The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-04


a sort OF cloth cassock open in front, and cover
ing their backs and shoulders. That which dis
pleased me most in them was a certain air OF
gaiety and dissatisfaction which ! could not
reconcile with their barbarous vocation. When
they had advanced close 10 where we were stand
ing, the aids-de-camp directed my attention TO a
packet which each of them carried under his left
arm.
THAT is the knoui' said he, would you like 10
examine tP lreplied in the affirmative, The
alds-de-camp having addressed to the execution
ers some words in Russian, they saluted me
with respect, and advancing TO table in the yes
thule, unrolled their packets. The knout con
slsts oil short. strong leather handle, terminated
by buckle in which are affixed certain num-
Der OF leather thongs, ofwhich one only is used
Tor each stroke the criminal receives REQUEST
ed the executioners 10 apply upon the wall few
strokes of the knout, with the same degree of
force as that employed AT an execution They
took oil their caps and cassocks, and having
carefully adjusted the leather thong in the buckle
above mentioned, and gathering up all their
strength, they struck the wall with such force
that the hard plaster with which il was covered
fell down in fragments. Ishuddered with horror
at the reflection that such strokes were inflicted
on the Giving flesh OF a human being 'Enonghp
exclaimed. 1T is indeed a horrible punish
ment, observed my obliging cicerone, but it is
inflicted only for capital offence and, after all,
Il is doubtful question whether the punishment
OF death is preferable. Twenty strokes Of the
knout are the maximum amount Of punishment;
and it is, probably nearly the utmost that the hui
man frame is capable of enduring"
DANIEL WEBSTER MAKING CHowDER-The
bingham Patriot of last week says 80" At
Marshfeld, close by the shores, and long dis
lance from any human habitation, stands rude
shanty, provided with cooking utensils and some
rough sleeping apparatus, for the accommoda-
ton of the fishers and fowlers who resort thith-
er this season for game. There, before the
door Of that hut, might have been seen few
days ago, about the hour of sunset, stout look
ing, darkvisaged, hard featured man, with a
shaggy roundabout upon his back, and coarse
tarpaulin that looked rather the worse for wear
upon his head, squatted upon stone, and with
fist full of sand securing out an old chowder
pot, which the last users had been SO careless as
to leave little less cleanly than it should have
been. Shortly after, the same hand was seen
to be sprinkhng pepper and salt upon the fruits
OF that days expedition, as they simmered in
the pot over the aforesaid cracking fire. He
was evidently the prominent man OF the party;
and after the savory vands had been despatched
at the clothless board, with the keen appetite and
smacking relish that hunters only can appreciate,
his were the apt fingers that wiped platters fast
est; and as they sat around The comfortable
blaze of the swapping brushwood, from his pro-
life lips flowed the countless stories at which
they stared hardest and laughed loudest Not
about MLeod's, and tariffs, and banks, and such
matters of state, which, in these times of politi-
cal excitement, men are most apt to talk about,
did our story teller prattle; his anecdotes were
OF matters OF less importance, perhaps but in
hnltely more entertaining TO the hard listed, fun
loving fishermen and farmers who were his com
panions And when natures sweet restorer'
called them to their hunks, he was the first if
not the loudest, TO snore: and at daylight he was
the foremost to make ready the morning repast,
by scraping in the sand, outside the hut, the
knives which the evening feast had tarnished.-
His name was DANIEL Uebster,-his station
Secretary of State Of the United States of Anne
rica,-his home, wherever he CHANGED to be, in
fisherman's hut or kings palace, among his
cattle or nj The CanitoI