Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, March 03, 1859, Image 1
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lewis M. GBIST, Proprietor. J r I
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~ ?
Original ilforg.
written kor the yorkville enquirer.
LOVE;
OK,
OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEARTS.
BY J. FORREST GOWAN, Esq.
CHAPTER IV.
'Papa,' said Eva, 'Ida Walter has invited
me to come to Charleston and spend a month
with her.'
'Was that the subject of her letter, my
dear?' asked Mr. Thornwell, musiDgly.
'May I go, papa ?'
" * ' ? - t-t?Ul.
'Ahem I?would it not De aavisuuie iu uuusult
Mr. Snobberhosser V asked Mr. Thornwell.
'He has uothiog to do with me,' said Eva.
'You forget, my love,' said her father/
'that he is to be your husband very soon.'
'But, papa, you promised to give me one
month to think over the matter, before Igive
him a positive answer,' said Eva.
'And may I ask, my daughter, what, think
you, will be the nature of that answer?'
'Such as will not please you, I fear, dear ,
papa."
'But Eva, my child, there is no alternative?you
must marry him, or ruin your
father.'
Eva was silent, and her father continued :
'My dear child, I will no longer disguise
the nature of my true situation from you. I
am deeply involved in debt?'
'In debt, papa !'
'I knew that such a statement would surprise
you. Eva, but such really is the case.
My creditors are continually threatening to
seize upon my little property if I do not
make immediate payment.'
T> __ a. J I
'X>Ul, uear pa pa?
'Do not interrupt me, Eva. I was about
to show you a letter from Messrs. Graspall
& Getit, which I received yesterday. Ah !
here it is?shall I read it to you?'
'If you please,' replied Eva.
Dear Sir:?It is alike unpleasant to us, and dishonorable
on vour part, that we are ngain compelled
to remind you of your indebtedness of eight
thousand dollars at our house. You are particularly
requested, either to forward us this trifling
amount, or send us your endorsed note during the
present month, as we cannot allow you any further
indulgence. Respectfully, yours,
GRASPALL & GETIT.
'What think you of that, Eva ?'
'That they are base-hearted villians !' replied
Eva, indignantly.
'But they should have their money, my
child.'
'And these are the men that you started
in life !' said Eva.
'Very true,' said her father, as his brow
grew dark at the thought; 'but how is this
money to be paid ?'
'You can very easily collect that amount,
papa.'
'Not a cent of it, Eva.'
n ?J fr\r* rAll ' CQlrl
sL*Ct a ineuu iu cuuuioc *vsi jvu,
Eva, her hps quivering with emotion.
'I have no friend that would do so much
for me,' said her father, with a deep sigh.
'Mortgage your property then, papa?do
anything to get this debt out of the way,'
said Eva.
'Alas! my poor child !' said he. 'If you
only knew all!'
And why should I not know all, my dear
papa?' asked the affectionate girl, as she
threw her arms around the old man's neck
and burst into tears.
'My dear Eva, my property is already \
mortgaged, aDd even this is not all.'
'Hide nothing from me, papa,' sobbed
Eva.
Snobberhosser holds a note against me for
twenty thousand dollars.'
'Against you ?' asked Eva, now quite j
alarmed.
Such is the case,' replied the old man, as
he bowed his head upon his daughter's
shoulder, and 'lifted up his voice and wept.'
There was a pause for a few moments ;
when the old man disengaged himself from
the embraces of his daughter, and said :
'You can save me from dishonor, my child!'
'I??impossible!' said Eva. 'Would
that I could!'
'You can, my child.'
'Papa,' said Eva, 'tell me how I can save
you !'
'By becoming the wife of Mr. Suobberhosser.'
'And how will that save you, papa?'
'He will free my property from all incumbrances,
release me from my indebtedness to
him, and satisfy my creditors.'
'How much money will it take to do that?' j
asked Eva.
'Over t fty thousand dollars,' replied the
father.
James Thornwcll/ said Eva, raising her
little form to its height, -has a father any
right to involve himself in debt, aDd then
save himself from its dishonorable consequences
by the sacrifice of his only child !
Any libertine may purchase your daughter's
heart at this rate ? You know that Mr.
Snobberhosser is but an unprincipled adventurer
at most; and yet you have offered him
my person for dollars and cents. God forgive
you-!'
But my child?'
*' 'It is useless to entreat me papa; I cannot
save you by.such a sacrifice. God docs
not require it of me.'
'Thunder and lightning !' exclaimed the
old man. 'Do you want me sent to jail like
a common criminal?'
'No, dear papa; I do not want it.'
'But Snobberhosser swears that I shall be
imprisoned, unless you marry him/ said the
old man.
'Then, I shall certainly accompany you,
papa.'
'But he may?'
'I do not care that much for Mr. Snobberhosser's
threats/ said Eva, snapping her
fingers.
'But why will you not marry him, Eva V
'Because I love somebody else.'
'The devil you do!' exclaimed the old
man. 'Is he rich ?'
'Why do you ask V
'Because?because if he is?I may?may
give ray con?consent/ said he, falteringly.
'You would consent to my union with him
if he would pay your debts?is not that it ?'
'Exactly !' said the old man eagerly.
'Why papa!' exclaimed the poor girl,
with mingled astonishment and mortification
; then bursting into tears, she hurried
from the room, and sought the privacy of
her own chamber.
'This will never do,' said Mr. Thornwell.
'Eva must be persuaded to accept the hand
of Soobberhosser, or my ruin is a fixed fact.
I must humor her for the present, however,
and allow her to go to Charleston, and?but,
bless me ! here comes Snobberbosser.'
'Goot morning, mine olt frent!' said Soobberhosser.
'Dish ish so fine a day ash never
TTTQ O '
'Fine morning, sir/ replied Thornwell.'
'Dere ish one ting I voulds likes to know,
Mr. Tornwell.'
I shall be very happy to give you the desired
information, sir/ said Mr. Thornwell.
'Who ish dat fools vat names Scharles
Evinston V
Charles Evinston??let me see!' said
Thornwell endeavoring to recall the name.?
I really do not know.'
He lives in Spartanburg?ant ish von
huge rascall!' said Snobbcrhosser, waxing
warm.
Why, what harm has the gentleman done
you ?' asked Thornwell.
Shentlemans !?he ish no shentlemans,!
but dunder and blixen ! he ish so pig a rogue
ash he never was.'
But what hus he done V
He writes me von letters apout hish frent,
Edwin Marlton.'
Indeed ! I see no harm in all that.'
You no see do letters yet,' replied Snob-|
berhosser, handing a letter to Mr. Thorn
well; it ish pout your daughter.'
'About my daughter ??impossible !' said
he, hastily unfolding the letter.
'Reads it out?rue no makes it understant
much.'
'Confound the impertinent fellow !' said
Thornwell, glancing over the letter. 'Just
hear what he has to say :
Dear Sourlcrout Snollcrhosser:?Being a very
particular friend ?f yours, I advise you to leave
Abbeville as soon as you possibly can. My young
friend Edwin Marlton has heard that you are endeavoring
to win the hand of Miss Eva, and swears
that he will give you a dose of lead pills in less
than two days .from the date of this letter, if you
do not make tracks. Mr. Marlton is a young gentleman
of large fortune, in love with Miss Eva,
and has reasons for believing his affection reciprocated.
He has made up his mind to have her,
and it will be policy on your part to make yourself
scarce. Respecfutlv. vouts.
CHARLES EVINSTON.
'Poo my word ! that is refreshingly cool!'
said Mr. Thornwell, smiling in spite of himself.
'Vat for you smiles?' asked Snobberhosscr.
'Because of the impudence of these gentlemen,'
he replied.
'Me schallcngc,!?shoot!?makes von
doodles mid dem bote, quite soon !' said
Snobberhosser, in a towering passion.
'A dnel??I shall give no countenance to
such a foolish proceeding,' 3aid Thornwell.
'Dunder and blixen !'
'Pshaw !' said Thornwell, anxious to
change the conversation, 'I have a favor to
ask of you, Mr. Snobberhosser.'
.at. i > ?i,.,
'.'1U 10113 IJU II1U1J13II UIUIC, icpiicu Il>5.
'It is Dot money that I am speaking about,'
said Thornwell.
'Den vat you vant mid me ?'
'My daughter?'
'Yoh, dat ish betterish goot.'
'Hear me out, Mr. Snobberhosser, if you
please.'
?Yoh !?beg pardon.'
'My daughter wishes to?'
'Dat ish so goot as it never vas?debblish
goot!'
'You are devilish impolite, sir, to interrupt
mo in this manner,' said Thornwell,
angrily. 'I was going to observe, that my
daughter wished to go to Charleston and
spend a month with Miss Ida Walter.'
?Yon whole munts!' exclaimed Snobberhosser.
'Dat is no goot.'
'What I wish to ask is, will you accompany
her ?'
<Yoh !?but me no knows Miss Walter,'
said rsnoooernosser.
'I do not ask you to do more, than to accompany
her as far as the Charleston Depot,'
said Thorowell.
'Yen does Miss Eva intend to went?'
'In a day or two, probably,' replied Thornwoll.
*****
'Eva, Mr. Snobberhosser has kindly consented
to accompany you to Charleston,'said
Mr. Thorowell.
Bat, papa, if you are as bad off as you
; represented to me awhile ago, I do not think
J that it would be altogether right for me to
| undertake the trip,' said Eva
'Pshaw ! it will costbut a trifle, my child.
'Fifty dollars at least, papa.'
'As much as that??surely not!'
'Well, papa, it may be possible to obtain
j a passage to Charleston for less than half
j that amount j but Eva Thornwell must not
j remain in that city without a cent in her
pocket?must she?'
'You are right!'?sixty dollars will not be
t too much,' said the old man, counting out
the money.
'Fifty dollars is amply sufficient, papa;
besides it is not altogether fashionable or
polite for an invited guest to travel with more
money than is absolutely ncoessary,' said
Evn.
Right again !?here is fifty.'
You are very kiod, papa,' said Eva, affectionately.
Would that it were in my power to afford
you every happiness, my daughter !' said be,
with a deep sigh.
I am sure, that I am very happy now,
papa.'
I know better than that?you are unhappy
because of that affair, my poor Eva !'
Whataffair, papa?'
Your union with Snobberhosser?the uncouth
Dutchman !'
Union! We are not united yet, papa.'
But will be, my child.'
Perhaps not, papa; for you remember
the old couplet:?
'There's many a slip
'Twixt the cup and the lip.''
And so saying, Eva bounded out of the
room with a merry laugh.
CHAPTER V.
Two weeks have elapsed since the incidents
in the last chapter had taken place ;
and we introduce the reader now into a private
room in the Charleston Hotel.
'Are you in sober earnest?' asked Marlton,
laying aside the afternoon paper, and looki ng
uneasily upon his companion
I saw it with my own eyes,' replied Evinston.
'Tnen tne stupid old xmcnman muse nave i
smelt a rat,' said Marlton.
'lie shall smell gunpowder if he does not
look sharp,' said Evinston.
'Perhaps he is not here after all?3-00
are joking, Charlie.'
'I tell you that I saw him wiite his name
upon the register, and order his trunk taken
up to number nineteen,' said Evinston.
'Nineteen !?thats the number of the
room nest to ours !' said Marlton. ?Wc are
arc in a nice fix, for once?certain !'
'Marlton, run round to Haync street and
purchase an ounce of nitrate of silver?be
quick, old fellow!'
'What do you waut with it?' asked Marlton.
'I charge you to purchose it at once, if
you hope to save Miss Eva from this old
Duchman,'said Evinston
Wondering what in the word, bis friend
was about to do, Marlton, hurried down in- j
to the street and made the strange purchase.
'Here it is,' said he, as he returned to the j
room.
'Pulverize it,' said Evinston ; 'while I get 1
the pitcher out of old Snobberhossor's room.' j
?Yah dn not. monn to voison him !' ex- !
* VU -V "V. J
claimed Marlton, shuddering.
Pshaw ! do Dot be afraid of that.'
Evinston then left the room for Snobberhosser's
wash-boul and pitcher, while Marlton
pulverized the silver.
'Now,' said Evinston, 'put the silver in
the cup and dissolve it in a little water.
Stir it faster man !'
'What are you up to, Evinston ?' asked
Marlton, in surprise.
'I have no time to tell you now?just
pour the contents of that cup into this pitcher,'
said Evinston.
'There it is; but suppose he should drink
it!'
-V e T^lnclnn
'iicvur ium uuuui tuuij jj?iuoi.uu^
as he bore the pitcher to Snobberhosser's
room.
'Why, what are you dcing with that looking-glass
f,ud those towelii ?' asked Marltoo,
as Evinston re-entered th> room with those
articles.
'Keep still! Snobberhosser's coming up
stairs!' said Evinston in a low whisper.
Marlton's curiosity was more fully aroused
to observe Evinston quietly take down his
looking-glass; and, after hiding it, with the
one which he had taken from Snobberhosser's
room, throw the towels under the bed.
Snobberhosser entered his room, and Marlton
and Evinston heard him pour out water
I for a wash; and after considerable splashing,
blowing and puffing all became still.
'He's looking for the towels/ whispered
Evinston, in high glee.
'Dunder and blixen!' exclaimed the Dutch
n i 1. i? i
I man, after an uosuccessrui searcn ror a row|
el. 'Dat nigger ish so big a schamp as
never vas! No looking-glass! no schoap!
no towels!'
'Now for some fun!' whispered Evinston,
as he heard the door of the Dutchman's room
open.
'I say, mine goot frent!' bawled out the
Dutchman, as he knocked at our young
friends' door. '"Who is midin de door?'
'You are laboriog under a mistake, sir?
this is quite a private room,' said Evinston,
as the Dutchman peeped within.
'Mine Gott in heben, shentlemans! dare
ish no towels in mine room/ said Snobberhosser.
'Pshaw !' said Evinston, 'walk in; and
we will be happy to have you finish your
toilet here?walk in.'
'Moocb obliged, shentlemans,' said the
victim, entering the room. 'Vere ish de
tovels ant de glass?'
'Allow us to offer you a glass of wine,
sir,' said Evioston, taking a small flash from
his trunk, and holding it up to the light.
?Me no drinks viue, shentlemans, but?
vaits von little times?' said Snobberhosser,
as he hastily loft the room.
?. n i inn in
'Bless roe! how horfibly his face is stain- wi
ed !' whispered Marlton. yc
That's not half as had as it will look af- wi
ter awhile,'replied Ev^ston, InughiDg. al
'Here is von fine articles, shentlemans,' w;
said Snobberhosser aj.he entered the room, an
holding up a bottle of Gin. th
'Thank you, sir; we will gladly join you th
in a glass,' said Evinston. hi
'Excuse roe, Mr. Snobberhossser?are you nc
not a Spaniard ?' asked Marlton. pi
No, sir; t ish from Sharmony.' m:
'From Germany ! why your complexion is
very dark for a German,' replied Marlton. th
j ?The gentleman is merely 6un-burnt, Marl- no
ton,' said Pivioston, scarcely able to restrain lu
his laughter. sc
The reader must be iuformed, that the ha
action of the solution of silver had given to an
Mr. Snobberhosser's face the color of tobac- ~
co juice, or something like it. d
<Dat ish true?de climate ish so vorse dan (*
bad,' said the unsuspecting Dutchman, as he _
swallowed the contents of his glass.
'You visit Charleston on business, I suppose/
said Marl ton. " ?1
'I pays von small visit to Mr. Underdonks co
dis times' said Snobberhosser. gt
'Indeed? We are well acquainted with te,
that gentleman/ said Evinston. 'You purpose
attending Miss Eva's wedding, I sup- to:
pose.' y,
'Vat you say V asked the Dutchman,
starting to his feet. U,
Why have you not heard, that young w]
Marlton intends to lead Miss Eva Thornwcll
to the marriage altar?' asked Eviuston.
Dondor ant blixin !'exclaimed Snobber- g(
hosser in a terrible rage. 'Mine Gott!? ^
vat a peoples !' 01
'She is to be married to-morrow night, I nj
believe/ said Evicston. co
'Vere isht de bolice! Mine Gott! vat ^
ish dis I hears!' th
'What is the matter, ray dear sir V asked Qj:
Evinston.
'Vere I finds dish Marlton ?' asked Snob
bcrhosser.
ca
'He may be at Mr. Underdonk's house/
implied Evinston.
'Den I blows bis heads off his brains so ur
soon ash it never vas!?mine Gott!' m
So saying, Mr. Snobberhosser rnshed out st;
of the room ; and after putting on his coat or
and hat, rushed down stairs like a madman, re
and darted out of the hotel with a pistol in in
each hand. gC
'Are we not in a scrape now ? asked Marl- rn
i:on. an
'Pshaw ! just bring Suobbcrhosser's basin an
in here, and ring i'or a servant/ said Evin- th
stoo, with perfect mwjfroi'J. cx
Snobberhosser's basin and goblet were ga
j brought in, the contents of the lat-tercmptiad to
! into the former, and the bell rang for a ser- qr
vant. gt
The servaut soon made his appearance,
and the washing utensils were emptied. ce
'Now/ said Evinston, as soon as the ser- ,Ci
vant had left the room, ?pour a little water .
into Snobberhosser's basin, and half fills his ,fc
goblet. That will do?now take it back to
his room. Stop !?take his glass and towels
back.' l"
'Really, Evinstcn/ said Marlton, when all tri
these matters had been attended to, 'Snob- ou
bcrhosser will soon find out what a trick we ra
have practiced upon him.'
'Just leave that to me/ said Evinston. sa
?lin mcnnl mor An enmn iniiirv wifb ^
" XJ U t 1' 14 Vs 1UOVUI kUHj uv uvlu v aM^| J ? ....
his pistols,' said Marlton.
'Pshaw 1 suppose wo call upon the ladies,
and hear of the fun,' said Evinston. '.
'Exactly 1 Miss Eva will be anxious
about me, if that Dutchman has gone there
in search of me,' said Marlton. c
'Then we had better go at once,' 'said co
Evinston. 00
'Suppose we should meet him there,' said ^
Marlton.
'Coine on ! there will he some fun, at least,' W(
said Evinston.
[to be continued.] nc
)||mi wl
A SERMON ON TEE WORD MALT. wl
The llev. Mr. D , a very worthy min- aD
ister who lived a few miles from C , had ^
rendered himself obnoxious to many of the e
cantabs by frequently preaching against
drunkenness, several of whom, meeting him es
on a journey, they determined to make him
preach in a hollow tree which was near the
road. Accordingly addressing him with th
great apparent politeness, they asked him if ag
he had not preached much against drunken- rc
ncss? On his replying in the affirmative, Pr
they insisted that he should now preach from ta
a text of their choosiog. In vain did he rc- ev
monstrate on the unreasonableness of ex- th
pecting him to g'vo them a discourse without
study and in such a place; they were DC
determined to take no denial, and the word ar
"Malt," was given him for a text, on which
he immediately delivered himself as follows: Pa
Beloved, let mc crave your attention. I bt
am a little man, come at a short warning, to C1(
preach a short sermon, from a small subject j,'1
in an unworthy pulpit to a small congrega- t0
tion. Beloved, my text is Malt. I cannot
divide it into words, being but one?nor in- nc
to syllables, it being but one?I must, there- 'c
fore of necessity divide it into letters, which nc
I find to be these four; M-A-L-T. M, my w'
beloved, is moral; A, is allegorical ; L, is nl
literal; and T, is theological. The moral is
set forth to teach you druukards pood man- to
ners; therefore, M, masters, A, all of you, w 1
L, listen, T, to my text: the alleporical is tr
when anything is spoken, and another thing ar
is meant ; the thing spoken of is malt?the th
thing meant, is the juice of malt; which af
you cantabs make M, your masters, A, your
apparel, L, your liberty, and T, your trust. ti<
The theological according to the effects that w
it works, and these, I find to be two kind ce
1st in this world; 2d in the world to come, tl
The effects that it works in this world, are ei
in some, M, murder, in another, A adulte- pi
ry, in all, L, looseness of life, and in some, hi
T, treason. The effects in the world to come: hi
are M, misery; A, anguish; L, lamenta- ol
tions; T, torment; and so much for this as
time and tost. I shall improve the first by ei
ay of exhortation. M, masters, A, all of
m,-L, leave off, T, tipling; or second by
ly of excommunication?M, masters, A,
I of you, L, look for, T, torment; 3d by
\y of caution take this; a drunkard is the
inoyance of modesty; the spoil of civility,
e destruction of reason, the brewer's agent,
e alehouse benefactor, his wife's sorrow,
s children's trouble, his own shame, his
tighbor's scoff, a walking swill-bowl, the
dure of a beast, and the monster of a
an ! now to the, &c.
He then concluded in the usual form, and
e young men, pleased with his ingenuity,
.t atI r elnAAVAln V\ 1 rr? Vtilf oKcn.
'I uuijf tuauauu iiiluj uuk uuov*
tely profited more by his short, whimsical
rmon, than by any serious discourse they
d ever heard.
ftkcllaneous |leateg.
COINAGE OF THE TJ. STATES.'
The following communication (says the
larleston Courier) from a well informed
rrespondent, on the "coinage of the United
ates," will be read with attention and inrest
by intelligent readers:
In an extract from a lecture "on the Ilisry
of Commerce," published in the New
ork Tribuoe, it is asserted, with some deee
of confidence, that a "German named
ecbtler stamped money in North Carolina,
bich was actually preferred, in Georgia and
e Carolina, to the Federal coin !'
Some thirty years ago, when Christopher
schtler began to stamp pieces of gold in
utherford, a miniug district of North Carina,
his operations proved a great conveence
to the miners, the merchants and the
ramunity, because there was very little of
c coin of the United States to be found in
e interior portions of Georgia or the Carinas.
Templeton Ileid pursued the same prac;c,
with similar results, from the same
use, in the mountains of Georgia.
Mr. Bechtler was an ingenious gunsmith
id jeweller, an useful and honest man, who
idertook to convert the grains of precious
etal washed from neighboring deposits into
imped pieces, for a local currency, with the
dinary machinery used for boring rifle barIs,
for rolling bars of steel and iron, or
ipressing certain ornamental devices upon
id locks* His processes for melting, casting,
llrng, cutting and stamping his own name
d devices, with an assumed quality, weight
id value, were tolerably well arranged for
e purpose he intended. - No branch mints
listed in Georgia or Carolina when he beu
to supply such token*. In attempting
decide the parity of gold of different
lalitics, he employed the scales and karat
ain weights commonly used by goldsmiths.
A difficulty was encountered in the prosses
of assay, which now require more delate
management. He was not able, by
e practice ne pursued, to De so exact, as
is believed he desired to be.
Hence, upon the establishment of branch
ints, his coins were carried there, as Imlm,
for re-coinage, and to ascertain their
uc value. They were not found to hold
it to the full extent of his stamped declation.
The fineness impressed upon his
ins was not always reached, which necesrily
caused a reduction in their value as
commercial currency.
Mr. Bechtler used up a large amount of
ild before the branch mints were built, but
e decision they made upon the character of
s stamped pieces, soon proved it was more
Ivantageous to the miners, and to the merlants
who dealt with them, to have bullion
nverted into the more correct standard
ios of the United States. The conveniens
of the previous arrangements of Mr.
schtler were no longer appreciated, and
ire at length gradually abandoned.
The Bechtlers?for there was a son and a
phew also engaged with the old man?
*re very frank with an officer of the mint,
ao visited theirestablishment. They showed
id explained their pragtices and machinery
lite freely to him. When it was remark[
to the elder Bechtler that one portion of
e method he pursued occasioned error, he
ihibited instant desire to correct it.
Some of his latter coinages were rated
ghtly above the assumed standard, alough
previous ones had borne a per cent;e
below the declared limit. Federal coins
quire strict adjustment by law, and are
oved by distinct annual trials. The atchment
of fixed values to pieces of gold,
en by approximation, was of interest to
e miner in the South. Sjich tokens did
it interfere with the privileges of the mints
ir in any way with their operations, which
e calculated to control such action.
When the coins of the United States ben
to be known, and such conversion of
illion at the mints was found most benefiil
to every interest connected with mining,
eti the demand for Bechtler pieces begau
cease. For the coatot conversion dcvoivI
upon the Government; whereas, the rniirs
were required to pay directly for Bcchtr's
operations! It sometimes happens,
>w, that a wagoner from the upper country
ill prefer bank paper to coins, for cooveence
of carriage aud from custom :
Another point in the lecture "on theHisry
of Commerce," which declares "there
ire no coins in Judea, until after the desuction
of Jerusalem," is also doubted, as
i historical fact, although it may be true
ere was no national Hebrew Mint until
ter that period.
Coiuage is a convenience for the distribuans
of trade, where gold and silver are
ell known and attainable. But such proisses
add nothing to the intrinsic values of
le precious metals, and are expensive. Seval
Eastern nations are thought to have disposed
with the practices of coinage, after
iving employed them. The Chinese know
dw to appreciate and proportion the values
" gold and silver by fineness and weights,
i is always done at mints before theimpresOQ*
si? placed upon the pieces. The Chi
': ncsc, an industrious and commercial people,
comprehend foreign coiD, in exchange for
commodities; but the only pieces now coined
1 in China consist of a currency of the lowest
denominations, formed of mixed metal like
bronze.
The principles employed to value gold and
silver in China are the same as for teas, cotton,
rice t>r sugar; all are estimated alike
?by relative qualities and duly prqportioned
weights, or, as the mints say, "by weight
and fineness."
From the history of the Hebrews, we
learn they perfectly comprehended these principles.
In Judea, as in the Colonies of N.
America,foreign coin were necessarily known
and used before a mint was established "in
the land."
Skins, arrow-heads, nails, sea shells, pieces
of soap and eggs, in tale, have severally
served as currencies, in small transactions
of trade, among primitive people.
Such practices, however, do not evince a
comprehension of all the artistic principles
called into action, when gold and silver perform
the office of representatives of value
for all commodities in an extended commerce.
An exchange with eggs, hides, soap, scraps
of iron, cowrie-shells, or lance heads, explains
the numerical part" of such adjustment
; but to establish the exact value of
gold and silver in coinage?the quality?is
an important matter, which cannot be decided
by the ordinary senses?by sight, touch,
taste, smell or sound?but needs exact analysis,
with attended and subsequent calculations
of arithmetic.
For such Drecious material, the weizhts
4 ' w
require to have delicate precision, and the
scales to be more correct than those used for
cotton, leather or tobacco. The size of a
piece of soap?a difference in the outline,
of several eggs, or skins, the color of the
sea shells, the length of the nails, or the
number of lance-heads, may prove of slight
importance in a trade?but when reference
is made to sums in gold and silver, such distinctions
grow enormously, and become worthy
of notice.
There exists historical proof of a coinage,
among civilized nations of the East, If/ore
the Hebrews emigrated from Egypt, according
to artistic investigation.
Pieces of the precious metals had been
stamped with "images," as a voucherfor intrinsic
value, or were cast and "graven" into
shapes of animals, to serve the same purposes
of trade, by weight and purity.
There are early notices in the history of
the Hebrew Patriarchs of presents and payments
in bracelets and rings, the work of
goldsmiths and jewelers, who regulated both
the fineness and the weights for a fixed valuation,
and were the first artizans to introduce
such practices into Europe, before
mints were cstablishished there!
In the entercourse of the Patriarchs with
caravans, traveling from the Red Sea, orthe
Persian Gulf, into Egypt, with the spicery
and products of the South, ready money was
used, according tn the written narrative.?
This is apparent, in the prompt payment for
Joseph as a slave; and in the purchase of
land by Abraham, as well as the proportionate
prices of land and a servant man "seventeen
years old.'
The ratios do not vary much from those
known in the Southern States, some "twenty
years ago."
4 We read, also, that "when money failed
in the land of Egypt and the laud Canaan,
"Joseph sold bread, for cattle." The gold
pieces concealed by ltachel were named
"images" in the early English translation,
but are also called "strange go<hwhen the
same kind of money was hidden "under the
oak by Shechem."
Immediately after the Exodus, "the daily
wages of an hireling" was ordered by a law
to be punctually paid?which certainly indicates
the presence of some currency of
small denomination, when "a penny" of
brass or silver served such compensation of
daily hire.
rri c
jl iiciu iii u it'ificuut'3 iu iuc piaetiee ui
counterfeiting in Ancient Egypt?the tools
and implements having been discovered ?
There are among the regulations for "Divorce
and Dowry" in Asia, expressed proof
of distinct standards for coins, which, no
doubt caused transmutations in their devices,
the balance of trade was shown against
one or the other of ancient mercantile nations,
upon the same principle which causes
the frequent and useless destruction of our
national coins.
When an indemnity was paid by France,
twenty or more years ago, largo quantities of
gold coins?of /lie French Republic?were
sent over ns bullion, to be re-melted and received
at or- mint. When the new gold
pieces, of the standard and devices of the
United States, formed from these old coins
of France, were exported by the operations
of trade, they were in their turn obliged to
undergo the same process of destructive
change in France, England, Germany or
Russia, in consequence of the diversities
n i -l ? J _J_ .r
whicn neeaiessiy exist in tne stanuurus 01
those countries. The same gohl, with the
impress of imperial devices, passes again and
again through similar wasteful metamorphosis.
If there was Dot a single Republican coin
to be now found in France, would that prove
there was no coinage during the period of
the Republic ?
The whole subject of mintage has been
made an intricate one, as an artistic contrivance,
for want of order and in national standards
for weights and qualities.
In Britian, coinage was introduced by a
class of goldsmiths, which confined such
knowledge to their own body. "A company
of moneyers" still monopolize, in great degree,
the optratoins of the English mint.
Since such establishments have been organized
in the United States^ endeavors have
been made to regulate the coinage by a more
exact scale than the so-called "standard" of
Great Britian, which is now discredited by
, the highest authorities io England.
?iMMMMM
The Metre or measure of France has been
accepted as the standard for fineness in the
Assary departments alone of the United
States Mints. This exact scale is now desired
in all the departments of the mints which
derive no advantage from the use of the uncertain
standards of Great Britian, though
long employed.
The commerce and currencies of both
countries can be benefitted by a frank acceptance
of the Decimal system of France,
which would render their standard monies
of gold and silver uniform with all the nations
of the continent of Europe, who have
already adopted the French scale. By such
reference, our coins would become of equal
values and current among every people who
employ the same measures and practices in
their mints, and the incessant expense by recoinage
would be abandoned by all in the
exchange, which occur from the necessary
operations of an extensive commerce.
The history of commerce requires to be
carried beyond the limits of Rome or Greece
to the period of the earliest tradition, which
can only be understood by a careful comparison
with the practices and pxjerience of the
present age. * V*
GENERAL WASHINGTON.
We find the following in the Washington
States. The writer is evidently the good
old Baron Von Humboldt:
We have been favored with the following
extracts from a letter written by an esteemable
and enlightened German gentleman,
now in his eighty-fourth year, to his friend
in this city. The writer is perhaps 'the last
of the barons'?the only individual living
in either hemisphere who enjoyed the pleasures
of the table, seated on the right hand
of Washington. If we are mistaken in this
supposition, we will take pleasure in so stating
when advised to the contrary. Although
fifty-eight years have elapsed since the good
old German was last in this country, yet we
understand he has made it an invariable custom,
ever since, to celebrate at his house own
two great natioual holidays?the 4th of July
and 22d of February?annually. An American
in heart, though a foreigner by birth and
allegiance, the interest which ho manifests
for our prosperous destiny is calculated to
produce a salutary influence upon the publio
mind.
Bremen, January 15, 1859.
My Dear Sir: I had the pleasuse to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of 20th
T^n/iAmkoi* nnt) nimil m ronl f z\C 4 V* /\ fi t?o4 rvrtof
iu uti j uuu uiuii uij^u Vi luc mot pvou
to express ray thanks for the interesting intelligence
which it communicates. That
which affords me the most joy is the reference
made to the purchase, by American
ladies, of Mount Vernon, the domestic residence
of the immortal Father of your grea t
republic. The noble purpose of your fair
countrywoman to rescue the hallowed spot
upon which he passed the last days of his \
glorious life from further dilapidation, to )
preserve the unpretending old mansion from
utter ruin, and to embellish the grounds, is
as praise-worthy and creditable to the Union
as was that lofty patriotism which distinguished
the Spartan mothers. May almighty
God bless them for this work of national
gratitude?too long, alas! delayed by their
fathers, husbands, and brothers.
In my parlor is suspended an engraving
nf Mnnnfc Vernnn. and in mv frnnt hnll n
picture of General Washington, which embraces
Mrs. Washington, and Miss Cnstis.
My eyes love to linger upon those faithful
mementoes of other years. They vividly call
to my mind the day?the proudest day of
my life?that I passed upon the beautiful
banks of the Potomac, in the family of the
best and greatest personage that the world
has ever produced. It was in May, 1798,
now nearly sixty-one years ago. I was seated
at his right at dinner, and I recollect as
distinctly his majestic bearing as if it were
yesterday. Though of mortality, his overpowering
presence inspired an impression
that he belonged to immortality. Hisstateliness,
his serene face, the perfect simplicity
of his manners, his modest demeanor, and
the words of wisdom which he uttered, led
me irresistably to the belief that he was an
emanation of the Omnipotent, for the marvelous
work that he had then just consummated.
It was my good fortune to contemplate
him in his retirement?after he had left
nothing undone that he could peform for the
republic of his creation, and after he had
quitted office forever. What a privilege I
enjoyed in being his welcome guest! Of
the 240,000,000 of people in Europe, I imagine
I am the only person, since the death of
Lafayette, who was so favored as to break
bread and take wine with him at his own table.
May his pure spirit guide your government,
in all coming time, through" any
difficulties in which it may find itself encompassed
! May his disinterested patriotism be
emulated through countless generations, by
his successors in the Executive Mansion.
The Presidential task, however, becomes
more and more difficult as your population
increases and your boundaries extend. I
thank you much for Mr. Buchanan's message.
It is replete with information, suth
as we could expect from so experienced and
enlightened a statesman. It has been favorably
received in Germany. But will
Congress assist him in carrying out the measures
which he proposes ? The exercise of
a controlling influence in Central America
appears to be an absolute necessity for your
commercial intercourse with the Western
States, as also the annexation of Cuba j and
yet I think your republic wants no addition
of territory. For my part, I liked your fif
teen United States, duriDg my stay, from
1796 to 1800, much more than I do now
your thirty-two, with all the gold of California.
But I will indulge in no gloomy forebodings,
but, as ever, will implore God to
protect your Union, and bind its citizens
together with cords of enduring fraternal regard.
J^The population of "Washington City
is now estimated at 62,000, an increase of
fifty per oent since 1850.