davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
What was 1t!

The Observer. published at Buckhannon, Up
shur county, has the following. We suspected at
first that friend SHuEY was perpetraing Joke, but
he seems quite serious:
About dark few evenings ago, as we, In COM
pany with several gentlemen,-one upon the same
horse with ourself-were riding out the pike a
short distance from this place, something IN the
distance was discovered moving towards US with
great rapdty, and in n moment. like streak ,the
object had passed u.s. The rapldity with which
il moved. the sable garments in which nature was
about clothing herself,and the fright of our horse,
gave us but little opportunity to Judge OF the char
acter of what seemed to us more like an apParl-
zion than anything else; for in moment 1t was
gone and cur comrade and ourself, VINO were rl1-
mo in partnership, were as quickly lnglorlou>ly
precipitated to the ground.
The noise in passing resembled that OF buggy
or some other light vehicle. and KIND OF odoi
struck the olactory nerve which brought 10 hii"u
a thick. resinous substance called Tar. we 10,
turned to town as quickly as possible, ana iouho
the astonished inhabitants collected In groups a
bout their doors and on the street, discussing The
nature of the phenomenon that had Just passed 1e'
fore their visions. They had also observed inc
same remarkable noise and smell. cannot some
wiseacre solve the mystery, The community Is
at tiptoe to know. Various conjectures are made
but no satisfactory solution has been given to the
phenomenon. I'VE expect to hear some ac
counts from it West Of this, perhaps at weston
and Parkersburg.
We shall look out for the next Observer with
more than usual interest, expecting some solution
of the mystery. BY the way, is it the custom FOL
editors beyond Cheat to ride sin partnership
fit is, we advise our late Contemporary OF the pm
dictator, who is going out there to establish pa
per, to commence practising.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
ELEGANT Publications.

We have received from the publisher, MIR.
HERMANN j. MEYER, l64, William Street, N.
York, numbers of the "United States Illustrated"
and .'Meyer's Universum. The former is
magnificent work, just commenced. 1t VIII ap-
pear in parts, at so cents each, and two volumes
one devoted to Eastern, and the other to West
ern subjects-wil be completed before the close
of the present year. Each part will contain four
steel engravings from original drawings by emil
nent artists.
The number of 'Meyer's Universum" before
MS is the first of Vol. IL. This work is published
in sem-monthly parts, price rs cents each. The
Literary Gazette says it is 'the most elegant and
the cheapest, the most instructive and the most
entertaining book of prints in the whole world"
Both works are edited by CHARLES A. DANA
whose name is sufficient guarantee that the lit
erary department will possess substantial merit.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

THE New SECRETARY OF LEGATION TO ENG
LANp.-The New York Evening Post thus point
eddy aludes to the character of recent appointee
of President Pierce:
THE appointment of Daniel E. Sickes as Sec
rotary of the American Legation to the British
Court has occasoned some surprise. II is not to
be supposed that the Executive will make no ms.
takes in bestowing Office, but the proil'gacy OF
Sickes is 50 notorious that we do not see any pos
sible room for mistake in regard to it. Ills per-
sona character is such that the appointment is
serious disgrace to the administration which makes
it. 1t is said that Governor Marcy was SO sensl-
BILE of the impropriety of the appointment that he
declined giving his signature to the commission Of
Sickles. which had to be certified by another Of
ficer of the State Department"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

state ren, n, Convention.

This body convened in the Town Hall of Char
lottesvie. on Wednesday last. The number in
attendance, is represented by the Charlottesville
Jeffersonan, as being much smaller than was an
ticipated. There were not more than one hundred
delegates present. About sixty of this number
were from abroad. The following gentlemen were
selected as officers of the Convention. John Is.
Minor. of Abemarle. as President AS Vice
Presidents, the following were chosen j. II. L..
Preston. of Rockbridge Rev w. Undertake, Of
Albemarle w. o. Fontaine, of Henry Rev. P.
Fletcher, of jefferson; DIR. Peterfeld Trent, of
Richmond. Messrs Alexander Mcdonald, Of
Lynchburg, DIR. J. A. Forbes, of Scottsvlle, and
n. A. Sturdivant, of Richmond were chosen as
Secretaries.
The action of the body is embraced in the fol-
lowing resolutions which were adopted:
|. RESOLVED, That there ought to be a law pro-
hibitinr the manufacture. or keeping for sale. or
the sale barter directly indirectly of Intoxicating
liquors except for sacramental medicinal &mechan-
cal purposes, land that such law should be guard
ed by proper provisions and penalties-and espe-
cially by the provisions that all such liquors in
ones possession contrary to law shall be destroy
ed.
g That such law ought to be submitted to the
people of each county and city, and be In force
when il is adopted by majority of legal voters.
3. That memorial be drawn up in accordance
with the purport of the above resolutions, to be
presented to the Legislature during the ensuing
winter.
a. That --- be appointed to present
said paper and that they apply for permission to
appear at the bar of the house for the purpose of
addressing to it an argument in favor Of the law
prayed for, ~,
5. That there be formed throughout the State,
associations to be called anti license leagues, and
to be composed of all such persons as will pledge
themselves to labor and vote for a repeal of the Ii
cense law, and the adoption of prohibtory liquor
law.
The following pledge is recommended
| pledge myself to use all proper means to Sc
cure law prohibiting the manufacture for sale or
the sale or barter of intoxicating liquors and will
vote for it and aid in enforcing its due observance
Resolved, As the sense of this Convention, that
it is highly important that the revised Code should
he 50 amended as to settle clearly that the dscre
ton is vested in the County or Hastings Courts
altogether to refuse license to sell intoxicating Ii
quors
A resolution was passed callingupo the friends
of Temperance in Va, to raise funds for the pay
lnent of State Temperance Lecturer.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
.Imnortant nIovemcnts.

One of the collectors of news for the Washing
ton city press says in reference to the alleged Fill
lbuster movement for opening the navigation OF
the river Amazon in South America:
This subject involves more than the public are
aware. Prominent merchants of New York are
DESTROYS of opening trade with the Countries wa
tered by the tributaries Ofthe Amazon. They ar
que that Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela,
owning these tributaries, have right to use the
great highway of the Amazon to get out t. the
sea; and, upon the invitation to those countries,
they propose to vindicate that right by forcibly
passing the Brazilian jurisdiction. Armed with
this argument and an arnful of Fattel, showing
the rights of Peru. sc. to navigate the Amazon.
Lieut. Porter-the New York merchants at the
head of the movcment-and other parties interest
ed held consultation in th. city not long slnce
and presented the project to the Government. ask
ing its sanction to their proceedings Lieut.. Porter
declaring his readiness to fight against ahy odds
if his country would but say it was right 50 to do
The subject was fully considered in Cabinet SEES
sion. and the answer to the expeditonists was.
that, however perfect the right of Peru and the
other countries named, it was by no means clear
that they could transfer that right to another Pow
er, and that before the proposed expedition could
be legal those engaged in 1t would have to dcna-
tionaliZe themselves, become subjects of Peru or
Ecuador or Bolivia, when, of course. they would
lose their right to protection by the United States.
At this point, believe, Lieut.. Porter broke off his
active connexion with the project.
The same writer says:
learn that the order for an increase of the T.
nited States force on the Rio Grande has been is
sued. The ball is fairly open, and we shall have
exciting times ere it closes. Among the good re-
suits likely to be recorded in this new chapter of
our history is Il settlement of claims of citizens of
the United States against Mexico. to indemnity
for outrages and losses suffered by them at the
hands of Mexican officials; also. for losses ncur
red through the faiihlessness of Mexico with res
pect to her grants to parties in the United States
with whom she had entered into agreement for the
right of way and the construction Of 4 railroad a.
cross the Isthmus Of Tehuantspec. [The lamb
has been muddying the stream again.-.National
L.ieuigenccr.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
D,str,ss,ng Death.

We understand that on Monday last, young
lady named SHIELD, daughter of Mr.. CHARLES
SHIELD, of Norfolk, died at Waynesborough, un-
der circumstances peculiarly distressing. She was
on her way to the White Sulphur Springs, IN "a
very low state of health, and expired impediate-
ly after being taken from the stage: coach at
WaynesboIough.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

10Y FOR THE INyALIb.-iye cut the following
from the philadelphia Saturday Gazette and recon-
mend our readers to pcrusc it carefully and these srf
fcring should not delay purchasing
ssDp. HooFLAND's GEamAN BrTrERs.-This celc-
bratcd medicine, prepared by DR.. C Nj. JACKSON, at
the imposing German Medicine Store, No. 100 ARCH
street is exciting unprecedented public attention, and
the proprietor who Is scientific physician is selling
immense quantities Of it, The vrtucs Of this remedy
are so fully set forth in the extended notice TO be
seen in our advertising columns, that there hardly
any room left for us speak Of it, This much may
addOf the long train Of physical ills to which human
~ heir, there is distressing than the gen.
cral arrangement Of the digestive apparatus, which
never fails to accompany disordercd state of the iycrs
Headache, piles, languor, fretfuness, bilious tongue,
morbid breath, loss of appctite-in short, indie
scribable wretchedness Ct existence are its nsuerabe
and life-wasting attendants. These diseases, which
have baled the skill of the abcs Doctors have been
radically cured by Hoofand's German Bitter"
Auoust 10 1Sb3-2w
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

The COURSE OF THE ADMINIsTRArIoN.-Th
N. Y. Commercial dilates on what it calls the
'.inexplicable course of President Pierces admin
istration." The editor thinks-and good many
people think with him
''It is about time that the coGntry knew some
thing of the general principles, domestic and for
egn, which are to guide the Administration during
President Pierce's incumoency of office and yet in
very truth, scarcely two ofthe Democratic papers
seem to agree in their estimate of what will be the
Administrative policy. The general embarrass-
ment this subject is not little increased by the
contradictory course Of the Washington Union,
which claims, with what justice we are not pre-
pared to say, to speak the sentiments ofhe Presi-
dent and his Cabinet. One day that journal lands
Russia, and the next utters contrary sentiments
it asserts that the President will neither place
retain in office free soier, and then endorses
without qualification, the appointment of gentle
man VIGOROUSLY free soiler it approved one day
Governor Lanes proclamation, avowing his inten-
ton to seize upon the Mesilla Valley, and again
condemned it as unwarranted: nowit reads Barn
burner journal out Of the party, anon Hunker,
until its readers are lost in lis maze Of contradic
TONS"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

o5- The Richmond Dispatch, that otherwise
uneyceptionable paper, calls us sold fogies" for
fixing the advent of the flying machine for Angus
ia over one hundred years hence and says that he
expects to vistus by that conveyance, in his own
life time Well, we are ''not particular as to
dates" and not to lose that visit,we hope he may
live thousand years, and that may still be his
cotemporaries; though we fear that if he does not
become an old fogy first himself, he will by that
time be rather fossil specimen Of young America
which may ALA forbid So we invite him not
to delay his visit, but to come frequently in
the mean time, and in 'fast" language, he can
"conac a kiting" on the Central Railroad
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

Ou- A member of the firm of SELDEN, WITH
Frs s. Co., of Washington city. fnantiaI agents
of the Board Of Public Works of Virginia, has
started to England for the purpose Of negotiating
the sale of several millions of Virginia bonds, to
enable the State to pay her subscriptions 10 the
various railroads she has authorized.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

o. The earthquake which destroyed Shiraz,
Persia, on the ID of May last was nearly simulta-
neous with the shock felt in this region on the
ID. A writer in the .National Mtclligencer says
the earth has been more agitated by earthquakes
within the last eighteen months than at any pc:
Rod covered by his records. He says they have
been felt on at least fifteen days of each of the last
einhteen months
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
Price of pom.

The probability is that pork will be very low
next fall. A good corn crop always tends to bring
down the price, and great many more hogs have
been raised in the country this year than the last
In kentucky, the increase is estimated at about
2l5,ooo head,
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
a,nemarIe R.ptlst Association.

The Sixty. second Anniversary Of the Albemarle Rsp
,;st Assoc;a;ion will be held with the Laurel Hill Ba.
list Church. Augusta county commencing on Friday tho
18th of August, 1853. ;,
Laurel Hill is situated near New Hope, seven miles
from Waynesborough, and about the same distance from
The Introductory Discourse will be preached the
,oth at n o'clock by Elder j. A! Broaddus of Cher.
io,osr;lle or Elder p. C. Hoge Of Scottsv the alter
na,c ALEX. POPE ABEL, Clerk.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
n. n. r. No. I and n. r. r. No. 2.

An offer to the Sick-Radway & CO. will guarantee
that Railways Ready Relief will stop the most severe
paroxisms Of pain in few minutes Persons suffering
with Neuralgia or other pains invited toca
al their Office l62 Fulton Street, and make trial OF
the Ready Relief II relieves tho most tortnrng pains
immediately In five minutes it will convince the most
skcptical of it, quick and powerful pain relieving prop
critics.
JuTv 90 IS53-lm.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
FLouR.-A private letter received by us few

days ago frorn merchant in Richmond says:
No stock Of old on hand, and but little new vet
coming In, in consequence of the long scontinued
wet spell. Farmers have been unable to get out
their wheat, and our market is drained of both old
and new for home consumption. at prices conside-
rably above shipping rates. We quote old 1925
to $3.50. New S5.62s TO S5.75.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
State Treasurer.

JONATHAN B. SrovALL, Esq, of Halifax, has
been appointed Treasurer ofthe State of Virginia,
in place of Dir. BUTLER, decd, and has entered
upon the duties of the office. The place was ten
dered to the Hon. Ii. A. WISE, and refused by
him.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
The Smyrna Affair.


An affair which occurred at Smyrna, in Asia
Minor, on the 22nd June, between Capt. IHGRA-
HAM, of the U. S. ship St. Louis, and the CON-
mander of the Austrian brig Hussar, has excited
good deal of interest in Europe and America AN
important principle of international law beidg IN
volved it. The facts of the case are briefly
these A Hungarian named GOTTA was appre-
hended at Smyrna, and taken on board the Aus
TRAN vessel, for the alleged reason that he was in
Punishment with KossUTH at Kutayahay land was
permitted to go to America on pledging Ills word
never to return to Turkish territory. Mr. BRowN,
the U. S. Consul, requested permission to see
CosrA, but was refused. and while the vessel was
preparing to depart, the ST. Louis sailed into the
harbour. Capt. INGRAHAM Immediately repaired
on board the brig. Demanding then to see the
prisoner, Costa was brought on deck in IRONS
Capt Ingraham asked are you an american 2"
"No, am Hungarian" "Have you an "a
merican passport 2" To which (ke blockhead)
he replied, '.No am Hungarian and will die
a Hungarian" The American could do no more,
and left the brig. Learning, however, soon after
that Costa had taken lle Odtn OF citizenship ana
seeing,the Austrian brig preparing to depart. Cap
tain mgraham sent a messenger that "as they
had on board prisoner, carried off by force from
a foreign independent territory and who had sworn
allegiance to the Government of the United States
he should feel it his duty to insist upon the brig
remaining under his guns until he received in
structions from Constanlinople, and if any attempt
were made to depart he would at once fire into the
brig" While this was passing in the harbor the
excitement was no less on shore. All the Euro
rean Merchants went in body to Ali Pacha, the
Turkish Governor Of the city and begged him not
to suffer this violation of the Ottoman territory
The Pacha in great trepidation, said he could not
help il, but would write to Cunstantinople for in
structions. Three of the Austrian officers impru-
IDENTIFY going ashore. one Of them was killed by
the crowd and another badly injured.
The latest advices from Smyrna state that the
American and Austrian ships of war had deter
mined to fight and were cleared for action when
the British and French consuls interfered and made
peace. Costa was delivered up to the French
consul until the matter should be arranged at Con-
stantinople. The conduct of Capt Ingraham is
generally approved. He is native ofSouth Car
olina
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

!3ss- Number of arrivals registered at the Vir:
oinia Hotel, Stanton, in the month of July last.
2O22. During the past week the number regis
tered is COS, but almost every day persons have
been turned off for want Of room,
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
Agent for the Spec tator.

JAMES COCHRAN, Esq, Warm Springs, Bath county.
is an agent for the Spectator authorized TO receive mon
ey and subscriptions and transact our business gene ally
IN that region.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
interesting Foreign News.

The steamer Washington, from Southampton,
arrived at New York,o Wednesday bringing Lon
don and Liverpool dates of the Goth ultimo.
The aspect Of Eastern affairs was generally re-
garded at London and Paris as wearing more
pacific aspect. although no actual change llad Ia
ken place. The answer of the Emperor OF nus
STA to the joint note of England and France was
expected in London on the I'D ult.
The latest intelligence from St. Petersburgh IS
to July 9th. proposition for compromise had
reached the Russian Cabinet, which had manifest
ed disposition to negotiate.
Telegraphic advices from Constantinope to Ju-
ly 9th state that Ministerial crisis was feared IN
consequence of the Russian occupation of the Prn-
cipalties. pacific solution of the difficulty was
however ex pected. though no cessation of warllke
preparations had taken place. The commandants
of the fleets of the Dardanelles had received or
ders to admit the British and French fleets at any
moment.
A formidable conspiracy against the life of the
Sultan by the Imaums, or fanatcal party, had been
discovered, and fifteen of the ringleaders had been
bowstringed. Their object was to depose the Sui
tanin favor of his brother and declare war against
Russia.
The Russian headquarters were at Bucharest,
where $4,000 troops were collected Seventy
two guns of heavy calibre arrived at Jassy on the
9Th of July.
A despatch from Vienna, July 10th, states that
large bodies oftroops were still moving southwark.
The dates from China are to May 18th. The
rebels had caused the Bible to be translated into
Chinese and to be circulated amongst the people,
This had created an immense excitement, and
complete overthrow of the Tartar dynasty was an
ticipated. The insurgents had raised the banner
Of Christianity, and were preparing to march upon
Pekin. Nankin was represented to be in ruin,
and the whole province in condition of anarchy.
The commander of the British steamer Hermes
had returned from an expedition to the seat of the
rebellion, where he had explained the neutral po-
siton of the foreign Powers. He states that the
insurgents had adopted the Protestant form ofwor-
ship, recognising Jesus Christ as the Saviour, the
Trinity, and the Ten Commandments.
At Liverpool cotton continued in active demand
at full rates. Breadsufs also were active at firm
rates. Provisions generally unchanged.
The Cunard steamer Niagara, with three days
later news, (to the 23d,) arrived at Halifax on
Thursday night. The Telegraphic reports state
that the difficulty between Russia and Turkey
was nearly adjusted, 50 as to remove all apprehen-
sion of war. Both cotton and breadstulfs had adj
vanced in prico-the former slightly and the lat
ter considerably.
The Baltic arrived on the 9TH with four days
later dates. No change in the aspect of affairs in
Europe The news from China is that the En-
pire had been divided and Nankin declared indie
pendent of the Tartar dynasty.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
The Foreign News.

The late steamers from Europe brings the intel
liuence that all apprehension of a war in conse
ouerce of the Eastern difficulty had subsidized. 1t
appears that England and France have employed
the meditation of Austria, and, with the concur
renee of Prussia, agreed upon terms OF compromise
to be transmitted to Russia and Turkey. The
particulars of the settlement are not known. Aus
tria, considered the mouthpiece OF Russia, guar
antees that the plan will be accepted by the Gar,
and Turkey is not in situation to reject any pro-
position made by her allies, England and France.
We shall not be surprised, however, lift turns
out that NICHOLAS has carried his point after all.
The Turks are represented as rampant for war,
and the Sultan finds it difficult to restrain them.
The news from China is most interesting, and
fully confirms the reports heretofore received. 1t
is nevertheless difficult to credit that the insur-
gents are marching to victory under the banner OF
Christianity. Their success will not only revO-
lutlonize China, but "mark all epoch in the histo-
ry Of the world"
o. The Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS has published
full and correct report Of his speech at the Phil:
adelphia banquet. 1t does not differ materially
from the report previously published. The Ma
tional htelligencer says it is manly vindication
of the power of the General Government to make
the great Pacific Railroad, in execution of its en-
ioiped and bounden duty to provide for the CON-
! mon defence and general welfare. So the secre-
tary don't take back what he said, in obedience te
the call Of the Virginia Democracy
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

Cost of Eastern extension and
buildings in Richmond, Sc,
Cost of road from Junction to
Gordonsville,
Cost of road from Gordonsvllle
to Woodville,
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10

FoREIGN MINISTERS WITH AMERICAN WIVES.
Don Calderon de la Barca. The Spanish Minis
ter at Washington, now summoned as Minister of
Foreign Affairs at home. married an American
lady Mr.. Bodisco. the Russian Minister, has an
American wife, and family OF seven children.
American born; Monsieur Pageot. fornff, and
Wa;hna ar ne b pFs a Hs"c mSa Minister at