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COLUMBIA. Saturday Morning, February 24,1866 The Veto Message. We give this morning much of our space to the veto message of the President on the Freedmen's Bureau Bill-a bill, at least, extending the powers of that organization. We also give, elsewhere, the various state? ments of Northern journals as to how it has been received. The veto is one of the most impor? tant that has over been issued from the Executive chair. It initiates the warfare bc-tween the radicals and the President, but, as the vote in the Senate indicates, it also demonstrates that Andrew Johnson is "master of the position." He might have de? layed this veto for weeks, and post? poned the rupture that was sure to come. He might have temporized with tho radicals, and the bill might lia ve been modified; bvt be bas come up to bis work manfully. He is op? posed to the bill root and branch. He is opposed to it on constitutional grounds, and holds that there is no authority for the measure-no justice in it to the States directly interested, and no necessity for it. Our readers will agree with us, that the message is a calm, dispas? sionate and able paper. As a co tem? porary remarks, avoids an army ol commissioners, each with supreme authority in bis bailiwick, and the whole backed by au army of soldiers to enforce their decrees. It avoids the expenditure of $25,000,000, ac? cording to tbe President's estimate more than the cost of tbe Federa Administration forty years ago-and this at a time when we have an enor? mous debt, and must strain every means to diminish it. It prevents the feeding, clothing, and educating a race of beings on account of color out' of the Federal Treasury-wbei the orphans of the white soldiers anc tba millions of whites "who are bon estly toiling day and night," says tb? President, have never been educated nor fed, nor clothed, nor their rent paid out of the Treasury! All thia together with the infringements c the rights and liberties of the people and tbe concentration of the enoi mous power in the Executive, prc posed by this bill, will be avoided b tili* veto. The issue is at length made betwee the Administration and tbe radie faction in Congress. Patriotism ar beroism are the essential elements i this message. The President has tnke bis position fearlessly and regardle. of the apparent odds against him and as the vote in the Renate show he has triumphed. Oue feature of tb message strikes us as being indicatr of the stern patriotism of its write and that is, that he has ignored i point, advocated no argument, ai has defined his position thorough in every respect. As the New Yo: Herald says, ' 'be enters into a full e position of bis reconstruction poli and contends that the exelud? Southern States, in meeting bis co ditions of restoration, are sufficient reconstructed for a recognition 1 both houses of Congress." One thing is certain, the Preside] has drawn tho line boldly and di tinctly between his poUcy and th of Stevens, and calls upon Congre to make their choice. The bran of that body in which the bill ori{ nated has refused to condemn t' veto by the necessary Constitution vetoing, and from this action we a gur well for the future of the cou try. _^ ^_ The demonstration of the citize: of the District of Columbia in su port of the President's policy, on t 22d, was attended by an immen concourse. The meeting was a dressed by prominent individua Resolutions in support of the patrio* policy of the President were adopt and presented to him, at the Exec tive Mansion. The President, in i sponse, reiterated his devotion to t Union, and sail the radicals we endeavoring to break up the Uni' which we fought to preserve. T President's remarks were greeted wi great applause by tho vast gatherin - The Richmond Times says: *'\ deem it our duty to inform our read? that a case of genuine Asiatic cliole hos developed itself on Broad strei It therefore behooves all who hav< regard for Pife, to see that their pi mises, as well as their persons, kept in as pure and cleanly conditi as possible." ..Ott Ute Wing." BALTIMORE, MIX, 0 Febraary 16, 1866. DEAR PHONIX: I reached this place last evening, direct from "Washington. Yesterday was extremely cold, and to-day is colder; the mercury is.five degrees below zero. This city has grown rapidly during the last ten years, and her population now is about 230,000. In the city, there are 161 churches, divided among the various denominations as follows: Protestant Episcopal, 21; Presbyterian, 15; Bonum Catholics, 20; Methodists, 60; German Re? formed 3; Baptist, 9; Christian or Disciple's Church, 2 ; Evangelical Lutheran, 10; Evangelical Associate, 2; Independent Church, 2; Seamen's Union Bethel, 1; Friends, 3; Uni versalists, 1; Unitarian, 1; Sweden b or gian, 2; Jewish Synagogue, 6; other religious sects, 3. While writ? ing about churches, allow me to make a correction in reference to the num? ber of churches in the cities of Wash? ington and Georgetown. I stated that there were ninety-four; I should have said eighty-one; and instead ?of twenty-two Protestant Episcopal churches in the above named cities, there are nine. Baltimore is a great commercial city, but she is somewhat disorganized in her political relations, owing to the fact that a majority of her citi? zens are disfranchised by what is called the Registration Act, requiring all voters to swear that they have never in any way sympathized with the so-called rebel States. I am no politician, nor would I aspire to such distinction; but I must say, that whatever has been the past history of the South, her present condition is such as to claim the sym? pathies of all people everywhere. And yet I believe that the future his? torian of the sunny South will chro? nicle for her au unparalleled com? mercial prosperity. So mote it be. I am further satisfied that if the North? ern and Southern people knew more of each other, they would more pro? perly appreciate each other, and feel that the interest of one was the inte? rest of the other. Most certainly, our country is capable of becoming the greatest nation on this earth. O that all our people would become more magnanimous, and take liberal views of all the subjects that affect uf? as a growing people! OMEGA. BAXTIMOBE, MD., February 19, 1866. DEAS PHONIX: Yesterday was whai the emphatic German would have called an unfriendly day. It rained, sleeted, etc. In the forenoon, I attended Trinity (an Independent Methodist) Church and heard Rev. Mr. Hall preach near ly one hour, from 1st Corinthians 13th chapter, 13th verse. His voic< was rather weak, his ennnciatioi rather indistinct, and his gesticulatioi not classic. The sermon was siinpb an extended exposition on the grea Apostle's comprehensive but concis? comment on charity. The speake had not thoroughly analyzed his sub ject, and hence his sermon lacke< unity, and his declamation wan tee : freshness of thought and pathos o feeling. In fact, it was more of ? lecture than a sermon. This church building has been re cently finished. It is capacious ii size, and beautifully frescoed on th interior, and is altogether very nea and comfortable. In the afternoon, I attended th Missionary Anniversary of the Soutl ? Baltimore Station Sabbath School j and listened to addresses from Mi Hines, Rev. Bishop Ames, Mr. Hun and Rev. Dr. Bird. There was no thing very striking in auy of thes addresses; they were plain and we] adapted to the youthful auditory The Bishop's speech was special!; novel in its arrangement and simpl in its style. He propounded que.? tions to the children, and then elabo rated their answers into a speech which was interesting to them. Ther were present about 300 Sunday schoc scholars, who sang several hymn most sweetly and harmoniously. A night, I could have heard a womal preach in a Spiritualist Church, bu my reverence for religion beinj stronger than my curiosity, I de clined the privilege of attending sud service. I have just seen an interesting reli of the Revolution of '76. It is ; gold snuff box of most exquisit manufacture, as well as of great value It is of pure gold, the exterior beau tifully enamelled, and 'studded Avitl diamonds. On the top, there is ? likeness of Louis XVI, set in a elua ter of thirty-four diamonds, whils the edge is surrounded with twenty four diamonds. This box was pre sented by Louis XVI, King of France to Col. John Laurens, of South Ca rolina, Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Wash ington, on the occasion of that of fleer's mission to France, by order o the American Congress, to negotiate a loan for his Government, *?t is i matter of history that when Col Laurens arrived in France, Dr. Frank lin tried to dissuade him from pre senting his petition to the King, bu the Colonel persevered, and at tin first levee walked directly to the King and handed him the petition of tb American Congress, declaring that ii the event the petition was either de nied or delayed, there was danger o his sword being -wielded with Grea Britain against the monarchy of France. The brave Colonel's manli? ness triumphed, and his mission was crowned with success. This magnifi? cent lelic is the property of a widowed descendant of the nobie Colonel, and she, having been reduced to poverty by the late ruinons war, has sent it to this city to be sold. $2,500 have already been offered for it. If I were rich, I would purchase it ind then donate it to the widow. Yesterday, I saw what was a novel sight to me-a procession of colored Odd Fellows. There are also colored men here who belong to the Masonic fraternity. The colored people of this city have several fine Methodist churches. This letter is long enough, and therefore I will say good-bye for the present. OMEGA. -? ?+ ?? The Pnblle Whipping Case. The sentences of Judge Aldrich, passed on the 14th instant, upon Fox, Armady and Foster, prisoners found guilty of larceny, tho former to re? ceive thirty-nine lashes at intervals of every two months, and the latter five lashes each at the end of fcjynth, have been annulled by the military authorities, says the Charleston Cou? rier, on the ground that they are in violation of Gen. Sickles' orders, is? sued on the 1st of January, Para? graph XVIII of which says: "No corporal punishment shall l>c inflicted on any person other than a minor," <Src., and that by parent or guardian. As the case has excited some com? ment and created a false impression, we give below the statement of Judge Aldrich in relation to his interview with the Brevet Brigadier-General commanding the city: On the evening of Thursday, the 15th of February, I called on Mr. Dingle, the Deputy Sheriff, who is n friend. He asked mo what tho mili? tary authorities wanted with me. 1 replied I did not know, as I had no* heard that they wished to see me. He then informed me that about 10 or ll o'clock, a soldier had called at his office-the Sheriff's-inquiring foi the Judge; that he replied the Judge had adjourned the Court. About 5 o'clock, the same day, thc soldier re turned, and made the same inquiry. Mr. Dingle made the same reply, ano asked him what he wanted with th( Judge; to which he answered tba Gen. Bennett wished to see him a his office. Mr. Dingle asked him i he had no paper for the Judge. H< said no. He was then directed to tin Judge's lodgings, and, upon inquiry there, was informed that the Judg< was not at home, (the 16th.) Tin man returned,, and was shown inti the Judge's room, and produced tin following note : HDQ'RS PROV'T MARSHAL'S OFFICE, MILITARY DISTRICT, CHARLESTON, S. C., Feb. IC, I860. Hon. A. P. Aldrich, Charleston, S. C. The Brevet Brigadier-General Coin manding directs me to present hi compliments, and desires to see yoi at his office immediately. Very re spectfully, FRANK GEISE, 1st Lieut. 5-ith N. Y. V. V., Provos Marshal. To this note the Judge replied a follows : MRS. GLDURE'S, CHARLESTON, BROAD STREET, February 16. 1866. I SIR: I have just received your not informing me that tho Brevet Brigi dier-General commanding desires t see me at his office immediately, respectfully inform you that if I ha* any business with the General, would promptly call upon him for it transaction But as I am not awax of any matter either public <>r pr: vate which demands my presence, beg leave respectfully to decline ai: swering your summons. If the Gent ral has any business with me, it wi give me great pleasure to receiv him at my place of residence whil in tho city-Mrs. Oidiere's, Broa street. Respectfully, your obedier servant, A. P. ALDRICH. To Lieut. GEISE. The next morning Lieut. Geis called on me and was shown to m room. He informed nie that he ha received my reply to his note,'and wn directed by Gen. Bennett to call o me in person, present his compl: ments, and respectfully ask me to se him at his office on public business of the nature of which he was nc fully informed. I asked him at whs time the General had appointed t see me. He replied, immediately, answered, I am ready to go with yoi Arriving at headquarters, the Kin house, I was presented to Gen. Ber nett, who received mo politely. H then said he had seen my reply t Lieut. Geise, and considered it* dis respectful. I said, I am sorry you s consider it, for I intended it to b entirely respectful. He said, I thin it rather curt. I answered, that th office of a Judge of the Superic Court in South Carolina had alway been considered one of great dignity that those vho had preceded me ha maintained its station and that I wa not inclined to depart from thei example. I added, if I bad been i Charleston on my private affairs an he had requested me to come to hi office, I would have had no hesitatio in doing so. But as I was here off cially, holcliug Court, I thought sonic thing was due to the dignity of th office, and that he might at least hav fcddresged me under his own han and informed me of his business. H asked me if I did not recognize th authority of tho TJuited States Gov vernment in the State. I said, I did, and was forced to do so. He then said, that he represented the Govern? ment, and although it would have given him pleasure to call on me, yet he thought my reply might have been less curt. He then drew my attention to the report in the daily newspapers of the sentences passed by me in the Court of Sessions, and asked me if tbo report was correct. He said, I ask you this question because the repor? ters sometimes make great blunders and we are led into error. I replied, that the sentences were correctly re? ported. He answered, I suppose so, as I sent down my Provost Marshal to examine the records. He then said I am directed by Gen. Sickles to request you to revoke the sentences, as they are in violation of his order and inconsistent with the advance of civilization and the humanity of the age. I replied, that I had never seen Gen. Sickles' order, which he hand? ed me ; but that I would not revoke the sentences, as that punislnncut was imposed by law; that the only discretion 1 had, as a Judge, was to increase or decrease 'the number of stripes to a certain limit; but that the law prescribed whipping, and J could not, as the Judge, dispense with it and perform my duty. I then explain? ed to him the division of our Courts into Law, Equity and of Appeals, ard a Court of Errors. He asked me if the Chief Justice was in the city, and if there was any difference in the rank of Judges. I replied no, that the Chief Justice presided in the Court o? Appeals, and in the Ooitrt of Errors; that the Court of Appeals was a separate Court, and that thc Court of Errors was composed of all the Judges, ard that each Judge has the same authority and dignity as thc Chief Justice. I then said to him, there is but one way in which thc whipping can be avoided, and that is by applying to the Governor to exer? cise the power of pardon. I added, it was also to be avoided by youl taking the prisoners out of th? custody of thc Sheriff. He then said I understand you to decline to revoke thc sentences. I said, I did. H( replied, I will report this conversa tion to Gen. Sickles, and \ou maj hear from me in tho course of the day This terminated the interview. A. P. ALDRICH. On Tuesday morning Sheriff Care\ visitetl the jail for the purpose o carrying the sentence into execution but was refused possession of the pri soners and permission to carry on the sentence. -? ?? ? ? IMPROVED.-The freedmen of Ken j tucky seem to be rapidly marchin on in the way of moral and intellec tual improvements. The Louisvill Democrat has the following: Yesterday morning a note came t tho judge of the police court statin that the military had arrested a lot c negroes whom they would send t ? tho civil authorities for trial, special meeting of the court wa called for three o'clock in the aftei noon to examine the case. At th appointed hour twenty-two negroes men and women, the hardest collec rion of human beings we have eve seen, were brought into the court The proof showed that they were a living in un cjd shanty and som tents near tho military prison, the were in the habit of having balli getting drunk and fighting, and thc they were an intolerable nuisance t the whole neighborhood. Sever; nights since a fight ocenrred there i which Washington Tyler, Compan D. United States colored heavy ai tillery, was killed. There was general row where they were ever night, shots were fired in every dire? tion. Shot went through the windo of one of the citizens a few night since, striking a piano at which young lady was playing at the timi The entire party was fined S3 ead and sent to the work-house for si months in default of bail. THE TRUE POUCY.-Let the Pres dent issue his proclamation anuoum mg that the late revolted States ai restored, and demand equal repr* sentation under the Constitution, a majority of Congress refuse tl: representation required, the Pres dent should treat them as revolutioi ists laboring to perpetuate disuuioi If the Senators who advocated tl right of secession in the Unite States States Senate in 1SG1-eve traitors, as declared by Andrew Join son at tho time, and deserving i punishment-then the present Sen tors and members that, instead < restoring, would subjugate them : servitude aiu1 perpetuate separatio] are guilty of the same crime-tre son-and should be treated accon iugly. A little Jackson firmness < the part of tho President will set f right. Let the Union be restored i fact; and wc cease our denunciatioi and proscriptions of thc South, 01 violent expressions of hatred ai animosity, and remember that tl people of the South, being America citizens, have both rights and sens bilities, and not disdain to resp?* them, and they will bo a cheerf people, and wo will have a Uni? indeed.-Saco (Moi ur J Democrat. How MEN ''BI ST UP."-Men wil unassuming wives never fail. It the husband of such women as Mr Dash and Lady Brilliant who fir themselves face to face with tl sheriff ami certain mysterious doe: raents adorned with retl tape and waifer big enough for target exereis Southern Enterprises North. The interesting New York corres? pondent of tbe Louisville Democrat, in iv recent letter, says: There are two delegations of South? ern gentlemen at present in town, each on an errand of almost religion? duty. One is from Charleston, S. C., trying to discover the whereabouts of some valuable communion plate that was stolen from one of the churches there, while John Brown'? soul was marching on in that region of the country; the other is from Virginia, making an effort to procure some assistance for the institution of which Robert E. Lee is President. I doubt whether the former will meet with much success. The gold and silver communion plate, doubtless, has beea all melted up ere this, and sold at current quotations, with the usual difference for greenbacks. The latter, however, it is pleasant to hear, ia meeting with more encouragement. Notwithstanding sectional hatred and partisan prejudice, there are many liberal-minded men here, who know what real greatness is, and who are not slow, on all proper occasions, to recognize its claims upon their con? sideration. The name of the present institution alluded to has long ago won the respect of every mau in this community who is not so given over to Puritan fanaticism that he can sec nothing good away from Fanenil Hall or Plymouth Rock. You will nol wonder, therefore, that only this morning one eminent and wealth; citizen quietly gave his check foi ?2,000; another has given $1,000, anc a third has promised $5.000. Tin Jacobins will howl at this when the; see it in print. Let them howl-i will do them good. Did you sec that extraordin?r; letter in a Norfolk paper the otho day, stating that T ilkes Booth is no dead, but actually living in the Wes Indios? It has boen widely copiei by tho journals* here, and thougl some of them affect to laugh at it, have reason to believe that there ar some persons holding high officif positions who treat it much more sc riously. I cannot say what trut there is in the report that Seeretar Stanton made an effort to suppres the publication of the document, s soon as his attention was called to i but I tlo know that there arc not few eminent lawyers-Republics lawyers even-who are in a vei uneasy state of mind on the subjec "Why, sir," said ono of these to ni not half an hour ago, 'what positif proof has been given to the wor that that man Wilkes Booth is real dead? None, positively none wha ever. Such judicial proof, I mea whieh would satisfy the judgments any twelve mem of average intellec True, Boston Corbett swears he sh him in the barn, but as the barn w ou fire and full of smoke at the tim his line of vision must have been ii cessarily obscured; and as Bosb Corbett had no previous personal t quaintance .ith him, and was, moi over, a religious fanatic, how easily must have been for him to be m taken in his man! Then, thc sub; quent method of identifying t bod;-, by persons pecuniarily inti ested in the business, would ne\ have been accepted as satisfactory the most ignorant of coroner's jurit Above all, the mysterious mann with which the remains were fina said to have been disposed of, w but too well calculated to raise doul and excite suspicions. "Was it ni sir? Was it not?" ! Now, I don't pretend to be able answer these pungent, if not pei nent, ?pieries of the Republic member of the bar. My duty, a faithful chronicler of the sayings a doings of the metropolis, is restricl to simply placing them on reco and to leave to others their solutic To use a cant phrase of your modi Shoddy patriot, "we are making 1 tory," and while the manufacture in progress, we may as well have t mystery about Wilkes Booth clea: up at once. Ii would look well tile eyes of posterity, you know, have it on the books, that while H per's Weekly was giving ghastly j torial illustrations, showing how body of the assassin who m urde our sainted President was deposi daring the darkness of the nigh) tho river Potomac; and while Bennett was blackguarding brother for playing in a theatre t don't advertise in the New Y Herald, the horrid wretch himself 1 all the while a corporeal existenci the West Indies. The Lc Leaguers ought to call a spe meeting at once and pass resoiuti ou the subject. THE WAY THEY DRINK IN M ALNI A correspondent of the Herald at ? gusta, Maine, writes as follows: Malt liquors and whiskey seen be the prevalent beverage. Hund? of young men are addicted to habit of tippling. A stranger wc not suppose we had a stringent ] hibitory law on our statute book, we have; yet it is not enforced, f in a few instances. We have S? gone back since thc days of Maine Law and Neal Dow. Cro? ries are in full blast, and the ri lucrative part of tho apothecary h ness is the compounding of /illaii potations of tanglefoot whiskey, Even lads of twelve and fourteen off their glass of ale with as m gusto as old soakers of fifty iml their favorite poison. The Vicksburg and Shreve Railroad was recently sold at ano for $50,000. XIOOAI Items. Mesara. Zealy and Walter returned from a ?hort visit to Charleston, yesterday, and tarnished us several late paper?. CASH.- Our terms for Mibscription, ad vcrtiniii? and job work are cash. We hop? all parties will bear this in mind. ONE DAV ONLY.- -Wo h ave been requested by the agent of the circus compauy t.> stato that, owing to cireuinstaueos beyond their control, they are compelled to aborten their stay in Columbia to one day -Monday, February 2G. INSURANCE.--Wc call atiention to thu card of Mr. H. E. Nichols, insurance agent, in this city, advertising tho "Home Insur? ance C'ompauy," of Savannah, Georgia. This company, from the names of its of? ficers and directors, must bo a substantial and reliable organization. Its capital hus all been subscribed, and its directors be? ing prominent business men in Savannah, there can be little doubt bat Us art'airs will be well and judiciously managed. ;'THAT COI.ORKD ('uss."-Tho following is one verse of a political hymn, com - posed hy an "uueommou genius" out West: '.From Africa the negro came, Arise, oh Congress, bless his name! Stand up, good Stevens, bless tho day The negro came from Africa! He is the object of our love - In him we live, in him we move; For him wc preach, for him we pray, For him wc meet from day to day, " That colored cuss from Africa." * NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.- Attention ia call? ed to the following advertisements, which are published this morning for the flrut Payment City of Charleston Debt. Kay, Veal <t Hewetson-To Contractors. Thos. Tavlor-Wood for Sale. Fisher & Lowrance-Oats, Flour, Ac. H. E. Nichols-Home Insurance Co. Jacob Bell-Citation T. W. Entzniiuger. R. O'Neale A Son-Corn for Sale. Scott A Heriot-Auction Sale. Mullsr A Semi-Pot-ware, Ac. ,: " -Concentrated Lyo, Ac. Mrs. E. K. Anderson-Mules Stolon. ELEVEN MEN FROZEN TO DEATH. Wo are permitted to copy the follow? ing from a letter written to Mrs. Reid by ber sister, residing near Hamilton, Fillmore County, Minne? sota: There was a brother of Frank Hi? llersen (druggist in Fox Lake) frozen to death on the 20th ultimo, just at night, while going from mill, within hail' a mile, and in plain sight of his own house, which is one mile from here. Sunday morning his son came to see if he was here, as he found the oxen home. I told him at once that he never would see his father alive again, if he was not at home. George and our nearest neighbor and brother went with him to find him, and found him on Addison's land, about half a mile from here; and they found, os they were taking him from the snow, a bottle by his side, which probably brought him to his untimely death. He left a wife and eight children, the oldest eighteen years old. Wo have heard of ten other men who perished in the same storm-six of them all together in a sleigh. Three other men had been to the timber, and it seems they could not keep up with their teams, one was found, the others were not at the last accounts we had. The one found was frozen in a standing posture, with both hands covering his face, within three rods of a house. These calamities have all happened within twelve or fourteen miles of hore, and I have no doubt we shall hear of others.-Beaver Dam ( lF??co/< sin) Citizen, 9th. THE EMPIRE IN MEXICO.-A private letter to a friend in this city from a most intelligent American gentleman at Cordova, dated 27th ult., speaking of the permanency of the Empire, says : 1 'As to the perpetuity of the Imperial Government I can say with certainty that there is not vitality enough in the Republican party here to overthrow it, or give serious trouble. Unless the United States undertake to enforce the Monroe doctrine, the Empire is perpetual. ? * * * I feel no apprehension about the stability of the Govern? ment, and am satisfied that this soil and climate reward labor more Uberal ly than any I have ever seen. Nature has done more and man less for this country than any other on earth." [Nashville Union. THE KEY-NOTE SOUNDED.-Last night, Wendell Phillips delivered a speech in Brooklyn, in which ho de? clared that "the North does not clearly comprehend the new division of j- irties. Heretofore, Grant led the one and Leo the other. To-day, Con? gress leads the North, while the Con? federacy, defeated under Lee, finds in Andrew Johnson a champion in its new struggle. " This will decide the course of the radicals, if it was not previously settled. Johnson will here? after bo treated as a rebel leader. We hope he will have back bone enough to meet the struggle. [Newark Journal, 13th. Au exchange thus disposes of seve? ral Federal Generals: "Burnside has gone into the railroad business at Reno and Pithole. Carl Schurz is a Washington correspondent. Seigel has become editor of a Baltimore German paper. Franklin is superin tending the (Jolt's armory at Hart? ford. W. S. Smith, the famous cavalry leader, has gone into the retail grocery trade at Chicago. Patrick has returned to the plow. Ferrero is leading the art of dancing, and Percy Wyndham is again a fencing master. "