The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, May 28, 1850, Image 1

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- --, . . , 1 ----- -.. - < '* "--^-J '-.- ' * '* ' .. .. # ' ? r/V?^V-.. -?*, J lie Camden Journal. ^ , m 1111 if " ~ CAMDEN. SOUmOAROLlNA, MAY 28, 1850. NUMBER 43. f V ?? Ipoctiral Department. LIFE. 17C.C. COLTOW. How long shall man's imprison'd spirit groan Twlxt doubt of heaven and deep disgust of earth! Where all worth knowing never can be known, And all that can be known, alas! is nothing worth. Untaught by saint, by cynir, or by sage, And all the spoils of time that load their shelves, We do not quit, but change our joys in age? Joys framed to stifle thought, and lead us from ourselves. The drur, the cord, the steel, the flood, the flame, Turmoil of action, tedium of rest. And lust of change, though for the worst, proclaim How dull life's banquet is: how ill at ease the guest. Known were the bill of fare before we taste, Who would not spurn the banquet and the board? Prefer th' eternal, but oblivious fast, To life's frail fretted thread, and death's suspended sword ? He that the topmost stone of Babel plann'd, And he that braved the crater's boiling bed? Hid these a dearer, closer view command Of heaven or hell, we ask, than the blind herd they led ? Or he that in Valdaroo did prolong The night her rich star-studded page to read? Could be point out, midst all that brilliant throng, His fixed and final home, from fleshy thraldom freed! Minds that have scann'd creation's vast domain, And secrets solved, till then to sages seal'd, Whilst nature own'd their intellectual reign, Extinct, have nothing known or nothing have revealed. Devouring grave! we might the less deplore, Th' extinguish'd lights that in thy darkness dwell, Woiildst thou, from that last zodiac, one restore, That might th' enigma solve, and doubt, man's tyrant, quell. To live in darkness?in despair to die? la this indeed the boon to mortals given! Is there no port?no rock of refuge nigh ! There i??to those who fix their anchor hope in heaven. Turn then, 0 man! and cast all else aside; Direct thy wandering thoughts to things above? Low at the cross bow down?in that confide, fill doubt be lost in faith, and bliss secured in love. ' ?i)c ?Ho. Mas. Krnble.?'The following lines were written by the late Judge Story at the time when they ( eardate. We have copied them from the original hand-writing of this eminent jurist and magistrate: LIVES WEITTKN ON SEEING Till ACTING Of HISS FANNT KEMBLK. Genius and taste and feeling, ali combine To make each province of the drama thine. The first to Fancy's bright creation gives The very form and soul. It breathes, it lives. The next with grace inimitable plays In every gesture, action, tone, and gaze; The last to nature lends its subtlest art, And warms and wins, and thrills and melts the heart Go, lovely woman, go?enjoy thy fame, A second Keoible with a deathless name. January, 1833. J. S. RECIPE FOR MAKING SALAD. t the asr. stdnet smitii. Two large potatoes passed through kitchen sieve, Smoothness and softness to the salad give; Of mordant mustard add a single spoon; Distrust the conditneut that bites too soon; But deem it not, thou man of herbs, a fault To add a double quantity of salt; Four times the spqpn with oil of Lucca crown, And twice with vinegar procured from town; True flavor needs it, and your poet begs The pounded yellow of two well-boiled eggs. Let onions' atoms lurk within the bowl, And scarce suspected animate the whole; And lastly, in the flavored compound toss A magic spoonful of anchovy s?.. . O, great and glorious! Oh herbaceous treat! Twould tempt the dying anchorite to eat. Back to the world, he'd turn his weary soul, And plunge his Angers in the salad bowl. urniT a niwnv im fvuaA n JLA A dandy is a chap (hat would Be a young lady if he could? But as be can't, does all he can To show the world he's not a man. It is said that all the coffee grown in the West Indies, is the product of two plants taken thither by a Frenchman in the year 1735. During the voyage, the crew and passengers were put on short allowance of water, but the French gentle* man was so bent upon preserving his plants that he shared his scanty cup of drink with them. How ? - i- ?or _ i / many millions Ot nounaa 01 couee imvecomeirom | these two plants I A OEM. TherfTs not a hearth, however rude, Rut hath some little flower T > brighten up its solitude, And scent the evening hour. There's not a heart, however cast By grief and sorrow down, But hath some mem'ry of the past, To krve and call its own. H? that arms bis intent with virtue is invincible. 3 Stlcctei) (Tale. ALICE LISLE. A SKETCH FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. BY MRS. CAROLINE H. fiUTLKR, There is, perhaps no data in the annal of English History marked with a inore bloody significance of the fearful extent to which the evil passions of mankind will reach, when not held In check by religious or civil discipline, than that characterized as the " Bloody Assizes," in the reign of James the Second, 1685?which, even from out the lapse of two centuries, still stands forth in loathsome and horrible distinctness. When the savage and bloody-minded Jpffrpv*. emnowered bv a vindictive and arbi trary monarch, stalked like a demon through tlie land, tracing his passage with blood and tears, while the music of this infernal march was the groans and death-shrieks of his victims. And as he strode onward?behind him he left horrible, eye-blasting, soul harrowing proofs of his cruelty?corpses swinging in the wind at the corners of the cross roads?gibbets stuck up in the market place?and blackening heads impaled, even before the windows of the house of God! Such was the more than brutal ferocity with which this fiend in human shape, George Jeffreys, Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, ?~.i u: pi UBiXUlCU 1IIS tUIIIIIUMIUUi Through all those districts where the iohab itants had either taken up amis in the Monmouth Rebellion against the king, or who had been known five years before to have received the unfortunate duke with favor and homage, when assuming the rank of a rightful prince he passed with almost legal triumph through the land, did Jeffreys and his well picked myrmidons pursue their murderous track, sparing neither sex nor ;ige?the death blow descending alike upon the silver head of tottering age or lisping, helpless infancy. " And," says Ma eauiay, "ma spirits rose mgner ana mgncr as the work went on. He laughed, shouted, joked and swore in such a manner that many thought him druuk from morning till night, but in him it was not easy to distinguish the madness produced by evil passions, from the madness produced by brandy." In such a frame of mind he entered Southampton and proceeded toward Winchester, which, although not the scene of any warlike encounter with rebel and royalist, had nevertheless, been resorted to by many of the former as a place of safety, among whom was their unhappy leader, the infatuated Monmouth himself. It was here, uear the borders of the New Forest that the unfortunate man was taken prisoner. Worn out by fatigue? crushed by disappointment?his high hopes blasted by defeat, the ill-tuted son of Charles was discovered concealed in a ditch, where all through a long day, and a weary night, without food or drink, the unhappy fugitive had vainly hoped to evade the search of his pursuers. Hither, then, came Jeffrey, tainting the air with a pestilence, and causing greater terror and dismay, particularly among the peasantry, tio one knowing who next might be the victim of the tyrant's insatiate thirst for blood. He was now, however, in hot pursuit of two men?one a Nonconformist divine, name Hicks; the other a lawyer, who had made himself obnoxious by being concerned in the Kye House plot. These men it was needless to say, Jeffreys was resolved to pursue to the death. in a fine old mansion, encompassed by a closely wooded park of a century's growth, dwelt the Lady Alice Lisle. She was the widow of John Lisle, who had held a commission under Lord Cromwell, and had also sat in the Long Parliament. He had had been created Lord by Cromwell, and the title of Lady was still courteousty assigned to his widow, for she was greatly beloved by all persons and parties, both Whig and Tory, for her many excellent qualities, and was also nearly allied to uiauy noble families. It was near the close of a beautiful autumn .lav that the Ladv Alice, clad in deep mourn ?V ? ; / ing weeds, might bo seen passing slowly beneath the dark foliage of those venerable trees stretching in such primeval grandeur far on either side of her domain. The chastening radiance of the setting sun here and there burnished the almost motionless leaves with gold, or stealing athwart the mossey trunks, and over the deep green sward, mildly illumined the forest aisles, seeming thereby as jiaths angels might love to tread. The only companion of the la dy was a child?a beautiful boy of perhaps six years old?an orphan, whom the kind Lady Alice had taken under her protection, and who now, far from partaking in the seriousness of his benefactress, skipped and gamboled before her in wild and happy recklessness?now - ? 't ? t_ _r t springing like a lawn into wie patn oeiorener from behind some leafy screen, where for a moment he had lain concealed, or striving to attract attention by his childish prattle as he bounded playfully at her side. As heedless to the deepening twilight as she seemed to all else around her, the Lady Alice had proceeded further into the depths of the wood than was her usual custom, when she was suddenly aroused to the lateness of the hour by a scream from her little Edwin, who, bnrying his face in the folds of her mantle, cried " 0 run, dear lady, run?bad men?ah, they will kill us!" " What are you talking of, Edwin ?' she answered, taking his hand?'who will kill us? We shall soon be at tho Hall; tie, boy, are you afraid because the sun has set, and the old woods grown dark! Ah, is this my little hero P "But lady, I see men?bad, wicked men;? there, lady there," pointing, as he spoke, to a clump of low oaks. " Foolish boy, it is only an owl!" said the lady, now turning to retrace her steps. At that moment two men sprung from oat the thicket and stood in her path. Well might that lady tremble, alone and unprotected in the deep, dark wood, yet in tones well belieing her fears, she unfalteringly bade them aside, and give passage to lierself and the pale, timid child she lead by the hand. 'We mean not to harm or frighten you, madam,' said one of the men, lifting his goatskin cap, and stepping aside, " tve Beek at your hands shelter and food. For three days we have lain concealed in these woods, not daring to venture forth even to Batisfy the cravings of hunger. We are neither theives nor murderersslight effences may be in these signal times of despotism and injustice?but men hunted down like wild beasts in the cause of civil and religious freedom- It is for our lives we implore .:-i? jvui a in. " Yea, for our lives?that we may be spared to trample the sons of Belial under oar feet, and smite, and slay, arrtl destroy the acph tools of oppression!" interrupted the other with violent gesticulations; "and thou, woman, art the chosen vessel of the Lord to shield his servants from the man of blood against that dreadful day of retribution!" " 1 ask not to know why you are thus thrown within peril of your lives,' answered the lady Alice, 'it is enough for me that you are fellow beings in distress and as such must claim my sympathy, and the shelter of my roof. God forbid the doors of Alice Lisle should be closed against misfortune. Follow me, then, friends, and such food as my house affords, and Buch security as the walls can give, may the Lord bless unto you." Confident in the attachment and fidelity of her domestics, the Lady Alice, in a few words, made known to them that the lives of these un lortunate men were in jeopardy, and tnat tney sought from her kindness, safety and concealment, and sharing in the benevolence of their mistress, each one of that well tried household regarded the fugitives with generous sympathy. An excellent supper, such as their famishing natures required, and a bottle of old wine, was soon placed before the weary men. They were All, however, remained quiet Just as the day began to dawn, she threw herself upon her couch?not meaning to sleep. But, overcome with the fatigue of her lonely night-watch, and lulled perhaps by the security which almost always conies to the watcher with the dawn of day, she soon unconsciously sunk into a deep sleep from which, alas ! she was but too rudely aroused ; for even in that brief half hour when tired nature claimed its own, the wiley Jeffreys had surrounded the house with his no less brutal soldiers. "Come, come, madam, bestir yourself?vou are wanted,' cried the leader, seizing the Lady Alice by the shoulder, and rudely shaking her, ."methinks you sleep well this morning?long watching makes sound slumber, eh! Come, up with you, woman, and tell us what corner of this rebel's nest you have stowed away the Presbyterian knave and his worthy friend i" In a moment the lady was fully awake, and and comprehended at once her perilous situation. But her self-possession did not forsake her, and breathing an inward prayer for the safety of the two unhappy men so closely puranart aha aairl no aKa rlrpw lll'rsplf DKOIldlv Ul) : OUVUJ Oliw UUIUJ uu OIIV v.. V "What means this unmannerly intrusion?? Off, sir! unhanded me, or your audacity shall be punished as it deserves!" "Ho-ho, my bravo wench, words are cheap! you will find proofs not so easy! "Know, mistress, yourself and your servants are my prisoners,' renlied Joffreys." Your prisoners!' cried the lady, with cutting contempt; 'and who are you, and by whoso authority do you dare to lav hands on me or any ? r > ? 'I'l.-i ...... beneath my root r " vv no am i? A licit J UU | shall soon know to your cost,' said Jeffreys, with n horrible oath. "George Jeffreys has a peculiar way of making himself known, my mistress. Now deliver up thoso two arch rebels?the canting, whining priest, and the traitor Nelthorpe, into our hands, and mayhap I'll not press my further acquaintance upon your ladyship, except to taste the quality of your wine, then conducted by Lady Alice, herself to a room on the ground floor. " Observe,' she said, 'this oken pannel?press your finger thus; a door opens, leading into a secret passage, connected with the vaults of the chapel, where, in case of emergency, you will be perfectly secure from, search, bleep, then, my friends, in peace; one of my most faithful servants will this night keep watch, and upon the least alarm, you will be notified in time to avail yourselves of the way of escape I have pointed out." As she bade them good-night, one of the men, seizing the hem of her mantle, carried it to his lips with a grace not unfitting the pres. cnce of a queen, while in a chanting oratory of the day, his companion devotedly prayed the Most High to bless the woman, through whose assistance vengeance was yet to be heaped on the heads ot the scorner, and those who now sat in high places to be brought low. And thus fortified and encouraged by the assurance of their noble benefactress, the fugi tives took heart, and throwing themselves upon the bed, were soon soundly sleeping, Not so the Lady Alice. True, these men had not revealed their names, neither had she sought to discover who they were, or for what crime they were driven to their present strait? yet they had fled the wrath of the cruel minded Jeffreys she felt persuaded, and fearful that with his myrmidons he might be close on the track of these unhappy men, she too sat watching all the night, or pacing with light footfall the long galleries, ever and anon stepping out upon the balcony and listening to every sound, her fears magnifying the whispers of the wind stealing through the brunches of the old trees, SnfA thn cnnrvrncan^ iminiinfj nf art nnnotl InrrP for I'll warrant you my men, (turning to his followers) these old cellars are not dry.' " I know no such persons as those you seek,' replied the lady Alice firmly; "and what reason have you to suppose that they are within my house?" " We know it, and that is enough,' replied Jeffreys. 'They are known to have lain hid in your neighborhood ; and we know that they have been secreted by you; and now, bymadam, unless you lead us to their kennel, your body shall writhe in flames, or be hacked in pieces by my soldiers r "Infamous, cowardly wretch!' replied Alice Lisle, undaunted, 'think you your threats would induce me to betray, more espicially into your blood-ll irsty hands, any unhappy individul who had sought my protection ! Know Alice Lisle better! "Ho-ho, we are so brave! here, my men, take this boasting mistress, give her a dance upon hot coals!' cried the ferocious Jeffreys. At that instant, little Edwin, still in his night dress, opened the door of bis little bedroom, and ran terrified toward the Lady Alice; but he was not permitted to reach her; a soldier rudely seized the poor boy by the shoulder, and notwithstanding his shrieks, held him with such a grip as left the print of his fingers upon the tender flesh. " Ruffian, unhand the child!' exclaimed the lady, attempting to rise, but held back by the iron hand of Jeffreys. Ha! a pretty hostage truly! he said: "Here Ratclifle, draw your dagger across his pretty white throat, unless this stubborn woman yields up our prey?do you hear that!' turning to the Lady Alice. "O save me?save me ! dont let therp kill me?' screeched the poor little fellow, striving to break away; then turning his beautiful eyes upon the hard, stern features of the man who held him, he clung piteously around his knees, repeating his cry for inercy, his face uplifted, and his soft golden curls falling over his white shoulders, from which the loose night-dress had slipped away. Tears, which neither her own danger, or the insults heaped upon her could draw forth, now streamed down the pallid cheek of the Lady Alice. "Are you men ! she cried to the rude soldiers 'are you men, and can you stand by and see that innocent, helpless lamb inhumanly murdered before your eyes!" "Ah' cried Jeffreys, with a hideous leer, 'we are used to butchering lambs, madam; bless you we do it so easy the poor thing don't have time to bleed! Strike, Ratcliff!" A scream?a wild scream of angony burst from the heart of Alice Lisle ; then dashing off the arm of Jeffreys, in the strength of her dispair, as hut a feather's weight, she Bprung to the boy and threw her arms around him. There was heard at that moment a loud shout from the court-yard, coupled with oaths and imprecations, and one of the troop burst in, waving his cap. "Hurra, your honor!' they're caught, your nr/\ noh !li! kiFii'l'n rtrvt tUn oniiii nla kaiMin f ItitMwn !'' >vv/iou I " c * c S oatais? iiui ia; nulla; " Now God help them!" murmured Alice. " Your life shall answer for this, vile traitoress !" muttered Jeffreys, in a voice hoarse with rage, and shaking his list at the unshrinking heroine. " But where found you the knaves?" he added, turning to the bearer of such fiendish joy. " Ha, ha, your worship?but I can't help laughing; we found his reverence chin-decp in a malt tub?ha, ha, ha! and the other rogue we hauled from the kitchen chimney, as black as his master, the Devil!" a i . i a i a 11 t . i *ii I Anu 10 ma master no siiau oe sent witn a crack in his windpipe," said "Jeffreys. " Wounds, your honor, you loves a joke," said one, who might be called the Tros Achilles of the company, edging up to Jeffreys with a horrid grin; " shall we string the rascals up below there?yonder is a good strong beam; or shall we leave their heads in the market-place, as a kind of warning to all traitors?" ' Peace, knave!" replied Jeffreys, with a frown which made the villain turn pale; " attend to your duty, and see that the prisoners are well secured; these fellows are slippery rascals?and now, madam, (turning to Alice Lisle,) up with you, and prepare to follow either to the scaffold or the stake, as suits my pleasure." Then with a brutal blow with the back ol his sword, ho rudely pushed his victim on before him. Her weeping and terrified domestics would have approached their beloved mistress, but were thrust back by the drawn swords of the soldiers; and when the unfortunate lady crossed the threshold it was over the dead body of her aged butler, brutally struck down before her. "Farewell, my friends," said Lady Alice, turning to her faithful attendants, " I look for no mercy at the hands of these cruel men, whose pastime is death; yet though they may torture the body, into the mercy of my Redeemer do I humbly commit my soul. May God forgive these, my enemies, for in their blind rage they know not what they do; pray for them, my friends." " Come, none of your cant here, if you please, madam; if wo want any praying done, we'll call on yonder long nosed, whining saint," cried Jeffreys, pointing to Hicks, who, with Nelthropo at his side, and both closely bound together with ropes, and guarded on either side, was now brought forward. Lest by appearing to recognize the Lady Alice they might increase her danger, the prisoners took no notice whatever of her, who, for their sakes, was now in such peril, and met her glance as they would that of a stranger. Nelthrope, indeed, essayed once to speak, for the purposo of acquitting the Lady Alice of all knowledge of himself and companion, but Ms speech was cot short by vile taunts and curses. These wretched men bad slept eotmdly thro' the night, and with the stupor of heaVY fatigue hanging about them, heard too late the tramp of their pursuers, sad forgetting in their soddetl ;ilarm the secret paotiel, sprung through a window, and endeavored to conceal themselves in some of the oat-buildings?hot vainly; they were soon dragged forth, and knew that from the jaws of the hlood-hound Jeffreys, death was to be their only release. And now, without any delay, the prisoners were brought to trial, the Lady Alice being first placed at the bar, charged with treason, in concealing or harboring persons disaffected to the king, and known to hftve been concerned in the late insurrection. Many of the jurors were of the most respectable men of Hampshire, and all shrunk from convicting an amiable and exemplary female, for a crime (if crime it could be called,) which certainly aro*e from the purest and noblest emotions of the heart. But Jeffreys was not to be so robbdd of his prey. Witnesses, forestalled by his vindictive spirit, appeared against ber, and those who would have testified in her favor, were so put down by the bold-faced cunning of these hirelings, as to do more injury than good to the cause which they came to sustain. The Lady Alice was then called upon for her defence. In a modest and dignified manner she addressed the Court. Sh? hpiwin Kw ?orinn - o- J ~~J *"& that she knew not the men who had sought her | protection, nor had she asked for what offence j they were thus hunted down; it was enough, > that famished and weary, they required her assistance, and that assistance she had freely rendered them: " yet for this, gentlemen/' she continued, " 1 am arraigned for treason! Has charity, then, become a crime ? Is it a capital offence to relieve the wants of our suffering fellow beings; and must the cold voice of prudence overcome the Divine precepts of Jesus ? No?God forbid!" She was here interrupted by an insolent ie< mark frnm tho inrlao anA if nlUm?/l -?? J I UUU u Uiiuncu again IU speak, it was only to draw upon herself bis coarse, unfeeling ribaldry. The jury retired, their sympathies more thail ever excited for the unfortunate lady. Their consultation was too long for the patience of the judge. He grew furious at their delay?stamping and swearing like a madman. He sent a messenger to tell them that if they did not instantly return, he would adjourn the Court and lock them up all night. Thus put to the torture they came, but came only to say they doubted whether the charge had been made out. Jeffreys expostulated with them vehemently, and after another consultation, they gave a reluctant verdict of "Guilty!" This was received with demoniac iov bv Jef freys, who immediately proceeded to pass sentence, which was, that the most unfortunate Alice Lisle should that very afternoon be burned alive! This dreadful sentence caused universal horror, and moved the pity even of the most devoted supporters of the king. The judge was overwhelmed with petitions and prayers for mercy; but the only mercy he granted was a few days delay ere the dreadful sentence should be accomplished. During that time the royal clemeftcy was eagerly solicited, and many persons of the highest rank interceded with James for the release of Alice Lisle. Ladies of the court entreated Itia ntornv PotrorcKam flnaL/wl u.u .MVI vj v? v? UUCiiCU W1UI ICUCUI victory, pleaded for her; and even Clarendon, the brother-in-law of the king, spoke ro her behalf. It was all in vain. Scarcely less cruel than his judge, James was inexorable, and only so far showed his clemency as to commute the sentence from burning to beheading! But peace?peace, that the world can neither give or take away, went with Alice Lisle into that dark, cold prison, to which her bnemies consigned her. Those damp walls, in whose crevices the slimy lizard made its bed; though they shut her out from the world?from friends ?from freedom?they could not imprison her soui, nor crush the spirit of the' myrtyred Alice, as it ascended in prayers to the heavenly throne. Divine love and holy trust in the promises of her Redeemer illuminated her dnrt ?ti,nM?M> with the 1 tightness of heaven; and when led forth to the scaffold?death was swallowed up in victory. Alice Lisle was beheaded in the market place at Winchester, Anno Ooinini, 1685. The gold mines of California were first discovered by the Jesuits concealed their discovery front the Government, and the suspicion that they had done so perhaps had something to do with their expulsion from Mexico. In 1769, Don Jose Galvez. Marquis of Sonora. undertook an expedition into California to ascertain the truth of the reports respecting the gold, "in the rivers, in the soil, and in the rocks." He was accompanied by the celebrated Don Miguel Jose de Arenza, who, discouraged by the fruitless search of a few weeks, recommended the abandonment of the enterprise, and for contending that the Marquis was insane for proceeding was thrown into prison, where he remained several months. Nothing at all satisfactory, however, appears to havo resulted from the search ot Galvez. Why is twice eleven like twice ten? Because twice eleven is twenty-two, and twice ten is twenty too. It is better to be lowly born, and range with humble lives in content, than to be perked up in a glittering grief, and wear a golden sorrow. Reputation is a most idle and false imposition ; often got without merit, and lost without deserving.