Herald of the times. [volume], March 05, 1846, Image 2

About Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846

Image provided by: Rhode Island Digital Newspaper Project

                
son to wallop than I've been. | say,
though did you mind how that youngster
crio:?' v
‘No.’ l
“I'ake my word for it, males, but his
heart is in llc right place, 11 it was not!
for my .old mother, God bless her, |
would give him my chance, and stop the
cruise with you.’
At this moment the lad in question en
tered the room ; his tears were dried, the'
their traces were not eflaced. !
‘Round to, here, my lad,’ said Swmith,
‘and give me your flipper. Don’t hang
down your head, my bantum—never he
nshamed of a good heart ; there’s not
the man here but likes you all the better
for what you eouldo’t hide the while
ago ; and of Bill Smith hadn’va poor ol
mother on a lee shore, d’ye see he would
give his chanee up to you, Now, then,
I will tell you what you must do. You
Just tell me how the land lays, and after
I've seen my mother all right, 1 will find
yours. L will tell her what a fine lad you
have grown ; what » good ship you have
got, and the best shw’s company 1o sail
with | ever knew. She shall know her
boy ain't forgot her ; and you must send
something 1o please her.’
‘1 have no mother "’ sobbed the linle
fellow.
‘Well your father, then, my hay.’
“I'here is nobody cares for me but my
poor (win-sister ; my father died when
we were children’
“Tell me where she is, and 1 will find
her.?
‘Oh, she is n the work house !’ and,
no longer able to restrain his tears, he
burst out erying afresh,
The lad’s lonely state, and his tears
for his sister, brought tears in turn from
mast of his hsteners, and caused the
thoughts of many to revert to thew
scenes of home and years ol bovhood
noed us they drew nearer, there was not
one that did not pity him sincerely, and
00l the regard they all entertamed tor
him steengthened :
The boy at length looked np, and
earnestly regarding Smith sanl
“I'ell me will you indeed see her 2
‘Aye ! my lad, and there is my hand
on it,—and whilst tae right was proffia
ed for his grasp the lelt brushed away
un unhidden tear,
Then, Swith,” said the boy, ‘I will
wek the Coaotain to puy me, and you will
give the 'sqaire the money, and tell him
he shall have all 1 can earn, it he will
take my sister from the work house,
She ean ecarn something, and my wiages
will help the rest. You don’t know in
deed how | feel when 1 think of her,
with nobody to care for her w the work
house, and me so well off, with you all
80 kind to me.?
‘Ship-mates,” said Smith, exuliingly,
‘D was right when | said his heant was
in the night place 5 and now cheer up,
my lad ; bat hlubber a bit 7 must, and |
don’t care who doewsee it. | count my
self a man, but this youngster is more of
a man at henret than me, and how do |
know how it goes with my old mother o
Here, before all hands, 1 promise to do
all for both of you that mun can. Aye,
I be a brother 1o you 5 so make vour
self easy about your sister ; she shall not
only leave the work-house, but [ will lay
a plan that shall keep her clear on't.—
Do yon mind, my mother’s roof shall be
alew for her. Now then, my bov, don’t
gwve it unother thought 5 and meantime,
Just tell us ull your lite, and how ‘twas
brought about that you fell so far to lee-
wara,’
*Aye aye, my boy, tell us all about it ;
twill lighten your heart, and mayhap
we can plun something for you,” said the
rest,
‘1 cannot remember my father,’ said
the lad, ‘but mother used ofien to speak
of hun. She told us how, when he died,
they sold lus house and land to pay lis
debts. Mother hired a small house, and
kept a school for children, and took in
sewing,
‘We were poor bhut happy, and we
never wanted for elothes or food, We
had a small garden& a shed, § they left
mother a cow. lo the sunmer the cow
used to run an the street, and sister and
me helped to tnke care of the garden.
When ahe farmers got their hay in, 1
worked with one and another, and llwy‘
gave us hay encugh to last all the win
ter. ;
‘We were ten years old when mather
dicd. She was sick a long time ; a kind |
nerghbor took cave of hier all the while, |
W did not know how sick she was uonl
we were led to hier boedside when she!
was dying The kind woman that took |
care ol wy mother staid there nll the last,
Well, the day mother was bunied, she
took us home with her, and then she told
us we could not oo to our old howe any
more. b oremember | ostole uway ana
went down the lane toward the house,
but seeing the "squire and two otlier
men come outy, lowas toghtened and
d. L saw the "squire lock the door, |
and put the key o his pocket 5 and one
of the wen turned the cow out and drove
her ol They thiew stones at ponr
Rover, our old dog, but they could not
dove i Larg and before they were out
e Tane hie had come back and Taid |
down o the door-step. Aher they had
o, I went and luld anll \\llll “u\'t'l',
ot theo Dol how lum'l) Fowas i the
world, and it seemed as il my heart
would braak. I staid there a long time ;|
i wus dark when my sister came for me
~lor they watched me, and knew where
| was.
*We tried hard to make Rover fol
law us ; he would come a little way,
then lovk wp and whine, aud go back a- |,
gain. | remember sister began to ery,
hnd then | left off aud teok hold of her |
hand and said things to her | could noll
feel to make her less unhappy, as we!
walked to the kind uerghbor’s who had |
taken us to her home, ’
“Every dav 1 used (o stesl away and.
go down to the house alwuys car :
rv something tor Rover—and at last he!
followed me to my new howme, “'o'
were treated very kindly, und we prom-|
ised we wonld ery nomore, and | kept|
my word tll one day i gowng down the
lane, I saw them putting all my mother’s
things i a pile befwre the door, Rover
ran to the house, snd burked so he
loghtened them ; he went g and they
could wot drive hen away . | had stop
pod, and did et dave somchow 1o go
cluse o the louse, wud they tallul,i :
me saying if [ did not come and take the
dog, they would hill him. | went and
had 10 tie a string round his neck and
drag hin away, | wied not to cry, but
I conld nut {elp i, One man spoke
kindly to me, nud usked me if there was
anything he should buy for me, ‘fur,’ suid
he, ‘the law was that the things must
all be sold to pay the doctor and other
debis of the estate.” | asked him 10
get me the big ible that had our names
and father and mother’s in it beeause
I knew it would please sister, as we tovk
turns to read to mother owt of it It was
the last thing mother asked us 10 do
when she Iny dytrg, and the minister
who was there showed us what to read
He said ne would by it, and he did, and
brought it 1o us
“Well, we staid o good while with the
kind woman who took v, who was poor
herself. At last some of the folks who
used to help her, smid il she kept us,
they would help her no longer, and we
might all go to the work-house together
None of the farmers round would take
us ¢ they all smid we were too small to!
he of any uwse. It was hike a second
death to us when we left her roof for the|
work-house ; but as some of the m'igh-.
bors had told me how things were, ||
made my mind up that it was my place
to go, and sister agreed with me, The
day was fixed on, and our second moth
er bid us good wmight the mght before
hand, telling us where our bread and
milk would be in the morning, as she
should run nte a neighbor’s so not to
see us when we left, That mght, alter
she thoaght us asleep, I hieard her pray
for us.
CWell, we breakfasted, and with full
hearts took our road tor the work-house
—poor Rover following us | kept my
spirits up on aceonnt of sister, until we
were in the yard, when | saw my faith
il dog endgelled ontg and the gate shut;
I (et so bad 1 eould not hold i longer,,
hut cned louwd amd long. Although
they had taken ns fiom onr friend’s
house, they could not from her kind
heart and remembrance, and every Sun
day we were allowed to visit her and
read to her, 4
‘At last | ook it into my head to run |
away, nnd got my sister’s consent, only
when I prownsed to come back and (ake
her out, Qur benefactress, when | told
her, at first objected, as she said boys)
that went to sea lorgot their [riends ; but
at last she sumid I might., Now, in the
work-house there was a good deal of
yarn spun, and stockings and mittens
knit, which were sent down to Boston to
sell by the wagon that used to go with
cheese, and such things, to mai ket
The diiver had long betore said he
would take me, and help me when we
got to the ey, So one morning | start
ed, and with my kind friend’s blessing
and halt a dozen patr of socks she knit
e bid good bye to my native town,
I'he driver kept his word 5 he looked
out for me in Boston, ull Mr. Titeomb,
the shipping master, hearing my story,
got me a place in this brig.’ |
‘I like that old woman, though,’ said
Bill, ‘and never fear, my lad, but she
has kept an eye to windward for your'
sister. So give me her name, and 1 will
see her too.’
‘Her name was Gray.
“Gray ! where did she hail from ?’
CFrom.
- “God bless her, and you too, my boy!
tell me if she was hearty—for it i 3 the
first word a runaway son has heard for
many a long day of lus good old mother,
Truly, she could say that sailors forget
their friends. If but hving, she shall
never have room to complain again,
Tell me, my hoy, does she wear well ?°
-~ *Yes, many is the time that | have
heard her speak of the good health she
enjoved.’?
“That’s it, hurrah ! shouted the worthy
tar, giving vent to lis feelings, “Now,
then, Don Juzea, let it be your best—
and we will all drink to a happy old age
to her.?
- “Aye, will we,” said another nl'lhe:'
sailors ; ‘and mind, shipmate, to tell her
that the Mohawks, wan and boy, will
give hera call when we get . It
will be a first rate lark to charter a,
coach and take a turn wland ; and we
shall see a shipmate’s sister at the same
time, and what aint ship shape, we’ll:
put to nghts. Now, then, here’s the
‘old gal,’ and the young'un. A dock
berth to the one, and a weather sct to
the other.’ '
Like o band of brothers, with then
joys and sorrows i common, all joined
i the rejocing 5 and Bl and the boy
had to shake hands, and Icceive the
congratulations of all; again and again,
* Now messmates,” said ne who had
called himselt Smath, ‘one thng more --
Pve got a new shipy, aud there eould
not be a better time o drop my purser’s
name —the more so, as | feel nght proud
ol my wother's. For my part; now,
with the youngster, | should hke to go
abrowd and seef the skipper will pay ofl.”
‘Heave abead, my hearty! We will
all go with you, tor the Mohawhks have
got a word to say to the old wan, tan,
The two wasters had arcanged thei
husiness atlairs, and satabalt on ihe hen
coop 3 winle the mates of both cralts
stood chatting i the wanst,
CYou did not tell the men to he of!
At thas tiwe, dud you 27 caid the masters,
“No, s, not this three hours” re
sponded the mates. 1 expect they
want to fimsh thewr frolic abroad.
‘Just see dut, now!” said the cook, ‘dem
boys ean’t get along without me ;" and
the good-natured negro brought a fiddle
a 8 black as hunsell from its hnding-place,
and proceeded to put it in tune, ‘
¢ Supper first, Doctor, said the captain,
in a pleasant tone,
“Aye, aye, sar!” and the eook’s fun
uel beenme a smoke-pipe, while the hiss
of the feving - pan struck the ear, though
now and then another sound was faintly
heard to emannte (rom the same oflice,
not nlike thie twang of o fiddle-string.
The bouts had gained the side, and
the gangway was thronged with happy
faces. As soun as all were abiroad, they
proceeded alt i a body, stopping and
tewmoving thes hats when within a few
leet ol ihe wnsters,
y Wil wien, have you settled who is
o go ? 1
Yos, s’
"Now then o what elw <an the wind
out withy Houl g = diott yarns ! t
HERALD OF THE TIMES.
! ‘Well, d’ye see, sir,” said Gray, ad
vancing and leading the youngster for
‘ward, while the rest closed round ;
‘we’ve all got a favor to ask for this hoy,
Al you please. I you huve no objection,
we'd hike 10 bave his wages paid, or ao
‘order for them given for nw 10 lake home
tor him.?
7; ‘So modest a request as that 1 can’t
listen to without a suflicient reason,’ said
(the captain ; ‘another thing, the Loy ix
:.umlo-r uge.’
" Gray now backed his request by a
crepetition of the boy’s story, not forget
“ting in his honest pride the share his
mother bore init. A glance of approval
was exchanged between the masters,
“und the request was granted. The men
Las yet did not retire, and one old tar 100 k
the place of Gray,
‘Well, Ashton, as you now seem to
(be the man, what do you want ?’
‘I would ask a half mouth’s pay for
cach of the Mohawks, if you please,
eaptaing to send howe to the youngster’s
Isister.’
‘Why, Ashton, do you know what
you've about 2 Tell us frankly what
‘noton you've got in yonur head ?’ a
L *Well, you see, sir, we've talked the
matter over, and thought as how what
we could raise, put with the lad’s wages,
would set the gal clear of the lund
sharks; and put her in the millinery way,
or such like as Gray’s mother thought
hest. You see what friends she has are |
*hard a weather,” and any of us would
[feel bad at heart, of a night wateh, if
we’d only one sister to think of, and her’s
‘o case hke this.’?
‘Cheerfully, my good fellow, will |
grant your request ; and you are a noble
set of fellows to feel so, and count me as
one (‘)l' you--’ ' ; '
“Ihe whole ship’s company, if you
please, caprtan,’ said the mate., ‘
“I'he Nereuses ask the same favor,’
said another 5 ‘the same amount for the!
same purpose.’ i
| *With the same unanimity,” rejoined
their captain, ‘and they shall have it.-
‘We will see 1o drawing up the proper
letters, and you, my bovs, will feel hap
py in thinking vou have saved an orphan
girl a hle of degradation. Away with
Cyou, now.,’
They barely cleared the quarter-deck,
when all hands, with hats o, made the
bay ring again with three hearnty cheers,
while the shores responded in distinet
echoes, as if nature rejoiced with and in
her own poblemen,
‘Stopper that 7 shouted the mate ;
‘get your suppers, and we will see who s
the best dancer.” And theeve ol liberty
day was a happy one.
The morrow’s dawn saw the Nercus
canvass-capped, a cloud in the horizon,
CHAPIER 11
It would be as utteily impossible to
paint the joy of Gray’s mother, upon
meeting her son, on his return, as il
(would the gratitude of the orphan girl at
finding herselt again an inmate of Mis.
' Giray’s cottage, and an apprentice to the
milliner, as well clad as any of the girls
in her station, and by far happier, for she
' had known adversity. The runaway
~son became strongly attached to home for
(move than one reason. All the reckless
habits of the smlor were forgotten, and
‘ere the return of the Mohawk, he had
trod the quarter-deck an officer ; while
the workhiouse gul that was; but awaited
(& brother’s retuin to become the wife of
this former shipmate and friepd.
It was summer, and the quict of the
hittle village where the parties resided
was such that one might have ventured
on a suooze i the rond, il so inclined,
| without placing himselt 1 great jeop
-‘]nrdy. Gray was at home, daily employ
red about the little garden in tront of his!
mother’s cottage. At one of its win
(dows was to be seen a blooming girl,|
plying the needle, while at the other sat
‘a comely old matron, conning over an
told fashioned massive Bible. On the!
(threshold lay the house-dog ; not the!
‘attenuated and quaint Rover of former
ays, bet as sleek and well-conditioned
a dog as you would wish o see, ‘
| The cottage of Mrs. Gray was not
‘singular in s reposé, for the same air of
qumet reigned throughout the place.—
T'hat quiet was suddenly broken in upon,
however : clouds of dust filled the open
~windows, and some little went down the
mouths, and euntered the eyes, of the
gaping curious, who thrust their head
wout of these apertures. The village
curs barked, and the dirty hittle urchins
Dhalloed 5 while the older of the popula
non were lostin astonishiment, their cu
rosity excited to such a degree, that
wihnle the "sguire was out of doors without
s wig, s daughter forgot her hair
was in papers. Miss Guggs never
thought that her arms were bare and her
Dands covered with dough 5 and the very
bedle of the town van to the road with
her red arm encased in a stocking she
was mending. What blushing, simper
ing, gracelul manauvering was display
ed, by the different parties, upon a re
turi to conscinusness, as they retreated
to thew varons domicils !
The ey resident will smitle when in
formed that the causn of this eommotion
was the passing of an ommbus. Dt
thenat was the fist that ever appeared in
their strects and was no ordinary one,
cither, but very large, and very gaudy,
and drawn by six wihite horses § and
the lead horses were decorated with (wo
miniature flags, while from the flagstafi
ercet on top ol the carnage floated the
union jack. As it passed;, music and
song had been heard. 1t now drew near
the cottage of Mother Gray, before it be
came visible to the fanuly. The burthen
ol a well-kncwn song caused ‘l’ 1o
drop his spade, his mower her book, and
the gul her needle 5 winle old Rover
looked as thongh he did not know whn
sleep was, Now was heard the glhout,
as dust-euveloped they drew nearer, The
unon ek explamed the woter to Bl
ind shonting *Huarrah s the Mohaw ks!
he ran for the gate, accompamed by Ro
ver, who appeared as rejoiced as il
By the tiwe he reached the gate, the
carringo had Grawn up, and it<happy in
mates came tumbhing out all manner ol
wayvs, save by the door. Bill had his
hands and heart full, as he met his old
friends, while Rover jumped upon one
and another, as of e knew and under
stood thew kindoess. Belore the shak
g ol hands was over, and thor faendly
f:greetinp through, the work-house boy
[had clasped his sister, and mother by
(;udnplion, in his arms,
| “All's right, heave ahead, my hear
" ties,” shouted old Ashton, as with Bill he
{lled the way to the house. Oh, bui there
|was a joyous evening there, Old Moth
‘er Gray received them like so many
'isons, and the frank, honest ways of the
‘worthy men ingratiated them in her fa
lvor ; while the blushing girl, surrounded
"by her benefactors, did not know which
(way to turn ; though it did not matter
(wuch, for tura which way she would,
‘there was some one ready with a smile ;
(and the musical cook, with his old fiddle
(under his arm, made a particular display
Tol ivory,
i The best room at the tavern was mo
'nopolized that evening by the Mohawks,
"und the landlord did, as he said, an
‘average business.” The bar-room was
(full of the curious, but not asy llable of
Anformation got they yet from Boniface.
He merely told them that his guests paid
for their room and refreshments, and that
they meddled with none of other people’s
business. At last the [ront room was
| opened, and the Mohawks were about to
retire, when the town’s people heard
something for their pains. Old Ashton
exclaimed * all’s right,” as he was shown
to his chamber.
The next morning Gray started for
the city in the tavern keeper’s carryall ;
~and through the early part of the day
the Mohawks were very busy inand
round Mrs. Gray’s cotiage. The old
elm tree was mounted, and a flag-staff
lashed aloft, so ae to o’er-top the highest
linb, Before noon they had finished
‘their tasks, and Moiher Gray’s front
door and parlor was festooned and de
corated with evergreen, flowers and pine
boughs, in a very tasteful manner. The
cottage was lelt to its inmates, and old
Rover even deserted his post to follow
the Mohawks, who now felt perfectly at
home at the village inn. Belore night,
Gray returned, and when the vehicle
entered the yard, the Mohawks were
drawn up under old Ashton, to receive
their captain and oflicers, I the land
lord felt important belore, he felt more
s 0 now. With their natural politeness,
the men resigned the parlor to their offi
cers. The villagers were more anxious
‘than ever as the minister and ’squire
came down the street and entered the
tavern together, and they stood round
the mn, wondering what it would end in,
Since Gray’s return, a clothes-pole had'
been put in requisition for a flag-stafl,
and lashed to the chimney, and now the
brig’s ‘burgee’ was hoisted on it, flying
where ‘burgee’ never flew before, over|
the roof of a country tavern. It lent lIw!
house quite an imposing appearance, be-|
g a blue tlag, with the word Mohuwk
a 0 Jurge white leiters. The sailors nnwi
returned tothe cottage, and ranged them
selves upon both sides, without the door,l
:us precise as men-01-warsmen at muster. |
And now the minister and ’squire, the
landlord of the inn and the captain, to
gether with his two oflicers, approached
the cottage, in the porch of which stood
Giray and his smother.
¢ Aloft there,” growled old Ashton.
* Halloa " was the response from the
fotks of the tree.
~ “ Hoist away as they bear down.’
- ‘Aye! aye!
~ As the paity left the road, taking the
path for the cottage, the union jack was
run aloft, and the heads of the men were
uncovered. They entered the cottage
in the same order they came down the
street, the sailors following. Olld Ash
ton had the honor of giving the bride
away, and oerformed his part to a charm;
the grey hairs of the old man lending
quite a dignified air to his appearance.
‘l'he ceremony was over, and the orphan
girl was the wile of their shipmate.
The awkward silence which followed
the last response was broken by old Ash
ton’s exclamation,
“Isay, all’s right, hey ?’
* Certainly, sir,’ said the divine, with a
bow.
*Away, then—tumble out ycu lubber
ly sen dogs, and tell the world the jub’s
done.” And the hiphip-huzza of the
Mohawks made echo ring again.
~ The tavern windows were illuminated
that night, and the merry dancers shook
the very house, our old friend the cook
leading the orchestra ; not that the Mo
hawks were alone in this, for a general
invitation to the villagers had been given,
and by the many accepted ;: and a very
pleasant affarr it proved to all.
Tne ‘omnibus,” with the Mohawks,
le(t town the next morming, alter taking
a ‘round turn’ through the place. They
have never visited there in a body since,
for their profession has separated them,
although Giay’s old ship-mates sull visit
his wife and mother ; and the tarern that
uscd to be, has now become the Mo
nawyx House,
A Magnificemd Project A project is on
foot tor the construction of a Railroad in very
near'y a straight line trom New York to Bos
ton, passing throngh New [laven, Middle.
town, Willunantic, Woonsocket, &e¢. A Will
1s betore the Massachusetts Legisloture for o
charter from Boston to Waonsocket 3 o char
ter has already been granted from New Ila
ven westward to the State hive, and an appli
cation s before the New York Legislature to
cmpower the same Company to extend their
roady i the direction of tas ity until 1t en
tere the Harlem Aothorty o extend the
roud trom New [laven to the East line ol
mnecticut, and to construct the section
throngh Rhode Istand to Woonsocket, will
be applied for, we understand, at the ap
proaching sessions of the Legislatures of
those States respectively.
Nearly or quite the whole route has been
surveyed, and it s ascertained that no grade
will exceed 50 feet to the mile, with eusy
eurves. The distance, compared with any
of the existing routea, will, it s soid, be
<hortened B 0 miles. Ttas designed 1o luy the
rnile six teet asunder, and to make thom of
el weight and firmness ag will aduit of Ihe
grentest gpeed, he ealenlation i, that the
shaole distance between Boston and New
York, can e rur i rounr hours, and will be
regulanly ron m not excecding vive. Many
geotlomen of sonnd jadgment, meloding sev.
cral mdividanle ol great wealth, have ox.
pressod o most decidod opinion of the feas
bility of the undertaking, and that the stock
will be extremely valuable, It s plam that if
cuch o road were m existence, it wonld eom.
mand all the travel in winter, and nearly all
m eummer, Farther, it s plam that no road
can ever be mnde hetween the two ¢itivs,
which will be either shorier or quicker. 11 s
caleuloted that the fare aay be put al §3,
through, and pav a good profit
NOY o dovwenad of Commerce
From the Philn, V. 8, Gazette-
Street Fight.
Jo our Washington letter yesterday, the
fact of a street fight in Richmond, Va., was
mentioned, but mo particulars given, We
were yesterday without Richmond papers,
but by the followiog from the Baltimore A'l
merican it will be seen that it is the result of‘
newspeper vehemence, a want of judgment
in the use of the great machine—the piess :
T'he mail will bring you the particwlars of
a rough and tumble fight on the James
River, opposite Richmond, yesterday morn
ing, before the departure of the cars for the
east. ‘l'he parties to it were Mr. John H,
Plessants, late of the Richmond Whig, and
recently of the new paper established at
Richmond, and Mr. Thos. Ritchie, Jr., son
of the editor of the Union,
‘l'ne parties went to the field by agree
ment, armed with several pistols each, and
with swords. They took their distance and
commenced firing—the one firing four and
the other six shots, each nearing the other
as they fired. ‘T'he parties soon came in
close contact—one of the pistol shots taking
effect upon Mr. P. T'he swords were now
used. Mr. Plensants struck a blow which
mf'ured Mr. Ritchie slightly, as is said, and
which is probably true, as he was in the Ro
tunda of the Capitol this morning during the
sesson of the House,
Mr. Ritchie inflicted a heavy blow with a
small sword, which mode a deep gaeh vpon
the abdomer of his amagonist. Ihs friends
think Le will not recover, and it is probuble
that he may wot from the character of his
wounds.
Ms, Ritehie came to the city last night,
and is now the guest of his father.
Mr. Pleasants, it is said, will be able to
leave the scene of this bloody strife in his
own carriage,
I'he unmediate canse of this fight, it is said
was a card 1n the Richmond Enquirer, pro
nouncing Pleasants a ‘rank coward.’
The fight took place in the presence of
several of the friends of each party.
Mr. Pleacants is fifty-five years of age,
and Mr. Ritehie not half as old.
Dearn o Mr. Preasants.—-The
horrible affair at Richmond, of which we
spoke on Friday and Saturday, has ter
minated fatally to one of the parties.—
Mr. Pleasants died of his wounds on
I'riday morning. The Washington cor
respondent of the Daltimore Patriot gives
the following account of the combat :
,1 T'lie quarrel had gone on in their newspa
pers to such an extent that Mr. Pleasants
thought hunself called upon to bring the wat
ter to acrisis, lle therefore sent a request
to Mr. Ritchie, to meet hun at a specified
place and hour aeross the river from Rich
mond, with side arms. Mr. Ritchie sent
'word back that he could not consent to settle
the affair in that way, Mr. Pleasants then
'sent hun word that the matter mus! be settled,
;aud i that way.
- Mr. Ritchie then prepuied himself with a
revolver of six barrels, two duelling pistols
and a horseman’s shorksword,and repuired to
‘the place designated, at the tume named,
Mr. Pleasants arrived, with two (or four—
‘there 1s a doubt about this—) common pistols
‘and a sword cane. A friend of Mr. Plea
'snnts approached Mr. Ritclie, and said to
'him that he thought the dificulty might be,
'settled if the latter would do one lhmg-—nc-'
‘knowledge that he believed Mr. Pleasants to]
'be u brave man, Mr. Ritchie roplied that|
fonce he could huve done this ; but now, Mr.
Pleasaunts having called him there, he could
‘not moke such an acknowledgment.
| Sovon alter this Mr. Pleasants appeared ap
proaching Mr. Ritchie, considerably in ad
'vance of the two friends who had accompa
(nied him 1o the spot. As he approached at a
rapid pace, Mr. Ritchie fired successively his |
two duelling pistols, resting each on his left
arm, drawn up in an angle for that purpose.
He then presented his revolver and fired
either four or five of its barrels. Afier he
'had fired first upon Mr. Pleasants, the latter
Idrew and fired thrice without effeet, all the
ilime rushing up to Mr. Ritchie, and when
(near enough he struck him with his sword
!cane, when the scabbard flew off, and Mr.
Ritchie struck up the blade or spear with his
‘short sword—in doing which he received the
'point 1n the coruner of his mouth, cutting up
‘ward a slight gash,
| Mr. Pleasauts then fell, having received
five wounds—one bdull raked across the back
‘of his left hand, carrying away all the mus
cles and tendons leading to the fingers—
another pussed through the fleshy part of his
left arm, huif way up from the elbow to the
shoulder. Another entered the left breast,
and ranged round under the urm. A fourth
entered the left groin and proved mortal.~—
The fifth wound was in the right thigh—
either by a ball or thrust from the short
sword.
So has ended the earthly carcer of the
gifted, the high minded, the generous, whole
souled John Hampden Pleasants! His loss
to the community in which he moved, to the
editorial fraternity of which he was ever a
sparkling, orillinnt member, and to the thou
sands of his ever-dehghted and instructed
readers, will be most deeply felt, as his san.
guinary exit will be sadly wourned. For
many years he hus been one of the most vig
orous, original and brilliant pohtical writers
in the conntry. He was a man of strong i ‘
pulses, ar d, in the excitement of the moment,
sometimes committed editora) errors, or did |
his opponents injustice. But that man hved |
vot who would more readily or amply atone|
for indiseretions or wjuries of this nature, !
T'he Union takes the following notice of|
the matter: l
We hear with profound regret of the death
of John Hampden Pleasants, -q., of l{.lch-‘
mond, who breathed s last in that eity at
2 o'clock yesterdoy morming. We regret on,
every accotnt, both the death of this gentle
man and the manner of it He tell nc:m’
Manchester, on the banks of the James river,|
opposite to Richimond, very early on Wed- |
nesday morning, in an unlortunate enconnter |
with one who is related 1o the editor of s !
prper by the tenderest ties. We had hoped |
that he would have survived his wounds, bul’
it has Leen urdered otherwise. 1t s not our
duty to enter nto the eicumstances Whlcloi
have brought about this lamented catastro-|
phe. Butis it too much to ask a suspension |
of public opimton uniil all the circumstances |
of the cose shall have been tully developed 7|
Mr. Pleasants bad edited the Lynchburg |
Virginan for several years, until the \Winter |
ot 1523 "1, when he cstablished the * l{:ch‘!
mond Whig,” one of the strongest papers in |
the South, He left that jonrual a few weeks'
since, wheno he associated himsc!t m the edr- |
torship of the * Richmond Star.” e wosn|
gentleman of hrodhnnt talante-~one of the best
writer< i Vo, and an able, experienced
and ardent politician, !
Aud so this able, vigorons wnd inll-l
hant writer—this high-minded and gen.
crous man--was hacked and manglod to
aeath because another man would not
#ayv that he beheved him brave ! Would
not say what he nevertheless believed !
Whose was the deepest guilt-~that of the
man who required or of him who refused
to make this acknowledgment of an un
(!I"i"”td truth "N ¥ Com. v
! Swamstics or LoweLn.—We have re !
'ceived Irom the publisher, Joel Taylor—ol]
Lowell, we suppos¢—a sheet of statistics ol
Lowell Manufactures, prepared in January of
‘thie year. T'he whule number of Mills nm-l
kmng. exclusively of print works, is 33. I'he
number of spindles 18 228858, The whole
‘amount of capital stock in the Corporations
who own these works is 8!0,550,080. The
following details will be read with interest :
| Average wages of Feinales clear of board, per 4k, $2,00
| Average wages ol Mules, clear of bourd, per day, 50
iAvcruo aniount of wages paid, per month, 177,600
i Medium produce of a Loom, No. 14 yarn, yds per duy, 45
l Medium produce of a Loom, No. 30 yarn, yds per day, 33
Axerage per Spindle, yurds per day, 1)
Conswmption of Potuto Siurch, per annum, tons, 550
|L‘mnplm o) Flowr Starch, per annum, Ibs, 100,000
Conswmprion o) Flows sor Biarch, per annum, bbls 775
I'he Midélesex Company make use an
nually of 4,000,000 teasels, 1,000,000 Ibs fine
wool, 50,000 Ibs. Glue, $35,000 worth Dye
Stuffs, and $ll,OOO worth of Soap.
I'he Lowell Machine Shop, included a.
mong the above Mills, can furnish machinery
complete for a mill of 6,000 Spindles, in three
months, and a mill can be huilt in the sume
time.
‘l'he Prescott Manufacturing Company, in
corporated in 1844, with a capital of SGOO,OOO,
have two cotton mills up but not in opera
tion,
I'he Hamilton Company have a large new
mill nearly completed, and the Mersimack
Company, Lowell Company, and Middlesex
Campany will erect one each, this year,
‘l'here are two Banks—" The Lowell, capi
&)IOWJOO,OOO«'!‘hc Rail Road, capital 600,
The Savings Institution received on de
posit for the year ending April 30, 1845,
§245,491 07, from 4,079 depositors, and the
whole sum on deposit at that period was
$708,695 04. A large portion belongs to the
operatives in the mills.— Bost. Advertiser.
New Comer.—A new comet was discover
ed on Thursday evening, at about 8 o’clock,
by Mr. George P. Bond, the assistant at the
Cambridge Observatory. 1t is brighter than
most telescopic comets, and has a long,
straight tail, It is near the equator, in the
constellation of the whale. lts place, cor
rected for recitation and terrestrial aberra
tion, and referrcd to the mean equinox of the
first of January, was at the date of
Feb, 26 d. Bh. 11m, 445, 0, Camb. m, s. t,
R. A, th., Om. 2554. 7.
Dec. So 19m. 178, v.
During the short interval of eight minutes
it appeared to have a northerly motion of a
bout one minute of arc, and an increase of
right ascension of about one halt of a second
of time.—Puast. Ady.
- The Foreign Nuws at Washington.—The
National Intelligencer of Thursday says;—
‘l'he general opinion, as we find it expressed
by persons about us, and as we gather it from
the most intelligent presses, corroborates
what we ventured to say in ‘l'uesday’s paper,
that the true aspcct of the news recently re
ceived is not one which renders the settle
ment of difficulves between the United
States and Englagd more easy. And per
haps it is due to our readers to say that we
do not collect, from any current rumor or
gencral surmise, either that the Goverpment
of the United Stiates has received any favor
able intelligence from Mr, McLane, or that
the British Minister here is in possession of
any instructions to renew efforts for settle
ment by compromise.
A Srory o Pocker PickinG.—The
Albuny Citizen states the following case,
(and says it may be relied on as authen
tie,) which illustrates the legal domain
of' this wide-spread and dangerous spe
cies of villainy more thoroughly than any
other we have heard of :
A few months since, a gentleman at
the Astor House in New Yok, sudden
ly missed a gold watch,which was worth
‘more to him than it could be to any oue.
‘He marvelled much at its absence, for
}he knew that he had only been in and
out of the office and reading-room of
‘that hotel since he noted the hour by it
In the hope of recovering it, he ad
vertised his loss and offered a reward of
$5O. ‘l'he same day he received a note
informing him he could have his watch
by calling at a certain house in an ob
scure part of the city. After some lil-i
tle hesitation he resolved to go. The
watch was too valuable to be given up,
without at least this attempt to recover
it. So he went. His rap at the door
promptly answered by a very geutle
manly looking person, who in reply to
his enquiries, replied that he had in his
possession the advertised watch, and that
on payment of the offered reward, he
would deliver it up. The loser prom
ised to pay $3O, provided he was con
vinced that the watch was his. It was
exhibited, and the gentleman recognized
it at once, paid the reward, and gladly
placed the recovered tressure in his
vest pocket. As he was turning to go
away, he remarked--
“lam glad, as you may suppose, to
get my watch back again, but I should
really be pleased to know how you took
it from me.”
“ That 1 will inform you,” readily re
plicd the pickpocket. ““Do you remem
ber holding an animated conversation
with two gentlemen in the reading room
of the Astor House, on the morning you
lost your wateh 2
“1 do,” replied the loser.
“Well, do you not also remember
that a gentleman who stood close by,
left his newspaper, drew near and final
ly joined in the discussion
“Very distinetly,” replied the other,
“and also that he engaged in it with
much warmth 7
“ Precisely,” continued the narrator,
‘““and do you not remember that he at
one time, in his earnestness, tapped you
two or three times on the left breast,
thus 7" (suiting the action to the word )
“Yes,” replied the gentleman.
“Then 1 took your wateh,” said the
rogue, and turning, shut the door and
disappeared.
The gentleman returned to the As
tor, musing on this stiange occurrence,
and while relating it to some of his won
dering fricuds, was astonished to find
that his wateh was again missing !
When the adriot knight of the nimble
fingers desenbed how he had onece
ilehed trom him s wateh, e took o a
gain ! So the gentleman finally Jost
g wateh, alter having pard o the th
the rewnrd for s recovary,
The Mormong.~We gather from several
articles o the Warsaw Signal and other
quarters, that a portion, if not the whole, of
the Mormong, intend €oon to commence thor
prlgrimage lor Califormia, Fromten totwelve
lundred have already erosced the river from
Nauvoo, avd are eneamped on Sugar Credk,
lowa, seven miles distant,
The Steeple of St Paul’s Chinrch hae sneh
a decided melinntion, that it has acquired
lmn’;ri:lml of the 1,--nmg-‘nf Touwer i Now
York. <N ). Guzclte,
Congressional.
1o Sexare, Toesday, Feb, 23, Mr. Breese
presemed 8 memorial from Mr. Whitney on
s grand Oregon rail road project. ~Mr,
Breese briefly explained the views and ob-
Jjects of the memorialist,
‘The bill pavsed a few days ago by the
House, for cutting off the construetive mi
'lenge of Senators, was called up, und seem
ed 10 be held upon all sides of the chamber
os a very funny affair, '
| I'he bill was referred to the committee of
‘the judiciary,
| At one o'clock, on motion of Mr, Dix, the
resolution of notice was taken up, and Mr,
il)iclcimon proceeded with his speech on that
subject,
He had spoken an hour and a half when
Mr. Haywood requested him to yield the
floor in order that he might move to go into
‘executive session. ‘The Scnate remnined in
secret wession for some time, and then ad
journed,
In the Hovse, business was commenced by
the reconsideration of the vote by which the
bill granting a patent to an officer in the pa
tent office (Mr. Page) was on Friday last luid
on the table.
Soon afierwards a motion was made that
the Hovse now go nto Commitice of the
Whole. This motion prevailed, and Mr,
Smith of Indiana, took the chair. When in
Cowmmittee, the usual conflict concerning the
priority of bills began, the issue of which was,
that the harbor and niver appropriation bill
was taken up.
The aggregate amount of the items is ¥l,-
348,000,
Mr. Chapman of Alabama, naticed the par
tality which he alleged was evident upon the
face of the bill in favor of the northern States,
und by way of striking a balunce of advan
tages, as much as becouse of the intnmsic
excellence of the propositions, moved an a
mendment of the tritling pecuniary addition
of £25,000 for the improvement of the Mus
cle Shoals of the ‘l'ennessee river. ‘l'hmis mo
tion was the text upon which the coy’s de
bate proceeded.
At half past three the committee rose.
‘l'he Speaker laid before the House several
executive documents, amhong others the re
port of the Commissioner of Patents,
In Sexare, on Wedonesday, Feb, 25ih, Mr.
Siunmons offered a resolution directing the
comnittee on the hbrary to inquire ioto the
expediency of employing Hiram Powers ta
execute an equestrian statue of Washington
in bronze.
~ ‘l'he bill to interchange books with France
!passcd a third reading. #3500 appropriated
tor the purpose.
Il granting alternate scctions of land ta
Michigan, to aid the contemplated railroad 1n
that state, was taken up, and Mr. Wood
bridge made a short specch i its favor, when
it was laid aside for the order of the day,
A bill for the construction of a ship chan
nel around the Sault St. Marie was discussed,
and lmid on the table for the purpose of
taking up the Oregon resolves.
Mr. Dickinson recommenced s remarks
with reference to the statement of Mr. lu
gersoll, in the house, concerning the pay
ment of a fee by the administration to the
consul which defended Mcl.eod.
Mr. Dickinson closed at two o'clock, and
then Mr. Dayton rose, and moved that this
question be postpoued until two weeks from
next Monday.
Mr, Allen gave his viewsupon the charae
ter of the news at length, He thought the
professions of British mimnisters in parhiament
were not to be taken as alfording any indica -
tions of the inteutions of the British govern
ment.
Mr. Cass said he did uol rise to make a
war speech. lle should not utter the word
‘inevitable’ while he was up. As to the news
fromd Kurope, he must cay this, that it seemed
to him that one of the ef{cclu ol steam pow.
er was that the affairs of nations were made
to vibrate with the arriva! and departure ol
mail steam ships,
‘l'he result of the debate was that the Sen
ate refused to postpone, and went into exce
utive session.
~ Inthe House, Mr. T'. B. King reported
from the naval committee a bill for the
reorganization of the navy department, which
‘was read twice, and ordered to be printed.
Nearly two hours of the session was next
consumed in the discussion and decision of
an important question concerning the rules.
A motion to lay this on the table, wos
adopted.
The committee of the whole was then
formed, and the harbor und river approprin
tion bill taken wp. The pending question
was on the amendment proposing the appro
priation of £250,000 for a camfi around the
Muscle Bhoals of ‘l'ennessce river, My,
Payne, of Alabama, made a vehement speech
against the whole bill.
' “Ile was followed by Mr. Brinkerhoff, of
Ohio, who was understood to defend it,—
I'ne commitiee then rose, and on motion of
)Mr Brodhead, of Penn., the House passed a
Joint resolution conferring upon the secretary
of state authority to send : + the French gov
ernment a number of books in return for a
certain number presented by it to our own,
The House then adjourned.
In the Sexare, Thursday, Feb. 26,
the Oregon question came up for con
sideration, and a long debate ensued
upon Mr. Colquitt’s joint resolution in
troduced the day previous. The foliow
ing is the joint resolution :
~ That notice be given, interms of the
treaty, for abrogating the convention made
between Great Britain and the United States
on the 20th of October, 1318, and continued
by the convention of 1827, immediately after
the close of the present session of Congress,
unless the President in lus discretion, shall
consider it expedient to defer it tou later
period,
Sec. 2. And be it forther resolved, T'ha
itis earnestly desired that the long stand.
mg controversy respecting hunits i the
Oregon territory be speediy settled by ne
aotintion and Compromige, order to tran
quilize the pubhic mind and to preserve the
toendiy relations of the two countries,
Mr. Webster, after wlluding to the wn.
portance ol an expression of opimon on tlus
subject, by the Senate, i reference to the
mterests of the community, which were suf
fering by the state of snspense, mquired
whether the Senator from Kentucky * (Mr.
Crittenden) had determined to acecept the
proposition of the Senator from Georgia (Mr,
Colquitt.)
Mr. Crittenden had determined, he said, to
accept the latter with gome qualification,
Mr. Webster, in a speech of con
siderable leagth and foree, Cxpressod
s mtention to vote for the joint resolu-
fon of Mr. Colgnitt, "The great inter
cots ol the conntev, demanded, that the
question of notree shoald be <enled
Me. Brevse, Mo, Hawnegan and My
Allen opposcd the amenument of Mr.
Colguitty and M. Bicese deelared that
he did not wish the President to nego
tate any farther,
Mreo Alleny in the conren of the de
bate, asserted that the President 's views
wod determination to assert our Ile 1o
the whaole te retory up to 510 40°, had
undergone no variation.
Mr. Callioun sand I was now evident,