the stain upon his honour with his blood. Of all characters on earth, he detested that of a duellist most; but he was young, ardent, and full of those false notions of honour which have deprived the world of some of its brightest ornaments. The few hours that were left him before the meeting, were employed in making his testament, and in writing to one who was dearer to him than life. To her he enclosed a lock of his hair, and a tear fell upon its glossy brightness at the thought that they might never meet again.

At the break of day, which was cold, comfortless and misty, two small boats were seen shooting across the Hudson river towards the Jersey shore. They arrived at nearly the same time. Lee and Mivins stood upon the bloodstained spot where Hamilton fell. As the parties were about taking their stations, they were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the venerable Belmont, who had been the innocent cause of their meeting. Approaching Lee, he said

"Young man, this quarrel is mine;" and, turning to Mivins, he continued, "from you, sir, I expect atonement for the affront you offered me yesterday."

"I came here,” replied Mivins, "to fight, not to talk. Finding myself in the wrong, however, I am willing to make such atonement as is in my power. Of you, sir, I ask pardon for what was done in a

moment of excitement, and which, I hope, your generosity will forgive.”

Mr. Belmont received his apology, and they approached Mr. Lee, who stood pistol in hand, waiting the result of their conversation.

"Mr. Lee," said the broker, "if a voluntary apology will be accepted by you for an insult which I certainly never intended, I am prepared to make

"The blow, sir, was not directed at you, but at this gentleman. I sincerely regret what has happened; and as an evidence of my conviction that I was to blame, allow me to state in the presence of these gentlemen, that had not this interruption taken place, I intended to have received your fire unreturned; and, if I were living, to have made the concessions which I now freely tender."

Lee took the broker's proffered hand, and they all returned to the boat of Mr. Belmont. When they were seated, Belmont said to Mr. Lee

"You, sir, have done me a service, and I have registered it, 'where every day I'll turn the leaf to read it.' Like the Indian missionary, injuries I write on sand, but benefits upon marble.""

Lee did not reply; but there was something in

Mr. Belmont's tone and manner that strangely in

terested him, and he returned the pressure of his

hand with all the warmth of glowing friendship.

But little of moment occurred on the water except meeting, when about half way across, a mysterious looking craft running foul of a schooner in the mist, which it was afterwards ascertained contained the burly person of Old Hays and a posse of police officers, making their clumsy way to the scene of action; but, as usual, these worthies were too late to prevent the violation of the law or a breach of the peace.

After the veritable events, which, like faithful chroniclers we have just recorded, a scene of confusion took place in the city of New-York which baffles all description. The banks suspended specie payments; gold and silver were at a high premium. The town was inundated with a species of small pa

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per currency, issued by every individual wishing to make money, specimens of which have been preserved as curiosities to the present day. These were small pieces of pasteboard, commonly called "shinplasters," having printed thereon in Roman capitals, 'good for six and a quarter cents," or any other sum which seemed good to the person issuing the same, and having his own christian and sirname legibly written in the right hand corner of the paper. These circulated as freely among the community as omnibus tickets or bank notes, and possessed really about as much intrinsic value.

The term shin-plaster originated with an old soldier of the revolutionary war, who, after fighting the battles of his country, was left to penury and want by a government, who paid him for his services in what was commonly denominated, "continental money," which, after the peace, it refused to redeem. This old soldier had received a wound upon the leg at the battle of "Bunker Hill ;" and believing that the money was printed upon paper of an adhesive quality, and knowing it to be good for nothing else, he was in the habit of dressing his wound with the rags, and calling them "shin plasters;" hence the name, which will always stick to them to the end of the world.

L*

The city, as we said, was in commotion. The inhabitants seemed beside themselves. Every one appeared to be acting a part in the great comedy of "Frightened to Death." The example set by the merchant was followed by all other classes. Stopping payment was universal. All business was at a stand still. Men assembled in clusters on the corners of the streets. Argument ran high, and the everlasting words of General Jackson-Tammany-Hall-The Monster-Bribery and Corruption-Nick BiddleVeto-Pewter Mug-Ruin-Loco-Foco-Real Estate-Henry Clay-The People-Fanny Wrightand other villanous compounds of the alphabet, were