"Spirit of the Times"
"To Speak of Things As They Are."
Volume 1, Bowling Green, (KY.) Saturday, November 25, 1826. No1.


Transcribed by: Karen S. Hughes, KarenLisbon@aol.com
Transcriber's note: The text presented here is transcribed as it was published without corrections to spelling and punctuation. I have placed {????} where words are not legible. This is not the entire text. The portions presented relate to Allen County and its
Neighboring counties.

Last Scenes of Mr. Jefferson's Life, &c.

A friend has been kind enough to place in our hands the following correspondence, which we have no doubt will furnish as much gratification to our readers as it has done to ourselves. In the letters of Mr. Jefferson, we find a masterly refutation of the errors which have been so frequently repeated as to an important period of public history. In the mode of refuting them we also see a new proof, of how much Genius is indebted to Method for some of its most successful efforts.
Richmond Enquirer.
Dear Sir - You insist on my giving you the particulars of my last visit to Monticello, and a sight of the correspondence which led to it. My visit, you know, was frustrate and melancholy, and its details, you may suppose, will be sorrowful and few. The correspondence being destined for publication in a second edition of Lee's Memoirs, will soon be accessible. In the mean time, I send you copies of two of Mr. Jefferson's letters - which cannot fail to encrease your admiration of him.
Upon arriving a Charlotteville, on the 27th June, although it was reported that Mr. Jefferson was sick, the account seemed neither so definite nor alarming, as to render it proper that I should forego the object of my journey. I therefore, addressed at note to him, signifying my arrival and readiness to await on him next day, or any other day of that week, which might be more agreeable to him. Next morning Mr. Trist called on me, confirmed the account I had before received, and said that Mr. J. had desired that I would dine at Monticello that day or the succeeding. The succeeding day was the Thursday before his death, and when it came, it seemed to be the general impression around me, that the life of the Patriarch was in danger. I therefore, determined to call in the afternoon, and in case his indisposition continued to be serious, to return before dinner to Charlotteville. As I approached the house, the anxiety and distress visible in the countenance of the servants, increased the gloom of my own forebodings, and I entered it under no little agitation. After the object of my early call was made known to Mrs. Randolph, she told me that, although her father had been expecting to see me, he was then too unwell to receive any one. It was but too evident that the fears of his daughter overbalanced her hopes, and while sympathizing in her distress, I could not help sighing to think that, although separated from him only by a thin wall, I was never more to behold the venerable man, who had entered all the walks of politics and philosophy, and in all was foremost - and to whom, the past, and the present, and all future ages are, and will be, so much indebted - However, Mrs. Randolph having left me, to attend to her father, soon returned, and observed, that she had taken it for granted that he could not see me; but upon her casually mentioning my arrival, he had desired I should be invited into his chamber. My emotions at approaching Jefferson's dying bed, I cannot describe. You remember the alcove in which he slept. There he was extended - feeble, prostrate; but the fine and clear expression of his countenance not all obscured. At the first glance he recognized me, and his hand and voice at once saluted me. The energy of his grasp, and the spirit of his conversation, were such as to make me hope he would yet rally - and that the superiority of mind over matter in his composition, would preserve him yet longer. He regretted that I should find him so helpless - said if he got well, I should see all the papers he had promised. He talked of the freshet which was then prevailing in James River - of its extensive devastation - and said he had never known a more destructive one. He soon, however, passed to the University, expatiated on its future utility - said its cost would not, altogether exceed 320,000 dollars; commended the professors, and expressed satisfaction at the progress of the students. A sword was suspended at the foot of his bed, which he told me was a present to him by (I think) an Arabian Chief, and that the blade was a true Damascus. At this time became so cheerful as to smile, even to laughing, at a remark I made. He alluded to the probability of his death - as a man would to the prospect of being caught in a shower - as an event not to be desired, but not to be feared. It was to be apprehended, that the eagerness with which he conversed, would exhaust him, and, therefore, I could not indulge myself with a long interview. Upon proposing to withdraw, I observed that I would call to see him again. He said, "well do - but you will dine here to-day." To this I replied, "I proposed deferring that pleasure until he got better." He waved his hand and shook his head with some impatience, saying, emphatically, "you must dine here - my sickness makes no difference." I consented, left him and never saw him more. I observed that he kept the flies off himse4lf, and seemed to decline assistance from his attendants. Mrs. Randolph afterwards told me this was his habit - that his plan was to fight old age off, by never admitting the approach of helplessness, and he was, moreover, exceedingly averse to giving trouble. From the interview, I conceived strong hopes of his recovering, and when after dinner, I conversed with his physician, Dr. Dunglison of the University, these hopes were rendered more sanguine. For he seemed to think his disease was conquered, and that he had nothing but the inelastic state of old age to fear. Mrs. Randolph and the family soon appeared to feel the diffusion of these hopes - which were but too fallacious.
I shall never cease to deplore that I did not find him in good health. The rise of the waters, among other disasters, produced this by delaying me.
With great regard, I am, dear sir, faithfully yours, H.LEE
Washington, 19th August, 1826


DISHONESTY versus HONESTY.

A few days since Mr. William McCoy, a merchant from Virginia, lost a large sum of money enveloped in a piece of paper, which he advertised in this and other papers of our city, offering a reward of $100 to the person who should restore it. The advertisement has had the effect to draw from the finder the following letter:

"Mr. McCoy - Having found a paper with seven hundred and forth dollars, I return you two hundre4d at present: the balance shall be returned when I am able, perhaps not soon, as I am in want of the money, but it shall be faithfully returned except, perhaps forty dollars as a reward.
Baltimore, Oct. 12th, 1826.

P.S. Deduct 80 dollars, which will leave the sum enclosed 120 dollars; it shall be paid to you in the course of time."

The above letter bears the Baltimore postmark of the 15th instant, three days after the body of it was written.


MURDER IN TENNESSEE.

On Monday morning Oct. 23d, a personal recontre took place on the public square in Shelbyville between Maj. Philip J. Scudder and Capt. Wm O. Whitney in which the latter was killed.
The faces attending the transaction were as follows: Capt. Whitney advance upon the square in front of Col. Cannon's house where Maj. Scudder boarded, about nine o'clock in the morning, with a gun in his hand, with the avowed purpose of killing Maj. Scudder, and sent him word to that effect. He halted at about forty, or forty five yards in front of the house. Maj. Scudder advanced upon the pavement before the door without arms, and addressed Capt. Whitney - told him to go away and not molest him for he did not wish to injure him. Upon this Capt. W. drew his gun upon and raised it to a level. Maj. Scudder then stepped into the house and got his gun and stood on the door sill about the middle of the door, when Capt. Whitney raised gun the second time. Maj Scudder then presented and fired, Capt. Whitney was through the heart and fell dead.
We certify the above facts to be correct, being eyewitnesses of the transaction.
Wm. C. COURTS,
S.C. EDGAR
Shelbyville, Tenn. Oct. 26th, 1826.


ANOTHER.

The Knoxville Register contains an account of the tragical end of Col. Simeon Perry of Sevier county, the awful circumstances attending which are not far behind those of the murder of Col. Sharp of Kentucky. While he was asleep in his bed, at the dead hour of night, an assassin entered his house and without warning or notice buried a hatchet in his head, giving him a blow about half way between the hair and the eyebrow and penetrating through the skull some depth into the brain. His wife, roused from sleep by the shock of the blow, saw the person in the act of running out of the house through a back room into the yard. She called to her husband telling him there was some person in the house, but getting no answer she laid her hand on his head to awake him and put it on the wound. Much injured as he was, the unfortunate man was able to get up and have his wound dressed, and lived, retaining his reason excepting when in convulsions upwards of three days, when he died. Shortly after he was wounded, information was received that a certain John J. Nichols, of Sevier county, with whom he had a difference, had threatened to take his life privately, on which Nichols was arrested and these facts being proved before John Brabson, Esq. who held the examining court, and a hatchet being found concealed under Nichols' floor, after his arrest, of a size corresponding with the wound, he was committed to the jai8l of Sevier county to stand his trial at the next January term.

{????} Henry is elected to Congress from that District lately represented by Maj. R. P. Henry by a plurality of 57 votes over Col. Crittenden Lyon.

Gen. Robert M'Hattan has been elected a member to serve in the 19th Congress in the place of Col. James Johnson, deceased.

John Trimble, Esq. is elected to the Legislature from Harrison county, to fill the vacancy of Samuel Griffith, dec'd.

Chief Justice Boyle of this state, has been appointed United States District Judge of Kentucky, in the place of Robert Trible, appointed one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He has accepted the office, was qualified and took his seat with Judge Trimble in the Federal Court on Wednesday the 8th inst.

A writ of election has issued for an election to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Col. Young Ewing, in the Senate of the General Assembly of this state, on Monday next, the 27th inst. George Lockyer, Esq. of Hopkinsville, is announced as a candidate to fill his place.

A Mr. Duncan, merchant, of Pittsburg, Pa. Died at South Union, in Logan county, on Friday the 17th inst. After stopping for the night whilst on a journey through the state.

The Nashville Bank has stopped specie payments - the paper is now at 25 per cent. Disct.

The Missouri Republican says, the United States Lead Mines are now becoming a source of considerable revenue. The number of diggers and smelters, at the upper mines, have greatly increased, and are still increasing, and the quantity of lead made this year will exceed in a fourfold ratio that of former years.

The U.S. sloop of war Lexington has sailed for Trinidad, to bring the remains of Commodore Perry to Rhode Island, his native state, for burial.

A new gold mine, ten miles higher up the Yadkin, has been discovered in N.Carolina - one lump was found weighing fifteen penny weights.

Lace. - A manufactory of lace was commenced in June last, in Newport, Rhode Island, and the proprietors already employ one hundred and fifty females. The lace made here is said to be of a very excellent quality, and that it will supersede, in a great measure, the importation of the article from France.

The Rhode Island Journal says, that the factories of that State along consume thirty thousand bales of Cotton annually.
Maysville, Nov. 3

The Ohio river has risen several feet within the last three days, and is still rising. If the rains above have been as copious, and as frequent, as here, for ten days past, the river will doubtless soon be in fine navigable order to steam-boats.

Richmond, Oct. 17.

Caution. There are 20 dollar and 10 dollar Counterfeit Notes of the Bank of Virginia in circulation. By comparing them with the genuine notes, the difference is easily detected. The paper of the 20 dollar notes is of a yellowish cast; the engraving inferior, coarser and darker. The face of the female figure is badly executed. The words "Bank of Virginia" are placed in the Border on the right instead of the left; and the word "Twenty" is placed in the left instead of the right hand border. They are dated 25th March, 1822.

Chillicothe, Nov. 2

Violent Storm. --- On last Sunday afternoon, a tornado, exceeding in violence any with which this part of the state has been visited since the settlement of the country, passed over this neighborhood, and occasioned much damage in the uprooting of buildings, rooting up of fruit and forest trees, demolishing of fences, &c &c. in those places which were exposed to its fury. We learn that the plantations of Messrs. Orford, Mcan, and Grubb, suffered severely; their buildings being principally unroofed and much property of various kinds destroyed. Hail of an extraordinary size - said by some to exceed that of a hen's egg - accompanied the storm in some places. Fortunately, no lives were lost; and the ravages of the tornado appear to have been confined to a comparatively small extent of country.

A duel was fought on the 17th inst. Between Col. J.S. Gibbs and Allison Ross, Esq. of Mississippi. They fought with muskets loaded with fifteen buckshot, at the distance of thirty paces. Both were severely wounded.

Singular Marriage.

Last week, Mr. James Maddock, of Leek, was married at Presbury church to Miss Harriet Smith. The bridegroom calls himself 48 years of age; the public voice proclaims him to be 54. The bride, who is sister to his first wife, is a fine looking woman of 19. The enamoured bridegroom, who goes upon crutches, is 34 inches in height; he has two children now living by his former wife; the eldest daughter is an elegant girl, at least five feet tall. The party were conveyed to church in a cart, and Mr. Maddock, by reason of his dwarfish stature, was accommodated with a seat on his lady's lap.