Not that the general ever prompted him to such acts; they were volunteered by himself, out of pure love, from old companionship, and he never thought of the wrong, much less of his inability, to pay his expenditures, until the fatal truth was pushed upon his notice. How could he think of such a thing, when money was flowing through his hands, like water through a mill-race? how could he tell that there would be a balance against him? he had never kept an account in his life, nor even examined one. He was too liberal to be exact. When his shoemaker presented his bill, he looked at the foot; and if money was in his pocket he paid it, and if not, he kicked the impudent fellow out of the house, if he presumed to urge his suit, by any word of expostulation, or plea of necessity. It was unsoldier-like, and ungentlemanly to be exact in any thing, but the point of honor, viz.—if a man should say his coat was brown, when he knew it was black, call him out, and settle the truth by an exchange of shots. And here I cannot forbear the remark, that, when government wants soldiers, they should look for fighting men. When they want judges and attornies, they should seek for those learned in the law, and when they want some one to take charge of financial affairs, they should seek those whose habits of exactness, promptitude, and experience in finance, give them some fitness for the duty. IN A DEEP STUDY. But the die was now cast with the defaulter, and no repentance could make atonement to offended justice. Thus far, his attempts to relieve himself from the first deficiency, had not only been unavailing, but had led him deeper into difficulty. Something more must be done, or the fatal hour of disclosure must come. The general would soon lose all patience, as well as all confidence. Should he implicate him, and clear his own skirts? No—that thought was too repugnant to his honorable feelings, it would be unjust, for if the general knew his default, he had no hand in creating it, and if, he allowed him time to escape its consequences by retrieving it, it was the kindliness resulting from old associations. It was his own want of prudence in the first place, and of skill in the second, that placed him where he was. But something more must be done. And what should he do? The finale of his Apalachi land stock, was not yet realised; he thought well of it—he thought well of all land speculations. Yes, the landed interest, must, in this country, as in every other, in time, become the wealthiest—cities were springing up every day—fortunes were made in a moment—there could be no loss—the land would not run away—the Wall-street sharpers could not “flunk” him there. RESOLVES—AND GOES AHEAD.