The Arkansas banner., 1849-07-17
lfrom the N. 0. Picayune. The star SpangIed Banner.

As the beautiful and patriotic song of the late Francis $. Key maintains its primacy as a national antAem, We are glad to find an authentic statement of the circumstances under which it was written. particularly as much misrepresentation has existed on the subject heretofore. We insert 1t as appropri ate to this cay.
 NIT. J. $. Skinner, who. during the late British Wal, was agent Tor flags o truce and tor the esehange ot prisoners, In an article in the National InteIl gencer, correcting some slight errors into which MT. lngersofl, in bis History of the War of lsl2, had fallen, furnishes the facts connected with this production:
 "On visit to the enemy upon business growing ont os the capture of Washington, the undersigDed was instructed to take along with him Mr Key. of Washington, his mission having exclusive reference 10 the release Of Dr. Beans, venerable cavalier of lrnee Georges county, who, on the relreat from Washington, had been seized in his house and carried off in the night under circumstances of gross haFshBess and tndignity. His friends were pursnaded that something might be hoped from MT Keys tact and persuasive manners in getting the doctor released, and though that was effected by different influence, Mir. Keys visit ended happily m giving us one national song that will be as iper ishabe as the naval Ienown 1t will forever serve to celebrate and to cherish. Such was the origin of the Star Spangled Banner.'"
 Shortly after this release the attack on BaIimore was made. commencing with a night cAnnonade of Fort Mchenry, :" during the striking concussions'' o which, says Mr ingersoll, ' the song of the Star spangled Banner was composed m the admiraps ship." On ,his MT Skinner remarks as follows:
 Now, it is not unworthy of that noble inspira. ton ihat its circumstances should be more exactly known. The author of the Star Spangled Banner was never on board the admirals ship after we were in sight of Baltimore. We had been invited durine our aetention To take up our quarters with the ad mirais son. Sir Thomas Cochrabe, on board the Surnri9n IUat fha a1r his own, the flag ship was so crowded win officers that he could not accommodate us as he wished. out promised that his son (which he redeemedl would make us comfortable until after the denoue ment of the expedition then going forward.
 Dining every day with the admiral and a large party ot army and navy officers. his beets and lans were freely spoken of. and thus, when we arrived in sight of the city the undersigned again na,,ae, an answer to his despatches to which Sir Alexan- oer answered smiiingiy: "Ah, Mir s., after discuss. Ing so freely we have done ia your presence our cur purposes and plans, you could hardly expeet us to let you go on shore now in advance of us Your despatches are all ready. You will have to remain win us unlii all IS over, when promise you there snail be no further deiayH Seeing no heip for if. demanded that we should then be returned to our own vessei--one oi Ferguson's Norfolk packets un- der our own "StaI Spangled Banuer'' during inc attack. It was from her deck, in view of Fort Nc Henry, that ws witnessed through an anxious day and night, |" The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting air. and the song, which was written the nigh, after we got back 10 Baltimore in the hotel then kept at the corner of Hanover and Market streets, was bu, versiied and almost literal transcript of our ex pressed hopes and apprehensions through that ever memorable period ot anxiety to all, but never de- spair Calling on its accomplished author the next morning, he handed it 10 the undersigned, who passed to the Baltimore Patriot. aud through it to immortality"