The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11

lead pipe, showed the presence of about one
and half grains of the oxide of lead, to gal
Ion. The Introduction of chain pumps is the
best security against such subtle ingredient.
Boston Traveller, Nor. 20.
How MURAr DIED. - The sentence of the |
military commission was read TO him with due |
solemnity. He listened to it, as he would have |
listened to the cannon Of another battle during /
bis military life, without emotion or bravado. |
He neither asked for pardon, for delay, nor for |
appeal. He had advanced of his own accord |
toward the door, as if to accelerate the catas-
trophe. The door opened on a narrow espla- |
made, lying between the towers of the castle and
the outer walls. Twelve soldiers, with loaded |
muskets, awaited him there. The narrow
space did not permit him to stand at sufi- |
Gent distance to deprive his death of a part of
its horror.
Murat, in stepping over the threshold of the
chamber, found himself face to face with them.
He refused to have his eyes bsndaged; and,
looking at the soldiers with a firm and benevo-
lens smile, said Ny friends, do not mako me
suffer by taking bad aim. The narrow space
compels you almost to rest the muzzles of your
muskets on my breast do not tremble; do not
strike me in the face; aim at my heart-here
it is"
As he spoke thus, he placed his right hand
upon his coat, to indicate the position of his
heart. In his left hand he held small me-
dalton, which contained, in one focus of love,
the image of his wife and four children, as if
he wished thus to make them witnesses of his
last look. He fixed his eyes on this portrait
and received the death blow in the contempla-
ton of all he loved on earth. His body, pierced
at so short distance with twelve balls, fell,
with his arms open and his face toward the
earth, as if still embracing the kingdom he once
possessed, and which he had come to reconquer
for his tomb.
They threw his cloak upon his body, which
was buried in the Cathedral of Pizzi. Thus
died the most chivalrous soldier of the Imperial
epoch-not the greatest, but the most heroic
figure among the champions of the new Alex.
ander.
APoLrTE JUDGE.-Governor Ford, of Illinois,
tells an anecdote of one of the early Judges of
that State, but the Governor does not put upon
record the name of the considerate magistrate.
At the court over which this Judge presided,
man by the name of Green was convicted of
murder, and the Judge was obliged to pass sen.
tence Of death upon the culprit. Calling on
the prisoner to rise, the judge said to him /:
Mr.. Green, the jury say you are guilty of
murder, and the law says you are to be hung
/ want you and all your friends down on Indian
creek to know that it is not that condemns
you; it is the jury and the law. Mr.. Green,
at what time, sir, would you like to be hung?
The law allows you time for preparation"
The prisoner replied, "Msy it please your
honor, am ready at any time; those who kill
the body, have no power to kill the soul. Nv
preparation is made, and you can fix the time
to suit yourself; it is all the same to me, sir "
NJ H. - ~ :.
very serious matter to be hung. 1t can't hap
pen to a man but once in his life, unless the
rope should break before his neck is broke, and
you had better take all the time you can get.
Mr.. Clerk, since it makes no difference to Mr..
Green when he is hung, just look into the alma
nae, and see whether this day four weeks comes
on Sunday"
The clerk looked as he was directed, and re-
ported that that day four weeks came on Thurs
day.
! Il o'clock"
The Attorney General, James Turney. ESQ.
here interposed, and said: /" May it please the
court, on occasions of this sort it is usual for
courts to pronounce formal sentence to re-
mind the prisoner of his perilous condition, TO
reprove him for bis guilt, and TO warn him
against the Judgment in the world to come"
sob, Mr.. Turney," said the Judge. aMr.
Green understands the whole matter: he knows
he has got to be hung. You understand il,
Mr.. Green, don't your"
Certainly" said the prisoner.
Mr.. Sheriff, adjourn the COURT
-Four weeks from that day, Mr.. Green was
hung, but not so much to his own satisfaction
as his appearance promised on the day of his
conviction.
WHALE ATTACKING A SHIP.-The ship
Cuban, of this port, Captain Galloway, which
arrived here from Demarara on Wednesday,
met with most extraordinary adventure on
her homeward voyage. About nine P. NJ. of
the 10th instant. when in latitude 43o 49/ N,
longitude 29o 50/ w, the ship, which was run
ming before the wind at the rate of 81 knots an
hour, received such severe shock that she
heeled over several streaks, and her way was
completely stopped, while the men, who were
sleeping on the starboard berths Of the topgal-
liant forecastle, were thrown out upon their
chests. Shortly after the shock, an immense
whale rose at a short distance from the ship's
quarter, and after lying motiopless for a short
time, as if stunned by the blow, swan towards
the vessel as if with the intention of repeatinp
the attack. 1t was q moment of intense anxi,
ETY. on board; but fortunately, when close to
the stern, the monster wheeled round in the
opposite direction, and dived, throwing with his
tail, as he did so, quantity of blood and water
on board. 1t was moonlight night, and the
bulk of the huge animal could be seen distinct
iy towering to considerable height above the
surface. When be dived, his tail appeared to
those on BOARD to be from 80 to 40 feet out of
the water. The pumps were sounded, but the
ship was found to be making no water. From
the force of the blow, and the fact that the
second mate thought he heard whale blowing
short time before the shock occurred, it is
supposed that the fish made a regular attack
upon the ship, and was not come in contact
with while asleep. An estimate of its immense
size and power may be formed from the fact of
its bringing to stand-still deeply laden ship
of 500 tons, sailing at the rate of nearly 10
knots an hour reenock Advertiser.
Sir James Macintosh invited Dr. Parr to
take drive in his gig. The horse became res.
tive. Gently, Jenny" says the Doctor, "don't
irritate him; always soothe your horse, Jenny.
You'll do better without me. Let me down,
Jenny" Once on terra frnia, the Doctors
view of the case was changed. "Now, Jenny,
touch him up. Never let a horse get the better
of you. Touch him up, conquer him, don't
spare him and now I'll leave you to manage
him-I'll walk back"
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PEN
sIONs.
The following is synopsis of the annual re.
port of the Commissioner of Pensions,
ARMY PENSIONS.
The number of original applications, and ap-
pications for increase of pensions, admitted
during the year ending June 80, 1856, are as
follows: