The Portland daily press., 1863-03-11
MISCELLANY.

DIR. RUSSELL IN AN ILLINOIS JUSTICE
C0URr.-Ouc OF the pleassntest pages ia Lon
don Times Russells Diary in America is that
which describes his trial before an Illinois JUS
tice for breaking the Sabbath by shooting birds
on the prairie near the town vi Dwight. Pre-
missing that he was under the chaperonage of
Col. john w. Foster, then OF the Illinois Zen
trail railroad, both in the Sabbath shooting and
1t he trial, We 90 on with the story from the
diary:
Inc citizens were astir--it was great day
and rs ! walked with COL Foster, all the
good people seemed to be enjoying an unex-
ampled treat in gazing at the stupendous Grim
inxl. The courthouse, or magistrates office,
was suitable " the republican simplicity OF
the people Of Dwight; Tor the chamber OF JUS
tice was on the first floor oil house over
store, and access was obtained to il by lad
der from the street 10 platform, at the top of
which l was ushered Into the presence OF the
cour., CLAIM white-washed room. l am not
sure there was even all engraving of George
Washington on the wallis. The magistrate in
. full suit Of black, with his hat on, was seated
1t small table; behind him lew books, on
plain deal shelves, provided his fund of legal
learning. the constable, with severer vis-
age than that Of last night, stood upon the
right hand; three sides OF the room were sur
rounded by wall OF stout honest Dwightians,
amoug whom produced profound sensation,
BY the simple ceremony OF taking of my hat,
which they no doubt considered token of the
depraved nature OF the Britisiier, but which
moved the magistrate to take off his head
covering; whereupon some OF the nearest re-
moved theirs. some putting them on again, and
some remaining uncovered; and then the in
formations were read, and on being asked what
! had TO say, merely bowed, and said had
no remarks 10 offer. But my friend, Colonel
Foster, who had been churDing up his wrath
and forensic lcre for some time, putting one
hand under his coat tail. aud eIevating the
other In the air, with nodulated cadences,
poured out a fine oratorical flow which CON-
pletely astonished me, and whipped the audi
ence mosaliy off their legs completely. In
touching terms he described the mission of an
illustrious stranger, who had wandered over
thousands OF miles OF land and sea to gaze
upon the beauties OF those prairies which the
great Maker of the universe had expanded as
the banqueting tables for the furnishing mil
lions OF pauperized and despotic Europe As
the representative OF an influence which the
people of the great State of Illinois should
wish To see developed instead Of contracted,
honored instead OF being insulted, he had
come among them TO admire the grandeur OF
nature, and to behold with wonder the magnif-
cent progress OF human happiness and free in
situations. (Some thumpiDgs OF sticks, and
cries OF bravo, that's So which warmed the
colonel into still higher fiights.) began to
feel II he was as great in invective as he was
In eulogy, 1t was well he had not lived to
throw a smooth pebble from his sling at War
rem Hastings. As great indeed! Why, when
the colonel had drawn beautiful picture of
me examining coal deposits-investigating
notwithstanding autumnal airs, and culling
flowers in unsuspecting innocence, and then,
suddenly denounced the serpent who had dog
ged my steps in-order to strike me down with
. Justices warrant, protest it Is doubtful, If
he did not reach To the most elevated stage of
vituperative oratory, the progression of
which was marked by increasing thumps of
sticks, and louder inurmurs OF applause, to the
discontinue of the wretched prosecutor But
the magistrate was not man Of imagination;
he felt he was but elective after all; and so,
nounced his d cision, which was that be
amerced in something more than half the
maximum fine fixed by the statute, some FIVE
and twenty shillings or so the gaeate part to
be spent In the education of the people by
transfer to the school fund OF the state. As
was handing the notes to the magistrate, sew
eral respectable men coming forward exclaim-
ed, Pray oblige us, Mr.. Russell, by letting us
pay the amount for you, this is shameful pro-
ceeding.' But thanking them heartily for
their profered kindness, completed the little
pecuniary transaction and wished the magis-
trate good morning. with the remark that
hoped the people of the State of Illinois would
always find such worthy defenders OF the
statutes As the prosecutor. and never have Of
Tenders against their peace and morals more
culpable than myself"