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jtttociUaug* THE TALISMAN; AN ADVENTURE IN SPAIN. A few leagues from ihe celebrated city of Barculona is a small village, called Puebla Carmona. It stands on bast- of a lofty and singulatly shaped mountain, the Sierra de Montserrat.— The inhabitants ate chiefly ‘he propri etors of the adjoining vineyard, and thci’ tabourets hence, hence, the hous es and cottages are neater, and present ed to an English eye an appearance of comfort not very usual out of the large towns in Spain. During my wander ing in Catalonia a few yeats since. I took up my abode in this village, with the intention of making it my head qu.:i cr> sot a time, and effecting some exeur-tons in me neignhorhuod, paittc ulat ly o the ornamental caverns known as Las Homitas (the Hermitages,) whic h 1 understand to be situated at a ve>y • onsiderable elevation, and inhab ited by some poot monks. 1 found but one public house in Cat mona, and it is digtuficd by the title of Fond* Catalans (the Catalan inn.) Fh e fanda can at nil events boast of’ leaniiness, and I did not look for any luxury beyond that rare one in a Spanish hbtel. Never theless, here were more agremens in it than I was prepared to expect. I usu Ity sallied for'h early in the morn ing, and passed the day in the Sierra. On uiy teturn in the afternoon from mv mountain ramble, a well cooked olla fiodrida awai ed me, which I w ash ed ‘.town wi'ti a hot le of delicious >ed wine they called guarnacha The even ing did nos allt iwarus pass heavily The daughter of the inkeeper and vine yard proprierot, for he is both, Margu etita by name—a lively olive cemplex ioned beauty, with a pair of sparkling in'elligent black eyes, ojos habladoers , as I < all them—would, after attending upon me at my meals, bt ing her guitar, and acto npanying her voice with con siderable skill, sing to me some of her national canciones, those romantic bal lads of the inies of the Moors, w hich are so little known out of Spain, altho’ the, contain muchbeau'tful poetry and music. One of these was my especial favoume, and always received an en coie The number o! couplets amount ed V more than iwenty It wa* a M m'ish love tale, the adventures ol the valiant Gazul and the beautiful Lnvd label. this and other songs, Uv time passed qui’ kly enough. I found altogether so much amusement, and I regained my health and spiiits so rapidly, that I was induced to extend my stay at Carmona, and at length I determined to make a longer excursion up the mountain than I had hitherto accomplished. I resolved to endeavor to teacn he sommi’ o! Montserrat, and enj iv ft tn thence the splendoui ol sun rise which I had often heard described in flowing colon<s. Margucrita, how cv. used the most earnest persuasions to indue me to abandon the project. Ai lioug ‘ she allowed that my health had wonderfully imptoved, vet she in sisted that I was not yet equal >o the fatigue mat I must undergo. But she more particulatiy dwelt upon the cir corns ance of the Siena being the ren dezvous of a formidable banditti, whose detachments were then robbing r>n the roads towards France. It was impos sible, she aven ed, that I could avoid falling in w i'hsome of the band, when I should certainly be plundered, and perhaps ewed and treated as a spy. 3 was, however, in an obstinate humor, and would not be scared from mv pur pose Having made every arrange ment sot a pedestrian journey, I put in to one pocket a few dollars, and into the other my small bright double-bar relled pistol, which although in reality a vety efficacious weapon,l have known to cause he gieatest alarm to even a well armed Spaniard. They rarely use the pistol, hut have an idea that it is the Englishman’s national weapon, and une mg ib his hand. At this mo ment 1 i member me of an instsnee of this. 1 was passing on foot through a street in i'own in Andalusia, wneo a sa’ age looking Spaniard rushed unex pecl'y from a house, and nearly over thiew me. Instead of apology, he ut- I Heed seme rode exclamation, and I j looked a turn, as I felt, indignant en-j ougli, adding a Spanish word of insult) w hich 1 1 eednot here record. My an tagonist’s eyes flashed fire “ I have something to punish you insolent for eigners,” said he, drawing from his side pocket the formidable knife, which al itough prohibited by law, every man carries in Spam. “ But I have an article worth more than toat,” I replied coolly as I could ; aid I produced at the instant my small pistol, which, however, was unloaded, and by mere accident in my pocket. 1 cocked and presented at him. The moment when he saw the shining bar rels which glittered in the rays of the noot day sun, he drew back and lower ed lis knife. “You are tight,” said he, with ama zinf composure. “ That pistol is ol mote value than my novoja. I ask your pardon.” I had rot altogether lost my temper fiom the frst, so that I was enabled to accept, win a good grace. his amende, and to add the vaya usted con Dios (God be wifj you, ) as I put up my weapon and passed on. But to return to my Catalonian ad ventme. Prepared as I before stated, I set out on ny trip. As I quitted the door of the ini, I found Matgucrita a’ my side. “ You English are strange creatures” said she, Had I spoken to a man of any othernation, half as much as I have done to you, to induce him to give up such a ramble, the scheme would have been abandoned at once, I ought to be offended. Nevertheless, lam in terested shout you. Take this.” She placed in my hand a lock of hair of the same raven hue as hei own. It was bound together by a narrow ribbon snipped with a variety of brilliant co lours. “ If yon encounter robbers, as I fear you will do,” continued she, “ make no resistance; but, in a resolute manner, demand to be at once conducted to their chief—to Alonzo, and exhibit this token; i> vil) protect you.” I smilei at her earnestness, but ex piessed my grateful thanks, and press ing the talitman gallantly to my lips, 1 deposited it in my vest, as I bade her adieu. I, lowever, considered that my pistol, which I had carefully loaded, would avail me more in any position vs danger-; but this I did not believe I was likely to fall into. i proceeded cheerfully up the tnoun-’ tain, having ascertained that all the footpiths, in the direction pointed out, led to the hermitages, in one of which I intended to pass the eatly pait of the night and then start betimes, so as to reach the summit at a proper hour of the norning. It was late in the aftei noonihat I had toiled through a thick ly-covered brush-wood track, which condicted me to a small open space. A pah led across this ‘oanother wood. 1 followed it, and was advancing to a large oak tiee, standing at the entrance of the cover, when I perceived horn behml it, the barrel of a gun levelled at me. and, on looking attentively a round, several others were distinct to view. I could have nodoubt as to ‘he profession cf the party into whose hands I was about to fail, and I felt at once how little avail, in this instance my pocket pistol could prove. In a mo ment, someone on the other side of the tree spoke. “Stand fat on the spot where you now are! Stir not an inch 1 Lay down on your fact instantly, or you are a dead manl” “ Enforce! as these commands were by the array of armed men, who emer ed from iheit hiding places, there was no remedy and I obeyed. I was soon surrounded by a numerous band. One man approached close to me, and or dered me torise, which I did quickly enough, feeling much humiliated at the grovelling posture I had been obli ged to take The robber, whom I now met face to face, was an uncommonly handsome young man, dressed in the singular but ra'her unbecoming cos tume of the Catalan peasantry. He evidently had the command, for, at this signal, the guns which were all direct ed at me in a threatening manner, wci e removed. “ Who are yob, my friend ?” de manded he. *• I am an Englishman,”, “ bound to Las Hermiias, to pass the night ’! “ Vulgami Dios!” (God same me !) rejoined the bandit, with an “ un lordc Ingles!” (an English lord 1) “ then you have some valuable watches, and plen ty of money. Hand them to me !” I earnestly assured him that I was hut a rambling English military officer without even one watch, and with only a few dolfors in my possession. ‘ So much the worse for you,’ said he, “ If you hive no money, or cannot ob tain any ftom Barcelona as a ransom, there is bat one way of proceeding, which is H shoot you through the head. Heretic at I am sure you are, we will give you Hew minutes to prepare your self, and men you shall sup with the angelic, r otherwise, as the case may be.” I did ot admire the half-jest, half earnest tone in which these words were uttered, and I heartily wished I had ta ken the educe of my little brunette of the inn at Carmona, of whose token I now bethought myself. Producing the curiously bound up lock of hair, which I ihrust forward towards the capitano, and assuming as much as I possibly could an appearance of confidence I must confess I did not really feel.— “ Conduct me to your chief,” said I. “ If you be not he, I demand to be es corted to Don Aionzo. 1 have a com munic ti nos some consequence to make to him ” He regarded me for an instant with an expression of amazement, and then looked at the token, which he had snatched from my hand. “ Caramba !” exclaimed he, “ is it so ? Has she given you the safegoatd! Why should she interest herself lot such as you ? No matter—l have sworn. These words, muttered in various tones, somewhat reassured me. In a minute he motioned to the band ; they immediately withdrew into the wood, except one man, to whom a signal had been made, and who loitered at a slum distance from us. “ You are safe,” said the chief to me. “ I know not who you are, or w hy Mar guerita should have given you this pass port ; but I have vowed to respect it, and I feel well assured that she would not compromise us by putting it into unwise hands, or allow a babbler to be come possessed of our secret. You are at liberty to proceed, but as you may encounter others of my party, and thus be delayed, I. will send one of my people with you as a guide. He will quit you to night at Las Hermitas, but meet you again in the morning, and conduct ytfu in safety to ,he vineyards at the lower part of the mountain, from whence you must return alone to Pue bla Carmona.” “ You say you are an Englishman,” continued the robber after a short pause “I therefore know your word is of more value than a Fienchman’s oath. Promise not only the strictest secrecy as to what has now occurred, but also that if you ever meet me again under other circumstances, you will not give the smallest sign of recognition.” I did not hesitate a moment in ma king these promises. Exchanging he Spanish adieus of “ Faya usted en ho ra buena ” (Good luck attend you.)and “ Queda usted con Dios (God be with you,) I parted from Alonzo. Ac companied hv the man who had re mained in sight, and who received his directions in a few brief commands whispered by the chief, I pursued my way to the Hermitage. These I found to be twelve small grottoes of chtysial line spars, ornamented with hanging crests in the form of icicles, the entrance to the caves decorated with evergreens odoriferous plants. A single hermit dwells in each. I entered one of them was received with cordiality by a ven erable old man, and partook of his sup per, consisting of wiULfruit, boiled mil let, and delicious spring water. My host also accommodated me with a bed formed of fragrant dried leaves, upon a heap of which was spread a course rug. I obtained a few hours sound sleep, and took leave of the hermit, placing upon the couch a dolhr, which although he observed, he did not ob ject to. Not far from the cave I fell in with my robber guide. I signified to him my desire to move upwards be fore we returned to Carmona. He nodded assent, and marched on before me. From one of the peaks of the mountain, although not from its high est point, I enjoyed a splendid view of the sunrise, and then was conducted down to the vineyards by my attendant, who took a very circuitous route, evi dently avoiding all the usual paths. I endeavoured several times to enter in to convetsation with him, but in vain ; he always repulsed me, growling some few words in the Catalan dialect, which I could rot understand, and he firmly declined to receive the two dollars I offered him when wc parted. I ptoceeded direct to my fonda, re freshed myself with a bath, and sal down to my meal with no false appe tite, atterdtd, of course with Margari ta, who evinced much impatience to be made acquainted with the particu lars of my journey, and wby I had re turned so soon. I recounted to her my adventure, expressing my sincere and grateful thanks Tor her valuable talis man, without which I considered it not improbable but that I should have lost my life. Margurita, however, vehe mently assured me that Alonzo must have been entirely in'jost on that point; but she adnitted I might have been stripped aid maltreated. “ You will not I am sure betray me,” continued the. “ I need scarcely tell you tha’ Alonzo is my lover—that I am his affiance! bride. He is a Valencia no. Had he been of the violent and jealous disposition of the Catalan, 1 dared not have aided you ; but he knows me true, and justly confides in me. Hr is about to give up his piesent danger ous ptofeision, in which he has been loriuna'c enough to amass some doub loons. We aie to go to Valencia where he has many relations, and we shall set up an inn there. If, in your travels, you visit that city, you may possibly encounter us; but I feel se cure in ycur discretion and honor.— You will lot forget your promise. Re member, vou must meet my husband an entire stranger * I remained a few more days in Pue bla Carmona, and then returned to Barcelona, I did not part from Mar garita vithoui repeating my acknowl edgements for her invaluable protec tion, and expressing my sincere wish es for her future happiness and welfare I also forced on her acceptance a small diamond ring, which, on on my first arrival, tad several times attracted her notice U was but a poor return for the very important set vice she had ren dered me „■ Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce. United Srates Consulate } Port au Prince, Feb- 19,1835. £ Sir,—allow me to inform you ol the arrival at this port of the pilot boat “chooner Georgia, w ith William Sum merson only on board, who according to his documents, is a branch pilot for the Port of Darien, Georgia. He has deposited with me the papers of said vessel, and states that he left the before mentioned port in the said boat, burth en twenty one tons, on the 13th Janua ry, in the prosecution of his duty as Pilot , that his crew were put on board sundry vessels bound in ; and that he himself remained on board outside, in expectation of meeting one of the New York packets bound into Darien ; that being at anchor off Sopply Island on the night of the 22d January, he en countered a tremendous gale of wind, in which the chain cable was parted, and thr boat was driven to sea;that he endeavored to gain the land, but was at last compelled to bear up; and on the sth inst. after enduring the greatest hardships, with little or nothing to sub sist on, he made Watluds Island, and then shaped his course for Crooked Island, and arrived off that island on the 6th, in a leaky condition ; was sup plied with a chain, but could procure no men heathen endeavored to reach some port of Cuba, but blowing heavy from the westward, he bore up for this port. I have sold the boat for the ben efit of whom it may concern. The pi lot will return in one of the New York packets. m I have nothing politically interesting to communicate. Every thing is qui et, and the port healthy. Respectfully your obedient servant, F. M DIMOND. Qf all descriptions, neatly executed at the Office of the Telegraphy fftic ffclcflraim. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1835. The individual mentioned in the Consu late notice published in our paper to day, is doubtless the same person who left this place about the time stated in said notice, under the following suspicious circumstan ces. His proper name is Tvmerson, and not Summerson. Information was lodged with tile Mayor of this city, by an individual who appeared to be knowing to the facts, that Totnmerson was engaged a few years ngo with others, in committing murder and rob bery at Musquito, Florida. How far truth may be connected with the information com municated to the Mayor, we cannot say—but in a few days after it was made known, Capt. Tomerson disappeared with no oueelse t\ itlv him in his boat, leaving behind him the most unfavorable impressions. The boat we nn. derstand is owned by merchants in this place- IVe copy to day from the Messenger, the proceedings ot a meeting of the Merchants held in Macon, for’ the purpose of devising ways and means, to encrease their trade and for other purpose! In furthering the ob jects of this meeting, we aid ourselves, and we hope a friendly and favorable response will be made by the mercantile part of our community to any, and every communication that may be mace to them from the commit tee appointed for that purpose. Anew tfe velopement of the latent, and before un_ thought of advantages that belong to our no ble river is every day presenting itself to our view. It is truly astonishing that there has been so mud apathy on this subject— nature has the Altamaha and its tributary streams to be the great channel of intercourse between the seaboard and interi or ot our State; and still there lias been a continually forced current operating against this course of niture. And so it is w ilh Dar ien ; opposition upon opposition has been exerting all its influence, and vainly attemp ting to sustain oiler places, but it is useless, this is the place, and the only place, as is clearly pointed ait by nature, where the encreasing trade cf the great western part of our State, mus, and will, concentrate.— But we are please! to find, by recent move ments here, and elsewhere, that the eyes of the people, are beginning to Lac opened on this subject, snd their true interests will soon be manifested, to tbeir entire satisfaction.— The exertions making by the friends of Brunswick will be a!! in vain, and will even tuate to the advantage of Darien, for they well know they cannot succeed, and every dollar expended there will be a dollar thrown away ; we are aWare this remark will not go off without notice, and we would only add, that as this is an honest convict ion, we would recommend those interested in the cause of Brunswick, to let nature have its perfect work and abandon their visionary schemes. We learn from a gentleman just returned from the inlerior of this State,that the report of Maj. Solomon Groce, of Bibb county, hav ing declined being a candidate for Govern or is incorrect; that Maj. Groce is, and will be a candidate on the first Monday in Oc tober next. MEETING OF MERCHANTS IN MACON. A meeting of the merchants of the city of Macon—present L. L. Griffin, 11. Craft, G. Jewett, J. Cowles, T. T. Napier. F. Wriglev, F O’Callaghan, T T. Wy. he, T L. Smith, H. Carter, W. Baldwin, H. Candler, A.P. Pat rick, D Flanders, M.Chisolm,J Hayes W B. Johnston, J. Martin, C. Collins, O Giegory, W. P. Parker, C. Camp bell, D. Ralston, C. A. Higgins,— held at the city Council Chamber, March. 10. 1835, David Ralston, Esq. was called to the Chair, and C. A. Higgins appointed Secretary. L. L. Griffin, seconded by H. Craft, offeied the following: As merchants and citizens of Macon, it is conceded to be their first and most vital principles of action, to advance in every particu lar manner the various facilities of trade, so as to induce and invite busi ness to the place. And knowing by experience, that competition in any line goes very far to lessen prices, and that all combinations tend to enhance and increase ; and that the present fa cilities on the river from the seaboard