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behind the scenes
BY SAM SLICK.
Major Bradford was the gentleman that tra
ded in calves and punkins for the Boston
market, him that you’ve got down in your first
series, that took me to the 7 Vernont House,
the time the gal lost her runnin-riggnT in tire
crowd. Weli, one afternoon, havin’ nothin’
above pitikdar to do, 1 goes and dresses my- I
self up full fig, and was a-posten away as
hard as I could leg it, full chisel down by the
Mall in Boston to a tea and turn-out to Sy
Tupper’s; Sy had an only darter called De
6ire; she warn’t a bad lookin’ piece ot tariii
ture nei'her; folks said she would have fifty
thousand dollars, and to tell you the tru.ii, 1
was & thinking of spekelating there, and was .
a-scouterin’ away as haid as I could leg it to
the party. Who should I meet on the road j
but the Major a-pokia’ along with his cocoa- ,
nut down, a-studyin’ over somethin’ or anoth-1
er quite deep, and a-workin’ up the baccy in a j
great style, for nothin’ a’most will make a 1
man chaw like cypherin’ in his head to him
self! “Hullo, Major,” said I, “who’s dead,
and what’s to pay now! why what’s the mat- j
ter of you! you look as if you had lost every
freend you had on airth.”
“H’are you, boy]” said he; “give us your
fin, and then tell us which way you are j
a-sailin’ of this fine day, will you.”
But jist as I w r as a-goin’ to take hold of his
hand, he drew back the matter of a yard or so,
and eyed me all over from head to foot, as if
he was a-measurin’ me for a wrastlin’ bout.
Says he, “I’ll bet you a five-dollar piece,
Sam, l know where you are a-goin’ to-night.”
“Done,” says I, “It’s a bargain; now,
wherel”
“A-whalin’ says he.
“A what!” says I.
Om t* v touiui DdlU lit-*.
“Hand out your five dollars,” says I, “for
you missed your guess this hitch any how. J
am a-goin’ down to Sy Tupper’s to tea and
spend the evenin’.”
“Exactly,” said he, “goin’ a-gallin’; I know’d
it; for you are considerably large print, and
it don’t take spectacles to read you. She is
rich in iles, that gall ; her father made his
money a-whalin’, and folks call her ‘ Sy Tup
per’s spermaceti. Bah ! she smells of blub
ber, that greasy-faced heifer; let her bide
where she be, Sam. You haint been “ behind
the scenes yet,’ I see, and that screetch-owl in
petticoats, mother Tupper, is an old hand.
She will harpoon you yet, if you don’t mind
your eye ; now mark what I tell you. Come
with me to the the-atre, and I’ll show you a
gal of the right sort, I know. Helen Bush
comes on in tights to-night. She is a beauti
ful-made crittur that, clean-limbed and as
well made as if she was turned in a mould.
She is worth looking at, that’s a fact ; and
you don’t often get such a chance as that
are.”
“Hear, dear,” said 1, “in tights? well, if
that don’t beat all! I must say that don’t
seem kinder nateral now, does it, Major!”
“Nateral!” said he, “what the divil has na
tur’ got to do with it! If she followed natnr’
■he wouldn’t wear nothin’ at all. Custom
has given women petticoats and men panta
loons, but it would be jist as nateral for wo
men to wear the breeches and the men the
apronstring, and there is a plaguy sight of
them do it too. Say it ain’t modest and I
won’t non-concur you, but don’t talk about
natur’, for natur’ has no hand in it all. It has
neither art nor part in it, at no rate. But take
my advice, my greenhorn, and study natur’ a
bit. Folks may talk of their Latin and Greek
tili they are tired, but give me natur’. But to
study it right you must get ‘behind the scenes;’
bo come along with me to the house.”
Well, I never was to a theatre afore in all
my life, lor minister didn’t approbate them at
no rate, and he wouldn’t never let me go to
’em tn Slir.kville: so thinks I to myself. I don’t
care 11 I do go this once; it cairt do me no
great harm I do suppose, and a gal in tights
is something new; so here goes, and I turns
and walks lock-and-lock with him down to the
play-house.
Well, I must say, it was a splendid sight,
too. The house was chock full of company,
all drest out to the very nines, and the lamps
was as bright as day, and the music was splen
did, that’s a fact, for it was the black band of
the militia, (and them blacks have most ele
gant ears for music, too, I tell you,) and when
they struck up our biood-stirrin’ national air,
it made me feel all over in a twitteration as if
I was on wires a’most, considerable martial.
But what gave me the gapes was the scenes.
Lord, squire, when the curtain drawed up,
there was Genesee falls as nateral as life, and
the beautiful four-story grist-mills taken off as
plain as any thing, and Sam Patch jist ready
to take a jump in the basin below. It was all
but real, it was so like life. The action, too,
was equal to the scenes; it was dreadful pret
ty, Ido assure you. Well, alter a while,
Helen Bush came on in tights; but I can’t
say I liked it; it didn’t seem quite right for a
gal to dress up in men’s clothes t hat way,
and I sorter tliort that nothin’ a’most would
tempt me to let sister Sal show shapes arter
that fashion for money. But somehow or
somehow-else, folks hurrawed and clapped
and cheered like anything. It was so excit
in’ I hurrawed too, at last, as if I was as well
as any of them, for hollerin’ is catch
in’, like barkin’ among dogs, and you can’t
help it no how you can fix it. Well, arter
legs lost their novelty, a whole lot o’ dancin’
gals came forward and danced
gallop pards, hornpipes, and what not, the
most beautiful critters, I think, I ever laid my
eyes on—all young and bloomin’, and grace
ful and light as spirits a’most. They seemed
as if they e’en a’most belonged to another
guess world from ourn, only the rosy cheeks
■nd bare necks, and naked arms, and dear
little ankles, all smacked of real life.
“What do you think of them!” said the
Major, “hante they fine glass-spun heels,
them critters. I guess you don’t, often see
such fetlocks in Slickville as them; for your
gals, if I don’t mis-remenaber, are rather beefy
about the instep; what do you think of them,
my boy, eh!”
“Think?” says I, -“why I never seed the
equal of it Where the plague did they pick
up such a lot of elegant galls ? they are hor
rid pretty, I mu6t say : are they foreigners or
native* ?”
“ Natives,” said he, “ genu wine Jonathee
nas, all raised in Conne’ticut, and silver
skinned inions every soul of them. Would
you like to be introduced to them ?”
“ Well,” says I, “ I would that’s a fact, for
it’s enough to set a teller crazy a'most, actillv
ravin’ distracted mad with pleasure, the sioffit
of so many splendid little fillies, ain’t it ?”
“ Welk come along with me, then,” said
he, “jist foller me, and I’ll take you round
there.” i&o out we goes into the entry, and
follers along into a dark passage, a pretty dif
ficult navigation it was too, among trap-doors,
and boxes, and broken steps, and what not;
and arter a while we enters a great onfar
nished barn of a room alongside of the stage,
and there was the players, and dancers, and
singers, and ever so many actin’ people.—-
AV ell, it was a wonderful sight, too; p’raps,
in all my born days I never see any thing to
equal it. I never was so staggered. I don’t
think all my starin’ put together would come
up to the great big endurin’ stare I then gave.
J was onfakillised, that’s a fact. I stood for
the whole blessed space of five minutes with
out movin’ or speakin’. At last one of the
dancin’ gals came a-figerin’ up to me a horn
pipin’ and a singin’, and dropt me a low curt
shee.
“Well, my old rooster,” said she, “the next
time you see me, I hope you will know me;
where did you lam manners, .tarin’ so like all
posseg. f”
Well, 1 warn’t used to town-bred gals, and
it took me all aback that, and struck me up a.l
of a heap, so I couldn’t stir or speak.
“Oh, fie, Julia,” said another, “hotv can
you!” end then cornin’ lip and tappin’ mo on
the shoulder with her fart, to wake me up like,
she said, “Pray, my good fellow, does your
mother know you’re oui?’ 4 rhe whole room
burst out a-larfin’ at me; but no, move or
speak I couldn’t, for I was spell-bound, I do
believe. There I stood as stiff as a trozeu
nigger, and all I could say to niyscjt was
“Heavens and airth!”
At last another gal, the best and lightest
dancer of them all, and one that I rather took
a leetle fancy to on the stage, she was so un
commonly spry and active, took a fiyin’ leap
right into the middle of the room, and lit
idown on one foot; and then balancin’ herseh
as she did on the stage with her hands, stretch
ed the other foot away out so far behind her.
; Well, arter perchin’ that way a minit or so, as
’ a bird does on the sprig of a tree, she sprung
agin, right forrard, and brought herself bolt
1 Upright on both feet jist afore me.
i “What will you give me, my young Coon,”
I said she, “if I show you the way!”
j “What way,” said lat last, a-scratching of
my head and a-pluckin’ up spunk enough to
! find ray tongue.
“The way out,” said she, “for you seem as
1 if you sorter lost your roatl, when you came
i in here.”
I thought every one in the room would
have gone into fits, they larfed so; they fairly
j screetched till they most loosened their teeth,
; all but her, and she looked as quiet as a baby.
“Well done, Angelica,” said the Major;
“what a wicked little devil you be!” and he
! put his arm around her waist and kissed her;
i and then said he, “waiter, lnlf-a-dozen iced
1 champaigne here to pay for Mr. Slick’s foot
| in’;” and if he and them gals didn’t tuck in
’ the wine in great style it’s a pity, that’s all.
Well, a glass or two of liquor on loosed the
hinges of my tongue, and sot me all right agin,
....a i jiu-u ni mtfjoKe unu enjoyea the iarr as
well as the best of them; for it won’t do to
get cross when fellers are running of their
rigs, it only makes them wus.
Arter a while we left ths theatre to go home,
and as we progressed down street, says the
Major to me.
“Well, Slick,” says he, “haw did you like
them little angels, the dancin’ gals? You
seemed as amazed as if yoif was jist born into
the world, arid looked rather stuck with them,
I thought piticularly Angelica; a neat little
article that, aint she? There’s no nonsense
about her; she is as straight as a shingle in
her talk, right up and down and no pretence.
I guess she has put ‘Sy Tupper’s spermaceti’
quite out, hante she!”
“It puts all creation out,” said I; “I never
was so stumpt afore since I was raised from a
. : seedlin’. Heavens and airth! only to think
; them nasty, tawdry, faded, yaller, jaded, paint
i ed drabs was the beautiful dancin’ gals of the
theatre! and them old, forrerd, impudent
heifers was the modest, graceful, elegant lit
tle cherubs that was on the stage an hour
afore; and then to think them nasty daubs
was like Genesee Falls. Lord, I could paint
them pictur’ scences better myself with a nig
ger wench’s house-mop, I could, l snore.”
Exactly,” says the Major, “you have been
‘behind the scenes’ you see, Sam, and you
have got a lessen not to trust to appearances
altogether. Rael life is one thing and stage
representation another. The world ‘behind
the scenes,’ and what is exhibited on the board
is as dilierent as day is from night. It tante
all gold that glitters in this life, 1 can tell you.
Jist so it is with ‘Sy Tupper’s young sperma
ceti;’ for I see you want to spikilate in iles
there.
\\ lien you double Cape Horn, as yer in hopesfortodo>
There’s a-plenty of sparni whale on the coast of Peru.
What a life for a man to be the wick of an ile
lamp, ain’t it? and have your wife snuffing you
with her fingers. It’s a bad as having your
onquesuonable ugly nose pulled. Oh yes,
take her by all means, onlv get ‘behind the
coonod in oc, ytiu nave only Seeu nei yeuui an
evenin’, and then she was actin’, rigged out
for a party, a-smilin’ and a-doin’ sweet and
pretty, and a-wearing of her company face,
and singin’ like a canary b rd. But go into
‘the green-room,’ see her of a mornin’, get a
peep at a family scene, drop in on ’em of a
sudden, onexpected like, and see the old cat
and her kitten a-caterwaulin’ and clapper
clawing each other till they make the fur fly,
and you wdl be just as much duinbfoundered
as you was at the dancin’ gals: you v. on’t
know her, that’s a fact; you’ll find that your
beautiful ‘spermaceti’ has turned out nothin’
but tallow, and damn bad tallow too. Such
critters run more than half to waste, and give
more greese than light, by a long chalk. “But
come,” said he, “s’posin’ you and me settle
our little account, for short reckonings make
long friends, as the savin’ is. First,” there is
your five dollar bet, then six bottles of iced
champaigne at three dollars each is eighteen
dollars more; and then two dollars more for
tickets, makes a total of twenty-five dollars;
do you undercumstand? Come into the ise
ter shop here, and plank the pewter, and I’ll
go sheer with you for a supper of iseters. It’s
a considerable of a dear lesson that: but it’s
the best you ever got, I know.”
“Dear!” said I, a-countin’ out of the money
to him, “I guess it is dear. If all my school
in’ in town-ways is to cost at that rate, I guess
I’ll have more lamin’ than capital when I get
through my trainin’. Twenty-five dollars for
being made a fool on, for them dancin’ gals to
laugh at for two hours, what a pretty go that
is, ain’t it? I must say, I don’t thaiik you a
bit, Major; it warn’t pretty at all.”
“Who the devil asked you for thanks!”
said he; “you have done better, you have paid
j tor it, man, and baughten wit is always the
| best; but you will thank one for it some o’
these days, see if you don’t. It’s better to be
made a fool on for two hours than for life. I
have known a feller silly enough to marry a
dancin’ gal afore now; but then he’d never
been ‘behind the scenes,’ as you have; yes,
it’s a valuable lesson that. Your old fogey of
a parson that you are always a-talkin’ of, old
Hop, Hope, something er other, may preach
away to you till he is blind, but he can’t larn
you any thing equal to that. It’s a lesson
trom life, and a lesson from life is worth a
hundred sarmons. In everything a’most,
Sam, in this world, consider you are either de
ceived or liable to be deceived, and that you
can’t trust even the evidences of your own
senses, unless you ‘look behind the scenes.’
j But come,” said he, “preaching is not my
trade, let us walk into half a bushel of these
iseters; they are rael salts, they come from
Nova Scotia, a'd better than any we have, or
the British either:” and we sot to and did
justice to them, at least he did, you may de
pend. He walked into ’em as a duck does a
June bug. He could open, pepper, and swal
ler a dozen to my one, tor somehow I never
could get my knife into the jint of one until
arter half an hour’s bunglin’—l hadn’t got
the knack.
“You don’t seem to like them,” said he at
last, a-drawing breath and a-swalle¥in’ a gill
of pure whiskey; “p’raps you are too patriotic
to eat blue nose's iseters, and prefer the free
citizens of our own beds?”
“No,” said I, “tante that; I can’t open
them, they are so oncommon tight about the
jaws.”
“Hem! 1 ’ said he, “I forgot that. You ne
ver seed an iseter, I do suppose, or a dancin’
gall nother afore to-night. Do as I do, youn
ker; this is the way, freeze down solid to it,
square up to it, as if you was a-goin’ to have
an all outdoor light of it,” and he slipped ’em
out o’ the shells into his mouth as fast as a
man dealin’ cards, until he fairly finished ail
we had.
“You don’t drink,” said he, “now that’s not
wholesome; you ought to take enough of the
neat liquor to make “em float light on the
stomach;” and he just tipt off the balance of
the whiskey without winkin’. “An!” said he,
making a wry face, “that’s no go; that last ise
ter was not good, it's ujssot me a-mos'; call
tor some more, and I’.l be in agin in a minit;
I must go into tba air, for I feel dizzy. Well,
I cailed for some more iseters and some more j
whiskey, and 1 sot and worked away at my ;
leisure, and waited for him to come back and !
pay his share of the shot. \V ed, I waited
and waited for ever so long, till I e’en a’most
fell asleep, and still no major. At last Ibe
gan to get tired, so I knocs on the table with
the handle of a knife for the nigger help.
“Snowball,” says I, “have you seen any
thing of the Major? where on aiTih is he! [’nie
waitin’ for him to settle the bill.”
“Massa hab to wait, den, one berry long
time, sar: de last iseter, sar, he always fix Ma
jor’s flint, sar, and make him cut h;s stick.
You won’t see li.m nu more sar,” and lie grin
ned from ear to ear like a chessy-cat. De
bill is four dollars, massa, and a quarter dollar
for Snowball.”
“llem!”says I to myself, “a nod is as good
as a wink to a blind horse: I see it now, I’m
bilked; so I paid it, and said no more on the
subject. That was another “peep behind the
scenes,” that “he who incurs jinta expenses
should look to the honesty and solvency of his
partners.”
I did’nt grudge the money for what I larned
that night, altho’ it come to a horrid sum, too
—twenty-nine dollars and a quarter —lor it’s
worth every cent of it, that’s a fact. But what
did touch me to the quick was this: he drew
the wool so over my eyes about Desire Tap
per, that I oin up a-going there and then he
cut in there and got the prize hisself-—lie did
upon my soul! All that talk about her tem
per was made out of whole cloth, and got up
a-purpose, along with her nick-name of “Sper
maceti,” to put me out of consait of her, and
it answered the purpose most beautiful. \es,
he did me most properly all the way through
the chapter; but, p’aps, in will all turn out
right in the long run, for I was too young then
to marry, or to handle so much money, lor
light come is plaguy apt to turn out “light go;”
but, at the time, I was most peskily ryled, I
tell you; and if I had a-seen him while I was
so oncommon wrathy, I do believe in my soul,
I should have tanned his jacket for him, so that
he would have been a caution to behold. I
am a good nater’d man, and can bear spittin’
on; but hang me if I can stand and have it
rubbed in. I did’nt know what to do when I
got home, whether to tell the story or not; but
I knew it would leak out, and thought my own
varsion of it would be the best, so I jist ups
and tells farther all about it, from first to last.
He is a nasty, dirty, low-lived, mean feller, says
father, and a disgrace to the commission,
though one comfort is, heain’t a reg’lar and
never seed sarvice, and I despise an officer
that lias never smelt powder. No man in the
county but a veteran desarves the name of a
soldior, and them, it ain’t no vanity to say, are
the first troops in the universe,—for the Bri
tish have whipped all the world and we whip
ped thorn. Yes, he is a scoundrel, said the
old man; but still the information you got is
worth havin.’ It is a knowledge of the world,
and that is invaluable; although, from what
I’ve seed in the wars, I am most afeerd a man
of the world ain’t a man of much heart in a
giueral way. Still the knowin’ it is worth the
lamin’ it. Acquire it, Sam, if you can; but
you musn’t pay too dear for it. Now the Me
jor ginmore for his wit than you.”
“Possible?” said I; “why, how : s that?”
“ Why,” says lather, “he bought his at the
expense of his character, and the leastest mor
sel of character in the world is worth more
nor all that is to be larnt behind the scenes.
From the Rochester Democrat of Thursday.
Four hours of Peril and Terror—Res
cue FROM THE BRINK OF THE CATARACT-
We have heard of many “awful situations”
and “Providential rescues,” but never of a
situation more truly awful than that which we
are about to describe nor of a rescue in all
respects more strikingly Providential.
izl.-jj, uic nanus empiujeu mine
flouring mill of Avery and Thurber, just above
the Middle Falls of the Genesee, in the
North part of this city, after dark, a few even
ings since took the skiff belonging to the mill,
and without communicating his design to any
one, attempted to cross the river. For the
purpose of improving the water janver at that
point, a dam has been thrown across, a few
feet above the middle cataract, and at low wa
ter the current for some distance above the
dam is slight. When the water is high, how
ever, a strong current sets over the dam
through its whole length, and then none but a
person accustomed to manage a boat can push
one across. The river was very high on the
evening in question. To add to the difficulty
Mr. Kidd had but little experience in the use
of oars, and when about half across, ha lost
command of the boat, and found to his horror
that he was rapidly drifting with the current,
which he could not doub , would sweep him
with his light skill’ over the dam.
The dam, as we have remarked, is a few
feet above the Middle Falls, the perpendicu
lar descent of which is twenty-five leet. A
few rods farther down are the Lower Falls,
with a perpendicular descent of eighty-four
feet. Between the dam and Middle Fall?, as
well as between the two cataracts the current
is exceedingly rapid and rough. Once over
the dam, therefore, his destruction was sealed,
for even should his frail bark survive the
plunge over the dam and the descent of the
Middle Falls and live through the intervening
rapids and rocks to the brink of the Lower
Falls, it could not, nor could the strongest
vessel that ever floated, survive the awful
plunge eighty-four feet down that tremen
dous cataract.
Mr. Kidd was perfectly acquainted with the
localities, and fully aware of the awful perils
Jof his situation. In the darkness of the night
ther was no eye save the eye of Him to
whom the midnight is as noon day, that could
see, and no hand save His that could save
him; and a speedy and terrible death seemed
inevitable. But that eye did see, and that
hand was stretched out to save, and guided
his little vessel to a point of tiie dam some
what higher than the rest; where, after shoot
ing nearly half way over, it grated and finally
stuck last.
But the terrors of his situation were even
now but slightly alleviated. The river lnd
j been rising for some days, and he had reason
jto suppose was still rising. His boat, rocked
by the current, which was sweeping under
| and around it, assuring him how evenly bal
anced it was upon the pivot, how slight an ad
ditional force would be sufficient to destroy
its equipoise, and how small a rise of water
would be sufficient to lift it off
A wave raised by a gust of wind even, or
the gust of wind itself might throw it from its
balance, and consign it and him to the terri
ble destruction over which they were sus
pended as by a sing c hair. Before and be
hind and around him were the mad waters of
the swollen Genesee, plunging by successive
leaps among the crags and down the catar
acts into the dark, yawning chasm below the
Lower Falls, overhung with their cloud of
spray whicn even then .oil upon him, and
sending up their stunning and terrific roar, as
if spreading the pail and si unding the requiem
of the.r intended victim! How small appear
ed his chance of escape! But
•‘Hojte springs eternal in the human breast.”
and its fountains were not congealed in the
bosom of him who then most needed its genial
influence, even by the terrors which surround
ed him for the four hours during which his
final rescue was delayed.
He commenced shouting for help, and
though no voice answered him from the shore,
and though the roar of the waters almost
drowned his own, he continued it, resting at
intervals to gather strength to give more ener
gy to his shouts, for about three hours; at the
end of which the master miller, talcing his
rounds outside the mill, to see if all was safe,
before retiring for the night, heard one of his
cries. He supposed that it was from some
person on the opposite side of the river, and
was at first disposed to disregard it. lie heard
the voice again, and thinking that it sounded
like a voice of distress, determined to cross
over, and afford what re lie! might be in his
power.
He ran down for his boat and finding it gone
and the cries being continued, he returned, to
the mill and rallied the hands. It was then
found that Mr. Kidd was missing, and the
truth respecting him was at once conjectured.
On going down to the bank of the river, one
of the party after a while discovered a dark
spot on the edge of the dam, and no doubt now
remained of Kidd’s situation.
To rescue him from it, if possible, was now
the object. Sometime was spent in trying to
j construct a raft; but ‘as 1 an attempt to bring
i him off by a craft so unmanageable would be
attended ‘with vastly more danger to those
making it, than the chances of deliverance to
him, the project was abandoned.
One of the party now volunteered an at
tempt which his courage made successful.—
With a long pole in his hands, and with a long
rope made last by one end to his body, which
his comrades were to pay out as he advanced,
and with which he was to be drawn back if
necessary, he bravely ventured into the water.
Making his way slowly and cautiously along
the inner slope of the dam, he at length reach
ed the boat, still suspended and swimming
with its half doomed passenger where it was
first so providentially moored; and by means
of. rope, pole and oars, the whole were safely
brought ashore, and Mr. Kidd was restored as
it were to l.fe, atter enduring the mental suf
ferings, the perils and terrors of his awful sit
uation, more painful if possible than death it
seli, for about four houft. Some idea of his
intense sufferings during that time may be
derived from the fact that he has been ill in con
sequence of them ever since.
We have not learnt the name of the brave
and generous man through whose agency his
rescue was accomplished.
Origin of the Quarterly B.evieu>. —The
idea originated with no other person than
S.r Walter Scott. Sir Walter, then Mr.
Scott, hod for some lime previously—indeed
almost ever since its commencement in 1802
—entertained a dislike to the “Edinburgh
Review,” partly on personal and partly on
political grounds. To use his own peculiar,
but graphic phraseology, in a letter to his
brother, Thomas Scott, when soliciting bis
services, as contributor to the embryo ‘Quar
terly,’ lie ‘owed Jeffrey a flap with a fox-tail,
on account of bis review ol ‘Marmion.” The
objections which Sit- Walter had always en
tertained to the ‘Edinburgh Review’ on ac
count of its politics, attained their climax, on
the appearance in the number (the 26‘tli) for
October, 1803, of an article entiled ‘Don Cev
allos on the Usurpation of Spain, ’ written by
Lord Brougham, then Mr. Henry. Brougham,
a young barrister, cdnffj'taralively unkovvn to
lame. Sir Walter was so indignant at and
disgusted with this article, that he had no
sooner completed its perusal, than he wrote
to his bookseller to withdraw his name from
the list of subscribers to the ‘Edinburgh Re
view.’ Scott now resolved on entering prac
tically, and in earnest, into the views Tie had
tor some time before entertained of starting a
periodical in opposition to the great northern
literary and political Leviathan.
Among those with whom lie commnicated
on the subject were the then Lord Advocate
of Scotland, the Right Hon. John Campbell
Colquhon and Mr. Channing. The latter
gentleman entered cordially into the project,
and engaged not only to furnish such impor
tant information to the new journal as should
at once raise it to a distinction unapproacha
ble by any of its contemporaries for the earli
ness, accuracy and,amplitude and importance
of its intelligence of all matters of states; but
:|Un tin Lrtoob 4 . hi. .... wuotwuu |ui if
cle from his own pen. The contributors on
whom Scott principally relied for stated as
sistance when engaged tn the project orbring
ing out his ‘Quarterly, ’ were his well known
political friends the two Roses, Ellis. Heber,
Frere, Malthas, Matthias,, &c. And last,
though not least, a publisher [as has been
already hinted] was found in the person of
the voting, intelligent, and enterprising Mr.
Murray, a bibliopole who was not onlv ac
cording to Mr. Scott’s own heart, in the
matter of his political opinions, but whose
personal qualities yfere admired and esteemed
bv the embryo author of the Waverlv series
of fictions.
The editorship of the Quarterly Review
was confided to the .[ate Mr. Grifford, the au
thor of the ‘Baviadj. and other works; but
who was better know among his literary
friends for the severity, sarcasm, and point of
his criticism in periodicals, than he was to the
public as author.
The Quarterly Review started at once in
to a prosperous existence, and has ever since
been a source not only of great pecuniary
profit, hot of much personal influence in the
literary and bibliopolic world, to Mr. Mur
ray.
Influence of the sudden acquisition of
Wealth. — l have frequently noticed that
men who have been very poor, fall, when
they become suddenly rich into one of the two
extremes of imprudent expenditure, or exces
sive saving. The happy medium is only the
result of becoming gradually accustomed to
the change. Willi many, however, the mean
ness is merely accidental, as if there were a
a necessity lor restraining the benevolence of
the disposition by an eccentric course. One
of Ihe most eminent surgeons in London who
had struggled with poverty for many years,
became by a single operation almost a rich
man; and his reputation being fixed, his fees
in a single year far exceeded the amount of
what he had earned in the whole of his pre
ceding career. This gentleman had received
from a grateful patient in the country a pre
sent of hams ami poultry, and about three
hundred eggs. When the hamper was un
packed, my wife was present. “Does
like eirgsr” said ihe surgeon; “these are very
fine.” My wile replied in the affirmative,
and supposed, of course, consideiing the in
timacy of our acquaintance, that he would
have sent one of his servants with a liundmJ
at least to my housg. Deliberately examin
ing his stock, he laid Lis hand upon a large
egg, and said, “Well, give him that.” My
wife was inclined to take this as a joke, but
no joke was intended; and he appeared much
hurt when his own Wile reproached him with
his meanness. This gentleman, on that very
day, had travelled six miles to perform a gra
tuitous operation, and. as I afterwards learn
ed, had-left two guineas on the table lor the
use of his poor patient. Many months after
this circumstance occurred, I ventured to re
monstrate with him various little acts of
meanness which he had .committed. His an
swer was, ‘3 feel the lofce of all that you say;
but there are moments when the remem
brance of mv own sufferings come over me
to such an extent, that in the dread—an im
probable belief, you will sav—of a return to
the deep misery of which i have felt, I ima
gine that an act of generosity is almost a
crime. ThatJ am insane at such times can
not he denied; but, alas! who can explain
the various aliases of ihe human mind?”
Frazer's Magazine far October.
Sugar. —lt is feared that the sugar crop
has been materially injured by the frost of the
last few days. The crop promised to be a ve
ry fair one. A continuance of cold weather
must c-ut off in a measure the prospects of the
planter.— A'eu- Orleans Bee, 27//: irit.
A soldier, who was once wounded in battle,
set up a terrible bellowing. An Irishman who
laid near with his lego shot ortj immediately
sung out, “Bad luck to the likes: of.ve—do ye
think nobody is kilt but yourself.”
SENTINEL & HERALD. :
COLUMBUS, DEC. 9, IS4O.
“ Tnis Institution is one of the mo-t deadly hostility
existing against the principles and form of our Consti- ,
tutxon. The nation is. at this time.so strong and united
in its sentime ts, that it cannot beshaken at this mo
ment. But suppose a series of untoward events should
occur, sufficient to bring into doubt the competency oj a
Republican Government to meet a crisis of great dan
ger. or to unhinge the confidence of the people in the
pub'ic functionaries; an institution like this penetrating
by .ts branches every part of the union, acting by com
mand and in phalanx , may in a critical moment, upset
the government. I deem no government safe, which is
under the vassalage of any self constituted authorities,
or any other authority than that of the nation , or its reg
ular functionaries. IVhat an obstruction could not this
Bank of the United Stales, with all its branch bunks,
be in time of war ? It might dictate to us the peace we
should accept, or withdraw its aid. Ought we then to
sive further growth to an institution so powerful, so
hostile ? —Thomas Jefferson.
Tha absence of the editor, &.c. &.c. &lz.
Ladie's Fair. —The ladies of the Presby
terian Church will hold their annual fair on
Tuesday evening* the 22J inst., at the Granite
Buildings, on Oglethorpe street. A great va
riety of ornamental and useful articles will
be offered for sale. The proceeds to be ap
plied, as usual, to charitable purposes.
An Oratorio of 6acred Music will be given
by Baron DeFleur in the Episcopal Churchon
Thursday evening, 10th inst.
This will be the last opportunity the citizens
of this place will have of hearing the Baron,
all, therefore, who are fond of music, will not
fail to attend.
COTTON MARKET.
For a week past our cotton market has been
animated, a larger quantity than usual having
been received. There is no reason, however,
to doubt that the crop will fall 25 per cent,
short of that of last year.
Sales have been effected during the week
as high as 9 for extra fine. Prices gene
rally range from 8 to 8 1-2
Charleston quotations of latest dates are
9 a 10, for good to prime.
The River — Steamboats. —.The recent rains
and consequent rise of the river, have given a
now impulse to business. Three boats left our
wharf o i Sunday morning, with good freights.
The Oceola cast off her bow line about one
o’clock, crowded with passengers; jolly fel
lows on the hurricane, and youth and beauty
in the stern. We longed to go along , but alas!
long ago, “we’ve in our pockets felt a chilling
void.” We “could’nt come it,” and as the
Oceola’s smoke ascended spi ally to Heaven’s
blue vaul% while her gallant course she held,
we puffed a “gentle Havana,” and. turning to
ward the city, meditated on the vanity of hu
man hopes and human ambition.
Freight — Cotton-^dawn, —sl.
FLORIDA JOURNAL.
A handsome paper with the above title
reached us this morning. It is edited (ably)
by J. B. Webb, Esq., formerly of the Sentinel
&. Herald. In literature and light stuff', the
editor is at home, and we have read the off
hand emanations of his vivid fancy with de
light. Barring his singular opinion with re
gard to the “eloquence o f thought’’ and, a cer
tain red-hot whig mania , Webb will do.
The message of Gov. Henagan was trans
mitted to both Houses of the Legislature of
South Carolina on, the 21th urt. After some
feeling and respectful remarks upon, the de
ni se of Gov. Noble, by which event he suc
ceeded to the Executive chair, Gov. H.
speaks with regard to the solvency of the
banks generally, and animadverts with severi
ty upon the suspension of specie payments by
those institutions. Gov. Henagan expresses
hostility to a protective tariff, and takes a no
ble stand for Van Buren. Even though the
effort be fruitless, untrammeled Carolina res
ponds to the call.
His remarks upon the “Free School Sys
tem,” &.c. are excellent, and we are sorry a
press of time and matter excludes their publi
cation.
presidential election.
COMPLETE.
H. V. B.
Maine, 10 00
New Hampshire, 00 7
j Vermont, 7 00
Massachusetts, 14 00
Rhode Island, 4 00
Connecticut, 8 00
New York, 42 00
New Jersey, 8 00
Pennsylvania, 30 00
Delaware, 3 00
Maryland, 10 00
Virginia, 00 23
North Carolina, 15 00
South Carolina, 00 11
Georgia, 11 00
Arkansas, 00 3
Louisiana, 5 00
Ohio, 21 00
Kentucky, 15 00
Indiana, 9 00
Tennessee, 15 00 j
Mississippi, 4 00 1
Michigan, 3 001
Missouri, IK) 4 j
Illinois, 00 5!
Alabama, 00 7
I
234 00;
Whole number of electoral votes, 294; ne- I
cessary to a choice, 148 votes.
Harrison, 234
Van Buren, 00
Harrison’s majority, 174
Pennsylvania Special Election . —Perry and
Juniata counties give McClure, V. 8., for Con
gress, in place ol Mr. Ramsey deceased, about
2800 majority; Cumberland county, 1615 ma
jority. There was in fact no regular opposi
tion to McClure.
The Remains of Napoleon. —The N. York
Journal of Commerce of the 30th uk. says—
We learn from Captain Hunt, of the ship Tar
quin, from Manilla, via St. Helena, that a
French frigate, the Belle Poule, was at the
latter place for the purpose of conveying to
France the remains of Napoleon. The disin
terment was to take place on the 15 h of Oc
tober.
An attempt is making in Texas to reform
the currency. Gen. Kami lion’s siren nous en
deavors to negotiate a loan with Great Britain,
will probably expedite that important mea
sure.
‘You’ll find no change in me,’ as the L T nited
States Bank said just after borrowing j£Boo,-
000 .-n England.
For the Stn'iml Herald. j’
Musses. Editors:
The great struggle for the Presidential
chair being over and the Republican party in j
these United States again i:i power, may we
not look forward with glad anticipations and’
firm confidence when the abuses oi the gov- |
eminent wili he reformed, its expenditures re
trenched, tranquility restored, commerce in
creased, and happiness and prosperity once
more t rown this happy land of liberty; then j
shall the rascally office holders be driven into
Texas , put where the devil drove the hogs or
be scattered to the lour winds of Heaven. A i
United States bank be established, the peo
ple’s debts all paid and every man from Maine !
to New O leans sit down quietly in his own j
log cabin, the string of his latch not pulled in,
his coon shins and red pepper hung out at his
door, drink as much hard cider as he pleases,
and no marshal, she rdf, or bailiff to molest or
make him afraid. Glorious and happy times
if the Washington of the west can and will
effect these things. That the administration
of the government needs reform, tiiere is not
in my opinion a single doubt; and that the
needful remedy may be speedily applied, is
my earnest wish—but. tiiat the pecuniary em
barrassments and present distresses of the
people which threaten the dest net on and fi
nal overthrow of this government is attribu
table to the policy pursued by the present ad
ministration, lam far from believing. The
disordered and ruinous situation of the coim-
try is to be found in the main, in partial un
wise, interested and unconstitutional legisla
tion in the States. In chartering banks and
incorporating companies with banking privile
ges and suffering these unconstitutional insti
tutions to draw from circulation and lock up
in their vaults the precious metals which the
constitution expressly declares shall only lea
lawful tender in payment of debts, and flood
ing the country with irredeemable bank paper
as a substitute for money, refusing to redeem
their paper when presented, in violation of
their charters and insulting the laws of the
country with impunity. I have no sort of ob
jection to a bank or banks, State or United
States, with as many dollars in .gold and sil
ver as the bank shall issue in paper, redeem
able with gold and silver at all times on de
mand under the strictest and heaviest penal
ties of the law. A man makes his promissory
note for ten dollars due on demand. The bear
er makes demand and payment is delayed,
law is resorted to forthwith, his property is
seized, sold, and the man perhaps in default of
•full satisfaction, is cast into prison, shut out
from the society of the world, in solitary con
finement, and can only be seen like we look
at a monkey in a show behind the grates. Not
so with a bank, they issue and put in circula
tion three dol Jars, and some of them a great
many more than three for every dollar of the
real simmi pare that they say they have in
bank; these bills read: The President and Di
rectors and company of the hank of .
promise to pay A B or bearer, ten dollars on
demand, (in gold and silver of course.) The
bearer of this bill presents it at bank when it
is made payable and demands the Rhino, but
stop!, have you not heard that the bank has
suspended specie payment! we cannot redeem
the bill with gold and silver, we have not got
the article yet. 1 have never seen a bank nor
its officers in jail for refusing to pay specie fer
its bills. Now suppose the man who made
his promissory note for ten dollars, when de
mand of payment was made had given such
an. insulting, impudent answer, would he not
have been in danger of having some of his
teeth knocked down his throat, and have com
pletely established his character for a fool?
Let me tell you what happened to me a lew
years ago when the old Macon bank w-ent
down; I had a few dollars on that bank and yet i
liavethein, and for- which I worked with my
own naiius; i was cnisseiea out or every cent
of if. Since that time 1 was Jo Wheeler id out
of fiity-tvvo dollars and a half in a hundred
dol ar bill—in add.tion to th-se thing.--, I have
been decently shaved several times on bills of
other banks; these things (I think.) ought not
so to be. 1 therefore, as an humble individu
al, though one of the freemen of Georgia, not
presuming to dictate, but merely to express a
hope that the present Legislature will com
mence and carry out the work of reformatio .
If former Legislatures have been amiss in
their duty it is to be, hoped the present will
not; but laying aside all former prejudices and
party distinctions, jo n heart and hand in the
good work. A vast field for the deliberation and
action of the assembled wisdom of the State
presents itself, the constitution requires the
establishment and organizato.i if a supreme
court for the correction of errors. The free
men of Georgia have spoken in langurge not
to be misunderstood, that they are in favor of
Biennial sessions of the Legislature. The
people from the seaboard to the mountains
are indignant at the course pursued by Ihe
banks in relation to the suspension of specie
payments. The exigences of the times re
quire great economy in the ap ropriation and
disbursement of Ihe public moneys lor the
construction of rail roads or any other works
of internal improvements. In the present em
barrassed and disprgan zed state of the finan
ces, the salaries of the public officers and pay
of the members of the Legislature ought to
be reduced—rthese things, it does appear to
ms, the people have a right to expect will he
done, and if they are not strictly and promptly
attended to, I should not be surprised if Van
Buren, Sub-Treasury, Log Cabins, Hard Ci
der, Coon Skins,and red pepper should prove
unavailing with many of the present Legisla
! ture to make tiro port of Miliedgeville on the
j first Monday in November next.
Your friend and fellow citizen,
G RRY GRK E.
Henry county, Nov. 23,1840.
LATE FROM TEXAS.
By the steam ship Savannah from Galves
ton, we have dates to the 22d from Texas, j
The news is but of little importance.
President Lamar has been advised by his j
medical attendants to seek another climate, i
as the only chance of a restoration to his .
health, llis disease is said to b.a dropsy.
Col. Moore had been invited to a public bar
bacue in Austin, in compliment to bis gallant
operations against the Indians—but he decli- :
ned the honor, saying .that he and his fellow
soldiers were only desirous to rejoin their fami
lies at home.
The Galveston papers say that the repor
that the Zavalla was aground or wrecked, is
entirely erroneous; and that if any steamer i
was injured it must have been the Argyle, the !
Mexican steamer, but they know nothing of
the fact.
A Mexican Priie.-nr The Mexican schooner
Ann Maria, a Mexican merchant vessel, arri
ved in Galveston on the 18 h inst., Charles
Phillips, prize master. The Ann Maria was
captured on her voyage from Tampico to Vera
Cruz, by the Texian schr. San Antonio, Lt. A.
Moore, commander. The cause of the capture
is as follows:—About the 12th of October]
las\ while the commodore w. s laying at a little ‘
island called Lopez, a severe Norther came !
on, by which a Mexican brig was dm.en a
shore and wrecked. The commodore imme
diately sent his boats to the assistance of the
vessel, and saved the passengers and crew,!
29 in number, and part of the cargo. Some •
idea may be formed of the violence of the gale,;
when it is stated that all the anchors of the
Commodore’s ship were barely sufficient to ‘
keep her from dragging, and that it took the i
boat sent to her ter relief from 9 A. M. till 5 ;
P. M. to reach lhe wreck. Commodore Moore
sailed immediately for Tampico, and on his
arrival landed the passengers and crew in i
safety.
The next day, however, being short of wa- I
ter, he sent one of his boats ashore to get a j
supply. And when ihe boat had got within;
reach of the fort at Tampico, she was fired
upon and driven back. Corn. Moore concci- j
red this to be an indignity which called for re
taliation; and he issued orders to the squad
ron to make seizures of Mexican property
wherever found upon the high seas. The
cargo of the wrecked vessel, w r hich he in
tended to have landed that day, consisting of
flour and coffee, he retained as lawful spoil. A
few days after the San Antonio parted com
pany with the sloop of war, and went on a
cruise. She set the flag of the United States
as a s gna!, which the Ann Maria answered
by running up Mexican colors. The San An
tonio then bore down upon her, and captured
her, after firing one gun. Her cargo consist
ed of 129 bags of coffee, 297 bbls. flour, 26
boxes dry goods, and 2 bbls. spirits turpen
tine. The Ann Maria, on her arrival in the
.port of Galveston, w as libelled in the judicial
tribunal, and it was th ught would be decla
red a good prize. The vessel, on a survey,
w-as reported to be in a leaky condition and
j unseaworthy—tbs vessel and cargo were ap
; praised, and ordered to be sold.
Later from Mexico. —The Texian trage
dy turns out to be no tragedy at all. We co
py the following later intelligence from the-
Bulletin of yesterday, which puts the saddle
on quite the other horse, and kills 400 Mexi
cans instead of 114 Texians. We hope this
may be confirmed, for although we think the
Texian volunteers had no particular business
in Mexico, we are rejoiced at their escape, at
their bravery and devotion, worthy of the
Anglo-Saxon race.
From the Bulletin of yesterday.
I Later from Mexico.—Retreat of the.
Xenophons! —Slaughter of the Murderers—
| and escape of the Ttxian Patriots. —Since our
publication of yesterday, in which the .accounts
from our correspondent at Matamoras, left
| nioie than 109 young Texians at Saltillo,
| about to bo sacrificed at the shrine of coward
h’G—we have conversed with a passenger
lroin Texas by the New York, Mr. Ed. Dwy
j er, ot San Antonio, who has communicated to
us some new- and heart-cheering facts. Mr.
1). was only six days from San Antonio to-
Houston, and on the journey put up at a
house where Col. Jordan, (the commander of
the 114 Texians w hom the Mexicans had
planned to murder) had just before stopped for
i refreshment. Mr. Dwyer learned, and has no
i doubt of the correctness of the information,,
that when the Texians became convinced of
the intentions of the Mexicans, they retired*
themselves to a walled enclosure in the vi
cinity, determined to face the worst.
At this time the citizens of the place, con
sidering the contest at an end, opened their
houses and shops and gave the soldiers what
ever they w shed to eat or drink. The con
sequence was, that the bulk of them* got
beastly drunk; and in this situation they were
ordered by their commander to attack the out
laws, (as the Texians were termed.) The
battle commenced about 2 P. M. and lasted
near 9 hours. The Texians were well pro
tected from the fire of the assailants—a tub
were moreover well armed, and abundantly
supplied with ammunition. The result was,
that the ignorant and intoxicated cowards who.
assailed them, incapable of inflicting injury..
were slaughtered on all hands. At thisjunc
ture, the besiegod sallied forth and captured
j three pieces of artillery, which they turned
[ upon the enemy, and mowed them down like
grass. More than FOUR HUNDRED of
the treacherous foes were left lifeless on the
ground on that night, by this small branch of
the Anglo-Saxon race.
The Texians, having cleared the field, sup
plied themselves with apparel (of which they
were much in want) and other spoils of victo
ry, and commenced tho-ir march homeward,
| and pursued their way without molestation,
having lost only four companions killed ip the
j and one who died from disease,
j O’ In confirmation of this account, the
I Bulletin appends the translation of a letter to
I I he same point, lorvyardyd by its correspondent
at Matamoras. it agrees substantially, as far
as it goes, with the news yf Mr. {). ft iuj leaven
no doubt that the Texian Volunteers have
slain 1 heir enemies; and returned in, safely tq
their houses.
From the Pennsylvania^,
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE, PAYMENT.
! The deep interest felt on this subject,, by all|
j classes of the community, is abundant proof
ol its paramount importance. It is by n/x
means surprising that it is viewed in different
lights by different individuals. To the ultra
bank men, the 15th of January appears to be.
! a day fraught with ruin and distress, while to.
the cool, clear sighted democratic advocates
of the law and of bank reform, it seems to be.
; merely a day when justice, Jong delayed, is to.
jbe again measured out to the people, The
extravagant notions of the bank partisans,
; would astonish us, did we not so often witness
their de usion. They have made propositions
ii various quarters, to postpone the day of re-
I sumption for six months,, lor a year, and even
■ fra o ger period. A correspondent of a
j neighboring paper, professing to he democra
i tic, has suggested Ihe postponement for a year,
and even indulges the hope of obtaining the.
sanction ol the Legislature and of Gov. Por
ter. No one who will take ihe trouble to read
Gov. Porter’s letter to the citizens of Pifts-.
burg, written during the month of September
las , can lor a moment entertain this belief. In
that feiter, the Governor stated distinctly that
he would not yield his assent to any law for
the further procrastination of the resumption.
He st ted also that the day fixed, was in his
opinion, too remote at the time, and he could
not and would not postpone it. By this letter
fail notice was given to the banks and to the
pubic, o the course the Governor would pur*
sue, and if all are nol prepared for it, the fault
belongsgto them, or to the system on which the
bnt ing institutions are organized. We have
availed oursejves of the opportunity afforded
j by the visit of the Governor to this City, to as
j certain whether Ins views on this grave sub
ject remain unchanged, and it affords us much
| pleasure to be able to assure our readers on
the best authority, that no postponement of the
day ot resumption beyond the 15th of Janua
iry next, will receive his approbation. He is as
anxious as any one can be, to relieve the c im
munity from embarrassment and distress, but
he is not of the opinion that it is the true mode
ol ministering the relief, to entail upon us for
a day longer than is already allowed, ‘he hope
less evils of the present suspension. The
; Governor and his friends had confidently be
l.eved, that after his Pittsburg letter above re
■ ferred to, no idle hopes would be indulged, by
mo banks, of any further acquiescence on
the part of Governor Porter, in the present
but if they are determined to de
lude themselves, and to try to delude the pub
lic, in the very teeth of the Governor’s assu
rance to the contrary, they must be permitted
to solace themselves with their own folly, and
legj-n when the day of trial arrives,'how utter
ly groundless have been their anticipations.
A F xcv Sketch.— How calmly he sleeps.
A blossom of two soft summers—innocent
[and pure; the pillow is not fairer than that
I white brow; the first rose of spring time is
{ net mere delicately tinted than that round,
; transparent cheek. llow beautiful to gaze
; upon; those glossy ringlets lie not more still
:han is the peace of the young heart within.
Not a shadow has yet broken the morning sun,
l.ghtof existence, and a calm as of angels
rests softly upon the infant’s path. ’Tis beau
timl indeed; what heart can seethe sleeping
babe, and not feel a calming purifying emo
tion steal over the troubled waters of the spi
rit. And the young mother, with what a
blushing pride does she pause over the cradle
of her sleeping child. Ah! that kiss—sofer
ven\ so sweet, so full of love—so—
Ba-a-a-a-a-a-a! 00-o-o-o-o-o-o—a-a!
Ahem! Mrs. Smith had’nt you better call
the nurse and let her take this child out?
R ich maul Star.