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instance the oppressor was a pale； overworked New England
〃schoolmarm。〃 The principle for which I was contending； I felt； however；
to be the same。 Resenting an affront put upon me； I one day heaved a
rock* at the head of the Vandal schoolmistress。 I was seized and
overpowered。 My pen falters as I reach the climax。 English readers will
not give credit to this sickening story；the civilized world will avert its
head；but I； Mary McGillup； was publicly SPANKED！
* NOTE； BY G。 A。 S。In the Southwest； any stone larger than a pea
is termed 〃a rock。〃
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CHAPTER III。
But the chaotic vortex of civil war approached； and fell destruction；
often procrastinated； brooded in storm。* As the English people may like to
know what was really the origin of the rebellion； I have no hesitation in
giving them the true and only cause。 Slavery had nothing to do with it；
although the violation of the Declaration of Independence； in the disregard
by the North of the Fugitive Slave Law；** might have provoked a less
fiery people than the Southrons。 At the inception of the struggle a large
amount of Southern indebtedness was held by the people of the North。 To
force payment from the generous but insolvent debtorto obtain
liquidation from the Southern planterwas really the soulless and
mercenary object of the craven Northerners。 Let the common people of
England look to this。 Let the improvident literary hack； the starved
impecunious Grub Street debtor； the newspaper frequenter of sponging…
houses； remember this in their criticisms of the vile and slavish Yankee。
* I make no pretension to fine writing； but perhaps Mrs。 Hardinge
can lay over that。 O； of course！ M。 McG。
** The Declaration of Independence grants to each subject 〃the pursuit
of life； liberty； and happiness。〃 A fugitive slave may be said to personify
〃life； liberty； and happiness。〃 Hence his pursuit is really legal。 This is logic。
G。 A。 S。
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CHAPTER IV。
The roasting of an Abolitionist； by a greatly infuriated community；
was my first taste of the horrors of civil war。 Heavens！ Why will the North
persist in this fratricidal warfare？ The expulsion of several Union refugees；
which soon followed； now fairly plunged my beloved State in the seething
vortex。
I was sitting at the piano one afternoon； singing that stirring refrain； so
justly celebrated； but which a craven spirit； unworthy of England； has
excluded from some of her principal restaurants； and was dwelling with
some enthusiasm on the following line：
〃Huzza！ she spurns the Northern scum！〃
when a fragment of that scum； clothed in that detestable blue uniform
which is the symbol of oppression； entered the apartment。 〃I have the
honor of addressing the celebrated rebel spy； Miss McGillup；〃 said the
Vandal officer。
In a moment I was perfectly calm。 With the exception of slightly
expectorating twice in the face of the minion； I did not betray my agitation。
Haughtily； yet firmly； I replied：
〃I am。〃
〃You looked as if you might be；〃 the brute replied； as he turned on his
heel to leave the apartment。
In an instant I threw myself before him。 〃You shall not leave here
thus；〃 I shrieked； grappling him with an energy which no one； seeing my
frail figure； would have believed。 〃I know the reputation of your hireling
crew。 I read your dreadful purpose in your eye。 Tell me not that your
designs are not sinister。 You came here to insult me；to kiss me； perhaps。
You sha'n't；you naughty man。 Go away！〃
The blush of conscious degradation rose to the cheek of the Lincoln
hireling as he turned his face away from mine。
In an instant I drew my pistol from my belt； which； in anticipation of
some such outrage； I always carried； and shot him。
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CHAPTER V。
〃Thy forte was less to act than speak； Maryland！ Thy politics were
changed each week； Maryland！ With Northern Vandals thou wast meek；
With sympathizers thou wouldst shriek； I know theeO； 'twas like thy
cheek！ Maryland！ my Maryland！〃
After committing the act described in the preceding chapter； which
every English reader will pardon； I went up stairs； put on a clean pair of
stockings； and； placing a rose in my lustrous black hair； proceeded at once
to the camp of Generals Price and Mosby to put them in possession of
information which would lead to the destruction of a portion of the Federal
Army。 During a great part of my flight I was exposed to a running fire
from the Federal pickets of such coarse expressions as； 〃Go it； Sally Reb；〃
〃Dust it； my Confederate beauty；〃 but I succeeded in reaching the glorious
Southern camp uninjured。
In a week afterwards I was arrested； by a lettre de cachet of Mr。
Stanton； and placed in the Bastile。 British readers of my story will express
surprise at these terms； but I assure them that not only these articles but
tumbrils； guillotines； and conciergeries were in active use among the
Federals。 If substantiation be required； I refer to the Charleston Mercury；
the only reliable organ； next to the New York Daily News； published in the
country。 At the Bastile I made the acquaintance of the accomplished and
elegant author of Guy Livingstone；* to whom I presented a curiously
carved thigh…bone of a Union officer； and from whom I received the
following beautiful acknowledgment：
〃Demoiselle：Should I ever win hame to my ain countrie； I make
mine avow to enshrine in my reliquaire this elegant bijouterie and offering
of La Belle Rebelle。 Nay； methinks this fraction of man's anatomy were
some compensation for the rib lost by the 'grand old gardener；' Adam。〃
* The recent conduct of Mr。 Livingstone renders him unworthy of