The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-11 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 11, 1856.

ALARMING STATE 011 PARIS.

l(Proni, the Morning Advertiser.)
We received late last night the following extract from
a private letter, not intended for publication, but
written by one friend to another, and therefore all the
more likely to be free from exaggeration. We have
received from other sources information of a very
alarming character, which in existing circumstances we
think it better not to lay before our readers. The letter
from which we quote was written on Thursday. It says:
"Business here is going on very badly. Everywhere
complaints are made, and you know that in France the
fault is always imputed to the Government. Added to
this, general discontent prevails, and I may say a vague
apprehension is entertained of something about to hap-
pen. Night after night People assemble in crowds in the
streets, especially in the poorer quarters. The police
have endeavoured to disperse them without noise, being
unwilling to excite the slightest commotion, but during
the night mysterious arrests are made, and at daylight
three or more persons have disappeared, nobodly know-
ing anything about them. Besides these meetings,
printed bills are continually posted on the walls, but
they are not suffered to remain there a long time ; the
police, always vigilant, tear them down almost as soon
as they appear. Yesterday I saw one of these bills, still
wet, torn down by a serpent de Dille in my presence. I
had hardly time to read it through, but I caught these
worde The people will undergo plague, famine, and
every possible evil, rather than be any longer subjected
to the yoke of the oppressor. Death to the tyrant !' At
the head of the bill were these words Death to the
despot !' A few paces farther on was another; but,
assailed by the police, I dared not stay. This time,
however, I saw the words :—' Bread for 3 or 13 sous,
or death ! In short, if the higher classes complain of
he scarcity of money, and, the difficulty of raising it, the
lower complain of the want of food and the high price
of lodgings. On this last head, landlords share the
public execration with the Chief of the State._ One.. ei
them was hanged a few days ago, and another thrown
out of a fifth-floor window by his exasperated lodgers.
I would not repeat the rumours which are in circula-
tion concerning the health of the Emperor, did they
not tend to show the disposition of the public mind.
He is said to be labouring under a spinal affection, and
these rumours., accepted and diffused with wonderful
eagerness, attest the feelings of hatred with which he
is regarded by the mass."

A VISIT TO KANSAS.

The following letter has been addressed to the
editor .f the Times :
a time when affairs in Kansas are as-
suming so threatening an aspect, it may not be
uninteresting to your readers to receive some de-
tails in the form of a personal narrative of things
actually seen and beard during a tour of inquiry in
that territory, made in the early part of this sum-
mer. Reliable information on this subject is sadly
lacking, not in our own country alone,,but even in
the eastern States of America. 1 make no attempt
in this communication to inform as to the previous
history or, to argue as to the probable issues of this
controversy. My desire is to give a simple picture
of the actual condition of affairs as exhibited by my
The period of my visit to Kansas was
own experiences in the territory.
precisely
that of the great outburst of violence in May last,
which resulted in the town of Lawrence being
attacked, the principal hotel being battered
down and then reduced to ashes, the print-
ing-offices of the Free State journals being burnt
down, the type and presses being destroyed and
cast into the Kaw river, and the city being given
over to a merciless sack. On the same day, and by
the same agency, occurred the firing of Governor
Robinson's house, and the arrest of hiniself and
others without a legal warrant.
Of Governor
Robinson, we read in the intelligence
brought this
week by the Arabia that, after four•months' con-
finement, without trial, in the goal at Lecompton,
t a short time
he has at, length been released on bail. As it was
duringmy l lot t
his f
to
obreceid jontirsnecoyiningapras a prisoner, will
select select iu preference that pcittiori of_ my travelfirig
experiences which will contribute one page to the
history of Governor Robinson's imprisonment,
while it will sufficiently illustrate the condition of
the territory at that excited period.
It was a fearful night which followed the attack
on Lawrence. I was in Kansas city, and shall
never forget the appearance of the lawless mob
that poured into the place, inflamed with drink,
glutted with the indulgence of the vilest passions,
displaying with loud boasts the " plunder" they
had taken from the inhabitants, and thirsting for
the opportunity to repeat the sack of Lawrence in
some other offending place; men of large frame
for the most part, with red flannel shirts and im-
mense boots worn outside their trousers, their faces
unwashed and unshaven, still reeking with the dust
and smoke and bloodshed of Lawrence, wearing the
most swage looks and giving utterance to the most
horrible imprecations and blasphemies ; armed,
moreover, to the teeth with rifles and revolvers,
cutlasses and bowie-knives. I felt that all my
former experiences among border men and Missou-
rians were as nothing compared with this
wretched crew, who appeared only the more
terrifying from the darkness of the surrounding
night. The hotel in Kansas city where we were
was the next place, they said, that should fall ; the
attack was being planned that night, and such
should be the end of every place which was built by
Free State men, or that harboured " those rascally
Abolitionists." Happily, this threat was not ful-
filled.

A number of these men became my companions
for the night, as I went up by one of the Missouri
steamboats from Kansas to Leavenworth city,
which, as the centre of operations, I desired to make
my head-quarters while investigatinc, the condition
of affairs in the territory. The otherbfellow-passeu-
eers were for the most part of the like order. A few
Germans, carrying their stock-in-trade to turn an
honest penny by peaceful traffic while other people
were fighting ; a company of Now Mexicans, making
their way through Kansas to Santa Fe, a more gen-
tlemanly party to whom I shall again have occasion
to refer ; and, for the rest, a crowd of adventurers
little better than those just taken on board, who
might be classed generally, under the head of
" border ruffians," made up, with a single excep-
tion or two, our travelling party for the .night.
A general rush to the bar ensued. Already mad-
dened with whisky, each would treat his fellow in
arms :—" Step up and liquor here, you sir. A heap
finer this stuff than that there rot gut ashore.
Here, you sir ; don't be askeared. One of our
boys, I reckon ? All right on the goose, eh ? No
high falutin' airs here, you know. Keep that for
them Yankee blue-bellies down East. If there's
any of that sort here I reckon they'd better make
off mighty quick, and that's a fact, while I'se on
board, unless they want to make a quicker road
out than they came in. Yes, sir, this here tool of
mine (handling a pistol), it isn't, the first time it
has seen a blue-belly. If there's any of that 'ors
sort aboard, I say they'd better take off, that's
sartin. We ain't agoin' to stand them comin' here,
we ain't. Isn't their own place down East big
enough for them, I should like to know ? We
ain't agoin' to stand their comic' and dictatin' to
its with their d—d nigger-worshipping, we ain't.
I reckon we'll make the place hot enough for them
soon, that's a fact. Here, boys, drink. Step up
this way, old hoes, and liquor."
And thus the midnight talk went on—talk which
I neither care to remember nor to repeat, and in
which I am compelled to omit the fearful expletives
of blasphemy which interrupted, not every sentence
merely, but every word or two of the dialogue.
Others sat down to cards, and quarrelled over their
losses; some, more sleepy, threw themselves on
the cabin floor to rest. In all, there were near 200
on board, and, as it was evident that the majority
must sleep on the floor, I hastened to secure one
of the berths, and thus to seek relief, if possible,
from the distracting noise. In a smaller degree, I
had had so much of a similar experience before
that I managed to sleep, only awakened at times
by a louder shout from the bar or the gaming-
table.
In this morning, like the rest, I was early astir.
My Western companions, accustomed to frequent
potations, seemed already sobered down by their
few hours' rest. If less boisterously demonstrative,
however, in relation to " Yankee Abolitionists "
than in the night, the'change was only to an ani-
mosity of a more calculating and determined cha-
racter. News of fresh strife had come on board
during the night.. " Extras" of the different jour-
nals, in the form of printers' slips, containing the
latest intelligence, were put on board and largely
circulated. These invariably contained distorted
accounts of the events of the hour, and appeals of
a most inflammatory character. As they were read
aloud to the eager listeners they gave occasion to
renewed determinations to "fight the nigger-wor-
shipping crew to the last drop of blood:" One
" extra" I obtained, issued by the Border Times
at Westport, in which the outrages at Lawrence
were announced beneath the heading, " The Kan-
sas Ball Opened—War in Earnest." In another,a
Lecompton paper, the narrative was headed,
" Lawrence taken—Glorious Triumph of the Lair-
and-Order Party over Fanaticism in Kansas." When
cold.blouded murder, which left behind it destitu-
tion, widowhood, and orphanage comes to be re-
garded by journalists as the mere opening of a ball
and a ground for exultation, it is not to be won-
dered at that the men who perpetrated these deeds
were eager to acquire fresh glory in the achieve-
ment of further " triumphs."
A single incident must suffice as an illustration.
Before I had left my berth many minutes I was at-
ttrraacvleeldleity—tl"eobnletiste of the
ring talk of one of my fellow-
most respectable mer-
chants in Weston," asl was informed, 'but one who,
as was evident, did not deny himself in the rum.
punch, gin-sling, brandy-cocktails, and other com-
pounds issued at the bar.
This respectable merchant was surrounded, as he
stood in the cabin of the boat, by a circle, whom I
joined. Out of a side pocket protruded the head of
a pistol ; in his hand he brandished another, loaded,
ashe told us, and ready for action. With threaten_
ing aspect and attitude, he vented himself, amid
many oaths, of the following language, addressed to
us all :
by G— I am. I'll teach these inferrial
" I am bound to bring down some one before I'm
pertly, that's
a raet. It' there's a dog-gauned Abolitionist aboard I
done
.Istetealilinygou k,
reesoilers a lesson right
should like to see him, that I should. 'l'in the roan to
'
put a chunk of lead into his wooly head right off, that's
what I'll do.' Then, looking round at each of us,
reckon I can raise the top off the head of ere a one of
you with this here tail. Speak the word, and, by
I'm your man. That's so. I should like to see the first
Freesoiler that opens his mouth ; that I should. I'd
send him to hell pretty quick, afore he know'd what he
was about that's what ll'd do. I'm a mighty
ce-urAn
customer, I am.'"
And so thought, probably, one of his hearers, for
he said to the curious customer, " Como, cid
boss,. won't you have some breakfast The cld
horse was not to be so easily diverted, however.
"Breakfast ! think I'd be after breakfast when Ivo
got rny duty before me ? Exercise is the thing for be
—not eatiog. I tell you I'm bound to bring down sole
one afore I'm done—that I am. I've got to fight for the
liberties of my country, and rid the place of those Caw.
ardly blue:bellied Yankees—that'
•- I've got to rio.
I should like to know what they've to do in this bwe,
place, Wit'l their snarling, sneaking ways. I tell Sou
there's riot a man amongst them as knows how to fight.

I ehOuldiike to see the-first. one atg will open Elie moth
here,,—thas's what I eliould like to
...eoe, j tell
,3,9 u 1,01

a ce-urious customer—my dog knows that,' pointing to
a large dog which seemed prepared to stand by its mas-
ter for better or worse. Then ' I should like to Fee the
man that would touch that 'ere dog of mine. rd lay
him dead in a moment, that I would. Just see me.' "
None of us felt inclined to touch the dog, and
the respectable merchant returned to his politics
and patriotism.
"No Northern nigger-stealers here. I'll fix 'em up
migb y smprt, I will. I ain't here for nothing, and that
you'll see,
.just about as soon as anything. I only want
to see the first Freesoiler here. I'll drop the first one of
you that opens his mouth for abolition cusses ; I be dog-

gauned if I don't."
And thus this valiant patriot went on for about
a half-hour, ringing the changes on these few forms
of expression, and giving every one an opportu-
nity to accept his challenge and take the conse-
quences.

I remained no longer in this Western merchant's
immediate presence than was necessary to prevent
my Ix coming an object of his suspicion. Being
anxious to obtain some information as to the hotels
or other places of stay in Leavenworth, I went on
to the hurricane-deck,- having been told I should
there meet with some who could answer my in-
quiries. I there found the more gentlemanly party
to whom I have referred, but whom until this
moment I had not seen. One or two appeared to
be United States' officers, men of education and
refinement. Another, a gentleman more advanced
in years, held himself somewhat apart, and ap-
peared engaged in anxious thought. He had an
eye full of bright intelligence, and wore the aspect
of one who was superior to those about him. I
gained the information I sought from one of the
officers, and took his recommendation to go to
M`Carty's hotel at Leavenworth, where he himself
was about to stop. I did not know as yet, how-
ever, who were my companions, and could only get
evasive replies to my inquiries on the subject from
the clerk of the boat.

I again descended to the cabin. The respectable
merchant from Weston was still continuing his
challenges, pistol in band.
.‘ I should like to see the first one that opens his
mouth. I reckon he'd have to take the change mighty
smart. Lead's the bestargument for these infernal white-
livered Yankees. Let me alone for tamin' them down ;
let 1119 alone for that, I say. I reckon they won't he a
tryin' on this game again a little whiles. That's just
about what I think."

And so on, without intermission. At my side
stood a young man who had lived for some years
in Kansas territory, trading with the Indians. We
had travelled iu company during four or five days
in coming up the Missouri, and our intercourse had
led to a certain degree of mutual confidence'. He
was a thorough Western man, and at the same time
a favourable specimen of his class, possessing in a
largo degree the better traits wlich mark the
Western character, and displaying few of the worst.
As we should soon have to part, tie inquired of me
what part of the Union I came from. I replied, in
a tone which I hoped would not catch the ear of
the noisy patriot in arms, and he had mistaken me
as a native of the Union, and that I belonged to
the old country, my home being London. "In-
deed," said my friend the Indian trader, " I had
guessed you were a Northern man. Your dress
and looks aren't like our people's out West."
" That is probable," I replied. " Yes, that's so,"
he proceeded, "and there's several aboard who've
been talking about you, and they've all set you
down for a Northerner." I hinted, in reply, that I
bad no desire to excite remark on board, and
glanced suggestively at our neighbour who was
threatening to blow the brains out of the first Nor-
thern man who should open bis mouth. My friend
saw my meaning immediately, and, dropping his
voice to a whisper, said :
"Let me, as one that knows the ways of the
people hero, give you
.a word of caution, which
you may find useful, now that you're setting foot
in these parts. Don't let a soul of them' know that
you're an Englishman. Should it get out, it's
just as much as your life is worth, mind that.
That's the state we're in just now, all alongside of
that cursed slavery question. If you said you're
an Englishman it's all the same as being a Yankee;
not a bit better. And you know the law there—a
Yankee is a nuisance, and nuisances munt be
abolished. That's what they all say there. So
you mind • and don't forget what I say."
I thanked him for the advice, and told him I had
already determined to follow his counsel. As for
himself, he said, he did not believe the Southern
men had any right to do what they had done in
K tnsas; but, being a thorough Western man, and
known in the territory for years, ho could go about
and they would not touch him, especially as he did
not take part with the Abolitionist fanatics. If
they did touch him everybody knew what would be
the consequences. And as I looked at his fine
athletic frame, and noticed the powerful muscle of
his arm and the steady gaze of his eye, long trained
to guide the bead of his 'Hie, I thought I, too,
could perceive what would be the consequence of
having this Western man for an enemy. But he
had given me wise counsel and kind, and I was
glad to think the . son of the prairie was my
friend.

By about 9 o'clock we reached Leavenworth city.
It would excite a smile if I were to describe the
aspect of this " city" of loghouses and wooden
shanties ; as it would if I were I to narrate the
strange adventures incident to Western travel.
But that is beside my purpose. The majority of the
passengers, with myself, landed. A great crowd
received us, all evidently eager with expectation
and excitement. To my astonishment, the moment
after landing I perceived that the older gentleman
whom I had seen on the hurricane-deck was a pri-
soner. Surrounded by a number of persons, includ-
ing the United States' officers, he was led ofetowards
MiCarty's Hotel, my purposed place of stay.
" Who's that they've got there ?" " Who's that
been caught, eh?" were the eager questions put on
many sides. " It's Governor Robinson, been
brought round from Lawrence by way of Kansas
city," was the reply of one in the crowd. " Go-
vernor Robinson, Governor Robinson? Who taught
you to call that infernal nigger stealer Governor,
I should like to know," was the instantaneous
rejoinder. " Say the word again, and I will blow
your brains out for an Abolition traitor ; he is
Doctor Robinson, and nothing else ; that's what
he is, and he shan't be that long. It's time we'd
got rid of these dog-gauned Abolitionists." Thus
surrounded by the menaces and imprecations of a
savage mob, the ex-Governor was led up the steep
road which conducted to the small wooden house
known as M`Ca.rty's Hotel.
I followed, and, first inquiring for my own ac-
commodation, was met by the answer that if I
would come in again at night I might take a chance
of a place on the floor. This was sufficiently un-
promising. I then went to a larger house, the
• head-quarters of the Pro-slavery party, but met no
better reception. Leaving, therefore, the question
of accommodation I returned to M'Carty'a, where
I was informed I could get a meal. The ex-
Governor Robinson I found in the front room of
the house; be was standing up, and was being put
through a close examination by those in the room.
A greatertcrowd collected outside the open windows
and door, and as I mixed among this crowd I heard
the constantly-repeated expressions, " Let us get
hold of him ; d—d if we don't sarve him out,
monstrous quick. The hangin' bone villain, he
may say his prayers mighty smart now. I'll be
dog-gauned if we don't string him up afore the
day's out. He ought to have a shot through his
head directly—that's how I'd sarve him."
Sick of hearing such expressions, filled with the
vilest oaths, went into the office of the hotel and
sat down on a vacant chair to meditate and to ob-
serve. In the corner of the room, in place of
trunks and travelling-bags, were rifles and double-
barrels, dirks and sticks, of that weight and calibre
which only a Western American thinks of carrying.
The clerk and the persons passing in and out had
nothing to speak of but "the fighting." On the
counter were papers, heading their columns with
the words—" War to the knife." Everything
around was suggestive of warfare and bloodshed. I
had sat for a few minutes, when there entered a
man—a Southerner by his very looks. " Hand me
a pair out of them hundred pistols I left with you,
Captain, were the words which, with a slow drawl-
ing voice, he addressed 'tO the clerk at the counter.
Then, glancing his cool eye at me and another in
the room, and feeling probably that we might de-
sire an explanation, be slowly added—" I've just
had a turn down hero with a d—d Freesoiler."
We still looked inquiringly, and as ho adjusted his
pistols in his belt he proceeded for our satisfaction
—" l'd got nothing with me. I didn't ought to
have left these here tools behind this morning, any-
how. I didn't leave him though till I made him
give in. He came out with his cursed abolitionism.
I settled him, though, mighty quick. I just put
my hand behind me, like this, pretending I had got
my pistols with me ; and so, with my hand upon
them, as he reckoned, he didn't stand out long.
But'l felt mighty queer, I' tell you. Still I wasn't
goin' to stand his sarcy talk, in course ; so I jest
shut him up, mighty quick." By this time the
pistols were adjusted, and as he walked out their
valiant wearer continued a kind of soliloquy—.
" Well, I reckon I'm fixed now They Won't be so