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awpßta WAganrfttowuy, w W^^-WV<^vv%wv\vwwv\t,w»v\y»y\v»vvvxivwv>^ V)Vvvtvvv>%v . vlvvv>xxrtxxvl/t S ®tt)ts® JFawWf 2f®gw: S*fS»te® to t&rw®mni«ir, sgirfemMwsrs# atm® Jffiterttome©tu« Vol. II No. 43.] t . Site SfiShiagtoaiaa | BE PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, by JAMES McIIAFKERTY, the low price of one dollar per annum, for | k single subscriber, five dollars for a club of or TEN dollars for a dub of twelve sub- IXcribers payment, in advance. AU Communications, by mail, addressed to the Hiublisher, mus t lie post paid to receive i Con. By the rules of the Post-Office Depart- , linent, Post masters may frank subscription Jwnoney for Newspapers. , . M Advertisements will bo inserted at the follow #n,i reduced rates: -For one square, not ex- Hcoeding twelve .ines, 50 cents l*r the first Hinsertion, arul twenty-five cents for each con- Blinuance, if published weekly ; il *374 ; and if monthly 43J cents, for each cSn ■Etinuanre. Etearly advertisers 10 per ct. discount. dVJ jj) ££ :L iL. £^7^^ Mr. Water’s Letter. Mr. William Gillam of our town, has kindly furnished us with a copy of a let-j ter received by Maj. Philemon Sclioppcrt. of Newberry C. H., from Robert G. Waters, formerly of this State, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Meir, in TEfexas, and for a long time confined as a in the Castle of Santiago, near city of Mexico. The letter, which * we publish this week, will be found inter esting, containing a graphic description of the sufferings and hardships of that brave but unfortunate band, who so long, and for a time so successtully, did batth against such fearful odds ot Mexican sol di: rs, at the celebrated Town of Meir. Vfe be -'ve Mr. Waters is a native of Newberry District in this State, where he still has many relatives and acquain tances, who will no doubt he gratified to Mara from the postcript of his letter, that has been released from captivity, and Ars probably by this lime reached his Sfcme in Texas. Mr. Waters, we under stand, nephew of Mr. Gillam of our JydWik.-4*s>. C. Temp. Ade, feS v\Ti ago. Near Mexico, Jan. 8, 1844. I Dear Brother, —Thinking you, with rest of my relatives and old acquain tances, would be glad to hear from me, i Hkko this opportunity of addressing you f with a lew lines, which, although it will Abut give you a tull detail of all the ups ■and downs I have experienced since I nsuw you last; will nevertheless inform, ■you, that I am still in the land of the liv- Bing. I have been a prisoner in thi.-; ■abominable country, for more than a year j l|as I was taken (he 26th December, iß4*2. wit Mier, a small town on the Rio Grande Btdicre, with a party of two hundred and Bixty-two Texians, we entered the town.' Believing we would have to contend with I 800 or 1000 Mexicans. We fought 18 j Bours, driving and beating them back in fflevery attempt they made to advance on Jus, until they discovered a man we had left the evening before, who had broken; his thigh from a tall, with whom we had left a guard of ten men. When the Mex icans discovered them, they surrounded the little party immediately; but the ten men kept them otf, seven or eight hund red in number, until they brought their cannon to bear on the hut they were in, which mode of attack soon reduced them | to the necessity of surrendering or charg ing near one hundred times their own! dumber. Preferring death to surrender-! fag, nine of them leaving the Sergeant frith the crippled man, rushed from the' feouse, and five of them succeeded in get-i , ■pg into the town of Mier, the remaining jfefcir were killed. The Mexicans entered; jle house, in which the wounded man lying, and put him to death instantly,; the Sergeant prisoner, whom they tons with a flag of truce, in ■feruling us that we were fighting three jßpusand, instead of one thousand, and Pwit if we did not surrender, we would be put to the sword. After a parley, ■our little party being divided in their opinions, some thinking it best tosurren- MHr, and but a small majority in favor of Sighting out, our Commander Col. Fisher, ' jEiught proper to surrender, which was HBe under what we thought, very favor- 1 stipulations; but after our arms were 1 L wen away, there was no regard what- I [ *fer paid to these stipulations. i ®t would be useless were I to attempt I iffo give you any thing like a full ac-J I of our suffering, as you might think < |it fiaggerated; but from the first hour i f oTour captivity to the present, our trials I f Bpe been bitter in the extreme. We i Jfe re marched offfior the city of Mexico, I *Bder a guard of three times our number, we determined to charge, and s t Bke one more effort for liberty, but it < j AM deferred too long, and we had got too 1 AUGUSTA, GA. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1844. far into the Mexican country for us to make our escape. But Texian like— looking to nothing but the present, on the 11th February, 1843, at a place call ed Solado, we rushed on our guard, with a fair fisticuffs, against muskets and bayo nets, and soon succeeded in whipping and taking their arms from a part, and driving the rest of the guard from the field, which left us freemen once more, with arms in our hands. We had five men killed, and three wounded, who could not travel with us. These we left behind, with some twelve or fifteen, who preferred remain ing prisoners, to taking the chance of making their escape through the moun tains of Mexico to Texas; we having up watds of four hundred miles of a wild mountainous country to traverse, ere we ' could reach our homes. Our main body was now reduced to 207 men, and we took up the line of march, determined to make a desperate struggle for qjhr liberty —but having no knowledge of the rout over which we had to travel, we lost our wav in the mountains, amongst which we wandefed seven days without water, du ring which time, cur sufferings Surpassed all which horror could imagine.' On the ninth day after our break from the guard, most o( our companions surrendered 1 themselves again to the Mexicans, who iiaving gathered in large numbers, and | Having possession of the only pool of water in the vicinity around about them 1 we were too weak to take the water by force of arms; a number of our men hav ing already thrown away their guns, were .so weak, they could scarcely walk. In fact, we had left several, who had sunk down to die the horrid death of starvation and thirst by the way-side in the wilder -1 ness. Being in this deplorable situation, Capt. Camron, who wa3 now our Com -1 mander, thought it best to surrender, the 1 most of the men themselves willing to be shot for one good drink of water!! The surrender being made at night, whilst our party was advancing on the Mexicans, I determined to make one i more struggle, and with one companion l put back again into the mountains, de termined that nothing but a sure prospect of death, should ever put me in their I power again. I remained in the moun ! tains eleven days, which made in all twen ty days; during which time I had suffer i;eJ all my nature and constitution could ;l>ear. So it was either to lie down and [die, or to throw myself into the power of jthe Mexicans, which I did bv going to a house, and giving the people to under stand by signs, that I was nearly starved, when they gave me and my companion ,J is much food as we could eat, and as .soon ns we were able to travel, we were | timed over to the military, and were I marched back to Sahilia, where we found most of our companions in handcuffs— and in a few days we were marched from ihat place to Salado, the place where we i resisted the guard, in chains, two and two together, where we arrived on the 25th March, and where we were informed, that in accordance with an order from the magnanimous nation, every tenth man among us was to be shot. The order was immediately executed, deciding who should be the fortunate and unfortunate, by placing beans in a stone jar,—a black bean, betokening death—and a white ibean slavery ! 1 was either so fortunate mr unfortunate as to draw a white bean, and the seventeen of our companions wh*o | drew black ones, were led out and iuhu i manly murdered, not in our sight (as has jbeen stated) but behind a wall, from ■ whence we could hear every groan they | uttered. The next morning we were marched off for Mexico, suffering on the route all that prisoners ever did suffer, not being half fed, and kept closely hand cuffed. Several died on the road, and when we arrived within thirty six miles of this place, on the 26th of April last, Capt. Camron was taken out and mur dered. The next day we were marched to this place, where we have endured chains and sufferings up to this time, be ing compelled to labor with heavy log chains to our legs, two men being chain ed together with a chain about nine feet long. Our numbers are much reduced, and from a calculation we made a day or two since, out of 262 who crossed the Rio Grande, there now remains one hun dred aud fifty-nine, and we are dying off rapidly. The majority of my companions have been removed from this place to Pe rote, where they are from ail accounts treated worse than we are here. The above statement will give you some idea of my present situation, and doleful as it may appear, I have some hopes of surviving, as my health is bet- 1 j ter than it has been at any time since! - August last, though I may tie doomed to; 1 drag out a number of years in these| - walls. lam caged up here with crimi -1 nals, all Mexicans, kept in this prison. ■ and it is with these detestable wretches,- I that we are compelled to eat, sleep, and! t associate. The most of us are in very I s low spirits, for we believe that the civii i ized world has given us up to this hypo- I critical, heathenish, uncivilized, barbar i ous people, and if the world has deter t mined to leave us to our fate, our case is • a bad one indeed! We hav . found a I’ very particular friend in General Waddy -Thompson, from South Carolina, whoJj ■ believe has done all he could do for our 1 comfort, and has manifested untiring es -2 forts in endeavoring to obtain our release. To me he has been “a friend indeed.”! i for he has advanced me what money I i wanted, without which aid, I have no f doubt but that I should have died long! t since. Any marks of gratitude that my r relatives and friends in Soyth,Carolina. ? may have in their power to bestow on - General Thompson, will be the greatest; J favour they can bestow on ino, and will e thus add to the thankful feelings I have . experienced from his kindness. I hope 1 1 that neither my friends nor relations, will ! o suffer my situation to trouble them, as it J is out of their power to do me any good. 1 If I am lucky enough ever to reach home, i (which is Texas my adopted country,) y you shall hear from me again. It will -iscarcely he worth your while to attempt e to get a letter to mo whilst I am here, i though I should like much to hear from <■ you. In my account above of the battle! i of Mier, I omitted to state the loss on! - both sides, which was of Texians, II , killed, 20 wounded, (most of the latter: • recovered.) Mexicans, over 500 killed,! e and over 200 wounded, (most of the lat-l s ter died,) and though we vanquished 10 1 to one, yet by bad management, we are t prisoners in this detestable prison. Give 1 my love to all relatives, and my best re -2 spects to enquiring friends, u Yours, R. G. Watebs. t Maj. Philemon Schoppert, r Newberry C. 11., S. C. Nf.w-Oki.eans, Feb. 28,1844. I arrived in this city last evening, where 1 l overtook my letter to you, which I had I written in Mexico, a month or six weeks f since. I have been released, through the i influence of Gen. Thompson. I will • write again on my arrival at home, in , Texas, where I shall go by the first op -1 portunity. Yours, s Robert G. Waters. j s The Rose. 1 BV MRS. 81GOUK.VEV. I saw a rose in its perfect beauty; it 1 rested gracefully upon its stalk, and its 2 perfume filled the air. Many stopped to ) gaze upon it; and its owner hung over it i with delight. I passed again, and be , hold it was gone—its stem was leafless, i its root had withered; the enclosure i which surrounded it was broken down r The spoiler had been there; he saw that >!many admired it; he knew it was dear ,|to him who planted it; and beside it he c had no other plant to love. Yet he 3 snatched it secretly from the hand that ; cherished it; he wove it on his bosom , till it hung its head and faded, and when > he saw that its glory was departed, he - flung it rudely away. But it left a thorn 5 in his bosom, and vainly did he seek to i extract it; for now it pierces the spoiler, 1 even in his hour of mirth. And when I i saw that no man who had loved the ' beauty of the rose, gathered again its t scattered leaves, or bound up its stalk • which the hands of violence had broken, I I looked earnestly at the spot where it s grew, and my soul received instruction, i And I said let her who is full of admira tion, sitting like the queen of flowers in 1 majesty among the daughters of women I let her watch lest her vanity enter her • heart; beguiling her to rest proudly upon [ her own sirength ; let her remember that ■ she standeth upon slippery places,, “and be not high-minded, but fear.” Look Within. Yes friend, that’s the place for won ders. You’ll find enough for contempla- I ' tion there. So do not gaze forever upon | outward show and things of sense. Shut ' up the ear upon the noisy world ofsteam and politics, and cease to strain so anx iously, the vision after comets and event- i ful signs. Repress that strong Athenian t desire for ‘some new thing’ that urges on « the gaping multitude. Close your sen-i ses to the world without,and contemplate|t the world within. Look into the depths of your own soul, and you’ll find myste rious things and wonders enough to think; about continually. Reflect upon its fear-: iful energies, its mighty capabilities of! pleasure and of pain; consider itseter-j nal destiny—its abasing servitude in sin! and its redemption thence; remember that your bliss or misery—your all is staked in it forever ! With all your gaz ing after strange phenomena, do not for get to turn the eye within!— Watchlower. Home. —What a feeling does that sim-- ple word convey to his cars who knows the real blessings of a home, that shelter from the world, its jealousies and its en vies, its turmoils and its disappointments; where like some land-locked bay, the still Icalm waters sleep in silence, while the jstorm and hurricane are raging without; 'where glad faces and bright looks abound; where each happiness is reflected back: -from every heart and ten tirpes multiplied and every sorrow comes softened by con solation and words of comfort; and how j little like this is the abode of the great I j leader of fashion ; how many of the fair tjest gifts of humanity are turned back by '[the glare of an hundred wax lights and i j the glitter of gilded lacqueys; and how | few of the charities of life find entrance where the splendor and luxury of volup . tuous habits have stifled natural feeling. | The Quizzler, Quizzlcd. On a recent occasion of a medical pro , lessor delivering practical lectures to the i public, a gawky lumbering clodhopper :[thought he had devised a mode of turning ij a laugh against the doctor. He mounted the stage, and on being questioned as to • | his disorder, said gravely: j “ Why, I’m a liar.” | “ Sad disorder, sir, but perfectly cura- I ble,” said the doctor, s “ Well,” said the man, “ but I’ve a > worser nor that; I've lost my memory.” . “Quite curable, also,” added the doc tor; “but I must make my preparations. Come again alter dinner, and 1 will be ready for you; but pay down five shil lings.” The man, who had intended to have his fun gratis, resisted, but the doctor de clared that he never let any one down > from the stage till he had paid something. I “Besides,” said the doctor, “how can i I trust you ? You say you are a liar, and : have no memory; so you will either I break your promise or forget all about it.” i A laugh from the crowd expressed their acquiescence in the justice of the claim and the poor fool, nolens volens, was compelled to lay down the cash. No one supposed he would come again but he still hoped that he might turn the ta bles, and presented himself at the ap pointed hour. The doctor received him - with great gravity and, addressing the - audience, said: ‘ Gentlemen may think it a joke, but I assure them on the honor of a gentleman, that it is a very serious affair; and I here by engage to return the money if the by standers do not acknowledege the cure, and that I am fairly entitled to the re ward.’ The man sat down; was furnished with a glass of water; the doctor pro duced a box of flattened black pills; and to show that they were perfectly inno cent, affected to swallow three or four himself. He then gave one to the man who, after many wry faces, bit into it; started up, spitting and sputteling, and exclaimed: 4 Why, hang me if it isn’t cobbler’s wax!’ ‘There,’ said the doctor, lifting up both hands, “ did any body ever witness so sudden, so miraculous a recovery ? He is evidently cured of lying, for he has told the truth instantly; and as to memo ry, my good fellow,” continued he, pat ting him on the back, ‘if you ever forget this, call on me, and I’ll return you the money!’ A Simile. —An Indian once brought up a young lion, and finding him weak and harmless, never attempted to control him. Every day the lion gained in j strength, and became more untractable; j until, at last, when excited by rage, he ( fell upon the Indian, and tore him to ( pieces. Our evil habits and bad passions ( very much resemble this lion. The first duel fought in the United s States was in New England, between r two servants, in the year 1621. Both 1 escaped unhurt, but the Puritans tied them \ hand and foot for 24 hours, and gave them s neither food or drink during that time, s ' 1 ’ jC M'■ ' & ... ■ .. >; 5 [Oae Dollar a Year. llow to Cleau a Fowling-Piece. Sir Astley Cooper seemed to be in nately philosophically disposed, and al ways had some object of practical utility in view. In his scientific inquiries, he had remarkable facility of applying his knowledge to the daily concerns of life, ;and delighted in suggesting improvements tor matters which might also appear too trifling to attract his notice. A friend of his says: I remember upon one occa sion saying in his hearing, “I must send m y g’ in to have it cleaned; for it has ; become so much, leaded, that it is unfit | for use.” “Pooh,” said he, “send it to I London! There is not the least occa sion for it. Keep a few ounces of quick silver in the gun case, and then you can easily unlead your gun yourself. ’ Stop up the touch holes by means of a little wax ; and then pouring the quicksilver into the barrels, roll it along them fora few min utes. ihe mercury and th§ lead will 1 form an atnalgurn, and leave the gun as • clean as the first day it came out of the shop. \ou have then only to strain the quicksilver through a piece of thin wash ■ leather, and it is again fit for use, for the lead will be left in the strainer. The I plan has been used with perfect success.” ■ Active Firemen. —The Cincinnati Ga zette notices an incident tending strongly to show the confidenceHhey had in the zeal and energy of their firemen. A fire broke out, and when its dangerous situa , tion was seen, several risks were hastily , taken. “When it was fairly under way, ■ a citizen suddenly entered an Insurance ; Office near, and said— 1 My house is next |to one now on fire; that will burn down, , and the roof of mine is now in a blaze. I want to know at what rate you will in sure me in SIO,OOO for one hour.’ ‘ Your . roof is in a blaze you say?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Are the alarm bells ringing?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Five . per cent.’ ‘ Agreed 1’ The policy was 1 made out, and the building and'its con , tents saved.” \ good lady, who had two children sick with the measles, wrote to a friend tor the best remedy. The friend had jpst received a note from another lady, in ' q ,J ‘ r * n g the way to make pickles. In the | confusion, the lady who inquired about the pickles received the remedy for the | measles, and the anxious mother of the J s >ck children read with horror the follow . in g:—“Scald them three or fbur times in , very hot vinegar, and sprinkle them well with salt, and in a few days they will be cured.” Another Death from Prize Fighting. —Bill Ford, who fought in a prize match with Tom O’Donnell, at New Orleans, on the 22d ult., lias died of the injuries then received. O’Donnell has been ar rested. It will be remembered that Ford was one of the seconds at the killing of M’Coy, Westchester county, N. Y., and fled in consequence—to meet a similar death himself. Somebody down East has invented a new plan of cheap boarding, says an ex change. One of the boarders Mesmeri. zes the restand then eats a hearty meal —the Mesmerized ones being satisfied from sympathy. A gentleman was one day composing music for a lady to whom he paid his ad dresses. ‘ Pray, .Miss D.’ said he ‘what time do you prefer ?’ “Oh,” she replied, carelessly, “any time frill do; but the quicker the better.” The company smiled at the rejoinder, and the gentle man took her at her word. AgeofMr. Clay. —Mr. Clay was born on the 12th of April, 1777, and will con sequently be 67 years old on the 12th day of April next. Whooping-Cough. —Opossum’s oil is said to be a sovereing cure for pain ful disease. The patient takes it inward ly by doses after the manner of sweet or castor oil. Try it. To Destroy Catterpillars. —An En glish paper states, that a Gardener in Glasgow, places a piece of wollen cloth in each Currant Bush which proves an effectual remedy, as they universally take to the cloth as a shelter, and he destroys thousands each day. To Destroy Bed Bugs. —Make a strong decotation of red pepper, when ripe, and apply it with a common paint brush to the joints of the bedsteads, wainscoating &c., where these odious in sects usually ‘resort, and it is said will soon destroy them.