VOL III -NUMBER 9.
ASHEVILLE, N. C, SEPTEMBER 15, 1842.
"WHOLE NUMBER 113.
il
n
erl
TBIXTED AND PUBLISllED WEEKLY
Publisher of to Law fcofili United Slate.
. TEMlJaS: ;
Thij"jBper published at Two Dor.uuu your,
in advaneo Two Dollar and Fifty "Cent in
. ii month or, Throe Dollar at tlie end of the
year. (Sw prcapoctua.)
Advertisements inaortcd at One Dollar per aquare
for the first, and Twenty-Fiva- Cent for each
continuance. Court Order -will be charged
twenty-fire per cent, extra. V .-. .. ."
LAWS OF THE U. STATES.
Patted at the secondSessum of the. 271 Ctngrem.
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
- : PcBUC-No. 40. -. -
AN ACT to provide for the armed occupation and
settlement of the unsettled part of the pcninsu-
Wt East Florida.
Be it enacted by ' the Senate ana House of Re.
pretentativet of the United State ef America in
Congress assembled. That any person, being tlffl
head of a family, a single man over eigh teen years
of age, able to bear arms, who ha made or thall,
within one year from after the passage of this act,
make an actual settlement within thai part of Flo
rida situate and being south of the line dividing
townships numbers nine and ten south, and cast
of the base line, shall bo entitled to one quarter
section of said land, on the followiug condition
and stipulation :
Firtt. That said settler shall obtain from the
register of the land office, in the district in which
he proposes to settle, a permit describing, aa par.
ticulariy as may be practicable, the place where
Ina or her settlement M intended to bo made ;
Provided, That no person -who shall be a resident
of Florida at the time of the paasago of this act,
who shall be the owner of one hundred and sixty
acres of land at the time ho proposes to settle,
shall be entitled to a permit from the register. t
Second. That said settlor shall rceido in the
Territory of Florida, south of said township line.
for five consecutive years, and to take his grant
on any public land south of, that township, .
i htra l oat said senior snail erect thereon a
house fit for the habitation of man, and shall clear,
enclose, and cultivate at least five acres of said
land, and reside thereon for the space of four
years next following the first year after the date
uf his permit, if be or she shall so long live.
Fourth. That such settler shall, within one
year after the survey of said lands, and the open
ing of the proper ofhee for the entry and sale of
the same py ute u nited Mates, prove, before such
tribunal, , and in such manner and form as shall
be prescribed by the Commissioner of the, Gene,
ral Land Office, with, the approval veC. the Prcsi.
dent, tne fact that the settlement basbcei
menced, and the particular quarter section upon
which it is located ; and also that such settler
shall, within six months after the expiration of
nve years from the date or bis permit, prove, in
like manner, the fact of continued residence and
cultivation, at required in the second and third
condition herein abovo prescribed ; whereupon;
and not until then,' a patent shall issue to said
settler, for such quarter section. '
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That in the
case of the settlement of the samo quarter section
by two or more settlors, the right to the location
shall be determined by priority of settlement, to
be ascertained nndor such rules as the Commis
sioner of the General Land Office, with the ap
proval of -the President, may prescribo ; the
subsequent settler or settlers shall be permitted
to locate the quantity he, alie, or they may be en
titled to elsewhere witliin the samo township, up
on vacant public lands.
See. 3. And be it further enacted, That no right
or donation shall be acquired under this act with,
in two milesof any permanent military post of the
United States, established and garrisoned at the
time sneh settlement and residence was com.
menced.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That all
sales, gifts, devices, agreements, bonds, or powers
to sell, transfers, or liens whatsoever, private or
j'iJicisl.ot the lands, or any portion-thereof,, ac
quired by this act, made at any time beforc-pa-tents
shall have issued for the same, shall bo utter,
ly void and without effect, to every intent and pur.
pose, whether in law or equity ; and the purcha
ser or obligee, under any such sale, agreement,
bond, or power to sell, transfer, or lien, shall not
be entitled to recover back the price or considcra.
. tion paid therefor, but shall forfeit the same ab.
solutoly to such settler or his heirs.
Sec 5. And be it further enacted, That upon
the death of any settler before the end of the
five years, or before the issuing of the patent, all
his rghts under til is act shall descend to his wi
dow, and heirs at law, if he leaves a widow, and
to his heirs at law, if ho leaves none, to bo held
and divided by them according to the laws of Flo
rica, any prerions sate" or transfcrof The samiror
of any interest, legal or equitable, in the same,
to the contrary notwithstanding. And proof of
his compliance with the conditions of this act, up
to the time of his death, shall bo sufficient to en
title them to the patent.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted. That where
any settlement, by the erection of a dwelling, or
the cultivation of any portion thereof, shall be
made upon tho sixteenth section- before the same
shall be surveyed, then and hi that case other
lands shall be selected by tho school commission
ers tho township, in lieu of said section sixteen,
or such part thereof 'as may be claimed under
this act -
Sec. 7. And he it further enacted. That not.
exceeding tw hundred thousand acres of land
shall be taken for settlement under this act :
bee. 8. And be it furthernactedTkTlSie,
President of the United States may, at any time,
by proclamation, suspend all further permits and
settlements under this aet, by giving six months'
notice thereof. ?
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted. That the
Commissioner of the General Land Office shall,
on or before the first day of February, eighteen
hundred and forty.four, report to Congress ithe
the names of every individual whoahall have made
the actual settlement required by the first section
of this act, specifying the heads of families and
the single, men, and the location of each quarter
section occupied by each said settlers.
JOHN WHITE,
Speaker of the House af Representative.
WILLIE P. MANGUM, -President
of the Senate pro-tempore.
JOILV TYLER.
Approved, August 4, 1842.
Pcbuc No. 41.
AN ACT to regulate appeals "and writs of error
from the district court of the United States for
the northern district of Alabama.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Re.
pretentativeief the United State of America in
tfngres ateembted, That the Secretary of the
ireasury be, and be is hereby, authorised tore,
nind the balance of the amount paid for lands
purchased from the United States, at the land
office of the SU Helena district, in the State of
ixxiisiana, on the tenth and twenty.third days of
'cbruary.of tha year eighteen hundred and thir.
to I?"-'" the'hame of Clark Woodroff, either
www Woodrooff,orlo any other person or per.
tons jointly hterestujl with him in said purchase,
or to his mr tteir beiaj, assigns, or legal repreeen
tatives on hi or the complying with the condi
tions of said act. '
Approved, August 1, 1843.
.'PubuCno. 42.1 T
AN ACT to atnex flirt of the town of Tiverton.
in the State of RhtJe Island, to the collection
district of foil riveL in the State of Massachu
setts. i J -Be
it enacted ly tm Senate and Hove of Re.
pretentatipe of the United State of America in
Congress assekhled, 'Ihat all that part of the town
oi i iverton.isuie atiteof Khode Island, Which
Jlesnorthof theaouih lino, of the farm of William
iSladc, and of Mm farm of the heirs of Bolvston
Brayton, to Hattupnot Pond, and by said pond
to the south rh of the -Slate of Massachusetts,
and th watervVnd shoroa adjoining thereto, be,
and the same Urtjereby, annexed to, and made a
part of the oolMftoa district of Fall river in the
state of DlassatjJusrttF. ,
Approved, Ago 8, 19 IX
;' ' 1 rpunLrA N0.54.V
AN ACT to eatablish an auxiliary watch for the
. protection or public and private property h the
city ol waaliingtnru
Beit enacted & the Senate and House of Re.
preeentative of the United State of Ameria in
Congress aetembled, That there shall be eatatljsh.
ed an auxiliary guard or watch for the protection
or public and private property against incemia
ries, and for the enforcement of the police regtlu.
lions ox ine city of w ashington, consisting of m
captain, to bo appointed by the Mayor of the slid
city, at an annual salary of one thousand dollak J
and fifteen other persons, to be employed by toe
captain, five of whom shall receive a compenftu
tiun of thirty-five dollars per month.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That the sail
auxiliary guard shall occupy as a rendezvous sues
building or part of a building belonging to U
United States, or furnished by tho corporation of
Washington, as shall be directed by the President
of the United States, and shall be subject to suet
rules and regulations' as may be prescribed by
bonrd, to consist of the mayor of the city of
Washington, tho attorney of the Un ited Statct
for tho District of Columbia, and the attorney
of the corporation of the said city of Washing,
ton, with the 'approbation of the President of tin
United States.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That for the
compensation of said auxiliary guard, and for the
purchase of the necessary and proper implement!
to distinguish Utcm in the discharge of their du.
ties, the sum of seven thousand dollars is herebj
appropriated, to be paid out of any money m tbi
1 rcasury not otherwise appropriated.
" Approved, August 23, 1842. -
rPuutTC No. 55.1
AN ACT to amend an act entitled "An act to
provide for the payment of horses, or other pro.
perty, Inat or destroyed in the military scrvico
of the United States," approved the eighteenth
day of January, eighteen hundred and tMrty
soven. Be it enacted by the Senate and, Honet of Re
preeentative of the United Stalt f Jmiriom im
ConFret aetembled, That the above recited act
be so amended as to embrace the claims of any
field, or staff, or otbor officer,' mounted militia
man, volunteer, ranger, or cavalry who bos or
shall sustain damage, without any fault or negli
gence on his part, while in the military service of
the United states, or the loss of a horse, destroyed
or abandonod by irdur of the commanding gene
ral or other companding officer, or by the loss of
a horse by beingubot, or otherwise lost or destroy,
ed by unavoidab'e accident, without any fault or
negligence of tin owner, and when he was in the
line of his duty, ind for the loss of necessary equi.
page in eonseqa-nce of the loss of his horse, as
aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid the valuo
thereof at the tirio of entering the service.
See 2. And bt it farther enacted. That in au
diting and settliig tho claims provided for in this,
and in the act wiiich this is intended to amend,
an appeal may fa taken and prosecuted from the
decision of tho Auditor rejecting tho claim, to
the Second Comptroller of the Treasury, under
lhe"dircctlnh of Hid" SccfeloJy, who8id Wtsion
shall be concluavo.
Sec. 3. And he it furtlxr enacted. That it shall
and may bo lawful to make compensation for
horses, bridles, saddles, and equipments, turned
ovcrto the -service -of the United States;-under
the act approved October fourteenth, eighteen
hundred and thirty-seven, whenever it shall be
made to appear that the person to whom they
wcro ordered to ke delivered was acting as an olli-
ccr, although thore may be no returns in the Dc.
partment to show his regular appointment as such
officer. And tho certificates of proper officers,
whether given during or sinco the expiration of
their term of scrvico, shall bo receivable by ther
Auditor in the settlement of such chums.
ApprQvjedjAugutJJ3,A842,
Public No. 47.
AN A.CT explanatory of an act entitled "An act
to constitute the ports of Stonington, Mystic
river, and Pawcatuok river a collection district."
- Be it enacted by the Senate and lloute of He.
preeentative of the United State of America in
Congret aetembled. That the firs t section of the
act entitled "An actio constitute the ports of Sto
nington, Mystic river, and Pawcatuck river a col
lection district," shall be construed in the same
manner it would have been had the words " from
and after tho thirtieth day of June next " been I
wholly omitted in said section.
Sec. 3: And be it further enacted,Thnt Uie afore
said act, entitled w An act to constitute the porta
of Stonington, M rstic.river, and Pawcatufck river
a collection district," apprd'yed August third, eigh
teen hundred and forty. two, shall take effect in
all its provisions, and be in force 'as hereby ex
plained, from and after the said third day of Au
gust, eighteen hundred and forty-two.
Approved, August 16, 1842.
PPBLTC No. 43. -AN
ACT authorising the settlement and payment
of certain claims of the State of Alabama.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Home of Reprc.
tentative of the United Slate of America in Con.
great assembled, That the Secretary of War be,
and hereby is, directed to audit and adjust the
claims of the State of Alabama, under such laws
and regulations as have heretofore governed the
Department in auditing and allowing the elaims
of the States on the United States, for money
advanced and paid by said State for subsistence,
supplies, and services of local troops called into
service by and under the authorities of said State,
but not mustered into the service of the United
States, and for provisions aai forage furnished the
friendly Indians during the Creek and Seminole
hostilities, in the years eighteen hundred and thir.
ty-six and eighteen hundred and thirty-eeven, in
all cases in which the payment was for subsist
encei supplies, service, provisions and forage,
which would have been paid for under existing
laws and regalationa, if such troops had been mus
tered into the servioe of the United States, and
the provisions and forage had been furnished by
an agent of the United States ; and that the sum
so found due to said State he paid oat of any mo.
ney in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated :
Provided, That, in auditing and adjusting said
claims, duly authenticated copies of papers which
have been lost or destroyed, upon due proof of such
loss or destruction, shall be received as evidenoe.
See. 3. And be it further enacted. That the Se
cretary of War be, ana he hereby is, required to
report to the Itouse of Kepresentuuves a schedule
of such claims as may be presented for adjustment
under this act, and not allowed, with the reasons
for such disallowance, at the next session of Con.
gress. '
- Approved, August 16, 1842.
f Public No. 52.1
AN ACT to grant pre-emption rights to settlers
on the Dubuquo claim, so called, in the 1 errv
tory of Iowa.
Be it enacted by the Senat and Ho of Re.
preeentative of the United State of America in
Congress tumbled. That the lands lying in the
ounty of Dubuque, in the Territory of Iowa,
heretofore reserved for the Dubuque claim, so call
ed, which have not been sold by the United States
by virtue of the acts of the - fourth of July, one
Uiousand eight hundred and tiiuty-si, .and the
third day of March, ono thousand eight hundred
and thirty-sever., be, and the same are hereby, de
clared to be public lands ; and that settlers on said
land, who, but for said reservation, would have
been enabled to enter the same under the preemp
tion laws of nineteenth June, one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four, twenty second June, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, first J une,
one thousand eight hundred and forty, or fouith
September' one thousand eight hundred and forty,
one, be, and they are hereby, authorized to enter
the same at one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre, at any time within one year after the date of
tii is act, upon complying with the provisions of
cither of said acts under which such peraoo may
claim ; the settlers under the earlier law being
entitled to the preference over thoe under a sub
sequent one : Provided, That this section Is not to
bo regarded as extending the right of pre-emption
to lands reserved for lead mines, salt springs, school
sections, or fownlots: And provided further.
That, should the said claim of Dubuque hereafter
prove valid, compensation to tho claimants shall
be made by the United states in other public lands
equal in quantity, subject to private entry.
Approved, August lb, to4.
Resolution Public No. 6.
A RESOLUTION declarative of the pension act
of July seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty,
eight
Resolved hi the Senate and House of Re.
presentatile of the United State of America in
Congress assembled. That tho benefits of the act
entitled " An act erantine half-pay and pensions
to certain widows." approAcd the seventh day of
July, eighteen hundred and tlnrty.eight, Alia 11 not
be withheld from any widow whose uusnano aiea
after the paasaecof the act of tho soventh of June,
eighteen hundred and thirty-two, and before the
act of the seventh of July, eighteen hundred and
thirty-eight, if otherwise entitled to the same.
Approved, August 16, loVi. .
rPtJBLic No. G3.1
AN ACT making appropriations for the support of
the army, and of tho military academy, lor me
year ono thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
tie it enacted by the Senate and House of Rf.
preeentative of the United State of America in
Vongres assembled, f hat the following sums DO,
and the same hereby are, a npropriuted, to be paid
out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for the support of the army for the
yeur one Uiousand eight hundred and forty-two :
No. 1. For the pay of the army, one million
four hundred and seventy-seven thousand seven
hundred dollars.
No. 2. For commutation of officers subsistence,
five hundred and twenty-aeven thousand two hun
dred and sixty-four dollars.
No. 3. For commutation of forage of officers'
horses, one hundred and sixteen thousand nine
hundred and seventy-ono dollars.
No. 4. Fur commutation of clothing of officers'
servants, thirty thousand two hundred and forty
dollars.
For commutation of clothinir not drawn in kind
by tho troops, fifty Uiousand two hundred and
fortV dollars.
No. 5. For expenses of recruiting, fifteen thou-1
sand seven hundred and nine ciuuars ana unny.
six cents. v
No. 6. For clothing of the army, camp and gar
rison cquipairo, cooking utensils, and hospital fur.
niturc, three hundred and seventy.four thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six dollars and eighty
cents.
No. 7. For subsistence in kind, exclusive of that
of officers, seven hundred and sixty.nine thousand
six hundred and sixty-eight dollars.
No. 8. For the regular supplies furnished oy tne
Quarter-master's department, consisting of fuel,
fornpe. straw, stationery, and printing, three hun
dred and sixteen thousand dollars.
No. 9. For barracks, quarters, and storehouses,
embracing tho repairs and enlargement of bar-TBckspquarteTiirstorehoTiBesTind-llospitolsTtlie
erection of temporary cantonment! and of gun
houses for tho protection of cannon; the purchase
of tools and materials and of furniture for the bar
rack rooms ; rent of quarters for officers, of bar
racks for troops, where there arc no public build,
ings for their accommodation, oT storehouses for
the safe keeping of subsistence, clothing, and oth
er military supplies, and of grounds for summer
cantonments and encampments for military prac
tier, one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars.
No. iU- f- or the incidental expenses of the (juar-
tcrmaster's department, consisting of postage on
public letters and packets, expenses of courts mar
tial and courts of inquiry, including the additional
compensation to judge advocates, members, and
witnesses ; extra pay to soldiers under the act ol
Mawh-seconoV -eighteen- humlr adiMteont 4
expenses of expresses anaoi tne interment oi non-
' :i.j .a . Ki r i.hA,
commissioned officcia and soldiers; hire of labor,
era ; c"mpnii"n "t clerks in the offices of the
quartermaster and assistant quartermasters at
post where their duties cannot be performed with.
out such aid, and of temporary agents in charge I
of dismantled works ; and to such wagon and to.
rage masters as it may be necessary to employ un
der the act of the fifth of July, eighteen hundred
and thirty. eight ; expenditures necessary to keep
the regiment of dragoons and the four companies
of light artillery complete, including the purchase
of horses to supply Uie place of those which may
be lost and become unfit for the service, and the
erection of stables, one hundred and twenty-seven
thousand dollars.
No. 11. For transportation of officers' baggage
when travelling on duty, without troops, eixty.five
Uiousand dollars.
No. 12. For transportation of troops and sup.
plies, vix. transportation of the army and baggage,
freight and ferriages, purchase or hire of horses,
mules, oxen, carts, wagons, and boats, for pur
poses of transportation or garrison ore ; drayage
and cartage; hire of teamsters; transportation of
funds for the pay department ; expense of trans. I
as from their situation require it; transportation
of clothing from the depot at Philadelphia to the
stations of the Uxtps; of subsistence from the
place of purchase and delivery, under contracts,
to such point a Um circumstance of the service
may require ; of ordnance, ordnance store, and
small arms, from the foondrie and armories, to
Uie arsenal, fortifications, and frontier posts, two
hundred and forty-two thousand dollar. ; "
No. 13. lor Uie contingencies of la army.
pine thousand thousand dollars.
o. 14. lot the medical and hospital depart
ment, twenty-eight thousand dollars.
., For extending and rendering more complete the
mvuwviogicai ooservaitons conducted at U mili.
tary posts of Ute United States, under tha direo.
tion of the Surgeon General, three thousand dol.
lars.
No. 15. For the eurrent exponscs of trre ord
nance service, ono hundred thousand dollar.
No. 16. For the armament of fortifications, in
eluding compensation of a special agent to attend
at the foundries cmnloved in makinir cuinnn. one
I hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
I No. 17. For ordnance and ordnance stores and
supplies, ono hundred thousand dollars.
No. 18. For the manufacture of arms at the
national armories, three hundred and sixty thou,
sand dollan ; of which sum ten thousand dollars
may, at the discretion of the Secretary of War,
be applied the purchase of arms.
JVe. 19, For repairs and improvements and new
machinery at Springfield armory, twenty thou
salt J dollars.
N. 20V For repairs and improvements and new
machinery at Harper's Ferry armory, thirty thou,
sand dollars.
K. 21. For arsenals, one hundred and twenty
thousand dollars. -
JVs.22. For purchase of saltpetre and brimstone,
forty thousand dollars.
For expense of preparing drawings of a uniform
system of artillery, one thousand Uirce hundred
and fifty dollars.
No. 23. For preventing and supptwsing hostili
ties in Florida, to be expended under :he direction
of the Secretary of War, vix.: for forge for the
horses of the mounted volunteers and n.'htia, and
for tho horses, mules, and oxen in the service of
the trains for freight or transportation of military
supplies of every description from the places of
purchase to Florida j for tho purchase of wagons,
harness, boats, and lighters, and other vessels; of
horses, mules, and oxen to keep np the trains;
tools, leather, and other materials for repairs;
transportation witlu'n Florida, including the hire
oi steamboats ana other vesHels, for scrvico in the
rivers and on Uie coast, and the expenses of main.
taining the several steamboats and transport schoo
ners connected with the operations of the army ;
hire of mechanics, laborers, mule.drivcrs, team
sters, and ether assistants, including their subsist
ence! and for . miscellaneous and ...contingent
charges, including arrearages, five hundred tliou.
sand dollars s Provided, That no more than one
hundred and forty-six thounand two hundred and
ninety-six dollars and scventy-three cents shall be
appliod to the payment of arrearages; and no
such arrearages shall be paid unless they arc for
services rendered or supplies furnished in pursu
ance of law,
For military surveys for the dofence of the fron
tier, ipland and Atlantic, fifteen thousand dollars.
For arrearages and for the preservation of the
public property at the several places of harbor and
river improvement, hfteon thousand dollar.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That no offi
cer in any branch of the public service, or any
other person whose salary, pay, or emoluments, is
or nre fixed by law or regulations, shall receive
any additional pay, extra allowance, or compen.
sation, m any form -whatever, for the disburse
Btant of- Dublio uiaiicv. or far snv other service or
duty whatsoever, unless tho samo shall be aulhu
riied by law, and the appropriation therefore ex
plicitly set lorth that it is for such additional pay,
extra allowance, or compensation. '
Sec 3. And be if further enacted. That the fol.
lowing sums be, and tho same are hereby, appro.
printed, to-be paid out of anv'monev in the Trea
sury not otherwise appropriated, for the support
of -4he-Mtfksry-AcadrmiT" for tho year one tnoQ.
sand eigbt hundred and forty.two viz :
ro. i. i or pay oi olliccra, instructors, cadets.
and musicians, sixty thousand five hundred and
twenty-four dollars.
no. a. for commutation of subsistence of ofli.
ccrs and cadets, forty thousand and seventy-seven
dollars.
No. 3. For commutation of forage of officers'
horses, five Uiousand one hundred and cighty.four
dollars. . , '
No. 4. For commutation of clothing of officers'
servant, four hundred and twenty dollars.
its. a. cor aeiraymg expenses oi ine xwara oi
Visiter; snd fortha other various current and or.
dinarr expenses of the Academy, other than nnv
and subsidence, twenty -six Uiousand four hundred
and thirtr-aix dollars.
No. 6. For increase and expense of library, one
thousand dollars
For building and repairing the necessary bonis,
and for carrying on the improvements on tiio Mis
souri, Miraifisippi, Ohio, and Arkansas rivers, one
hundred thousand dollars, under Uie direction of
the Secretary of War ; and for tho preservation
and re pa in- of public works heretofore constructed
for the improvement of harbors, thirty thousand
dollars.
Approved, August 23, 1842.
A Doctor's Story.
In travelling througli county in
Alabama, a short time ago, while on a little
business excursion into tho State, called
upon an old acquaintance tbat I had for.
merly known in Georgia, and was induced
to spend the night at his bouse.
My friend had been a successful prac
titioner ol medicine, and had risen pretty
wcltin the world. Tho air of ease and
comfort, and even elegance I saw around
liim. attracted mv admiration, and I could
help consratutatine him uion iW same
, , " . , , - t iJTZl
nd upon the enviablcDess of his s
upon the enviablerjess ol his situation.
" With such a beautiful plantation, such a
lovely and amiable family, and a plenty of
the world's "goods, what more I asked of
hirrr,-could any man want to make himself
hapny?" -tie
admitted there was nothing else a
man could reasonably ask or desire. Dut
yet I could discover, notwithstanding, my
friend had his cares and his anxieties.
Ue had found out that wealth brought with
it a disproportional increase of troubles and
vexations, and that happiness was as far
from bis grasp as ever. A desire for pop.
ulnrity bad also taken possession of him, an
ambition to figure in the Legislature and
in Congress occasioned him many a restless
night.
We continued to converse about old
times and old scrapes till late bed time.
By tho by, said he, did you ever hear
bow 1 tint became acquainted with my wife?1
IN ever, said I, and above all things
should like to know, as I am certain there
must be something romantic about it
- 'Do you think, then I arrvromanticT1 v
.JJo,and that is the reason a'ny -thing a
liltle uncommon would make a livelier im
pression. Pray go on.
- '.' You must know, then1 said he, that
I completed my medical education about
the time of vhe first settlement of old Mon
roe. Captivated by the dazzling accounts
which land speculators gave of the richness
ot the soil in the then new purchase, par
ticulariy in Monroe county, my father was
induced to sell his beautiful plantation in
old Putnam, at less than a fourth of its vai
ue, and buy wild ufiimprovedlandsin Mon.
roe, at more than lour times their real
worth. But you knew very well how it al.
ways is when a country is to bo settled,
how the old farms rundown and the now
ones up. I he same notion that brought my
father to Monroe, brought me to Alabama.
So t ruo it is that tlic experience of others is
hul a feeble monitor to us. V . v .
Well, mv father sold out in Putnam white
I was attending the lectures at the North ;
and before my return, having beep four
years absent , had got pretty well establish'
ed in his new homo, so I learnt from the
letter I received. -
Having obtained a diploma of M. D., I
started for home with spirits as light as
ether. I crossed the Ocmulzee on the road
from Clinton to Forsyth, and entered the
new purchase, still but scarcely settled.
Tho Ferryman I found knew my father, at
least he said he did, and gavo me di.
rcctions to his house some ten miles distant.
I followed tho direction of tho ferryman
took i right hand, then a left, then cross.
ed a branch at the foot of a steep hill, went
over another right hand &c. and found a
plantation exactly as described, cotton field
on one side, with corn ground on the other
a double log house, with a f assagc between,
a piazza in front, and n number of negro
houses and stables, and corn cribs &c.,to
match.
-Well, said I to myself, Old Dad is
pretty well fixed reckon, he did a ' good
business in selling his worn-out Putnam
plantation.
It was about two o'clock as I approached
the house, on ono of the hottest days in
July perhaps, you evers.tw. A number of
well fed, long legged shoats, were asleep in
tho lane that led up to the house; in the
horse lot some seven or eight horses and
mules stood over their corn and fodder,
winking at tho flics, or lat rolling in the
snnd. Hero and there a negro., might be
seen stretched at his full length in tho sun
fast asleep. A pack of hounds .was also
enjoying tho same luxury in the shade.
Nobody wus stirring in the yard, the houso
ortilchenr Realty thought I, thisil the
land of 2Vbd. The fuct was, as I after.
wards learned, they had just laid by their
crop, and the hands were enjoying tho cus.
tomnry holiday on such ocoasions.
To humor a sudden fancy that came into
my head, I stripped my horso and turned
him into an empty stable, where a supply
of provisions seemed inviting him, and
walked into the piazza without awakening
any one of tho sleepers. From the loud
snoring in one end of the house, I guessed
where tho old ' people wero asleep ; and
certain signs in the fixments of the window
and bed curtains, looking glass, &c, the
door being open, showed which was the
girls room, where I presumed my sister
was also sleeping.
I was prodigious hungry, but still hated
to ipoillhfl jokal calculated, pjjby waking
anybody. An old fashioned safe stood in
the passage, which I was sure contained
somethihg in tho eating line. I opened it
and found half a boiled ham, tho. best part
of a chicken pic, rv plate of biscuit, &c.
and a jug of buttermilk , quietly cooling itself
in a palo of water. Besido these a basket
of peaches vti9 standing on the table, and
several large water melons lying under it.
With my then keen appetite, and knowing
how welcome was to any one, much
more a long absent son, I did not hesitate
to satisfy my oppetito ina pretty substan.
tial manner.
Having appeased the first calls of hunger
I looked round to reconnoitcr the premises.
The furniture as well as tho house, all
looked new and strange tho cats, dogs
and horses ditto tho negroes as far as 1
could judge from their -sleeping posture,
were new also. Ihe old man must have
so Id out, negroes and stock, as well as Inn J,
thought I, or I. should certainly see some,
thing fumiliar. However, they will soon
be awake, then 1 shall know nil about it.
Now for my jokeT I said to myself, I will
lie down and pretend to be asleep,-just to
enjoyiheir surprise when they find me.
But I musTTirsf pepTnahd Iookfaf litltd sis,
as she has left her door open. I stole soft
ly to the door, where I could plainly discern
the form of a young lady, fast asleep, but
the curtains were "down and the room too
dark to make out hef features distinctly.
I ou little toad, said I, how you ve grown
Fll punish you for tlu's, I've a groat mind
to kiss you and suiting the action to the
word, I stolo as fine a kiss as any one could
desire. The sleeper cringed, and I thought
was going to awake, so 1 stole out and by
down on a bench in the piazza, pretending
to be asleep. I had no intention in reality
of going to sleep, but the heit of thewea.
ther and the fatigue of my journey, togcth.
er with a hearty dinner, soon put me into a
sound sleep. How long I continued in this
state I did not know ; but when I opened
my eves I found a frightful little negro,
about nine years old, strangely deformed,
fanning me with a long brush ; a large red
faced, red haired old man sat opposite to
me, grinniug and chuckling, and wriggling
about, as though he wished but feared to
awaken me, while a little old woman was
bustling about very notably.
. I was completely amazed and dumbfound
ed had forgotten how I came there, and
did pot know where I was. As toy scat
tered senses returned, I began to recollect
my situation, and the joke I had purposely
plajcd upon my supposed parents and .
sister. ;
You have had a long nap,' said tliffold
man, 4 1 hope you feel refreshed.' -
' Very niuch.I told him and tried to
apologise for tho liberty I had taken in a
strange house".
Not at all not at all,' continued he,
' I expected you yesterday and had a fine
beef killed. Old woman is'nt there some of
it left yet V
f The old lady answered there was plenty.
4 Then make haste with supper. Tho
gentleman has had a long ride, and I dare
say he is hungry as woll aa tired
I told him 1 telt quite refreshed, and was
Dot at ali hungry, -having taken the liberty
of opening the safe, and helping myself to
such provisions as I found there 1
Quite right quite right. And tell us
the news. When did you leave Savannah?
What is the price of salt T how do they sell
sugar and iron! and especially what scot,
ton worth 1 Do you think I done a good
business in selling mine ? Don't you think .
it's going to rise'!' ''
Confused and embarrassed, as well by
tho rapidity of his questions as by tho na
lure of them his huving expected mo
yesterday, his asking when I left Savan.
nan, &c. placed mo in quite a qunnnarv. I
answered that I had Htt to news that I left
Savannah five days previous that cotton I
believed, was ten cents and falling.
Good good. Mine brought ten and a
half, I done well by selling.
You certainly did, I told him.
Twcnly.scven bales at ten and a half
comes to how much T'
Allowing thebales to weigh 300 lbs., a
piece they would como to ,
but they weighed more than three hun
dred, some of them 323 and nono of them
less than 315.'
Supposing then they average 320,
and I pulled out my pencil, figured up the
amount and shotved it to him.
Tit comcrto more than that; You can't
cheat mo, I've got your letter It comes to
950. - So fork over tfco money.'
I told him it was very probable his cotton
might como to that, but I could not tell
whether it did or not, without knowing the
exact number of pounds. And I asked him
what he meant by letter, and by forking
over the money.'
Arthis rRTgfewTingry ,anduscd harsh
languago. Just as if you did'ot know
what I moant! I tell you, young man, to
fork over, and nono of your blarney.'
In vain I protested rr.y ignorance of his
meaning, thai I had no money about me
that I hnd spent my last dollar with all I
could borrow, before I reached his homo.
' What the deuce are you doing here
then? If you did'nt como to bring mo my
money for my cotton, what did you come
for? Is'nt that your letter? say that,' at tho
same time handing mo an open letter, which
appeared to bo from a commission merchant
iu Savannah, and read ns follows: i
Mr. D. S. ,
" Deab Sn, I have iuHt sold for yon 27 hale
of Cotton, at 10 J cents it comes to 926, 10.00. .
I shall bo in your l.ounty the first day of your
Supreme Court, and will call on you and hand you
4be money.
Yours, &c. 1 li Jr.
The thing was now plain. We both had
been laboring under a inie take. 1 thinking
1 had arrived at my father's lieuso, and Mr.
S. in supposing I was the commission mer
chant with his money. I told him that 1 was
not tho author of that letter, that I knew
nothing about it that I was just from Col.
lego on my way home, vc. Hut the nioro
1 cspaincd, the mure I lie old man stormed. .
He pretended not to, believe a word 1 told
him accused me of trying to cheut him
out of his money, &c. I don't know whero
his violence would have ended or what
might not have happened, had'not'the real
Mr. B. at this time come up, inquired for
Mr.' S.- and introduced himself. After
which ho began to apologise for not being
punctual to the day and hour, lie had been
detained one day by the breaking down of
the stngo before ho got to Milk-dgeville.,
:whrrn he hadMCurcda.htirsc; and JicJiad
been delayed several hours in consequencer
of following the improper direction of tho
ferryman, whoid(sent him to old 1. a, who
was expecting an absent son 'and as I
rode up r' said hey' I was a lmost smothered
with kisses and affection befuro wo disco- '
vered our mutual mistake.' -, -t
That waa the very place I was going
to,' I replied,' and it's curious how we wcro
both mi8dirccted.
Tho old man laughed heartily at the trick
of the ferryman, who, he said, ho was well
acquainted with, and that it was just like
him and with the money his good mjimor
returned. He begged a thousand pardons
for his treatment to mc advised me to set.
tie in Uie neighborhood, and' promised to
assist me all in his power in getting in'.o
practice. Tliedaughter now made Imt p.
pcarance, and understanding tho joko tho
ferryman had played, joined in a hearty
laugh. . (I thought I had a better joke on
her, but chose not to tell it at that time.
I took my departure for the night, but I
most own, with a good deal of reluctance,
notwithstanding my greet anxiety to ee my
parents and sister. f. But every day found
me a constant,, visitor, and in reasonable
time I was blessed with tho hand of Maria,
and a most excellent wife she has made me.'
One of the greatest crimes of tho clcr
gy, is said to consist in neglecting to de
nounce in the most, pointed terms, tho sin
of cheating the printers."
It