Newspaper Page Text
FUN, FACT, AND PHILOSOPHY.
(Carefully prepared for the Southern Field and Fireside.)
Venerable, my Fellow-Citizens, on the bril
liant calendar of American Independence, is the
day we celebrate. Venerable as the revolving
epoch in our anniversaries of freedom is this
avalanche of time. Venerable as the abacus on
the citadel of greatness, thou well-spring of
hope. Homestead of Liberty, we venerate thy
habitation. Monument of immortality, we ado
rate thy worth. Pharos of ages, we hail thy
glimmerings mid the cataracts of life. Almanac
of our country, we would utter thy welcome with
reverent awe. Our towers and our battlements,
our flags and our heroes, yea, garlanded navies,
decorated armies, and unfettered eagles, sleepless
at the approach of thy footsteps, have welcomed
thee. The clap of thy welcome booms along
tesselated lawns, frescoed arbors, and lipping
rivulets; while the surges of eloquence join the
music of freedom. —( Exordium of E. 11. Tunny's
Fourth July Oration , Rome , Tenn.)
[We find upon our table a handsomely-printed
pamphlet, containing Mr. Tenny’s Oration, and
regret extremely that we can find room for the
above extract only. —Ed.]
At the next election, (I 860,) for President and
Vice-President of the United States, the num
ber of votes in the Electoral College will be 306;
and the number necessary to a choice will be 154.
In the Electoral College, each State has a num
ber of votes equal to the number of its Senators
and Representatives in the lower House of Con
gress.
Friendship is a silent gentleman that makes
no parade. The true heart dances no hornpipe
on the tongue.
“ What are you doing, daughter?”
“ Undressing myself for the party, mother.”
The nineteen Free States will have 186 votes.
California will have 4 votes for President.
Connecticut will have 6 votes for President.
You must persuade a child to place confidence
in you, if you wish to form an open, upright char
acter ; you cannot terrify it into habits of truth.
A surly bachelor remarks, that the ladies
fashions for the ensuing season, show a persis
tent determination in the dear creatures to
crawl out of their dresses through the upper
part.
Illinois will have 11 votes for President.
Indiana will have 13 votes for President.
lowa will have 4 votes for President.
Be not affronted at a jest. If one throw salt
at thee, thou wilt receive no harm, unless thou
hast sore places.
An old sailor said that he supposed that girls
wore their dresses at half-mast, as a mark of res
pect to departed modesty.
Kansas will have 3 votes for President.
Maine will have 8 votes for President.
Massachusetts will have 14 votes for President.
A woman's tongue is a sharp weapon that she
should never draw, except in her self-defence,
and then only after the strongest provocation.
That weapon, sharp as it is, is never so effective
as when tempered with mercy.
When a woman arrays herself a la Bloomer,
it may be said that she pants for notoriety.
Michigan will have 6 votes for President.
Minnesota will have 4 votes for President.
Neto Hampshire will have 5 votes for Presi
dent.
Pride. —“ Thus do I tread on the pride of
Plato,” said Diogenes, setting his foot on the robe
of the Academic. “ Yes, with the greater pride
of Diogenes,” returned Plato.
The editor who kissed his sweet-heart, saying
“please exchange,” is believed not to have ex
ceeded the proper “ liberty of the press.”
New Jersey will have 7 votes for President.
New York will have 35 votes for President.
Ohio will have 23 votes for President.
What men want is not talent, but purpose;
in other words, not the *power to achieve, but
the will to labor.
An editor received a letter, in which weather
was spelt " wethur.” He said it was the worst
spell of weather he had ever seen.
Oregon will have 3 votes for President.
Pennsylvania will have 27 votes for President.
Rhode Island will have 4 votes for President.
They that laugh at everything, and they that
fret at everything, are fools alike.
We suppose that the man who, in the hour of
danger, turns pale and makes his escape, may be
said to come off with flying colors.
Vermont will have 5 votes for President,
Wisconsin will have 5 votes for President.
Every wooden leg that takes the place of a
leg lost in battle, is a stump speech against war.
When you receive a note from your ladyo love
and kiss it, (as, of course, you are expected to
do,) why is it like the nightmare ?—Because it is
the ink-you-buss.
The fifteen Slave States of the Union will
have 120 votes for President at the next election
in 1860.
The Free States will have in the next Electo
ral College, a majority of 66 votes.
Wo may owe it to om enemies to forgive:
we owe it to ourselves not to forget.
On a very pretty girl’s saying to Lwgh Hunt:
“ I am very sad-you-see," he replied:
“ 0, no, you belong to the other Jewish sect •,
you are fair-I-see."'
Alabama will have 9 votes for President.
Arkansas will have 4 votes for President.
Delaware will have 3 votes for President.
Florida will have 3 votes for President.
Georgia will have 10 votes for President.
Natural dignity of mind or manners can never
be concealed —it ever commands respect; as
sumed dignity, our ridicule and contempt.
Bill came running into the house the other
day, and asked eagerly, “ Where does charity
begin ?" “At home,” replied Tom, in the words
of the proverb. “ Not a bit of it,” rejoined Bill,
“ it begins at sea (c).”
Kentucky will have 12 votes for President.
Louisiana will have 6 votes for President.
Maryland will have 8 votes for President.
Mississippi will have 7 votes for President.
“If the best man’s faults were written on his
forehead, it would make him pull his hat over his
eyes.”
“Union is not always strength,” as the sailor
said when he saw the purser mixing his rum with
water.
Missouri will have 9 votes fi r President.
North Carolina will have 10 votes for Presi
dent.
Soidh Carolina will have 8 votes for President.
X&K SOTOXKaat VXSX.It SIX vxsssxvs.
In youth hearts are trumps, in manhood dia
monds and clubs, according to circumstances, but
after all, spades are sure to win, when the game
of life closes.
“ Oh, dear!” exclaimed a young sehool-girl,
when she first beheld a cucumber, “ I always
thought such things grew in slices.”
Tennessee will have 12 votes for President.
Texas will have 4 votes for President.
Virginia will have 15 votes for President.
Sheridan said, beautifully, women govern us;
let us render them perfect. The more they are
enlightened, so much the more shall we be. On
the cultivation of the mind of women depends
the wisdom of men.
—
PERSONAL.
Ex-President Van Buber is writing his “ Life
and Times."
Verdi announces his intention of coming to
America, for the purpose of setting to music the
Falls of Niagara.
Professor J. Madison Watson has been lec
turing in Washington before the Board of Edu
cation, with great success.
Madame Jumel, the widow of Aaron Burk,
was recently at Saratoga Springs. She is 80
years old.
A new life of Dr. Coke, the first Bishop of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, is in prepara
tion by Dr. Etheridge, of England.
Bishop Spalding, of Louisville, Ky., (Cath
olic), has nearly ready for publication, a revised
edition of his Review of D’Aubigne.
Mr. Alfred Tennyson, the English Poet lau
reate, after a short sojourn in Lisbon, has repair
ed to Cintra, where he is idyll-ing away his time.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the greatest
female poet of England, has been quite ill at
Tuscany, Italy.
The President has appointed Wm. G. Jones
Judge of the Court of the United States for the
Northern and Southern District of Alabama, vice
Wm. Gayle, deceased;
Hon. Edward Everett has accepted an invi
tation to deliver an address at the Georgia State
Fair, to be held in Atlanta from the 24th to the
28th of October.— [Crusader.
We learn that Rev. J. E. Ryerson, has re
signed the pastoral charge of the First Baptist
Church in Augusta, and that his resignation has
been accepted.
It is confidently asserted that the poet Proc
tor, “Barry Cornwall,” writes the “Trade
Songs” which occasionally appear in “All the
Year Round.”
The Rev. John Quinian, of Cincinnati, Presi
dent of the Mt. St. Mary’s of the West, has
been recognized at Rome as Bishop of the dio
cese of Mobile, vacant by the death of Bishop
Portier.
The statement that the Hon. Reverdy John
son intends visiting Paris, to have an operation
performed upon his injured eye, is contradicted
by the National Intelligencer. He is now able
to attend to his professional business.
Fanny Fern is said to have nearly completed
a new story of considerable length, which is to
be published by Mason Brothers. Its character,
plot, and even its name, are withheld by the au
thoress, even from her own family.
Jenny Lind Goldschmidt is a member of the
New Episcopal Church of St. John, in the Parish
of Putney, London. The Bishop of London re
cently consecrated the edifice, and Mr. Otto
Goldschmidt has undertaken to act gratuitously
as organist for one year.
The late George Brown, a merchant of Balti
more, recently deceased, has left bequests of
$50,000 to the House of Refuge in that city;
$25,000 to the First Presbyterian Church, Bal
timore ; and $20,000 to the Princeton College,
New Jersey.
By the will of the late Francis Perkins of
Fichburg, the sura of SBOOO is bequeathed to
the American Unitarian Association, to be used
for the purpose of educating destitute young
men for the Christian ministry.
Mr. Corcoran, the eminent banker of Wash
ington, is erecting on Pennsylvania avenue an
art gallery, which is estimated to cost some
$200,000. The gallery will be free, and will be
managed by trustees appointed by Mr. Corcoran.
A good example this.
Among the missionaries who sail for Japan
in November, we observe the name of the Rev.
Mr. Allen, of the Georgia Methodist Conference.
Rev. L. Wood, of the North Carolina Confe
rence, Rev. Mr. Stewart of the Tennessee Con
ference, and two Ministers of the Memphis Con
ference.
Mr. William Siiarswood, of Philadelphia, has
presented to the Boston Natural History Society
an engraving of Linnaeus, at the age of twenty
five, in his Lapland costume, executed in Berlin
from a photograph taken from an oil painting in
the Library of the Zoological Society of Amster
dam.
The numerous friends of the Hon. W. C. Pres
ton, will be highly gratified to learn his health
within these few months has been better than
for some years. He is expected the present
week by his friend, Judge King, at Flat Rock,
where he will spend a few days, on his way
to his home in Columbia, S. C.
The artist Robinson, of Providence, has re
turned from a year's absence in Europe, bring
ing with him twenty copies of famous works of
art which he has made dunng his absence, most
of which were ordered. Among them were fnll
sized copies of Rosa Bonheur’s “ Hay Field ” and
“ Plough Field,” the former six feet by threo,
and the latter somewhat smaller.
We learn from the most reliabie source, says
the Washington States, that the family of Mr.
Preston, in Kentucky, are daily expecting his
return from Sp»in. llis arrival is regarded as
certain within the next month ; in which event,
as our informant tells us, DU domestic interests
will not allow his return to Madrid.
A paragraph has been going the rounds o r
the newspapers lately, to the effect that Wm.
Pitt is the only man of eminence who has not
tried his hand at poetry. It is a mistake. In
Lord Campbell’s Lives of the Chief Justices of
England, in the biography of Lord Mansfield,
it is stated that Mansfield and Pitt were com
petitors for the poetical prize at College.
Nothing is talked of in Paris but the armor
of Madle. Vestivali in the part of Romeo. It
is of aluminum, cost 16,000 f., and weighs four
pounds. That worn by Madamo Pasta in the
same part was of fine steel, weighed thirty-sev
en pounds, was made at the royal works in Prus
sia, and cost nearly ten thousand dollars, our
money.
Hon. Oliver J.< Morgan, of Louisiana, has
presented to Bishop Polk, of that State, the
handsome sum of forty thousand dollars, as the
foundation of a professorship of agricultural
chemistry in tho “ University of the South.”—
This magnificent donation makes up the entire
amount of five hundred thousand dollars, re
quired by the charter for the establishment of
the proposed University.
Hon. Jeremiah Clemens, of Memphis, Tenn.,
and the author of “ Bernard Lile,* etc., has a new
i volume in the press of Lippincott & Co., Phila
delphia, entitled “The Rivals'—an historical
novel relating to the life and tines of Aaron
Birr. Mr. Clemens was foimerly United
States Senator from Alabama; bat, in connec
tion with the Hon. Solan Borlanc, is now edit
ing the Memphis Enquirer.
Gen. M. B. Lamar. —“ The h(te mission of
Gen. Lamar to the Central American States, and
his patriotism and fidelity in the discharge of his
official duties, has made him the sibject of abuse
by hireling correspondents of nothem papers,
influenced to such a course byhisrefusal to lend
his support to the aggrandizementpf speculators
and contractors. The machinations against him
have not even raised a feather in ljs plume.
“ The charge at the battle of S<i Jacinto led
by Lamar and Sidney Sherman, was one of the
most dashing feats of arms ever atipmpted. Not
the murderous onset of the Light Brigade at Ba
laklava was superior to it in boldness and rapid
ity. Less than one hundred men badly mount
ed, poorly armed, almost without food for men
or horses, charged the entire Mexican army, the
dense square of which bristled with bayonets,
and under tho immediate command of Santa
Anna himself. The most terrible execution was
made in the ranks of the enemy, and the freedom
of Texas was the result of that battle.”
Cohmbus Times.
NEWS SUMMARY.
The Fillibusters.— New Orleans, Oct. 6.
The departure of the steamship St. Louis was
not confirmed.
The government ordered the U. S. Marshal at
New Orleans to seize the steamship Philadel
phia, if he was satisfied tljat she was concerned
with the fillibusters and t|eir movements.
A company of Federal (Artillery from Baton
Rouge was on the way to* a point on the river
below New Orleans.
Washington, Oct. 7.—1 despatch received
here says that the Pantlie has been seized, also
her officers and crew, by t le U. S. Marshall, who
is now making arrangeme its to arrest the filli
busters at the Southwest 1 ’ass.
New Orleans, Oct. 7.—' he Fillibusters have
been arrested at the Soutt west Pass, by the U.
S. Marshall, who was assi ited by the Company
of Artillery, from Baton Rouge. The fillibusters
peacably surrendered at one o’clock.
New Orleans, Oct. B.—The Fillibusters arrived
here in custody of the United States Marshal
this morning. Messrs. Maury, Faissoux, Ander
son and Scott have been held to bail in the sum
of S3OOO to answer the charge against them on
Monday week. The rest of the men, who were
left at the barracks, have since decamped, hav
ing been left there unguarded. In coming up
the river, the Fillibusters made the soldiers
leave the steamer; a colliaion between the two
parties was at one time almost certain. The
Fillibusters state that they were on a fishing
party.
New' Orleans, Oct 11.—It is reported on good
authority that the Custom House officers have
discovered a secret receptacle in the steamship
Philadelphia, containing boxes of muskets.—
They are supposed to have been taken aboard
at New York.
Fatal Duel in California — United States
Senator killed.—The Telegraph this morning an
nounces the fact that Hon. David Broderick, U.
S. Senator from California, was killed on the
morning of the 13th ult, near San Francisco, in
a duel with Judge Terry, of the California Su
preme Court. The parties had attempted a meet
ing a few days before, but were arrested and put
under bonds to keep the peace. Mr. Broderick
was a native of New York, and emigrated to
California shortly after it became a State. Judge
Terry is a native of Virginia. The former was
piercod through the lungs, and died on the morn
ing of the 16th. The latter was uninjured.—
There was a profound sensation at the funeral
on the 18th. It was the most imposing spectacle
ever was witnessed in California.
Judge Terry has been arrested, and the pub
lic are very much incensed against him.
Emigration to Texas. The McMinnville
(Tenn.) New Era says, the emigration through
that town for Texas this year is very heavy.—
Scarcely a day has passed for the last two weeks
that an emigrant train has not passed through
that place. The most of them are going to
Eastern Texas.
Naval Academy. —Under the late regulations
the following Congressional Districts are entitled
to pupils in tho U. S. Naval Academy at Anna
polis:
South Carolina, 3d District; Georgia, Ist, 4th
and Bth Districts; Alabama, 3d, 6th and 7th
Districts; Tennessee, 3d District; Kentucky,
3d, 4th, 6th and 7tli Districts; Mississippi, Ist
District; Louisiana, Ist and 4th Districts.
The person appointed shall be an actual resi
dent of the Congressional District of the State
from which appointed, and be recommended by
the member of Congress representing the Dis
trict in which he resides. Candidates must be
over fourteen and under eighteen years of ago
at the time of examination for admission, and
must be free from deformity, disease and imper
fections of the senses.
Nominations are sent by members of Congress
to the Secretary of the Navy, who issues a per
mit to the candidates to present themselves at
the Naval Academy to be examined for admit
tance. A general examination for this purpose
will be held at the Academy between the 25th
October and Ist November next.
The New York Academy of Medicine had
somewhat of an exciting meeting on Wednes
day night, the question being the endorsement
of the resolution adopted by the National
Quarantine and Sanitary Convention, in April,
to the effect that yellow fever is not contagious,
and that personal quarantine may bo safely
abolished, provided that fomites of every kind
bo rigidly restricted. Dr. Griscom read a paper
advocating the resolutions, which were opposed
by Drs. Reese, Francis and Valentine Mott, al
though for different reasons. The discussion
lasted till a late hour, when the further consid
eration of the subject was postponed till the next
meeting.
Earthquakes. —There were two distinct
shocks of earthquakes in San Francisco on the
9th, and another on the 10th September.
Reception of the Great Eastern.—Ar
rangements have been made at Portland, Me.,
to signal the steamship Great Eastern thirty
miles out at sea; on her appearance the flags of
the United States, England and France, will be
displayed from the City Hall and Observatory,
signal guns will be fired, and the fire-alarm bells
rung. As she approaches the harbor, salutes
will be fired from Fort Prebble and other points,
and the bells of the city will peel forth a merry
volume.
The English papers strongly denounce the in-
complete and hurried manner in which the ship
was sent to sea. A vague rumor has been cur
rent that her first voyage would be postponed
until next year, and that in the interim she
would be exhibited at the principal ports in the
Kingdom. This, however, .is authoritatively
contradicted, and she is still advertised to leave
Holyhead for Portland, on the 20th of October.
Remains of Franklin. —The screw steamer
Fox, Captain McClintock, sent by Lady Franklin
to the Arctic regions in search of the traces of
Sir John Franklin’s expedition to England had
returned to England, having been completely
successful. At Point William, on the North
west coast of King William’s Island, a record was
found dated April 25, 1843, signed by Capts.
Crozier and Fitzjames. The record says, the
Erebus and Terror were abandoned throe days
previously in the ice, five leagues to the N. N.
W., and that the survivors, in all amounting to
one hundred and five, were proceeding to Great
Fish River. Sir John Franklin died J une 11,
1847, and the total deaths to date had been nine
officers and fifteen men.
Many deeply interesting relics of the expedi
tion were found on the western shore of King
William’s Island, and others were obtained from
tho Esquimaux, who stated that after their
abandonment one ship was crushed in the ice
and sunk and the other forced on shore, where
she remained.
The Fox was unable to penetrate beyond Bel
lot Straits, and wintered in Brentford Bay.
Minute and interesting details of the expedi
tion are published.
Several skeletons of Franklin’s men, large
quantities of clothing, etc., and a duplicate re
cord up to the abandonment of tho ships, were
discovered.
General Twiggs has asked to be relieved in
November, from the command of the military
department in Texas.
The Austin State Gazette has information that
the Camanches and other tribes are forming a
grand expedition against Northern Texas, the
coming winter.
Late accounts from Texas state that the In
dians are committing great depredations on the
Rio Grande and frontier, in Texas, since the
withdrawal of the United States troops.
Circassia. —Schamyl was betrayed and de
livered a prisoner to the Russians for a bribe of
six million roubles.
The Circassians continue to war against Rus
sia.
The Times' Paris correspondent again draws
attention to the great activity in the French
dock-yards, and states that he had been assured
there are now budding, or under orders to be
built, twenty ships-of-tho-line, ten of the very
largest size, and tho othsrs of inferior calibre;
but all strictly fighting ships, steel-plated, and
all provided with iron beaks or prows.
Cherbourg is about to be armed completely
on a war footing, and that rifled cannon is being
provided for all its batteries.
The Pope remains in a very alarming state,
and Cardinal Antonelli had declared him unfit
to attend to public affairs.
Conclusion of letter from the Republican on
China, Minister Ward’s proceedings, and the
English defeat at the mouth of the Peiho.—
(From “News’ Summary” of last week.)
“At 9 P. M., the tide rising, we were again
afloat, and dropping below the line of the French
and English, cast an anchor. During the night,
a portion of the first barrier was blown up by
the English, and two shots were fired from the
forts. The day following, Saturday, beihg the
last day of grace given by the Admiral, we
watched his movements with intense anxiety.
At 10 A. M., the squadron was placed in posi
tion for attack, and there allowed to remain
within fire but without molestation, until 24 P.
M. Up to this time there had not been seen
upon the fortifications, a single Chinaman, nor a
single gun been visible. The bows of the ships
having now turned with the tide towards the
entrance of the river, the admiral weighed an
chor and passed within the first barrier. Scarcely
had he done so, when he was fired upon from
the forts. Quick as thought he dropped his an
chor, returned the fire, and the battle became
general. Never, perhaps, had the expression,
“catching a tartar,” been more applicable.
The English and French, entertaining an ex
alted opinion of their own prowess and invinci
bility, and from past experience, a very con
temptible one of the Chinese, anticipated an
easy victory. Two ideas seemed prominent in
the mind of every man engaged in the expedi
tion—success and promotion. Gallant fellows,
they are, tool Upon the Flag ship the loss of
life was fearful; at one time but three men be
ing left capable of duty. The firing from the
forts was worthy of the most skillful gunners;
it was incessant and every shot told. But al
though every sbip in the action was struck, al
most riddled by balls, not a mast was shot
away; to sink the vessels being apparently the
main object. So well supported in point of num
bers, courage and ammunition were the Chinese,
that, although each of the thirteen vessels on
gaged, fired four hundred rounds, yet not one of
the forts was permanently silenced. At SP.
M. we received a message from the Admiral,
stating his desperate situation, and requesting
the use of the Toeywan to tow up their storming
party. The Admiral had been twice wounded,
had two ships sunk under him, and had trans
ferred his flag to the third, whence, reclining on
deck, he issued his orders with the utmost cool
ness. Commodore Tatnall and Minister Ward
consulted together upon the propriety of render
ing the required assistance, and finally concluded
that an act of humanity should not be construed
into a breach of neutrality. Before leaving,
however, upon this business, the Commodore
insisted that the Minister and entire American
Legation should quit the shrt). We were, ac
cordingly, summarily dispatched upon a neigh
boring junk. When the steamer, however, re
turned to take a second load of troops, we sig
nalled for a boat and returned on board. We
then anchored in tho midst of the vessels, and
while transferring the men Ac., were in the thi/*‘
est of the fight. Here, the cannon balls d ew
thick and fast about us. One passed between
our heads and the awning, and sever" 80 near
that I could have almost caught thn« n in my hat
Commodore Tatnall, like a chivaV° U3 Georgian,
as he is, went in his open ba"B>© through the
most exposed positions, to r*y a visit of sym
pathy to his wounded brother officer, the Admi
ral. While within a few feat of his ship, a ball
struck and sunk his toat, killing his coxswain
and stunning his fl.-tf Lieut. Trenchard at his
side. •
At half past ** the storming party landed,
under a destructive fire from each of the eight
forts. Swimming and floundering over two
ditches of mud and water, they came to the
third fill'd with soft mud and iron spikes, which
they found impossible to pass. Here, entirely
at tbe mercy of the Chinese, who, it now being
dark, threw up rockets to expose the position
of their adversaries, they were shot down like
rice birds. The desperate resistance and deadly
firing of the previous four hours seemed not at
all to diminish the confidence of the English.
An officer of their Marine corps, who, with his
Company, spent the night upon the Toeywan,
stood at my side with his opera glass, and com- ‘
mented upon their supposed progress and suc
cess.
Alas, poor fellows! they had despised the old
maxim, ‘ never underrate your enemy,” and
dearly did they pay for it. Os the five hundred
comprising the storming yarty, nearly one half
were killed and wounded, and not a half dozen
approached nearer than two hundred yards of
the forts. Until ten o’clock the firing was kept
up with undiminished vigor, and during the en
tire night random shots were fired on both sides.
At daylight, the English and French dropped
below the line of fire, leaving behind them sunk,
or abandoned, one dispatch and five gun-boats.
Seldom, if ever, has a naval engagement
proved more fatal; six of the thirteen ships in
action sunk or abandoned, and five hundred, of
less than eleven hundred men killed or wound- 1
ed. The English Admiral, as above stated, was
twice wounded; the French Admiral wounded: I
the gallant Captain who came to our assistance
while apronnd, lost his head at the first tire.
The Senior Captain of the English Squadron
was severely wounded, and the Captain of the
" Jfagicienne" (English minister’s ship,) was
twice wouuded, and suffered amputation of the
leg. The fleet Captain (a fighting man with 1
Crimean medal) was severely wounded. Major
and Captain of Marines killed, Ac., Ac. ]
The English have succeeded in recovering
two of their ships. Even now, eight days after
the action, the firing from the forts still con
tinues.
On "Wednesday last, 29th nit., our Minister
being determined to leave no effort untried to
reach Pekin, or effect the exchange of the treaty, 1
entrusted me with «- letter addressed to the
Governor General, and despatched me In the 1
Toeywan, in search of the place (north entrance '
of the Peiho) and the man. After steaming ,
about six miles, in a northerly direction, we dis
covered junks’ masts over the land, and an inlet J
well fortified. The water being shallow, and no
channel known, we could only approach within
four miles of the shore. Thence we steamed 1
in a north-west course for about five miles, and
discovered a large village. The steamer being )
unable to approach nearer than two and a half
miles, I took a small boat, and with Mr. Martin,
interpreter, and Mr. Merchant, midshipman,
pulled for shore. It being then low water, and i
the beach shelving very gradually, even our
small boat got aground at a distance of three
quarters of a mile from shore. "We then boarded l
two junks in the vicinity, in the hope of finding
some one who would undertake to deliver the 1
letter. Both the junks, had, however, been de
serted at our approach. Determined to fulfil ,
my commission, and seeing no other mode of
doing so, I proposed to wade ashore. To this )
my companions assented, and rolling up our
pants, we plunged in. As we neared the shore,
we saw the villagers flying in every direction, t
on foot, horseback, and in covered wagons. Upon
shore, we succeeded in holding communication i
with two of tho villagers, who told us or rather *
the interpreter (for neither Merchant nor I un- (
derstood a word of what was passing,) that a
large force of Tartar cavalry was in the vicinity; j
that runners had been sent for them, and that
wo had better hasten back to our boat, as they
were seen approaching, and would certainly )
kill the party. The interview lasted certainly
not over five minutes, during which time Mr. j
Martin was in such a state of excitement, that
be did not translate a word for us. Suddenly
we saw him thrust the letter and cards into the
hands of one of the villagers and take to the j
water for the boat. Merchant looked at me, and
I looked at him, with tho simultaneous exclama
tion, “what in the deuce is he running for?” f
It was soon explained by the visible presence of
a body of cavalry, numbering some four or five v
hundred, who came thundering down upon us.
No more questions were asked, but never, I
suspect, were straighter coat tails seen, nor bet- '
ter time made through water, than on that oc- i
casion. We were pursued only a short distance
into tho water. This running through the
water, up to tho knees, is hard work and poor j
fun, when kept up for three-quarters of a mile.
An hour’s pull brought us to the Toeywan, to the v
great joy of our friends, who witnessed the flight '
and chase.
At 8 P. M. we were again aboard the Powha
tan. I wish you distinctly to understand (as I (
reported to the Minister) that we ran, not be
cause we anticipated the slightest danger or en
tertained the least fear, but simply because, hav- t
ing delivered the letter and fulfilled our commis
sion, we wore anxious to get back to the Pow- t
hatan and report thereon as soon as possible t ‘
On Saturday, 2d inst., two large junks came (
down to us laden with provisions, sheep, pigs,
poultry, vegetables, fruits, Ac. They brought j
also a letter from the Tonti, or Chief of the Dis
trict, addressed to “ Tho American Minister,”
announcing tliat his letter had been received j
into responsible hands, and would be delivered
to the Governor General, who, we understood «
them to say, will be on the coast in a few days '
to furnish us with means of conveyance to
Pekin. What will be the result, what or when
our next move, it is impossible to say.
Yours, Ac.. Powhatan.
Nothing of importance from China since the
affair at Peiho. _
A Hong Kong paper says, that Minister
Ward is still aboard his ship, and it ishttle like- 1
ly that he will ratify his treaty, as the English
Minister. <
Another one thinks that ho has probably gone
to Pekin. I
A Russian dispatch from St. Petersburg, says
that Minister Wai*> arrived at Pekin, and was
confined there.
France ha* sent to China twenty thousand
men and twenty-two ships. t
Upwrfds of a thousand mariners, strong de- »
ofthe rifle brigade, two light infantry (
raiments, etc., were to leave England for China
oy the overland route. The first of the squad- )
rons for the service against China had already
sailed. The Government intend dispatching fif
ty gunboats, besides frigates and other vessels. }
The monster Tournament of one hundred com- |
petitors, which was arranged some months since
at the Case de la Regence, in Paris, has just been <
completed. Os the five prizes, Johrnoud won the
first, and Potier the second. 1
The London chess-publishing journals are full
of extracts from Mr. Morphy’s Ledger column; j
bis admirable notes to the Labourdonnais-M’Don
nell games are loudly praised. v
MARRIED. t
At Trinity Church, in this city, by the Rev. Wm. L ,
Hawks, on the evening of the sth inst, Mr. JOHN H.
BUTTB and Miss JOHN GELINE M. WINTER,
daughter of John 6. Winter, esq.— [Columbus Sun.
165