[NOTE.--The following is a copy of a compact, such as is spoken of in the story of the "The First Grave," entered into by a company of regulators in somewhat similar circumstances. I am not sure that I can vouch for its authenticity, but all who are familiar with the history of those times, will recognise, in its peculiarities, the characteristics of the people who then inhabited this country. The affectation of legal form in such a document as this, would be rather amusing, were it not quite too significant; at all events, it is entirely "in keeping" with the constitution of a race who had some regard for law and its vindication, even in their most high-handed acts. The technical phraseology, used so strangely, is easily traceable to the little "Justice's Form Book," which was then almost the only law document in the country; and though the words are rather awkwardly combined, they no doubt gave solemnity to the act in the eyes of its sturdy signers:-- "_Know all men by these presents:_ "That we [_here follow twelve names_], citizens of ---- settlement, in the state of Illinois, have this day, _jointly and severally_, bound ourselves together as a company of Rangers and Regulators, to protect this settlement against the crimes and misdemeanors of, all and singular, every person or persons whomsoever, and especially against _all horse-thieves, renegades, and robbers_. And we do by these presents, hereby bind ourselves, jointly and severally as aforesaid, unto each other, and to the fellow-citizens of this settlement, to punish, according to the code of his honor, Judge Lynch, all violations of the law, _against the peace and dignity of the said people of_ ---- settlement; and to discover and bring to speedy punishment, _all illegal combinations_--to rid the country of such as are dangerous to the welfare of this settlement--to preserve the peace, and _generally to vindicate the law_, within the settlement aforesaid. All of which purposes we are to accomplish as peaceably as possible: _but we are to accomplish them one way or another_. "In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this twelfth day of October, _Anno Domini_, eighteen hundred and twenty. "(Signed by twelve men.) "Acknowledged and subscribed in the presence of "C---- T. H----n, "J---- P. D----n," and five others, who seem to have been a portion of "the fellow-citizens of this settlement," referred to in the document.] FOOTNOTES: [77] See note at the close of this article.