is immaterial, as I have resolved either to prevent a repetition of such mention as myself and family, or to punish those who have any agency in such publication. And I hereby state unequivocally, that I shall hold any editor personally responsible for all such observations, original or communicated, found in his journal.

"I rely on the courtesy of all editors adverse to the invasion of the sanctity of private reputation, to give this an insertion in their columns.

"I am, sir, your obedient servant,

"R. P. BOWIE."

"Iberville, August 24, 1838."

But if Mr. Rezen P. Bowie originally invented it as a hunting-knife, it does not appear that he has considered himself or his family bound to retain it for its original use. His brother, Mr. John T. Bowie, had a quarrel with a Colonel Nichols, and after one or two rencontres at the bar, &c., it was proposed that a

regular duel should take place. Colonel Nichols wished to fight with pistols, but the Bowies preferred the Bowie knife. The following are the terms of the duel as proposed.

"PRINCETON, Miss., May 9th, 1838."

"Terms of combat proposed between John T. Bowie and W. Nichols.

"First, The weapons to be used shall be bowie-knives, length of blade ten and three fourth inches.

“Second, The parties shall be placed twelve feet apart upon the open ground, and the word given to draw, upon which being done, they shall be asked if ready, if answered yes, the word shall immediately be given advance, which shall be the signal to commence the combat, and each party shall immediately advance two steps.

"Third, If at the word advance, either party shall not come forward, the opposite second shall commence to count one, two, three, at intervals of one second, and if the party has not

come up

before the word three, he shall be con

sidered counted out.

"Fourth, The parties to be dressed in summer pantaloons, shirt and vest, the latter not thicker or heavier than such as are usually worn.

"Fifth, The parties shall be accompanied each with two seconds and one surgeon. Six friends to each party may attend the combat, and not more, unless agreed upon between the seconds. "JNO. T. BOWIE.

"To Col. W. NICHOLS, Princeton.

"N.B. Further preliminaries will be settled between the seconds when those terms shall have been accepted."

These terms were refused, and whether Col. Nichols is still alive, is more than I can pretend to say. .* The rapid increase of population in the far West, and the many respectable people

* Since writing the above, I perceive by the American newspapers, that Mr. J. T. Bowie has been tried and acquitted for the murder of Mr. C. P. Brown.

who have lately migrated there, together with the Texas having now become the refuge of those whose presence even the Southern States will no longer tolerate, promise very soon to produce a change. The cities have already set the example by purifying themselves. Natchez, the lower town of which was a Pandemonium, has cleansed herself to a very great extent. Vicksburg has, by its salutary Lynch law, relieved herself of the infamous gamblers; and New Orleans, in whose streets murders were daily occurring, is now one of the safest towns in the Union.

This regeneration in New Orleans was principally brought about by the exertions of the English and American merchants from the Eastern States, who established an effectual police, and having been promised support by the State legislature, determined to make an example of the very first party who should commit a murder. It so happened that the first person who was guilty was a Colonel

or Mr. Whittaker of Louisiana, a person well connected and of a wealthy family. In a state of intoxication he entered the bar of an hotel, and, affronted at the bar-keeper not paying immediate attention to his wishes, he rushed upon the unfortunate man, and literally cut him to pieces with his heavy Bowie knife.

He was put into prison, tried, and condemned. Every effort was made to save him, both by force and persuasion, but in vain. Finding that he must really suffer the penalty of the law, his friends, to avoid the disgrace of a public execution, provided him with the means, and he destroyed himself in the prison the night before his execution. So unexpected was this act of justice, that it created the greatest sensation; it was looked upon as a legal murder; his body being made over to his relations, was escorted to his home with great parade; the militia were turned out to receive it with military honours, and General who set up for the governorship of Louisiana, pronounced the funeral eulogy !!!