Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-05
A Curious Story.

The Literary World, In recent article show
ing up tho stupid inaccuracies of Charles Lev
er, in his ." Con Gregan," tells the following Gu
rious story of French Adventurer, and an Eng
llsh novel.
Some time In the year Al, Gallo Cheva-
lier dlndustrie presented himself, or was presen-
ted, to Sam Houston, at that time President of
the quondam Republic of Texas.
Marvellous and strange were the tales he
told; and improbable as they we're, the old SOL
dier believed them all. The adventurer styled
himself the Count de Narbonne, and pretended
that for years both he and his father had lived
among the Apache Iadians, and that over them,
and also the Camanches, they had gained great
influence,
ellis object, he said, in visiting Austin, was
to obtain authority to negotiate treaty between
Texas and the Western Indian tribes, which
was much desired by the Texans.
Gas the General had also spent some years
among the Indians, he saw nothing very impro.
bable in the statement, and jumping at the bait
furnished the Soi-diSaat Comte de Narbonne
with letters and documents, appointing him am
bassador plenpotentiary and extraordinary of
Texas, to all the Western tribes of Indians,
and provided him also with handsome sum of
money-some four thousand dollars, we think,
to pay expenses, and distribute among the
chiefs
"What use Houston imagined the Count
could make with his letters among the Apache
Indians does not appear; what use he put them
to, does.
"We next find the gentleman in Natchito-
ches, where he soon contrived to render himself
about as notorious and conspicuous as did the
Marquis of Waterford, few years since, In
Gotham.
"In fact, he INDUCED in--as they there term
ed lt-'a pretty tall frolc.' So TALL indeed
that the authorities found it convenient to call
upon him, to ascertain the local habitation and
the name of the distinguished stranger, to in.
qure where he came from, what he was about
and where he expected to 60 TO.
"The Count displayed TO their astonshed
eyes his credentials and sundry roleaux of gold
informing them that he was perfectly compe.
tent to take care of himself and to pay his owr
way, and that, owing to their injurious suspi
cion of man of his rank and importance, he
should take his way as soon as he had paid
pay his shot and take the shute-and deprive
them henceforth and forever of the light of his
presence.
"After this escapade, in the place of purcha
sing Indian presents, and negotiating lndial
treaties, he departed post-haste, for England
where by some means unknown, he formed tn
acquaintance of Capt. Maryatt. To him, h
..nhnsouaed hirnsalf of his antire budget of ad
ventures-real and fctitous-and with hin
from this abundance of npdterieI, concocted
new edition of Robinson Crusoe,the Count pc
forming the part of dry-land Sekirk-shi
wrecked among hostile Indians and cut. .throt
Texans-while the Captain figured as ne
De Foe.
"The precious volume produced by the twai
is wonder to behold, and certainly deserves
be enumerated among the curiosities of liter'
ture.
"Not content with eliminating the Count
marvels,-to save trouble, to fill his volume, ar
perhaps to have few pennyworths of truth
such an ocean of mendacity, the Captain copie
and dove tailed in, page after page of Kendall
| letters-then in the course of publication in tn
: Picayune, verbatim ct literatim ct punctuatir
l and when printed, endorsed personally the stri
veracity of the work.
r I" 1t needed but one other stone to cap this p
t ramid of impudent mendacity, and it was soc
+ supplied.
d "Mr. Kendall-feeling rather sore at tt
r wholesale robbery--complainhd loudly of tt
e literary felony, and Captain Marryatt put in
: rejoinder, with his characteristic modesty, ST
ting that there had been any stealing done, Ke'
8 dali had p,rlOined from his UoIume.
7 "We Americans are in the habit of sufferin
: abuse-like the eels in the story, we Are used
e it, and we trust that from it we have derive
- some benefit.