Fincastle Mirror

Wilmington, (Del.) June 17.—Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated June 6.

"A curious circumstance, which happened here, which I will relate for your amusement. The story is told as follows:—A person in Maryland had discovered that his runaway slave was in Philadelphia. He gave a power of attorney to a person in or near Wilmington to take him up and bring him out of Pennsylvania, for which he was to have a handsome reward. This person took another with him as a witness—neither of them knew the man. They however frequented the Oyster Cellars and were familiar with the blacks till they found a man that knew the runaway and who for a small bribe pointed him out to them. On this, the witness was to prove in order to get a warrant to remove him out of the state. They did not take him immediately, but watched his haunts and waited a proper time when they might get off without much trouble from the friends of the blacks.

Sam, the runaway discovered that these two men were watching him, and he watched them as well. One evening, just at dusk, which they thought the most proper time, as Sam was sawing his last stick of wood, with his eye on the men across the street, they began to cross quietly over to him; but Sam was not to be taken, so he threw down the saw and flew, the men pursued; the street at that time pretty clear of people. Sam gained considerably, and when he had got about two squares he took up an alley. At the mouth of this alley another black was standing. It instantly occurred to him (without knowing Sam or any of the circumstances) that he would have some fun. He turned out and ran down street as hard as he could. The pursuer of poor Sam followed on, believing it was the same man, but could not catch him He however after running two or three squares, let them come up, when being vexed with the chase he had given them, par te like, they knocked him down for not heaving to sooner, and hurried him away to a justice with whom they had previously concerted their plans. The witness proved that he was the slave of the person that had given the power of attorney; and now the fun began. The Squire asked the black man, (whose name happened to be Sam also, and who was turned out to be a very shrewd fellow, but said nothing all the time) if he had any thing to say why he should not grant a warrant to the men to take him to his master?

"Yes master, I say something—me run quiet long de street, disturb nobody. These men run after me hard as he can, hollo me stop; me stop when I please—they come up and knock me down—now master I demand state warrant, for dese men for assault and battery, and false prison."

"Why Sam, you seem to know law, and talk as if you were a free man." "I am a free man, master, I tink. dese men not citizen of de United States, and derefores cannot cognize—dey may be Eagers, wid a vessel down de river to put poor negro in de hold take to de West Indies and sell, I dont know, master will take care of dem." Well Sam.where was you born and where did you learn law? "I born in dis city and when I live wid master Binney I make fire in de office and sweep it—den de young gent, as come low a me in; one say if I make so much dust he will see red me—dat I tink is whip me wid a cat nine tails. Anoder time one say if I make such a smoke he will siro facias me—dat I tink is score my face wid a sharp penknife, like dey do negro in Guinea to make it look pretty. Anoder time one dreaten to debonis non me; dat i tink is to cut off my head."

The Squire looked at the men and the men at the Squire—they whispered— "Sam you may go about your business."

"Master, I can't do that; I must not be knock'd down and false prison for noting. I wish master would send summons or master Binney to prove me free and tell me what to do." "Why Sam, de men are willing to make it up wid you: what will you take, and have no more trouble?"

"Why, I tink if master was on jury he would give me two or tree hundred dollars for knock down in highway, and take prisoner, without any cause, but I will take fifty dollars." "Dat's too much, Sam." "No master, I can't take no less, widout Mr. Binney's advice.—Master please send summons Mr. Binney." By dis time people began to collect about de office: de men got uneasy and paid de fifty dollars. Dey never discovered de trick at de alley, and Sam went off laughing.

[Watchman.