Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30

CD the remaining nine hundred aud ninety -nine
to thor barracks, until he returned. indec,!
without, believe, the least feeling ofcruclty or
malice, tins man passed half his time in dcyisinc
milictlons and the other half II practising them
upon us. And, besides this, he fatigucd us witt,
eternal inspections; wasted more paper in wri-
ting rules and regulations, that might have made
cartridges for whole battalion; and aftes com
pci'iDg us, even in cold weather, to go through
tedious Paride or a Sunday, was 50 merciless
as always To make long speech at the end
of il.
Our dlird Commandan,, and the oplI one
whom | ever drcadcd-for the whius OF the &C.
cond hardly passed what might he called vexa-
tions-our third conmandant was fool; and OF
course, being n soldier, martinez. Quite in
competent to the discussion OF any possible mat
ter beyond ihc polish of carbne barrel, or the
number of PAGES in which a regiment ought to
cross the parade ground, he gave his whole at
tcntion 10 what he termed the miltaryn APP
pcarancc ofhis troops. A spcck upon q mans
unliorin-a hair too much or too little in awhs-
ker-a spot, or n drop of water, upon the floor
OF room in which thirty men inhabited, ate,
drank, and slept; these were crimes which ne
yer failed to call down heavy retrbution. And
perfection, it'll this gentleman, was almost rs
much fault as negligence. He lived only up
on orders, reprimands, and whippings. The
man who could not do this duty, was to be tortu-
red rs matter Of course; the man who did it
WE'LL was corrected rs ga conceited fellow-n-
Every process under ms jurisdiction was con
Quoted at the point OF the &C damme.n He n,
tempted TO make his officers cut their hair in a
! particular shape. He forbad staif-adiutant.
who could not afford TO give up his place, ever
to quit the, barrack-yard without stating where
nc going to. 1 have known him set three
hundred men to pick straws off Il stable-yard,
where every fresh puff of wind left them their
iabourS TO begin again. Eventually the fellow
Joined regiment in India; and fell in a sl1ir-
rnish, by bali, it was supposed, from one of his
own soldiers.
But was weary of examining characters,
and avoiding prosecutions. was tired of being
a tavourte among the nursery girls OF Lyning-
ton, and even of enjoying the ennity of the
young gentlemen of the neighborhood. | had
become weary of the honour and discomfort of
enduranCc-l sighed, III the midst of eXcrton
| tor cycrtion's rcward-l never doubted that Ia
lent must, in time, find its level; hut had be-
gun TO doubt whether mans life would be long
enough 20 afford the waiting, when the chance
that was hoping, and wishing for, appeared.
How constantly do men ascribe to momenta-
~ Impulse, acts which really are founded in deep
generalization. Mistakes, surprises, Jokes, and
even GUarrels, pass current as accidental, which
arc in truth matters of malice prepense. My
object at LyrnnGton was, to introduce myself
to persons of consideration; and with that view
for months, carried my life as il were, in my
ha:|!. Every nnoment that could snatch from
tie routine of military duty, was Systematically
devoted to searching after adventure. There
was not family of condition within five miles
OF the dep2:, but had my eye upon their mo-
tons and arrangements. How often, while
watching their gay parties upolfthe river, did
4 al
gave me an opportunity of distinguishing my
self! How often have wished, in riding night
picquet or express, that some passing cquipage
you'd he attacked by robbers, that | might
make my fortune by defeating them saw, by
chance, one evening, mill on fire in Inc dis
lance, and, making sure it was noblcman's
seat, swan through two rivers to arrive it. Al
length the common place Incident had look
cd Tor 1t, though, hundred times-the com
nlon-place incident of two tipsy farmers, on a
| iair day, afironting an officer in Lymington mar
Net-placc, who had a lady on his arm, gave me
the chance l had SO long songht. This affair
give me an opportunity of being useful to Cap
tain and Mrs. Levine.
The honorable Augustus Levine, who had
lomed the garrison but few days when this ac-
cIdcnt bc!ell him, one of those men OF for
tune VINO seem born for no other purpose than
10 put poor fellows iii contentment with their
destiny. Elc was an abject creature, both in
heart and mind. Despicable There be more
such) i'll person as in principle and yet the
worm was brother 10 an earl-he was master of
tine estate--hc commanded an hundred soldi-
crs; and "a man may have too many blessingsl
he had young and handsome wife.
When | declare that Huntington Barracks
were full OF STRIPPING officers, who, III addition to
wealth and station, possessed (many ofthcm) all
personal 9LElQtarpS. M tn m
OF Mrs. Levine upon the credit OF sucha service
as had performed, may appear to savour not a
little Of presumption. Setting the event apart
should maintain different opinion. A hun
dred qualifications, which would only have been
oi course in man of rank, in peasant would
excite surprise, and, consequently, interest. Ny
encounter IN the marSet-place, though a vulgar
one, had gwen me some opportunity fordisplay !;
and private soldier, who possessed figure, ac-
compiishinent, and department; who could make
verses, make love, and moreover, fight like a
iurk-such a man would secure attention; and
love follows very easily. | cannot afford now TO
dwell upon details but, whatever be the value
OF my general principles, consequences, in the
particular instance, did approve my dream.
Within six months had disclosed my real name
ana rank-cloped with Mrs. Livinc--fought a
duel With her husband-and had a verdict en-
tered against Inc III the Court of Kings Bench.
with damages, by default, TO the amount of
10000.
There IS this circumstance, among thousand
others, to attach us to the female SEX that man
can scarce, i'll any case whatever the degree of
friendship, receive Il favour from his fellow man.
without some feeling of inferioritv while, from
awoman, each new act of kindness, or of bounty,
seems but tribute to bis merit, and proof of
her affection.
My encounter with Levine produced very fri