Odom's landing, on the Yallabusha river, twelve miles below Tuscahoma, on the third day of July, where the boat was forced to land for want of water.

He had a house prepared for the reception of his goods about one mile above the town of Tuscahoma ; but, soon after his arrival, sold off his stock on credit, and began examining the country so as to be prepared to enter land as soon as opportunity should offer, in which labours he was engaged until the Chocchuma land-sales in the same fall.

The period of Mr. Stewart's life at which we have now arrived is a point where it becomes necessary to examine with the strictest scrutiny every act, no matter how trivial-and not only is it necessary to notice his acts, but to scan with severity his motives for acting. No matter how trifling the circumstances here recorded, they will be found important in the progress of the narrative.

While he was attending the land-sales at Chocchuma, and awaiting the settlement of his late affairs, a Mr. Clanton, who had established a little country store in the neighbourhood, and with whom he had formerly been slightly acquainted in Tennessee, requested him to take the agency of his business until he could go to Tennessee for his family and return, alleging, as a reason for his request, "that he had been selling goods on credit, and that many of his customers would take advantage of his absence, and leave the country without paying their arrearages, as the greater part of them were strangers of doubtful character."

At this time Mr. Stewart was very much occupied with his own affairs; but, ever ready to accommodate a

friend, even at his individual inconvenience, he consented to take charge of Mr. Clanton's books and business during his absence.

Mr. Clanton then urged him to sleep at his storehouse at night, which would not interfere with his business, as he could ride to the land-office at Chocchuma and back very easily in the day; to this Mr. Stewart consented, provided it would not hinder too much his own affairs.

The small quantity of goods and liquors left by Mr. Clanton in possession of Mr. Stewart, amounted to about two hundred and fifty or three hundred dollars. These articles he requested Mr. Stewart to dispose of in any way that might offer, as he expected to be much in want of money on his return. During the six weeks that Mr. Stewart had charge of Mr. Clanton's affairs, he disposed of more than one hundred dollars worth of this property-and as he received the for pay a pint of whiskey or a handkerchief, he deposited the money in the drawer of Mr. Clanton's store.

In this small way he took in about ninety dollars, while at the store mornings and evenings, which was never entered upon any book, as there was no cashbook used in the establishment. What few goods he sold for credit were charged upon a day-book as delivered, and upon this book he opened but one new account, which was against himself for goods delivered to Mr. Elijah Smith, a gentleman who lived near the storehouse, and from whom Mr. Stewart had purchased corn for his horse while at the store, which was generally every night. The two accounts stood open; as Stewart required corn, he got it from Smith; and as

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Smith wanted any thing that he could find among Clanton's remnants, he procured it from Stewart, the latter accounting for it by a charge against himself on Mr. Clanton's books. He also took some things for his own use, amounting to five or six dollars, which he paid for and deposited the money in the drawer, with the proceeds of the other cash sales.

In the month of January, 1834, Mr. Clanton returned from Tennessee with his family. Upon again receiving his affairs from the hands of Mr. Stewart, he expressed the highest satisfaction at the manner in which the latter had taken charge of his business, and as a token of his gratitude presented him with a lot of land in a little town-site that he had laid off for a village where his storehouse stood.

He was extremely anxious to form a copartnership with Mr. Stewart; but the latter, wishing to invest all his capital in land, declined the proposition, but accepted the lot, and promised to build upon it as soon as he should return from a visit to Tennessee, so as to induce others to settle upon the same site; and he in turn, while absent, left his property in charge of Mr. Clanton.

Previous to his departure, Clanton requested that he would have his goods removed to the house of Mr. William Vess, as he had not the room to spare in his own, observing, at the same time, that Vess was a very clever fellow, but that he (Clanton) would see to his property himself. Accordingly, Mr. Stewart had his property removed; and leaving all his affairs in the charge of Mr. Clanton, he set out upon his journey on the 18th of January, 1834. On the 21st of the

same month he reached Madison county, in Tennessee, where lived his old friend and neighbour the Reverend John Henning. Soon after his arrival he called on Mr. H., who informed him that he and his son Richard had lost, on the night of the 18th of January, two negro men; and remarked, that recent developments had attached suspicion upon one John A. Murrell, a man of doubtful and suspicious character, who resided in the neighbourhood. He stated, also, that he had learned from one of Murrell's near neighbours (whom he had desired to watch his movements), that he would leave Madison county on the 25th for Randolph, a town on the Mississippi river; and suggested that, if he had stolen the negroes, his object probably was to proceed to the place of their concealment.

Mr. H. solicited Mr. Stewart, who, as the reader has already been told, was on terms of friendship and intimacy with him and his family, to accompany his son Richard in pursuit of Murrell, hoping thereby to obtain some intelligence of the negroes, as it was probable that so soon as the excitement occasioned by their abduction, and the suspicion resting upon Murrell, had in a measure subsided, he would take some measures to remove them from the country. Mr. Stewart consented, and promised to make every exertion in his power to ferret out the thief and reclaim their property.

Although Mr. Stewart had lived within five miles of Murrell's house a part of the time while he was resident in Tennessee, he had never made his acquaintance, nor had he seen him but once: he was then pointed out to him, but at a distance too remote

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to enable him to obtain any definite knowledge of his features. Besides, considerable time had since elapsed, so as to leave him no hope of being able to recognise him should he be so fortunate as to overtake him. He was therefore obliged to rely on the description given of him by Mr. Henning.

Mr. Henning proposed to remunerate him for his services and loss of time; but, fired with indignation against the perpetrator of such villany, Stewart refused any recompense, and professed to desire nothing beyond the gratification of being instrumental in overtaking and bringing the offender to justice. With feelings such as these, and a desire to serve an old and valued friend, he took leave of Mr. H., and proceeded to the house of a Dr. Evans, with the promise to meet Mr. H.'s son at Denmark (a small country village about four miles distant) at as early an hour on the following morning as their convenience might permit.

As much that is set forth in the "Western Land Pirate" has been questioned, we deem it due, both to Mr. S. and the public, to accompany each material statement with a certificate of undoubted authority. As such, we offer the following certificate :

"State of Tennessee, Madison County.

"I do hereby certify, to all whom it may concern, that all Virgil A. Stewart has said in the 'Western Land Pirate,' so far as it relates to me and my request, is strictly correct.

"Mr. Stewart pursued John A. Murrell by my request; and I further certify that said Stewart lived in my immediate neighbourhood two years; and that there was