folks; but they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting acquaintance with.

Acres. But, David, now, you do n't think there is such very-very-great danger, hey? People often fight without any mischief done!

Dav. I think 't is ten to one against you! To meet some lion-headed fellow, I warrant, with his villainous double-barreled swords and cut-and-thrust pistols! It makes me tremble to think on 't; those be such desperate, bloody-minded weapons! Well, I never could abide them. From a child I never could fancy them. I suppose there aint been so merciless a beast in the world, as your loaded pistol.

Acres. Hush! I won't be afraid! You shan't make me afraid. Here is the challenge, and I have sent for my dear friend, Jack Absolute, to carry it for me.

Dav. Ay, in the name of mischief, let him be the messenger. For my part, I would n't lend a hand to it, for the best horse in your stable. It do n't look like another letter! It is, as I may say, a designing and malicious-looking letter! and I warrant smells of gunpowder, like a soldier's pouch! I would n't swear it may n't go off!

Acres. Out, you poltroon! You have n't the valor of a grasshopper.

Dav. Well, I say no more. 'T will be sad news, to be sure, at Clod Hall! but I ha' done. How Phyllis will howl when she hears of it! Ay, poor thing, she little thinks what shooting her master 's going after! And I warrant old Crop, who has carried your honor, field and road, these ten years, will curse the hour he was born! (Whimpering.)

Acres. It won't do, David; I am determined to fight, so get along, you coward, while I'm in the mind. (Exeunt.)

FROM SHERIDAN.

XIX. THE DUEL.-SCENE III.

(Enter Sir Lucius and Acres, with pistols.)

Acres. By my valor, then, Sir Lucius, forty yards is a good distance. I say it is good distance.

Sir L. It is, for muskets, or small fieldpieces. Upon my conscience, Mr. Acres, you must leave these things to me. Stay, now, I'll show you. (Measures paces along the stage.) There, now, that is a very pretty distance; a pretty gentleman's distance.

Acres. Why, we might as well fight in a sentry-box! I tell you, Sir Lucius, the farther he is off, the cooler I shall take my aim.

Sir L. Faith, then, I suppose you would aim at him best of all, if he were out of sight!

Acres. No, Sir Lucius, but I should think forty, or eight-and-thirty yards

Sir L. Pho! pho! nonsense! three or four feet between the mouths of your pistols, is as good as a mile.

Acres. Bullets, no! by my valor, there is no merit in killing him so near! Do, my dear Sir Lucius, let me bring him down at a long shot; a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me!

Sir L. Well, the gentleman's friend and I must settle that. But tell me, now, Mr. Acres, in case of an accident, is there any little will or commission I could execute for you?

Acres. I am much obliged to you, Sir Lucius, but I do n't understand

Sir L. Why, you may think there's no being shot at without a little risk; and, if an unlucky bullet should carry a quietus with it, I say it will be no time then to be bothering you about family matters.

Acres. A quietus!

Sir L. For instance, now, if that should be the case, would you choose to be pickled and sent home? Or would it be the same thing to you, to lie here in the Abbey? I'm told there's very snug lying in the Abbey.

Acres. Pickled? snug lying in the Abbey? Odds tremors! Sir Lucius, do n't talk so!

Sir L. I suppose, Mr. Acres, you never were engaged in an affair of this kind before?

Acres. No, Sir Lucius, never before.

Sir L. Ah, that's a pity. There's nothing like being used to a thing. Pray, now, how would you receive the gentleman's shot?

Acres. I've practiced that; there, Sir Lucius, there. (Puts himself into an attitude.) A side-front, hey? I'll make myself small enough. I'll stand edgeways.

Sir L. Now, you're quite out; for, if you stand so when I take my aim- (Leveling at him.)

Acres. Stop, Sir Lucius! are you sure it is not cocked? Sir L. Never fear.

Acres. But, but, you do n't know, it may go off of its own head!

Sir L. Pho! be easy. Well, now, if I hit you in the body, my bullet has a double chance; for if it misses a vital part on your right side, 't will be very hard if it do n't succeed on the left.

Acres. A vital part!

Sir L. But there, fix yourself so; (placing him)-let him see the broadside of your full front; there! now a ball or two may pass clean through your body, and never do you any harm at all.

Acres. Clean through me! a ball or two clean through me!

:

Sir L. Ay, may they and it is much the genteelest attitude, into the bargain.

Acres. Look ye, Sir Lucius, I'd just as lief be shot in an awkward posture as a genteel one; so, by my valor! I will stand edgeways.

Sir L. (Looking at his watch.) Sure, they do n't mean to disappoint us: ha! no, faith, I think I see them coming. Acres. Hey! what! coming?

Sir L. Ay, who are those yonder, getting over the stile? Acres. There are two of them, indeed! Well, let them come, hey, Sir Lucius! We-we-we-we-wont run!

Sir L. Run!

Acres. No, I say; we wont run,

by my

valor!

Sir L. Why, what the plague's the matter with you? Acres. Nothing-nothing-my dear friend-my dear Sir Lucius-but-I-I-I do n't feel quite so bold, somehow, as I did.

Sir L. O, fie! consider your honor.

Acres. Ay, true; my honor! do, Sir Lucius, edge in a word or two, every now and then, about my honor.

Sir L. Well, here they 're coming. (Looking.)

Acres. Sir Lucius, if I was n't with you, I should almost think I was afraid-if my valor should leave me !-valor will come and go.

Sir L. Then pray keep it fast, while you have it.

Acres. Sir Lucius, I think it is going: yes, my valor is certainly going! it is sneaking off: I feel it oozing out, as it were, at the palms of my hands!

Sir L. Your honor-your honor. Here they are. We must go and meet them.

Acres. Oh! that I was safe at home! (Exeunt.)

FROM SHERIDAN.

XX.-HAYNE ON WEBSTER.

THE honorable gentleman from Massachusetts, after deliberating a whole night upon his course, comes into this chamber to vindicate New England. Instead, however, of making up his issue with the gentleman from Missouri, on the charges which he had preferred, he chooses to consider me as the author of those charges. Losing sight entirely of that gentleman, he selects me as his adversary, and pours out all the vials of his mighty wrath upon my devoted head. Nor is he willing to stop there. He goes on to assail the institutions and policy of the South. He calls in question the principles and conduct of the State, which I have the honor to represent.

When I find a gentleman of mature age and experience, of acknowledged talents, and profound sagacity, pursuing a course like this, declining the contest offered from the West, and making war upon the unoffending South, I must

believe, I am bound to believe, he has some object in view, which he has not ventured to disclose. Mr. President, why is this? Has the gentleman discovered, in former controversies with the gentleman from Missouri, that he is overmatched by that senator? And does he hope for an easy victory over a more feeble adversary?

Has the gentleman's distempered fancy been disturbed by gloomy forebodings of "new alliances to be formed," at which he hinted? Has the ghost of the murdered Coalition come back, like the ghost of Banquo, to "sear the eye-balls of the gentleman," and will it not "down at his bidding?" Are dark visions of broken hopes, and honors lost forever, still floating before his heated imagination? If it be his object to thrust me between the gentleman from Missouri and himself, in order to rescue the East from the contest it has provoked with the West, he shall not be gratified.

I will not be dragged into the defense of my friend from Missouri. The South shall not be forced into a conflict not its own. The gentleman from Missouri is able to fight his own battles. The gallant West needs no aid from the South, to repel any attack which may be made on them from any quarter. Let the gentleman from Massachusetts controvert the facts and arguments of the gentleman from Missouri, if he can. If he win the victory, let him wear the honors. I shall not deprive him of his laurels.

XXI.-WEBSTER'S REPLY TO HAYNE.-No. 1.

THIS and the four following pieces form a consecutive extract from Webster's celebrated reply to Senator Hayne, of S. Carolina. Each may be spoken independently, or any number, or all of them, may be spoken together.

THE gentleman told the senate, with the emphasis of his hand upon his heart, that there was something rankling here, which he wished to relieve. In this respect, I have a great advantage over the honorable gentleman. There is nothing here, sir, which gives me the slightest uneasiness.

NEW EC. S.-7