Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-12
Capt. TObin's Idea of the Law of Prizes.
FROM THE NEW ORLEANS DELI


was on the left of the regiment Tobin was
my next neighbor, and good-iund Of amusement
fun and frollc, and occasionally something else, did
he afford me. His eccentricites and oddities We're
without end, and, when directed to q particular
point, they furnished him with arguments which
were certainly transferable. On a certain occa-
sion Tobin happened to be the officer of the day
We had found it very difficult, in the inactivity of
camp life, some six weeks we spent opposite Mat
amoras, to keep the men from getting too much Ii
quor- In vain was an embargo laid on the suffers
! Issues-grog they would have, and did get. 1t was
soon found out that the Mexicans had discovered
this amiable weakness in the disposition Of their
invaders, and were driving quite brisk trade in
the smuggling line Having been an old man-of.
war's-man, and pretty well up to the ''tricks OF
trade" our Colonel had requested me to do little
police duty, in the way of discovering the contra
band article. My triggers were set, and in a
short time the orderly of my company, himself an
old soldier informed me where, under certain part
of the river bank, could catch one of these illicit
traders in the very act Of dealing out his stores-
In few minutes both the Mexican and his Jug
were captured, and turned over, of course TO Tobin
who, as have said, was officer of the day. This
put the ever-feriile genius of the gallant captain
on the alert, and in few hours several similar cap
lures evinced his interchangeable activity in this spe-
| cleS OF war. ~
The contrabandstas were sent temporarily TO the
W titiii, anu Udu TeIiTG0 IC
my lounge, when the notion that a small drop OF
Comfort, after my arduous duties, would be acce'ta-
BILE, struck me. 1t in vain however that
ransacked the mess-chest and uncorked bottles
the wherewlthal TO make me merry was not there
and thirst growing stronger from the want o.
wherewitha to drown itself, as an unfailing re-
source repaired to Tobin's quarters We were
soon polite deep into tin cup of excellent toddy
and, as as thirst satisfied permitted taste TO re-
sumo its rights, perceived that, however paiatabl,
the beverage, ii was neither Sewel Tayior's prim,
old whisky, nor Dan. Clark's good old brandy. nor
in fact any liquor known to the regular trade.
"Hillo! old fellow, where did this come from p
[ exclaimed.
"And, faith then, you ought to know prett,
well yourself, since you helped to take it,"
| sly on don't mean TO say that this is the luuo
captured from the Mexicans this morning ~
'FAnd what else should it be 90
''But do you know, old fellow, that you ought L
have destroyed it Immediately 90
''That same you've been helping me to do pref
ty fast, my fine fellow" reoined the gallant Captain
This did not exactly suit my ideas of mllltar,
discipline; but, as humor generally gets the bette
of argument In such discussions, dropped the sub
ject for the moment, but with the determination t
give our Colonel a side talk on the subject, as
would have been sorry that my friend Tobin Shout
have gotten himself into scrape. and had hear
some mutterings "deep but not loud" on the sui
ject
few hours after, we both happened at tb
CoonePs tent, when the latter inquired of Tobi
what ne had done with the captured spirits.
drank 1t, av course, barrin a small drop LEFT
and devllIsh good it is, il you'll try horn, COX
mel, sad the Imperturbable Captain.
"But do YOU know, Captain Tobn, that wa
; very wrong Z" replied the Colonel, with an air
gravity.
"And what should have done with it, COX
mel 2"
destroyed 1T at once-smashed it before the
eyes, Just where you took il at, as an example"
; WHAT, right in the middle Of the tents, COX
, mel ~
Certainly"
: 'tBy me soul, what loss of good liquor, and NJ
body the better. More than that Colonel, ,oouIdn
pc men haze cut their feet ,oith The broken glass
Faith, it's no such trick you'd catch me att
, The GOODNESS and indescribable hdmor wit
I which this was said were unanswerable, except b
; the burst of laughter in which all hands joined