of having so long recommended to others from behind the counter, the finest and richest goods in their father's well furnished and fashionable shop, they longed to feel the pride and importance of the wearer of these much-admired articles. With joy then did they hail the day when their father announced to them his intention of "retiring from business" and selling off the stock of goods. Little did they think, talk or dream of, but the pleasure they anticipated in being able to compete with the objects of their former admiration, to whom they looked up as to models of perfection in every thing fashionable. The goods had been sold, the old house rented, and a new one taken in a more fashionable part of the city. It may seem strange to some of our readers, that a man who, during the greater part of his life, had adhered to strict economy, should thus relinquish his former habits, and give way to comparative extravagance. But, to those who have felt the power of female eloquence, more especially when the orator is one to whose opinion they have usually paid more deference than they are willing to acknowledge, this may not appear so wonderful a phenomenon. For the amusement and instruction of my fair readers, I will detail a conversation which took place at the breakfast table of Mr. D. I must first premise that the young ladies had discovered, that to give a ball was absolutely necessary to their comfort. Since their removal from their former residence, they had become acquainted with several young ladies, from whom they received several attentions, and an evening or two previous to the time of which we are speaking, Miss Argent had invited them to a ball, which invitation they, of course, considered themselves bound to return. These reasons and many more which might be mentioned, induced our ladies to make application for the permission they so anxiously desired. The query now was, how to manage the business; they well knew that their father, by no means, approved of what he called "unnecessary expenditures," a phrase which was generally placed in the van of his remonstrances against their plans, and most generally formed the rear, and main body also. However, the object was worth a struggle, and, backed by their mother, they thus commenced their operations. Before their parents had come down to breakfast, they arranged every thing in the nicest order, fixed their father's arm-chair to the table, and very dutifully både him "good morning." The old gentleman had grown cautious, by experience, and suspected that something was in preparation, however, he said nothing, but sat down, and took up the newspaper. Charlotte poured out a cup of coffee for him, and when he had finished reading and begun his breakfast, after having gazed round the room, she thus begun : 66 CHAR. "La! Pa, only think, these parlours are larger than Mr. Argent's." "Ab," says her father, (taking a piece of toast,) in a tone which did not show much interest in the information. "Yes," says Caroline, "and what a fine stare he'd make if he saw that your folding doors were m'ogany." "Aye," replied the father, "I always have every thing of the best I can get without unnecessary expenditure." Charlotte, thinking the matter wanted her assistance, observed, "that Mr. Argent's doors were only wood." Caroline now threw open the doors; "La Pa!" says she, "what a beautiful place for cotillons! what a fine ball we might have here!" "A ball!!!" said Drugget, in utter astonishment. The girls seeing him look so aghast, knew, by experience, that their plan now was, to overcome his reasons by mere force of lungs and of numbers. They and their mother thus began, all setting out at the same instant, in voices, which, if heard separately, would have been sufficiently clear and intelligible, but which, when thus joining in chorus, composed an assemblage of sounds, altogether astounding. CAR. Yes, Pa, a ball, every body gives balls who can afford it, and CHAR. (at the same time) Yes, Pa, Mr. Argent a'nt half as well off as you, and he gives a ball every winter, and CAR. These two parlours are so suitable (pronounced shuto ble) for it, we might have MRS. D. Yes my dear, every body talks of- MRS. D. The elegant dinners that Mr. Argent CHAR. So many young ladies in the most fashionable speres, and promised CAR. Might be placed so convenient by the doors and- CAR. The company, &c. &c. MRS. D. That wisits, the young leddies, &c. In this manner did the "womenkind" keep up a sort of running fire, while Mr. D. overwhelmed with arguments to which he could find no opportunity to reply, and confused by the rapidity with which they were uttered, could only turn from one speaker to another, as a few sounds from each arrested his attention; but any thing like a connected sentence was totally out of the question. If, gentle reader, you have ever been at a country church, when the clerk or precentor was absent, and the congregation had valourously determined "to go through" the tune by themselves, you may be able to form some idea of the din which assailed the ears of Mr. D. After many exclamations of " Wife," "Caroline," "Charlotte," the ladies having need to take breath, at length were silent. Taking advantage of this cessation, he began some remarks about" unnecessary expenditures," when an attack of a new, and to him, irresistible nature took place; his two daughters instantly seated themselves upon his knees, and the whole battery of persuasive artillery was opened upon him-Ah's and Oh's, dear father, &c. &c. were poured forth, mixed with caresses, until the old gentleman, quite unable to withstand them, gave carte blanche to do as they pleased. This important point gained, several of minor importance were to be settled. After the consultation, and deliberation which the subject demanded, it was finally determined. 1. That the ball should be given on Wednesday week, (this was Tuesday.) 2. That new dresses must be gotten for the girls, &c. &c. &c. Invitations were written, and notwithstanding a few inaccuracies and orthographical errors, which escaped the vigilant eye of Miss Argent, (who was of the privy council on this occassion,) such as "request the pleasure of Miss C-s company to a dance," on Wensday evening, &c. the business of inviting "went off" very well. X. Z. P. S. Mr. Editor, I propose to prepare for your next number, an account of this ball, with many other things, which (as the play-bills say)" cannot fail to please an enlightened public." X. Z. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GENERAL JACKSON. A literary gentlemen of this city, has furnished us with the following biographical sketch of General Jackson, which, at the present crisis, we conceive, will be particularly acceptable to our readers. We propose, in our future numbers, to follow up this sketch, with a biography of each of the presidential candidates. Several of these we expect to receive from the same pen; and all of them, we trust, will be found executed with impartiality and candour. ED. No name, recorded in the military annals of the United States, possesses so much eclat as that of ANDREW JACKSON; one only excepted that of the transcendant Washington. The story of Jackson's life is less known than we might suppose it to be, considering the circumstance just mentioned, and the real magnitude and variety of his public services. It is intended to enrich this magazine with a series of biographical sketches, drawn from the best sources of information; and the hero of New Orleans, naturally and properly attracts first the attention of the biographer. An additional interest results to his exploits and character, from the important relation in which he now stands to the American people, as a candidate for the splendid office of their Chief Magistrate. Down to the termination of the siege of New Orleans, the most brilliant era of his career-we have abundant materials for a correct notice of him, in a volume entitled, the Life of Andrew Jackson, and published in 1817, by an officer, who enjoyed the advantage of being near his person during his campaigns. Authentic documents extant in newspapers and journals, enable us to continue the outline to the present time; and with regard to personal qualities and manners, he is so well and widely known in social circles, that a faithful representation is almost inevitable. We shall confine ourselves to a plain recital, not more circumstantial than may be necessary for our principal design. ANDREW JACKSON is of Irish parentage. His father and mother emigrated to South Carolina, in the year 1765, with two sons, both young, and purchased a tract of land, on which they settled, in what was then called the Waxaw settlement, about forty-five miles above Camden. Here was born, on the 15th March, in the year 1767, Andrew, the subject of the present sketch. His father died soon after, leaving the three children to be provided for by the mother, a woman who would seem to have possessed excellent feelings and considerable strength of mind. The scantiness of their patrimony allowed only one of them to be liberally educated; and this was Andrew, whom she destined for the sacred ministry. He was sent to a flourishing academy in the settlement, where he remained, occupied with the dead languages, until the revolutionary war brought an enemy into his neighbourhood, whose approach left no alternative but the choice of the British or American banners. intrepid and ardent boy, encouraged by his patriotic mother, hastened, at the age of fourteen, in company with one of his brothers, to the American camp, and enlisted in the service of his country. The eldest of the three, had already lost his life in the same service, at the battle of Stono. The survivors, Andrew and Robert, having been suffered to attend the county drill and general musters, were not unacquainted with the manual exercise and field evolutions. The After retiring into North Carolina, before the British army, with their corps, they returned to Waxaw settlement, and found themselves suddenly engaged with a superior British force, who surprised a gallant band of forty patriots, to which they belonged, routed it and took eleven prisoners. Andrew Jackson and his brother escaped from the field, after fighting bravely; but, having entered a house, next day, in order to procure food, they fell into the hands of a corps of British dragoons, and a party of tories, that were marauding together. Andrew, when under guard, was ordered by a British officer, in a haughty manner, to clean his boots; the youth peremptorily refused to do so, claiming, with firmness, the treatment due to a prisoner of war. The officer aimed a blow at his head with a sabre, which would have proved fatal, had he not parried it with his left hand, on which he received a severe wound. His brother, at the same time, and for a similar offence, received a gash on the head, which afterwards occasioned his death. Thus, did his only relatives, two of this estimable family, perish in the spring of life, martyrs to their patriotic and courageous spirit. Andrew and his companion were consigned to jail, in separate apartments, and treated with the utmost harshness; until, through the exertions of their fond mother, they were exchanged, a few days after the battle. This worthy woman, worn down by grief, and the fatigues she had undergone in seeking clothes and other comforts for all the prisoners who had been taken from her neighbourhood, expired in the course of the following month, in the vicinity of Charleston. At the period of this melancholy loss, Andrew was languishing under sickness, the consequence of his sufferings in prison, and his exposure to inclement weather on his return home. The small pox supervened, and nearly terminated his sorrows and his life. But a constitution originally good, and a vigorous tone of mind, enabled him to survive this complication of ills. He recovered, and entered upon the enjoyment of his patrimony, which, though it might have been sufficient for the completion of his education, with judicious management, soon dwindled to very little in hands unused to such a charge. He returned to his classical studies, as a means of future subsistence, with increased industry; and, at the age of eighteen, in the winter of 1784, repaired to Salisbury, in North Carolina, to a lawyer's office, in which he prepared himself for the bar. In the winter of 1786, he obtained a license to practice, but finding this theatre unfavourable for advancement, he emigrated to Nashville in 1788, and there fixed his residence. Success attended his industry and talents; he acquired a lucrative business in the courts, and ere long was appointed attorney-general for the district; in which capacity he continued to act for several years. Tennessee being at that time exposed, even in the heart of the settlements, to the incursions of the Indians, he became, |