funeral, and reported by Dr. Calkins, surgeon of a Massachusetts regiment: "Massa Jesus, like de people ob de ole time, de Jews, we weep by de side ob de ribber, wid de strings ob de harp all broke; but we sing ob de broken heart, as dem people could not do. Hear us, King, in de present state ob our sorrow. You know, King Jesus, honey, we just got from de Red Sea and wander in de wilderness, a poor feeble portion ob de children of Adam, feeble in body, feeble in mind, and need de help ob de good Almighty God. Oh, help us, if you please, to homes, for we's got no homes, Massa Jesus-but de shelter ob de oak-tree in de daytime, and de shelter ob de cotton tent at night. Help us for our own good and de good ob God's blessed Union people, dat want all people free whatsomeber be de color. Massa Jesus, you know de deep tribulations ob our hearts, dat sickness is among us, dat our children is dying in de camp, and as we tote dem from one place to tudder, and bury dem in de cold ground, to go in de spirit to de God ob de people where de soul hab no spot nor color. Great King ob kings, and Doctor ob doctors, and God ob battles, help us to be well; help us to be able to fight wid de Union sogers de battle for de Union; help us to fight for liberty, fight for de country, fight for our own homes, and our own free children, and our children's children. Fotch out, God ob battles, de big guns wid de big bustin' shells, and give dem God-forsaken secesh, dat would carry to shame our wives and daughters, O mighty Jesus! if you please, a right smart charge ob grape and canister; make 'em glad to stop de war and come back to de sheep and de fatted calf, and de good things ob de Union. No more murdering broder ob de North States. No more ragged bare feet. No more slave-whippers and slave-drivers. No more faders ob yellow-skins. No more meaner as meanest niggers." An excellent specimen of the real negro song-not of the kind manufactured for " Ethiopian Minstrels"-is the following, which was much sung by the contrabands at Port Royal, where it was noted down by a clergyman, who subsequently published it in Clarke's Sunday-School Visitor: OH! LET MY PEOPLE GO. THE SONG OF THE CONTRABANDS. "The Lord by Moses to Pharaoh said: Oh! let my people go; Away down to Egypt's land, To let my people go. "No more shall they in bondage toil-Oh! let my people go; "Haste, Moses, till the sea you've crossed--Oh! let my people go; "The sea before you shall divide-Oh! let my people go; "The fiery cloud shall lead the way-Oh! let my people go; "Jordan shall stand up like a wall-Oh! let my people go; "Your foes shall not before you stand-Oh! let my people go; "Oh, let us all from bondage flee-Oh! let my people go; "This world's a wilderness of woe-Oh! let my people go; Oh! go down, Moses, Away down to Egypt's land, To let my people go." The sorrows of centuries-yes, from the very days of the text, when Egypt painted in her tombs Africans, ever as slavesare concentrated in the long sad wail of this refrain: "Oh! let my people go!" Strange that the Jews, who shared, in Egypt, slavery and bondage with the blacks, and who yet claim sympathy for the persecution which their race has endured, should in this war so generally sympathize with the South! The following is a sketch of a negro wedding, which took place "within the lines," or in camp, and is correctly described as "A Dark and Gloomy Bridal." "We have," says an editor, in commenting thereon, "heard of some dark scenes, but rarely encountered anything so utterly deficient in sunshine and whitewash as the following. It reads like a yard of crape": "Gloom was on her countenance and upon his. The man whose holy office it was to unite them in bonds never to be torn asunder, stood like an executioner before the bride and the bridegroom, and they-the pair waiting to be blessedbent down their heads like criminals before him. In vain might the eye wander about the assembly in search of sunshine upon a single countenance; all was dreary black-and assistants as well as attendants at the ceremony were alike shrouded in one dark, overshadowing pall of rayless gloom. Ah! joyful should ever be the linking of young hearts together; and terrible must be the feelings of those around whom the shadows of fate are gathering, even at the threshold, which should blaze in all their gorgeous coloring of hope and promise. Yet the same sombre shade, the same gloom of hue, the depth of darkness, was seated upon every feature. No sudden blushing of the rose, no swift succeeding of the lily, no fitful changes telling of youthful passion, and warm, bright hope, were seen on that bride's cheek; but one unvarying shade of funeral possessed the groom-possessed the preacher-in fact, they were all possessed. Reader, they were intelligent contrabands." PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF KOSCIUSZKO. BY COLONEL XAVIER ZELTNER. In the year 178- my father was appointed Landvogt of Lugano, Canton Tessin, in Switzerland, to hold the office for a term of five years. After a conscientious and successful administration, he left this place, accompanied by the blessings and by many proofs of the gratitude and esteem of his fellow-citizens, to be promoted to the higher office of governor of the whole Canton of Solothurn, in consequence of which he took up his residence in the city of the same name, which was the city of his birth. He was shortly after dispatched as ambassador extraordinary to Paris, where he joined his brother, who had for twenty-five years held the office of minister plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation at the court of Versailles. Kosciuszko, who was then residing at Paris, became acquainted with both the brothers Zeltner, and formed especially the warmest attachment to my father, whose liberal principles, strong character, and patriotism he knew how to appreciate. From this period he gave him most touching proofs of friendship and esteein, and often declared it his most ardent wish that he might pass the rest of his days in his friend's home. It was natural, under such circumstances, that my father should desire to possess some likeness of his friend, the more, as the day approached when he would be obliged to return to Switzerland. He availed himself, therefore, of the first favorable opportunity to express this wish to Kosciuszko, but the general replied that he had formed an irrevocable resolution never to suffer any likeness to be made of him. "Do I not make an exception with you?" he added. "Have I not threatened that, as soon as my circumstances admit of it, I shall bring you not a mere likeness, but the original for the rest of my life?" But my father was not satisfied; he regretted that there should be no likeness of the hero, for posterity's sake, and this thought, rather than any wish to obtain one exclusively for his own pleasure, led him to resort to stratagem for effecting his purpose. There was at that time in Paris an excellent sculptor, Eggenschwiler, a friend and countryman of my father, to whom he applied, and who readily consented to produce a bust of Kosciuszko if an opportunity could be given him to see his subject often and for long periods. After some deliberation, my father hired two adjoining boxes at the theatre, and with some difficulty persuaded Kosciuszko to occupy one with him. Eggenschwiler took his station in the other, and, unknown to his neighbor, succeeded in securing an admirable sketch. My father had instructed the sculptor to make at present no more than three busts, and to keep the whole affair in the strictest secrecy. Kosciuszko had always been a patron of the fine arts, and was glad of any opportunity to encourage artists. He had himself a knack at mechanical execution, and turned many little souvenirs for our family and other friends of his. I have now a neatly-made box-wood suuff-box, on the cover of which are inlaid in gold the initials T. K., and inside is engraved-Kosciuszko par estime pour Xavier Zeltner. He had frequently heard of the sculptor Eggenschwiler as a promising artist, and asked my father to introduce him to his countryman. They went, accordingly, to the sculptor's atelier, and, as they entered, the artist was just completing the busts of Kosciuszko. They examined several of the works with interest, but Eggenschwiler, taken by surprise, was so afraid lest the busts should be seen, that he kept his place before them, and tried to cover them with his body; but this manoeuvre, with his anxiety, excited Kosciuszko's attention, and he recognized instantly the likeness to him. In his anger and indignation that such a thing should have been done, he lifted his cane and struck powerful blows at the unfortunate busts, shattering two of them; but the third was protected by the frightened sculptor, who covered it with his body, and explained that he had only executed the orders of Zeltner, begging the general to spare the remaining bust for his friend's sake. Kosciuszko hesitated, looked at my father, who was perplexed enough, and after a few moments said: "Well, be it so; but give me your word of honor that you 'will never make a bust of me again." Eggenschwiler promised, and Kosciuszko, turning to my father, said: "Accept, dear friend, this bust, as a proof my friendship and unbounded esteem. You will see by this how much I appreciate your regard, since for you alone I make an exception, and break a resolution from which my most intimate friends and relations never could induce me to swerve." He continued his intimacy with my father after the latter returned to Switzerland, corresponded with him, and sent frequent presents of his own manufacture to members of the family. To two of my father's children he stood as godfather, and gave his name; both died in infancy; and a third time, overcoming the reluctance of my mother, who began to have superstitious fears, he stood for her little daughter Thadée Emilie, who grew up to womanhood, and became the wife of Count Giovanni Morosini, at Lugano, in the Canton Tessin, Switzerland. When the Emperor Alexander was in Paris, and was told that Kosciuszko also was there, he paid him a visit, and invited him in turn to visit him. They discussed Polish affairs, and Kosciuszko took occasion, in the name of his countrymen, to entreat the emperor to have pity on the Polish nation; to declare himself to be their ruler, and to govern them like a father, when they would be happy, and remain his faithful subjects. Alexander assured him that he would do any thing in his power for Poland, but that he also desired a favor of Kosciuszko, and in return for which he would grant any thing else that Kosciuszko should desire. The general declared that he would do any thing the emperor might ask. to "Well, you will do me the favor, then," said Alexander, be reconciled with the spirit of my deceased father, the Emperor Paul, by accepting the little present which he bestowed upon you when he ascended the throne and gave you your liberty, but which you have steadfastly refused to this day." It will be remembered that at the disastrous battle of Maciejowice, between the Polish and the Russian forces, October 10, 1794, the Poles were overpowered, and Kosciuszko, covered with wounds, fell from his horse, exclaiming, "Finis Poloniæ," and was taken prisoner, with his adjutant, the poet Nieencewicz. Both prisoners were removed to St. Petersburg, and incarcerated; but on the death of Catherine and the accession of Paul they were set at liberty and given their swords, with considerable presents of money. They accepted their liberty and their swords, but persistently refused the money. Kosciuszko visited England, and was informed by the bankers of the Emperor of Russia, Messrs. Thompson, Bonard & Co., that the sum of money presented to him by Paul had been placed in their hands, and was at his disposal. Kosciuszko still refused the gift, and it remained placed to his credit. This money, which Kosciuszko now accepted at the hands of Alexander, had never been withdrawn, and had increased in the twenty years and more which had elapsed to double its original value. The emperor was gratified that Kosciuszko should be willing now to accept it, and asked in return what favor he should grant. "Your Majesty," said Kosciuszko, "has just now placed me in a situation which excludes all further wishes as to myself, but as your Majesty insists that I should ask another favor, Í wish to recommend to your notice a family to whom I owe very much; this is the noble and worthy family of Zeltner, who received me, a poor exile, into their home, rendered relief to my broken constitution, have taken care of me with the most devoted friendship, and who have made me happy by the kindness which they always have shown me. I never can repay them. I commend them to your Majesty's remembrance." Alexander replied that he would take the hospitality shown by the Zeltner family to Kosciuszko as shown to himself, and authorized the general to advise my father that he would pre |