n
PUBLISHED WEEKLY. J
A FAMILY PAPER DEVOTED TO POLITICS, LITERATURE, AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURES, MINING, AND NEWS.
PRICE $2 PER YEAR -in Advance.
ROBERT P. WARING, Editor.
"Cje Itates Ilistinrt as tjre SSilloai, but one n0 tjr Ira."
s
Rl Fl S Mi HEItRflS, PnUhkeir.
VOL. 3.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 25, 1855.
NO.
44.
ft. P. WAEISG.
attorney at L,awy
O'fice in Loucrgan's Brick BuiUling, 2nd floor.
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
J. B. F. BOONE,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN
SOL.MZ E. f . I TIMER C.ILf SMiMJTS,
LINING AND BINDING SKINS,
SHOE TOOLS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
Charlotte, xV. C.
Oct. 20, 1854. ly
ELMS 6l JOHNSON.
Forwarding and Commission Merchants.
NC 10 VENDUE RANGE,
CHAHLESTON. S. C.
W. W. ELMS. C. JOHNSON.
June 23, '54. 48tf.
R. HAMILTON,
roiimiox MERHA.T,
Corner of R ichardson and Laurel Streets,
COLUMBIA, S. C.
June 9 1851 ly
BR KM & STEELE,
M E & G II A ii f S ,
TRADE STREET,
Nrarly opposite Kims ft Spratt's Grocery.
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Ihc 15 20' f
BY JENNINGS B. KERR.
Charlotte, Jt". C
January 28, 153. 28tf
BOUNTY LAND BILL.
Attorney ami Counsellor at Law,
I.f. !!. etifNM " ili r business attendee' to with I
j ir.,tuiw ! ; ,i:uti. ul .rly siieli :is rrfeff to tli.- pros. -CMtMtM
aftVaiiian '! :ini", l-'ii'i Warrants, ami lion.itions
t H..uiity I. and again- Um General Govi raatcat, u n
aVrthe late .- y fcaaa -rc. . -; ..... ,
. . .... , ., . , - -
ItC IW ACRIW I. ami mmt y few -
I in inniaaud or aw-Cawiwiiaaisi, aH Soldier, 8ea
mtm, Cli-rka. or otker pt-roa, wha have nerved in any
..I the W.rs in which I he United Mates have been en
jtf. i! SIMCC IT'JO; and also to all Oftccr and Soldier
T. Ike RevotaUaawrjf War, tin ir widows and minor
c Jr liiri R.
IVr.-M.M9 hivinir such clamc, ly dteaeatiag thoin im-
.1.. i " -m - f..rifi.
in.-.: i.. K-I V. Iliiv secure mm ,-.niy ......
c i te
IMfic. jiloirn south oi" Saulcr's Hotel.
tl3G
Rcspfctfallj Your.-!
T UK BmcUkd buaiaraa ol t'rilchard .V. Caldwell. fr j
1
t-j, ha been placed in the hands ol ft. . uavis
..r e lection a a.I settlement. 1 he indebted far that i
; car will be doin- " a "real favor by clusinir their Ac
,'"uiit lni iicdi.il. ly. aa mm have invarial.lv cash to pay.
Ac-
on-1 " N-ary aoW, .s all must know, is a liard UMMg Ml
l.rii'."
PRITCIIARD cc CALDWELL.
i
Apr.
I -'
S;ivc your Cosls !
rrflK Hat nn.l Accounts at Ike late ft. m of A. Be
1 thansc iV Co. lias been placed in the hands ..t S. W.
Oi.is. K., ir enltediwa aad scitl. uu ni. Tkeaa in
debted cither l.y Note r Ac t, are recjamtcd to make
aii isaairdi ill arraaraarat. as fartht I indaleeaee can.
n-.l and u i!! iiwt be araatedL
ALEXANDER & JOHNSTON.
April 7. !.".
Notice
V Hnmm aad Aeeoaats kavia h. . n placed in the
M
hand-of B. W. U.vis, Esq., tor collection, thos. j
a ho arc iii.lc t.ted t. ine le.ln liluall' f, or as one oi ....
-. . . ....
aid firm ol Steele & Marly, are resji, ctlully re.jii.st
ed lo make settlement bv Ap.iK'ourt, if n-.t ooaer.
A. C. STEELE.
.Fb. , IPC.'.. S-1
NIKS. WHEAI-AiV,
2 looks noiitii or kehr's hotku.
A
LL Dresses cut nnd made by the eclebr a ted A. B
, method, and warranted to tit.
BoaaeU trimmed in the latest style at the shortest
police. April 20, I C5.. S9tC
A. BETHUNE,
TAILOR,
No. 5, Springs' Mow,
4 OOOKS EAST Or THE CHARLOTTE BANK,
CHARLOTTE, N. U.
Feb. 10. loo 30U
V;. S. LAWTON & CO.,
factors, Forwarding and Commission
South Atlantic Wimjrf,
CHARLESTON, S. C.
,.V. S. LAWTON.
THOS. ALEXANDER.
.. HUE. Normont
aESPECTFtfLLT otfers his professional services to
the citizens ol Charlotte and surrounding country,
-de hopes by devoting his entire attention to the duties
his prolession to no'rit patronage. He may be found
it all hours, at his office opposite the American Hotel,
'hen not prote.sionally engaged.
march 2, ISoJ- 32tf
t) V. BECEWlTtl has removed his Jewelry Store i
U. to Ho. , Johnston s now, tnree uoors aoutti of
Kerr s Hotel.
Feb 16, 1955.
30-ly
ECILENBUBG HOl'SE,
M HAVING purchased the buildim: on the cor- . . . ' , ., .
ner, a few doors north-cast f Kerr's Hotel, and "'.dorse it in a sealed envelope, and mail it th
repntTed and fitted it e.p in first-rate style, 1 would I red by first mail (o the address to the Postmaster
respectfully inform the travelling public that it is now i irom wose office the bill was received,
open lor the reception of regular and transient boarders. y (jn lhe receip ol registered letters at smaller
Drovers will fiad ample arconiinodat-ouat my house. iffire , d,iwP.. , Plistmas,er or his assistant
Jan. 12, 1 s5..
-.-
S. H. REA.
TI1K AMERICAN HOT!:..-.
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
i
T BEG to announce to my liriemta, the pulic,nd prtt.
lent patrons of the above ' Hotel, lhat 1 bare leased ika j
ame for a term of years from the 1st of January next,
A.'ter which time, tlie entire property will be thorough-
ly repa:-ed and renovated, and the house kept in riist
class style T.i.s Hotel . near tin Depot, o.u pkasa.K.
ly situated, rendering it a uiriblc house lor travellers
and (kiaiikla.
Dec 16, 1853. 25t C.M.RAY.
Instructions to Postmasters, and Notice
to the Public.
For carrying into effect the 2d section of the Ac'
of March 3d, 1855, providing for the Registra
tion of valuable letters.
Sec. 1. Letier alleged lo be valuable, posted
at one Post Office in the United Slates, and deliv
erable at an other such office, shall, from and af
ter thn first day of July, 1855, be registered at
the office of mailing, on the application of the per
son posting the same, aw tlte payment of a regis
tration fee of Jive cents.
2. Postmasters are instructed to enter all such
letters in a book to be prepared and kept for the
purpose, to be called the Receipt Book, (which,
in small offices, will be prepared by stitching to
gether the several sheets of blank receipts furn
ished by this Department,) containing blank re
ceipts with a wide margin for a brief duplicate of
each, as in Bank Check books. The Postmaster
will enter in this margin the number of the jeceipt,
the date of filing it, the name of the person to
whom the letter is addressed, and the place to
wh.ch it is to be mailed. He will then fill up the
receipt to correspond with this marginal entry,
separate it from the margin, and deliver it to the
person who depositod the letter.
3. Registered Letters will not be entered in the
ordinary accounts ol mails received and sent, but
separate accounts of such letters will be kept at
each Post Office, to be called account ol registered
letters received and account of registered letters
sent, blanks lor which will be furnished by the
Department.
4. When a letter has been received, registered,
nnd receipted for, as directed in section 2, ihfl
Postmaster will enter its number, the date ol mail
ing, the rale of pi singe, the name of I he person to
whom it is addressed, and of the office (whether
of distribution or deliverer)) to which it is lo be
sent, in his account of registered letters sent. He
will make a separate letter bill for each registered
teller or parcel of registered letters lor the same
office of "delivery or distribution, entering therein
tle number, address registration fee and rates of
postage each. He will then mail each such letter
or parcel ol letters, in a separate package from
his unregistered letters, and will seal each pack
age, after tying il in in the usual manner. The
lellei bills ol -uch registered letters will not be en
closed in packages wnh iliem, but such letter bills
will le enclosed in a separate wrapper or envel
aad addressed lo the Postmaster at ihe
office lo which the corresponding package of reg
istered leiters is sent.
To pre vent delay in the examination and com
parison ol letter bills, ihe Postmaster at each of
ihe larger offices will assign to some confidetical
clerk (not employed in opening the mail?) the duly
of opening in his absence official letters addressed
to him.
5. In all large offices where letters are receiv-
r l iinlPffuI ariii m i I - A r i iV, . r. r t ntttannc it
j saw uj uiiii. it ill I ' i .7 1 ' u - . 11
shall be ihe duty of the Postmaster either to keep
, e Receivt Book provided for ill section 1. or to
,-n:lU mHmmMUu ..,, ,:
o I J ' "-
1 he rta!maater, or receiving clerk, having re
ceived a letter for registry, will pass it to the clerk
,who keeps the account of registered letters sent,
! w ho will receipt lor it by w ruing his name or in-
itial across ita marsrinal enlrv in ihu Reml Honk-
He will enter it in his account of recisiered letters
sent, and keep it in a secu.)lace ol deposile until
i lie hour of mailing. He will then fake up his let
ter bill of registered letters, which is to be for
warded in a separate sealed wrapper or envelope,
as provided in section 4, addressed lo the Post
master at the office to vhich the corresponding
package of registered letters is to be sent. "It shall
also be Ins duly to m ike up each package ofYegts
u n d leiters, seal the package with wax at the tie,
address it lo the office of its destination, and see
ti.al it )s placed in its appropriate bag at the mo-
nient when that bag is to be finallv locked and
si hi from the office.
0. On the receipt at a distributing office of reg
istered letters lor distribution, ihe clerk who opens
and distributes the mail, wul apply io ihe Post
master, or to such one of his assistants as may
be authorized to open official letters, addressed to
him for the corresponding letter bill. Having
compared ihe letters with the bill, he will endorsi
iUs correct" if he finds it so, or will note the er
ror if there he one, and will pass it with the letiers
io ihe I be clerk who keeps the account of register
ed tetters received or distribution, who will enter
lis contents in his account and endorse upon it his
signature or initials. He will then fill up the cor
responding return bill, noting upon it whether
correct or otherwise, and will pass it to the Post
mus er or his principal assistant, who will see
:hai u is returned by the first mail thereafter, with
his endorseii:ent,to ihe office mailing.
Registered letters remailed at a distribution
office lor their respective offices of delivery, are
to be passed from ihe charge of ihe clerk who
keeps ihe account of registered letters received
into the charge ol ihe clerk who keeps the account
of rcgisiered leUers sent, if i wo are employed in
these duties) who will receipt for them by endors
ing ihe original letter bill, and afterwards dispose
ol ihem in the same manner as is proved in sec
tion 5 lor tellers originally mailed at that office.
7. On receipt of registered letiers at the olfice
ol delivery, if it lie a large one, ihe cleric who
opens the mail will apply lor the post bill, and
otherwise proceed in tiuj same manner as pre
scribed in Article 6. The clerk who keeps the
tcruuata of registered letters received, will, on
, h ,l(r OJ em jls conIent9 in his
, . u .....
j account, luajtc a uupucaic uiereoi on um uiuiik
reinra bii! lnch accompanies it, and having en-
dorsed .iin reon the word 'correct, ' jl it be so, or
noted the error il there be ne, he will pass it to
t I,., I, , m. f. ' r l.i . ri i i , ' ' t .1 1 ! nGfilcLillt H llH U' ill
will compare such lellers with their letter bill
! make a duplicate upon the blank return bill an
nexed, and ili then mark the return bill correct,
I a ' f. . , , r A in i Ita i r i ii : t. i i
ir ' VI .ZTZ --J
fill, and enclose it u a sealed wrapper or envel-
ope, ad itiail it dtriCt by first mail to the audress
Q ksj Postmaster at whose offer it tras originally
tmnled
When the duplicate letter of a bill of aPY
r , ... j
registered letter or letters is reinrned Irom ine
office of distribution or delivery to the office where
it was originally mailed, that fact shall in eaclfj
case be noted by a check mark on the margin of ;
the account of registered letters sect, opposite the !
original entry ; and il it be not duly lOiurned, the
failure shall in like manner be noted by a different
check mark, and such failure shall in all large
offices be immediately reported by the clerk who
keep the account of registered letters sent, to the
Postmaster or his principal assistant, and each
Postmaster will give immediate notice to the chiei
clerk o! this Department ot every such liiiluie in
his office
If upon the receipt of anv duplicate or return
letter bill, it be found on examination that a letter '
originally mailed wiih il is missing, or that any ! to my old Whig fri- rids, that I have looked care
important error or discrepancy is endorsed on it, j fully under the cloak of Know-Noihing, have lifted
the (act will be duly noted on the account of regis- i wiih a dating hand the veil thai covered the lace
tered letters sent, and immediately report to ihe j ol the Prophet Sam, and satisfied myself well that
chief clerk ol this department, and if ihe discrep- il is not Whiggery as I had always understood it,
ancy implies a robbery of the mail, or if a money and as I knew ii was understood and professed by
letter or package of considerable value is found to ! thousands ol honest nnd patriotic men, but mon
be missing, such reports ivill be made by telegrajm, strum honendum, informi, in gens, cui lumen re
if possible- demptum. Yes ; as blind as a bat and as dark as
It will also 1)3 ihe duty)f the Postmaster to re- j Erebus. Let ihen beware of it, as they love iheir
port by telegraph any mail robbery of which be I lives and high reputation. History informs us of
may otherwise receive early information. j many secret political parties, but not of one, that
10. On the delivery of a registered letter at tie i I remember, which has been damned by impar-
office of its distillation, a receipt therefor will te
taken from the person authorized to receive it, nrd
such receipt will be carefully filed and preserved
in that office.
The blank receipts furnished by this department
can be used for I his purpose, but Postmasters may
adopt any other cerlain method of verifying the
delivery of registered letters.
11. Each Postmaster will see that his accounts
of regisiered letters are legibly and accurate y
kept ; and at the end of each quarter he will lor
ward with his quarterly returns lull and perfect
transcripts of such accounts wiih the letter hil's
pertaining to them, retaining the original accounts
in his office for reference.
JAMES CAMPBELL. Postmaster.
Poft Office Department, May 10, 1855.
A Patriotic Whig.
In a letter declaring his inability to address (lie
Democratic Association of Richmond during tie
present can ass, Thos. J. Michie, Eq., of JSiaiin
Ion, one ol the foremost men in Virginia, uses the
following powerful language :
" Nothing, 1 assure you, would give me monj
pleasure than lo address ihe intelligent people ol
Richmond on ihe interesting questions of ihe pres
ent canvass to tell them how blighling to ihe
spirit of our country the secret mystery of Know
Nothingisin must prove; how demoralizing it will
be to our children, the hitherto high-minded, open?,
hearted, bold youihs of Virginia, to be educated in
ihe sneaking arts ol secrecy and espionage ; to be
ihught by their fathers to spy out all the political
actions of their fellow-men, and yet to keep their
own actions and 'objects,' in reference lo matters
which necessarily concern all, a profound secret ;
to publish platforms of pretended principles, suited
to ( . ry latitude and every taste, for Ihe purpose
of gaining proselytes, while th"y feel the degrad
ing consciousness that they are prohibited, by
horrible oaths, from ever revealing iheir real ob
jects and principles out side of their order, and
w hiln a distrusted world is forced to conclude either
thai Iheir platforms are filled with false profes
sions, intended to mislead, or lhat those who pub
lished them are perjured.
44 Has any party a right to political secrets? In
private associations men may conceal matters
which concern themselves, alone. But politics,
relating necessarily lo the affairs or Conduct ol a
government, in which ever citizen has an equal
task, how can a party be tolerated in withholding,
from any portion of our citizens, information on a
subject which vitally concerns svery one of them?
In a small partnership il a portion of the partners
were to conceal from the rest their designs in re
ference to the social funds, iheir associates, so ex
cluded, w ould be justified in forming a conclusion
of dishonesty, and a court of justice would inter
fere. In ihe ordinary intercourse of life, an hon
est man of ordinary humanity, possessed of a
secret which concerns his neihbor's interests,
feels bound by a high moral obligation to disclose
il lo him whom it interests. Yet here is a politi
cal party inlermiddling in the dark with the affairs
of government which involve your and my life,
liberty, and property, and those of our children,
and of millions of others, and yet they cooly refuse !
to let us know what iheir objects are until we shall
be informed by such results as they may hereaf-
ter produce. By their own showing thy are ene-
mies of popular government ; for in such a gov
eminent ihe whole community participates.
44 But ihev show their enmiiv in various other
forms. They prncticallj deny the capacity of the j 4 Well, I reckon you ain'i the man I want I
people to govern, and therefore establish aris'o- j want lo find the great fighting man I've heard tell
craiic councils w ith a great consolidating and so much about. The fellow they say can whip
controitng head, located, most fiily, somewhere j all creation and Kaintuck to boot,
near 4 the Five Points,' in the city of New Yors. j I can't tell you, stranger, where you'll find
Power with litem, instead of being vested in the (hat man, I don't know such a mn,' said Fran
people ani emanating from i!iem, is vested in these ' cisco, resuming his work as a hint to the other lhat
aristocratic councils. The theory of our govern- j ilt. conference was ended. Boi the Ken'.uckian
ment requires an appeal from aristocracy io the was not be bluffed off, as he would term it. 4Look
people. Know-Nothingim reverses thai theory i
by providing in all cases an appeal from the peo
ple lo the aristocracy.
' If the people had capacity for self-government,
this self-styled Americ.m (query : aborigin
al ?) party deny their honesty ; therefore they
are never trusted except tinder oath. And again :
while the spirit of our institutions requires every
citizen In exercise his o n best judgment in voiing
for ajl officers of government, this wonderful in
vention of Ynk-edom requires him lo hind him
self by solemn oath not io exercise bin own Judg
ment at all, hut to give his vote lo ihe majority of
a caucus, itself subservient to the mandate of a
superior caucus, may order. These ure etsrtling
novelties to an American ear. Yet Nnow-Nolh-ingisin,
bold in this respect alone, in all others
skulking, de&ving its nam?, denying us associa
lion, refusing to mk known its objects, hiding I
in dark caverns w ith ba's and earls, denounces all
as anti-American who will not adopt its dogmas !
I should like to discuss and dissect the monsler, i
not only under the preceding head, bui many oth- j
ers, especially its federalism. I should Irke to
show the people of Richmond and the w hole South, ;
the runnif g device of :he Know-Noihing nominee t
for Governor, ii.s'iUed into him. no dorrbt, by the j
same masters under a horn he learned his 4 Amer- J
icanism,' by w hich he asked the people of Virg-nia j
to deprive themselves of all ground of resistunce !
hereafter to the northern plan of intervention in
our domestic affairs, by intervening in a crusade
against Catholics and foreigner, not because she
is suffering any inconvenience from them bersell,
- but in order to rid her sister Slates of the nuis
a nee.
But I console myself under my inability to
i obey your call by the reflexion that, if I went, it
s would only contribute the feeble light ol a candle
fto that gloaiou-- sun which has shone and which
continues to shine among vou. and elmhten
you
till ihe day of election. Wise and Douglass, and
a host ol others, have told you more than I can
tell. Bui, as I have been a Whig, only say for me
tial posterity. This parly his much besides its
secrecy to give it an earlier and deeper condemna
lion than that which has fallen io '.he lot of its
predecessors. If ihe Democratic party should
follow its road, what a hell upon earth their un
derground fight would make ; yet it would plead
example, and the responsibility would be Sam's.
14 With high regard,
" THOMAS J. MICHIE."
Peter Francisco.
THE SAMSCN OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
As late as ihe year 183G, there lived in Western :
Virginia a man whose strength was so remarkable
-o ... ,i. .:.i r .u.. . i ..... c? . I
aa in .ui nun me imc oi ine eaieiii ouiuaon.
He knew nothing of his -birth or parentage, but
supposed he was born in Portugal, from whence
he was 6ioien when a child, and carried to Ireland.
His earliest recollections were those of boyhood
in ihe latter country, While yet a lad he appren
ticed himself! to a sea captain, for seven years, in
pay lor a p issage to this country. On his arri
val, his time and services were sold to a Mr. Win
ston, of Virginia, in whose service he remained
until the breaking out of the revolujion. Being
of an adventurous turn of mind, he sought and
obtained permission of his master to join the army,
and was eng .ged n active service during the whole
contest. Such was his strength and personal
bravery, that no enemy could resist him. He
wielded a sword, the blade of which was five feet
in length as though it had been a feather, and
evry one who camo in contact with him paid ihe
forfeit of his life. At Stony Point he was one
of the 4 forlorn hope ' which was advanced to
cut away the abattis, and next to Major Gibbon
was the first one lo enter the works. Al Brandy
wine and Monmouth he exhibited the most fearless
bravery, and nothing but his inability to write pre
vented his promotion to a commission.
Many anecdotes are told of Francisco, illustra
live of his immense strength and personal prow
ses. At Camden, where Gales was deleated, he
retreated, and after running along the road some
distance, he sat down to rest himself. He was
suddenly accosted by a British drngoon, who pre
sented a pistol and demanded his immediate sur
render. His gun being empty he feigned sub
mission, and said he would surrender, at :he same
lime rem irking thai his gun was of no further use
to him, he presented it sideways lo the trooper,
who in reaching lor it threw himself ofT his guard,
when Francisco, quick as thought, ran him
through with the bayonet, and as he fell from his
horse, he mounted him and continued his retreat.
Overtaking liis commanding officer, Colonel Mayo,
of Powhatan, he gave him up the animal, for
which act of generosity the Col. afterwards pre
sented him wiih a thousand acres of land in Ken
tucky. Te following anecdote exemplifying his peace
ful nature and his strength is also told of Fran-ci-co.
How true it is, we cannot say, bul we tell
it as it was told to us, many years ago, while he
was still living in Buckingham county, Virginia.
One day while working in his garden he was
accosted by a stranger, who rode up lo ihe fence
and inquired if he knew 4 where a man by the;
name ol Francisco lived.'
Raising himself from ihe work, and eyeing his
interngator, who appeared to be one of the half-horse-half-alligaier
' breed of Kentuckians, he
replied, 4 Well, stranger, I don't know of any
other person by that name in these parts but my
self.' 'ere, hi ranger,' said he, returning lo the charge,
4 a ha i might your given name de. ' My name is
Peter Francisco, at your service.'
4 Ah !' returned the other, you're just the man
I want to find.' At the same time riding inside
ihe fence, he dismounted and tied his animal a
rough ungainly Indian pony to one of ihe posts.
4 Mv name is B g Bill Stokes, all the way from
old Kentttclt. I m ihe Kentucky game chicken, I
am. I can out run, out hop, out jump, knock
down, drag out, and whip any man in all them
diggings. S , as I heard lell of a fellow down
hereabouts who could whip all creation, I thought
I'd saddle Blossom, and just ride over and see
what s'ulT he's made of, and here I am. And
now, stranger, I'm most s'aivej lor fight, and I'm
bound io see who's ihe best man before I go home.
It's all in good feeling, you know, and if you lick
me, why I'm satisfied, but '
Stop a minute, stranger,' said Prancisco, you've
mistaken the man entirely; I'm no fightiog man
at all, and if I was, Pvo nothing against you to
fight about.
' Well, I don't know ; is there any other Peier
Francisco in these parts 1'
No, not that I know of.'
We1!, then, you're the man, nnd you jnust
fight; I've come ail the way from old Kentuck,
and I ain'i going back without knowing which is
the best man.'
But I won't fight. I've got nothing to fight
about, and I tell you I WOttU fight.'
1 Darn'd if you shan't fight, stranger I'm
bound to lick you if I can III citi't you must lick
me.'
By this time Francisco had become angrv of the
importunity of his visitor, and determined' to put
n end to the scene. Seizing his antagonist, by
the seat of his buckskin breeches and the collar
of his hunting shirt, Be threw hitn over the fence
in'o the road : then walking leisurely lo where
his pony was lied, he unfastened him, nnd taking
him up by main strength, threw him ojter his dis
comfited rider.
The Kentuckian raised himself from the ground,
perfectly dumfounded by such an exhibition of
strength, as though he though he might not have
seen clearly, he mounted ins pony, remorKing :
Weil, stranger, I reckon you'll do. I reckon it's
about lime for me to make tracks. If anybody
asks you about that greal fight, you can tell 'em
yon licked Bill Stokes most confoundedly.'
Prancisco was a powerful built man, standing
six feet one inch in height, and weighing two hun
dred and sixty-one pounds. His muscular sys
tem was extraordinarily developed, and he had
been known to shoulder with ease a cannon weigh
ing eleven hundred pounds, and a gentleman ol
undoubted veracity, (still living in Virginia) who
knew him well, says 4 he could take me in his
right hand and pass over the room wiih me, play
ing my head against the ceiling as though I had
been a doll baby. My weight was one hundred
and ninety-five pounds.' His wife, who was a
w oman of good size, and fair proportions, he would
take her in his right hand and holding her out at
arm's length, would pass around the room with
her and carry her up and down stairs in that po
sition. He would take a barrel of cider by the
chimes, and holding it to his mouth, would drink
from the bung a long and hearty draught, without
any apparent exertion.
Yet, wiih all his strength, he was a very pea
ceably disposed man, and never made use of his
power, except in case of necessity, about his usu
al vocations, or in defence ol the right. On oc
casions of outbreaks at public gatherings he was
belier at rushing in and preserving the public
peace, lhai all ihe conservative authorises on the
ground. Although uneducated, he was a man of
strong natural sense, and of a kind, amiajble dis
position. He was, withal, a companionable man,
and his anecdotes and siories of the war, of which
he possessed a rich fund, rendered him a welcome
guest in the first families of the State. His indus- !
irious and temperate habits, together with his kind j
disposition, made him many Iriends, and through
their influence he was appointed Sergani-at-Arms
of ihe Virginia House of Delegates, in w hich ser
vice he died, in 1836, and wan buried wiih mill- j
tary honors in the public burying ground at Rich
mond. Interesting Relics.
A short time since we paid a visit to 44 Belle
Air," the residence of L. W. Washington, Esq.,
of ihis county, and having understood that Mr. W.
was in possession of many most interesting relics
of ihe Father of his Country, we went alone,
thereby to be enabled more fully to enjoy the
sight of, and, at the same time, to handle the6e.
precious remains of other days; and to make a
note of all we were thus enabled to look upon.
We were first shown a sword, and lound on
ihe parchment lab'.d thereto attached : 44 Presented
to General Washington by Frederick the Great
of Prussia," wiih ihe complimentary address,
"from the oldest General in Europe to if great
est General in lite World.'' This sword was
worn by General Washington as his dress sword,
when delivering his messages to Congress.
Il was chosen by his oldest nephew and executor,
Col. William Augustine Washington, (in accord
ance with the- will ol Gen. W leaving him ihe
first choice of his sword, vide Gen. W.'s will.)
and by him bequeathed in 1810 to his son, Col.
George C. Washington, ol Maryland, and by him
lo Ins only son, L. W. Washington, in 1854.
This sword is of exquisite finish, being a straight
rapier wiih tiie highest polished steel hilt, and now
in a most beautiful state of preservation ; in fact,
it has ihe appearance of being perfectly new, it
having been always kepi with particular care.
We were struck forcibly with the difference be
tween the present of a distinguished King lo a re
markable General, and tho voted presents by our
Congress and Legislatures, to the distinguished
military men of ihe present day. The compliment
of the former consisted in the delicacy of tho of
fering, the latter in the size and amount of gold
appended to the same.
We next had ihe pleasure to grasp the sword,
appended to which we found ihe following inscrip
tion on parchment: ''Worn by Gen. Washington
on luneral occasions during the Revolutionary
war, and-chosen (in accordance with his will) by
his nephew, Judge Bush rod Washington, of Mount
Vernon, and by him bequeathed in 126 to bis
nephew, Col. Geo. C. Washington, and by him in
1654 to his only son, L. W. Washington." Then
we examined a pistol (one of a pair) presented ty
Li fa yet to to General Washington, and used by
him during the Revolutionary war, frooi whom it
dtcended io his nephew, Judge Busbrod Wash
ington, and by him bequeathed in 1826 to his ne
phew. Col. George C. Washington, and by him to
h's son, L. W. Washington, in 1854.
After laying aside this interesting memento of
our country's friend, gallant defender, and per
sonal (riend of Washington, we took in hand thn
desk knife, used by our country's father during
ihe struggle for independence, which madennd
mended many a pen which was the instrument
used to convey the reflections ol our chief, when
even his firmness was shnken by ihe difficuiiies
and forebodings w hich overshadowed our glorious
undertaking lor freedom's cause and a great na
tion's future prosperity. This knife has engraved
on the ivory handle, "General George Washing
ton, 1776."
We wcro curious enough lo stretch cur pocket
tape-line on the sword-belt, as worn by Gen. W.,
and found it to measure 40 inches -showing ibat
for a man devoid of corpulence, ihere was a manly-
frame. Next we had the pleasure U in-pect a
case of rare and pecLliar interest. It consisted
of a mahogany box containing a surveyor's rom
pass made by D tvid Rittenhouse, of Philadelphi i,
the friend of Benjamin Franklin. Also, two lev
els, the one used during the Revr.'u'iumi ry war aa
a gunner's level, the o:her for adjusting ihe sur
veyor's case, scales, prolractbrs, &c, complete.
A shagreen containing all the protracting instru
ments, in very fine order, and two surveyor's
chains, together with the pins used with the same.
It is certain tlmi these interesting relics have been
preserved wiih great care by those who have pos
sessed them, and we feel assured that they are
now in hands where they are fully appreciated,
and will be taken care of until the next genera
Hon shall claim their keepinir. These instruments
were used by Gen. Washington in 1749, when ho
was 17 years of age. They were carefully pre
served by ihe Genera), and al his death in 1799,
they desceuded to his oldest nephewind executor,
Colonel William Augasiine Washington, of Hay.
wood, Wrstraofeiand county, Va., al whose death
in ibxy descended bis son. CoL
C. Washington, of Maryland, by whom they were
presented, February 10, 1854, to his son, Lewis
VV. Washington, of Belle Air, Jefferson county,
Va.
These relics have been in Maryland since 1810,
and are again returned to Virginia, where thoir
first polish was worn off" 106 years since. They
certainly must be looked upon us the most inter
esting mementos connected with the early history
of VVathinglou. Each year odd an additional
interest io these relics, and in time they certainly
must be looked upon a the rarest curiosities con
nected wiih iho early history of our country, and
particularly wiih respect to him who was so just
ly slyled 44 ihe Father of his country."
Mr. Washington also kindly showed us many
letters from Ihe General's brothers, nephews,
neices, and distant relatives, (Mr. W. having near
ly all the private correspondence of the General.)
therefore has in his possession much that is inter
esting, as connected with the Washington family,
and hlso the confidential correspondence of Un
distinguished na n of the days of the Revolution
with General Washington, on subjects of ptculiur
interest.
We have been thus particular wiih inference
to our notes of dates and (acts connected with
these interesting relics, as thoy are- mailers deep,
ly connected wiih the history of our country.
Many articles of much interest shown us by Mr.
Washington wo have omitted to mention, being
particularly absorbed with ihose which presented
an attraction so rare and pleasing. -Chariest own
Free Fress.
The woild is full of mysteries. The ch.imbcr
in which the infant opens its eyes is a universo
of mysteries. The father's voice, the mother's
smile reveal lo it slowly the mysterious world of
the affections. Tho child solves many of theso
mysteries, but as the circle of knowledge is en
larged, its vision is alwavs bounded by a wall of
mystery. The sun lhat wakens it at morning aud
again at night looks into its window lo bid it fare
well ihe tree that shades its home, and info
whose branches the birds come and sing before
the dews are dry the cloud with shining edges
that moves across the sky, calm and stalely liko
the chariot of an angel all are mysteries. Nay
to ihe grown up man there is not a thing whioli
the hand touches, or on w hich the eye rests, which
is not enveloped in mystery. The flower that
springs at my foot who h is revealed the won
derful secret of its organization? Its roots shoot
down, and leaf and flower rise up and expand into
the abyss of mysiery. We are liko emigrants
traveling through an unknown wilderness. Tin y
step al night by a stream of water, they tether
their horses and sol up their fent and build a ire.
As the flames rise up, and within l he circle of a
few rods around, is distinct and clear, into its light,
Bui beyond and bounding this, rocks dimly seen
and trees with vague outline sloop forward to iho
blaze; and beyond, ihe branches creuk, and iho
waters murmur over their bed, and wild and un
known animals howl in the dark realm of night
and silence. Such is the. light of man's knowl
edge, and so it is bounded by the infinite realm of
mysiery.
The world then is full of mysteries. But so far
as religion is concerned, it has changed most un
happily, that men have made articles of faith out
oi mysteries, made them the most important arti
cles, and looked on religion as if its main purpose
were lo introduce mysteries into the world. From
these things have risen very much of the idle ihe
ology, nnd many of the miserable disputes lhat
have disgraced Christendom. That which is ihe
most important fact practically in this subject is
this viz. that there ore less mysteries in the world
now, than there were before Christianity.
Seeing the Elephant. Passengers who
travel by the New York and New Haven cars
have a grand chance ol 44 seeing the elephant,"
Going from New York, the cars pass the farm of
P. T. B irnam, a mile or so before reaching Bridge -purl,
Ct. On that farm, and in plain view from
the railroai, an elephant may bo seen every pleas
ant day attached to a large plow, and doing up the
44 subfoiling" in first rate style, at the rate of a
bout three distinct double horse teams. The am
in a I is perfectly tractable. His attendant rider
him, while a colored man guides the plow. The
elephant is also used for carting large loads of
gravel in a cart arranged purposely for him, and
in drawing stone on a boat or drag, in piling up
wood, timber, &c, and in making himself g' aer
ally useful. New York Tribniw.
Tiik Independent Tkahi;by. The New York
Journal of Commerce of Friday says :
Notwithstanding the immense business at the
Sub-Treasury here, and the great responsibility
involved in ihe eccpt and disbursement of -sum
large amounts of money, alt o( which is receive.!
and paid in coin, every thing g cs on like clock
work, and ih.-re is never one cent's discrepancy
in the accounts, it is better managed than anv
Binkmg House we know of, and in fliis respect
is uuiike m;,t offices, the del ails of which are id
charge of persons appointed by government
First Steawboat The Norfolk Oeixv-n pib
lishes- the fallowing piece of information :
The first boat ever propelled by steam was ;;i
1786, on the Po'om tc River al Sbepharrision.
J.unes Rumsey was ihe inventor. George Wash
ington was a pis-cnger on her trail trip. Sh
Was propelled al the tatc of four or fire mites i 9
hour againsi lh current.
A