Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-02-10
JOE PRINTIN
The kentuckian i'm Malta.

We passed three weeks in Malta, wait
ing for dispatches. Various plans were
devised to kill time, and never did it
pass so pleasantly away. Fishing, row.
ing, dinners, suppers, ETC., formed our
principal amusements, and as the harbor
was filed with vessels of all nations, an
interchange Of national courtesies was
kept up until our anchor was weighed,
and old Ironsides again before the breeze.
At one of the entertainments given on
shore by the officers of British frigate,
the conversation turned upon rife shoot
ing, which led to an animated discussion,
in which our officers took part
Il have often heard, said the command
er of the Thunderer, that you have some
fellows in your country called Kentucki-
ans, who are reckoned great shots With
the rife
'Yes, sir replied Lieut. u -,
their fame in that line is great, which is
easily accounted for. As soon as they
are able to shoulder a rife they com
mence practicing, and in course Of time
become excellent marksmen.'
They may be very clever, but be-
lieve We have better shots on board cur
vessel
4 do not belong to that section Of the
country observed the lieutenant, 'a1d
have had but little practice with he rife;
but if mistake not, We have KertucL-
ian in company, who will stand Up for
his native State
Yes, on all occasions, said our purser,
a tall, muscular descendant of one of the
first settlers in the State.
What say you, then, gentlemen, to 2
shooting match tomorrow morning. ask
ed the EngH shman.
Agreed, with all our hearts, said the
Yankees
The next morning the party met in
beautiful grove, with their target seven
ty-fve yards distant. The English rife
is different from the American, the bar
rel being shorter and the stock heavier
Six picked men from the Thunderer we're
Oh the ground, all of whom fired. No
one, however, 'cut the paper'-the size Of
a dollar-although several of the balls
we're close to it.
The shots were considered excellent
the English and French officers present
were greately astoniShed at the proGci
ency of the rifemen. The commander
of the Thunderer, turning 10 the purser,
said with smile
what do you say to thatl | take it
you'll find it difficult to come up to it,
You may think so-but | consider it
no shooting at all, said the Kentucllan.
'Vous montez lie haut cheval' said
French officer.
'Je vous montrai, said the Kentucki-
an.
Fire away said the Englishman.
III bet wine supper for all hands"
said the Kentuckian, shat / make three
shots, every one of which will be better
than any yet made, and each succeeding
one better than the first
1'n take it, said the Englishman, smi
ling.
The Kentuckian slowly raised rife
he had broug int from home, and fred
The paper was cut The second shot
was better than the first, and the third
bored the centre Nothing could depict
the surprise of all present; the English
man acknowledged the corn, and said he
was satisfied. The Kentuckian enioyed
hearty laugh, declaring it was nothing
to what he could do-that be would be
ashamed of such firing in old Kentuck.-
Rolling quid from one quarter of his
capacions receiver to another, be con-
tinued
i must have another shot to show what
can be done with a rife, and to convince