| 542 [Here follows some expressions too indecorous for insertion.]
The aforesaid R. D. Foster, then asked me what I would think if during my absence from home a carriage should drive up to my house, a person alight, and the carriage than drive off again, this person should then go into my house and begin to tell my wife a great many things against me to prejudice her mind against me and use every possible means to do this, and finally would introduce and preach the spiritual wife doctrine to her and make an attempt to seduce her, and further this person should sit down and dine with my wife, bless the victuals &c, and while they were thus engaged, I should come home and find them thus associated; this person should rise up and say how do you do, and bless me in a very polite manner &c., and also, if upon these appearances, I should feel jealous that something was wrong and when the person was gone, I would ask my wife what had been the conversation between her and this person, but she would refuse to tell me. then draw a pistol and present it to her and threaten to shoot her if she did not tell me all, but she would still refuse. I then would give her a double barrelled [barreled] pistol, and say to her defend yourself, for if you don't tell me, either you or I would shoot. She would then faint away through fear and excitement, and when she came to again she would begin and tell you how this person had been trying to poison your wife's mind against you, and by preaching the spiritual wife system to her had endeavoured [endeavored] to seduce her. I replied I should think he was a rascal; but who has had such a trial as that? The said R. D. Foster answered that he was the man who had had that trial, and who had been thus abused.
The said Dr. Foster, Higbee and Joseph H. Jackson then remarked that they were about to hold a secret meeting to oppose and try to put a stop to such things. The said Joseph H. Jackson also said that if any person undertook to arrest him he should begin to cut them.
The said R. D. further said he was afraid of his life and dare not be out at nights.
The said Higbee said he had not a doubt but there had been men killed in Missouri who had had secrets that they were afraid to divulge.
He said he was afraid of his life.
The said Jackson further said that he should not be surprised if there should be a real muss and insurrection in the city in less than two months, and that if a disturbance should take place the Carthagenians [Carthaginians] and others would come and help them.
He mentioned some name of persons who would come from Carthage which names I do not remember. The same day when in Mr. Loomis' room. I heard the said Jackson say that the Laws were ready to enter into a secret conspiracy tooth and nail.
The said Higbee also said that while at the Key stone that if ever he was brought before the Mayor's Court again, and the Mayor told him again to hold his tongue, that he should get up and tell him he had a right to speak and should do so, and then if any man attempted to put him out of the court he would shoot them through and further this deponent saith not.
M. G. EATON.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 27th day of A. D. 1844.
DANIEL H. WELLS, J. P. [L. S.
A TRUE PHILOSOPHER.
I cannot part with these good people (the Dutch Beers,) without mentioning that the only real philosopher I ever met with in my life was one of them. He was, indeed, pre-eminent among his neighbors, who gave him the name of "the philosopher;" and I cannot resist relating the method in which they put his pretensions to that title, to the proof. Having safely housed in his "stores," the produce of the year, he paid a visit to Cape Town on some business, and while there was attacked with a dangerous illness, which detained him some time. As soon as his health permitted, he set out on his return home. On the very day before, a fire reduced to ashes his barns, his crops, his wine stores, and their contents; all were destroyed-he was ruined. Knowing him to be on his road home, a group of friends waited his arrival at the entrance of the village, some to communicate the sad news, but many professedly "to see what the philosopher would do or say."-He heard-his serenity was undisturbed, his countenance altered not: not a complaint escaped him; but, on the contrary, a thanksgiving to Almighty God for the preservation of the lives of his family! "I wish," said I to him one day when we were talking over this misfortuue [misfortune], "you would give me your receipt for preserving equanimity, under such circumstances." "It is a very simple one," he replied:-"when I heard what was gone, I ran over in my mind the many things great and good God had left me, and so I thanked him for them."-Baynes Ramble in the East, &c.
An excellent rule for living happy in society, is never to concern one's self with the affairs of others, unless they desire it. Under pretence [pretense] of being useful, people often show more curiosity than kindness.
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