The following letter is from a young Scotch-place where we were on the 25th. After tacking man, who married a wife, and set sail from New York for Cardenas; the vessel was taken by a rebel piratical craft, and the party had the pleasure of a visit to Charleston, S. C. ::

ment included the other British passengers, my wife, and myself. The other three passengers were Germans, having American passports, and could not be taken on board the schooner Jasper. The crew on board this craft declared her unseaworthy, after getting their advanced pay, and left. Mr. Salas had therefore to ship another crew, and we got ready for sea. As the bark Rowena was getting her name changed to the St. Helena of Charleston, S. C., having been loaded with a cargo of naval stores, awaiting a favorable opportunity to run the blockade, we waited and went out with her. So, on the night of the 2d inst., she was taken in tow by a steamer, and we followed her as closely as we could out past the United States vessels, and in half an hour were after her, and could see the lights of the United States ships quite distinctly, although none of them seemed to make any movement, and did not observe us. It was about ten o'clock, P. M., when we got clear of their lights. Then we thought ourselves safe on the sea once more. We arrived here safely on the night of Saturday, the 9th inst.

ton, has a peculiar interest. The original is in Latin, and bears marks of great antiquity. It is said to have been written by a recluse, some centuries since:

"Before thirteen united

Shall be thrice what they are,
The eagle shall be blighted
By the lightning of war.
When sixty is ended,

And one takes its place,
Then brothers offended
Shall deal mutual disgrace.

If white remain white,
And black still be black,
Once more they'll unite

And bring happiness back.

But whenever the Cross
Stands aloft 'mong the Stars,
They shall gain by their loss,
And thus end all their wars."

OCCUPATION OF FORT SUMTER. -The follow

And now, when I think of the scenes I have passed through since I left New York, (the scenes of a honeymoon excursion,) what impressed me most was the almost death-like solemn appearance ing impressive incident occurred at Fort Sumter of Charleston, and the entire absence of anything on Major Anderson taking possession of that like business. It appeared as if a Scotch fast day place in December, 1860: It is known that the was being observed. At least one half of the American flag brought away from Fort Moultrie stores have "To Let" posted upon the shut was raised at Sumter precisely at noon on the doors, and those which are occupied are all closed 27th of that month. It was a scene that will at noon every day, and every man has to turn out be a memorable reminiscence in the lives of those to drill, or be fined by the police the next day. who witnessed it. A short time before noon, Another thing which struck me was the almost Major Anderson assembled the whole of his little entire absence of "hard cash." One of my com- force, with the workmen employed on the fort, panions and I went into a bar-room to have a around the foot of the flag-staff. The national drink, and the only money we had to offer was ensign was attached to the cord, and Major AnSpanish. My friend offered a two dollar piece, derson, holding the end of the lines in his hand, but the bar-keeper was bewildered; he did not knelt reverently down. The officers, soldiers, know its value, and asked us what it was worth. and men clustered around, many of them on their Being informed that it was worth two dollars knees, all deeply impressed with the solemnity twelve and a half cents in Cuba, he offered two of the scene. The chaplain made an earnest dollars twenty-five cents in paper change. Then prayer. - such an appeal for support, encouragea crowd gathered around us, staring their eyes ment, and mercy as one would make who felt out of their heads, almost, at the novelty of the that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." As sight of gold, and many of them seemed really the earnest, solemn words of the speaker ceased, anxious to be the possessors. We saw no small and the men responded Amen with a fervency change except pieces of paper, which certify that that perhaps they had never before experienced, they are good for five cents," "good for ten Major Anderson drew the " Star-spangled Bancents," and so on. ner" up to the top of the staff, the band broke out with the national air of "Hail, Columbia!" and loud and exultant cheers, repeated again and again, were given by the officers, soldiers, and workmen. "If," said the narrator, "South Carolina had at that moment attacked the fort, there would have been no hesitation upon the part of any man within it about defending the flag."

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I must say that men, women, and children in Charleston seem united in the cause of secession. When they found that one of my fellow-passengers and myself were Scotchmen, they treated us very respectfully. Though our Consul did not at first seem to sympathize with us, still he exerted himself well on our behalf when he found that we were in prison. All seemed to have great respect for him in Charleston.

On

INCIDENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, VA. the occupation of the White House, Va., by the A PROPHECY.-The following, translated a soldiers of General McLellan, a small piece of few years since by a lady, who is an inmate of a paper, bearing the following inscription, was religious institution in the vicinity of Washing-found pinned on the casing of an inner door:

"Northern soldiers, who profess to reverence Washington, forbear to desecrate the house of his first married life, the property of his wife, now owned by her descendants.

"A granddaughter of Mrs. Washington." Beneath the inscription was written the following:

"LADY: A Northern officer has protected your property in the sight of the enemy, and at the request of your overseer."

J. M. LEARNED, of Oxfordville, New Hampshire, had three twins in the army. Two of them, twenty-three years old, were in the Massachusetts Fourteenth. The third, whose mate is a girl, was in the Fifth New Hampshire regiment.

A REMINISCENCE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

When the convention was held in Chicago, which nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency in 1860, a respectable gentleman in Massachusetts

-not of Mr. Lincoln's party - was induced to A FIGHTING CLERGYMAN.-Rev. B. C. Ward, take the opportunity, in company with several pastor of a Congregational church in the village delegates and others interested in the objects of of Geneseo, Illinois, conceived it to be his duty the convention, to go out to Chicago, and spend to forsake the pulpit for the field. He received a few days in visiting that section of the country. authority to raise a company of infantry, but In a very few minutes after the final balloting proposed to enlist clergymen only. An appeal to was had, and Mr. Lincoln was nominated, it haphis clerical brethren, published over his own sig-pened that a train of cars started upon the Cennature, called upon "the fighting stock of the tral Railroad, passing through Springfield, the church militant" to prove to the world their will-place of Mr. Lincoln's residence, and Mr. R., the ingness to "seal with their blood what they have gentleman alluded to, took passage in the same. talked in their pulpits," and closed with this extraordinary passage:

Arriving at Springfield, he put up at a public house, and loitering upon the front door steps, had the curiosity to inquire of the landlord where Mr. Lincoln lived. Whilst giving the necessary directions, the landlord suddenly remarked,

"Much as we have said and done to prove our loyalty, we have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Shall we now, at the call of Christ, come out from behind our velvet-cush-"There is Mr. Lincoln now, coming down the ioned barracks, whence we have so often hurled bold, indignant words at the giant iniquity of the age, and meet it face to face with the hot shot of rifled artillery, with the gleaming bayonet, or with clashing sabres in hand-to-hand encounter ?"

""Tis the last man at Beaufort
Left sitting alone;

་

All his valiant companions
Had vamosed' and gone;
No secesh of his kindred

To comfort is nigh,

And his liquor's expended,
The bottle is dry!

We'll not leave thee, thou lone one,
Or harshly condemn-
Since your friends have all mizzled,'
You can't sleep with them;
And it's no joking matter

To sleep with the dead;
So we'll take you back with us —
Jim, lift up his head!
He muttered some words

As they bore him away,
And the breeze thus repeated
The words he did say:
When the liquor's all out,

And your friends they have flown,

O, who would inhabit

This Beaufort alone?""

sidewalk; that tall, crooked man, loosely walking this way; if you wish to see him you will have an opportunity by putting yourself in his track."

"My

In a few moments the object of his curiosity reached the point our friend occupied, who advancing, ventured to accost him thus: "Is this Mr. Lincoln ?" "That, sir, is my name." name is R., from Plymouth county, Massachumade the public property of the United States, I setts, and learning that you have to-day been have ventured to introduce myself with a view to a brief acquaintance, hoping you will pardon such a patriotic curiosity in a stranger." Mr. Lincoln received his salutations with cordiality, told him no apology was necessary for his introduction, and asked him to accompany him to his residence. He had just come from the telegraph office, where he had learned the fact of his nomination, and was on his return home when our friend met and accompanied him thither.

Arriving at Mr. Lincoln's residence, he was introduced to Mrs. Lincoln and the two boys, and entered into conversation in relation to the Lincoln family of the old colony- the Hingham General Lincoln of the Revolutionary army, and the two Worcester Lincolns, brothers, who were Governors of Massachusetts and Maine at one and the same time. In reply to Mr. R.'s inquiry whether Mr. Lincoln could trace his ancestry to either of those early families of his own name, Mr. Lincoln, with a characteristic facetiousness, replied that he could not say that he ever had an ancestor older than his father, and therefore had it not in his power to trace his genealogy to so patriotic a source as old General Lincoln of the Revolution though he wished he could. After some fur

ther pleasant conversation, chiefly relating to the early history of the Pilgrim Fathers, with which he seemed familiar, Mr. R. desired the privilege of writing a letter to be despatched by the next mail. Mr. Lincoln very promptly and kindly provided him with the necessary means. As he began to write, Mr. Lincoln approached, and tapping him on the shoulder, expressed the hope that he was not a spy who had come thus early to report his faults to the public. "By no means, sir," protested Mr. R.; "I am writing home to my wife, who, I dare say, will hardly credit the fact that I am writing in your house." "O, sir," exclaimed Mr. Lincoln, "if your wife doubts your word, I will cheerfully indorse it, if you will give me permission;" and taking the pen from Mr. R., he wrote the following words, in a clear hand, upon the blank page of the letter:

"I am happy to say that your husband is at the present time a guest in my house, and in due time I trust you will greet his safe return to the bosom of his family. A. LINCOLN."

placed it upon the centre-table. Mr. Lincoln arose, and gravely addressing the company, said, "Gentlemen, we must pledge our mutual healths in the most healthy beverage which our God has given to man; it is the only beverage I have ever used or allowed in my family, and I cannot conscientiously depart from it on the present occasion; it is pure Adam's ale from the spring;" and taking a tumbler, he touched it to his lips and pledged them his highest respects in a cup of cold water. Of course, all his guests were constrained to admire his consistency, and to join in his example.

Mr. R., when he went to Chicago, had but little political sympathy with the Republican convention which nominated Mr. Lincoln; but when he saw, as he did see for himself, his sturdy adherence to a high moral principle, he returned an admirer of the man, and a zealous advocate of his election.

This gave our friend an excellent autograph "ALL WE ASK IS TO BE LET ALONE.” of Mr. Lincoln, besides bearing witness to his hospitable and cheerful spirit.

Whilst thus engaged in pleasant conversation, the cars arrived that brought from Chicago the committee of the convention appointed to notify Mr. Lincoln of his nomination. He received them at the door, and conducted them to seats in his parlor. Our friend, who related the interview to us, says that on the reception of this committee Mr. Lincoln appeared somewhat embarrassed, but soon resumed his wonted tranquillity and cheerfulness. At the proper time the chairman of the committee arose, and, with becoming dignity, informed Mr. Lincoln, that he and his fellows appeared in behalf of the convention now in session at Chicago, to inforn him that he had that day been unanimously nominated to the office of President of the United States, and asked his permission to report to that Mr. body his acceptance of the nomination. Lincoln, with becoming modesty, but very handsomely, replied, that he felt his insufficiency for the vast responsibilities which must devolve upon that office under the impending circumstances of the times, but if God and his country called for his services in that direction, he should shrink from no duty that might be imposed upon him, and therefore he should not decline the nomination.

After this ceremony had passed, Mr. Lincoln remarked to the company, that as an appropriate conclusion to an interview so important and interesting as that which had just transpired, he supposed good manners would require that he should treat the committee with something to drink; and opening a door that led into a room in the rear, he called out, "Mary! Mary!" A girl responded to the call, whom Mr. Lincoln spoke a few words to in an under-tone; and, closing the door, returned again to converse with his guests. In a few minutes the maiden entered, bearing a large waiter, containing several glass tumblers, and a large pitcher in the midst, and

BY H. H. BROWNELL.

As vonce I valked by a dismal swamp,
There sot an old cove in the dark and damp,
And at everybody as passed that road
A stick or a stone this old cove throwed.
And venever he flung his stick or his stone,
He'd set up a song of "Let me alone."

"Let me alone, for I loves to shy
These bits of things at the passers-by;
Let me alone, for I've got your tin,
And lots of other traps snugly in;
Let me alone. I am rigging a boat
To grab votever you've got afloat;
In a veek or so I expects to come,
And turn you out of your ouse and ome;
I'm a quiet old cove," says he, with a groan;
"All I axes, is, Let me alone."

Just then came along, on the self same vay,
Another old cove, and began for to say:
"Let you alone! That's comin' it strong!
You've ben let alone — a darned sight too long!
Of all the sarce that ever I heerd!
Put down that stick! (You may well look skeered.
Let go that stone! If you once show fight,
I'll knock you higher than ary kite.

"You must have a lesson to stop your tricks,
And cure you of shying them stones and sticks;
And I'll have my hardware back, and my cash,
And knock your scow into tarnal smash;
And if ever I catches you round my ranch,
I'll string you up to the nearest branch.
The best you can do is to go to bed,
And keep a decent tongue in your head;
For I reckon, before you and I are done,
You'll wish you had let honest folks alone."

The old cove stopped, and the other old cove,
He sot quite still in his cypress grove,
And he looked at his stick, revolvin' slow,
Vether 'twere safe to shy it or no ;
And he grumbled on, in an injured tone,
"All that I axed vos, Let me alone.”

nearly new, one Minie rifle, one musket, three bayonets, one sergeant's sword, and four cartridge boxes filled with ammunition - quite a good day's work for a simple oysterman.

GEN. CHEATHAM'S ESCAPE.-The following story was told by Gen. Cheatham of the manner in which he escaped capture at the battle of Belmont, Mo. :

:

Just as the opposing armies were approaching one another, Gen. Cheatham discovered a squadron of cavalry coming down a road near his position. Uncertain as to which force it belonged, accompanied only by an orderly, he rode up to within a few yards of it, and inquired, — "What cavalry is that?" "Illinois cavalry, sir," was the reply. "O! Illinois cavalry. All right; just stand where you are!"

THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T BE MADE A PRISONER. During the last week in December, 1861, while about a dozen oyster smacks were on their way to the "banks" in Mississippi Sound, they were surrounded by a number of launches from the national ships: all were seized in the name of the Government, and a guard put aboard each to conduct them under the guns of the ships of war. One of the smacks thus seized was the "Clide," commanded and owned by Capt. King, a man who had resided in New Orleans since boyhood, and who was well known as a brave and determined seaman by all of his acquaintances around the New Basin. A sergeant and one soldier were placed aboard the "Clide," with orders to steer for the New London, then some twelve or eighteen miles off. The wind was ahead, and the boat had to beat all the way. The "Clide," somehow, strange to say, worked badly; all the rest of the smacks were soon several miles ahead, and still the contrary wind was blowing, and the lazy boat dragging slowly along. So passed the greater part of the day, and at five o'clock in the afternoon the fleet was yet several miles off. The soldiers on board the "Clide" grew hungry, and asked Capt. King if he had anything to eat aboard. He politely told them that there was plenty in the cabin - a sort of little hold in the after part of the craft, reached by a narrow scuttle and two or three crooked steps. The sergeant volunteered to go down and get the victuals, directing the soldier to keep a sharp watch while he did so. He started down the steps with rifle in hand, Capt. King standing near, officiously showing the way. As soon as he had got into the cabin, and was about to stoop AN INCIDENT WITH A MORAL. A chaplain in and go forward, the hitherto polite and kind cap- one of the regiments on the Potomac narrates tain suddenly seized his rifle, and jerking it from the case of a sick soldier, which strikingly illushis hand, shot him dead on the spot. Not stop-trates the reasoning of many men in the camp ping to swap jack-knives, Capt. King jumped for- and out of it. Some one had mentioned to the ward, and seizing the other soldier's gun before soldier the case of the Vermonter who was senhe had time to recover from his fright and aston-tenced to be shot for sleeping on his post. During ishment, commanded him to surrender. The the evening following, the fever set in violently; soldier saw there was no use to resist, gave up, and was securely tied and laid in the hold.

Capt. King then set sail for Fort Pike, and as if understanding the necessity for haste, the little craft recovered from her languor, and sped over the water at railroad speed. And it was well she did, for the men on the other boats had heard the musket shot, and suspecting something wrong from seeing the "Clide" suddenly change her course, made chase, one and all. The affair then grew exciting, and for a while Capt. King's chances for safety were rather squally; but his gallant little craft was in earnest, and rushed on towards the haven of safety as if she understood the whole affair. Night soon came on, and darkness hiding her from the view of her pursuers, enabled her to get safely to Fort Pike, where Capt. King recited his adventures, and excited the admiration of the garrison. Leaving the fort the next morning, he arrived in the New Basin with his prisoner and dead sergeant, who were placed in the hands of the military authorities. Besides his prisoner, Capt. King captured a fine six-oared launch,

The cavalry obeyed the order, and unmolested by them, who supposed he was one of the Federal officers, the general rode safely back, directly under the guns of another Federal regiment, which had by that time come up, but who, seeing him coming from the direction of the cavalry, also supposed that he was one of them. Some of the national officers remembered the incident, and agreed with the hero of it, that if they had known who he was, it was very probable that there would have been one general less that night.

the sick man imagined he was the one sentenced to be shot. The surgeon being called, the following conversation ensued:

"Doctor, I am to be shot in the morning, and wish you to send for the chaplain. I desire to make all necessary preparations for my end."

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They shall not shoot you; I'll take care of you. Whoever comes to take you from here, I shall have them arrested and put under guard.”

"Will you, dear doctor? Thank you, thank you well, then, you need not send for the chaplain 'just yet.""

THE SPOTTED HAND.

AN ANECDOTE OF JOHN C. CALHOUN,

ONE morning, at the breakfast table, when I, an unobserved spectator, happened to be present, Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently at his right hand, and brush it with his left in a hurried and nervous manner. He did this so often that it excited attention. At length one of the per