True American

War! War? War!—If that excellent aphorism of the sage—"in peace prepare for war"—were ever suited to guide a people who would still be free it is now. Who that has looked on the long continued calm in the political atmosphere abroad would suppose a storm so near as we find it by the following occurrence narrated in a police report in a New York paper? We all have read how often causes "light as air" have plunged whole nations into desolating contest in the olden times, but in the nineteenth century we confess we were unprepared for a war between France and the United States from what, to a common eye, may appear so trivial.

Arrest of Monsieur De La Flechelle.—This gentleman yesterday made his appearance in the Court of Sessions, and having delivered himself up, was held to bail by the Recorder, in $5000, which he at once procured, and was discharged. To show the importance which this gentleman attaches to himself, we will mention the facts connected with his arrest. Officers A M G Smith and G F Hays having the warrant against him, proceeded to his country seat at Woodbridge, N J. Having of course, no authority to take him in that State, they went to a magistrate and made affidavit that he was a fugitive from this place, and upon this a warrant was granted for his arrest. The officers then went to his country seat, where they found him in a field, and on explaining the nature of their business to him, he declared he would not go, and threatened to blow out the brains of the first man that laid hand upon him. He was then told that he had the choice of coming to their office to answer the charge, or of being arrested there, and detained until a requisition could be procured for him, from Gov Marcy He demurred however to both these courses, and made this remark, "La France got all Algiers for one slap in de face, and La France will get dis country for dis." The officers returned to the city and had made out yesterday the necessary papers to be presented to Gov Marcy, when M D La Flechelle appeared, and as stated, gave himself up. In the Police office he remarked to the officer to whom he had previously spoken, as to the probable dreadful consequences which would ensue to this country for arresting him, "You remember vat I said yesterday. Vell, you shall see." We only mention these facts to put the citizens of the United States upon their guard against any sudden attack from "La France."