University of South Carolina Libraries
- " _ _ _ ?? ??? !~?. ...j^??d?i?_.~z..j!_-_r__?., '''''\..''.z ...j .* j. e. &l. m. qbist, |proprietors fitkpitktrf Jfamilj efospttjifr: : Jfor the ISromotian of % ^political, Social, ^gricaltaul rait Cammertial ftttoesfs of tjjt j&nrfjr. jmpeb sbab,nr abvasck. ^== J : ^ - -.^? -"l- ' . ~W^. _. r - . ' ' ' - . ' -. r't- - ' YOLUME10. - YORKYILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY EYEXIXG,- JANUARY 13, 1864. - - . IUMBES 2. RATES OF POSTAGE O THE [ G. STATES OF AMERICA. F)R the convenience of the public the following simplified statement of tbc rates of post age, under the act of Congress of the Confederate States of America, has been prepared. It most be borne in mind that the Act Is to go into effect from and after such period a? the P. M. General may, by proclamation, announce: * STItS OF POBTAOE. Single letters, not exceeding a half ounce In weight, to any part of the Confederate States, shall be each 10 cents. An additional single rate for each additional half ounce or less. Drop letters 2 cents each. In the foregoing cases, the ;ioatage to be prepaid by stamps or stamped envelopes. Advertised letters 2 cents each. ON NEWSPAPERS. Sent to regular and bona fide subscribers from the office ofj>ubllcatioii,and notexceeding three ounces in weight: Weekly paper, 13 cents per quarter. Semi-Weekly paper, 26 cents per quarter. Trl-Wcekly paper, 39 cents per quarter. Four times a week, 36 cents per quarter. Five times a week, 65 cents per quarter. Six times a week, 78 cents per quarter. ON PERIODICALS. Periodicals published dftcner than semi-monthly shall be chained as newsMUtera. Periodical!) published monthly, not exceeding IX ounces in weight, 1 cent on each number, and one cent additional on each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. 4 os transient printed matter. The Aland postage on every other newspaper, and on eiteh circular not pealed, handbill, engraving, pamphlet, periodical, magazine or other paper, which shall be uncon nected with any manuscript or written uianer, and not exceeding I ounce in weight, shall be 1 cent, and for every .TddiUonal ounce or friction of an ounce, 1 cent additionait and books, bound and unbound, not weighing over ' fo*rpounds, shall be deemed mailable mutter, and Uie inland postage on them shall be at the rate -of 2 cents on ounco-or fraction of an ounce, and the postage on all such transient matter and hooks, shall be prepaid in all cases except when sent by .officers, musicians or privates of the anny. franking privilege. The following persons only are entitled to the frankinS ( privilege, and In all cases strictly confined to official business. i Postmaster General. His Chief Cledt. * ' Auditor ofegic Treasury for the Po?rt Office Department. Deputy Postmasters. - . ' HEADQUARTERS, COMMISSARY pENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, S. C'., 1 ' Columbi a, S. C., December 20, 1863, ( T^HE General Assembly having pas- < JL sed an Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to sup- j pri'?s the undue distillation or spirituous liquor* in this State," authorizing- and empowering bis Excellency the Coventor to contract with a skilled and responsible agent In each of the Districts of this State to manufacture a limited quantity of pore spirits; at a limited and reasonable price, not to exceed three dollars per gallon; said spirits not to be sold to any but regularly practicing physicians and registered druggists." Notice is hereby given that proposals in writing, stating prices, will be received at this Department for the manufacture and sale, as above, of a quantity of pure spirits and alcohol, sufficient for the demands of the District from which the offer is made. Bond of ten thousand dollnrs, with adequate security, will be required for the faithful performance of the contract. ? Early proposals are requested. * By order of the Governor. RICHARD CALDWELL, Lieut. Coi. and Commissary Gen., S. C. ] December 23 31 4t ' 1TAT 8IDE HOME; I TN view of the increased demands up- 1 A on the Way-side Home, the Executive Committee t charged with its managment have .appointed the folowing gentlemen Agents of tills institution to solicit contributions > in money and provisions, and beg that these friends will act promptly without ftlrmer notice. The conductors of the various Railroads will give their generous aid lu the trans < portatitra of all supplies. 1 JAMES S. G1BBES, , Chairman pro tern., And Treasurer Way-Side Home. < Iir. Lew uamzier, v juicch rcrry, \viangc munn.; T. Zimmerman, St. Matthew's, S. C. 1 C. Whlttcmore, Orangeburg C. H. ' Rev. T. 0. Fricrson, Kingstree. J. H. Dingle, Sumter. Rev. B. N. Suares, Barnwell. Col. J. J. Ryan, Blackvillcl E. L. Kerrison, Columbia. , Rev. J. R. Dow, Aiken. Silas Johnstone, Newberry. II. B. McMastcr, Wlonsboro. Rev.'J. B. A(^er, Pendleton, Rev. W. A. GamoweJI, Marion. ? A. O. Norris, Esq., Anderson. Rev. C. McCartba and W. M. Lawton, Abbeville. Lieut. Col. John A. Bradley, Chester. William A. Latta, York. J. Kyle, Esq., Uaurens. Rev. J. D. McCullough, Union. C. J. Elford, Esq., Greenville. Rev. W. C. Kirklond, Spartanburg. Dee 13 51 lp. - ! 3k IK THE COURT OF ORDIK ART, YORK DISTRICT. , For Division or Sale of Real Estate of George itlc. Floyd, deceased. I Margaret W. Floyd, Applicant, t . c*David J. Floyd, James Floyd, Carroll Henry, and Wife, t Mary J., S. G. Kennedy and a child (whose* name is unknown) of S. G. Kennedy and Elisabeth G. Kennedy, dc- ' censed, heirs of George Mc. Floyd, deceased. ( IT appearing to my satisfaction that j Carroll Henry, and Wife, Mary J., S. G. Kennedy, and , a child (whose name is unknown) of ?. G. Kennedy and J Elizabeth G. Kennedy deceased, defendants in above sta? ><, raui. r??M? without the limits of this Stale : It is there fore Ordered that they do appear and object to the division ; or sale oi the real estate of Cleorce Mc. Floyd, deceased, on or before the fifteenth day of February, 1*0-1, or their con- | sent to the same will be entered of record. ($28) JOHN A. BROWN, O. Y. D. f November 11 43 3m 1?TATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, YORK DISTRICT. Roddey St Co., vs W. B. Dunlap.?attachment. TTTIIEEREAS, the plaintiff's did on f T the 15th day of October 1863, tile their declaration against the defendant, who (as it is said) Is absent from and without the limits of this State, and has neither wife nor attorney known within the same, upon whom a copy of the said declaration might be served. It is therefore ordered, that the said defendant do appear and plead to the said declaration, on or before the loth day of October, which will he In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, otherwise final and absolute judgment will then be awarded against him. (.*16) S. E. MOORE, Clerk. October 15th, 1863.November 4 44 qly. IN EQUITY?YORK DISTRICT. William Clinton and Wife, 1 vs. ) Bill for Partition of Land. Snm'i Lowry & Wife, etal.) IT appearing to my satisfaction that Lucian Miskellv, one of the defendants in above case, resides beyond the limits of this State: It is, tlieretorc, on motion of J. Bolton Smith, Esq., Solicitor for Complainants, ordered th'.t said absent defendant, do appear and plead, < answer or demur to the bill filed in tbis case, within three months from the publication of this notice, of said bill will be taken pro confcrso against him. November 21,1863. ($21) WALTER B. METTS, c. n. y. d.. November 23 47 3m A DMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE.? ./"A. All persons having claims against the estate of Dr. JOHN CHAMBERS, deceased, arc hereby notified to present them to the Administrator, properly attested within the time prescribed by law. And those indebted are request ed to uiukc payment immediately to WM. C. PATTERSON, Adm'r. December 23,1863. 01 jw DMINISTBATOR'S NOTICE^ j.1. All persons indebted to the estate of JAMES WALLIS, deceased, are requested to make immediate payment; those having demands against said deceased, arc notified to present them, properly attested, within the time prescribed by law. Z. D. SMITH, Administrator December 23 01 3t ADMIiNISTRATOR'S XOTIfE. A LL pet sons indebted to the Estate of 1 l \ Mrs. Margaret Chambers, deceased, are hereby notified to make payment to the undersigned Administrator ; and those having claims against the said deeeascd, will present them properly attested to the Administrator, for settlement, within the time prescribed by law. WILLIAM C. PATTERSON, Adrn'r. December 23,1863. 51 3t, ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE. ALL persons indebted to the Estate of MIJAMIN W. CHAMBERS, deceased, arc hereby notified to make payment to the Administrator immediately. Those having claims against said deceased arc requested to present them porpcrly attested to the Administrator for settlement hi the time prescribed bvlaw. WM. C. PATTERSON, Adrn'r. December 23, 1863. 51 3w. _SLAVE LABOR. PERSONS having demands against the Stale for Slave Labor done on the Coast, under the subscriber's control are hereby respectfully notified that they must have their respective claims made out, with a power of Attorney attached, and subscribed before S>. E. ( MOORE, Clerk of the Court for York District, on or before the FIFTEENTH OF JANUARY next. I A. A. McKENZIE. December 9 49 tf ] /'COMMITTED?TO THE JAIL OF 1 V_y York District, as a runaway, 011 Sunday, the 13th ' instant, a negro man, who calls his name MINGO, and says he belongs to Raydon Williams, of Edgccomb County ' N. C. The owner is notified to come forward, prove prop- ] crty, pay charges and take him awav, or he will be dealt with as the law directs. I JAMES MASON, . Sherifi", York District. ] Dec 16 50 tf j Q ALT! SALT!?ON HAND AND O for sale a prime lot of WILMINGTON SALT, at$24 per bushel of 50 6s; or exchange for produce, 36s of SALT < for 16 of PORK. W. E. ROSE. December 23 61 tf 1 j DAWN, NOON, TWILIGHT. BY W. C. BRADLEY* Imprisoned in a living jail, A lusty, kicking son of earth, Ready to wake, and weep, anil wail, My limbs arc struggling" to the birth. Let me pass. Now on my feet I tottering stand, Till by enticements bolder grown. I quit the watchful mother's hand, And, lo! I learn to go alone. Let me pass. Now, in youth's buoyant, merry round, With quickened pulse my steps advance. Where music, wine, and wit abound, And blooming beauty leads the dance. Let me pass. f Now, blest with children, wife, and friends, Ambition urging to the van, I strive to walk where duty tonds, With love to God, good will to man. Let me pass. " * And now my better homo draws nlgli, JC icc irviii presuui|ii^u tum uwjmn j But weary, faint, I tomt to die, And leave tills world and all its care. ' Let me pass. 1t> 11 ? An Act - . ro declare and amend the exemption Law of this State, and for other purposes. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate^ and House of Representatives, now met and fitting in- General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, Tbat an Ordinance of the Convention of tbo People of the State of South Carolina, entitled "an Ordinance to exempt overseers from the performance of Military duty," passed the second day of January, Anno D.omino, eighteen hundred and sixty two, the fourth section of "an Act for the better organization of the Militia, and for other purposes," ratified tho Cth of February, Anno Domini, eighteen hundred and sixty three, and the Ninth Section of an Act of the General Assembly, entitled "an Act to provide for Volunteer P Ik*" ' i 3 T_ J A uompames 01 mourned xnianwy, ana ior other purposes," ratified the thirtieth day of September, Anno Domino, eighteen hundred and sixty three, be and the same are hereby declared to apply to troops called in- . :o service mider the militia organization of ;bis State under the laws thereof, and not ,o troops raised hy the laws of the Confederate States of America. "Sec. 2. That the provisions of the Fourth Section of an Act of the General Assembly, entitled an "Act for the better organization jf the Militia, and for other purposes," ratified on the 6th day of February, Anno Domino, eighteen hundred and sixty three, jxempting from military service apothecaries, schoolmasters, keepers of ferries, toll bridges and toll grain mills, all persons beoagiag to the Boards of Belief of Soldiers' Families, the officers and employees of raiload companies, persons engaged in the nonufacture of salt, be altered and amend;d so as to exempt from the military service therein provided for, and as declared >y this act, one apothecary to each regular y established drag store which was m opstation at the conrmenoemeat of the war; ill schoolmasters over the age of forty years, ind now having under their charge not less ,han twenty scholars f one white man over ,he age of forty five years to each establishid ferry, toll-bridge or toll grain mill, if ac;ually kept by sach white man ; all persons >elonging to Boards of Relief oT Soldier's Families, over the age of forty five, or if exempted by reason of physical infirmity from Confederate conscription; the officers and as many employees of each railroad company as the President ^ir superintendent may certify and show to the satisfaction of the Adjutant and Inspector General to be necessary to the efficient conduot of its business, and that the duties of said employees cannot be disohaged by slaves, or free persons of color j all persons employed by the State or Confederate Government in the manufacture of arms, munitions of war and army supplies, or by contractors to furnish the same to the State or Confederate Government: Provided, it be shown to the satisfaction of the Adjutant and Inspector General that the public interest and military defenoes require the exemption of suoh persons; one superintendent or manager to each salt work on on the sea coast: Provided such salt work yields ten bushels of salt per day, and has been in operation at least two months previous to being called into service, and that exemptions of such persons heretofore granted contrary to the provisions of this Act be, and the same are hereby revoked. Sec. 3. That whenever the Governor for tho time being shall, by orders published in tho newspapers of the State, call upon any portion of the militia to appear before the Enrolling Officers of the State or militia officer and claim exemption from militarv service under the laws of the State, all * ' persons who shall fail to appear and present their claims in pursuance of said orders, shall be held liable to forfeit their right for exemption at the discretion of the Governor: Provided, the said order shall be published for forty days. Sec. 4. That the Enrolling Officers provided for by an Act of the General Assembly, entitled "An Act to provide for Volunteer companies of Mounted Iafantry and for other purposes," ratified on the thirteenth day of September, in the year ot our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, in addition to the enrollment therein required to be made by them, shall also be required to enroll any other portion of the militia who are liable to aotual service by the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly entitled "An Act for the better organization of the Militia and for other purposes," ratified the sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand sight hundred and sixty three, and that the Adjutant and Inspector General be, and is hereby authorized to establish rules and , regulations, to be approved by the Governor, prescribing tho duties of the Enrolling Of- ] Seers and Surgeons. j Seo. 5. That from and after the passing i )f this Act no person shall be accepted as a : ubstitute in State military service. t - AIT ACT - _ TO CONTINUE IN FORCE THE LAWS HERETOFORE ENACTED IN RELATION TO THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON. Be it enacted by ihe Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same,That an Act entitled "An Aot to prevent and punish the planting and cultivating, in this State, over a certain quantity of cotton, during the present year," rati.An f.Lo uiw.h ftftc nf T&hmftrtr. in the year of oar Lord one thousand eight hundred-aod sixty three; and also an Act, en- ! titled "An Act to amend an Aot, entitled an Aot to prevent and punish the planting and cultivating, in this State, over a certain quantity of cotton-daring the present year," ratified'on the tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, be and the same are hereby re-enacted and made of foroe until the close-of the war between the Confederate States and United States of America. In the Senate Eonse the seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred sixty three, and in the eighty-eighth year of the sovereignty and independence of the State of S. Carolina. . W. D. PORTER, President of the Senate. a A. P. ALDR1CH, Speaker House of Representatives. ' ~r " ..... - aSpfofr Home Productions. It is high time we enter with earnestness upon the. development of our domestic resources. Much of the inconvenience, and iT- ? ? ? ? ? ^ ivnJnwiMM ItkHA tiAAn buueriug wd uid nuuuuug iibvc uccu avoided had we addressed ourselves at the , beginning of this/contest to thatiifflportant < and patriotic work. Content with suoh , things as we had, so fully persuaded the i war oould not be of lo*ng duration, and-hope- , ful of receiving ample supplies through the 3 blockade, we allowed so much precious time j to pass by unimproved, that we are in great Sfraits for clothing. Our garments are seedy and oan only be kept together by nutner- , ous patches, while the price of all kinds of j wearing fabrics appal, our spirits, and wo , are sadly distnrbed at the thought of being , compelled to replenish our meagre ward- ( robe. We have to pay thriae as much for , the "making up of qlothes in former times we , would have paid for the fabric and the ma- , king, and that for cloth we would have j scorned to wear, indeed, in the days of < peace a suit of clothes of the finest fabric , could have been got at a third less than a . pair of boots cost at the present time, and a lady could have decked her form in the heaviest silk for an outlay of money that now would not procure three yards of calico. And though the prices of this olass of necessaries are so frightfully high, the tendency is upward, and rapidly upward. When we take into consideration the depreciation of our currency, the loss of territory we have sustained, the fact that only one f>ort is accessible' to our blockade runners, and the inteuse greed of gain that has made so many thousandifof our couhtrymen 'speculators, , extortioners and sharpers, we dare not undertake to conjecture the figures that will be reached in the oourse of the present year. Many are unable to purchase clothing at the { prices that now rule, and thousands wilt "he i added to the thousands who are now needy, , i if we do not resort to the Card, the Spin- j ning'Wheel and the Loom. < It is with no small difficulty our vessels < are able^o reach the only port the enemy j has not sealed. A large fleet of vessels ex- j actly adapted to the work by reason of great < speed and light draught, watch with ever i open eyes the channels that lead to Wil* i mington. By spring their number will be 1 increased, and it will then be utterly impos- 1 sible to elude their vigilance^ and the only ? gate through wbioh we communicate with i the outside world will be shut. We cannot ' depend on factories. Those institutions are i warmly in favor of exhorbi'ttint prices.? 1 Even now it is all one they were not in ex- t istence to an exceedingly large number, { and they wjll continue to pile on the prices. < Further?several have been devoured by i flames, and those that escape the fire, will < some time or other havo to cease work- i ing, for machinery wears somewhat every i day. 1 If we will take counsel of wisdom we will [ supply ourselves with clothing going to i work at home, and making it. Our wives t and daughters are prepared, wo are sure, to t do their part. Those of them who are un- 1 acquainted with the useful art of spinning c and weaving will be proud to teach their ( bands. We look to them to come to our ^ help. They can .Bake ua independent of e factories, of blockade runners and of the j vast herd of sharpers. Let the music of j the Spinning Wheel be heard in every coun- i try house. Let every farmer determine to clothe his family and servants with the wool, and cotton, and flax produced on "his c own lands. Then we shall be prepared for t the prolongation of the war, no matter how r long it lasts.? Charleston Courier. c <tll? Gun. Brago's Reports.?The Rich- t mond correspondent of the Mobile Register, e writing Dec. 18, says Gen. Bragg's reports j( of the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout j, Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, have been received. A gentleman who was muoh prejudiced against him, tells me the perusal ^ of these reports, which are written with his j own hand and not by his Adjutant, has ^ given him a much more favorable opinion Q of him, both in an intellectual and military t, point of view. They are eminently clear ^ and concise, and as literary compositions fl( are far superior to the reports of other n Generals. The barren results of the vioto- rj ry at Chickamauga he attributes to Gen. D. H. Hill, and the saving of the army from annihilation after the battle of Missionary c< Ridge, he says'is due to Bate's small but ai brave brigade, which covered the retreat in 01 a most masterly style. The reports are be- w ing copied, preparatory to publication, so tl soon as Congress calls for them, and per- is baps before. d; . * How our Prisoners are Treated at the North. We are indebted to "J. R. B.," a member of the 2d Kentucky Cavalry, of Morgan's captured command, for late Northern papers and an insight into the treatment of Confederate prisoners imprisobed at the^ North. This gentleman was captured with* Morgan's command, and sent to Camp Donglas, Chicago. * He escaped the guardianship of the Yankee authorities a short time si^oe, journeyed on to Louisville, and thence to P4duoah, finally crossing the Yankee lihes near Memphis. Warm friends of the South in Chicago, Louisville and Paducah aided him on his hazardous route to hkn Snnih Tfnn? nr fiwn" hnndrod nf Mnr. gaii's command bare made their escape since oonfined, a great many have gone to Canada, where they will remain nntil aided from homeland enabled to retnrn to take up arms again for -the oause. Many have already come through in order to again enter the lists in our straggle, a'nd among this number is our correspondent. ^ We commend to the attention of those in arms the statement of this prisoner. If they are not able to see, from his candid statement of experiance, that death itself is preferable tocaptare, we are wasting words in vain. This soldier says : f - J -* ?I would advise: my comrades to make it the last, the very last resort, to surrender themselves to the .enemy.. The indignities, barbarities and. sufferings which they are subjected to are little preferable to death. Their blankets, money, overooats, anAmll personal property, are taken from them, and they are stripped?of such clothing as will protect them ftom the chill Northern blasts of winter, in order to force them, from necessity, to take the hated Yankee oath \ and aventhe mostjtrenuous exertions are made to force them .in the Yankee array?the promise of their enlistment in the enemy's ranks .being almost the only alternative from r?Artmnra fk ' "* /># im - > liccr&iug. w uonvu. , 7 ; - -"Not long before I left the prison there tras an occurrence toot place that shows their cowardly manner of treating defence-, less and unarmed men.-' Abont the time the battle of Chiokamanga was taking place their flag, ereoted in the centre of the prisjn.square, was blown to pieces by thowind and fell to tile gronnd. About twenty of }nr boys who were prisoners witnessed it, and considering it ominous of. ill sueoess to the banner of invasion, gave a lusty cheer. Shortly after, a Yankee captain made bis appearance with a squad of armed men,. and ordered the prisoners into line. Ue then called them sooundrels and oursed them for some minutes, using the most abu- i nve language his vile tongue could utter, and wound, up by ordering tbe guard to fire upon them.* When the:guard.refused to i axecute the infamous order, this pink of Northern chivalry again- resorted .to his vojabnlary of abosive epithets, and announced that if the victims of bis wrath offended again, he wonld turn the garrison loose upon them, and not be responsible for tbe result." a act >8 tne story ot one wao nas experienced imprisonment in a Northern bastiie. i Mobile Register. j- ?"?? 'i-1* SINGULAR TBAITS OP SONG BlED8.?A gentleman of my acquaintance had an Anerican mocking bird in each health and rigor that it was constantly singing or else mitating the various sounds it heard. In )rder to try the powers of this bird, the >wner purchased a. fine skylark. When placed in the same roam with the mocking jird, the song of the former was heard in ! jcho through the house, as if it were chant- j ng "on flattering wing" its well known < Welcome to the rising sun. The mocking < )ird wa3 silent for some time, but at last 1 jroke forth in the strains of the "serial song- 1 iter," but louder and clearer, as if mount* I ng and stretching its wings toward heaven, i rhu lark was silent that moment, nor was I 1 joyous not8 ever heard afterward. Wil- ? ing to test the power of. the mocking bird 1 itill farther, an unusually large price was i ?iven for a blaok bird celebrated for its vo- ( sal powers. It was placed io the same room I ;vith the mookiug bird. Early on the seo- t md morning its songs were resumed, and t ts oharming notes were warbled forth with *1 ill the sweetness and modnlation which may t >e heard in its native "thorny brakes."? i rhe mocking bird listened and was silent fpr t i time, when all at once its notes were heard ri o issue forth, but loader aiyl sweeter than j hose of the woodland songster. The poor I )lack bird heard them, felt that it was con- 1 juered, remained silent, drooped, pined and c lied. From the above facts, emulation 1 vould seem to be one of the exciting cau- i es of the songs of the birds. When their s >owers are excelled, they appear to feel dis- a graced at being conquered, and to lose all e nclination to renew their former efforts. t The West India English appear, from t certain extraots in the Bormuda papers, to f to getting very tired of the Yankee out- I ages. Their fatigue will not disturb the ii omplaoency of Russell and Palmerston.? b t is important for our people to know that v he mails which go through New York are fi xamined. The only safe way of sending ii 2tters is via Bermuda, to go into the Brit- o sh mail to Halifax. a ***** r< In one of Washington Irving's leters, written in 1853, he says to a friend in 'aris, " Louis Napoleon and Eugenie Mon- C ijo?Emperor and Empress of France? 0 ne of whom I have had a guest at my cot- 13 lge on the Hudson, the other of whom I tl ave had on my knee at Granada! It e> jems to cap the climax of the strange dra- ai las of which Paris has been the theatre du- ^ ing my life-time." w ***** ai Che4p Blacking.?Make a strong de- Y Dotion of the ripe China-berry, strain, and fr id soot until you make of the eonsistenoe gt f a stiff paste. The berry contains an oil w hich keeps leather soft and elastic, and st le polish, though not that of the mirror, good enough to carry a gentleman or la- j y into any oompany. ' I w Letter from Captain Semmes. The editor of the Mobile Regitter has been.favored with a perusaljof a letter from Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, to his wife, and was permitted to make the following extraots i[ ' C. S. Steamer Alabama, 1 Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, V i Aognst 8, 1868, J * *' * * I bad no idea, -when' I left New Orleans, in the Sumter, that the war wonld last over twelve months, and lo! we are in the third year, and as yet I see bat faint hopes of its conclusion. * * I wrote yon last from Bahia in Brazil, by the way of England, and direoted my letter to yon at Cincinnati; since which, seeing that the Yankee brnte, Bnrnside, had warned yon to qnit, I have learned that my letter did not reaoh yon. I hope that yon have at length all safely reaohed nnr lines, where I dnnbt not von < hare found kind friends to weloome you. * * * I hare nothing to add in respect to i my cruise which' would be of much interest i to you, since the busy public doubtless keeps you pretty well informed of my whereabodta i and doings. * * I feel now practically what is meant by "times that tries men's i sonls; but we must not give way toJweakr noes. We must school ourselves to these ' trials like Christian philosophers. We must < be birave men and women for onr country'^ i sake, and trust all the rest to God. 'As for,the,interoal arrangements, of my ship?her inner life?it is satisfactory. I have seme clever gentlemen with .me as officers, add have had but little difficulty in the government of my crew- I have every i reason to be satisfied with my success against the enemy. I believe I have rendered as gopd service to my country as I oould possibly have rendered in any other direction; and the world'iskind enongh to tell of ine in a friendly spirit, and to put a higher estimate Upon my labors than .1 think they deserve. If I estimate them. by tfie abuse whioh the Yankees heap upon me, they are certainly very great. >r To give you an idea of the enthusiasm 1 which the Alabama creates every where, 1 particularly among Englishmen, I enclose yon a slip from a newspaper published at J Cape Town, giving a graphic aoconnt of oar arrival here the other day. I am sure oar 1 excellent President Davis never bad a more orowded levee than I had in my cabin from 9 o'clock in the morning to 3 in the after* noon yesterday. The ship was packed from 1 stem to stern, and there tras a constant jam * in my oabin of men antl women?officers 1 and officers' wives, judges and lawyers, and 1 their wives and daughters, and Tom, Diok, 1 and Harry besides, all pressing fbrward to , shake hands with me and to beg my autograph ! Was not that a predicament for a modest man to be placed in 1 Indeed they 1 early tired me oat with demonstrations of 1 kindness. . * * * * . *" " )>< ! .i ' uTtt fiw UV PA OHIIPT) " SiMnnA vices were adopted by seme o? the bard op > soakers, on Christmas.day, to get the where witbal to feel the influence' of "the daywe celebrate," and none were more ingenious than the method of a pretended mote, who took in some of the merchants that kept open doors for a few hoars in the morning, to catch the early birds that chanced to fly their way. . The mute aforesaid, after sora- : tinizing the sign over the door, palled a slate out of his pooket,-walked in, and wri- < ting on it the words, "Got any molasses ?" , handed it to the merchant. The latter taking the hint?namely; that the gentleman was a deaf mate?wrote down the word , "Yes." The deaf mate added immediately the inscription, "How maoh do yoa ask For it ?'* The merchant jotted down "fif- , teen dollars." The deaf mute wrote : "Let , mc see it." The merchant oonduoted him :o the cellar, and gave him a look at the j jorghum. Dummy tasted the same, and, j manifesting his satisfaction by sundry signs ( ind grimaces, wrofce upon his Blate : "I'll , see my partner. ne ttien started out; jutj as if having forgotten something, re.urned and jotted down the cabalastio sen;enee : "Got any first rate brandy 1" The nerchant replied throngh the medinm of ;he slate : "Yes?splendid." "Let me see . t," responded Dummy in the same way, j ifter cleansing the tablet with his ooat sleeve. s Che merchant conduoted him to a bright jarticnlar barrel, drew ont a few "taster's" a 'all and poured the ruby liquor into a gob- 8 et, in which it was illuminated by the cir- v inmambient air to a magnificent advantage. v )ammy took it?there was over half a pint ^ n the goblet?viewed the surrounding ^ cenery of shelves and boxes through it for g , few moments, then slightly tasted it: grinted satisfaction and rubbed his belly; passed he goblet fbr a moment longer in the air, p nd then quietly tilted it to his lips, and if he brandy disappeared "like a dream," n rom the astonished vision-of the merchant, it )ummy hoisted his slate again, wrote upon t the words, "I'll see my partner," made a o' ow and left. Some half dozen merchants ti rere called upon, and "tested" in the same r ishion, by the original, who, at length, gave e i, and toddled down to one of the numer- ai us "rests for travellers," on 17th street, c< nd took a glorious, gratis slumber, for the tc est of the day.?Richmond Enquirer. si ?? Qj The Ladies op New Orleans.?A g, lonfederate officer lately escaped from New jj rleans, says of tho ladies: "Their spirit 0j yet unsubdued, and it is their glory that iej?the only foes that Bntler ever dared sa acounter?defeated the Beast, and that he w ad his minions have never recovered from l . L L .1. iu vyuuuua ui Dbtugiug uumempc WU1QQ toe m omen of New Orleans inflicted on them, sa id under which they still writhe. The p, ankees and their few adherents, arc exiles aa om good society; no one of them has ever oc lined entrance into a decent family, except w] hen he went officially to insult a lady or afi eal something." j Vcg* A generation is but a link in the ohaiu Y hioh binds man to eternity and God, to The Confederate Graves in New Orleans.?A young lady, writing from New Orleans, gives the following, dfcsoription of tbe graves of Confederate soldiers there, as they appeared on All, Saint's day. She says : The Confederate graves were beautifully decorated, not one neglected. They presented a glorious oontrast to the graves of tbe Federals, some of which were covered with weeds, that made it almost impossible to see the head boards. Where the Unioo ladies were we should like to know. Ib the centre of the Confederate burial ground (which is in Cypress Grove) there is a cross about seven feet hieh. covered with black velvet, and spangled with gold. In golden letters, inscribed on the front of this cross, are these words: "To our Southern brothers, by the ladies of-New Orleans." On the other side, on the .orpss pieoe, are three wreaths, the one on each end being red, and the one in the centre white?which gives the red, white and red of our flag?while the top of the. oross is surmounted with a wreath of olive. The name, regiment, and place of death is in* soribed on each head-board. There was not a blade of grass an inch high to lie seen about them. Each head-board is entwined with a wreath of evergreen, interspersed with white flowers, fit emblems of the hearts of our dead heroes, while the graves themselves were planted with red and white flowers. Sorely ic*will be a gratification to the relative^ to fcnow that, though buried in a place held by th^enemy, there tire , still Borne hearts earnest and true, who will not forget the last res ti rig place of thoso.who sacrificed their lives for the cause of liberty. ~. ?n6? ?;?: The Charleston C6urxer.pl the <th instant, says Daring last week a negro, who says .he was the servant and cook of GeneratGillmore, was captured on John's Island byh servant of one of the members of the "Rebel Troop." He states that he had been sent from Folly Island to John's Island to bring~off some pumpkins for Gen. Gillmore, bat that he lbst*fcis.way, and, had been out exposed to the severe weather for several days previous to his capture, when he was discovered by the 6ervaot above mentioned and brought Jn a.prisoner. He had a very emaciated appearance, and when captured was badly frozen and exhausted. He was sent to the hospital on John's Island. r . In the aeeount the negro gives of himself,. he says that he belonged at one time to a Virginia planter, who gave him his freedom when twelve years of age, and he then went to New York. He has been in the employ of. General Gillmore for fourteen years, and accompanied him from New York to .Hilton Head. He states that he has heard General Gillmore say that be despaired of ever being able' to take Charleston, and that it was his intention soon to remove his headquarters from Folly Island to Hilton Head. Gen. Gillmore, he says, has about nioeteenlhousand troops in thp whole department. The negro believes there will be no further demonstration against Charleston, but that from what be has heard, thinks they meditate an attaok, by way of the Ogeechee river, upon Savannah. True Grit.?The Knoxville Register relates the following incident: ? When the Yankees were at Rodgersville, Tennessee, a short time since, they arrested a shoe maker who is well known as "Old Harry," and confined him in the guard house. His wife" as olever and Industrious a woman as ever lived, has born? him ten lilrely sots. The worthy couple have been "pegging away" for mahy years to raise their children properly, and hence they have accumulated but little of this world's goods. Mrs. Harry called upon her husband at the vnar/1 rnnm vIiato ha mug tmrrnnnd nd Kir ^UBIU IVVIUJ nuviv MW ?? W She officer of the day and a guard. She, np)n seeing her liege lord, asked him, "So poa are in here, are yon ?" Harry replied iffirmatively. "Well, you're not going to ake the oath, are yoa f" asked she, with lashed oheeks. "No, I've no notion of it," esponded Harry, with olenohed teeth and a lefiant air. "I'd rather see yoar last end ?see yoa rot first, than hear of yoa taking hat oath. I can take care of the boys,'' aid Mrs. Harry. _ .< - The offioer of the day then ordered her .way, telling her that her language was inciting to him and bis men. Stepping back vith ereot form and noble mein, the heroic roman shook her hand in his face, and told lim that she was raising ten fine boys to 1 late and fight saoh despicable wretches as ; le and his men were to the bitter end. i i Shoddy.?The Hartford (Conn.) Post ' ublishes an article on " Shoddy," which, | : says, " comes from one of the first basi- j ess men in Connecticut." We quotp from i the following: " What is shoddy ? Shoddy Is old worn i ut unfelled woolen goods, made of slack i visted yarn, picked to pieoes by maohine- i 1 flnPPI^ll T7 frt fha nnimrtoa Tf ic J MUW|/WVI w kUV/ JLU AD lixed with wool of longer fibre and staple, i ad when carded together oan be finer or i parser, according to the proportion it bears ( i the new wool making the compound. No c nail per centage of shoddy oan be thus j tixed with new wool and made into yarn ( i for either warp or woof, or yarn for knit- j ng purposes. Mango is another name for t d and worn oat fine felted goods atd s road cloth olothes, picked to pieces in the s .mo manner. It is the finer artiole, and o hen properly prepared can be worked into to finest black cloths to bo foand in the arket. A very large proportion of all the ? tinet in the market is more or less im egnated with shoddy. The same may be * id of hosiery and stookinet goods. It is a mseqaently worn by the many, and those o bo do not get it on in one form or another o o the favored few." o 7 ' ri The steamers which sailed frofn New h ork on the 30th December for Europe, h ok out 9877,900, ia Bpecie. I fc H9*Tbe Mobile Tribune saysWeTearn that one of. oar Confederate Qaaitermasters has been discovered to be a defaulter in the small sum of $5,000,000. The investigation, of hie defections had not been com-; pleted when this little deficit was discovered. ? It is not improbable that' another cipher will finally have to be added to the hhort- * ness of his cash, accounts. It "were polioy to saj nothing about this, but it is so much talked pf on the streets, that no advertise mentoaoldmike it more notorions. This man was living at the rttte of fi^e ratten thousand dollars a day?having carnages at his command?everything that was good in the matter'of food?ate, like Divesl .of the best that the poor markets of this country afford. In short, was olad in raiI meat of gold on his sleeves, and wild decks [ and pate foi gras on. kit tables -7 and all ..J?j this was presamed by innocent people to be derived from the salary of nis omee, wmcn ; is equivalent to the pnrcbadng of qprnmeal and such condiments aa may make It palatable. *v* v I IThe following is a copy of an order ! i?Baed by General Lee, complimentary of a citizen of Chester District. - PriVate Wffli; A. Bolick has been a scoot witbifc the enefr my's lines for some time previoos to the date of this order. . Hiadquaetkrs A. N. V. - November 20,18&3. : Maj. General X E. B: Stuart, \ Commanding Cavalry, Cbrps. General : The report of the capture of six Federal soldiers,* with their homes and arms at Weaverville, near General Meade's Headqnaitdre, on the 31st of October, by private Wm. A. Bolick, of the Carolina Cavalry, the skill with whiefa the set was effected. The report will be forwarded fco^heDepartment ss ao evidence of their merit. FaiafcwWSlwjte Your Obedient servaqj. 8PBOCE.~The scarcity of specif both ia England and France, and the consequent increase in the rate of discount of the banks of both countries, has awakened a great and alarming interest among financiers, who, although aware, that the evil cap at pnstot be controlled as it has been before, by legislation, admit that its radical care is that impossible, and at best will onlypoeipoee' for a time the impending crisis.- The jits*, sau Herald says it doas not yet seem to have, pierced their intelleote enfficienUy. deep to mBKfl tueiu iiwue idm me gre? tuna ui labor (which is national wealth') the whole woild haa suffered for three years, fs, after all, the real cause of thia state of affairs, and that it can only be effectnallyoared by. the settlement of the American war, and the consequent restablishment of the old prodnctiveuearf-of 'labor. The spokes cannot be taken from the wheels of- trade, . without creating ap "upset" sooner or later. i . ' ' Kindnkbs or ABOLinpNisidi^W. .H. Wilder, Yankee wpeotor of abandoned.*** confiscated plantations in Louisiana,,give* the following description of the benefits of. Linooltt'Bjystfim: , More particularly would I call ywir attention to the Old Hickory plantation. The mortality'that has and is occurring there is appalling. On White Castle - plantation, out of 149' negroes, 85 have died , and 22 run away, thus leaving but 42 of the original number. At the Old Hickory plantation there were 413 negroes; of these 202 have died sinoe June last. On my visit there 1 found 38 negroes sick} without r proper nurses or medical attendance. The hospital is a building 18 by 23 feet in size, id wbioh the sick referred to were packed. Id the midst of this lazar-honse was the dead bodj of a woman who had died at 3 ( o'clock, a. m.. At 5.o'clock, p. m., the following day, no nfeasnres had been taken for her sepulture, and the body had commenced to decompose. h>ii p Saved his Tuekeyc?While one of Gen, Lane's men, a North Carolinian, was on picket neap Chanoelloriville, in the late advance on Meade, and while standing behind a tree, within speaking distance of the enemy, a wild turkey came passing by, when the picket, unable to resist the temptation, fired and killed it. Bat he dared not venture to go and get it, lest he might be shot. Having re-loaded his gun, he peeped from behind the tree at his prize, ind perceiving a Yankee in the sot of tak-' ing it up, he fired again, and dropped the Yankee by the side of the turkey, where both remained until night, when the picket gathered in his trophies. * ' nati Beautiful.?The following is instructive, as showing what acceptable prayer is, tod what is. the just interpretation of its nodel, our Lord's Prayer: . * " To watch without prayer, is to presume * ipon our own strength; to pray without vatohing, is to presume upon the $aee of 3-od. The Lord's Prayer is the rule of our luty and desires: we are engaged by every letition to oooperate and concur with Divine., irace, to obtain wnat we pray tor. A stream (reserves its orystal clearness by continual (inning; if its coarse be stopped, it will tsgnate and patrify. The parky.of the oal is preserved by the continual exercise f habitual grace." Waste in the Abht.?a writer in the lewnan, Ga., Bulletin, says: Since this war commenced we oaloiriate, t a rough estimate, bat below rather than bove the real figures, that enough leather ould have been tanned from the green bides f beeves killed in onr army to hare made ver twenty millions of shoes I What a ickless waste, mayhap rasoality, then there as been in the matter of green hidgfc and ow important that-then should beM^ange >r the better. ' v - /