Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-28


suong CLAIMS TO it. He was, however. dis.
InSuiahed Tor that species of vaIor, of which
discretion constitutes the better mart So
unpopular Is this valuable ingredient with
the hot headed rabble, that the celebrated
Cicero himself, who enjoyed it in n b;gb Do.
gree, has not escaped the unmerited cborra
OF cowardice. Mentioning Cicero. coDnot
convey more accurate idea of NV bero,s
character than that afforded by parallel
between these two exalted individuals There
was IN both, nearly the same portion of afIa-
DIity and magisterial dignity,-of real indie
Pehuence q professional obsequiousness, Of
5 geherai good sense and occasional vanitv.-
Ihey were also on u level in point of orator
zeal powers. Let it not be inferred fron,
what has been said, that our venerable mons
cr was destitute ofgenune intrepidity. Here
ID, likewise, the parallel holds good. Like
cicero, ne was firm and collected as soon rs
danger became inevitable; all previous reluc-
lance 10 meet 1t, existing only while a doubt
OF the necessity remained. The bloody con
met now to be related will amply corrobo-
rate the truth of these observations.
On brilliant evening of November. in the
year 1924, oltalre was returning from CON
cert at an hour unusually early, sad and de-
jected by lndisposition, solicitous for the
cares oil the ensuing day, and soured by the
interruption OF his oratorio. Upon reachinp
the wood-shed steps which lead to the iitch
en-, he cspled, projecting from behind a fish
Nc'tie' the smooth, gray, tapering extremity
OF Kat. The enemy was evidently attempt
ing concealnent, and would have succeeded
but for this unconscious index. which I'D
not e!ude the all-searching glance of Feline
optics. Aye! aye! thereby hangs tale
thought my nero, mentally quoting Shakes
peare. VotaIrcs first impulse was To recon-
hoitre. In the prosecution of this design he
collected the fur OF each foot into a globulaI,
punch, enveIoping all the noisy substance
thereoi, and presenting the appearance of
tour powder puts. Stalking along with
( lcngthened and cautious strides he wound
around another quarter OF the fish kettle;
then drawing IN iiis whiskers 10 prevent de-
lection, he vcntured wary peep at the nd
yersary, but qaickly recoiled from the stern.
desperate and weathcr-beaten features that
cool!y returned his gaze. And well he might;
Tor 1t was no other than our old standard Rat
"a Kat coeval with the foundation of the
:, mouse; one who had put every description of
trap utterly out of CeHhtenanca. and had
hitherto eluded the art OF VoItaire himself
who upon recognizing this Dirk Hatleraici;
OF his clan, began to deliberate whether il
was not best TO 90 straight to bed, and sleep
the rencontrc out OF mind. Getting scent
OF my presence, however, pride at length
predomInated. Reputation was at stake.
and victory would be as glorious as il was
difficult. Votairc will be readily pardon
cd for this natural and transient hesitation.
when it Is considered that, maugrc his deli
cate state of health, he was about To contend
wltha hardened, reckless, muscular frceboot-
cT, whose very element was peril, and whom
despair served to invigorate. The idea Of
a regular blockade, 10 reduce the enemy
by starvation, seemed 10 suggest itself next.
but was quickly rclinquished in consequences
OF suspicious movement on the part of
the Rat, which determined Voltairc 10 make
a sudden attack upon rear and flank and
thus secure the advantage of striking the
first blow. This manpvre was executed in
the twlnkling of an eye. The enemy now
wheeled about, resolved that his latter end
should not be harrassed and curtaled with
lmpunlty. The combatants were now face
to face, their breasts agitated by every c.
motion trat mutual dread and mutual ha-
trcG could inspire. The Rats gaze was
liked immovably upon his antagonist. Vol
taTes eye darted meridian splenolor into
every recess OF the wood-shcd, while In the
prominence and rigidity Of his hristles
recognized the archetype of a chevaux-dc-
frlze. An instant displayed them engaged
in close and desperate struggle. During
five horrible minutes the work of blood
went on. The Rat now lay undermost
and bottom upwards, plying his hind-feet
with mercIess energy into Voltarc's vel
vet stomachcr To avoid this harrovinp
! operation, the latter endeavoured TO shift
posture without losing hold, by making
lateral sweep 10 the right. This attempt
would have succeeded but for the internal
ilsh-kettle, coming in contact with which
Voltairc turned a somerset without knowing
how. Before he could reCollect the point
OF the compass, his antagonist, taking adj
vantage of the accident, had entrenched
himself in corner, where his right and
left TANKS were covered by the mop-board
Both parties stopped moment TO breathe
In the next Voltaire was posted in the en-
cmy's path, crouching upon his launches,
with every muscle on the alert for spring.
The Rat, finding escape out Of the ques-