Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-09
Ninrh Letter from B1ynnks.
RICHMOND, Va, April 6, 1861

that my quondam friend LINCOLN made the
run through Baltimore in, he having present
ed il to me as mark of his esteem soon at
ter l went on there, little thinking that it was
destined to be the instrument of my escape
from the clutches of his official minions. So
thorough was the disguise, that gentleman
from Scotland came and sat down by me in the
cars soon after we left Alexandria, and talked
with me about the Highlands, Edinburge,
weaknesses, for two hours on stretch. Al
the end of that time he got off at a way-sta-
ton, in profound ignorance of the fact that
/ had never been in a thousand miles of Scot
land He seemed sorry to part with me.
shook me heartily by the hand, and made me
promise that would visit him at his estates
in the Highlands son my return to my native
land" and spend a month with him in fish
ing and stag-hunting. OF course enjoyed
the joke immensely. But / was sorry that
circumstances compelled me to humbug him
thus, for, like myself, he was a gentleman OF
enlarged, liberal and enlightened views OF
men and things-thOugh rather partial to
those lying North of the Tweed-and express
ed himself highly gratifed at meeting so in
telligent a cOuntryman so far away from
home. Those two hours, / may safely say,
were mutually among the most agreeable we
had enjoyed in some time Altogether my
trip to this city was quite pleasant, and would
have been so in the highest degree, if L had
not lost valuable watch belonging to Mrs.
B., which was probably stolen by one of the
rascally hackmen at the steamboat landing
in Washington, but which l did not happen
to miss until a short time after my Scotch
friend left the train. How l am to reconcile
Mrs. B. to the loss, is aquestion that troubles
ME not little; for it was trinket which
she valued highly, and suffered me to wear
almost under protest.
On my arrival here took rooms at the
The length of my stay, however, is a matter
of speculation. had the misfortune to lose
my last dollar yesterday, and when this fact
becomes known to the landlord, shall have
to seek lodgings elsewhere. But this troubles
ME very little. for the man who is not shrewd
~ lldNSl oOAOSc tLlC "IlHOuI
money ought to be compelled by special leg
islative enactment to stay at home:
About 10 O'Clock yesterday morning was
seated in the public room of the hotel, con-
versing with a very agreeable gentleman,
whose acquaintance had made the evening
before, on the occasion of his inviting me to
take drink with him. The conversation
incidentally turned upon the comparative
shrewdness of Virginians and Tennesseans,
heeOntending that the Virginians had the adj
vantage in that respect and l that the Ten
nesseans had. "I'll tell you what I'll do"
said he at last, good humOredly, "I'll bet
you ten dollars that in less than two hours
I'll convince you that 1 am right" 90 Doner
said l and the subject of the conversation
was soon changed. In short time the Vir-
gilman, (who informed me that he was the
Colonel of company of volunteers who had
rendered their services to JEFF. DAVIS and
were waiting to hear from him), proposed
that we should take drink and walk up
towards the Capitol and stretch our legs q
little. We accordingly strOlled up towards
that public edifce, (the Colonel having first
spoken to a gentleman whom he called
Captain" about some document" or
other), and spent some time in looking
through the building and surveying the
grounds We then turned into the path
leading to the street, when the Colonel sud-
denly looking at his watch, exclaimed, :" by
heaven the two hours are up, and I've lost
the bet ~ and handed me a ten-doIlar bill.
1 hated to take the money, but he insisted
that 1 had fairly won it, and SO L yielded, and
put the bill in my vest pocket, on condition
that he would let me spend half of it at
dinner for champagne. Just as we turned
to walk on we met the Captain, hurrying in
the direction of the State House. What
news?" asked the Colonel 'All right"
said the Captain, " the document has been
signed, 1 have sent my baggage to the depot,
and shall be off as soon as l can have one
word with the Governor" He and the Col
onel then shook hands, and the Colonel and
1 proceeded on our way, while the o'her
hurried Oh towards the entrance of the
State House.
We had gone but about five steps, when
we heard the Captain exclaim, "Halloo herel
what's this?n We turned and saw him in the
act of picking up large package of bank
bills, wrapped around with pOstofice paper
and secured with red sealing-wax. The
package was lying on the grass, half hid by
some shrubbery. 'Why, bless my soull"
said the Colonel, approaching the Cap
tain, "that's the very money that is adver-
tised in the papers this morning and for which
q reward of hundred dollars is offered
the description of the package is perfect"
$50 it is" said the Captain; II am devlish
sorry that can't stay and claim the reward
but have it; do you hand me the amount
of the reward, Colonel. and attend to the
thing for me-" al would do so with the
greatest pleasure, my dear Captain, but the
fact is have MT got as much as FIVE dollars
about me to save your life. If you can wait
till | step down to the hotel, can arrange
itr "No," said the Captain, 81 have but
ten minutes In which to see the Governor
and get to the cars; and the worst of it is,
shall need the money like the dickens before
/ get back" perhaps l can accommodate
you, saiu L, auu ure" Jul hiucsy -hse uoi-
lars, which was all 1 had, and handed 1t to
the Captain; 81 can hand the other five to
the Colonel for you when the reward is
paid" $50 you can" replied the Captain,
.you do me great servicet-thank you"
and saying he must be off or he would miss
the cars, he hurried away. by thunder!"
suddenly exclaimed the Colonel, II forgot to
tell the Captain one thing-hold on here