sev eral days, and he began to be considereu as invincible, when suddenly his good for tune departed him, and he lost as fast, or faster, than he had previously won, so that after a fortnight of incessant bud luck it was estimated by certain old gamblers who had taken an interest in watching his proceedings, that he had lost not only all his winnings, but a very considerable sum in addition. Rafael, who rarely play ed, and then only for small slakes, urged his friend to discontinue a game which he found so losing; but Valleja laughed at his remonstrances, and treated his losses as trifllingones, which a single day’s good fortune might retrieve. Gambling is scarcely looked upon as a vice iu Spain, and young Solano saw nothing unusual or blameable in the count’s indulging in his afternoon jelgo, or his loosing Lis money if it so pleased him, and if he thought an hour or two’s excitement worth the large sum which it usually cost him. Indeed the circumstance of their visit to the ga ming room appeared to him so unimpor tant, that it never occurred to him to men tion it to his father or sister; and they on their part, never dreamed of inquiring in what way the young men passed the lew liours of the day during which they abstyi ted themselves from their society. The monte-table which Valleja was in the habit of frequenting was siluated on the third floor of a house ina narrow street leading out of the Calle Alcala, within two or three hundred yards of the Casa Solano. Amongst the persons to be met there were many of the richest and high est in Madrid; generals and ministers, counts and marquises, and even grandees of Spain were in the habit of repairing thi ther to while away the long winter eve nings, or the sultriness of the summer day and the play was proportionate to the high rank and great opulence of most of the players. The bank was held as is cus tomary in Spain by the person who offer ed to put in the largest sum, the keeperof the room being remunerated by a certain tax upon the cards, a tax which in this in stance, was a heavy one, in order to com pensate for the luxury displayed in the decoration and arrangements of the esta blishment. The three rooms were fitted up in a most costly manner ; the walls li ned with magnificent pier glasses; the floor covered in winter with rich carpets, and in summer with the finest Indian mat tings; the furniture was of the newest French fashion. Splendid chandeliers hung from the ceiling; the musical clocks stood upon the side-tables, the gilt balco nies were filled with the rarest exotics and flowering plants. Two of the rooms were devoted to play; in the third, ices and refreshments awaited the parched throats of the feverish gamblers. On a scorching June afternoon, about a month after Valleja arrived at Madrid, the Mexican and Rafael left Don Jose’s dwel ling, and bent their steps in the usual di rection. While ascending the well-tvorn stairs of the gaining house, young Solano could not forbear addressing a remon strance to his friend on the subject of his losses. Although the count’s perfect com mand over himself, and his countenance made it very difficult for so young and in experienced a man as Rafael to judge of what was passing in his mind, the latter, nevertheless, fancied that for three or four days past there had been a change in his demeanor denoting uneasiness and anxie ty. It was not that he was duller or more silent; on the contrary his conversation was perhaps, more brilliant and varied, his laugh louder and more frequent, than was usual, but. there was a hollowness in the laugh, and a strained tone in the con versation, as ifhe were compelling him self to be gay r in order to drive away pain ful thoughts—intoxicating himself with many words and forced merriment. Ila fael attributed this to the annoyance cau sed by his heavy losses, and now urged him to discontinue his visits to the monte table, at least for a time, or until his luck became better. The count met the sug gestion with a smile. “My dear Rafael,’ cried he, gaily T ANARUS, ‘you surely do not suppose that the loss of a few hundred miserable ounces would be sufficient to annoy me for a moment. As to abandoning play we shall be puzzled to pass the idle hour or two following the siesta. Besides that, it amuses me. But do not make yourself uneasy. I shall do myself no harm; and, moreover, 1 intend this day to win back all my losing®. I feel in (he vein.’ FRO FATRIA ET LEGIHCS. ‘I heartily hope you may do as you in tend,’ said Rafael, laughing, quite re-as sured by his (fiend’scareless manner; and as he uttered the words, the count pushed open the door, and they entered the fa mous inonte room. The game was already iu full activity, and the play very high; the table strewed with the showy Spanish cards, on which instead of the spades and diamonds famil iar to most European cardplayers, suns and vases, sabres and horses were depic ted in various and brilliant colors. An officer of the royal guard, and a dry stiul fy old marquis, held the bank, which had been very successful. Large piles of gold ounces and of four and eight dollar pieces were on the green cloth before them, as well as a roll of paper nearly treble the value of the specie. Twenty or thirty players were congregated round the table while a few unfortunates, whose pockets had already been emptied, were solacing themselves with their cigars, and occa sionally indulging in an oath or impatient stamp of the foot when they saw a card come up which they would certainly have backed—had they had money so to do. Two or three idlers were sitting on the low sills of the long French windows, rea ding newspapers and enjoying the fra grance of the (lowers—protected from the reflected glare ofthe opposite houses, on which the sun was darting its cays,'by awnings of striped linen that fell from a bove the windows, and hung over tiie out si.le of the small semi-circular balconies. After standing for a tew minutes at the j table, and staking a doubloon, which he instantly lost, Ralael Solano took up a pa per and threw himself into an arm-chair, while Valleja remained watching with keen attention the various fluctuations of the card. For some time he did not join the game, rather to the astonishment of the other players, who were accustomed to see him stake his money, as soon as lie entered the room, with an unhesitating boldness and confidence. Half an hour passed in this manner, and tlie presence of Valleja was beginning to be forgotten, when he suddenly drew a heavy roleauof gold from his pocket and placed it upon a card. The game went on; Valleja lost, j and with his usual sang (Void saw his stake ! thrown into the batik. Another followed ■ and a third, and a fourth. In four coups he had lost three thousand dollars. Still i not a sign of excitement or discomposure appeared on the handsome countenance i of the Mexican; only an officer who was standing by him observed that a p ick of the thin Spanish cards which he had been holding in his hands, fell to the ground, lorn completely in half by one violent wrench. The four high stakes so boldly played and so rapidly lost, rivited the observation ofthe gamblers upon Valleja’s procee-! dings. Everybody crowded round the j table, and even the slight buzz of con-! versation that had Jtefore been beard, to- j tally ceased. His attention attracted by the sudden stillness, Rafael rose from his chair and joined his friend. A glance at j the increased wealth of the bank, and the , eagerness with which all seemed to be a- j waiting the movements of Valleja, made ; him conjecture what had occurred. ‘You have lost,’ said he to the count, ‘and heavily, I fear. Come, that will do , for to-day. Let’s go.’ ‘Psha!’ replied the Mexican ‘a mere j trifle, —which you shall see me win back.’ And then turning to the banker, who was just commencing a deal. ‘Copo,’said he, ‘the king against the ace.’ For the uninitiated in the mysteries of monte, it may he necessary to state, that by uttering these words Valleja bound himself, if an ace come up before a king, to pay an equul amount to that in the batik as well as all the winnings of those who had backed the ace. If, on the other hand, the king won the whole capital of the bank was his, as well as the stakes of those who bet against him. ‘ Copo al rcij.' There was a general murmur of aston ishment. The bank was the largest that had been seen in that room since a certain memorable night when Ferdinand him self, being out upon one of the nocturnal frolics in which he so much delighted, had come up in disguise with an officer of his household, and had lost a sum that had greatly advantaged the bankers, and sore ly diminished the contents of his catholic majesty’s private purse. There were at least thirty thousand dollars on the table 1 in gold and paper; and besides that, scarcely had the Mexican uttered the name of the card he favored, when on the strength of his ill luck, some of the play ers put down nearly as much more against it. The two bankers looked at each oth er ; the guardsman shrugged his shoulders and elevated his eyebrows. Both move ments were so slight as to be scarcely per ceptible ; but they were nevertheless, ex cellently well observed and understood by his partner, the high-dried old Marquis, sitting opposite to him, who laid the pack of cards upon the table, their face to the cloth, and after placing a piece of money on them to prevent their being disturbed by any chance puff of wind, opened his gold box, and took a prodigious pinch of snuff. Having done this with much deli beration, he let his hands fall upon his knees, and leant back to his chair with a countenance expressive of inexhaustible patience. The players waited for nearly a minute, but then began to grow impa- S. M. STRONG, Editor. tient ofthe delay. At the first question put to the marquis, as to its motive, he waved his hand toward Valleja. ‘1 am waiting for the senor Conde,’ said he. ‘For me?’ replied Valleja. ‘lt is unne cessary.’ ‘There were about twnty thousand dollars in the bank,’ said the marquis, lea ning forward, and affecting to count, the rouleaus lying before him, and some eight thousand staked by these gentlemen. Will you senora be pleased to place a similar sum upon the table ?’ Several ofthe gamblers exchanged sig nificant glances and half smiles. The rule of the game required the player, who endeavored, as Valleja was doing to anni hilate the bank at one fell swoop, to pro duce u sum equal to that which he had a chance of carrying offi At the same lime in societies like this one, where the play ers were all more or less ; known to each other,—all men of rank, name and fortunes —it was not usual to play the sort of deci sive coup upon parole, and if lost, the money was invariably forthcoming the srtm° day. Valleja smiled bitterly. ‘I thought I had been sufficiently known hero,’ said he, ‘lobe admitted to the same privileges as other players. Rafael,’ ad ded he, turning to his friend and handing him a key, ‘your father’s ten thousand have melted, but I have a packet of notes and considerable securities to considera bly more than the needful amount, in the brass bound box in my apartment. Will you have the kindness to fetch them for me? Ido not wish to interrupt my obser vance ofthe game.’ ‘With pleasure !’ replied ltafael, taking the key and eager to oblige his friend. ‘And, perhaps,’continued Valleja, smi ling, and detaining him as he was about to hasten out of the room, ‘perhaps you will not object to tell these gentlemen that, un til you return with the money, they may take Luis Valleja’s word for the sum he wishes to play.’ ‘ Most assuredly, I will,’ answered the young man hastily, ‘ and 1 am only sorry that the senor marquis should have thought is advisable to put any thing resembling a slight upon a friend of mine and tny father’s. Gentlemen !’ he continued, to the bankers, ‘ I offer my guaranty for the sum count Valleja is about to play.’ The old marquis bowed his head. ‘ That is quite sufficient, Don Rafael,’ said he. * I have the honor of knowing you per fectly well. His senoria, the count Valle ja, is only known to me as count Valleja, and I am certain that, on reflection, neither he nor you will blame me lot acting as I do, when so heavy a sum is at stake. Don Ralael left the room. The formal marquis removed the piece of money from off the pack, and took up the cards with as much dry indifference as if he were no way concerned in the result of the impor tant game that was about to be played. Valleja sauntered to the window, hum ming a tune between his teeth, and step ping out, pushed the awning a little aside and leaned over the balcony. The banker began to draw the cards, one after the other, slowly and deliberate ly. Nearly half the pack was dealt out without a king or an ace appearing. The players and lookers on were breathless with anxiety ; the full of a pin would have been audible ; the tune which the count continued to hum, from his station on the balcony, was heard, in the stillness that reigned, as distinctly as though it had been thundered out by a whole or chestra. Another card, and another, were drawn, and then—the decisive one appeared. The silence was immediately changed for a tumult of words and ex clamations. , * Quc cs cso ?’ said Valleja, turning half round, and smelling, as he spoke, at a superb flower, which he he had just plucked from one of the plants in the bal cony. * What’s the matter ? ‘ The ace— ’ said the person nearest the window who then paused and hesi tated. * Well!’ said Valleja, with a sneer, ‘ the ace—what then ? It has won, I suppose ?’ ‘ It has won.’ ‘ May bun! It was to be expected it would, since I went on the king.’ And turning round again, he resumed his tune and his gaze into the street. ‘lla dc sir rico,' said the Spaniard to another of the players, ‘He must be rich. It would be difficult to take the loss ot thirty thousand dollars more coolly than that.’ Five minutes elapsed, during which the bankers were busy counting out their bank, in order to see the exact sum due to them by the unfortunate loser. When the jingle of money and rustle of paper ceased Valleja looked round for the sec ond time. ‘ How much is there, senorcs?’ cried he. ‘ Thirty thousand, four hundred and thirty dollars lost, senor Conde,’ replied the old marquis, with a bow of profound respect for one who could bear such a loss with such admirable indifference. ‘’v ery good,’ was the count’s answer, ‘and here comes the man who will pay it you.’ Accordingly, the next minute a hasty j step was heard upon the stairs. All eyes; were turned to the door,'which opened, and Rafael Solano entered. ‘ V here is the count ?’ exclaimed he, in a hurried voice, and with a discompo sed countenance. Again every head was turned toward* the window, but the count had disappear j ed. At the same moment, from the street below,which wasaquietand unfrequented one, there arose an unusual uproar and noise of voices. The monte players rush ed to the windows and saw several per sons collected round a man whom they were raising from the ground. His skull was slightly fractured, and on the pave ment around blood sprinkled. Rafael and some others hurried down ; but, be fore they reached the street, count Louis Valleja had expired ! The gambler’s last stare had been his life. \\ hen young Solano reached his fath er’s house, and, repairing to his fattier** apartment, opened the desk of which Vai leja had given him the key, he found that it contained neither notes nor any thing else of value, but merely a tew worthless papers. Astonished at this, and in spite NUMBER I*. of his prepossession in favor of the count* feeling his suspicions a little roused by what he could hardly consider an over sight, he hurried back to the monte room* where his arrival served as the signal lbr the catastrophe that has been related. The same evening the amount lost was paid into the hands ofthe winners by Rafael Salano. The following day, the body ol the Count was privately in terred. After the lapse of a few weeks, there | came a letter, tmm Mexico, in reply to the one which Don Jose Solano had writ ten to announce the arrival of Valleja. His Mexican correspondent wrote in all haste, anxious, if still possible to preserve Don Jose from becoming the*dupe of a swindler. The Conde dc Valleja, he said* was the last and unworthy scion of a no ble and once respectable family. From his early youth he had made himself re markable, as well lbr the vices of his char acter as for the skill with which he con cealed them under a mask of agreeable accomplishments and fascinating man-- tiers. llis father, dying shortly after he became of age, had left him the uncon troled master of his fix tune, which ha speedily squandered ; and when it wu» gone, he lived for some time, by the exer cise ol his wits, and by preying on all who were sufficiently credulous to confide in him. At length having exhausted every resource—when no man of honor would speak to him, and no usurer lend him a maravedi at any rate of interest—lie hud by an unworthy artifice duped the very last person who took any interest in him, out of a few hundred dollars, and taken ship at \ era Cruz for Europe. It is scarce ly necessary to add that the letter of cre dit was a piece of forgery. Romantic Incident in Switzerland* Ihe Lake of Brienz, that pearl of Oler lund, has not yet a steamboat, but it has lost its most graceful ornament* There was for some years, they cite, in all Switzerland as one ofthe marvels of tho country, the beautiful boat woman of Bri enz, and who knotvs how many romantic stories they relate of this queen - of the lake. \V hat passions she rekindled ; how many travellers wished to have as relic and souvenir a. ringlet of her hair ts the riband of her girdle. But the boat woman was virtue itself, and alone iri the midst of the lake, with she most devoted passenger, this daughter of Helvetia, an out in each hand, set at defiance the per ils of tele-a-tete. 1 here was, they say, a young lord who proposed to marry her. absolutely, as if she had been a noble heiress, or a danct 1 of Drury lane; but site wished not to be come a lady. Then the young lord pro posed to become a boatman, if she would on that condition take him for a husband; and having experienced a second refusal, he blew his brains out in the boat con- ducted b) the lovely boat woman. One evening a stranger, young and handsome, entered into bet boat; he seat ed himself before her and contemplated her a long time iu silence. Perhaps for the first time she felt herself moved under his penetrating look ; but the voyager ad dressed not the least word to her. Tho evening was fine, the sky clear, the star* brilliant. The voyager starting from his melancholy reverie, prayed the boat girl to sing ; it was a talent she had. She sang a romance of the country, full of charm—a music of which the soft move ment happily mingles itself with the mur mur of the wave, the noise of the oars* and the motion of the boat-—a song made expressly sot the lake, the evening, the sl ars, for the voice that sang, and the pensive young man who listened. When the melody had ceased, the stranger took his tablets and wrote some lines upon a leaf which he tore from them. Then, in leaving the boat, he gave the rower a piece of gold, and the leaf taken away from his tablets. He said to her, ‘ This is for the boat girl;’ and in giving her the paper, ‘ This is for the singer.’ The following day the lovely boat girl showed this paper to some Englishmen who had taken her boat. * One of them said to her: ‘ Will you sell me this bit of paper upon which are scrawled some lines in pencil ? I will give you ten guineas for it.’ The boat girl held forth her hand, the money was counted, and the Englishman was rejoiced to have bought so cheaply, an unpublished sonnet, signed Byron. The State of Florida. —The citizens of Florida are holding meetings and instruct ing their representative Mr Levy, to claim and demand its admission into the Union at the next session of Congress, in accor dance with the rights secured to the in habitants of Florida by the treaty of ces sion.—Mercury. The venerated citizen, Col. Spottswood, of Springfield, Illinois, died recently.— He was a relative of George Washington, the father of his country.