USA > Georgia > The bench and bar of Georgia: memoirs and sketches. With an appendix, containing a court roll from 1790-1857, etc., volume II > Part 26
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Went to the Castle. Penetrated newly-discovered dungeons. 'Tis
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said that in old Spanish times a branch of the Inquisition existed here, and in these dungeons their courts were held and their victims incar- cerated. The spikes and rings in the walls speak mysterious things. One of these apartments had been walled up. When opened, the air was foul and damp, and a mound of lime was discovered in the centre, among which were human bones, the remains of an old shoe, and frag- ments of a glass bottle. McGirt, the terror of Carolina and Georgia during the Revolutionary War, was confined in these cells. Here also was Gen. Gadsden, of South Carolina, a prisoner; and Golbert, a French- man, who said "he had a little mountain of money,"'-which produced his imprisonment for several years. Here too, says tradition, " the blue- bloody" members of the royal family of Spain were imprisoned by the king, on account of his fears or their treasons, and lingered and died. Oh, if these walls could speak !
Aug. 13 .- The human memory is like a tree upon whose bark cha- racters or letters are inscribed. Advancing years cause the bark to close over them, and they are no longer distinct. When, however, old age comes on and the tree decays, the bark crumbles and falls away, and the early records become again visible and clear.
Doctor tells me that in old times, when Gov. Moore was troublesome to Florida, one Maj. Palmer was deputed against this town, and was on the point of entering the city, when a party of Spanish dragoons, who had been out on a scouting-party, intercepted them and shut the gates. Palmer destroyed a chapel outside the walls, and irreverently threw the Virgin into a ditch. He was afterward set upon and killed by the Spa- niards, and his body mangled on the very spot where he had offered in- dignity to the holy mother of Christ.
Sept. 8, 1833 .- My birthday. I am now forty-four years of age. God help me! I wish I was better than I am. "The wine of life is on the lees." 'Tis useless to resolve. Oh that I could swig all Lethe !- that I could erase the past and prepare for the future ! For what am I reserved ?
Sept. 13 .- I have a singular feeling in my right heel, as if it were asleep. Is it a symptom of palsy or gout? Oh that my ailments could be transferred from my head to my heels! ... Mr. Levy told me last night that, when the child of the Indian chief Bowlegs died, it was laid in a deep pit, and its negro nurse was made to stand on the brink and toward its feet. As she looked into the grave, unconscious of her danger, an Indian, prepared for the purpose, struck her with a club on the back of the head. She fell in, and was immediately covered up with the child she had nursed !
The people are the sovereign power. They formed the States; the States formed the General Government; ergo, the people formed the General Government. We live under two Governments, and owe alle- giance to both. Both are governed by agents; and to these agents, both sets, special authority is given by Constitutions. When the Legislative agent in a State transcends the Constitution of the State, where do you resort to rectify the evil? To the Judiciary. And so in the General Government. But 'tis true that the Legislature (as in the cases of the Tariff and internal improvements) may evade the Constitution in such a way as to avoid the operation of the power vested in the courts. There should, then, besides public opinion, be some power to bring the agents
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to the true constitutional path. It should be a convention of delegates from the States to meet once in ten or twenty years.
Sept. 14 .- Read "Views on Death." Author pretends it is not so bad as it looks. Let him try it ! The sinking heart, quivering nerves, the death-rattle, are bad enough, God knows !
Sept. 18 .- I've not been well, and am greatly embarrassed by the man- ner in which I'm treated at Washington. They refuse to pay me for ar- duous duties rendered to the country, and actually are withholding every cent of my salary. Do they wish to get rid of me ?
Sept. 19 .- I am resolved to be better and wiser before I die. Hence, besetting sins ! get ye behind me! and grant me power, Heaven, not to look back upon the Satanic group.
Sept. 21 .- P- also tells me that, when he was embarrassed, his friend said, "I see your situation, and will help you if I can ; but I must have se- curity." "What security do you require ?" "YOUR WORD !" was the reply.
Sept. 23 .- Why do I not look forward, and by my energies in the last days of my life repair the follies and errors of the past ? Indolence, like an incubus, weighs me down. Yet, oh, how much need there is for exer- tion ! God in his mercy help me !
Sept. 26 .- Had before me a man of violent temper, who has sworn a larceny against another who has committed none, and wants to make me a pander to his vengeance. We shall sec. I gave Judge -- , who, it seems, is urging on the difficulty, to understand my views upon the sub- ject. But more of this anon.
Sept. 30 .- Ye gods, how he does talk! Didn't get a new idea, except about cucumbers. "Plant them," says the captain, "in a barrel ; sink said barrel half-way in the ground. The vines will run over, present a beau- tiful object to the sight, and bear abundantly."
Oct. 10 .- The President's reasons for withdrawing the deposits from the Bank U. S. is a powerful document. He is right, if he had the power, which, it seems to me, is vested by act of Congress in the Secretary. The bank is a dangerous machine, but yet in many respects useful. No Bank should outlive its charter ; another should be created, if it be con- stitutional to create any. I'm afraid the removal of Duane will injure the President. He frocks and unfrocks at pleasure ; but he is a magnificent fellow, and the best constitutional President since the days of Jefferson, who was himself not sinless. Where did he find the power in the Consti- tution to purchase Louisiana ?
1834, Feb. 21 .- The Governor (Duval) is the best story-teller in these United States; and were I President I would make him Secretary of Lega- tion to Washington Irving, whom I would send Minister to Russia, where he would have nothing to do but sit in a warm room and write legends from the Governor's hints. . . . Let me try my hand at one of the Governor's stories. "I was," said he, "at the President's house one evening, and there were Mrs. D. and Mrs. J., and a half-dozen others, dressed up in the first style à la Parisienne ; and there were sofas and ottomans, and musical instruments, and lights, all of which, with the com- pany, made a pretty picture. I had been invited to spend a sociable evening, and the ladies and the music made my heart throb as I entered the saloon,-for, old as I am, I love both. Very soon I was asked if I would not approach a group and listen to the splendid performance of a young gentleman just returned from Italy, and who played divinely. I left the side of the general, who was smoking in his large arm-chair, and
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beheld, surrounded by beauty and fashion, a young man who sat on a low stool, with a guitar across his lap. 'Good Heavens!' thought I; 'can the spirit of harmony reside in such a temple ?' He had a huge head, and on the front of which his hair had been brushed in three ways,-to the right, to the left, and in front ; and then purposely some little confusion had been imparted to it. The hinder part had been closely cut. His neck was enveloped in a stock which closely compressed it, leaving two little points of shirt-collar projecting under his chin. He wore large whiskers, innu- merable chains and shirt-buttons, was tightly laced, and bent forward in such a way as to give him, in his close habits, a monkey-like aspect. After some preluding, the creature opened his mouth and sung : no, that is not the word : he squalled, worked his eyes, and heaved his breast, now sinking into a whisper, and now squealing so loud you might have heard him at the Capitol. Never did I hear such horrible noises. But after a while I was relieved by the conclusion of the strain, when all pronounced it exquisite,-an admirable Italian sonnet. I went back to the general. ' Well, Governor,' said he, 'don't you like the music ?' 'General,' said I, 'its d-d stuff, between you and me. Come here, Tommy Blount. And now let me have leave to make this lad from the wilds of Tennessee sing "Blue Bonnets on the Border."' 'Certainly,' said the general ; and Tommy, with- out any affectation, began to sing. In a moment, such was the force of his melody that the ladies and their sparks flocked around him. Their eyes glistened with pleasure and feeling : there was not the rustling of a ribbon to be heard. Tom's fine tones filled the spacious room and made their way to all hearts except the youngster from his Italian travels. When the music was done, all were warmly expressing their pleasure. I looked round for Monsieur Squallini; and there he sat on the little stool, the lone- somest man I ever saw in my life. 'General,' says I, ' that's the sort of music for me.' 'Yes, Governor,' said the President; ' that's the music that makes the goose-flesh come; and nothing could be better, except Wash- ington's March upon the drum and fife.'"'
March 17 .- Read a chapter in Matthew concerning the miracles of Christ,-that most wonderful of beings ; but the story of the devils and the swine can't surely be true : there must be some embellishment. Read Sturm on our imperfect knowledge of things. Why did not God make us more wise ? is a question which God alone can answer. We are poor worms, and must crawl our allotted span without murmuring, if we can.
'May 18 .- Attended old Mr. McWhir* to church,-poor old man of eighty years of age, palsied, and almost voiceless ; but he gave us a good discourse. He told us Christianity was not to be rejected because of its mysteries ; "for," said he, "the doctrine of deism involves as great a mystery, a causeless cause." Ah, neither Christians or Deists have certain informa- tion upon this grave subject. . . . Mr. Mc Whir told a good anecdote last night. He said, when first licensed to preach, one of the fathers of the church told him to open his mouth when he preached. "Yes," said another, "and, when you have done preaching, shut your mouth !" Good rule for lawyers, Congressmen, et alias. . .. Walked with Mr. McWhir to his boat, and saw the aged preacher embark. I would this day joy- fully exchange situations with the old gentleman.
* A portrait and memoir of Dr. McWhir may be seen in White's Historical Col- lections of Georgia, p. 532. He was employed by Gen. Washington as a teacher to the Custis children, and affectionately spoke of him as being as " good as he was great."
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July 8 .- B- was a young man of slender education, a spoiled child. He came early to the possession of a large estate, and has been a brute ever since. The first thing he did when he came to Florida was to teach his boatmen a new song,-viz. :
"Old B-'s dead and gone to hell ; Young B- reigns, and all is well."
He has killed two negroes,-perhaps more. But the monster has his reward : he is not more than thirty, and is old, emaciated, sinking into the grave.
July 21 .- There is a great pleasure in strolling through this city at night, at the vesper-hour, or a little later, whether the moon shines or not. Lovers are walking, friends are discoursing, music is playing, the mirthful are laughing. No discord, or strife, or debauchery, or sickness, offend the inoral sense : all is quiet, comfort, and content. St. Augustine is indeed a heaven ; but where are the angels ?
July 22 .- So Forsyth is Secretary of State. Heaven be praised ! He deserves it.
July 26 .- " Old Gineral" gone to Hermitage. They say he has of- fered an insult to his new Secretary of State already, by ordering one of the clerks from his department, (Patent-Office.) Poor Forsyth ! how sorry I should be were any thing to befall him !- for he is a man of a thousand. Gentle, able, brave : these three words constitute the highest points in his character ..
Sept. 9 .- I saw, about the year 1826, in Savannah, a Frenchman who told me he had been interred upon a belief that he was dead. He had been ill of yellow fever, and apparently died. He was put into a coffin, taken to the grave, let down into it. The service proceeded ; and when the earth was cast in, as the words " dust to dust," &c. were uttered by the priest, the sounds upon the coffin-lid rolled in his waking ears like thunder. He started in his narrow house, and communicated to it a motion, which some one observing, he was rescued from his burial, and soon recovered his health.
Sept. 18 .- Read Josephus. The Jewish code was certainly very humane in some particulars. A beast in distress was an object of parti- cular regard; and it was made a duty to show the roads to those who knew them not. We learn from a note that thirty shekels-the sum for which Judas sold the Saviour-was the old value of a slave among the Jews.
A woman calling herself Joice Heath is travelling in the Northern States and representing herself as the nurse of Washington. She weighs 48 pounds, is 161 years of age, and is a negress.
Maelzel's Automaton Chess-Player is sixty years old, and has realized near two millions in cash. Who would not be an automaton for so much money ?
Sept. 20 .- Judge - and Judge - quarrelled yesterday, and the latter called the former a liar, hypocrite, and other gentle epithets. Alas for friendship ! These gentles know each other thoroughly, and have long been friends ; and they will be so again,-for the one always wants a master and the other a tool. came to me to-day for consolation; or, rather, he did not know what he came for : but-poor stripe !- he found no con- solation ; for I was vexed at his folly, and told him he overvalued his import- ance,-that he was excessively vain, and withal nervous, and morbidly
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sensitive. I am sorry I treated him so, rubbing the sore instead of ap- plying the plaster ; but I myself was irritable.
Sept. 24 .- It seems our Saviour spent the whole night in prayer before he chose and sent forth the Twelve. The apostles all prayed before they appointed Matthew one of the Twelve. Christ must have been a great orator : his very enemies said, "Never man spake like this man.".
Sept. 25 .- In riding through this ruined city, with its faded orange- trees, two or three objects struck me as being very agreeable,-vines that had completely enveloped several orange-trees, so as to make them as green and beautiful, almost, as when in their high and palmy state : not a withered branch was to be seen. The parasites closely embraced the dead trunk and limbs, and bloomed over decay which they concealed and adorned. Here was a convolvulus with its simple flowers, and there a gourd as luxu- riant as Jonah's.
Oct. 6 .- The hymns of the Episcopal Church are very well composed,- some of them beautiful, especially that beginning with "Oh for a closer walk with God!" That was a favorite of my dear wife, and I was rejoiced to meet with it.
1835, Fel. 28 .- Poor - (a handsome man of color) calls. He is very intelligent, but has a spirit incompatible with his station ; has been impertinent to a white man, is in a scrape, and wants me to assist him out of it. Will do what I can; but the fellow is wrong and improperly advised.
March 14 .- Walk. A long walk,-delightful evening of spring. But, alas ! the orange-groves have been blasted, and the chief charm has de- parted from St. Augustine. When a case in which this city was plaintiff was called, Downing suggested the death of plaintiff, and said 'twas occa- sioned by the late frost ! Pretty good.
July 19 .- I have prayed to God to help me; to guard my children from harm ; to make my efforts what they can't be without his aid,-successful ; to make me a virtuous man ; to protect my children and friends and ser- vants, and to make all good and faithful servants of his will; to defeat my enemies and make them my friends. If He does not help me, I am lost.
Turned my attention to business, when in came the Marquis Fougères and Gen. Hernandez. The old marquis was quite interesting, and we talked of his planting-establishment lately purchased, the Catholic reli- gion, Bishop England, &c. &c.
St. Augustine, East Florida, September 26, 1835 .- Christ called upon the Jews to believe in him, in order that they might believe his doctrines. His object was to show that his doctrines came from God,-that he was sent to propagate them: he never taught that he was God himself. He continually referred to a previous existence :- " Before Abraham was, I am;" but, if we are immortal, it is quite probable we all have existed before this our present state of suffering was thrust upon us. Bossuet says, "The Son of God is unique, because he is perfect; his generation drains, if we may so speak of Infinity, all his paternal fecundity." Here is a strange idea !
Oct. 2 .- Mr. Edwin Forrest [some judge] says, Henry Placide (I re- member him, a boy, when he played a servant's part in my drama of Pu- laski, in which his talented mother performed Lodoiska) is the best actor extant in his walk upon the stage,-comic, I believe.
Oct. 20 .- The Holy Water of the Catholics is consecrated at Easter and Pentecost,-twice a year.
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Oct. 27 .- Read Verplanck's Orations until late at night. He calls La Fayette "the model of republican chivalry, the Hero of three Restorations, of two centuries, and of both hemispheres !" How just is this praise, and how few are praised justly! Of William Penn he says, with equal pro- priety, " He was the gentlest and purest of rulers."
Oct. 29 .- The Catholics think the Lord remains in person with them so long as the bread remains entire in the stomach,-say from a quarter to half an hour, [after the Eucharist.]
Nov. 1 .- The papers already say that Mr. Eaton will go to Spain if he wishes it; and he will wish it. But who is to be Governor in his stead ? Most persons would imagine that I have some chance ; but 'tisn't so. It will come unlooked for, if it comes at all.
Nov. 10 .- O'Connell's rents for 1835 are $67,500. He can very well afford to be a patriot when he is so well paid.
Dec. 21 .- Half of the diseases of the world are imaginary. The suf- ferer is half dead before he finds it out, and half cured when he does.
1836, January 10 .- The Indian war is still going on. At the battle of the Withlacoochee, the regular army behaved with courage : a shower of balls passed about Clinch, who deported himself gallantly. His gar- ments were cut by bullets in many places ; a ball passed through his cap.
Jan. 14 .- Nothing so much impresses us with a conviction of the glory and power of God as the night.
I have been reading an account of the effect of music on birds. I well remember when Janet [eldest daughter of Judge Reid] was learning the piano, she took her lessons in a parlor where hung a cage with two cana- ries. The birds had never sung; but they listened at first very attentively to the notes of the piano, and soon found their own sweet voices.
Jan. 15 .- He who wades through the Scriptures without considering time, place, and circumstance is in danger of falling at every step.
Jan. 16 .- How happy is that man who loves God and walks in his fear,-who acts for the purpose of pleasing him, and is regardless of all beside !
Feb. 2 .- The charge of Moses to the judges, as he himself relates it in the first chapter of Deuteronomy, is very impressive. They are to hear, to judge righteously between their brethren and the stranger, to respect no person, to hear the small as well as the great, and not to be afraid of the face of man. Would that all judges would attend to these direc- tions !
Feb. 12 .- Yesterday, while riding with , our horse ran off, alarmed by the firing of a gun, and the bullet whistled by us; but no harm was done. I have had an agreeable ride; and, though we escaped the shot, we were near a man by whom the bullet passed. Such negligence is in- tolerable ; so I met the major and complained. If people must shoot, I wish they would select their hour, so that I might know when to ride without danger to myself. The poor major has cut port-holes through his house, and is prepared for an attack from the Indians .; besides, he keeps a barrel of gunpowder prepared to blow up his wife and children if he can't keep the Indians from scalping them.
Feb. 27 .- Paul inculcates prayer and thanksgiving, and the making known requests unto God; and, in answer to these, he promises the " peace of God which passeth all understanding." Oh, had I that peace ! Shall I ever have it? Is it reality ? or does it come from the imagination ?
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March 2 .- I shall, as to my own correspondence, abolish the miserable slang of "obedient servant." To friends the conclusion should be, "I am faithfully, or sincerely, or truly, or respectfully, or affectionately," ac- cording to the fact of the case; to others, respectfully, truly, &c .; all that should naturally and properly, and, if the writer pleases, all that does usually, follow such words; but I will use the word " servant" no more.
March 7 .- A courtier devil made his bow before Satan. "Sire," said he, "an old sinner has died, leaving his large fortune to charitable insti- tutions." "Then we have lost him," said the devil. "Not so," said the imp : " he has many relations, and has made no restitution to the plun- dered; but, if the worst comes, we have gained twelve souls,-for he has twelve trustees of his charity."
March 9 .- This life is a pathway, where flowers and thorns are per- petually springing; but there is a resting-place on the road for every one. If we stop to clear away the thorns, to pluck the flowers, to examine our scratches or regale our senses, we shall perform the journey but badly. Onward! onward! is the word. Or, as Crocket used to say,-poor soul, he is dead !- "Go ahead !"
Six lawyers in Georgia have attempted to monopolize stock in a new bank in Augusta, by combining their names into forty-eight different partnerships. Well done for the ingenuity of the bar! but " fair play is a jewel !"
March 11, 1836 .- I pray to my Father with some warmth and impor- tunity. No; that is an irreverent word :- earnestly, but reverentially. What a suspicion continually haunts us that things will be as they will be, and that God will not, perhaps cannot, answer our prayer ! Such thoughts do come over and darken the mind. I strive to dismiss them and believe in the unlimited power of God. Faith ! faith ! would that I had it !
March 13 .- Naturalists insist that plants have not the faculty of feeling. I'm inclined to think they feel in their own way,-which we, on account of the difference in our nature, cannot comprehend. 'Tis therefore that I hate to see a leaf, branch, or flower wantonly and carelessly plucked. Even flowers for the ladies I would deny : while the fair brow is beaming with radiance and the heart beating with gladness, the poor flower is "experiencing the pangs of the dying.
March 30 .- -, the barber, calls on business, and discourses me for one hour and a half. He tells me of the splendors of Easter in Spanish . times. Thursday was a grand day : all the apostles were paraded in the illuminated church. Then came the gloomy Friday ; then the silent Sa- turday,-not even a bell ringing; then the morn of resurrection, ushered in by ringing of bells and every demonstration of joy. In the course of the day there was a procession, in which the apostles figured; and even Judas was there, with his bag and thirty pieces of silver.
April 15 .- An English chaplain used to be always interrupted in his discourse by the impudent sailors. On Sunday they had a way of put- ting their fingers in their mouths and making a noise like the drawing of a champagne-cork .. The chaplain frowned and winked and blinked; but it did no good. At last he said to an offender, "Come, d-n your eyes, no more of that !" The offence was not repeated.
It is said that the business of an English chaplain is " to take the head of the table, prepare the punch, mix the salad, and pepper the devils."
I once knew a chaplain : he had belonged to the ill-fated Chesapeake : he was English, allied to a noble family, his name -. He loved wine
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and good cheer, had been a respectable merchant, but had failed from ex- travagance. Ye gods, how he sang ! I shall never hear again " Flow, thou regal purple stream," and " Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch !" He died poor, and, of course, friendless.
There is one feature very objectionable in the present war against the Indians. Our officers and men set up for heroes much too soon ! If a man sits up on guard all night, if he wanders a dozen miles, if he is hungry on his march, if he gets frightened and fires off his gun on guard, if he sees an Indian, if he hears a bullet whizz by him,-especially if he i's shot,-he is a hero.
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