Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, December 18, 1861, Image 1

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    BY S. J. SOW.
OLEAEFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1861.
VOL. 8.-W. 1G.
i
r.J
A WINTER 6CZSS-
Itis morn in Winter ,
The air is white with mow ,
A'nd on the cainar branches
Jasmins seem to grow.
The furrowed fields nJ bill-tops
With icy treasures shine ;
Like scales of silrer fishes,
Or jewels in a mine.
Tbe bitter wind has banished
The silent nightingale,
.And the rose, like some coy maiden,
a mu tiled in a veil .
tte silver song of Summer
So more the fountain sings,
AnH froten are the rivers
That fed the bath of kings !
No flower-girls in the market ;
For flowers are ont of date ;
And the keepers of the roses
Have shut the garden gate.
No happy gnosis are drinking
Their goblets crowned with wine,
For gone are all the merchants
Ibat sold tbe merry wine!
And gono the dancing women,
Before the winds and snows ;
Their summer souls haAe followed
The nightingule and rose '.
THE UNEXPECTED RESCUE.
AH INCIDENT OT TUB BORDER.
About eighty one years ago, (1780,) Joshua
Davidson, with his wife and three children, re
moved from Pennsylvania, and settled in Ken
tucky ; and at that day, all that country was a
deep and nearly unbroken wilderness. Here
and there might be seen a small settlement, or
the lonely cabin of some more bold and ad
venturous pioneer ; but tbe Indians, the des
peradoes, and tbe wild beasts held an almost
undisputed sway.
Perilous adventures, hair-breadth escapes,
violence and suffering were everyday occur
rences then and there ; and the poor women,
what lew of them there were, had no alterna
tive, evea if they desired any, which I am
certain they did not, but to share the common
fate which beset the footsteps ct all. Among
the bruve women of that day, was Joshua Da
vidson's wife, Janet, a strong, healthy, fine
looting female of forty, at the data .61 this
occurrence.
It seems that, one day, Mr. Davidson went
ont into the forest, and not long after leaving
liia cabin, be encountered a half dozen blood
thirsty savages, who sprang upon bim from
behind the trunks ol trees, and before be could
do anythirtg to defend his life or give the
sllghtsr alarm, felled him to the ground and
c hepped him almost to pieces with their tom
ahawks. One of them tore the scalp lrom the
poor man's head ; after which they all cautious
ly started forward toward the cabin a few
moments after wildly bursting in upon the
astonished and frightened inmates, poor Mrs.
Dividson and ber children, three in number,
two boys and a girl aged respectfully eight,
eleven and sixteen years. At the same time,
quick as thought itself, the oldest child, named
Charles, darted down under the arms of the
Indians and dashed out of the open cabin door
i;h the speed of a race horse, directing bis
steps towards an adjacent wood. With a ioud
yell, the redskins sprang to the cabin door;
Lit a moment after, at the conclusion of some
uudistingnishnd jabbering, five of them re
tttrt'ud, the sixth one only starting off in pur
suit of the fugitive boy.
Meanwhile, tbe other children were crying
and clinging to their poor mother, who was
standing in the centre f the apartment, the
very picture of the deepest 'despair.
"0, mother! don't let them kill us ! don't
let them hall us!" cried the children in one
voice.
God help you. my poor children, I am
powerless to do you any good !" moaned the
poor mother. "We are in the bands of Him
who made us."
At the same time, the Indians were franti
cally dancing all around the cabin, flourishing
their tomahawks, and yelling hideously ; and
every moment the poor mother expected that
ltere!f and bar poor children would be brutally
murdered. In the midst of their dancing, the
redskin who had scalped Mr. Davidson shook
the gory trophy ia the face of the poor wife
and mother, telling hr in broken English how
they had met her husband in the woods, and
rV-re killed awl scalped him. At the sight of
hr husband's hair, which she readily recog
nized, the poor woman uttered a cry of agony,
oijd buried her face in her weak and trembling
lueds.
In this Way the time passed until the Indian
who had went in pursuit of Charles returned,
which h did after the lapse of half an hour or
so. As ho entered the cabin, the redskin held
up !:is hands, which apparently, were gory
with i:nman blood, announcing in broken
English that it was the blood of the boy be
lad gone in pursuit of.
Tl:o children screamed and" clung the closer
to their mother, but Providence bad opened
tho eyes of Mrs. Davidson, and she was not so
easily deceived. The death of her husband
.-It could not doubt, for there was his scalp
&tthe Indians guile; but the redskin who
went in pursuit of her son showed no such
trophy as he would have dono bad he been
ccessful; while to her eye the color of his
lisnds looked much more like pokeberry stains
than buruan blood. Altogether she felt confi
dent that the savage was uttering a falshood ;
sod ip her heart of hearts, she prayed God
jlt time might prove she wias correct. At
'"it, the Indians prepared to depart ; and after
jobbing the cMa of whatever they took a
fcncj to, they drove the poor captives outside,
and let fire to the little log house, which, in a
.few minutes, was completely enveloped in
flmes. With cries, and yells, and screams of
eQlHtion, the redskins finally started on
leir course, driving poor Mrs. Davidson and
ter children on ahead of them, more as if
y were dumb beasts than human beings.
or many a long and weary mile, thro' the
l&rk and deep wildwoods, that poor woman
and her children were compelled to tramp
'loig; and if they halted, or lagged behind a
'ittle, as sometimes tbe children would, the
Joskins whipped them forward, and with vio
J'M gestures, threatened to tomahawk them if
J did not keep up the requisite speed,
"etriedand worn, the poor creatures trudged
'dj ; and white the mother, made strong to
her cross, betrayed but little outward
'"lotion, the children, despite ot blows and
"rests, at timea vented their feelings in erica
B4 waitings. , ;
' "Ob, my children, be strong, be brave!"
" anxious, mother would whisper to them.
"I know it is hard, my darlings, but oh J not
near so bard as to die ; and if you anger them
much more the Indians may murder you
Only keep up your spirits, and make as little
uoiae and trouble as possible, and something
may turn up to save us yet. But don't cry it
makes the Indians whip yon, and may make
them kill you. Remember God is here as
everywhere, and he may befriend us yet.".
For awhile the children would hush their
lamentations and hurry alonr. At lust the
shades of night began to gather thick and fast
"Night is coming on," mentally muttered
the poor woman, "and then the savages must
stop and rest awhile. Then will I make an
effort to save myself and my children; and
may the Lord strengthen me for the trial, for
the effort is no easy one, and may precipitate
our fate. But we might as well die that way
as any other; and God knows, we may escape
the butchering knives of our captors. Come
what may, however, I am resolved to make
the attempt."
Darkness bad now set in, and the Indians
halted and built a fire, aronnd which they
gathered a circle. They then bro't out their
corn and venison, and after properly preparing
thi! i'ood, ate their supper. Meanwhile Mrs.
Davidson and her children had been lashed
hands and feet, and tied to the trunk of trees
just outside the circle. Not a morsel of food,
however, wasgiven them, and the poor creatures
were sick for the want ot nourishment. They
bore it as long as tbey could, but at last began
to beg for something to eat, and received in
return blows and threats of theniDst fiendish
character.
With an anguish wLIch no pen could de
scribe, tho mother was forced to look on.
"For God's sake, my children, ask for nothing!"
She frantically whispered to them.
After eating their supper, the Indians took
a smoke, and then stretched themselves out
on the ground, with their feet towards the fire,
and went asleep, one of their numbers being
delegated to watch the prisoners and replenish
the fire during tbe night.
"God help us, all hope of escape is past,
forever past !" mentally ejaculated Mrs. Da
vidson. Bound and guarded as they were, well
might she give up in despair at the hope of
escape. Time passed away, and at last even
the poor captive children sank into fitful slum
ber. The anxious mother, however, felt no
inclination to close her burning eyes. Her
mind was too busy and her nerves too excited.
With straining eyes she watched tho dusky
sentinel as he kept bis silent guard.
At length the fire began to smoulder, and
the redskin stepped toward the edge of the
forest the camp was a little clearing to get
some sticks. Mrs. Davidson watched bim like
a tiger. Suddenly, as the savage stooped
dowu to the ground, something sprang out
from the darkne'ss among the trees, and quick
ly pounced upon his back. But the faintest
noise a slight scuffle, it might be disturbed
the stillness for a moment, and then all again
was silent as ever.
"My God, what does it mean ?" cried the
bewildered woman.
"Mother, not a word, or sound, for yonr
life 7" suddenly came from behind her, in
deep but clearly whispered tones.
Notwithstanding the caution, Mrs. Davidson,
who instantly recognized the voice, was about
to utter a sudden exclamation. The shock
was almost too much for her heart and brain,
and the poor creature came very . near ruining
everything.
"Not a sound, mother !" was again quickly
whispered from behind, though no one was to
be seen anxiously as she peered into the dark
ness. By a strong cflort Mrs. Davidson choked
down ber emotion.
"O, Charley is that you " she inquired, a
moment afterwards, in a low, deep and tremu
lous whisper.
Mrs. Davidson turned bfr head the other
way, and in the light ot the camp tire beheld
several men creeping out from the edge of
the forest ; onS after the other. In the red
light of the II rt; she could see them plainly.
There were sjSof them and they were whites.
Oh ! how that aoxious woman watched the
scene before her ! Oh ! how her heart thumped,
and her brain throbbed, at the unexpected
sight.
W it h cat like movements the cautious whites
circled around the unconscious savages. Then
fivo of the number placed themselves right
above the sleeping redskins who stirred not
a limb, so little noise was there to disturb
their deep slumber and pointed the muzzles
of their rifles directly at their breasts. The
next moment the sixth of the party whispered
the word "fire," and the repoit of the five
rifles broke simultaneously upon the still air.
Not a redskin breathed or lived afterward, the
reader may feel certain.
The loud noise woke the sleeping captives,
and the glad cries of the mother and her
children quickly followed the deep denotation
of tbe rifles. At the same moment Charley
darted from bis biding place, and rapidly
severed tbe thongs which bound the poor pris
oners. We are saved ! thank God we aro saved J"
cried Mrs. Davidson, as she sank down on her
knees, and clasped all three of her children to
ber wildly beating heart. Oh ! who shall de
scribe the scene 7 The first burst of their
boundless joy over, tho whole party started
forward to retrace their steps to the nearest
settlement, where Mrs. Davidson and her
children ever after remained.
In conclusion, it is only necessary to say
that Charley, who was not killed as represen
ted by the Indians, succeeded in making his
way to the station to which the captives were
afterwards taken, and from whence he had
started out with the party who had finally
effected the deliverance of Mrs. Davidson and
her children. Of course tbe reader under
stands that it was one of the borderers who
pounced so suddenly upon the Indian sentinel,
and by a well-aimed blow.silenccd his tongue,
and prevented him from alarming his compan
ions. On the successful accomplishment of
that critical feat in a great measure depended
the rescue of the captives.
Subsequently, search was made for the body
of Mr. Davidson, but nothing was discovered
but a few dry and fleshless bones, the beasts
of prey, without donbt, having devoured all
the rest.
The rapid accumulation of munitions of war
at Cairo is Indicative of active opperations.
There are already one hundred and sixty-four
pieces of cannon there, none of which are less
than 82-pounders, and over one hundred tons
of amunition have arrived.
OTJIH CAROLINA AND XECONSTRTJCTION.
- From the N. Y. World.
ine Charleston Mercury is beginning to
throw out hints, about the possibility of a re
construction ot tbe Union. Whether the late
federal success at Port Royal had anything to
ao wun tnis change in the spirit of its dream,
we do not care to inquire. But the Charles
ton Jlercry,and the State for which it speaks,
cannot too soon understand that any recon
struction which would suit them is an absolute
impossibility. The Constitution of the Uui
ted States, pure and simple, just as it is, in
tot idem verbis, is the only overture that will
be offered ; and it South Carolina does not
chose to accept and submit to that, she will,
in all likelihood, get a reconstruction she does
not dream of. She may find that it will not
be the Union that is reconstructed, but herself.
Let us see. Here is a State that confessed
ly has been plotting the destruction of the U
uion for more than a generation, and, that first
led the way in this treason, which is costing
tbe country such an enormous sacrifice of
treasure and blood. It stands much in the
same relation to the other rebel States as prin
cipal to accomplice; it was the prime mover,
the instigator, tl-e planner, the first to break
from its place, and the first to strike the blow.
Had there been no South Carolina, there
would have been no rebellion.
The people of the North perfectly well un
derstand . this fact ; and, as a consequence,
South Carolina is peculiarly the object of their
indignation. There is no doom which, to
their minds, she does not deserve. She might,
like Babylon of old, "become heaps, a dwell
" ing place for dragons, an astonishment and
" a hissing, without ao inhabitant' and yet
fall short of expiating her measureless guilt.
Our people are in no mood to listen to any
terms of pacification with that State, save a
speedy renunciation of her crimes, and a faith
ful obedience to the federal Constitution such
as she has been summoned to give in the proc
lamation of the general who has landed on
her shores. That proclamation not obscurely
intimated an alternative the loss of her
slaves, and the confiscation of hej property.
Indeed it is manifest that an army cannot bo
kept for any length of time in South Carolina,
without an inevitable severance of every
bond which unites the slave to the master.
There is no necessity of an' positive action
upon the part of the government or of the
army. The slave gets loose by the bare pres
ence of the army, and its mere negative refu
sal to uphold the authority of the master.
The deliverance comes not so much in the
shape of a penalty imposed as of an insepara
ble incident.
Now, there are in South Carolina, at the
present time, full four hundred thousand slaves
a number far greater in proportion to her
white population, and also in proportion to
ber territorial aiea, that can be found in any
other State in the Union. The uprising of
ot this enormous black mass would virtually
Africanize the State, unless the federal gov
ernment should interpose to keep the blacks
in restraint. But most assuredly the federal
government would not so interpose, in order
to secure the property of the present masters
while tbey continue in rebellion. Confisca
ted property to loyal citizens, would then be
come' a positive necessity, in order to keep the
blacks in imployment, saying nothing ot the
justice which would exact the penalty. The
contumacy of South Carolina would absolutely
force this action upon the government.
Let not South Carolina flatter herself that
the government cannot meet this necessity.
The way is not difficult. The government
bus the right, in the face of this attrocious de
fiance of i.ts authority, to impose a military
rule upon the people of the State, or if it
pleases, to put them in the condition of a ter
ritory, managing fliem by civil officers of its
own appointment. If that were done, and
the laith of the government pledged that the
purchasers of the confiscated property should
be kept perfectly secure in its title and pos
session, it nould not require two years for
northern emigrant aid societies, such as told
with such effect upon the settlement of Kan
sas, to pour into South Carolina a population
large enough to control the political fortunes
of the State. There are not over fifty-six
thousand voters in the State, all told includ
ing all the white population over twenty-one,
without any reference to those suffrages which
require a property qualification. Even were
these voters- united, they could be over
come by northern immigration; but In fact
there has always, been a variance between the
slave-holders of the cotton districts and the
poor farmers ot the upper part of the. State, in
reference to representation and taxation, and
northern immigrants ot moderate and just
views . would find ready allies in the latter.
So there is a perfectly feasible way open here
for the reconstruction of South Carolina.
In all probability, Port Royal, by virtue of
the immeasurable superiority ol its harbor,
will hereafter take the rank formerly held by
Charleston. There is every facility for build
ing a city that shall rule tbe commerce of tbe
whole Southern ooast: and nothing is requir
ed but Northern capital and energy to elfect
it within a brief period. These will be secur
ed readily enough just so soon as it is made
clear that the State can bo redeemed from the
rule that Ins hitherto paralyzed all enterprise.
Thousands of the hardy sons of New England,
who are now serving as soldiers in that bright
clime, would gladly make it their permanent
home.
If it be said that the slaves once freed of
their rebel masters should not again be reduc
ed to slavery, and that though the federal gov
ernment may confiscate and sell rebel estates,
it must not sell the black people upon mem,
that objection may be obviated by the estab
lishment of an apprentice system unaer wnicn
tbe negroes may be made to do their proper
work, and kept from vagrancy and license,
until they are finally fitted to take their place
as free laborers. It, in fact, would afford an
excellent opportunity for settleing the dispute
whether free labor, with proper training, can
be profitably substituted for compulsory labor
in a cotton-growing Mate, unce praciicany
deu; nstrate that It can be, and you will give
slavery its death-blow throughout all the cot
ton States. On the other nana demonstrate
that it cannot be, and we shall hear no 'more
of abolition agitation. The anti-slaveryNort.n
would desire nothing better tban sucn a test.
' We say then to South Carolina that if it has
any regard for its "corner-stono," it had bet
ter say nothing of reconstruction. It must
accept the Constitution as our fathers made it,
or not at all. mere can oe no reoouswucuuu
of tbe Union. There may be a reconstruction
of South Carolina ; and if that State persists
ner rebellion there will be, and such a re
construction as shall make it a strength to the
union instead of a weakness, a pride instead
a reproacn.
Col. Crochan. The death ot Col. Croghan,
wno was killed by Gen. Benhara's command,
in the retreat of Floyd from Kanawha, is no
small loss to the rebels. : He was an excellent
officer, a noble looking man, and formerly in
the regular service, a graduate of West Point,
anu a classmate ot Ueneral Benham. He was
a son of General Croglfan the defender of
rort btephenson, and was formerly quite
weauny, one owning the Mammoth Cave, in
Kentucky. On his death bed he confessed
that he received only what he deserved that
ne was wrong and asked the surgeon to prav
for bim. He refused to allow any medical
assistance, probably well aware his time was
come. The meeting between bfra and Gen.
Benham was painful to witness. Said the Gen
eral :
"My God, Croghan 7 Is this you 7"
"Yes," said the dying rasn, "but for God's
sake, Benham, do not reproach me I know
now I was in the wrong."
Hearing the cannonading, he remarked :
General, you can do me no good, and you
are wanted over there, are you not ?"
A Thousand Unioh Men Hcnq.- The Mount
Sterling (Ky.) Whig, gives an account of
speeches made at that place on County Court
day. The Whig says: "Gen. Dick Williams,
late of Texas, -proposed to give his fellow
countrymen a true and fair narrative of the
effects of secession as witnessed by bim in a
travel of some 1,700 miles, overland ; be told
of some of the most harrowing scenes of out
rages and demon-like atrocities committed by
tbe fiend secessionism, as witnessed by him
self and family how men were hung in Texas
neighbors of his, and for no other crime
than that they were loyal to the government
of their fathers ; be averred, as a fact, that he
believed, from his own knowledge, that the
number thus hung could not have been less
than a thousand in the State of Texas, Ar
kansas and Tennessee !"
Tub A editor General and the Brokers.
Thomas E. Cochran, the Auditor General of
this State, recently issued a circular invitiag
the attention of the brokers and bankers to
the provisions ot an act of Assembly, enacted
at the first session of 1861, relating to brokers
and private bankers. The first section of this
act requires a return to be made under oath, to
the Auditor General, of the receipts from
commissions, discounts, &c, and requiring a
tax of three per cent, upon tho aggregate, to
be paid into tbe State Treasury, for a sinking
fund for the reduction of the State debt. The
third section provides a penalty ot one thou
sand dollars, to be collected as taxes on bank
dividends are now collected. The brokers
have determined to test tbe constitutionality
of the act.
To Prevent Tools from Ristino. Thou
sands of dollars are lost each year by the rust
ing ef plows, hoes, shovels, &c. Some of this
might be prevented by the application of lard
and rosin to all steel or iron implements.
Take three times as much weight of bird as
rosin, and melt them together. This can be
applied with a brush or cloth to all surfaces
In danger or rusting, and they can be easily
kept bright. If tools are to be laid away for
the winter, give them a coating of this, and
yon will be well repaid. It can be kept for a
long time, and should always be on hand and
ready for use.
A Good Example. The members of the
'Roberts Infantry," a volunteer company
from Beaver county, now in Camp Curtin,
have recently signed the following pledge:
We, the undersigned, soldiers of the "Rob
erts Infantry, believing that intoxicating li
quors are the bane of the camp, destroying a-
Iike the health and peace of the soldiers who
indulge in them, do pledge ourselves on our
honor as soldiers, that we will not touch taste
or handle intoxicating liquors of any kind
while we are in the service.
Samples. A good story is told of the late
W. E. Burton, which we have never seen in
print. While traveling on a steamboat down
the Hudson, he seated himself at the table and
called for some beefsteak. The waiter fur
nished him with a small strip of the article,
such as travelers are usually put off with.
Taking it upon his fork, and turning it over
and examining it with one of his peculiar
serious looks, tbe comraedian cooly remarked :
"Yes, that's it ; bring me some." ,
A correspondent at Hilton Head say that
'cotton is beginning to drop in, and the drops
being large, we may shortly expect a heavy
fall. The Pawnee returned from St. Helena
Sound, bringing with her twenty-seven bales
ol seaisland variety, ginned and packed.ready
for market. With the forty bales brought
hre a few days ago from up the river, this
arrival makes the neat amount of sixty-seven
bales."
A gentleman from Cheat Mountain tells the
following: A squad of Indiana voIuateers,out
scouting, came across an old woman, In a log
cabin, in tbe mountain. After tho usual sa
lutions one of them asked her : "Well old
lady, are you a secesh :" "No," was her
answer. "Are you Union ?" "No,"-"What
are you, then 7" "A Baptist, and al'ys have
been." Tha Hoosier let down.
A Yankee boy and a Dutch boy went to
school to a Yankee scooolmaster, who accord
ing to customs inquired, "What is yonr
name?" "My name is Aaron." "Spell it."
"Big A, littlo a-r-o-n." "That's a man ; take
your seat." Next came the Dntch boy.
"What is your name 7" "My name is Hans."
"Spell it." "Big Hans, little Hans, r-o-n.f
"That's a man ; sit down."
, Stosagk Capacitt or Chicago. Tbe storage
capacity of Chicago, a.i per estimate on tbe
first of January last, was 5,000,000 bushels.
When tbe storehouses now in course of con
structions are completed, the storage capacity
of Chicago will be 8,950,000 bushels. In all
probability this will be increased by the close
of next season's navigation, to ten million of
bushels.
The war has done more to develop the inge
nuity and cultivate the industry of Southern
than years of peace. It has forced them to a
great deal of manual labor, more than tbey
bar done in twenty years previous.
ORIGIN F CONSUMPTION.
The American Medical Monthly for Septem
ber contains some novel and interesting views
relative to the nature and treatment of con
sumption. Tbe seat of this terrible malady is
affirmed to be the lymphatic system of ves
sels ; and these minute tubes form a close in
terlacement throughout the whole body, be
ing also endowed with much activity, diseased
fluids transmitted through them are liable un
der certaiu conditions, to be deposited any
where, and to be spread or accumulated with
prodigeous rapidity. The nature of consump
tion is stated to consist in a deprivation of
tbe fluids which are propelled through these
tiny lymphetic conduets. Two theories are
proposed to account for the presence of the
pernicious elements which here taint and poi
son tbe spriugs of life at their sources. One
party affirms that the process of nutrition is at
fauit, and that part of the food eaten is lazily
and imperfectly assimulated, offering itself in
a crude, half prepared state, to tbe action of
the vessels not adapted to deal with such ma
terials, but only with that which has been sub
mitted to a complete preliminary elaboration.
Hence cellular development, tbe first step in
organization, is impossible. Tbe fluid cannot
oe taken op. It never becomes vitalized or
forms a union with any living tisue. On tbe
contrary, it is a burdeu and causes mischief.
Another party thinks that the material thus
existing in the far reaching network of lyra-
pathetic vessels is due to decay, and contains
tbe products of organic dissolution. Both
opinions are well supported, and perhaps both
may prove true. That some noxious znaten
als, whether tbe debris of used-up tissues, or
withered dead elements refusing to become
new tissues, are thrown copiously near the
lymphatics, is agreed ; and also that the quan
tity of such products is so great that this ac
tive sewerage apparatus cannot carry it away.
It accumulates and hardens into tubercles.
The cause of this dreadful malady is stated by
one author to be, primarily, the want of oxy
gen, whose presence in sufficient quantity
would either prevent tbe formation of the tu
berculous material, or would give power to cast
it out as soon as formed. A cure, in tbe early
stages of the disease, is said to have some
times been secured by the use of chloride of
potassa, and other remedies which supply oxy
gen to the blood. Prevention, however, here,
as everywhere, is easier than cure, and is set
dom impossible, whatever be the hereditary
tendency to the malady. Muscular exercise,
regular habits, fresh air, suitable food, ample
rest, active occupation, well ventilated apart
ments, proper clothing, and exemption from
corroding anxiety, are among the indispensa
ble precautions.
Peculiarities or Pekin The news of the
capture of Pekin by the allies imparts addi
tional interest to the peculiarities of that city.
A letter from the seat of war, in the Moniteur
de V Armee, states that Pekin is built in the
form of a polygon, its northern portion eflor
ing parallelogram, and its Southern portion a
square. It is surrounded by a terreted wall,
with towers at short intervals ; outside of this
wall is a deepjditch,and beyond this enclosure
a circle of suburbs as densely peopled, as busy
and compact as Pekin itself. The capital of
China consists, in fact, of two cities, tbe north
or Imperial city, and the South city. The
former is called the city ef tbe Tartars ; the
latter the city of the Chinese. They are sepa
rated by a terreted wall, and communicate
only by three gates, of which the middle one
is reserved exclusively for the "Son of Heav
en" (the Emperor,) a mass of buildings of
evary size and shape, pavilions, pagodas, and
gardens, equally, extensive and indescribable,
which, it is said, takes a month to go over
once. Tbe population of Pekin and its su
burbs exceeds two million. Sixteen gates
communicate between the suburbs and the
two cities within the walls ; on either side of
each gate is a party of soldiers, who act as
policemen. The principle streets, especially
in the Northern portion, are wide and band
some ; but the greater part of both towns con
sist of narrow, dirty, crowded lanes, rendered
yet more disagreeable by the numerous huck
sters traders, and cook shops established on
the narrow pavements. Tbe Chinese are fond
of rare-shows, and Pekin contains many ex
hibitions of puppets, learned animals, dancers
and conjurers, giving the town the aspect of
an immense fair. It also contains numerous
pagodas, built of porcelain, painted in the
gaudiest colors, and surmounted by pointed
roofs. As for the carriages of the Pekin gran
dees, the are described as resembling "boxes
of soap set upon wheels" and drawn by oxen
harnessed in the roughest possible fashion.
Pekin contains nothing analogous to the hand
some public buildings which adorn the capi
tals of Europe. Even tho Imperial palace
shows no attempt at architectural design, and
is, like all ChiLese erections, a mere shapeless
agglomeration of walls and roofs.
Colonel Jones met one of bis men coming
into camp, pretty well intoxicated. He took
his canteen from him, turned it up, and pour
ed the whiskey upon tbe ground. The sol
dier watched the operation until the last drop
gurgled from the vessel, when he observed :
MI suppose that's all right, Colonel, but I nev
er could o' had the heart to a done it."
Tbe General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, for Eastern Virgin
ia, convened at Norfolk on the 20th instant.
Several hundred passports were granted in
Richmond to attend it. So no man may trav
el new, anywhere in Virginia, without a pass
port.
Secretary Cameron has determined to con
struct a new bridge over the Potouiac river in
the vicinity of Washington. He has also de
termined to erect this new briuge bo as to ac
commodate a railroad track, by which the gov
ernment and the people will be greatly bene
fitted.
Gen. Cary, tbe noted temperance lectnrer,
says be is personally acqnaintcd with tbe ma
jority of the leaders of the Southern rebellion,
and that tbey are all slaves to strong drink
poor besotted, rotten drunkards.
"I declare," said annt Betsy, "be was the
oddest creature that was ever pnt into skin.
He wasn't like other men in anything t be nev
er eat bis breakfast till tbe next day at noon-"
The MetnDhis DaDera state that Henry Fry
and Jacob M. Hsnsler, Unionists, were bong
at Greenville, Tennessee, the W i . r
rember, for bridge burning. ...
?hs Scporters or Buchanan i tmb
South. If there is one marked characteristic
in the policy of the traitors, it is a fact that
most of those who controlled James Buchan
an's Administration, and in the Secession
movement South, have been compelled to pot
themselves in prominent position in the reUl
army. Howeli Cobb, who, from being a Union
leader in Georgia, became one of the meat in
tolerant advocates cf the Jefferson Davis
school in the Cabinet of James Buchanan, U
the colonel of a regiment of cavalry. John
Slidell, who was the right hand evil genius of
the same Buchanan, is now forced to pay out
o f his large fortune immense sums to main
tain the treason he advocated. Floyd, who
was the most flagrant thief in tbe Buchanan
Administration had to prove the consistency
of his rascality by taking the command of a
brigade ; and Wise, who was the local leader
of tbe Richmond fire-eaters, in order tours
his reputation was obliged to do the same
thing. Beauregard, the bead of the rebel
army, is the protege and connection of Slidell
by marriage. Ben McCulloch wnn a petty
office holder under Buchanan. Ex-GoyespoV
E. Louis Lowe, of Maryland, was one of the
most ardent advocates of the Administration
of the former "favorite son of Ptr.rsyjvania,'
and is now in command of a regimei t in Vir
ginia. The notorious Edmunson, so vocifer
ous against all Northern men in tfie House of
Representatives, Is a colonel under the rebel
flag; and. his colleague, Garnett, although
married to a New Jersey woman, has been
driven into tbe same category, as if to show
the sincerity of his professions. Lamar, of
Mississippi, Zollicoffer, of Tennessee, Hum
phrey Marshall, of Kentucky, extra-Billy
Smith, ot Virginia, and a host of others all ol
them the most proscriptive and insolent in
their abuse of the North are now in the field
against the flag of the country. We cannot
name a single advocate of James Buchanan's
Administration in tbe Southern States that
now stands forth on tbe side of nationalllty
and humanity. Andrew Johnson, of Tennes
see, and Joseph nolt, of Kentucky, early saw
the vices of that Administration, and early
took ground against it. Tb fact that the fa
vorites and managers of tbe Buchanan Admin
istratiodfare now the blood-thirsty leaders of
the Secession army is a fact tha! speaks volumes.
Napoleon's Idea or Making War. The
following letter was written by Napoleon to
Augereau, on the 21st of Feb.,"l814.
"What! Six hours after receiving the first
troops from Spam you are not in the fle!d I
Six hours of rest is quite enough for them. I
conquered at Naneia with the brigade of dra
goons coming from Spain, who from Bayonne
bad not drawn rein. Do you say that the six
battallions fromNimcs want clothes and eqnip
age, and are uninstructed 7 Augereau, what
miserable execuses ! I have destroyed 80,000
enemies with battallions of conscripts, scarce
ly clothed, and without cartridge-Tioxes. The
National Guards are pitiful! I have here
4,000 from Angers and Bretagne in round hats,
without cartridge-boxes, but with good wea
pons ; and I have made them tell. There is no
money, do you say 7 But where do you ex
pect to get money, but from the pockets of
the enemy 7 You have no teams? Seize
thm. You have no magazine 7 Tut, tut I this
is too ridiculous!
"I order yon to put yourself in the field
twelve hours after you receive this letter. If
you are still tbe Augerean of Castigliona, keep
your command. If your sixty years are too
much for you, relinquish it to the oldest of
your general officers. The country is menac
ed and in danger. It can only be saved by
daring and alacrity, and not by vain delays.
Yon must have a nucleus of 6000 picked
troops I have not so many, yet I have de
stroyed three armies, captured forty thousand
prisoners, taken two hundred pieces of artil
leey, and thrice saved the capital. The ene
my are in 1 nil flight npon Troyes ! Be before
them. Act no longer as of late. Resume the
method and spirit of 93. When Frenchmen
see your plume waving in the van. and you,
first of all, exposed to tbe enemy's fire, you
will do with them whatever you will."
A Ciriods Coincidence. In the first vol
ume of. Bancroft's History of the United
States, page 26, occurs the following singular
passage :
"For an agricultural colony, a milder cli
mate was desirable ; in view of a settlement at
the South, De Monte explored and colonized
for France, the rivers, tbe coasts and the bays
of New England so far, at least, as Cape Cod.
The numbers and hostility of the savages led
him to delay a removal, since his colonists
were so few. Yet the purpose remained.
Thrice in the spring of the following year did
Dupont, his lieutenant, attempt to complete
the discovery. Thrice he was driven back by
adverse winds, and at the third time his vessel
was wrecked. Toutrincourt, who had visited
France and was now returned with supplies,
renewed the design ; but meeting with disas
ters on . the shoals ot Cape Cod, he, too, re
turned to Port Royal! Thus the first settle
ment on tbe American Continent Las been
made two years before James river was dis
covered, and three years before a cabin had
been raised in Canada."
The name of Dupont in connection with a
naval expedition at Port Royal in 1C05, and
with another and greater two hundred and
fifty years later is one of those curiou coin
cidence in which the muse of history loves
to indulge. If tbe first bad succeeded in his
efforts to possess tbe New England shores,
who can tell what would have been tbe effect
npon tbe destinies of this continent 7 If tbe
the second had failed in entering Por! Royal
harbor how differently tne fnturo annals of
the Republic might read. If Port Royal men
aced New England in 1605, the tabies have
been turned in 1861.
The Emperor of Austria has declared it to
be "his firm will to reestablish, in the shortest
possible time, public order, which has bees
threatened in Ibat kingdom ;" which means
nothing more nor less tban an appeal to the
sword. It remains to be seen whether the
Hungarians will appeal to arms. .
Tbe captain of .the , rebel privateer Jeff Da
vis was a passenger on board the Trent, at the
time of tbe arrest of Mason and Slidell, but
was not recognised, and consequently escaped
arrest. .
Good ten per is like- a sunny day ; Jt shade
brightness, over everything j It is tbe sweet
ener of toil and the soother ef disqeietode. .
!