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£imfs avto Smtiml.
COLUMBUS, |
WEDNESDAY MORNING. APRIL 25
Hon. Robert Toombs.
This distinguished gentleman arrived in this city on
Sunday last and will rernaiu in this vicinity a few days. !
We have reason to believe that bis position in reference to
the Know Nothings has been grossly misrepresented j
by tl.e Chronicle cj* Sentinel , and that the Columbus
Enquirer has thereby been put on a wrong scent. This i
is the more inexcusable as Mr. Toombs is one of the
most outspoken men in Georgia. Whatever may be j
his faults, concealment and duplicity are not among ‘
them, and on this account we were slow to give cre
dence to the rumor that he sympathized with the Know
Nothings. Besides, it is well known that Mr. Toombs
severed his long connection with the glorious old Whig
party because it ignored slavery, and it would be mon
strous if he were to join a secret political scciety that
does the same thing. lie spurned the offered hand of
Sew'ard in the open Senate $ it is hardly to be credited
that he would take Wilson, Hale, Harlan and Turn
bull to his bosom in the secret places of the council
chambers of the Know Nothings. So firm is our
conviction upon this point that we will cheerfully join
with the Columbus Enquirer in a call upon Senator
Toombs to give us his views of the objects,
oaths and organization of the so-called American par
ty. If, however, the patty friends of the Senator re*
fuse to extend to him this courtesy, we assure him that
the Democracy of Columbus would be mo6t happy to
hear from him at Temperance Hall, at such time as
may suit his convenience. Every citizen is in duty
bound to give his aid in the dissemination of sound
principles, especially when new political combinations
are being formed, and we, therefore, trust we have not
overstepped the bounds of propriety in making this di
rect call upon our distinguished Senator. He owes it
to himself and his country to rebuke the attempt to use
his name to build up a party which he despises.
Funeral of Rishop Capers.
On Sunday, 22d inst , a very large audience assem
bled in the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city to
hear a funeral discourse upon the life and character of
William Capers, deceased, by Lovick Pikrck, of the
Georgia Conference. The occasion was a most inter
esting one, not only on account of the eminent virtues
of the deceased, but of the peculiar relations of the eu
logist and his subject. The reverend preacher was a
pioneer of Methodism and had personal experience of tho
life and character of William Capers from his boyhood
to the day of his death. The discourse, therefore, was
rich in personal anecdotes and was the more thrilling
as it reached back to the days of Francis Asbury, who
planted Methodism in the Southern States. Our space
will not allow us to give even an abstract of the dis
course. Cue or two of the venerable preacher’s remi
niscences must suffer.
William Capers was converted in 1818, just after he
graduated in South Carolina College. He belonged to
the old aristocracy of the Province of South Carolina.
In personal beauty he was unrivalled among his fellows.
In eloquence, learning, taste, and ail personal accom
plishments, he had no equal. His fellow citizens were
proud of him, and were shocked when it was announced
that young Capers had determined to give up all the
bright prospects that were open to 1.i3 ambition and
sacrifice himself to preaching tho gospel among the
despised Methodists. He was the first educated young
man who had ever entered the itineracy in tho South
ern States. He turned a deaf ear to all tho allure
ments of ambition and followed the call of duty, and it
is the opinion of Dr. Pierce that he did more than any
other man to break down the prejudice of the earlier
Methodists in the United Slates against an educated
ministry.
The power of his eloquence was illustrated by the
effect of an exhortation delivered in Putnam county,
Georgia, between IS2O-’25. It was at a camp
meeting at which there were three thousand persons
present. After a sermon had been delivered, he arose
to invite mourners to the altar, and preceded it by an
appeal of such power that when the invitation was given
the whole multitude, without an exception, fell upon
their knees.
In 1819**20, he was stationed in Savannah.—
During the summer the yellow fever broke out
and swept over the city as it did lust year. While oth
ers fled from their post, lH stood lbs ground, adminis
tering to the sick, comforting the distressed and bury
ing the dead. By his self sacrificing devotion and
eloquence he won the hearts of all and planted Metho
dism among a people who had hitherto despised it.
At the death of Dr. Pollock his congregation tendered
him his pulpit, which he of course declined. Bishop
Capers was the author of tile Mission to the Blacks in
the Southern States.
The following description of Bishop Capers must
close the article:
In person it was a pleasure to look upon him. so no
ble was his countenance and so faultless his proportions.
His voice was tuned to nelody and fell like upon
the ear. He had but to open his mouth and a stream
if simple and ornate doqutnce gushed forth as from an
ever living spring. His attainments, learning and man
ners fitted him to adorn courts and he would have
been the welcome associate of princes, and yet he
made himself at home in the hut of the backwoods
man who welcomed him as his equal and friend. In
all the varied relations and situations of Lis life, he
was the Christian gentleman, and never was guilty of
an act that wou’d not have been becoming in the most
cultivated and refined society. The boners and digni
ties that were heaped upon him by his grateful breth
ren never made tho slightest impression upon him : he
continued, to the end of his career, the same simple,
unpretending, laborious man as he was at the begin
ing. llis last words were, in reply to his weeping fam
ily, who refused to give him up, “Let me go to God.”
We spoil the beauty of the description by our para
phrase. We but give the ideas. It, as well as the
whole discourse, was worthy of the fame of the preach
er, than whom hie chinch lias no brighter ornament,
and of the fame and virtues of the illustrious dead.
A. B. Meek and ihe Know Nothings. —ln the last
Mobile Register we find a communication from tiiis
able and accomplished gentleman, in which he clears his
skirts of all complicity with the order of Know Noth
ings. He says:
To the Editors of the Register: —S;r—ln your paper
you state that a report is in trreulation that 1 am a member
of the political party called the Know Nothings. Now,
sir, 1 have to say, that such a report is utterly untrue. I
am not only not a member of any such party, hut, as far
a-i I understand its policy and principles, am utterly oppos
ed to it. I believe that they art* at war with the [test and
most sacred princ pies of our Federal and State Coosttu
tions and utterly irreconcilable with Republicanism. In
nn> political laid), I am now, as I ever have been, and ever
expect to be, a Southern Rights Democrat; and I never
h<*v3 done and never shall do anything inconsistent with
that faith
Robert Graham; A Novel by Mrs. Caroline Lee
llentz.
Persons familiar with the writings of the gifted Caro- j
link Lee Hentz, will be gratified to learn that she
has again laid at the feet of the publio another of her
sparkling productions. Robert Graham, the bold, reck- j
less and even lawless Robert Graham, who was so un
satisfactorily and summarily disposed of in the charm- j
ing story of “Linda; or the Young Pilot of the Belie-
Creole,” is the central figure of this new novel. Alter
three years’ absence in India, he returns to his native
shores, calm, subdued, resigned. lie finds Linda the
happy wife of his rival and a mother. The purpose of
the author in throwing him in contact with the object
of Itia early love, under such circumstances, is to show
the power of religion over the human heart. The strug
gle between duty and passion is painfully interesting, :
but we may be allowed to question if it is in harmony ,
with that portion of Scripture which teaches us to pray,
“lead us not into temptation.” Our old friends “Tus
cora” and “Longwood,” and the bla.*k devil, “Mc-
Leod,” are again introduced to the reader. The old
warrior is as stern and true, the Pedagogue as learned
and simple, and the Scotchman as wicked as in the j
earlier romance. Several new characters are intro
duced. Nora Marshall is a sort of Backwoods Di
Vernon, and is one of the most sprightly of all Mrs.
Hentz’s fictitious children. Julia Bellerden, and her
Brother Henry, add much to the interest of the story.
Julia is one of those lovely beings “sent to earth to
keep alive our dreams of heaven,” who, to avoid death,
i seek a home in the balmy breezes of the south, and
find him where they least expected him.
Windows and widowers are not generally considered
very romantic characters. Mrs. llentz has, therefore,
ventured upon very ticklish in selecting these un
fortunate classes for heroes and heroines. Her success
in the management of the story, so as to avoid giving
i offence to delicate sensibilities, in marrying Linda to
| Robert Graham so soon after the death of her heroic
husband, Roland Lee, is very decided.
J The work is a most charming oue. The incidents
’ are numerous, varied aDd startling. Every character
has strong individuality, and it is preserved throughout
the story. The style of the work is easy and Bowing
j ing and sparkles with tropes, figures, similitudes and
comparisons; it is like India's golden strand—every
step reveals a precious gem.
The woik is for sale by J. W. Pease and J. L. How
ell, Columbus, Ga. Price 50 cents.
Great Excitement in Selma.
About 12 o’clock on last Satuiday, says the Selma
Reporter, nature played off one of her strange freaks,
which produced quite an excitement among our citi
zens. The boring of an Astesian well, has been going
on lor some time in the rear of Central Depot build
ing, which has reached the depth of 440 feet, and was
affording near five g lions of water per minute, when
it suddenly sank some 15 or 20 feet below the sut face,
causing a large aperture in the earth, which reached
to the landing, and about 100 feet West of the bui cl
ings, or down the river. The opeuing is about 40 or
50 feet from the river, and from appearances, the
whole bank or bluff, will give way. The aperture is
near 300 yards in length and varies in width. All the
wells in the vicinity, have stopped running. Mr. Camp
bell, who was boring the well, thinks that the water is
running out at a crevice in the rock. What has caused
the breaking oft’ the bluff, or what will yet be the result,
no one pretends to know, but one thing we do know,
and that is, up to this hour, 2 1-2 o’clock, Saturday
evening, that there is considerable excitement, and the
bank of the river is lined wi;h citizens, who are philos
ophizing upon the “home made” earthquake, or what
ever they may call it.
Democratic Meeting In Mobile.
On the 21st inst., the Democraoy of Mobile met in
convention to nominate a candidate for the office of
Judge of Probate, in opposition to the Know Nothing
candidate. A. B. Meek, Esq., who is alike statesman,
poet and historian, was unanimously nominated. The
following resolutions were unanimously adadopted :
Be it Resolved, That as citizens who regard the consti
tution ot the United States as the rule of their political re
lations, and the guide of their civil conduct, they look with
alarm upon any political organization or party whose
principles are a secret.
That the glory of Ametican freedom consists in the pro
tection of the life, liberty and property of American citi
zens. and its preservation depends upon open and tree dis
cussion.
That any order or party who proscribe a citizen because
of his religious opinions, or foreign extraction, make war
upon the lundamental principles of American Liberty.
That they are citizens—entitled to all the privileges and
immunities of American citizens, whom, whether born up
on the soil or on foreign laud, the constitution and laws
recognize as such
‘I hat this meeting will heartily support for the office of
Judge of Probate, the nominee, and recommend him as an
American citizen —opposed to secret organizations, and in
favor of open speech, freedom of eon-eienee, and equal
rights under the laws and constitution for all citizens,
whether native or naturalized.
That we cordially invite all persons who entertain these
opinions, to co-operate with us in this effort to defend the
true principles of our government
“The Next One.”
A friend suggests that the “next one,” referred to
by the Atlanta Intelligencer as deserving of tremen
dous partialities from Lady correspondents, is the
Senior editor of the Enquirer. Wo concur in this
opinion, and can but express our surprise that over
weening self-esteem basso blinded the usually clear per
ceptions of the “ Little Bantam” as to make him ap
piopriate to himself honors intended for his more favored
colleague.
Anonymous Correspondents.
We respectfully remind our readers that they must
comply with the well known canon of publishers, and give
their names if they expect their favors to appear in our
columns. An apparently harmless article may be de
signed to inflict a covert blow. Our only guard against
such results i9 the character of the authors.
Atlanta Election —Judge Bull has granted the mo
tion of Jlanlieter to file an information, in the nature of
a quo warranto against tho Mayor and Aldermen of
Atlanta, calling upon them to show by what authority
they exercise their offices. The grant of leave to hie
the Information does not decide any of the rights of the
parties. The judge intimated that he was of opinion
that such contests had better be left in the hands of the
people. Hardeiter charges, Ist, that the election was
held by managers not qualified according to law. end
that during the lime the poll was being taken they
transfered the superiateadency toother parties ; 2d, that
the present incumbents were not elected by a majority
of legal voters. The questions involved are very im
portant ones, but the ease wi 1 hardly ba disposed of
until after the term of office of the present incumbents
has expired. If tho election is declared void, the in
cumbents will be liable to their opponents for their sal
ari.s.
Sate of Rock Island Factory.— This property was
sold under mortgage, on Monday the -M inst., and
was bought by R. L. Mott, E j q.. of ih;s city for s2o,*
250 00.
From Waihingion.
Slavery in Cuba —Bounty Land Warrants
Washington, April 19.
The Star of this evening says, that immediately alter
the delivery of the recent speech by the Sparfisn Minister
of Foreign Afiairs, Mr. Perry applied for an authentic
copy to lorward to our government, and Mr. Luzuriaga
promptly furnished it-—expressing a pledge that Spain
would protect and cherish slavery in Cuba.
We learn that the clerks in the departments are issuing
proposals to look up bounty land claims, and transacting
such business generally during their legular office hours.
Rencontre between Lieut. Beale and Col. Manypen
ny—lhe Court of Claim*, Etc.
Washington, April 20.
Lieutenant Beale, former Indian Agent at Califor
nia, whose accounts have just been allowed by the Trea
sury Department, inflicted a severe castigation with his
fists upon Col. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian af
fairs, at Willard’s Hotel, this afternoon. Lieutenant
Beale attributes the temporary disallowance of his ac
counts to the personal hostility of the Commissioner —
and hence the assault.
The organization of the new Court of Claims in this
city has not yet taken place, but is looked for soon
Chief Justice Gilchrist is now here, and Judge Black
ford has been in the city for several weeks. Judge
Lumpkin is expected to arrive in a few days.
The mail from New Yoik failed to reach F’ del
phia in time fur the three o’clock afternoou train from
there, and did not reach here until three hours after the
’ regular mail time.
The therinomter this evening stands at 60 degrees,
j At mid-day it was quite warm.
Later from the Great Salt Lake.
Independence, (Mo.) April 17.
The mail from Salt Lake arrived here at six o’clock
last evening, but the news received by it is unimpor
tant.
Brigham Young continues to act as Governor.
On the mountains the snow was very deep.
There have been no detentions or molestations on
the plains lately by the Indians. They appear now to
be more peaceably disposed, and have returned the stock
formerly stolen by them, and seers anxious to make
amends for their past acts.
Unfortunate Difficulty.
On Thursday last an unfortunate difficulty occurred in
Burke county, between Mr. Warner and Dr. A. V. Long
street. From what we can learn, the parties met for the
purpose of arranging a difficulty existing between them
concerning some negroes. High words ensued, which re
sulted in blow’s and a scuffle. They were, however, soon
separated by friends close by. when it was discovered that
Dr. Longstreet was stabbed in three places, the side, back,
and thigh. It was reported in the City yesterday that he
had died from the effects oi his wounds, but in the after
noon information reached us that although they are seri
ous, hopes are entertained by his physicians, the Dr. Camp
bells, that they will not prove fatal. Dr. Longstreet is a
young man who is heid in high esteem by many of our cit
izens, and of a quiet and peaceable disposition.— Con.
Rep. 21 st.
Lass of tho Steamer Texanst—One Life Lost.
Vicksburg, April 19.
The steamer Texana, (formerly the Frank Pierce) with
a cargo of 2200 hales of cotton, bound for New Orleans,
took fire at 2 .o’clock yesterday morning in Yazoo river,
about thirty miles above this city. The fire broke out in
the hold and it was iound necessary to scuttle the boat.—
This was done, and she sunk at about nine o’clock, and
toon alter broke to pieces. The chambermaid ot the boat
lost life. She is the only one believed to have perish
ed. The boat is a total loss—[Picayune.
The Massachusetts Legislature-
The Nunnery Committee—Removal of Judge Loring —
The Case of Mr. Hiss.
Boston, April 19, 1855.
The House to-day voted to reconsider the vote whereby
it accepted the report of the Nunnery investigation com
mittee, and then laid the report upon the table, on account
of the absence of Mr. Griffin, the chairman. The debate
on the matter was quite lively and personal.
The report and address in relation to the removal of
Judge Loring was further discussed in the Senate,and Wed
nesday next assigned for taking the question.
The special committee on the charger against Joseph
Hiss, a member of the Nunnery Visiting Committee, at
Lowell, reported to the House this afternoon. The report
says that no specific act or criminality has been proved
against him. It omits mentioning whether Mrs. Patterson’s
bill, at the Washington House, was paid by the State. The
report was accepted.
Black Laws in Massachusetts. —That remarkab* e
body, says the N. Y. Herald,tho Massachusetts Legis
lature, lias been legislating ptettv nearly til the present
session for the benefit of the blacks. They have adop
ted an address to the Governor, requesting the removal
of a Judge for acting as United States Commissioner in
a fugitive slave case ; a law disqualifying all persons
who assist in the execution of the Fugitive slave act
from holding office tinier the State constitution, has
passed the House, we believe, and a law placing negro
children on the same footing in public schools as white,
has also been enacted. Now the blood of tho Win
throps, the Oiisses, the Lymans, the Endicotts and the
Eliots is in a fair w; y to be amalgamated with the Sam
bos, the Catos and the Pompeys. The negroes have
several thins forced their children into the public schools
and been sustained, in one or two instances, bv the Su
preme Court of the State, but the present law settles
the matter. The vvolliest head and the thickest lips had
an equal chance for education previous to this time with
ttie whitest skin and the strongest Saxon peculiarities;
but now the niggers are just as good as white folks.—
The North is to be Africanized. Amalgamation has
commenced. New England heads the colurnu. God
save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A Hungry Set. —ln Barbour county, Ala., there arc
eight candidates for the office of Sheriff; ten candidates
for the office of Tax Collector; and it is reported that
there are not less than twenty patriotic citizens who are
auxieus to represent th*ir fellow-citizens in the Legis
lature.
A Know Nothing in the Legislature. —Owing to n
! new phase in politics, Dobbs, was elected to the Leg sja
| ture. Though gratified, he was a little intimidated by
i ihe honor, and bu? for the til ught that he was not nec
| essar ilv obliged to speak, would have declined serving.—
! As it was, he accepted. All things went on snior thiy
for a time. Mr. Dobbs could vote other people’s motion -,
I though ho couldn’t make any himstlf. One lucky day,
however, the proctelings being rather dull, and Mr.
D bbs raih-r dud, and Mr Dobbs being ra her thirsty, he
concluded to £o over to Congress Hall, and get a glass
of lemonade. As he rose to leave the hall, lie caught
the sptakere eye. The speaker supposed he intended to
aidless the House, and accordingly announced in a loud
voice—‘'Mr. Dobbs.” Dobbs started as it he had been
shot. The assembled wisdom of the State had their eyes
fixed upon him lie pull* and out his pocket handkerchief
to wipe away the perspiration, and feeling It necessary to
say som. thing, blundered out—
" Second the motion.”
“There in no rn ai->n before the House,” said the
speaker.
“Then I—I—” The si'ence was breathless. *T—l—”
Dobbs couldn’t think >! anything tosuy. But a bright
id a came to him, and be finish’ and the sentence — I mote
cc adjourn.
The motion didn’t go. hut Dobbs left, and nulling
n *re was seen of him for that day. — Albany Kn.cker.
backer.
Death of a Philadelphia Merchant. ~ Pr it.adelphu,
April 13,1855. —John Hooper, Esq , one of our most es
teemed merchants, died this morning.
BY TELEGRAPH.
Expressly for the Times and Sentinel
LATEST FROM EUROPE.
ARRIVAL of thk
STEAMSHIP NASHVILLE.
New York. April 22.
The sternifehip Nashville, with Liverpool dates to
the 7th inst., has arrived.
The Markets.
Cotton has advanced, since last advices, from a six
teenth to an eighth penee. Ihe sales ot the week pre
ceding the sailing of the steamer amounted to eighty
thousand halos.
The Vienna. Conference.
The Vienna Conference was to have been re-opened,
on the 9th inst., when it was expected that the ultima
tum of Russia on the Third Point would be made known
More Fighting in the Crimea.
Sauguinary fighting has occurred at Sebastopol, but
no particulars are given in our despatch. [lt 16 more
than probable that the Russians arc continuing to assail
the lines of the Allies ]
Consuls closed at 93 3-4.
FURTHER BY THE NASHVILLE.
Commercial Intelligence.
The. Liverpool Cotton Market .— During the week end
ing the 6th lust., prices were a trifle higher. Middling
qualities have advanced I—l6j. and Fair J per lb. There
was also an active speculative demand, and the sales dur
ing the week comprised 80,000 bales, ot which speculators
took 19,0C0 and exporters 10,500, leaving 49,500 of all des
; criptions to the trade. ‘The market closed firm, with an
upward tendency at std for Fair Orleans, sid tor Middling
Orleans, l id for Fair Upland, and 5 1-lCd tor Middling
Uplands.
The Liverpool Breadstuff's Market was generally un
changed, but firm. The Circular ol Messrs. Brown
Shipley quotes old Western Canal Flour at 42s , new at
335. and Ohio at 455. per barrel of 196 lbs. White and
Yellow Corn were worth 435. and the mixed 425. fid. per
480 pounds. White wheat commanded 12s, fid. and Red
11s. fid. per 70 lbs.
The Liverpool Provision Market was generally un
changed. Prices, however, were stifl’er, although not quo
tably higher. Lard had advanced Is. per cwt.
State of Tkads.—The advices from Manchester aie
more favorable.
The London Money Market was easier. The Bank of
England had reduced the rate of interest to 4i per ct. per
annum. Consols for Money closed at 92*. United States
Stocks had advanced.
General Intelligence
There is nothing of any importance from the seat of
war.
The political position ol a flairs remains unaltered, al
though, if anything, the impression of the public mind in
England leans towards the opinion that
THE WAR MUST CONTINUE !
The Russian ultimatum not having ariived, the Vienna
Conference had adjourned to the 9th inst. Omar Pacha,
the statesman, not the Turkish General, arrived at Vienna
on the 6th inst. to take part in the future discussions on be
half of the ‘‘Sublime Porte.” The “third point” will be the
first subject brought up for consideration.
A despatch from Berlin, dated the 6th inst., says that the
Russian party is predominent there, and that Prussia is
likely to throw herself into the arms of the Czar in case of
the peace deliberations failing.
A series of sanguinary conflicts had occurred between
the French and Russians before Sevastopol, attended with
various success and much loss. A skirmish on the night
ot the 23d ult. put 3000 poor fellows hors du combat.
LATER FROM HAVANA.
The United States mail Steamship Black Warrior, Cap
tain J. D. Bullock, left New York on the 9th inst., arrived
at Havana on the 14th, and sailed for this port next day.—
She crossed the bar on Tuesday, at half past four P. M.,
and arrived at 11 o’clock yesterday morning, having been
detained ssveral hours by the log. We are indebted to her
purser for the following memoranda:
The U S. Steamer Princeton was still in port. Her offi
cers and crew were all well.
OlYthe Moro the Black Warrior spoke the U. S. sloop
of war Jamestown, Cotn’r Ellison,bearing the broad pen
nantot Com. Crabbe, from Norfolk, bound in, with all
well on board.
Dr. Peck, the person who was arrested at Puerto Princi
pe, comes passenger in the Black Warrior. He was ar
rested by mistake and brought to Havana; but he was af
terwards released with the freedom of the island excepting
Puerto Principe. As his business was in that town, how
ever, he preferred coming to the United States.
Sixteen companies of mulattoes are being organized, to
be attached to the inlantry as soon as arms are deliverad
to them.
The Military Commission was in session last Friday
and Saturday. Nothing of their proceedings had trans
pired.
We have received by this arrival full files of Havana
papers to the 15th.
La Prensa of that date has an elaborate article upon
the ptospects of the next Presidential campaign in the Uni
ted States, which it predicts will be the most hotly contest
ed of any that has been known since the foundation of the
Republic, and it expresses much surprise that many of the
very States that contributed the largest majorities to the
election of the present Chief Magistrate, should before his
term expires, give evidence ot the utmost hostility to his
administration. The writer goes on to slate that the dem
ocrats have evidently chosen as the-r favorite candidate for
the Presidency no other than the riiibusterio, Geu. J. A.
Quitman.
We have believed,”says the writer, “that this person
age aspired to the first position in the nation, and also, this
ambition was what'induced him to become Chief of the
filibustering expedition, believing that he would thus be
come popular with c asses most powerful at the elections
in that country, where fists and slung shots are the most
eloquent arguments employed.”
We quote this ooinion as one eminently Spanish
The officers and soldiers of the four battalions of Hav
ana volunteers have commenced raising a subscription of
one dollar per month each soldier, and four dollars per
month each officer, for a given time —Yi months or longer
—for the purpose of arming said battalions with Minnie ii
ties, without cost to the Government, hour merchants,of
ficers in the battalions, had undertaken to advance the sum
necessary to purchase and import the guns, and it was
thought they could be obtained immediately.
The Prensa states that the commerce of Havana and
of the entire island had suffered much during the two past
months of February and March, in consequence of the
condition oi things m which the i-land was placed,but that
American commerce had also suffered, and that it is as
much the interest of the American as of the Cuban mer
chant to put an end to the contusion arising irom reports of
invading expeditions.
The Diari'j tires up indignantly because the Delta saw
fit to speak of the Spaniards as brave and resolute dogs. —
The Di trio admits mat the Spaniards may be likened to
dogs in one respeet —that they stand ready to defend their
domicils against thieves who are intent upon breaking in to
steal. It intimates that the wriier of the Delia’s article has
lived a long time m Cuba.—JV. O. Prevent, Uth
Augusta Bridge Case —The great apple of discord
ar and vexation, says the Hamburg Pioneer, lias been swal
lowed at last, ‘idle Ciiy Council of Augusta completed
negotiations with Messrs. Jones & Kennedy a f w days
ago and purchased the.r inle est—whatever it was*—in the
Augusta Bridge ; and uiso tneir charter with all their rights
incident thereto. ’I he papers have been drawn, signed,
sealed and delivered, and thus has ended, and, wo trust,
quieted forever, the truly vexatious ar.d celebrated “Bridge
question.”
The Little Boy lhal Died. ,
Messrs. Editors —
Dr. Chalmers is said to be the author of the f0i1,,.,
beautiful poem, written on the occasion of the and ath ‘
son whom he greatly loved. Perhaps you will give ‘
place in your columns, and remind other bereaved on - |
a great and a good man felt and suffered as they do.
I am all alone in my chamber, now,
And the midnight hour is near;
And the fagot’s crack. and the clock's dull tick, I
Are the only sounds i hear. K-
And over my soul in its solitude,
Sweet feelings of sadness glide,
For my heart and my eyes are full when I th : \
Ol the the little boy that died.
I went one night to my father’s house—
Went home to the dear ones all—
And softly I opened the garden gate, *
And so'tly the door of ihe hall.
My mother came out to meet her son—
She kissed me and then she sighed,
And her head fell on my neck, aud she wept
For the little boy that died. •*,
I shall miss him when the flowers come,
In the garden where he played ;
I shall miss him more by the fireside,
When the flowers have all decayed.
I shall see his toys and his empty chair,
And the horse he used to ride ;
And they will speak with a silent speech.
Os the little boy that died.
We shall go home to “our Father’s” house—
To “our Father’s” house in the skies,
Where the hopes of our souls shall have no blight,
Our love no broken ties.
We shall roam on the banks of the river of peace.
And bathe in its blissful tide,
And one of the joys of our heaven shall he
The little boy that died.
American Kumor.
Coleridge, with admirable acuten.ss, lias said that “thero
is such a thing as scientific wit.” ‘.therefore pure wit
sometimes gives an intellectual pressure without making
us laugh. The wit that makes us laugh most freely, js
that which instantly accepts another man’s premises, and
draws a conclusion from them in its own favor. A
country gentlemen was once showing his improvements to
the Prince de Ligne, and among other things pointed ou;
to him a muddy spot which he called Lis lake.
“It is rather shallow, is it not ?” said the Prince.
“I assure you, Prince, a man drowned himseit in it.”
‘Lvh, he must have been a flatterer, then,” answered
De Ligne.
Os ilie same kind is the story told of one vs our old
Massachusetts clergymen, Dr. Morse. At an association
dinner a debate arose us to the benefit of whipping in
bringing up children. The Doctor took the affirmative,
and his chief opponent was a young minister, whose repo*
ta'ion for veracity was not very high. He affirmed that
parents often did harm to their children by unjust pun
ishment from not knowing the facts of the case.
“Why,” said lie, “the only time my father ever whipped
me was for telling the truth.”
“Well,” retorted the Doctor, “it cured you of it, did’iit
it?” In wit of this s rt there is always a latent syllo
gism.
f i>i .1 ... • „i_ _ „t • t l , , • . ,
Th; n, there is the wit which detects an unintentional
bit of satire in a word of double meaning ; as, where Sir
Henry Wotton lakes advantage of the phrase commonly
used in his day to imply merely residence, and finds an
undermeaning in it, saving, “that ambassadors were per
sons scut to lie abioad for the service of their Prince.”
On the other hand, 1 think unconsciousness and want
of intention, or at least the pretence of it, is more or less
essential to the ludicrous. For this reason what may bo
called the nit of events is always ludicrous. Nothing can
be it ore so, for example, than the Pope’s sending a Car
dinals hat to John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, which
arrived in England after ilenrythe Eigh.li had taken oft’
that prelate’s head. So, when Dr. Johnson said very
gravely, one day, that he had often thought that if he had
ahaiem he would dress all the ladies in white linen, the
unintentional congruhy of the speech with the character
of the great moralist threw Boswell into an testacy of
laughter. Like this is the ludicrousmssof PopeP. in 111,
writ ug to the Council of Trent “that they should begin
w/tb original sin, observing a due respect unto the Em
peror ”
C ptain Basin Hall, when he traveled in his country,
found the Yankees a people entirely destitute of vvit and
humor. Perhaps our gravity, which ought to have
nut him on the right scent, deceived him. ido rot know
a more perfect example of wit than something which, as
I have heard, was said to the captain himself. Stopping
at a village inn, there came up. a thunder storm, arid
Captain iiall, surprised tlial'a new country should have
reached such a perfection in lhost metecrolrgic manufac
tures, said to a bystander, “Why, you have very heavy
thunder here.” ** Well, yes,” re-plied the man, “we du,
considering the number of inhabitants.”
Here is another story w hich a stage-drive r told me cne<:
A wag on the outside of the coach, tailed to a man by the
roadside, aho was fencing seine very poor land—“l say,
mister, what are vou fencing Jiat pasture for? It vwuld
take forty acres on’t to staive a ndddie-s zid cow.”—
“Ji ss.j; and I’m a fencin’ of ;t to keep our kettle e< ui ?”
Now in tiie ‘forty acre’ part of this story, we have an
instance of what is called American exaggeration, and
•a 1 ich I lake to be the .-v inptorn of most premise in Yan
kee fun. For it marks that desire for intensity of ex
pression which is one j base of imagination, indeed,,
many of these sayings are purely imaginative— as w here
a man said of a painter he knew, that ’he painted a shin
gle so exactly like marble, that when it leli into the river
it sunk.’ A man told me once, that the people of a cer
tain country town were so universally dishonest, “hat ihey
had to take in their stone at night.’ In tome of these
stories, imagination appears yet more strongly aud in that
contradictory union with the understanding which lies at
the root ol the highest humor. For example, a coachman
driving up some mountains in Vermont, was asked if tLey
were as Bleep on the other s;ue also ? ‘Steep I chain
iiglt tilin’ couldn’t go down ’em without the breech in’ on ”
I believe that there is mete latent humor among the
American people than in any other, and that it will one
day devdope itseif and find expression through art.
R. Lowell’s Lecture on Hudibras. j
A Virginia Diamond. —A rough •uamont was recent
ly picked up near Manchester. V u small town opposite
Richmond. The stone h about the size of a bezel bin,
and weighs forty-three carats. It has a flaw in tie- ctli
tre, but it is otherwise quite premising. The Richmond
jewelers estimated its value at four thousand dollars, ai< i
claim that it is the largest diamond ever found in Kuril
America. We presume that it wifi be submitted to the
inspection of some of •. ur iapidarit s, and that a scientific,
report wilt be male. It was found m a clay bank, about
two feet frmu the surface. There are coal and iron mints
u the vicinity.
Fanny Fern's best ‘l/ring. —’Taiutr is coniii g I”
and little round faces grow long, and rm rrv void a ate
hushed, and toys are hustled into the cut st-i. ; nd mamma
glances nervous’y at the door, and the baby is hr.l < and
wi’h a lump of tugar to keep the peace, and lather’* bu,
siutss face relaxes not a muscle, and the J tile group hud
dle 1.-ke timed sheep in a corner, and tea is despatched
as ssieni!y as if speaking weie prohibited by the stair.to
book, and the children creep like culprits to bid, mm vai
ling that baby dare cry so loud, now that “father has
come.”
‘ Fa ! h ris coming I” and bright eyes sparkle for jay,
and tiny feet dance with g ee, and eager faces press
against the window pane--, and a bevy of rosy Sips claim
kisses at the door, and picture books lie unrebuktd on
the table, ani tops and balis, and dolls, and kite- are dit
cussed, and little Susy 1 lys her soft cheek against the pa -
ternal wh'ekers with tin- most fearkts, ‘abandon, ’ and
fii irley ge.s a lovepat for Its ‘imda,’ and mamma’s
lace grows radiant, and ihe evening paper is read (not
silently, but loud.) and tea and toast and time vanish
with equal celerhy, for jubilee has arrived and “father
has co .ne.” . m