ABOUT five o'clock
There 's a smouldering flame in South Carolina that 'll burst forth one of these days in a way that must teach the Federal Government some astonishing and exciting lessons . There 's old Castle Pinckney , sir ; we could keep it for a reserve , and with Generals Quattlebum and Commander , from Georgetown and Santee Swamp , we could raise an army of Palmetto regiments that would whip the Federal Government troop and gun-boat . '' We have given this singular conversation of the pilot with a strange Captain , which at the time was taken as an isolated case of gasconade peculiar to the man ; but which the Captain afterward found to harmonize in sentiment , feeling , and expression with the general character of the people -- the only exceptions being the colored people . ABOUT five o'clock on the evening of the 23d , the Janson passed Castle Pinckney , ran up to the wharf with the flood-tide , let go her anchor , and commenced warping into the dock . Her condition attracted sundry persons to the end of the wharf , who viewed her with a sort of commiseration that might have been taken for sincere feeling . The boarding officer had received her papers , and reported her character and condition , which had aroused a feeling of speculative curiosity , that was already beginning to spread among ship-carpenters and outfitters . Conspicuous among those gathered on the wharf was a diminutive little dandy , with an olive-colored frock-coat , black pants , embroidered vest , and an enormous shirt-collar that endangered his ears .