Litchfield enquirer., 1838-07-19

English Magazine.
 We had. .gnegro on board, of a very SuI- len and repulsive aspect, who bore the coenonen of QuacO. He belonged to the caDtain of the schooner, who had treated him with great kindness, and employed him as cook. The crew having been mnah fatisued with their exertions that day, the captain ordered his cook to make some good coffee, and enough Tor all on board. This was presently brought us but the lad who served as steward, an in- telIigent Creole youth, the moment he pla- ced it on the table, besought us not to touch it, sayiHg that he felt certain there was something wrong in it, and that he had already cautioned the crew. The captain was inclined to treat the boys war ming as some idle suspicion, observing that the man had not been on shore, and that the medicine chest was safely locked. But nothing could pacify the boy.
 Look at it, sir said he earnestly ssmell it. and see if it is as it ought to be-
 sWby. it is rather thick said the cap-- tain aud taking the cup in his hand, 'and it does smell rather queer
 | inquired whether he had any test on board that might detect any thing deleteri- ous.'
 Yes said he, have test, and a sure one . and he reached case from the lockers. from which he drew brace of pis- tols, and very deliberately began to load them.
 sWhat would you do 2 I exclaimed.- sSurely. upon such slight grounds, you would not
 .Don't be alarmed interrupting he, l shall do nothing rash; and he coolly exa- mined the fints. Having loaded and pri- med the weapons Cali down Quaco and all the crew.
 They came into the cabin. The cook was called forward, and the crew thronged around the door.
 sQuaco,' said the captain sternly, drink tha, cup of coffee to the very dregs.'
 II don't like coffee,' said the African, drawing back in evident surprise and alarm.
 sSwallow it this instant!
 The negro looked as if he understood the action of his master, if he did not ful- ly comprehend his words, for he appeared to mediate flight on deck but the crew seemed to anticipate bis intention, and their angry gestures told him what mercy he might expect at their hands. Mean while all was silent as death, save the click ing noise which accompanies the cooking of pistols. The negro paused, big drops of sweat poured down his dark brow like rain, his eyes glared wildly around, and the paleness of death was on his lips.
 Drink it this instant, you black, mur- dcrous villain r cried the captain, who had now no doubt of his guilt; and he levelled his pistol at his head.
 The negro took spoonful of the mix ture, though trembling with fear. He hold it in his mouth for a moment, and then sshuddering spit it out.
 Force him to take it, sir,' said one of the sailors.
 He would have poisoned the whole of us, said stout Angosturin ;-' St. Anto- nio and the Saints keep us ? and he cross cd himself devoutly. The sailors, made an advance as though they would have en. forced the request to the former, when the captain cried out-
 Stand of, let no one lay hands on him. ,
 He then smptied the cup which held the liquid into vessel containing about a pint or more, and thus addressed the negro:
 Do you see these pistols1 Each con- sains two balls. You are guilty man if you refuse to drink that coffee which you have made. and you only choose your death; for as God is just, your minutes are nun. bered. But if you drink and are unharm- ed by it, will give you your freedom for accusing you unjustly. promise it in the presence of these witnesses. Now drink h.'
 The African with a convnlsive grasp, seized the jug, and while his teeth chat tered against it's edge, drank every drop 1; then rolling his eyes frightfully, either in fear or agon:, sunk with deep groan up- on the floor of the cabin. A murmur of sxecration rose from the crew as he fell, and not one moved forward to assist the wretched man. Whether the captain thought he was hardly warranted in enfor- cling such summary justice, or that a slight shade of compassion came over him, he immediately endeavored to ascertain the nature of the poison with which it was ev- ident the coffee had been drugged; but the negro either could or would not answer We examined his chest, and sought for 6 clue, but without success, until one of the crew discovered quantity of Savannah flowers, (cekitks sabericiG,) a most deadly poison, which the assassin had picked out from the refuse of the mules. the instinct of the animals always inducing them to re- ject it from their food. Satisfied with this discovery, we returned to the cabin, where we found the youth who had warned us in the first instance, on his kness returning thanks to Providence for having been the means of saving us all from a dreadful death. We prepared an emetic of white vitriol. which we forced ,he murderer to swallow; but it was useless. 1t brought on a slighi YnnAiiin@ hui in a Eaw minutes