Branch’s Condition.—A gentleman, upon whose statements we can place the utmost reliance, tells us that a day or two ago he visited Branch at Blackwell’s Island. After crossing the river and reaching the Island, the gentleman was shown into a small office attached to the Penitentiary. At this place he saw one of the clerks present an order from one of the “Governors,” to be permitted to see Branch. After a few moments the unfortunate Alligator, but still indomitable Branch, presented himself. His face was paler than when in the city, and his general appearance was that of a man who was suffering from a want of nutritious food and the usual comforts of life. Branch was dressed in the prison costume, his hair was cropped and his whiskers shaved. He stated that he was now employed in carrying the tools used by the people of the quarry, and that, although the work was not necessarily too severe, yet the fact that he was confined all day amid the dust of the quarry, and fed on food which his system and appetite revolts at, he was rapidly losing his strength, and was threatened with a paralysis of his left side. He stated that he had to get upon several times in the night to rub his limbs, and that his case was aggravated from the fact that he was denied the use of slippers, and had consequently to stand on the stone floor whenever he was obliged to rise from his bed. He says that if the present severe discipline is not alleviated, he will not live six weeks, and his chest is severely affected by the dust of the quarry and the hard labor he has to perform, without adequate food.—Daily Times.
A story is told by Sir Walter Scott, of a Scotch nobleman who had a very ugly daughter called “Muckle Mouthed Meg,” whom nobody would look at. Having caught a young man of good family on his estate in some scrape, he had him tried and condemned to be hanged. When the young man appealed to him, he told him, “The only way I can save you is by your marrying my ugly daughter.” The young man said he would be hanged first. When brought out to the gallows and the rope was seen hanging ready, the young man cried out, “Let me have another look at her.”
FALL ELECTION.
State of New York, }
Office of the Secretary of State, }
Albany, August 2, 1858. }
To the Sheriff of the County of New York:
SIR—NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT AT THE GENERAL Election to be held in this State on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November next, the following officers are to be elected, to wit:
A Governor, in the place of John A. King;
A Lieutenant Governor, in the place or Henry R. Selden;