Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-02-23
MHSCEkLA ANY
From the Poughkeepsis Telegraph.
A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY.

lovely morning in October II,
was rendered gloomy one TO the inhabi-
tants Of Martinique. Repeated inju-
riss inflicted by the ruling powers, cou-
Piled with burning desire among many
ambitious and perhaps, patriotic men to
crush foreign Influence upon their beau
titn! Isle. and to govern themselves as a
Tree aad independent people. had long
rendered residence there precarious.
On the morning in question. the banner
OF revolt was seen floating in proud de-
fiance upon the walls Of the castle at
Fort Royal, and in the far distance the
smoke Of villages showed the track OF
the merciless demon Of insurrection.
Every vessel in the har5or of Fort Row
al was crowded with refugees, who,
hastily collecting their most valuable eff
fects. had fed before the tide of destruc-
ton which was rolling fearfully over
that ili.staTred island. Among them was
merchant Of high repute, who, with
his wife and daughter. q beautiful girl
Of about fifteen, took passage for France
whittier on the following day the ves.el
sailed.-Fair winds gave them quick
passage to the Cape de Verd, aud af.
ter tarry Of a day or two there, they
weighed anchor for Havre. At dawn
on the second morning after their depsr-
ture, they espisd dark looking brig
bearing down upon them, and as the sun
rose above the horizon, it proclaimed
to them the truth that an Algerine cor
sair was their early visiter. So much
were the high seas infested at that time
with pirates, that every vessel went pre-
pared for an encounter. Immediate
preparations were made for q contest,
should the corssir overtake them, and
all sails were spread to the breeze
The pirate came up-the contest was
fearful-the father and mother were
murdered-and :be beautiful orphan
was made the prize Of band of ruff
ans. In few days they neared the
Barbary coast, and she was sold to the
Bey Of Tunis for ten thousand sequins.
The prediction OF fortune teller, years
before, that she would one day wear the
coronet Of queen, impressed her mind
with conviction Of ito truth, which
spread halo of light around her amid
the darkness Of the worst Of slavery. Her
beauty made her a favorite, and about
two years eferward, Sultan Mustaphs
carried her in triumph to Constantine.
pie. Her beauty, her virtue, her am
pie powers 10 please. made her the ex-
allied 'avorite OF the imperial Seraglio.
and she became the bonored Sultana.-
Then indeed were the predictions Of her
destiny verified, and she wore the crown
as queen ofthe Ottoman empire. Nah
moud II, the presen, Sultan Of Turkey,
is her son, and to her influence upon bis
early character may may be- attributed
bis taste for European customs, and the
frequent innovations which his will has
made among the customs Of his people.
The last act Of importance. and which
seems like great stride toward the ele.
vation of Turkish women to the sam.
station which women hold throughout
Cbristendom, is the opening the doors
OF the seraglio, and permitting his wo.
men to go in and out at pleasure, and
enjoy themselves by rambles upon the
lovely plains which stretch along the
banks Of the Bosphoru,. The number
who were confined 10 bis sersglio was
about six hundred.
The fate Of tina. young girl was sim.
liar TO tina, OF Josephine, wife Of Nspo.
isos --Sbe too was the subject Of sim.