New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-10

PLAYED IN feats OF spasmoclc, dehrloas shen6'u-
The obi cation to follow bis original was whole
some restraint on bis brayado Of expression, and
has compelled him in making faithful transcript
Of the most natural and transparent prose writer
Of recent times, TO produce delightful specimen
of sweet and flowing English. Whoever taxes
mn" Wilhelm Meister" for the first time In this
translation will no doubt be disappointed. La as
topisbment at the place it holds in European lt'
ersture, be will deprecistiDgly ask " And 10 this
.D7p Bot let him not leave it in such mood.
Bis eve will soon adapt itself to the subtle beau
ties which every where lark beneath its surface
and he will not fail to discover in its quiet, unPre
tending narrative, and its careless and familiar
reflections, a wealth Of serene wisoom,' a com
prehensive insight into the pictured phases OF pas
siop. and a profound revelation of humanity, which
betrsy the presence, not merely OF the con'um'
mate literary artist, bat OF the triumphant athlete
who has struggled till daybreak for the bles-
siDgs Of truth.
ROMANCE DUST FROM THE HIsTORIC PLACER.
By WILLIAM s. MAYO, Md. limo PIP "a. George
r. Pntnsm.
Tho author 81 "KalOolah and The Berber
has given in this volume an agreeable interlude
fertile PEN 1t consists Of several short stories,
most of them founded historical incidents, and
q poem on WashingtOns First Battle, or Brad
docks defeat. If not equal in interest to the
more sustained efforts Of the author, il exhibits
the same boldness of invention, and occasionally
the brilliancy Of coloring which characterize his
former popular romanoes. The following story
which we copy entire, illustrates the danger OF
committing irrepsrsble injuries by the infection
Of capital punishment on crcumstantal evidence.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
stalking of crcumstsntial evidence can tell
you a story, In point, of an affair that happened
within my own personal knowledge, If you wish
10 bear il"
The speaker was one OF group that stood
spon the promenade deck Of the Empire, one day
two or three Summers ago, as she glided among
the glories Of the Hudson, on her downward pas
sage from the political capital of the State to the
commercial and financial capital Of the Union
This group had been collected by an animated
discussion be.we1n wv P'0fessiv"~l looAi"s due
putants, respecting the necessity and proPrlety
OF killing men as a punishment for murder. The
members OF il were apparently all strangers 10
each other, and to the disputants, one OF whom,
from his appearance In general and his white
eravat in particular and from his frequent quota
tions from Scripture-his constant iteration OF
such phrases as "divlne vengeance holy lndlg-
nation" Gods mmutsble laws &c his wordy
rhetoric false logic, and bad temper, took to be
of that small class OF mario " minded and snort
sighted reiigionists who are ever ready to brand
reform with the reproach OF iniideity who fancy
an earth quake endangering she foundations Of
e3od's church ia every step Of human improve
ment-who look upon every discovery in science
NJ an attack upon MOses-every new moral
msxim as an insult to Solomon every philan-
thropic movement as a contempt OF our Saviour;
q hn In think Iha dFlVal and
SLAYER OF the pilgrims essential TO existence OF
the shrine and who, by this sort Of nasty CONVEX
vatism do more harm to the cause OF religion than
oil the inidels in the world more harm than their
liberal and enlightened brethren Of the cloth are
able to counteract
The conversation, at FIRST 60 spirited as to eX'
cite the interest and attention OF number OF
ladies, who had moved themselves up 50 as to be
within hearing, had begun to Tag The arguments
for and against had been pretty nearly exhausted,
and the combatants were beginning. In the loll OF
the battle, TO draw oil their polemica cohorts,
preparatory to a peace, both parties satisfied with
the ufi posstdettS although the spectators could
Distinguish no great difference between il aud the
statN quo ants bettuD-
Ii vas at this opportune moment that the
speaker, a square built, red-faced, comfortable
lookng man. proposed 60 tell bis story. or course,
there was a general expression Of assent 80
clearing bis throat with q preparatory hem
and slowing his quid little more compacty,
aher shifting il from atarboard 10 lSrboard he
began
many years since | gave up ploughing the deep
and TOOK to turning burrows upon the land. Just
forty years ago | was IN command OF q little tuu.
rigged brig, called the MOrescO belonging 70 b al
timore. We were bound for liverpool and from
there to the Cape de Verbs, for q cargo of sSlt,
and thence home. My crew consisted Of three
men and q bOy-rkther short handed you may
think for long voy age but sailors were in de-
mand. and my vessel was q little bit OF a thing,
aud required but few 20 mGnsge her; besides,
was Young then, and telt my seN about equal 70
the watch Of a ANAL ttigate alone and In add.
ton there vaa the mate, who had come on board
Of ne with the reputation Of being active an
officer as ever stepped Scross = ships gAngVay.
MIR CLARK James { Clark, | thlRk Was hiS
name-wss young man about thirty, but he had
beeR 10 sea Pretty much Rll HE lie Report said,
for didn't know much Of him personally, that he
wss good sailor, but regular marine Tartar;
n thorough gong disciple Of the He'll aaoSi
system"
Here there was 4 movement Of increased inter.
eat especially among the ladies and one Of the
gentlemen embodymg the curiosity Of the audi.
tors demanded the Captain al explanation Of
the principles Of the system he had mentioned.
cit 10 q system, replied the captain, much
In vogue formerly, aud which, l an sorry 10 Eav,
has rot been entirely done away win 20 this day.
Ii 10 system. the fundamental principle OF which
10 that sailor mean = regular fore the mast
daa eater, real Jack nasty face is the incar-
nssion of human deprsyisy that as the phrase
10, the better you Try 70 serve him, the worse
be tries to serve you , and that IL ia necessary
10 continually work him. and curse him, aud dog
him. 10 make him earn the sSltjank and rusty
pork upon which he Is bali starved
But surely. exclaimed another Of the listen.
ing group, such system can 6nd no advocate
in the American service in the present day D.
The captain turned TO the speaker, and dehbe-
rstely eyed hum with peculiarly benign ex.
preston, rendered somewhat qaizxical BY slizht
parsiug Of the lips
"You believe" at last exclaimed the captain.
Gin the progress OF humanity; in the mGrcS Of
' mind in the development OF che genius Of Amer.
lean civillxstioE-oon't you : Well, il Is & com.
Portable belief; but If You want % keep IT, never