Your correspondent encountered six white-chokered gentlemen on their way to interview the great nautical backslider.  He is certainly the lion of the hour.

From what your correspondent has been able to gather it is probable that a few friends of the captain will succeed in their efforts to secure Samuel Adams and a promising young lawyer named Choate to conduct his defence.  In this event his chances of a discharge from custody will prove favorable.  It may be that Bellamont and the council will conclude to send him over for trial in the King’s Bench.

Your correspondent inclines to the view that the distinguished marine plunderer can hardly be held for piracy, but may be convicted of the murder of the gunner Moore.  The story is here that Kidd, with an iron-hooped bucket, not only finished up things for William Moore, but left that unhappy man in his gore.  As regards jurisdiction, the government will allege that the awful deed was committed not many leagues from shore.

A DINNER EXCUSE.

Apologies for poor dinners are generally out of place.  But when a lady has a forgetful husband, who, without warning, brings home a dozen guests to sit down to a plain family dinner for three or four, it is not in human nature to keep absolute silence.  What to say, and how to say it, form the problem.  Mrs. Tucker, the wife of Judge Tucker of Williamsburg, solved this problem most happily many years ago.  She was the daughter or niece (I am uncertain which) of Sir Peyton Skipwith, and celebrated for her beauty, wit, ease and grace of manner.  Her temper and tact were put to the proof one court-day, when the judge brought with him the accustomed half score or more of lawyers, for whom not the slightest preparation had been made, the judge having quite forgotten to remind his wife that it was court-day, and she herself, strange to tell, having overlooked the fact.

The dinner was served with elegance, and Mrs. T. made herself very charming.  Upon rising to leave the guests to their wine she said:  “Gentlemen, you have dined to-day with Judge Tucker:  promise me now that you will all dine to-morrow with me”

This was all her apology, whereupon the gentlemen swore that such a wife was beyond price.  The judge then explained the situation, and the next day there was a noble banquet.

Moral:  Never worry a guest with apologies.

NOTES.

A Turkish paper gives an account of a curious forced emigration which has recently produced great excitement on classic ground.  On the European banks of the Hellespont stands the city of Gallipoli, interesting as the first possession of the Turks in Europe in 1357; and nearly opposite to it is Lamsaki, a village long renowned for the vineyards in its neighborhood, and situated near the site of the celebrated Lampsacus of classic times.  During the autumn the authorities