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LETTERS FROM ALABAMA 
LETTEE XL 
Aug, 15th. 
I WAS out last night ’Possum-hunting, and snatch 
an early hour this morning to describe to you the 
important affair, amusing enough, certainly^ if not 
very profitable. For several days past, the “ nig- 
gers,” on bringing in the daily cart-load of water- 
melons for house-consumption, have been loud 
in complaints of the robberies committed by the 
“’Possums;’^ and though it would be perfectly 
competent for these sable gentlemen to impute to 
Mr. Possum their own delinquencies, the value of 
a water-melon is scarcely a sufficient inducement 
even for a negro to lie and thieve, seeing that he 
has abundantly more than he can devour in his 
own patch, and those, in all probability, finer and 
better grown than “ mas’r’s.” The report was 
therefore received with all due credit, and an ex- 
pedition against the Tossums was resolved on as 
soon as the vis inertice eould be overcome. 
By the aid of my persuasions this consumma- 
tion was achieved last evening, and we determined 
on a sally. 
As soon as field-work was done, and supper 
swPtllowed, preparations commenced. The over- 
seer blew his horn to call such of the hands as 
were within hearing, out of whom some half-a- 
