t. I : A I: 4 . J 1 vvvxv BY.. JOHN G. GIVEN. MISOELLAITEOUS Dudgc'st lIopcmcii t. BY FALCOXDRIDGE. QThe hero of the lollowing narrative is Ossian E. Dodge, the celebrated Boston Vocalist, who paid S625 for the firsJ tick et to Jenny Lind's first concert in Boston. Dodge, the eccentric and unequalled de lineator ; or, as the ladies call hiin, "the imcomparably ugly man," appeared "on change" again last week; and the next evening after his appearance, at Miliken's fashionable saloon Doge's head quarters, was at an early hour densely crowded with the "members cf the order,"' to listen to the rib-tickling account of the many inci dents ever to be met with in the life of a Concert Singer. Many a time, and oft, have we shaken our sides with uncontrollable laughter, 'as the tormenting sentences of dry and spon taneous wit fell from the lips of the joker, as unconcerned and as careless as drops of spray from the ovcrehanging cliffs at Niagara. But few, however, of the many rich things related by hifti in oar presence have left the laughter in us, like the following; but in order to be fully appreciated, the readers should see Di'dge tell the story. Dodge, some years ago about the tiirre he quit teaching the art of wai-frust arid flower making, and, fortunately, took up that of concerting, at which profession he has, according to repute, amassed an inde pendent fortune made a break across the mountains, and one ftns morning found himself in the city of Cincinnati. Hero he took passage in, the afterward unlucky steamer, the B S , bound down to Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez and New Orleans. The boat was densely crowded, being stowed full on deck with agricultural im plements, horses, cord wood, Dutch emi grants, and other hardware; while ihe cabin overhead was filled up with trunks, band-boxes, carpet bags, umbrellas, gals and boys, men and women, and such like plunder. The boat shoved off, fired her swivel, and away she headed down stream, while her old pipes breathed forth a cook, cook, cook, which fairly caused the surrounding hills to echo again. After si;pper. Dodge having, by letter of introduction, made the acquaintance of a very usefi.1 personage, the captain of the boat, they arm in arm, took a peep into the ladies' saloon; it vas quite f.ill and one of the ladies was playing a piano ele gantly, while some others, hav ing a greater :aste for vocal than instrumental music, were humming over a few of the late fash ionable productions of Balfe. Dempster, Glover, and other eminent composers. The captain and Dodge stood for some time in respectful silence, when the lady at the piano very politely requested aid to assist her in that glorious soul-exhilerating never-dying old duet, the "Canadian boat song." This was Dodge's cue: he very readily stepped forward and begged permission to lead oft. If 'you please, sir," said the lady, whose angelliferous voice. Dodge vows nearly took away his breath. Our hero pitched into-th "Boatman" like a load of coal, and says that, united with the angel lie voice of "the Mississippi nightingale, he fairly made -Rome howl." After rite Boatman, came a few selec tions from the operas lately published, and the niht new being far advanced, to wind up, Dodge was obliged to favor ths ladies with a trip to Niagara Falls. "Old fellow, said the Captain, rat eting Dodge in the social hall about midnight, 'you got along s-wimmingly among the ladies -why, you sing like a bird." "O vpb 1 inr a little." said Dodge. "And egad, you thumbed that lady's guitar into fits!" "Well, 1 ra-ather guess 1 did torture some," replied Dodge: "but tell me. Cap tain, who is that lady dressed in black, that sings like a nightingale, and plays with the finish and perlection ol a professor?" The Captain (being a noted wag. and the terror of all jokers on the Mississippi river), suddenly conceived the idea of sell, ing the Yankee with a joke which should come "high" among the New Englanders, in nges to come, as a model "sell." "That lady, my dear fellow, is-a widow," "You don't say so'." said Dodge. "Yes, but I do, though, and, more than that, she's rich! rich as mud, sir rich as mud! worth seventy-five thousand dollars! young and beautiful, into the bargain! a good chance for a Yankee boy, just com mencing in life, like you sir!" "She's certainly very beautiful," said Dodge... .' . ' ' "Beautiful as anangel,"said the Captain. " A very fine musician, too," replied Dodge. "Unequalled on the river," rejoined the ParUn; "sir sh sings like a seraph!" "WE GO WI1ERK DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY J 44 Dow Jong has she been a widow?" in quired Dodge. "A little over a year now, since her Captain was placed under the sod." "Ah! then her husband was a Captain, was he!" said Dodge. 'Yes, he was a Captain, but he got hlowed up, poor fellow! Tin's steam boating is a risky business for a man that cares anything about life, sir! risky busi ness; but then if you get the widow, and you can do it, sir, like a knife, if you only cotton up strong enough for she likes you already; 1 saw it in her eye you can re tire on some large plantation, and spend the rest of your days in indescribable luxury. "Well, Captain, hang me, if I aint a mind to spread myself for the young wid ow, and try my hand at courting for the first time in my life." "Go it, my boy, I'll bark you with all my influence; lfl wasn't already a marri ed man, Fs surely go in for that charming woman ; but you'll win voung gcoJ looking?" "Don't, don't, if you please, Captain." "Hang it. Dodge, don't be so modest!" "But, Captain, gas, soap, putty think of my feelings! "Then you sing and play like a book ; the widow loves music, she loves music to detraction; and now, my boy, strike while the iron is hot! Why, sir, if 1 could sing and lead the guitar equal to you, I'd "Hold on. Captain, hold on ; I under stand all about that; but now tell me all about the young and beautiful widow, give me her name, age, and residence." "Her name," replied the Captain, "Ar maiantha Bronson, age, ab iut twenty-four; residence New Orleans, and as we shall probably be about ten days running dow n, you'll have a fine chance t exert your- si-lf ; so now take my advice, and make the best use of your time." "I will," says Dodge, end he didn't do anything else; for, always having an eye open, his suspicions were aroused by the Captain's attempt at flattery, and his seem ing disinterested endeavor to bring about a hasty avowal of love for the young and accomplished and really beautiful lady. So, setting his wires to work, he lost but little time in discovering that the Captain had been under the delightful chains of llvmen, but about two weeks, and the jjseudo widow was no more or less than the identical, charmiag, idolized wife of the Captain. "Now then," says Dodge to himself, "as the Captain has planned a joke he shan't be disappointed; I'll only change, or slightly alter the plot, and if I don't in the end, give him a regular "eye opener" then he may have the pleasure of telling his friends how he "done the Yankee up brown.'' Dodge had something like a week pre vious, sent on his bills and advertisement to the editors at Natchez, 3tating that he would be at that stirring little town during . CD O the races, and would at fifty cents a ticket treat the inhabitants and visitors with a series of mirthful, musical, and social en tertainments. Not letting any person on board know at what place he intended to stop, telling the captain he would settle his fare when he left the boat, he improved every spare moment with the widow over the music and piano, untd the old steamer came pull ing alongside ol the levee at Natchez, Ascertaining from the Captain that the steamer would leave in about three quar ters of an hour, he gave his baggage in charge of a resident in town, who was about leaving, the boat. Then, watch ing the captain until he had entered the counting roon of one of the large stores under the hill, for which he occasionally brought goods Irom New Orleans, the vo calist immediately went to the captain's wife, and very cooly informed her that, through a mismanagement of one of the agents, the bo3t would be obliged to re main twenty four hours at Natchez, and that her husf and had accordingly accept ed an invitation of some friends to visit the race ground, and wished the vocalist to come up, as soon as convenient, in a carriage, with the Captain's wife. Not dreaming of anything wrong, the lady hastily threw on her shawl and bonnet, and declared herself ready for a start. Stepping on shore Dodge hailed a color ed coachman, gave him a shining doubloon, and in a smothered voice ordered him to drive ten- miles in an easterly direction, and then, without a single question, turn round, and slowly return. Leaving Dodge and his fair companion to enjoy their pleasant drive, after a tedi ous confinement in a noisy and clattering steamej, we will now return to the Cap tain, who at the appointed time gave the steamer's bell the accustomed number of rings, hauled in the plank, bid a good-day to his friends, and . shoved out into the muddy river. After feeing that the additional freight w'rt well balanced, ropes a. d chains prop BBtiNSBURGi THURSDAY, erly stowed away, and everything, in sail or's phrase, "all taut," which occupied nearly an houi, the Captain entered the ladies' saloon to scrutinize his new passen gers and pass an agreeable half hour with his sweet and affectionate wife. Not seeing his lady, he repaired to her state-room, whore he found the usual va riety of out and inside dresses, night-caps, slippers stockings, etc., but no wife; whereupon, . feeling .a little uneasy, (the honey moon not yet "being passed),-a gen eral search was made, from stem to stern, in tire old steamboat,-but without the leact success. For a moment the Captain stood like a statue. A thought struck him? Where was Dodge? Some' one remarked that lie had not been seen since the boat left Natchez. With the speed of a madman, the Cap tain rushed to the state room of the Yan kee singer, when to his utter astonishment I he found that the baggage had all disap peared, and on the bed lay a letter, direct ed to Captain , of the steamer B. S. The letter was quickly torn open, ' when to add still greater fury to his frenzy his eyes fell on the following:- "Dear Sir: Thinking that you might possibly have the pleasure of relating to ' your friends how you caught Dodge 'nap ping," by persuading him to make a dec laration of love to vour talented and truly accompli&hed lady, you tried ycur utmost, j boih by misrepresentation and personal j influence, to gel me in the meshes of your j skilfully woven net; and thinking that when we are among the Romans we are justified in doing as the Romans do, I have ' by the same method taken possession of your beautiful wife, wi;hout her own or ' your consent. I "Your lady shall receive the attention ! and kindness, that none o'her better than j a Bostonian knows how to bestow"; and unless you conclude to "oout snip, ac knowledge the corn, and immediately take possession of the prize, (which between you and myself I consider the most man ly and wisest course,) I shall if it meets her approval, take her under my chaige in the next steamer bound to the Crescent City. "Yours for fun, let it come at whose ex pense it mav in a horn." OSSIAN E. DODGE, Boston Vocalist. "P. S. Enclosed you will find the a mount of my fare, and inasmuch as I have taken possession of your fair it is perfect 1. fair that you should take possession of my fair." In a voice of thunder the Captain gave orders for the action of the engine to be immediately reversed, and taking posses sion of the pilot house himself, he had for himself an excellent opportunity of cool ing himself down into something like a state of reflection-and reason. Being naturally of a generous and lively turn of mind, he was soon obliged to ac- j knowledge to himself that the 'infernal Yankee,' had outwitted him, and after all, if his wife had received that attention promised in the letter, it would be better not to make a foci of himself, by a great splurge and show, but handsomely ac knowledge that he had been whipped by his own weapons; return the vocalist the amount of his fare, and then present him with a life-ticket for the steamer B. SM current at alt seasons, of the year. About the time the captain was raging the wildest, Dodge was explaining to his fair companion the manner in which her lawful lord had compromised her honor and dignity by representing her as a wid ow, and the proper person to receive the addresses of the young, men. Little by little the vocalist revealed the complicated plot from beginning to end, until the whole was brought plainly to light. The lady trembled, wept violently for a few moments, and finally wound up with a merry laugh, exclaiming : " O, won't he be angry for a few mo ments ? But he's a noble soul, and will, in half an hour afterwards, be willing and happy to forgive and forget ; but he shan't forget as long as I have a tongue to hector him ! But, Mr. Dodge,, hadn't we better have the driver hurry, for the Captain will return immediately on the receipt of! your note, i Know ne wm; tor, oh, sir, we are very fond of each other indeed: we are." Dodge ordered' the driver to increase his speed, and if he should discover a steamer coming up the river to immedi ately inform them. ' " Da's one comein now, massa,' imme diately replied the driver. " What's her name ?" inquired Dodge. " I reckon, massa, she's from de Norf ! Don't know, nigger can't read," rejoined the laughing prince of darkness. Dodge and his companion immediately took a view of the distant steamer from the window of the coach, and soon satis fied themselves beyond a doubt that s was none other than the identical B. S. WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO JANUARY k, 1831 " Whar does massa want nigga drive to now ?" inquired the worder-stm-ken but respectful driver. " To Natcher, uuder the hill," replied Dodge, " and govern yourself according to the speed of yonder steamer, as we Wish to board her." " Yes, sah." As the bow-line was thrown 'ashore, Mr. Dodge and the pseudo widow alighted from the. carriage, and walked -slowly towards the boat. The Captain, overcome with joy, sprang from the taffrail, and soon had his bride clasped in his arms. After a kiss and" a few words in private,, he turned round to Dodge, who stood looking on, like one convinced he had no right to enjoy the scene, and exclaimed : " My dear fellow, this is happiness, and no mistake ; but I'll own up that I've been sold, completely sold ; and that you're too many for me altogether ! And now, sir, if you'll promise me that you'll never re late the facts of this case south of Mason's and Dixon's line, you shall receive a ticket which shall entitle you to a cabin, passage on my boat fiom the present time to the fall of 1695." " I am much obliged to you, Captain, for the offer," replied Dodge, 14 but should prefer not to accept it, as jokes that are paid for are not, as a general thing so long remembered, or so well enjoyed, as those founded ctv affection for the vidders." "Hit again, by the great father of waters," exclaimed the Captain," but I'm now behind time, and must hurry off ; so God bless you, my dear fellow, but don't amid the exciting scenes in concertizing, ever forget Captain , or the steamer B. S., or your elopement with another man's wife." On his arrival at New Orleans, the vocalist found a letter in the post-office, containing, together with the good wishes of the Captain anJ wife, an elaborately finished and massive gold ring, on which was engraven the Captain's name and residence, and underneath, in very fine lettering, the simple, but expressive word " Sold." Dodge showed us the ring, i.nd amid the shouts of the fraternity exclaimed : " Boys, I have preserved this ring with great care and attention for a wedding gift, but haven't yet found the woman who had the courage to ofTer herself, and it's all nonsense for me to mention the subject, for they'd insist upou it "Old Dodge" was coming of his jokes." RANDOLPH'S DUEL WITH CLAY. The night before the duel, Mr. Randolph sent for me. I found him calm, but in a singularly kind and confiding mood. He told me that he had something on his mind to tell me. He then remarked, " Hamilton, I have determined to re ceive, without returning. Clay's fire; noth ing shall induce rae to harm a hair of his head; I will not make his wife a widow, or his children orphans. Their tears would be shed over his grave; but when the soil of Virginia rests on my bosom, there is not in this wide world one indi vidual to pay this tribute upon mine." His eyes filled, and, resting his head upon his hand, we remained some mo ments silent. I replied, " My dear friend," (for ours was a tort of posthumous friendship, bequeathed byr our mothers,) "I deeply regret that you have mentioned this subject to me; for you call upon me to go to the field and ; see you shot down, or to assume the res ponsibility, in regard" to your own life, in sustaining your determination to throw it away. But on this subject, a man's own conscience and his own bosom are his best monitors. 1 will not advise, but un der the enormous and unprovoked personal insult you have offered Mr. Clay, I cannot dissuade. I feel bound, however, to communicate to Colonel Tattnall your decision." He begged me not to do so, and Raid " he was very much afraid that Tattnall would take the studs and refuse to go out with him." I,, however, sought Col. Tattnall, and we repaired about midnight to Mr. Ran dolph's lodgings, whom we found reading Milton's great poem. For some moments he did net permit us to say one word in relation to-the approaching duel ; and he at once commenced one of those delightful criticisms on a passace of this poet, in which he was wont so enthusiastically to j indulge. After a pause, Col. Tattnall re- marked, ' " Mr. Randolph, I am told you are de termined not to return Mr. Clay's firj;; I must say to you, my dear sir, if I am ouly to go out to see you shot down, you must find some other friend." Mr. Randolph remarked that it was his determination. After some conversation on the subject, I induced Col. Tattnall to allow Mr. 'andolph to take Lis own course, as his ithdrawal, as one of his friend", mipht FOLLOW lead to very injurious misconstructions. At last, Mr. Randolph, smiling, said, " Well, Tattnall, I promise you one thing, if I see the devil in Clay's eye, and that witli malice prepense he means to take my life, I may change my mind." A remark I knew he made merely to propitiate the anxieties of his friend. Mr. Clay and himself met at four o' clock the succeeding eveuing, on the banks of the Potomac. But. he saw " no devil in Clay's eye," but a man fearless, and expressing the mingled sensibility and firmness which belonged to the occasion. I shall never forget this scene as Ions as I li-v-. It has beeu my misfortune to witr.es3 cevertsl duels, but I never saw one, at least in its sequel, so deeply affecting. The sun was just setting behind the blue hills of Randolph's own Virginia. Here were two- cf the most extraordinary men our country in its prodigality had produced, about to meet in mortal combat. Whilst Tattnall was leading Randolph's pistols, 1 approached my friend, I believed, for the last lime. I took his hand; there was not in its ;ouch the quivering of one pulsation. He turned to me and said,- 44 Clay is calm, but not vindictive I hold my purpose, Hamilton, in' any event; remember this." On handing him his pistol, Cel. Taitnali sprang the hair-trigger. Mr. Riudolph said, 44 Tattnall, although I am one' of ths best shots in Virginia with either a pistol or gun, yet I never fire with the hair-trigger ; besides, I have a thick buckskin glove on, which will destroy the delicacy of my touch, and the trigger may fly be fore I know where I am." But, from his great solicitude for his friend, Tattnall insisted upon hairing the trigger. On taking their position, the fact turned out as Mr. Randolph anticipated; his pistol went off before the word, with the muzzle down. The moment this event took place, Gen. Jesup, Mr. Clay's friend, cdled out that he would instantly leave the ground with his friend, if that occurred again. Mr. Clay at once cxc!aiinei"it was an ac cident, and begged that the gendeman might be allowed to go on. On the word being given, Mr. Clay fired without effect, Mr. Randolph discharging his pistol in the air. The moment Mr. Clay saw that Mr. Randolph had thrown away his tire, with a gush of sensibility he instantly ap proached Mr. Randolph, and 5wids with an emotion I can never forget, 44 I trust in God, my dear bir, you are untouched; after what has- occurred, I would net have harmed you for a thousaud worlds." Hamilton's Life of Jiandolpk. A SlBEIlhiX WIXTEIi. A traveller gives the following description of a Siberian winter : J The traveller in Siberia, duyng the winter, is so enveloped in furs that he can scarcely mc-ve ; and under the thick fur hood, which is fastened to the bear skin collar and covers the whole face, one can draw in, as it were by stealth, a little of the external air, which is so keen that it causes a very peculiar end painful feeling to the throat and lungs. The distance from, one halting place to another takes ; about ten hours, during which time the traveller must always continue on horse back, as the cumbrous dress makes it insupportable to wade through the snow. The poor horses suffer at least as much as their riders, for besides the general effect of the cold, they are tormented by ice forming in their nostrils and stopping their breathing. When they intimate this by a distressed snort and a convulsive shaking of the head, the drivers relieve them by taking out the pieces of ice, to save them from being suffocated. When the icy ground is not covered with snow, their hoofs often burst from the effect of the cold. The caravan is always sur rounded by a thick cloud of vapor; it is not only living., bodies that produce this effect, but even the snow smokes. These evaporations are instantly changed into millions of needles of ice, which fill the air, and cause a constant slight noise, re sembling the sound of torn satin or thick silk. Even the reindeer seeks the forest to protect himself from the intensity of the cold. In the tundras where there is no shelter to be found, the whole herd crowd together as close as. possible to gain a little warmth from each other and may be seen standing in this way quite motion less. Only the darti bird of winter, the raven, still cleaves the icy air with slow and heavy wing, leaving behind him a long track of his solitary llight. The in fluence of the cold extends even to inani mate nature. The thickest trunks of trees are rent asunder with a loud 6ound which, in these deserts, falls on the ear like a signal shot at sea ; large masses of rocks are torn from their ancient sites ; the ground in the tundras and ihe rocky val leys, cracks, forming wide yawning fiesure from .which 'hi water?, which were be- VOL. 7. NO. 10. neath the surface, rise, giving off a cloud of vapor, and becomes immediately changed into ice. The effect of this degree of cold extends even beyond the earth. The beauty of the deep polar star, so often and' so justly praised, disappears in the deb! atmosphere which the intensity of cold produces. The star will glisten in ihr firmament, but their brilliancy is dimmed We are not at all surprised, says Frazer' English Magazine, at what in this country is most foolishly ealled the conceit and vanity of the Americans. What people in the world have so fine, so magnificent a country ? Besides, that, they have seme reason to be proud of themselves. We have giver, il.e chief features of their cas ern and inland territory; if the reader has any iniagiintuin for ideas of this kiad, let him picture to himself what will be thf aspect of tilings when the tide of popula tion has crossed the lonjr rane of the Rockv Mouutiir;, ani occupying the valleys of the western coast, has buJi other Bostcris and Ncv Yorks on tie harbors of Oregon and California. This Vast crowd of ever onward pressing sett lers is not formed of the same materia! as the iiihibilan's of au European prov ince : tint is, there are not at its head 3 few intelligent but delic-jtcly Lrought up men of capital, whilst til the rest are g norant laborers; but every one of thesi; pioneers of civilization can hindle the ax and the rifle, and can "calculate." If ever these magnificent dreams of the American people are rca'.izeJ an 1 all that is wanted for their realization is that things should only go on as they have been going on for the hist two centuries there wiil be ?eatc-d upon that vast continent a popula tion greater than that of all Europe, ant speaking the same language, all active minded, intelligent and well ofT. They will stand, as it were, the centre ol iho world, between the two great oceans, with Europe on one hand and Asia on the oilier. With such a future before him. we must pardon the Yankee if we find a little dash of self-complacency in his cr m positon; and bear with the surprise and annoyance which he expresses at findirg we know so little of himself or of his country. Our humble opinion is that wv ought to know better. -Great as is the in fluence which America hns already had upon Europe, we conceive that this is mtre intimation of the influence it is de tailed to have upon the world. FLORIDA AND THE 'JMON. The committje on Federal Relations in the HourSe of Representatives of Florida, made a long report on the 25th ult. It echoes most of the sentiments of the South Carolina extremists, but ihe Committee say they are not prepare I to recommend secession or revolution on account of the compromise measures. They present a scries of resolution, in which they de clare that Florida wiil adhere to ihe Uni on, if the Northern States cease from further agressions and observe the other obligations of the Federal Compac. They declare, further, that on the ir.setvat tn and faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave Law, depends the perpetuity of the Union and that its repeal or essential modification will make it the duty of the State a jthor ities to summon a convention, for the in sertion and defence of their rights. WEARING AWAY. A few evenings since amther rr.as: of rock was dislodged from t e brink of the precipice at Niagara Fa', and plunged into the abyss below. The portion which has gone this time was. from the bed cf the river, beneath where a canalaboat had been lying for the past year. The mass was some eight rods long and es many wide, and occupies end fills up the path wav to Tegmination Rock. The criii: of "the fall was heard distinctly for more than a mile, and in the immediate vicinity of the Falls it seemed to shake old earfb to her centre. Thus we have daily evi dence that the Falls are wearing away, and aires hence the great wonder of the world" may be alongside of our goodly city. Biiffalo JJrpress. V3T " Nut long since," writes- an old' friend and correspondent, " as T was re turning from Buffalo, I was amused, while the cars m ule a momentary stop, at a demonstration made by a r rary man, on his way to the State Lunatic Asy lum, at Utica. He was standing on the track, in front of the irou horse :' 4 You think you arc something '.' he said, looking wildly at the locomotive, and assuming a losing attitude ;' 4 but look o'here : 1 can whip you! I've dogged the fiery bulls of Baslian, and broken their horns off I Say J' don't stand there, whistling and smoking, like a blackguard in a bar-room ; jestjump into me. and 111 take ihe coaceit out of you, you " uhcrt .'.' " d el 1 rstfiinr-ftor' ?n