The republic. (Macon, Ga.) 1844-1845, January 01, 1845, Image 1
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.
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One square, of 100 words, or less, iu small type,
jj cents lor the first insertion, and 50 cents for each
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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.