A -V-
t 1
k "Weekly Family Newspaper detoted to Religion, Morality . Politics, Science, Agricaltnre aad General Intelligence,
VOL. Ill NUMBER 39.
ASIIEVILLE, N. C, APRIL 21, 1843.
WHOLE NUMBER 143.
Published weekly
BY J. II. CHRISTY & CO.
rbii paper is published at Two Dollars a year,
in advance Two Dollars and Fifty Cents In
ii months or, Three Dollars at the end of the
year. (Se prospectus.) jl .
Advertisements inserted at One Dollar pcrf squire
for the first, and Twenty.Five fonts for each
. continuance. Court Orders will be charged
twenty-five per cent, extra.
HIGHLAND MESSENGER.
Friday, April 91, ltl.1.
. EDICITIOXV ' " -..
It shmi Uo gratifying to every lorer of his
country and of the true interests of his fel.
low-mco, to witness the increased exr.
lions which ore being made in almost every
section of this highly favored Union for the
intellectual culture of the rising geneution.
Deeply conscious of the fact, that 'y a pro.
periiystem of education lies tbe f nwperity
and safety of our nation. The people,
cast, west, north and south, are becoming
aroused ontho subject, and hundred and
thonsnnds arc steadily engaged in putting
JbrZh charts in some degree proportioned to
the import .nco nsd magnitude of-the work.
Colleges anu Academics are spring up as if.
by. magic,. whore 1,111 yesterday all was a
barren wilderness ; aJ ,n sections where
the woodman's axe but J'tiHy sounded foi
the first time, scores ofmeiry boys and
girls arc now gathered to receive jbe fUC"
menls of that learning which is, in day yet
to come, to qualify them for the labors anu
duties of uclive life to prep ire them to!
discharge the honorable duties of American
citizens, when the present generation shall
have been numbered among the things that
" were but are not." Put while something
lias been done, and much is now doing,
rnucii remains yet to be done. There are
thousands of children of both sex, who will
soon reach tho prime of life, or who will at
least soon bo acting their parts in common
with other citizens of the country generally,
who are as yet destitute of aU that sort of
intellectual culture requisite to prepare
herri for that responslbtestarianr Hundreds
of others, and many too, in thU section,
arc, by their ignorant, vicious and lazy pa
rents, suffered to grow up without even tho
cultivation of those habits of industry and
those principles of moral honesty necessary
to cn'iblu them to procure for themselves
the necessaries of life, much less to net no
ble pin ts as citizens of this free and hide-.ut.l-.
iit nation. . .iWjazy tarkiM!l
heartily lo we wish we could add too honest
to steal many parents suffer their childn n
to grow up more like butlerweeds or brutes,
than rational beings. They teach them
neither industry, economy, or frugality
virtun, honesty, or sobriety, ner yet ihe
rules of common decency. These are soon
to be let loose upon Bociqiy without having
learned scarce anything which they should,
and without the ability cither to appreciate
their privilege or comprehend their duties
as American citizens. The only remedy
which wecan see nt jresent for this state
of things is to bo found in the influence of
an, efficient and we'l directed ministry,
which slvill, by tho authority of its high
commission, urge and impress it as a duty
upon all to bring up their children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord" rto
habits of industry and honestyTand foedu-"
cate them to the extent of their abilities:
and then, with this the co operation of the
common school system. A system which
merits the must profound attention and un.
wearied efforts 01 a I tho American people.
We have saki this much without previous
design. WhcnTo'Cttmrnenced, it was with
thefilenlioh of merely calling public atten.
tion to facilities offered at present in these
- rnmmtainregionsjor acquiring the mdi.
mcnls of a solid and useful education. To
begin at home we have a good and flour-
ishing mule Academy, under the superin
tendence of Rev. E. Rowley, A. M., whose
qualifications and success as a teacher, in
some of the first institutions of the country,
entitle him to the confidence of any com
munity who may bo favored with his servi
ces. We have also a female Academy,
under the superintendence of Rev. J. Dici
son, . M , whoso long experience in con.
ducting similar institutions, connected with
his literary acquirements,, warrant the be.
lief tlm it will not be otherwise than sue
cosfuV It will be re.opened on the first
Friday of next month, and we would most
earnestly recommend parents to send their
children.'of both sexes boarding can be
had at fair rates, and we fuel free 40 say
that the Principal in both iostitntions will
use their besl endeavors to do justice to eve..
rj interest of those committed to their
charge. .'.'. ;
At Greeneville, Tennessee, a female Ac.
demy is about to go into operation, tinder
the superintendence of those distinguished
ladies so favorably , fcnowa in Tennessee
and Virginia, for thet; qualifications, expe.
riencesnd success in conducting female Se.
minaries, and one. oj whom, has by her
beautiful poems, gained an enviable distinc
tion in the literary world, Misses Mitchell
ii Melville. Aof we would say, by oil
moans, send your d lighters there, provided
alwayt, you will rwfnnhclffTidre.
At KnovilloT4ineaieft.!hr a it anjat
slitution of higl cjaracter for the educa
tioo a females, which is under O'q, auperin.
tnce pf thsfolston Annual Conference, of
the M. E Church, and which is -conducted
by Rev- Joseph; Douglass, as Principal,
with competent Assistants. This, we have
never had an opportunity of visiting, nor
yet, of forming murb Acquaintance with its
Principal, but frontline recommendations
givem him, and from a limited acquaintance
we have n hesitancy in pronouncing him a
worthy and competent manr and tho insti.
tutiob, wo learn, is "flourishing, and bids
fair at no very distant day, to be amongst
popular onc8of the country.
Qr The editor ot the Western Weekly
Review is luxuriating on new potatoes
hero e are scarce rid of the snow and ice
yet. However, the nforcsaid editor is a
warm hearted fellow, though an old bache.
lor, and lives in warm regions, for we
strongly suspect ho is more than half his
iiinc in love.
frTho Salisbury Watchman has hoist-
cd his Has fr M. Barbinger for Con-
gress from thot district. Good go ahead.
fjirBy iho last number of the." Old
North State,'' published at Elizabeth city,
in this Stater-we-harB-thatho-editor-of-tho
Old Dominion, at Norfolk, Va., was recent.
ly shot dead in a rencountre with a man by
the name of Cooke.
Dkatk or Indum Dsidk. You will hare seen
mentioned in the papers the death of a younr la.
dittft auaw-at Utcmtxeum. .She had been mar
ried but six weeks and was a very beautiful crea
ture. I raw her a few days ago at the Park thea
tre) with a circle! of jewels around her beud, and
tnouglil ncr oy iar 111c preuicsi woman in mo
house. She wa-thc survivor of the two females
of tho party, the other aquaw having died a few
weeks since. The immediate cause of her death
wan a violent cold, taken in coming home a night
or two before from a ball at the Tivoli. .The om
nibus in which -thty were returning broke down
in Hudson street, and they wrre obliged to wafk a
mile through a liglitsnow falling at the time. Their
thin moccasins' vcro no protection, and four or
6v of -the Indian were ill the next morning, the
bride v oral of all. She died in dreadful agony of
congestion of the blood on the third day, spite of
medical attendance and every care on the part of
the Indians of tic neighborhood. The Indians
were all standing around her, and, on being told
that she wms dead, they tore the rings from their
ears, and stool for some minutes in silence, with
the blood strenming upon their checks. Their griuf
after wards became quite uncontrolnble. They
washed off all the paint w Ih which they have
been so gaily bedecked while here, and painted
the dead bride very beautifully for burial. She was
interred in the Green wood cemetery. The most
passionate affection existed between her and bci
husband. He is a magnificent follow, the hand
somest Indian we have ever had in the city, and
a happier marriage was never celebrated. She
followed elose at his heels wherever he went, and
had scarce been separated from him five minutes
at a linto since her marriage. 'The poor fellow is
an object of great commiseration now, for he
seems oompleiviy inconsolable. Ilis-wite was the
idol of Ihe party. They are very impatient to be
away sinee this melancholy event,. and will start
westward as soon as the sick recover. iV- Y, Cor.
A'ut. hf.
Annrcdotb or Col. Ethav Allen. This old
Revolutionary hero was once sued by tome per
Son in Boston, for s note of 60. When the case
came on for trial, Allen employed a lawyer to get
the aetion continued until he could get the money
to settle the demand. Accordingly, the attorney,
as the readiest means of accomplishing his object,
determined to deay the genui less of the signa
ture. This would oblige the plaintiff to produce
the witness of the note, who resided In Boston,
and who eould not therefore, be brought forward
on the instant, Tse effect of this quibbling ma
novre would be to cause the plaintiff to postpone
the trial to the next court.
When the case was called, it happened that
Allen was in a remote corner of the court-room,
and' to hir utter astonishment, heard iin lawyer
gravely deny the signatora of the note. - New
Allen was no quibblcr he detested his meanness :
so with long and fierce strides, he rushed through
the crowd, and confronting the amased limb of
the law, v rebuked him m voice of thunder.
Mr. ' , ,1 did not hire you to come here and
lie that is a true notf I signed it I'll swear to'
it I want no shuffling, I want time. What I
employed you for, wa to get this business put over
till the next court not to Ik and juggle about it.
A HAPPY COUNTY Alt HONEST PEOPLE.
The Nfarch Court term of the county of
Hudson, N. J., as we are informed by the
Jersey City Advertiser, had no business be.
fore it, and was anjourcd in consequence on
the morning of the( second day ! What a
place this lor a lawyer.
Calvin CoLTO.v.anthorof thewel! known
and effective political tracts of " Junius,"
in 1 840, entitled " The Crisis of the Coun
try," dec. will soon commence a new series
in exposition of the principles and defence
of the measures of the Whig party. They
will be published at the Tribune office. Par.
ticulars hereafter. JV. Y Tribune.
, MISCELLANEOUS. ;
Patent Sermon. '
SY DOW, JR. - . '
Py th Printtrf . . ,
Al tho particular request el iht editor of ibV
Yothway Herald I will preach, en this occa
sion, from tho following text: .'
If ft era Aenesi, tatora&e mew, - -
C yi andpay th PrinUr. .
My Hearers : There at J many seeming triflaa
iff Ibis world, which ynn are toe apt to overlook
on account of their apparent unimportance ths
negleet of which has plunged thousands into ths
deepest mire of misery, and sunk their characters
into feiextrieaUe degradation. Among thes es.
tenajbje trifles, that of ncglroting to pay one's
Uflftesi debts Js the most common, and attended
With the Worst consequences. It takes off all the
silken'; furae from the fine threads of feeling-
create s, sort of mtasntbronic coldness about ths
heart-skiin off all ths cream. ty-slmi,
to riM upon the milk of generosity end make
man look as savagely upon his brother man as a
dog upon one of bis species while engaged in the
gratifying employmant of eating hie m Rater's din
ner. One debt begets soother, i have alwayt
observed that he who ewes mas a dollar is sure
to owe him a grudge : and he is always ready to
pay compound interest on the latter than on the
former. - Oh my friends, to be over head and ears
in love' is a bad predicament as person ought
ever to be Inr but to be so deep In debt that you
can't sleep of nights without being haunted by
the (-host of socio insatiate creditor. it is enough
te give a man the hldrophobie, make him bite
wheelbarrow cause him te m mad, and ereete
goneral consternation among the lamp posts. -
My dear frisndaf tho debt that aits heavicat on
the conscience of a mortal provided he has one
is the debt dee the printer. It presses hs-
one's bosom than the wighteM-wsj" iou,i
frets and chafes crr nnobhng twntiment.
squeetcs all the juice of fraternal sympathy from
the heart, and leaves It drier than the snrface of a
roasted potato. A man who wrongs the printer
out of a singls cent can never expect to enjoy
comfort In this world, and may well have doubts
of finding it in any other. He will be sure te go
down to the grave ere Time shall have bedecked
his borw with the silvery blossoms of age, and
the green leave will fall before the first bud of en
joyment expanded. It is true mushroom of peace
may spring up during the short night of forget
fulucM, but they will all wither beneath the
scorching rays of remorse. JIow can yoa my
friends, ever have the wickedness and cruelty te
cheat the printer, when yon consider how much
he has dona and ia every day doing for you ? He
has poured into the treasuries of your minds some
of the most valuable gifts that any thing short of
a God can bestow aye, riches with which you
would not part for the whole world and a mortgage
upon a small corner of heaven. With the keys
of magic, as it were, he has opened tbem iron,
cased doors of the human understanding dis
pelled the darkness of ignorance, and lit up the
lamps of knowledge ana wisdom. The mighty
engine the Press, is surrounded by halo of glo
ry, and its effulgence extends all over the broad
empire of the mind, illuminating the darkest
avenue of the heart ; and yet the printer, the
man who toils at the lever of this sou! enlight.
ning instrument is often robbed of his hsrd.es rn
d bread pyhoeeontr-he has delivered from
mental bondage and placed in a paradise to lay
off and get fat upon the fruits of his labors.
Oli, you ungrateful sinners ! ff you have a heart
moistened with the dews of mercy, instead of giz
sards filled with gravel, take heed what I say un.
to you. If there be one among you in this eon.
gregation, whose accounts are not settled . with
the printer, go and adjust it immediately, and be
able to hold your head up in society, like a
giraffe, be respected by the wise and the good
free from the tortures of a guilty conscience the
mortification of repeated duns, and escape from
falling into the clutches of these licensed thieves.
-the lawyers. If you are honest and honorable
men you will go forth withand pay the printer. You
will not wait for the morrow because there is no
to-morrow ; it is but a visionary receptacle for. on.
redeemed promises; an addled egg in the nest of
the future ; the debtor's hope, the creditor's curse.
If you are dishonest, low minded eons of Satan,
I don't suppose you will ever pay the printraras
long as you have no reputation to lose no cha
racter to sustain and no morals to cultivate.
But, let me tell you, my friends that if you don't
do it your path to the tomb will be strewn with
thorns you will have to gather your daily food
from brambles your children will die of the dys.
entary and you yourself will never enjoy tlie
blessings of health. 1 unce called on a sick per
son whom the doctors had given up as a gone case.
I asked him if he had made Ms peace with his
Maker 7 Ho said he thought be had squared up.
I asked if be had forgiven aU his enemies. . He re
plied yes. I then asked him if he had made his
peace with the printer. He hesitated for a mo
ment, and then said he believed Be owedhim someT
thing like about two dollars and fifty cents, which
he desired to have paid before he bid good-by to
the world. Uis desire was immediately gratified;
and that moment he became convalo cent. He
is now living in the enjoyment of health and pro,
perily at peace with hi own conscience, his
God and the whole world. Let this be an exam,
pie for you my friends. Patronize the printer,
lake the papers, ney for them in advance; end
your days will be long upon the earth, and over
flowing with the honey of happiness. -
My hearers ! pay ail your debts, and keep an
honorable reckoning wkh fmut fellow men i bat,
above all, keep paying, by daily instalments, that
everlasting debt of gratitude which you owe to
Him from whom you obtained capital sufficient to
begin the first transaction of life, aa that when
you com to balance accounts at the day ef gene,
ral settlements aU things may appear fair, and
above board.
Sccnc in a Qcakkr MtzT'No Hocsi. A meat
ludicrous "veene took place in a Quaker meeting,
house in this town on Thursday last. To house
had both opened and warmed lot Uie usual ' fifth
day meeting.' ; A short time before the hour of
service, one of the ' Friends' went into the house
to attend to the fire, when what was his surprise
to find two or three men there, up in the very high,
est seats, preparing to take quiet possession 1 One
had a hammer, another a brush, a third some trap
pings, and it seemed as if yonng company of
upholsterers bad resolved to adorn and beautify
the unpuinted walls and benches of the soberlook.
ing room. The Friend interrupted t' em with
the pertinent question M What is thee doing 7
" Fitting up, sir," " What is thee fitting up for T"
For our exhibition to niehf. "Thy exhibition
tthMt exhibition T" " Why, our Magic Theatre
and Juggling Exhibition." ' Who told thee to
make such worldly arrangements in this place 7"
"The Selectmen, air." " What have they to do
with this house 7" uWby,iat this the town
Hall t" "No, it's the Hieksite meeting hoaae !"
The rest of the conversation was lost in what was
probably the only burst of laughter which ever
disturbed the sjber echoes of that building.
ffaiUmclctt Enqnirtr.
IT The amount of Treasurv note oulstendW
on ihe lsl of April, was $11,686,387.
.; Psalm Siaauto-Ia olden times, when it was
a custom in many parts of Now England to sing
the psalms and hymns at church by "deaconing"
them, fay the deacon's reading each tine. Previ
ous toils being sung, one of these church digni
laries rate, and after looking at bis book some
tune, and making several attempts to spell the
words, apologised tor the difficulty be eipefionced
la reading, by observing,
Mv eras indi.eil r vers bIind.H
Th chou-, who bad been impatiently waitine
for the wbolo tin, thinking this to be tho first of
a common metre hrmu. tmnvjUiuluIy sung it, Tii;
good ikacim exclaimed with einjibusin,
M I cannot see sf til).
This, fit coarse, tliey also sung, whea the aston.
islied pillar ot the church eried out,
f I really b'lieve you are bewitched I"
Reaponce bribe choir: H I really b'lieve you
are bewitched.'' Deacoa t ,
" " The duee ie in you all."
The choir fiinished the verse by echoing tho Inst
lite, and the deacoa ,st down in despair. Th
ttumariti.
Battle of Priuceton.
-f The situation f the American army in
tho autumn of 1778, was peculiarly trying,
and the prospects -of their righteous oouse
very gloomy. They had been obliged to
retire before the enemy an1 had to cross to
tho west sido-of the Delaware. General
Washington, believing it probable that Gen.
Ho we, Ihe ComiTiiwW-f aiiUbTfould
make an attempt upon Philadelphia, as soon
as the ice would enable him -to cross, or
before, had taken the precaution to have
alr-thc-yessels and bonis removed from Ihe
Jersey share, from Philadelphia tip to New
Hjpc. Writing to his brother from the
camp above the Falls at Trenton, Decern,
ber 18, 1776 i he said in view of the num.
ber, discipline, and posh ion of the British
army contrasted with his own, " You can
form no idea of the perplexity of my situa
tion. No man, I believe, ever had a great,
er-clioice of difficulties, and less means to
extricate himself from them. However,
under afull persuasion of the justice of our
cause, 1 cannot entertain an idea that it will
finally sink, though it may remain for somo
time under a cloud.""
Soon after this his plan was laid for re
crossing the Delaware at several points, to
surprise and capture tho enemy posted at
different places on the Jersey shore. But
owing to the ice no part of the plan but that
which referred lo Trenton ; was carried into
efRjct, and its success here showed the
practicability of the whole, if the American
troops had been able to cross the Delaware.
But although they were providentially pre.
vented from carrying out their plans in this
respect, yet in another way was Providence
preparing for thefr success, nnd for the
triumph of their arms. .
The success of the American army, on'
the 26ii: o( December, 1776, revived the
hopes af the country. The""dark" cloud
which liung over the nation, began to d ie -perse,
tad Providence was pointing to the
path which ultimately led to a bright and
pvacefui day.
On tii 29th of the same- month, Gen.
Washington, writing to Congress from
Newtovf Penn., says, U I am just setting
out to alcmpt a second passage over the
Delawa e, with the troops that were with
me on tie morning of the 26th, General
Cadwahdcr crossed ovu rthe 37th and is nt
Bordenawp with about 1800 men; Gen.
Mifflin sill be tp-day at IJordentown with
about 1800 more." And ho adds, " in
view of tho measures proposed to be pur
sued, I hink a fair opportunity is offered
of driving tho. enemy entirely from New
Jersey, ur at least, to the extremity f tho
Province."
On Monday morning, the 80lh of De
cember,Ceneral Washington re-crossed the
Delawatt) but owing to the great quantity
of drifting ice, his troops did not reach
Trenton till the evening of the 31st. At
this critical motnent tho army wus likely to
be diminished to a mere handful, as the time
of service of the continental troops expired
this f vtiu.ng. But after much persuasion,
and the receipt of ten dollars bounty, by
each, iibout 1400 re-enlisted lor six weeks.
Thine, with about 8600 Pcnnsylvnna militia
under (xt'tieruls Cadwal.ider and Aliflln,
composed Washington s army at that time.
On this day a foraging party ok the enemy
was surprised nnd captured, by a small
company of dragoons undjir thef command
of Cut. Jost'ph Reed. Frorn.4ipc priso
tiers, 1 General Washington loBrned the
strength of the British urmy, which lay nt
Princeton, and also their . iotonlBin to ad.
vance t pontile America a armyjai Trenton,
Whin the Hensinns were clpturcd nt
Trentoa, the several detachments of the
.British troops which were stationed at Bur.
lin-rton. Mount Hollv. &e.. immediulelv
nTjaiedlurinci-tonwheeate
short I v joined by a large reinforcement from
New York under Lord Cornwallis
On-Wednesday, the 1st of January,
177T, Gen. Washington ordered lorward
on tlie Maidenhead .road leading to Prince,
ton, a smalt detachment as far as Smith's
Hill, now Charles Reeder's ot the Fivi
Mile Run, where (hey awaited the advance
of the British; but the advance guard of
the Americans was at the village of Maid,
enhcad. The ndvance gunrd of the British
was, the same night, at the Eight Mile
Run, near Cnleb S. Green's, Esq., about a
mile and a half from the village. '
Early the next morning the main army
of the enemy moved on from Princeton,
meeting with little opposition until they
came to Smith's Hill, when a skirmishing
look place with the companies under Major
Miller and Col Hand; after which our troops
retired before the enemy to a piece of
woods at the Shabbakonk creek, where, as
the enemy approached, they poured a deadly
fire upon tbem for a few minutes, which
caused tho British to form themselves in
order for battle. By this successful ma.
noeuvre of the Americans the British were
detained two or three hours.
A detachmrnt had been stationed that
day by Genera! Washington at the north
end of Trenton, near Nathan Beake's,
where they had thrown up smc works,
that they might retard the progrrss of the
British as much as possible ; and when they
came up there was a brisk cannonading for
iilwuit twenty min.rt when the Americans
li.ll back Intir TreutonJ nnd 'crossed over
the Assnnpink brtdgo at Trent's Mi)li the
only bridge over the creek nt that time,
taking up the plank of the bridge after them.
General 'Washington had that day "plant,
ed his artillery on ihe high bnnk on the
south side of the Assnnpank creek, which
firtns tho southern bonndar"y of the city of
Trenton, and had thrown up a breastwork
across the road, fending south rwp tlie
bridge, through Mill Hill.
From this brldgo west to tho Delaware
about 100 rods the Assanpink is fordable ;
and from the bridge the mill pond extends
east a quarter of a mile, or more; nnd
guards were placed along the line from the
Delaware eastward, on the south bank of
the creek.
Thei British " passed " "flow n Qureri now
Green street,' towards Ihe bridge; and
when they had reached Tucker'e earner.
Second streel some well directed idiot
from the artillery on the south iirh of the
bridge, ;nused them to wheel about and
retire to tho high ground ot the nrmh of the
town, where they encamped for the night,
Our worthy citizen, Mr. Thomas Ryoll,
informed the writer that he wus at tho upper
end of the town, whea our men retired bc
fore tho British, and that it was just ot night
And Mr. Ryall, with others who resided
here, soys there was no engagement at the
Assanpink, but that a cannonading was
kept tip by both armies until dusk when the
firing ceased
The concurrent testimony of persons who
were in Trenton nt the time, and .who arc
now living, arid of those who were in the
neighborhood and came into town the next
day, nnd the statements of those who re.
ceived the accounts from persons who were
witnesses of the occurrences of thitt day,
agree that there were very few Americans
or British killed in-Trcnton. A few British
were in a room of the old Court House tho
1 ronton back! which commanded a view
of the American position on the Assanpink
bridge, somo of whom were lulled bv a
cannon shot from the Americans, w hich
knocked in a part of the wall.
A crisis had arrived of the must fearful
character. Owing to the state of the river,
Thff ice being TOttcn, to retreat across the
Delaware was impracticable ; lo eng.ige
witn nn army so superior in nemoer, in
discipline, and in rvr ry thing but true cou
nigennd right, would seem to be sacrificing
all. It was truly a season of fearful sus
pense
But the Lord maintained our right. He
directed the counsels of that eventful night ;
guided in the right way and led the few,
but valltunt, to victory.
General Washington with his officers
held a council of war that evening, in the
true American Inn, on Mill Hill, kept at
that timb by Mrs. Richmond. While the
council were engnged in ther deliberations,
the lundludy passed through tho room, and
observed, " gentlemen, thai which you are
talking about, will succeed, referring lo
their plan of operations, which proved so
successful' the next day.
Generul Washington sent for Mr. klms
Phillips of Maidenhead, who cum: into the
council about 10 o'clock. Washington
asked him how long ho had lived ju that
place ; whether he wus acquainted with the
direct road to the Quaker bridge; this
bridge is oertrnr Assnnpink , a mile or two
south of the road from Trenton through the
villugo of Maidenhead to Princeton, and
ncarlv equi-distunt from both towns ; and
mado other enquiries, the answers to which
were taken down.
He then had Patrick Lamb called in, who
lived nt tho bridge ; and (Hit down the nn
swers which he gnvo to tho questions pro
posed; and afterwards, sent for Ezeaja
Anderson, nnd alter questioning him, and
finding hII their answers to agree respect m
the road and the country, he, mode these
men the guides for his army that nigtil
Washington had early that evening sent
off his baggage toBordenlown ; and having
given orders lo tho men who were engaged
in throwing up a breast work on tiw sou in
bank of tlie Assanpink, to continue their
fbYlheir own safely, un3 directed ihe fires
to be renewed and kept up, he ordered the'
army, about midnight, to march off. faking
the lower road to sandiown and across
Quaker bridge, they reached the Stony
brook at the Quaker meeting house, early
in the morning of Friday, the 3d of Janu
-1 ' t . . 1 . r. .n
nry, wncre ine oaiuo wus uucet-ssiuuy
fought, which drove tho enemy from this
port of New Jersey. But many of our
valuable men lell on tnis memoraoie morn
inc. and among tbem the brave General
-Mercer, wlw first engaged the enemy, and
who fell at. an early hour, covered with
many wo'inds. The Int.- Dr. Moses Scot I,
of New Brunswick, informed the writer,
thut he, with other surgeons, was with Gen.
Mercer under the tree after the battle, and
said thut Gen. Mercer had received sixteen
wounds of the bayonet j.. that those were
not thought by Mercer himself, who was a
physician to" be mortal: but that, while
tying on the ground, a Bniish. soldier had
struck him on iho head with his musket.
" aod that," said he, ' was a diataaorable
act, and it will prove my death 5M and he
accordingly died a few days after.
It is said that Sir William Erskine, when
the British army had reached Trenton, on
the 2d, although it was just night, urged
Lord Cornwnllis to cngage.the Americans
immediately; but CornwnlWhought that
the escapo of Washington's army was im
possible, and as his own troops were fatigued
they had better rest until the pexl morning.
But the morning light discovered his crrorx
Clngrined and dismnyed, ho retraced with
anxiory and haste hii steps towards Prince
ton, and did not attempt to pursue the Ame.
rican nrmy, which had retired towards
Pluckemin, but hastened his march to New
Brunswick, where he had left his baggage
and military stores.
Gen. Washington's army reached Mor.
ristown the 6th of January. While the
army lay there Gen. Phile
commander of the New Jersey militia,
(father of tho late Samuel Dickinson of this
cily) on tho 2!" of January, nt Ine iiead
of about 400 militia, nnd fifty riflemen, from
Pennsylvania, nttacked a foraging party of
tho enemy from New Brunswick, near
Somerset Court House, leading his 'men
through the river middle deep, ond gm-e
iJierrfBci severe H -hnrgeTtUhmtuT''
equal number and supported by three field
pieces, they gave wny; nnd he took forty
wngons, upwards of an hundred horses and
a number of sheep nnd rattle, which tlie
party had collected. General Dickinson
wns distinguished for his zeal in the cnuso
of his country, nnd rendered very import,
ant services in his military capacity at the
different stages of the wor. Ho wns after,
wards a Senator of the Unilcd States.
From the National Intelligencor.
United State vs. William Glbbs.
Indictment for stealing " one ham of bacon"
and cliarging H as a second offence of the
prisoner.
1st Wimess I carry bacon to town lo
sell, and had some, on my stall when this
here little boy upsand tells me
Counsel Never mind what the boy told
you.
1st Witncss-Wcll, as I wns saving, this
here little boy that Is I I can't toll it
no other way th
Counsel Dist. Attornev C.
er mind what he told you.
1st Witness (bolting it out) that this
here Bill Gibbs had stole one. nt m Ai
...y
and he saw him take it. I can't tell it no
other way, and (to the District Attornev)
.L.' .it. .. .'.
iriui s me reason 1 wantca nun to tell Ins
tale first.
his tale first.
Bjy J was standing in the market, nnd
l aaw this here Bill Gibbs walk up to that
ere gentleman s bench nnd lake one of his
hams c-f bacon, and clap it under his cloak.
and slip away. And I goes and tells him.
Counsel, sotto voce : Tnal's rather sus
picious. Were you near enough to be sure
it wns Bill ?
Boy Oh yes, sir, I'm sure it was him.
Counsel Arc you sure it was a ham of
bacon T 1
Buy Why, I reckon it was, sir ; it look,
ed like one.
Counsel, (brightening up a little) Are
you sure it was not a shoulder?
Boy, (looking doubtful) I don't know,
sir.
Counsel V ry well. The oilier wit
ness can lell us whether it wasn't a shoulder
Ui disguise.
1st Witne ss recalled Well, as I was
saying, I had tlie-bncon, ihero was four
shoulders cut round
Counsel Ah ! it wns a shoulder then ?
Witness Never mind if it was ; it were
cut round like a limn, and he never knoW'd
the difference. He stole it for a ham, any
how.
Counsel Mr. Attorney, 1 think that's a
dend shot. The prosecution has committed -suicide,
nnd the only verdict the jury can
render is, "felo de e," against it.
District Attorney That's not so cer,
tain.
Counsel 1 suppose your Honor cannot
doubt upon the point. Tlie prisoner might
as well be Convicted of stealing tho District
Attorney's spectacles upon this indictment
for stealing u ham, ns to be convicted of
stealing a shoulder. The charge is hnm
the proof is shoulder, and with middling
luck, the prisoner ought to bo uble to save
his bacon. i
District Attorney, (opening' .Johnson's
Dictionary) Dr. Johnson defines ham lo
W-"ar hmderparTvf Ihe ftrtirulatwrnrof
the thigh ; the thigh of a hog sailed." Thu
grand jury do si-cm rather to have trans
cended this definition, and I suppose I must
send up another indictment. It shall bo
largo enough (tliouah it is rather a bort
lo go the whole hog ngainst Master Gibbs ;
and we'll see if he con shoulder that. Enter
a nolle prosequi.
And so the uccuscd " saved his bacon."
A Good thlkj The following:, although brief.
is beantiful and comprehensive:
" fcvery n, and every pebble, snd every flower,
are tutors in the great school of nature, to instruct
the mind and improve the Igrt. The four ele.
ment are the four volumes in which all ths works
are written. Every man has in his own life follies
rnongh in his own mind, troubles enough in
the performance of his duties, deficiencies enough
without beingeurious aboutihafTairs of others."
As a win. Beacon. When th New Term land,
lords warn their tenants out, and put up a bail "Is
i let," Ihe tenants if they do not wish to more,
writ under the bill" small pos ktrt whish
operate as a veto on all who might wish to ex
aasu the prrrnisB
i
f