Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-09-20

AZ UNSUCCESSFUL TRAMP.-A stranger
was perambulating the city Tuesday and the
day previous, endeayoring to purchase for
cash. on delivery, 200 ounces Of quinine.
He first visited the various chemical works
up town, where the article Is made, but was
asked certain definite questions concerning
the disposal Of the quinine, that he didn [
care about answering. He was known to be
an outsider in the trade, and believing that
that the quinine was to be shipped to the
South, not a manufacturer Ito their honor
be it sandy would sell him an ounce Of tho
required tebriiuge Having in vain tried
this source for the supply, he called in al a
large wholesale drug house in Market street,
where the following conversation Cnsued
with tho principal of the concern
wish to buy 200 ounces Of quinine.
Have you that quantity on hand2
" We have, sr
II Will take it at the -atc- named in your
price list.
FJ7 whom aro you buying it, SIT p
Why Do you ask ?' said the buyer,
with some petulance.
Because, if it IS purchased for the South
we decline selling it upon any terms.
81 wish to buy the qlIniue, sir, and have
the money TO pay for 1t. What more do you
want -
a good deal more, sli this patriotic
merchant. " Bsf0re | sell an ounce Of quin-
inc, or quicksilver, or chlorate OF potash
all Of which | know - be badly wanted in
the seeded States--I must first know that 1t
Is not TO be sent to that section of the coun-
try, either directly or indirectly"
The man was much annoyed at the firm
ness, and the more 50 because he had m let
with the same stem inquiries g every place
where lie had previously endcavorcd to make
the purchase.
" It's no concern Of ours what becomes of
the quiuine," ," he urged, " its uses are only
for the sick, and at any rate don't know
where it is going. | am only acting as
broker Tor another party.
9" If you viii sit down, write an order for
the quinine, and stipulate upon its face that
the article Is not purchased for southern ship
ment, You may haye it. sald the merchant,
If not, please to leave my store.
TIE man declined to make tAc desired
stipulation, and took his leave. lie tried
afterwards at another establishment, and be
coming impertin5nt, was kicked out. Our
reporter took some pains TO ascertain wheth-
er he succeeded in securing the quInine, but
failed to discover the fact If he did So We
are inclined to think that the stranger failed
to obtain the required medcament. While
upon this point we may aGd that. with
one or two exceptions, and those not OF
principals. the drug trade OF Philadelphia
is sound to the core upon the subject Of the
Union. For DO amount of money can drug
gists merchandise be purchased tor southern
shipment, though the temptation IN pecu-
mary point Of view is very great. Chlorate
of potash, used in making Illuminating pow
der, sells in Richmond at this moment at one
dollar per pound. lis market price is from
25 to 80 cents. Quicksilver, used for the
same purpose, Is also extremely scarce; while
auinine, OF which the South is an enormous
consumer, is scarcely to be had in Secessia
at any price
The recent capture Of a sloop, laden with
merchandise ct this description, inflicted
greater injury upon SeceSsia than would
the capture OF their most formidable battery.
In this city none Of these articles can be pro-
cured We Yesterday saw an order for a
arboy of nitric acid for the lower part Of
MARYLAND, laid over for consideration before
being filled Nitric acid is used for little
else IN the South than telegraphing, and the
patriotic firm refused to fill the order until
they knew precisely the destination of the
acid, and the purpose to which it was to be
applied y person in the business who un-
dertook to talk secession at q recent session
of the Druggists' Exchange, has been watch
ed over since by the trade. For all which
let US think of the patriotism of the drug
gists, and whenever we catch a sniff Of ASA
tatida, lift our hats Philadelphia North
Aner7c0r