Southern shield., 1850-03-09
A Singular Story.

The Washington correspondent ot NIT. Lippard's paper, the "Quaker City," con- municates the following curious account off recent remarkable dream of MT. Calhoun's We have not much faith in supernatural ap- pearances, but if anything could lead the ghost of the 't'ATHRR OF HIS COUNTRY" toI revisit the realms beneath the moon, t would be the thought that his beloved coun- try was in danger of DIsUNIoN, which is but another name for CIVIL WAR. We give the story for what it is worth:
 Washington, D. C., Jan. l2 1850.
 MR. EDIToR:-The other morning, at the breakfast table. our friend, the Hon. John c. Calhoun, seemed very much troubled and out of spirits. You know he is altogether venerable man, with a hard, stern, Scotch Irish face, softened in its expression around the mouth by a sort of sad smile, which wins the hearts of all who converse with them. His hair is snow-white. He is tall, thin and angular. He reminds you very much of old Hickory. That he is honest, no one doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatal ism the brightest hopes of political advance ment-has offered up on the shrine of that iron necessity which he worships, all that can excite ambition-even the Presidency of the United States.
 But to my story. The other morning, at the breakfast table, where l, an unobserved spectator, happened to be present, Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently at his right hand, and brush itwith his left, in nervous and hurried manner. He did this so often that it excited attention. At length one off the persons composing the breakfast party his name think is Toombs, and he is a member of Congress from Georgia-took upon himself to ask the occasion of Mr. Cal nouns dsquetude.
 "Does your hand pain you?" he asked
 To this Calhoun replied in rather dur- ried manner-"P "Pshaw! its nothing Only a dream which had last night, and which makes me see perpetually large black spot like an ink blotch-upon the back of my right hand An optical delusion, l sup pose.
 Of course these words excited the curios- ity of the company, but no one ventured toI beg tte details of this singular dream, until Toombs asked quietly
 "What was your dream like? Pm not very superstitious about dreams; but some times they have a good deal of truth in| them"
 ':But this was such a peculiar, absurd dream" said Mir. Calhoun; again brushing the back of his right hand-"howeve if it does not too much intrude upon the time of our friends, will relate it."
 Of course the company were profuse in their expression of anxiety to know all about the dream. In his slngularly sweet voice, MT. Calhoun related it:
 1sAt Q late hour last night, as was sitting ill my room, engaged in writing, l was as- tonished by the entrance of visitor, who entered and without word took a seat op- posite me, at my table. This surprised me, as had given particular orders to the ser want, that 1 should on no account be dis turbed-The manner in which the intruder entered, so perfectly self possessed, taking his seat opposite me, without a word, as though my room, and all within it, belonged to him, excited in ne as much surprise as indignation. As raised my head to look into his features over the top of my shaded lamp, discovered that he was wrapped, in a thin cloak, which effectually concealed his face and features from my view. And as raised my head he spoke.
 "What are you writing, Senator from South Carolina!''
 q did not think of his impertinence at first. but answered him involuntarllv-
 ".I am writing plan for the Dissolution of the American Union, (you know, gentle men, that am expected to produce Plan of Dissolution in the event of certain con- tingencies!O
 @To this the intruder replied in the cool est manner possible:
 "Senator from South Carolina, will you allow me to look at your hand, your right hand7''