The Madisonian. [volume], November 23, 1841, Image 1

About The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845

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THE MADISONIAN.
VOL. V.? NO. 43.] WASHINGTON CITY, TUFPDAY, NOVEMBER 2 3, 184 1. [WHOLE NO. 730
THE MADISONIAN.
BY IOHIf B. JON km * CO.
AGENTS.
Liwii H. Dokuowm, 34 Catharine street, pfcu
j V wf.i.din, Pittsburg, pa *
C. W. J a mks, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hemhy 8 Miiu, 404 Bowery, Nrrr York. .
Qkomue W. Bull, Buffalo, N. York
Stlvancs ^tevknm, New Haven, cv.
k. It. Fo.tkb, Boston, Maaa.
Wwton F. Birch, Fayette, Missouri.
JoauH Snow Detroit, Michigan.
Fowika & WooDWiHD, St. Louis, Mo.
Thk MaDuonun is published Tri-weekly daring
the siliii|ji i'l Congress, and Semi-weekly during the
recess, at 35 per annum. For six months, s3.
Ti e Maditonian. weekly, per annum, da. six
months, 91.
N? subsetiption will be taken for a term short of
six months j nor unless paid for in advance.
Twelve lines, or loss, three insertions, ? - ?1 00
Each additit nal insertion, ------- 35
Longer advertisements at proportionate rates.
A liberal discount made to those who advertise by
the year.
3 >? Subscribers may remit by mail, in bills of sal
vent bank*, postage paid, at our risk; provided it shall
appear by a postmaster's certificate, that such remit
tance has been duly mailed.
A liberal discount will be made to companies of
or m re transmitting their subscriptions together.
Postmasters, and others authorised, acting aa our
agi nta, will be entitled to receive a copy of ine paper
gr.UU ft>r every five subscribers, or at that rate per
si.t. on subscriptions generally; the terms being ail
^ VI.
Let ten and communications intended for the estab
ishment will not be received unless the pottage it
Puid.
price or advertising.
Dry dock, Brooklyn, new york.?
Proposals for Timber for building the CoFKiH
Dam, will be received at the Navy Agent's Office, New
rork, until the 5th day of December, 1841, agreeably
to the following
SCHEDULE OF TIMBER.
364 Piles of Yellow Pina timber, 16 inches square?
average length 45 feet?for main Dam.
19C Pile* of Yellow Pine timber. 14 inchea square
?average length 36 feet?for main Dam.
458 Piles ot Yellow Pine timber, 19 inches square
average length 38 feat?for side Dams.
796 Piles of Yellow Pine timlx-r, 12 inches square
average length 36 foet?for Sheet Piling.
4 Sets of Waling Pieces, for main Dam, of White
Oak, 1 foot square?total length 1876 feel.
2 sets of Waling Pieces, for Side Dams, of While
Oak; 1 foot z 8 inches square?total length 1070 feet.
5*2 cap timbers of White Pine 18 fefet long anJ 16
inches square.
14,134 feet board measure, of 3 inch white pine
plank.
All the ab >ve timber for Piles to be of good sound
yelluw or hard pine, free from large knots and shakes,
nnd suitable fur grooving and driving as shret piling.
T wo of the omiosite edges of each pile to be sawed
or hewed straight and parallel, and a third side to be
sawed or hewed straight and square with the other
two. The fourth face to be hewed or sawed nearly
parallel with the opposite side so as not to deviate
more than one inch in the width of the pile. The
dimensions to be as follows: The first named 364
piles to be of lengths varying fiom 42 to 48 feet, and
to average at least 45 feet ; the thickness, measured
on the parallel edges, to be not leas than 14 nor great
er than 16 inches, to average about 15,?and the
width not leas than 16 inches.
The second lot (of 191 Piles) to vary in length from
34 to 38, averaging not less than 36 teet; the thick
ness on the parallel edges nOl less than 12 nor more
than 14 inches;?and the width not less than 14
inches.
The third lot (of 458 Pilea) to vaiy in length from
36 to 40, averaging 3W fe< t; the thickness on the paral
lel edges not less than 11 nor more than 13, to average
12inclies; and the widt i not less than 12 inches.
The/ourWi lot (of 725 Pilea) to vary in length from
33 to 3^, avenging 36 feet; the thickness on the paral
lel edges to be not less than 11 nor more than 13, to
average 12 inchea; and the width not less than 12
inches.
The tiring or irating pieces for the main Dam to be
of good, sound, atraignt white oak timber, hewed or
Kwed 12 inchea sauaie. and in lenoth varying from
iu oo leet.
The whole amount furnished to be 1876 lineal
feet.
The xealing pieces for the side dams to be 12 by 8
inches, hewed or sawed square, of good, sound,
straight white oak timber, and in lengths varying trom
25 to 35 feet; the whole amount to be 1070 lineal
feet.
The 52 tapi to be of good sound White Pine timber,
free from shakes and large knots, hewed or sawed
straight, 16 inches square and 18 feet long.
Tne Plank to b?j of White Pine, sound, straight,
and square edged, fr. e from large nots, 3 inches in
thickness, and in lengths not leas than 25 feet? amount
14,434 board measure.
All the above timber and plank to delivered on such
wharf or wharfs, within the U. S. Navy Yard, New
York, as may be designated, and subject to the inspec
tion and approval of such person as may be selected by
the engineer; one-fourth of the yellow or hard Pine
to be delivered before the 21th day of January, 1842;
one fourth before the 25th of February, and the re
maining half before the 31st of March, 1842; the tim
ber for the miin and side dams and sheet piling to be
delivered in the following order, viz :
1st. The Timber for the Main Dam..
2d. " " " " Side Dams.
3d. " " " " Sheet Pilings.
The Oak Waling pieces to be delivered on or before
the first day of April, and the White Pine timber and
Plank before the 15th of April, 1842.
The right reserved to receive a less portion than an
offer may embrace.
ROBERT C. WETMORE,
A'ary Agent.
Navy Aoent's Office, )
New York, Nov. 8th, 1841. J
nov 11 ?tD5
The Boston Atlas, PortlanJ Advertiser, National
Intelligencer, Globe, Madisonian, and Norfolk and
Portmouth Herald, will copy the above 3 times each
week until 5th December, and send their bills to this
office.
Head Qt AhTKRs, Marine Corps, ? )
M'aihingtun City, Nov. 17th, 1841. J
SEPARATE Proposals will be received at theories
of the Quartermaster of the Marine Corps, in
this city, until 12 o'clock, on Monday, the 22d inst.,
for furnishing rations to the United States Marines,
stationed at Washington, I). C. for the year 1842:
The ration to consist of one pound and a quarter
of fresh beef, or three quarters of a pound of mess
pork, eighteen ounces of bread or flour, at the option
of the Government; and at the rate of six pounds of
good clean coffee, twelve pounds of good New Orleans
sugar, eight quarts of beans, four quarts of vinegar,
two quurts of salt, four pounds of soap, and one snd
a halt pounds of good dipjicd candles to each hundred
rations.
It is understood that the full side of beef (neck and
shins excluded) be delivered, if required; if such
quantity be not rrquired, that the furc anil hind quar
tets be delivered alternately. And the bread or ilour
shall he of superfine quality. All the articles to be
unexceptionable, and to be issued to the troops with
out ci|iense to the United States.
No offer will be entertained at this office, unless ac
compinied by the names of the suieties of the bidder.
Proposals to be endorsed " Proposals for Rations
for 1842." AUG. A. NICHOLSON,
Qua rtermaiter. j
oct 17?3tawt22dNov.
American almanac for 1812. this day re
ceived from Boston, by F. T A YLOR, contain
ing much valuable and interesting matter bated upon
the last Census; in addition to the usual amount of
Scientific, Commercial, Political and Statistic infor
mation. nov 1H
Battles of the u. s. navy ?The Na
val Monument, I volume of 32t> pages and 25 en
gravings; price SI 25?giving the official accounts a*
well as general descriptions of all the Naval Battles
fought during the late war, I vol. octavo, IHI0.
Just received, foi sale by
nov 16 F. TAYLOR.
I^ KENCH CATALOGUES.?K. I AYLUK ha*
this day received some very comprehensive Cata
logues, putil slied in Paris only a few weeks ago, coin
prising every thing in the liook line, that is at this
time lot sale in that city?showing the diffrrent edi
tions, Ac. Ac. They ,,re open to tile inspection of
those wishing to order, or to anv who take an interest
in the subject F T A YLt lR, Bookseller,
Immcd ately east ofGadsby's H tel.
I'/ Books, Stationery and Periodicals imported to
Order froui London and Paris. nuv 20
B. T. POPE
Continue* to practice u an
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
AND SOLICITOR IN CHANCERY?
Office at
WETUMPKA, ALABAMA.
Hi* Circuit embrace* the counties of Autauga,
Coosa, Tallapoosa, Montgomery, Dallas, Bibl>, Shel
by, St. Clair, and Talladega. The Supreme Court of
Alabama, and the District Court of the U. State* for
Middle Alabama. no* 18
JAMES PHALBN * CO. Managers Office
Washington City.
R. FRANCE, Agent for the Manager*.
SPLENDID LOTTERIES for NOVEMBER
POKOMOKE RIVER LOTTERY, Claaa 146.
To be drawn Novsmber 23.
$20,000; 100 prizes of #1,000; 100 of $500.
GRAND SCHEME.
100 prixes of $1,000
100 do 000
ItSO do 100
Ac. Ac.
1 prize of $10,0110
1 do 6,U00
1 do 4,000
1 do 1,700
Ticket* only $&?Halves $2 50?Quarter* $1 35
Certificates of package* of 30 whole*, R80
Do do 30 halve*, 40
Do do 30 quarter* 90
RHODE ISLAND LOTTERY, Claw 307,
For the benefit of Public School*, to be drawn No
vember 27.
SPLENDID SCHEME.
1 prize of $30,000 1 prize of $2,500
1 do 10,000 I do 2,220
1 do 6,000 20 prize* of 1,000
1 do 5,000 40 do 500
1 do 4,000 40 do 400
1 do 3,000 178 d? 300
Ticket* $10; Halve* $5; Quarter* $2 50; Eights $1,25
Certificate* of package* of 26 whole*, $130 00
Do. do 26 halve*, 65 00
Do. do 2l> quarters, 32 50
Do. do 26 eighth*, 16 25
C3r All order* from a distance will meet with
prompt and confidential attention, and .the drawing
?ent a* soon a* received. Addrea*
R. FRANCE, Agent for the Manager*,
oct 26 3tawd&c
ITALIAN LANGUAGE.?Recently received for
aale by F. TAYLOR, most of thetn imported by
himself
Arioato, Orlando Fnrioso, 3 vol*, printed at Milnn,
$4 25. La Geruaalemme L.iUerata di Torquato Taa
?o, Milan, 1 volume, $1 75. Le Rime di Francesco
Petrarca, 2 volume-, printed at Venice. SI 75. Alfieri,
Tragedie Scelte, 3 volumes, Pari*. $2 La Divina
Cominedia di Dante, 3 volumes, Parm, SI 75. Tra
gedie di Vincenzo Monit, 3 volume*, Florence, SI 25.
Nuovo Sceltadi Poesie italiane, 2 volume*, Pari*, S'~
25. 1 Quallro Poeti Italiane, D?nte, Petrarca, Ariiw
to, Toxo, con una Scelta di Pesie Italiane, dal 12(H)
?inoa Noatri Tempi, 1 large octavo volume, Pari*, $6.
II Pastor Fido di Guarini, 1 volume, Avignon, 62 ci*.
Aminta di Tas*a, 1 volume, Pari*, 50 cent*. Scelta
di Prose Italiane, 1 volume. II Tessoretto delta Sco
lure Italiano. Novelle Italiane, with a literal inter
linear translation. Colloquial Phrases in E.iglifth and
Italian. Italiun and English Phrase Book, by Bossut.
Surrault'* Easy Grammar of t he Italian Language.
Bachis' Italian Grammar and Exercises. Barren'*
Quarto Dictionary of English and Italian. Gragliu's
Italian and English Pocket Dictionary, Sic A few
copies only of the foreign edition* imported for an ex
periment.
Books, stationery, and periodical* imported to order
from London and Pari*. nov 6
ORDNANCE MANUAL, for the u*e of the Offi
cer* of the United State* Army?composed by
the Board of Ordnance. A few copie* this day re
ceived for aale by F. TAYLOR.
oct G
INTELLIGENCE AND GENERAL AGENCY
. OFFICE?One door from the corner of 7th street
on Louisiana avenue, opjiosite the Hank of Washing
ton.
Wanted imntdiately?aix colored servants fiomthe
country aa assistant cook* , four houie-keepers , three
laborer* on a farm; four nurses ; one apprentice
to the mantua making business; one young girl
to take caie of children ; one gardener ; one apprentice
to the confectionary business; eight good cooks male*
and female* ; a house in the vicinity of the City Post
Office; one unfurnished room on the avenue,
To *cll a negro girl aged 17?*h'e is a good cook
and house-keeper.
?jr To purchase a colored girl /rom 11 to 12 years
old.
fr A good opportunity is now ofTered to any per
son with a cash capital of $500 of investing it in a bu
siness yielding a clear profit of33 per cent; the stanif
is in the heart of Pennsylvania avenue. For further
particulars inquire of
O'BRYAN& DAY.
N. B. A Night bcoonl will shortly be opened it. th<?
commodious room attached to the above officc?acoin
petent teacher has been engaged fur the purpose. For
particulars apply as above. nov 11
VOYAGE TO MEXICO AND HAVANA^?
Including some general observations on the Uni
ted State*, by an Italian, in one volume.
Just published and this day received, for sale by
nov 11 F.TAYLOR.
LINGARD'S HISTORY and Antiquities of the
Ahglo Saxon Church, < otnplete in one volume.
Just received, for sale by
nov 11 F.TAYLOR.
Glory and shame of England, two
volumes, by C. EDWARDS LESTER, just re
ceived for sale by F. TAYLOR, immediately Eust of
Gadsby's. nov 11
EWJYORK REVIEW-InUMBER -XVliI
CONTENTS :
I. Life und Writings of John Jay.
II. Relaiion of Platnnism to Christianity.
III. Anglo-Saxon Language and Earlie*t English
Poetry.
IV. Chronicle* of the Pilgrim Fathers.
V. Tasao and the Alberti Manuscripts.
VI. Distinguished Astronomers, the Predoce**or*
and Contemporaries ofGallilco.
VII. System of National Defence.
IX. Life and Time* of Red Jacket.
X. Critical Notice*.
fir Price ?*> per annum. Subscription* received
by F. TAYLOR, by whom the work will be forward
ed to any part of the United Slates. nov 9
AIR-TIGHT STOVE.?H. VV. Edwards, High
si reel, near Gay, Georgetown, is now ready to
supply the people of this District and ot the surround
ing country with the Air-tight Stove, to the l>e*t of
hi" ability. Dealeis supplied at a lioeral discount.
Mr. fcilward* is now my sole agent for this Dis
trict. A* fir a* my health and occupations allow, I
will see that ho sell* the genuine article. All others
are "humbugs."
nov 9?w8w ISAAC ORR.
ONDON KEEPSAKE FOR 1842; The Lon
don Picturesque Annual for 1842.
Are this day received, for sale by F.TAYLOR,
both got up with llnir usual literary excellence anil
beauty ol pictorial illustration ; for tale at New York
un>l Philidelnhia price* nov 18
T
TALES A ^ D SOUVENIRS OF A It ESI
_ DENCEIN EUROPE.?By a Lady of Virgi
nia; 1 vol. published for 1844.
This day received, for sale oy
nov 18 F TAYLOR.
rpHE TOKEN AND ATLANTIC SOUVE
A. NIR fur 1842, an offering for Christmas and the
New Year, richly bound and gilt, and embellished with
beautiful engravings; the literary portion from the t
l*ens ol Longfellow, Benjimin, Tuckennan. Percival
Pieipont, Banerofi, Mrs. Gilrnan, Mr*. Seba Smith,
Mrs Osgood, Mts. Dana, and other esteemed author*.
Price S3. Just received from Boston, for sale l>?
uov 20 F TAYLOR
BLACKS' NEW GENERAL ATLAS, 1841
Blacks' New General Atlas. con*Ming of f>4
maps of the large folio sue, newly engiaved (Edni
bnough, 1841.) from the latest mid most authentic
s >urcr*. A beautiful spe. i nen of map engraving anil
coloring ?bound in half Morocco, and ju?t imported
A nngleCopy lor sale by F. 1'AYLOR.
I nov. 20.
miscellaneous.
from Ike J^adiet1 Companion.
A VISIT TO SIMON KENTON,
THE LA0T OF THE PIONEER!.
BV r. W. THOMAS, THE AUTHOR Of '? CLINTON
BBAUHHAW."
" ac,ivo hermil even in ?ge, (he child
Of Nature, or the Man of Row, run wild."
Byron.
Falling, the other day, accidentally, upon
Byron's beautiful lines in Don Juan, on?
" General Boon, Backwoodman of Kentucky,"
I thought, as I dwelt upon their freshness?fresh
as the forests and the churacter which is his
theme?of a visit which I paid some years ago
to Boon's cotemporary and similar, Simon Ken
ton, who died shortly afterwards?and I deter
mined to fill out a slight sketch then made of
bun. One bright morning iu October, I think
34, alter a hearty breakfast on venison, with the
becoming appliances of cranberry jelly, and all
the etceterai of a luxurious meal, such as you
often get in the western country, and which our
kind hostess of West Liberty, (Ohio.) had ac-'
cording to the promises of the previous evening
prepared for us by day dawn, my friend and
myself started from that village on our way to !
Bellefontaine, resolved to call and pay our re
spects?the respects of strangers and travellers
?to Simon Kenton, who, we are informed
dwelt some thirty miles from our whereabouts.
It was a glorious Indian summer morning.?
The day had just broke as we started, and "the
thick haze, which characterizes this season of
the year, enveloped the whole landscape, but
without concealing, made it just indistinct
enough for the imagination to group and mar
shal lull, prairie, tree and stream, iu a mann. r
agreeable to our feelings. The haze rested on
the face of Nature like a veil over a sleeping
beauty, disclosing enough of her features to
charm, without dazzling us with the Hash of
her eye, which makes us shrink while we ad
mire.
A vast prairie extended on our right, through
which loitured a lazy stream, as if it lingered,
loth to leave the fertile soil which embosomed it.
A silvery mist hung over it, making it appear
like a great lake. Here and there arising from
the immense body of the prairie, were what are
called islands?that is, great clumps of trees, co
vering, sometimes, many acres, appearing just
like so many islands in an outstretched ocean.
One I observed was peculiarly striking: it was
not a natural mound arising out of the prairie
and was covered with a dense wood, while
around it the plain extended far and wide, and
was as level as a floor.
As the day dawned the scene became more
and more enchanting. The sun blazed up
through the far forest tr. es that skirled the prairie
like a beacon fite. Those of the trees which
were earliest touched by the frost. and had lost
their Collage, seemed like so many warriors
stretching forth their arms in mortal combat:
while the fallen ones, which lay in their huge
length upon the ground, might easily be fancied
so many braves who were realizing the poet's
description of a contest:
" Few (hall part, where many meet."
Then my fancy caught another impression; I
thought, as I looked upon the tranquil scene?
the wide prairie?the sheep browzing on it?the
gentle stream?the mist curling up?the tower
ing trees?the distant hills?the blue smoke as
cending here and there from a rustic dwelling
nil looking tranquillity?I thought that Peace
had set her altar,anfl all Nature was worshipping
the being whose blessings were upon all. The
rich tint of those trees which still retained their
foliage, added to the beauty and oneness of the
scene; and in gilding the picture, harmonized
Willi it.
On our left, a hill ascended abruptly up, cover
ed with tall trees, which, in some places were
remarkably clear ol underwood, and in others
choked up with it. The undeigrowth, from "its
great luxuriance, where it did appear, seemed
emulous o( the height of its neighbors. At the
loot of the hill, and winding round it, lay o
road; sometimes it would ascend the hills' siue
to the very summit, and then abruptly descend
to the very loot. This gave us a full view of
the surrounding scenery. It was beautilul.
1 o me, like that of another world, coming as I
did, Irom the contagious breath of the citv
where disease and death were spread wide as
the atmosphere, for I had just left Cincinnati
where the cholera was raging. The hustle of
business?the hum ol men ?the discordant
noises the dusty streets-the sameness and
dingy red ol the houses?tin smoky and impure
atmosphere?the frequent hearse?the hurrying
physician the many in black, were all remem
bered in contrast with this bright scene of Na
ture. I caught myself almost unconsciously re
peating the lines of the poet:
" Oh, how canst thou renounce the boundless store
Of charms, which Nature to her votary yields'
The waibling woodland, the rebounding shore
The pomp of groves, the garniture of fields ?'
All that I he genial ray of morning gilds,
And all that echoes to the ?> ng of even ?
All itinl the mountain s sheltering bosom shields
And ill the dread magnificence of Heaven; '
Oh, how canst thou renounce, and hope to'be for
given V
I felt at once why I had been an invalid. I had
been breathing an air pregnant with all sorts of
sickness; was it any wonder I was sick? I
had swallowed a whole drug shop?for what
purpose I To be drugged to death ?
Every thing in this world takes the hue of our
feelings. A few weeks previously. I had been
to a wedding in Lebanon, where I had enjoyed
myself gloriously. We ke| t it up 'till "'tween
the late and early," and all went off appropriate
" As meny as a marriage bell."
The next morning I breakfasted with the be
witching bride and her genetous lover, and then
away from the bridal -cene in a hazy rain, over
horrible road*, tossed about iu a trundle bed of a
carry all, with no companion but my crutch and
a whole host of bachelor reflections. The scene
was sad every where. I passed an old rooster
by the road side. He stood alone, dripping wet,
with not a single hen near him?chick uor child
?like a grand Turk who had been upset in an
aquatic excursion, and has quarrelled with his
whole seraglio. A dog skulked by me, with his
tail between his legs, looking, for all the world
as ,f he had been sheep-killing. Hew desolate
the girdled trees looked ! As the winds whistled
through their leafless branches, they seemed the
very emblems of aspiring manhood, deprived of
all his honors when he thought them greenest'
vet still standing with the world's blight upon
him. I he road wound about, as if it has bu*i
ness all through the woods; and the long mirv
places, which were covered with rails, to pre
;ent one from disappearing altogether! what
jolting! what bouncing! zigzag?this way, that
way every way. Why, Sancho Panza, when
tossed in the blanket, enjoy? d perfect luxury in
the comparison. And when, at last, I did get
upon a piece of road ihat was straigh', ii appear
ed a long vista leading to utter desolation. The
turbid streams were but emblems ol the lower
ing sky. They looked frowninsrlv on each other.
like foe on foe, w'.ile the autumn leave- f, II
ilurk around me, lik- summer hopes; to i!av. is
different all is bright. To-morrow may be
cloudy?and thus wa.'s the world.
There is no nobler theme for the novelist and
the poet, than the Stirling incident* of the first
settlement of our country . The muse of Scott
lias made his country appear the appropriate
place lor romantic legend, aud traditionary feud,
>u it only wants his genius, to make our coun
Tkra?,ijtL,n the rival of hi*, in that respect.
? A , re '* a* "bundant, and almost un
troadea. However, 1 am not one of those who
jelitve that legends of the olden time are the
nest themes for the novelist. If he would des
cribe truly the manners, virtues and vices round
nun, as they are, he would win more applause
than in the description of other scenes ; because
all: would feel the truth of the portraiture. Scott
tailed in describing modern manners in Haint
Ronaniwell. Why? Because his affections
and leelings were with the past; and those bal
lads auJ romances in which his boyhood de
lighted, exercised over his imagination a con
J,mg power, and when he came to give it a
' local habitation and a name," that controlling
power was manifest.
But who of Scott's readers has not some
times regretted that he did not give us more of
the men and manners of the day ? If he had
thought as much of them as of baronial and
other periods?and having studied, he had at
tempeu to paint them when his mind was in its
vigor, he would have succeeded as well as in
Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, or the Crusaders. Fielding
could only describe the manners around him, be
cause he had only thought of tliein. Scott's
imagination had a feudal bias, and consequently
he painted that period best when, as he des
cribes it?
" Tkey laid down to rest,
With the corselet laced ?
Pillowed on buckler cold and hard :
They carved at the meal
Wiih glove* ot' Heel,
And drank the led wine through the helmet barr'd."
How delightful if Scott had given us some of
the scenes which he witnessed among the dif
ferent Circles wiih whom he mingled. In such
scenes he studitd human nature, it is true, but
he applied hi* kiowledge in describing how men
acted in other circumstances than those in which
he saw ihein act, for he well knew that the truth
lul portraiture ands sympathy in every breast.
He learned tht whole history ' of the human
heart, and then gave lis volumes of the olden
time, because tfiere his imagination feasted.
He should, sometimes, have shown us our
selves as we ar;. It seems to me that not only
in our early history is there a wide field for the
novelist, but that in our own times 'here is both
a wider and a bftter. What a great variety of
characters in oui country ! Men from all clinic*
of all opinions, parties, sects. The German^
Frenchman, Englishman, Russian, the Back
woodsman, the! ankee, and the Southerner, are
each and all often found in the bar-roorn of a
country tavern. To one who likes to observe
character, what enjoyment! Why, as Falsinir
would say, "it is a play extempore." And then
to quit a scene ike this, pass a few miles from
one of these towns, and be right into the wilder
ness: for it seeras a wilderness to look round on
the deep woods, and the wild prairie, and see no
marks of civilization but the road on which you
travel. How the mind expands! You look up,
and fancy some tar off cloud, the Great Spirit
looking down on His primeval world,-in all the
freshness and beauty of its first years. The
imagination glows, the feelings freshen, the af
fectious become intense. Rapidly, then, the
scenes of our boyhood rush upon us, our earlv
manhood, our hopes, our fears, the lady of our
love, the objects of our ambition. We see some
brilliant bird that we have started from its perch,
?Ian off in the blue ether, and thus before us
seems ibe world, all our own. And then we en
ter the town, and behold the vast variety of hu
man beings among whom and with whom we
have to struggle. Here, too, we often find wo
men loveliest and most fa?cinaung?a flower in
the wilderness, and beautiful both in bud and in
bloom. And here are generous and free spirits
who wear no disguise about them, whose feel
ings spring up like the eagle from its eyrie, in
natural fearlessness. The change is enjoyment:
one fits us for the other. In solitude, we thiuli
over, examine, and analyze what we see in the
world; and in th ? world, the reflections and re
solutions of solitude strike us like a parental ad
monition.
That simplicity which Cooper has described
so well in the character ol Leatherstocking
seems to have been the characteristic of the
early Pioneers. It has been my good luck to
meet with several of them. One, who is now a
county ??quire, and, of course, far advanced in
years, with whom I became acquainted in thein
terior of Ohio, Ircquentlv in conversation with
tne, dwelt upon the peculiarities of the Pioneers,
lamenting with a simplicity, energy, and natu
ral eloquence, which told that he was one of
them, the "falling ofi;" as he called it, of the
present times.
" Why," said he to me, ?' if you will believe
me, there is not half the confidence between
man and man that there used to be, when I
was in the wilderness here, and used to travel to
the different stations. It was a long tramp,
I tell you?but you might rely on the man
who went with you, to life and to death,
just as you would on your rifle?and then
you rested upon your rifle?and looked round
upon the beauties of the wilderness?and
the wilderness is beautiful to them that like
it?and felt that you were a man. Why
I could do every thing for myself in those
days?I needed no help no how?I tell you I
have a snug farm, and may be, some things that
you call comforts ; but I shall never he as happy
as I was when I was here in the wilderness with
my dog and rifle, and nothing else. No I shall
never be as happy again, and that's a fact. Mr.
-?; , our preacher, preaches a good sermon,
bating a spice of Calvinism, that I, somehow,
can I relish or believe natural, but he can't make
me feel like I used to?I mean with such reli
ance on Providence?as I did when 1 roused up
in the morning, and looked out on the beauties
of nature, just a< God made them. You find
fault with these roads?and I know the travel
ling's b^d?I thought so myself as I came to
town?and yet 1 used to travel through the wil
derness when there was no road or town. I
sometimes felt tired, it is true, but it was not the
weariness I feel now?no, no ! 1 never shall be
so happy as I was in the wilderness, and that's
a fact."
I believe I have repeated the very word* as
they fell from the lips of the fine old man. 1
w?s arnu'l'd with his opinion of novel*.
"W hv, I am told," he said, "that a man will
write two big books?and not a word of truth in
cm from from beginning to end. Now aint that
abominable ! To tell a lie, any how, is a great
shame; but to write, and then to print ii, is what
I never thought of. How can you tell it from
truth, if he'* an ingenious man I It look* just
like truth when 'tis printed. It destroys all con
fidence in books. Judge Jones tells me that
there was a man called Scott, who has written
whole shelves of 'em?what do you call'em ?
novels? He tell* me that he was a pretty good
sort of a man, too, with a good deal of the briar
iix j i ' ' reac* one 'hem b oks once, that
I liked, I suppose, from the name; they called
it the Pioneers;' that's the reason I .ead it. I
think there must be some mistake; vou may
depend upon it, that man, Leatherstocking, ne
ver could have known so much about tht w ilder
ness, aud the ways of the logins, without being
in ii, and among 'em."
V\ hat a tin.- compliment to the powers ol
Cooper. The scenery was striking, and as we
passed along, our conversation turned, of course,
upon it, and from that, to ihe dark form# that I
once (lilted through it?and to those who had
first struggled with the red man for its posses
sion ; and liow naturally to him whom we were
going to visit, who had been among the first and
most fearless of the Pioneers, aud who was
then lingering the last of them.
Simou Kenton's life had been a very eventful
one perhaps the most so of all the Fioneeis.
Boon has been more spoken of, and written
about; but, in all probability, the reason is, be
cause he was the older man, aud had been, then,
some lime dead.
Kenton was a Virginian by birth, and, I be
lieve, entirely uneducated. At a very early
age, he quarreled with a rival in a love afbir,
and after an unsuccessful conflict with him,
Kenton challenged him to another, aud was
getting the worst of it, in a rough and tum
ble fight, and being undermost, subject to
the full range of his antagonist, lie was much
injured; when it occurred to him that if he
could twist his rival's hair, which was very
long, in a bush near by. he could punish him at
leisure. Crawling to the point uuder the stun
ning blows of his antagonist, Kenton, with
desperate energy, seized him by the hair, and
succeeded in entangling it in the bush as he de-.
sired. He then pummelled him with such right
good will, that he thought he had killed him.?
Kenton, feariug the consequences, instantly ab
sconded, and changed his name from Simon
Butler, which was his real name, to biaoii
Kenton. He pushed for the West. 1 here he
joined in several excursion* against ihe savages,
aud was several times near being taken by ihem.
He acted as a spy between llie Indians jnd the
colonies, in the war occasioned by the murdei
of Logan's family. Alter many adventures and
hardships, he was taken by the Indians, in pur
loinmg some ol their horses, which, in retalia
liou, he had led away in a night foray into one
of their villages. He was treated with great
cruelty : he ran the gauntlet thirteen time-, arid
was finally saved from torture by the interfer
ence of-Girty, a renegade white man, who had
joined the Indians, and was their leader in ma
ny of their attacks on the whites. Kenton and
Girty had been friends, and pledged themselves
so to continue, whatever changes might over
lake them, before Girty apostatized. He, with
all his savageuess aud treachery, was true to
Kenton. This is but the caption ol a chapter
in Kenton's life.
After journeying for some time through thick
woods, 111 which there wa3 innumerable grey
and black squirrels, we arrived at an angle of a
worm fence, and turned oil into a swampy road,
towards a log house, in which, we are told, the
old Pioneer lived. The house was comfortable
and large, for one of the kind. On stopping, a
son-in-law of the old worthy met us at the bars,
and, though he knew us not, with the hospitali
ty of the country, he insisted upon putting up
our horses, which kindness we were compelled
to d.cline, as we could not tarry long. As we
advanced towaids the house, 1 observed every
thing about it wore the air of lrugal comfort.
We ascended two or ihree .steps, and entered
the room, in which was a matron, who, we learn
ed, was the wife of the Pioueer, and sealed by
the fire, the old worthy himself. He rose as we
entered. Advancing towards him, 1 said, "Mr.
Kenton, we are strangers, who have read often
of you and your adveiitures, and beiu^ in your
neighborhood, we have taken the liberty to call
and see you, as we were anxious to know one
of the first and the last of the Pioneers."
The old Pioneer was touched aud gratified
by the remark, and while shaking hands with
us, he said : ..it
"Take seats, take seats, I aai right glad to j
see you."
W e sat down, and immediately entered into
conversation with him. He conversed in a de
sultory manner, and often had to make an effort
to recollect himself, but when he did, his memo
ry seemed perfectly to call up the events alluded
to, and when asked any thing, "V\ ell, I'll tell
you," he would say, and after a pause, he nar
rated it. 1 have stood in the presence of men
who had won laurels by field and Hood, in the
senate, at the bar, and in the pulpit, but my sen
sations were merely those of curiosity?a wish
to know of the impressions which the individu
als made upon myself, corresponded with the
accounts given of turn by others?il his countc
nauce told his intellect or his passions; and if
the capabilities which he possessed could be
read in him* This wish to observe prevents
all other sensations, and makes one a curious
but a cold observer. But far diflerent were my
feelings as I looked upon the bent but manly
form of the old Pioneer, and observed iiis frank j
and fine features. Here, thought 1, is a man
who, if his human character was dissected Willi
a correct eye, would be lound to be braver than
many a one who has won the world s eulogy as
a soldier. We cannot be brave with all the
" Pride, pomp, and circumstance, of glorious war."
about him! With the neighing steed, the mar
tial trump, the unfurled banner, the great army!
In such a scene, the leader of so many legions
finds, in the very excitement, bravery. The
meanest soldier catches the contagious spaik,
and cowards fight with emulation. But think
of a mau alone, in the wide, wild wilderness
whom a love of adventure hafl taken there, sur
rounded by wild hearts and savage foes, hun
dreds of miles from human aid?yet lie sleeps
calmly at night, aud in the morning, rises to
pierce farther into the wilderness?nearer to
those savage foes, and into the very den of those
wild beasts. How calm must have been his
courage! How enduring Ins spirit of endurance!
In the deep solitude, hushed and holy as the
Sabbath day of the world, he stands.with a
self-reliance that nothing can shake; and he
feels in the balmy air?in the blue heavens?in the
great trees?in the tiuy flower?in the woods,
aud in the waterfalls?in the bud, and in tlie
beast?in every tiling, and in all tilings, compa
nionship. George Washington would have
made such a Pioneer.
Kenton's form, even under the weight of se
venty years, was striking, and must have been
a model of manly strengili aud agility. Hiseye
was blue, mild, and yet penetrating iu its glance.
The forehead projecied very much at the eye
brows, (which were well detiued,) aud then it
receded, and was not very high, nor very Droad
?his hair had been a light brown: it was then
nearly all grey?the uose straight and well
shaped, and his mouth, before he lost his teeth,
must have been expressive and handsome. 1
observed that he had one tooth left, winch, tak
ing into consideration his character, and manner
ol conversation, was continually reminding one
ol Leatherstockiug. The whole face was re
markably expres>ive, not of turbulence or ex
eitement, but rii.ther of v. iteration and s,elf-pos
session. Simplicity, frankness, honesty, and a
strict regaid to truth, appeared the prominent
traits of his character. In giving an answer to
a question which my friend asked him. 1 was
particularly struck with his truthfulness and
simplicity. The question was, whether the ac
count of his lite in "Sketches of Western Ad
venture," was true or njt ? "Well, III tell
you," he said, "not true : the book iys, that
when Blackhsh, the Indian warrior, ask<d me,
when they had taken me prisoner, it Colonel
Boon sent me to to steal their horses, that I said
no, Sir; (here he looked indignant, and rose
from Ins chair;) I tell you I never said Sir to an
I nt(iO in my llie; I scarcely ever say it to a white
man."
Mrs. Kenton, who was engaged in some do
mestic occupation at the table, turned lound,
and remarked: "When we were last in Ken
tucky, some one gave me the book to read, and
when I came io that pan, he would not let me
read any more."
"And I tell you " interrupted Kenton, "I never
was tied to a slake in my life to be burned ;?
they had me painted black when I saw Girty
but not tied to a make."
I mention this not at all to disparage the book
but to show Kenton's character?for though per
sonally unacquainted with the author, 1 have a
high respect lor his talents; besides Mr M'
Clung does not give the account of Kenton's
adventures as narrated to himself, by him, but as
abridged from a MS. account, giveu by the ven
era hie Pioneer himself, and now id the poss**
?ton of Mr. John D. Taylor, of Kentucky.?
Kenton slated that he had narrated his adven
tures to a young lawyer, (whose name I forget.)
and thut ail in that book was true. In answer
10 ?'4u??sti"u about Girty, he observed:
"He was good to uie: when he came up to
me, when the Ingins had painted me black, (
knew him at first. He asted me a good many
questions, but1thought it best not to be loo for
ard, and I held back from telling him my name:
but when I did tell bun, oh! he was mighty
glad to see me. He flung his aims round rue
and cried like a child. I never did see one man
so glad to see another yet. He made a speech
to the lugins?he could speak the lngin tongue,
and knew how to speak?and told them if they
meant to do him a favor, tbey must do it now
and save rny life. Girty, afterwards, when we
were at (I think he said) Detroit together, cried
to me like a child, olten, and told me he was
sorry of the part he took against the whiten
that he was too hasty. Yes, I tell you, Girtv
was good to me."
yo^ remarked, "If. ? sffcnder he*%|food to
"No," he replied quickly, but solemnly, "it's
no wonder. When we tee our fellow creatures
every day, we don't care for them ; but it is dif
ferent when you meet a man all alone in the
woods?the wild lonely woods. I tell you, stran
^*'r,y a"d 1 met, lonely men, on the banks
of the Ohio, and where Cincinnati now stands,
and we pledged ourselves, one to the other,
hand in hand, for life and death, when there was
nobody in the wilderness but God and us,"
his very language, and a sublime expression 1
thought it.
He -poke kindly of the celebrated Logan, the
Indian chief, and said he was a fine looking man,
with a good countenance, and that Logan spoke
Lnglifh as well as himself. Speaking of the
Indians, he said:
''I hough they did abuse me mightily, I must
say that they are as 'cute as other people?with
many great warriors among ihirn?they are as
keen marksmen as the whites, but they do not
take as good care of their rifles. Finding one's
way through the woods, is all habit. Indians
talk much less than the whites, when they travel,
but that is because they have less to think
about."
He spoke of Boon, and said that he had been
wuh him a great deal. He described him as a
Quuker-looking man, with great honesty and
singleness of purpose, but very keen. Wuuere
stiuck with his aculeness and delicacy of feel
ing. He was going to show us his hand, which
bad been maimed by the Indians; he half drew
on his mitten, and then pulled it on again.
*' No," said he, " it hurls my feeliugs."
My friend observed that it was mentioned in
the different accounts of him, that when him
self and his companions arrived at the Ohio,
with the horses of the Indians, tin y might have
escaped if they had followed his advice.
"Understand, understand," said he, "I do
not mean to blame them. The horses would
not, somehow, enter the river. I knew the In
dians were behind us, and told them so. They
would not leave the horses; I could not leave
them, so the Indians came yelling down the
bills, and took us."
1 observed to him that I wondered, after his
escape from the Indians, that he did not return
to Virginia, and run no more risks in being ta
ken by them.
An '."said he, ''I was a changed man; they
abused me mightily. I determined, after ihat,
never to miss a chance"?(meaning at the life
of an Indian.)
He was v?ry anxious that Clarke's life should
be written?General George Rogers Clarke?
who, he said, had done more to suve Kentucky
from the Indians than any other man. He told
us that a gentleman from Urbanna, Ohio, had
been with him two or three days, and that he
had told him a good deal about himself; ''but,"
said he "I am mighty anxious to tell what !
know about Clarke. You may depend he was
a brave man, and did much."
He then told us that not five miles from the
place, where we were, he had been a captive
among the Indians, painted black, with his hands
pinned behind him, his body lacerated with the
severest treatment; the bone of his arm broken,
and projecting through the flesh, and his head
shockingly biuised. 1 observed to him that he
must have been a very strong and active man,
to have endured so many hardships, and made
so many escapes.
^ said he, " 1 believe I might say I was
once an active man, but," continued he, taking
my crutch in Ins hand, as I sat beside him, ami
holding it, together with his stall?I could trace
the association of his ideas?"1 am an old
man."
I observed from his manner that he wished to
ask me about my crutch, but that he felt a deli
cacy 111 doing so. 1 explained it to him, after
observing the fashion ol it for some time?for I
had a lashion of my own in my crutches?he
looked earnestly at me, and said, with emotion,
showing me his own stall'?
"You see I have to use one, too; you are
young and I am old; hut I tell you we all must
come to it at last."
Many, in their courtesy, have tried to recon
cue me 10 tuy crutch, but no one ever did it with
so bland a spirit as this blunt backwoodsman
who - never said air to an Indian in his life and
scarcely ever to a white man."
True politeness is from the heart, and from the
abundance of the heart it spea'teth?the rest is
but imitation, and at best, the automaton faa/i
toned to act like a man.
We rose twice to leave ; ere we did so the old
worthy pressed us so warmly "not to go yet."
At last, after a hearty shake of the hand with
him we departed on our way to Brllefoutaiue
) * ^ scarcely on the road, before .he rain
j 0 fasl ul,on U3> bul went on, trans
acted our business, and returned to West Libir
ty to spend the night, unmindful of the heavy
storm that poured down upon us in our open
buggy. hut full of the old pioneer, and the r< fac
tions which our visit had called up.
We looked around, and did not wonder that
the Indians fought hard for the soil, ^o fruitful
with all the resources and luxuries of savage life,
redolent with so many associations lor them?all
their own?theirs for centuries?their prairies
their hunting grounds?'he places where t!.ur
wigwams ?tood, win re their council fire* were
lit. where rested the bone, of their lathers
where tlx ir religious rites weie performed.
How often had they hailed the bright eve of
the uiiivi rse !" n, we hailed hui that moniiu"
almost with a Persian's worship and on that
very spot, 111 a few hours, we beheld him sinking
111 hi, canopy of clouds. And thus ihey sink
and the shadows of thtir evening grow daiker
!,;'d darker, and they shall know 1,0 morrow.
Li ippy for those who now possess their land if
t/.ey cherub, and il their posterity cherish the
.. icly virtues, the simple honesty and love of
freedom of the_ early Pioneers-of him will,
whom we shook hands that morning on the
brink of the gr.ye. If they do, then indeed may
they broad banner, with its stars and snipes tre
bled, be planted on the far shores of the l'u. ilic,
the emblem of a free and uniUd people.
F. W. T.
The following quttiain i* worth tetnemhering :
When thi igi. are dune, ?n<l pant recalling,
' l'u I lly 1 lien lo fr#t Mid cry, ^
Prop up a rotten hou*e that'* falling,
Bui wh"i it* down e'en let it lt?.