New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-07

A STRANGE HERMT.-A correspondent of the
Wolverhampton Shield says that there is hermit
living few miles from Stevenage, England, and
within thirty miles of London and he thus describes
a visit to the hermit's retreat:
At the termination of the road a mansion Of no
ordinary size met my view, but better and happier
times had reigned within without all was desOla-
ton and ruin. Time that destroyer Of all things,
had done its work here; every inlet was barricaded
by the rude ak and hammer; it's portals no living
mortal had passed for eleven long years the inte-
rior, which was once rich in design and comfort,
is now Wondering to decay no cheering voice s
heard within its walls, only that Of rats and YER
min. In tracing my steps to the scene Of the her-
mit's cell, which is situated at the back Of the
building, and looking through the wooden bars Of
window devoid Of glass, I perceived dismal,
black and dirty cellar with an earth floor not one
vestige of furniture except wooden bench and o
| few bottles, with the remnants of fire. 1t was
with difficulty, by the faint rays Of light admitted
into this loathsome den, that could trace human
form, clothed only in horserug, leaving his arms,
legs and feet perfectly bare; his hair was prodi-
| giously long, with beard tangled and matted.
| On my addressing him, he came forward with
readiness. found him gentleman by education,
| birth, and most courteous in his manners. He
anxiously inquired after several aristocratic fami
lies in Stafordshire and adjoining counties. Il is
evident that he at one period mixed in the first
circles; but the secret Of his desolate retirement
is, and probably ever will remain, mystery to his
neighbors and tenantry, by whom he is supplied
with food, (chiefy bread and milky Already
eleven weary winters has he passed in this dreary
abode, his only bed being two sheepskins, and his
sole companions the rats, which may be seen pass
ing to and fro with ease and perfect During
the whole of his seclusion he has strictly ahstained
from ablntion consequently his conntenance is
| perfectly black. How much it is to be regretted
that man with such high intellectual powers, in
the prime of manhood, and possessed of such am
pie means, should spend his days in filth and Sc
cluson, in waste Of time and in misery.
A MYSTERIOUS CAsE.-In the Memphis Bulletin
of Saturday last We find the following paragraph:
Another unknown body-the third one found in
the river during the present week.-mrs. discovered
near the foot Of Beae street. yesterday morning. by
a resident of that locality. Unlike the others,
however the body in question bore unmistakable
marks of violence, the neck being broken and the
skin on the outside rubbed and blackened, as
though from the pressure of Q rope upon it
leaving little room for doubt but that the deceased
came to his death from hanging. The clothing
worn by the unfortunate man consisted Of . silk
(summer) coat, gray tweed vest black cloth
i pants and white shirt, and in his pocket were
found trunk key and ten cent piece-nothing
whatever being discovered from which clue as to
his identity could be ascertained. Deceased ap-
peared to be about thirty years of age, and judg-
ing from the decaying state Of the body, it had
been in the water several days.