Newspaper of Burlington Free Press, February 17, 1837, Page 1

NOT THE GLORY OF C JE S A 11 J BUT THE WELFARE OF ROME. BY II. B. STACY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 183T. VOB,. X Xo. 504 AUNT KEZIAII'S SCHOOL MASTER. I say I'll believe my cliili! before nil tlm young ones in lliu school, and thu master These words wore uttered in no gentle tones, by K7.iah William, the wife and master of Edward Williams, saddler Jn Allcnborotigh, comnioniy cnucu n ivo. ziah that is, the woman wns so called. -m. Wiiiinma r.niumonlv enjovod the lion- orn'blc appellation of 'nunt Kmiah's man ' Ti.nnln.un sentence was tiddressd to a long legged, intelligent and benevolent IdoU my yankce namuu jo j p. "' 'boon rnuver.-ing Tor some time with I ho aforesaid mint IC-ainli. His object was to pac lv the wrath of the dam-, whose child had linen punished bv the schoolmaster tor the offence or profanity. ... 'And do you believe.' continued she. 'that I fllmll let that college rucnl whip my child? No, I'll wnrru.M I'll sec if such t'uinrrs are allowed.' And forthwith flic proceeded to array herself in her red cloak ami h "d for an objogaiory lour. 'Why,' i-nid Mr Chainplui, 'you whip your child yourself, don't you." 'Well, wha' if 1 do?' You whipped him last ii'.glit might I ask you what for ? It's none of your business it was be cause ho told me a he, if yon must know.' " 'Well, then, how do you know but that he has told you a he in" this affair ? You had better be certain bofoio you set the town in a blaze.' I sav I know he ha-nt, anil thats enough", and I'll see who is going to be master.' . Well, well, it's no use arguing anil so we must lose the best hchoolniastur wo have had in five years nil for that' we don't know what epithet he. was about lo bestow, Tor ho suppre-'ed it. with ln.-s ha bitual caution. Aunt Keziah had in the mean time begun her I ravel-. The wind was high and her motion against it rapid; for a lime her cloak streamed like a me teor.' but ore Ions the hooks and eyes gave way, and it was w lifted into an adjoining swamp. An exclamation was uttered, hucIi as Kcziah only might niter, or rather a malediction on the head of the poor peil aogue. a-ihongh he li.nt buen in lunm with the pw.-r of the air. In her climb 1112 the fence to recover Hie clonk, cerium orher dit-arruugeinenls were nude, in he wardrobe, which rendered it unnoee.-s-ury for Ixt further to nurse her wr.nh--it wa builin" of itself. The clonk w.i- a- length recovered, and the iieedlul adjo-i meut. tn.ide. and n train Hie en i iiumi t wa-; on win!-.. She" soon reaelied the abode of Mrs Slninw. who win ino m.iher of four while bonded, dirly I'lC'd, b.id temper. l yooo-r ones, who n ti To r m i y atieoile.l iiidtl "rtTfiil ly well the wmie. -elwol. ounl Mime of the' number suffered M.me penally of the law, when they were HintiihinoouMy withdrawn for the -ea-on. Tlieir eiluea lion remained in statu quo till ilie com rnenreinenl of aiiolliei school. Oil.) -cht.ul. " master who reined for n number of year treilin" knowledge of tins laci. im-iI to flog somu one of them the first day of their nppearhiiec, and so gained a riddance lor the season. 'Well." said aunt Kcziah. 'it's line lime ihnnn.ir elnlilroo are heal and banned about by every body that comes along. It beats all, I do say," re-ponded Mrs Shatcs, "but a body can't help thoiiHelve- in this nnnntrv. I sV to my chiMreu every year, do you go to school and learn books, fm t iost as soon as the muster touches you, ,.nn enmn home.. I suppose yon can keep your children at home as welt in I.' Keoniii'r ihern al home an't the thing I'm not a going to lo-e my part of i lie school money by keeping mv chililren at heme, and in the way too. I say we ought in hnvn a master that woo I whip. 'That is what I've always aaid, but nj- bodv would iom me.' 'Won't your husband vote to turn the master away ? . ,, , 'Yes. indeed he will, if other lolks do. I'll see lo that.' 'Well, I'm going round to see what mn in. Til let llio.-o starched collegers know that they arc not to whip my buys for nothing.' 'What did the boy do?' 'Nothing at nil. They said ho swore, but ho said ho didn't, and I'll heliovo him before all the rest of the young ones that the master has set against him.' 'So I ffiiess I would.' said Mrs. Sliutes, but adding after aunt Iv-'s departure, 'Sa tan never had a servant mat wmitu no nun swear worse than that brat of hers, I5nt let her turn the master away I say.' Aunt Keziah war. connected in somo way of blood or marriage with half the families in the town. This affinity of families is often found in yankee land. This, together with certain qualities of charncler, gave her a great influence in the town, and es pecially in the district. In consequence, in the cnurso of the day she had raised a powerful party ngaiiihi master L.-aeh, suf ficient, ill her opinion, In eH'ecl hi over, throw. In hr movements sho followed merely the iinpuKu of her feelings, wi'h out any regular plan ; still the wisdom or cunning wiih which she moved was such as led more than one to suspect that a cer tain personage, of much experience in mischief making, was on this, as on other occasions, her counsellor and guide. Having thus learned her strength, aunl Kcziah resolved to show her courago and gratify her vengeance by bearding the lion in his den. Accordingly on the next mor ning she Bet out for the school house, with her hopeful sun before her. The classos had read before her nrrival, and master Leach was employed in the task of setting copies and making pens, where will; divers characters were lo bo made. This was tho season of stolen whispers, paper shots, fekmious abstraction of hairs, and display of parched corn, &c, inasmuch as tho at teniton of tho rigid master was necessarily withdrawn. At this season the door was thrown open, and aunt Keziah entered, won nor nnpeioi son in the van. Master Leach raised Ins head, and steadfastly L'a zed on her glowing countenance, and wish ly resolved to givu her tho privilege of inoKing Known her wishes. 'I've brought bark my boy to "300 if you dare strike Inm there, sit down,' pointing me culprit to a seat, and raising her voice 'now lot me see you strike him' here her wrath oxnlodod in a fii of coughing. 'Certainly.' said master Leach, 'you shall see me whip Inm H it will bo any grntily cation lo you. I promised Inm I slioul punish him the next lime ho came.' Ac cnrdingly taking his lurch, ho applied it in goon earnest. 'Stop, stop, you rascal,' said aunt Keziah rushing fnrward--hul she was not brought lo a aland, but n full, by the protrusion ol the Icel of one ol the larger boys who wa no admirer of Keziah. A prominent in. 'in her of l:cr countenance manifested its dis like of such proceedings by a copious dis charge of scarlet lined, and her cloak from red began evidently to sympathise with lb ab'ene of ilie fl mr. Sho arose, and Willi increased lory proceeded not directly ' I he I hronc ol the pedagogue, but tin fire place, lo secure the lungs, which have been deemed a woman's peculiar weapon hut as is common in school houses, their temperature was not far from 200 degrees Of eioirse, thev were not long retained mid the shriek that accompanied their re linqiiisliinent had something apparently equivocal in lis character, lodging from Us opposite effects ; as it produced coughing on the pari of snnie, mid tears on tile part of others. An immediate retreat was the consequence, when master Leach resumed his writing. Aunt Keziah now started on another tour, and found her bloody nose and hi is tered hands cllectivo arguments. The precise nature of the commentaries she read thereon wo know no!, but as sho wa! never uoled for strict adherence to truth we may suppose they were adapted to the end in view. At any rate, uncles, cou-ins, nieces, hall sisters and 6isters-in.lr. w, were led to believe that the said master Leach was a monster of cruelty, and the univer tl wonder wa that llieir children and puts were in the land of the living al the pre out IIIIHJ. Toe next day the school house was dc eriini save liv the lami ies ol t ie minister and Judge Wickes. Silence reigned the deserted hall, and the tna-tcr, though noi atr.nd of aunl keziah, began to fe lonesome. The usual hours of duty were, however, perlurined. In i he evening lie visiicd the worthy minisier of the parish and detailed the his lory ol nfl'nrs. The minister absolved Inm from blame hot doubted if things could go on oiii. H-. there was a reconciliai ion with aunl Keziah, which ho did by no means ail vi-u. Anolher day passed as did t lit for mer. Leach resolved not to give up the ship, hot regularly lo spend the appointed hours in the school lionse. After u week's silence a school meeting, as it is called, was appointed for the pur pose of'iaking into eonideratmn the stale of Hie ecliool.' Mister Lech thought linn-elf well qualified lo give any iiiforiiia. lion on that subject, and hence thai he was n -unable person lo attend the meeting He was therefore present, which was very eiub'irrasiing lo those sage and tntlopoud cut personages whom aunt Keziah had mov. d to manage the pause of school dis i net No. !J alias aunt Kezmh ver-us liben Leach. Some time was passed in silence and such profound meditation as occupies the niiniN of such as as-etnble for purposes of winch i hey are ignorant. Finally one remarked that 'sotii'.Mhing must be done for the sen. ml, or it would run down, or if nothing could he done, it had better slop ' In venting thus far, aunt Keziah's nioui h piece thought, it necessary to conciliate by lauding the excellency of tho school as taught by the afore-ad Leach yet highly as i hey valued Ins services, il was lo be feareil I he school could not be continued. A number expre-sed tnemselves to (lie snnie effect. Whereupon Mr. Leach rose and remarked, that, if parents who wished their children to learn, and who had a--high an opinion of Die school as they had pretended, could not send their children through fear of a termagant wife, it was. not rea-ouahle to suppose that he should release them from their engagements. He was hu sanl. hired to teach for three months it was agreed that he kept a good scliool but ifiliey saw fit to dispense with one third of his services, he was content, only hu wage mii-l no piiui. J his was a po. ser. ViitiKees never liKo to pav their nion cy for nothing, and nut often for a fair equi valent. However, as the decree hud gone forth from aunt Kezoih that another pedn gogue should reign in his stcml, Ins de mands were paid, mid he wa-' purinitled lo depart. He was, however, in no hurry to depart, as the vocation was not ended, and friends were at too great a distance to vi-ii, I'erhaps it was because ho wished In sec whii would lake place perhaps lie wa- attached to Judge Wieke's daughter, lor he afterwards married her, though we would by nu moans as a general thing infer the former from thu latier. A new master was engaged to keep tho remaining tunu. lie was a studunt of an other college a native of another pari of ine inwnsnip. ue nail desired the scliool from the first but had been less esteemed by the trustees than master Leach. This man's name was Salmon. Ho avowed his huhef in tho veracity of aunt Kezmh's dar ling, and the badefi'ecls of flogging, on cith cr oxiromity. Hu was in consequence speedily inducted into oflico. Hu resolved not to split on the rock of his predicessor, and therefore lost no time in making known his pacific intentions. They were aunoun ced on the first day of his reign, in expec tation of securing a capital stock or popu larity. The effect was sudden and striking. A laudablo emulation too see vho could go fartliorcst from established usages arose inkstands wore overturned, ears violently elongated, and voluntary and involuntary falls from benches were made, these were a few out of tho many exploits that whiled away tho time, and broke the monotony of study. In the afternoon a few slily with drew, locked the door, ascended the house and placed a board over the lop of the chimney, saluted the hoosc with a volley ofstonccj gave three cheers for tho master that would not whip and departed. The remainder of this 1 havo not been able to find. Dn. Channino on Religious Sects. We subjoin another extract from Dr. Chan ning's loiter lo the Editor of the Weiilern Messenger : In all sects I recognize joyfully true dis ciples of the common muster. Calholocism boasts of soma of the best ind greatest names in history, so docs Episcopacy, so I'rrsbytcrianism, &c. I exclude none. know that Christianity is mighty enough lo accomplish its end in all I cannot how ever speak of religious any more than of political parlies, without betraying the lit tie respect I have for them, as parties. 1 here is no portion of human history more humbling than that ofeccts. When I mod italc on tho grand moral, spiritual purpose of Christianity, in which all its glory con sists j when I consider how plainly Chris tianity attaches importance to nothing but to the moral excellence, tho disinterested, divine virtue, which was embodied in the teaching and life of its founder j and when from this position, I look down on tho sects which have figured, and now figure in the church j when I see them making 6uch n stir about matters generally so unessential; when I see them seizing on a disputed and disputable doctrine. making it a watchword, a test of God's favor, a bound of commu nion, a ground of selfcomplacency, a badge of peculiar holiness, a warrant for condem ning its rejectors, however imbued with the spirit of Christ ; when I sec them over- looking the weightier matters of the law, and laying infinite stress hero on a bishop and prayer book, there on the quantity of water applied to baptism, and there on some dark cnlntinn fn incomprehensible article of faith ; when I see the mock dig nity of their exclusive claim to truth, to chnrchship, to the promises of God'w word; when I hear the mimic thunderbolts of de nunciation and excommunication, which they delight to hurl ; when I consider how their deep theology, in proportion as it is examined, evaporates into words, how many opposite and extravagant notions are covered by the some broad shield of myste. ry and tradition, and how commonly the persuasion of infallibility is proportioned to the absurdity of the creed ; when I consid er these things, and other mutters of like import, I am Inst in amazement at the inioiini of arrogant folly, of self compla. cent intolerance, of almost incredible blind ness to the end and cs-enceof Christianity, which the history of sects reveals. I have indeed profound respect for individuals in all communions of Christians. But on sects, and on I he spirit of seels, I must he allow" ed to look with grief, shame, pity, I had almost said, contempt. In passing these sensures. I claim no superiority. I am sure there arc thousands of all sects, who think and feel as I do, in this particular, and who, far from claiming superior intel igence, are distinguished by following out thu plain dtclutes, the natural impulses, and spontaneous judgments of conscience and common sense. Truth is STiiArtGEii than Fiction. A paper published at Slcvensbnrg, Indiana, furnishes the following narrative, which il lustrates the truth of the proverb: In June 1 833, there arrived ot Stevens burg a laboring man about 35 years of age, woo soon aner engageu nimsnii to take charge of ilie farm of Samuel James. Esq., oflhis village. Ho represented himself lo be from (Jrongo county, New York, bv name Alexander Jackson. After livin with Mr. James until January, 103-1, he purchased a farm about nino miles; distant from this place, and shortly afterwards of fered his hand in marriage to a young wo man, who resided in Mr, Jame's family nn adopted daughter of Mr. James in fact, she went by the name of Sarah James, and nu person in this vicinity knew, until re cently, but that sho was a natural daughter of that gentleman. Mr. James objected in the match, but Jackson represented himself as a relation of the President of the United Slates, and being a good looking, and wiuiai an intelligent person, miss James was pleased with him, and urecdher father to consent to their marriage, In the May fallowing they wero married, and Mr James gave Jackson a handsome farm, adjoining his own, us Sarah's portion, on which Jack". son built him a house, and they lived very nu u, v uniiiu ineir marriage, Mrs. Jackson has borne her husband two fine boys, the youngest being at present but two months old. But let us give thu history of Jackson, as now discovered by his own confession, and by tho appearance of a person in this community, who has tur- ueu uu ins uomesucjoys into a cup o bit terness, and ruudereil his poor wife heart. broken, in tho first place, then, his namo ia not Alexander Jackson (and fur the pros cnt wo slmll suppress his real name.) Du ring lljs llnvlinnd he linen mn ll,n fnlhnr of n femtile chi'd, the mother being of respecta. Mo. parentage, and, as it now appears, a relative of our respected townsman, whom Jackson has hitherto called lathcr-in-law. Ho soon left the RP.nnn nf liin I'isirrnro. which is in Orange county, New-York, and afterwards, for many vcors. lived in thfc vi cinity of Albany, where tho individual, who now cxposcj him, knew him by his real name. His name was also well known to Mr. Jnmc9, ns the father of his adopted daughter. Judge, then, oftho ocnnv of all parties, when it became known that the beautiful S.irah James was not a natural daughter of Mr. Jainen, and that sho had discovered in her husband her own fnllinr Truth is indeed stranger than fiction- Hir this is hut a simplo narrative of facts. So attached was the dau.'htcr to her own fath er, that it was with much difficulty she was persuaded to return to the housn of Mr, James. Jackson has sold his own farm, and does not now bIiow himself in the vil lage, though it is believed that he still vis its Mr. Jame's family. It is said that all the parties will soon leavo this nart of the country, so deep is tlieir grief and disgrace. juoies is a justice oi ine peace, and a lawyer of some eminence, though he is not at present in full practice. Wo are induced to give these sorrowful facts publicity, in consenuonco of divers un. favorable reports in circulation, both arrainst our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. James, as wen os Jackson. These reports we will not repeat the narrative above given be ing all-sufficient to contradict them. Mns. Hkmans. A monument to ner petuato the memory of this gifted lady, has been executed in England and will soon bo conveyed to Dublin, and placed over the remains of the departed poetess. It is a small Grecian monumental tablet in slat, uary on a black ground and is inscribed : Fkmcia Hemans-. Died May 16, 1035, aged 41. To which arc added the following lines from her own solemn effusion known as tho dirge. "Calm on the bosom of thy Rod Fail spirit ! rest lliee now ! E'en ttliile with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on thy brow. Dii'i lo its narrow house beneath ! Soul lo its pl.ice on high ! 'I'hoy iliat have seen thy look in death. Mo more may fear lo die." v. ,....,.i!ivu oy the Now York papers that tho birth day of Thomas Paine was celebrated in that city that a consideablo number of person holding tho opinions set forth in that man's book, entitled the Ago of Reason, drank aim ato in commemoration of tho sin gular specimen! of infidelity manifested in I aine, and after tho eating and drinking there wasa Ball, Tho dinner, we may charitably suppose, was eaten by men alono, but at tho dancing thcro must havo women, indeed it is so stated. In tho intercourse to which man is con- demned the hasty intercourse with books with the vicious ofhis own sex, with tho de. signing and the simple, wo can comprehend how hu may imbibe, or how, from a foolish piido, ho may at least profess, Iho scntimonts even should ho not adopt tho fillhv habits. ol"l liomas Paine. It is in the fashions ol Iho world to pardon man almost every crime and to inalio tho appcaranco of virtuo in him, tho signal for general absolution. Uut it is not, and il may not bo so with woman sho errs hut once. The purity imputed to tho femnlo mind isso entire that a single stain mars tho Whole we therefore are astonished to fund that on the occasion of tho festival, a ball could havo been got up that customary prudenco should not havo kept back that poilion of tho company. But what has a woman to do with infidelity gratitudo for what religion has dono for her sex, should teach her the highest respect for its principles oven though sho could not believo in their revelation. What has given woman tho cqality of rank sho now enjoys, if not religion? What has raised her from the drudgory of a menial sta lion, whoroblio ministered to tho comforts or tho passions of man, to tho elevation of com panion, friend and almost suporior. What has dono this buiroligion? And will sho givo her sanction to infidelity and dance, in honor oftho apostlo of that hoarloss and duinorali. zing ciceu.' Not if sho s a mot her. 03 A clergyman, in tho last N. II. Olnnr- vor, complains as a griovance that that nannr comos into his lown on Saturday, and tho subscribers will road it on Sundav. Hoar him : " Now what makes tho ovil more irrl is, most of your subscribsrs hero aro memf,,,, of the Chunk -. and if Church mombors road newspapers." Now wo recommend to this parish to t a now minister forthwith. Tho present incum bout must bo immeasurably stunid. if his "chureh members" will read tho Observor in sermon timo ! "What's tho mallor with vourevo?" sni.l gcnllimun tho othor day to an honest emigrant, who iuukuu us ii no nuu uoon playing al his tycufl's. " Och ! it lias boon nut out. knocked mil. annihilated, expunged." "How can that bo .'" replied tho othor, "can't you soo with it ?" " Oh yes, I can see with il hut for all that it is cxiiungcd. Don't you seo tho black lines uiuuiiu ii ; Jonathan nroscntud liinisolf and inin dod lo Iho minislor. for tho purposo of being married. Iloing askod ifthov had been mil,. lished "Oh ! I guess ho for I told it to Un. do lleil. and lln InM hia wifn nf il mn. 1 1,... . woekago." New Uaven Herald, IIEAtt BOTH SIDHS. PETITION Signed hy 130 oi THE IMIAIlITANTi or Nonwtcir, Con PETITION SIONED nv 490 OK THE INHABITANTS op Mauch Ciiukk NECTICUT.FOIl A HI Pe NNS YI.VANIA peal or tiji: duty FOn, A REPEAT. OF THE DUTIES ON ON COAL. WOOLLENS, COT TONS, IIAIIDWAHE &C. To the itonnrrtbli To the Himarabl Senate and Home nflSenalc anil House of n r a. In . .... Representative of tht Representatives of United mates of Jl ilie United Slates of merica in Congress Jimenca in Uangrest assembled : Thu petition of tin undersigned, inhabi assembled: The petition of the undersigned, inhabi lants of the town ol lants of the town Norwich, in the coun ty of New London State of Connecticut respectfully repre sents : That there arc ir this town and its im mediate vicinity t number of mills for tin Mauch Chunk, Le high county, Stale of Pennsylvania, res pcctfully represents I hat there are in tins town and its immediate vicinity nnmorous establish ments for the raising manufacture of cotton of coal, at which and woollen goods of vast number of work various descriptions paper, steam-engines men aro employed that thoso workup &c. foundries, rolling consume large quau and slitting mills, nai titles ot cotton and mills, mills for turnirijj woollen good-i, fish screws and manufac turing hardware, be salt, sugar, nnd va nous other commu sides mechanic anil dities, owing to the other shops of variou scarcity and hi" trades and arts, all of price of which th which use fossil coal find it difficult to pro' to a greater or lev extent, for the pur cure sufiicient sup plies; that the ht.r poe of warming tin price of such article buildings, and con s a great burde ducting tlieir busmen ipon ilia poor and that preparations an making for the orec lion of steam engines those in moderat circumstances, many noi being able purchase wool in oi ner mills, now partly carried by wa iloths and blanket tor; and that, owing sumcieiu to insure to tho scarcity ont consequent high pner of wood, coal is nisi used in many families for domestic purpose? oml ihnl iia ilunrnnu- 'hem a suitable de grce of warmth 'heir dwellings dur mg severely incle ment seasons, and wnm heinff deprived is a great burden thereof altogether upon the poor and bat your petitioner those in modcratr circumstances, main not enjoying a suit a' hie and cnmforlabh degree of warmth in are inlly satisfied that the high price: if those articles are caused by an inadc qnato supply, which their dwellings during in its turn, is produ severely inclement seasons, and some be ing deprived of it al together: that your petitioners aro full) satisfied that the high ced by the hoovv luty now collected in foreign cottons woollens, and other irticles, now altno- wholly shutout from price ol this article ir he market; that the caused by an inade quate supply, wind in its turn is prodo ced by the heavy du ly now collected fron flourishing state tur domestic nnd 'oreifn c o m m erce renders revenu rom wooiieni j'ir. foreign coal, which o 'icwariy, a I m o s wholly shut out fron. the market; that tin flourishing state ol cur foreign nnd do mostic commerce ren dcrsany revenue from this article wholh vholly needless; and is the comfort of urge number ol in lividuals, embraciin' iinong them no sma jortion of women & htldrcn, would h needless; and. as Hi ,'rently increased bv comfort of ii lar". i reduced p-ico ol number of'individuti clothing, and as your nomorialtsts would eiuoracing amnim them tin small per wore those article. upplied nt mor lion of woman anil children, would I,, greatly increased In 'moderate rates, havi it in their power to a reduced price ol produce coal cheapo fuel, and an amotiii ban al present, the of capital in manufac turing be also reliev fleet would he to facilitate the acqui- ed from an onerum il ion of fuel, cloth tax, your petitioner mg, and provisions, respectfully request your honorable bodie. tn make strict inqui ries into the faclh. and grant, such relief. x our pet il union. therefore prav thai your honorable bod es will bo pleased to adopt, in regard lo by a totatal repeal ol leotlon and woollen the duty on foreign cloths, to fish. oil,alt coal.or by such meant sugar, and all other as to your wisdo commodities cunt-urn- shail appear just and mI by them, the sunn: expedient. And, a? measures unit you in duty bound, the) adopt in relation to win ever pray. coal. They nlso proy that the duty in the importation of hardwaro and ma chinery of all kinds nay bu modified in the same manner, in rdcr that they may have the same facilt lies for producing coal os aro eniovcd by i heir ccmpetors; and also that vnur honorable bodies will be pleased to grant them the same privi. lego of using foreign r domestic shipping is their rivnls now enjoy. And your petitioners will 'ever pray. There is n good story afloat of n saying of Mr AsTonof New York, supposed lo he worth 20 or 25 millions I lint riches did not alwnys confer hnpp iuess, mid that a man worlh.ive hundred thousand dollars might, if hu would, emov himself nsuell as if he were a rich man, BA6iirur,NEss. Tliero aro iwo distinct sorts of what we cull bushfulncbs; this ific awkwardness of a booby which a few step! into the world will convert into the pert ness of n coxcomb; that, t consciousness which the most delicate feelings ptoduco, and the most extensive knowledge cannot always remove. ftffrtiufl at WMa&fjt'Hfltort. Wasiiinoton, 6lh Feb. 1837. I havo witnessed, this day, in tho House of Representatives ono of thu most extraordinary scenes, that 1 havo ever witnessed in any de liberative body, Il presents a cubo not sus ceptible of description. Whether to treat it a sorious or ludicrous I know not. Mr. Adamt was the source the exciting causn of all that occurred , for Mondays aro his days of jxhi bilion. Nor am I ablo lo decido whether he did or did not intend to produce tho storm which followed. I confess, my present Im pressions aro that hn did not intend it; but if ho did, il was puerilo and undignified. On evciy Monday, for somo weeks past, ha has presented, (to tho great annoyance of tho Southed Members) what is termed abolition petitions, They pray for tho abolition of slvory in lha District of Columbia. It is duo to Mr. Adams to slate tho fact, that ho hat avowed, on tho flour nf iho House and else where, that he does not agrco with tho poli tilionors in opinion, and that ho would vote, if tho question carno to a vote, against gran ting tho prayer of the petition: but that he held iho right cf petitioning sacred and as a representative in Congress, would present all transmitted to him for that purpose, which: were respectful in llieir language. By the rules of the lloue, il is tho duty of every inemtjcr, when ho presents a petition-, lo make a brief statement of its contents. By another special ruin or resolution, adnlod du ring tho la.t and piescul sessions, all petition! in any way relating lo iho subject of slavery, ato to be laid on ilie tabic without any active thereon, Among the petitions presented tliis mor ning. by Mr. Adams, was one from some blacks, which he called persons, and of whom he caid tie knw nothing, as they wero in the State of Virginia. This petition wa laid on the table. He then stated that he heltl in his hand a paper, purporting to bo signed by about twenty slaves, residing in Predoricksburg, addressed to Congress, and he wished to as-k the Speaker whether it would bo in order, under the rules of the House, to present such a paper or petition? Its effect can neither be depicted nor imag. iucd. In a few seconds all was uproar and confusion. Half-a-dozen gentlemen from the South attempted to address the Speak er al the same time; but at length. Mr Pat ten nf Virginia, obtained the floor, and moved to suspend the rule, for tho purpose of permitting him to offer a resolution in relation to tho pallium just laid on the tablf. Tins v-ns carried, whoreupon he moved that the petition be returned to Mr. Adams. The whole South now seemed to be a fl iuip; it n tl without permitting the Speaker to decide on the interrogatory propunded by the gentleman from Ma-isachusetts. (Mr Adam-) motion after motion was offered from various quarters of the house, more or less severe, as the proposers wero more or les excited; but all contemplating that Mr. Adams should ne brought to the barof the House and cjiisured for presenting a petit inn from daves, praying to be freed. The-e several resolutions were accom panied with tie: most violent and inflama tory speeches from the moves and those who anted with them. Plus scene contin ued for ihr.'rt or four hours, during the whole of which tune Mr Adams remained perfectly i-ilenl and apparently composed. t length a whisper pervaded tho House that the pet in hi (which had not yet been presented) was not nn abolition petition, md that I here was something behind not yet known. Mr Pation made a few remarks, and call ed upon the gentlemen from Massichusclti for -nine explanation. Mr. Adam-raid, t hat while he was on trial, he had thought it most proper for Inm lo remain silent, which he had accor dingly done; bill he wti-hed the facts cor rectly slated hi the rcsoluiioo of cen-iure, lore he was brought to the bar ot the House, and when brought there, he pre. stinted the proceedings would not bu stop ped by the previous question. The resolu. lion r-tatud, that he had presented or offer ed a petition; Ibis was not correct he had only asked the Speaker whether it would be in order to present siich a peti tion? The resolution further stated that it was a pet ii ion from slaves, praying thd wolilion o slnven, this was not correct; It was of a veni different character. After a uio.-t eloquent appeal, Mr. Adams look his seal wn bout slating pre-i ci-ely what itie petition did contain. But nine ot his friends having now read it, the facts wero stated, not on the flour, but in conversation among the members, that it was n petition from certain negrncs in 'edortr.-k-burgh evidently prepared in in ult the member from Ma.-sochusetls. as it was sent to Inm for presentation, praying Congress not lo abolish slavery, and lo ex. pel him (Mr Adams) and every other aboli tion members. This dii-covory, if possible, increased Iho excitement nu ong the gentlemen from thu south ; mid the resolution to censure was then so ninended as lo censure him for tri lling wiih tho feelings of thu slave holding members. The scenu was now a mixturo of the comic nnd iho serious. Many who disapproved of Mr. Adams' silence, and permitting the dehato to coutinuo for hours, when he had the power to put a stop to it in a moment, could not refrain from laugh ing at the tempest which had been raised so uselessly In the midst of this excitement, however at about 5 o'clock tho House adjourned without any decision, The resolution pen ding is for a vote of censure. This ii a privileged question and may be called up to-morrow. If entered upon, it will occu py tho wholo day. I hava endeavored to givoyou a plain statement of the I none- tion, nnd no more. X. Y. Z.