Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-18
LION ID L0uIsvIIIe JonrnaI, 80,

MaMWeki-Nery Interesting Dethis~.
From the Louisville Journal. l7th
1.-THE following most extraordinary let
ter has been transcribed expressly for the
Louisville Journal, by the Hon. T. Fer
nandez. Of Havana, from the original in
possession Of the Hon. Stephen Maxwell,
Professor Of Theology, who has consented
to its publication. Prof Maxwell was,
when last heard from, August, 9th, 1867, at
the Inglaterra Hotel, Havana. lie Is
wasm personal friend Of the learned writer,
Prof Erazer.l
BoRfBAY, BRITISH INDIA, May 30, 1867.
Hon. STEPHEN MAXWELL S. T. p,
Havana, Island Of Cuba-DEAR SIR: Since
your departure a strange incident has oe-
Cured in this city, something similar in
its nature TO the affair that created so much
excitement in Calcutta some months ago,
though in this case the amount at issue is
four times greater than in the other.
Having promised you that would make
diligent inquiry about the ship Bird of the
Ocean and her commander, it luckily so
happened that ! was spared the trouble of
extending my inquiries beyond this city by
the arrival of the ship in question at this
port on the Goth Of March.
The "Bird Of the Ocean" having become
notorious, through the agency Of her COM
mander-the celebrated Captain W. Martin
Tolbert-in consequence of having pirati-
cally captured several merchant vessels in
the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, as il
has been alleged, attracted no little atten-
ton upon entering Bombay harbor. Her
papers were subjected to rigid examina-
ton by the customhOuse authorities, but no
flaw could be found in them, she having
creditable clearance for Singapore, and
manifest embracing a full list of cargo,
duly authenticated. Her cargo consisted
Of general merchandise, on consignment to
the house Of Lenard e. Co., which she com
menced discharging on the second day after
entering port.
/ took advantage OF an opportunity of
visiting her on the day subsequent to her
arrival, in company with Captain Parker
of the ship Sea Gull, Captain HuHt of the
Tyrol, and Col. Ferguson, the last named
gentleman being acquainted witk Captain
Tolbert. We were cordially received on
board by that noted individual, Of whom |
had heard SO much, but never met till now !;
and, from his affable manners and genial
conversation, ] could scarcely realize that
the man confronting me was the celebrated
character whose daring deeds have ofttimes
produced such a fi:ror and excitement in
the East Indies. The very embodiment Of
grace and politeness, excessively lavish in
manifestations of hospitality, and brim full
Of dry humor my first impressions could
not be otherwise than favorable-for, to my
amazement, / discovered 10 him evidences
of the refined gentleman instead of the
"blood-thirsty pirate" which the "1imes Of
Tadja'' has been pleased to term him.
In compliance with the request of Col.
Ferguson, Capt. Tolbert narrated the par
ticulars Of the manner in which he won the
wager in Calcutta-"that Booth was alive -
and in reply to a remark ventured By Capt.
Hunt, as follows: "Well, Captain, | must
say You did humbUg the Calcutta folks
pretty badly; really il Is shame p
iHumbugged them? there was no humbug
about il. sir / fulfilled my part of the
oontraos, aud fnrnishsd praaf fsat BeSih
igas alte Why do you term it hnmbug
I desire an explanation, sir :" The follow
ing conversation then ensued, which (hav-
ms taken down on the spot) give gerbdtim
Fl l9eratin. "The reason why / call it BY
that name is simply this do not believe
Booth is alive, nor that, if your opponent
had seen proper 10 have contested the mat
ter. fair decision would have given it in
your favor" WhereupOn Captain Tolbert,
becoming somewhat excited, remarked
CAPTAIN Hunt, If ! am not mistaken in
Won. Won are a man who will back any as
sertion YOU NAV make with your money !;
am i correct To this Hunt replied II
believe am, sir, if know myself"
"Well, then, sir, il you believe Booth is
not alive, how many pounds would you be
willing TO back that belief with; other
wise, what do you value your opin-
ion at?" Z" value my opinion very
highly, Captain, but that is not
saving that would risk bet on thing
unless | thought L had some chance for a
fair shakew "Please name your own con-
ditions. and the amount YOU wish to pu:
np; Won shall be accommodated in each.
"The only manner in which ! should be
willing TO stake anything upon the matter
in dispute, would be this; / must see
Booth ariih ma OiUn eyeS, and have an oppor-
tunity OF conversing with and questioning
him in order to satisfy myself whether he is
alirc or not, az it so happens | know him
quite intimately, and could not be deceiped
If the person whom you allege is Booth
should prove 10 be humbuq the money at
stake will be mine; but if | recognize in
him the genuine John Wilkes Booth it
will be yours. / knoU Booth 80 'ceH that I
could not fail to identity him at first sight,
even through his disguise-should he wear
one. IL you will grant me this liberty |
would be willing 70 draw a draft in favor of
the winner for two thousand pounds ster-
ling at thirty, sixty, or ninety days sight"
"Your proposition is accepted, provided
that YOU haveno objections TO going before
Magistrate aud taking an oath of eternal
secrecy, the nature of which l shall then
and there make known to you" "Hav-
ing no desire to profit by giving informa-
ton to the United States government of his
whereabouts, in case he Is alive, / have no
objection to taking an oath Of secresy 50
far as diyulging Booths place of residence
is concerned. Firmly believing that he is
not alive. nv only object is to fully satisfy
myself Of the fact Ii lose, / shall have
sufficient sense 70 hold my tongue, and, if
win. OF course I viii DO the same 10
either case my curiosity shall have been
fulNN FatiSnEu. Is lUdA ndtsnldStVA1
will take YOU at your word, Captain But
hold perhaps il would be better to have
all this in black and white, as we are stran-
gers 20 each other;p whereupon, hsying
gained Hunts assent, Capt Tolbert hastily
drew up an article specifying the terms OF
the agreement, TO which both Hunt and
himself signed their names, requesting the
remainder Of the party present to witness
it. and then gave it to Col. Ferguson, re-
ouesting him to keep it until the question
was decided. Tolbert then said: Let US
now proceed to a Magistrates Office and
have he other articles drawn up at once
Everything being in readiness, we all
above started ashore a few minutes after
the spirited conversation TRANSFERRED, Capt.
Tolbert going in his own boat la handsome
little gig with which his ship was sup
piled We were not long in reaching the
quay. and, being invited by the two Cap
tains. 10 accompany them to the Magis-
rates Office, Colonel Ferguson, Captain
Parker. and myself were witnesses to all
that iranspired between them. Upon
reaching the Office the following oath was
administered to Captain Hunt 4ou DO
soleEnnly swear, in the presence OF Al
mighty God, that you will not betray the
confidence reposed in Won bv the flr0 indi-