Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-18

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in the habit, without regard TO persons,
of compelling them to dismount, and
stand with the hat off, until the whole
retinue had passed by; the insult had
been borne, without resistance, by all the
foreign agents here, except the Amerl-
can, whose republican pride could not
be brought to stoop to this degradation.
He was, however, DESTROYS to avoid, ii
possible, bringing the matter to issue
1t was at last thrown upon him by neces-
sity; being unable to avoid the caval-
cade, he stopped his horse, and saluted
the queen; but this was not satisfactory
toner majesty, who is represented to be
proud and naughty woman. She Or
dered her guards to compel him to dis
mount; but on making the attempt by
brandishing their swords, the American
minister stood on the defensive with his
stick; on which they retreated, md he
went on, leaving her majesty highly Of
Tended.
The Portuguese minister remorstrat-
ed, urging the example of other foreign
agents, who had submitted;* but Nh.
Sumpter declared, that, if others tamel!
put up with such insults, it was no rea-
son why he should. He now went arm
ed; and second attempt being made
similar to the first, he was very near
shooting the guard. The subject was
brought before the king, by complaints
on both sides the king inclined in favor
of the American minister, and apollo
gized for the insult he Lad received; at
the same time gave assurances that it
should not be repeated. The queen,
determined not to be outdone, being met
again some time afterwards, stopped her
carriage, and ordered her guards, ten or
twelve in number, to go forward, and
compel the proud republican to pay the
just homage to royalty. Mr.. Sumpter,
who continued to go armed, drew his
pistols, dashed through them, approach
ed the qneen's carriage, and, in deter
mined manner, reminded her of the as
surances lately given by the king; as
serting his determination never to submit.
He went Immediately to the king, stated
what had passed, declared that he con-
sidered his life unsafe, as the queen
seemed determined, and he was himself
equally SO. The king appeared much
hurt, and insisted on making an apology
with his own hand-which was actually
done. He ordered the guards to be i'm
prisoned, and offered to have them pun
ished; but Mr.. Sumpter, whose ideas of
justice were somewhat different, request
ed this might not be. The other foreign
ministers offered to join Mr.. Sumpter in
a remonstrance but the object was now
gained, as the new order extended to all.
Mr.. Sumpter entertained favorable
opinion of the king,t as to his liberality
and good intentions, but thought him
much at the mercy of his ministers. He
is fond of seeing strangers : and there is
no great difficulty in being presented. 1t
is usual for commanders of ships of war,
touching at this place, to go through this
ceremony. Commodore Sinclair, &C
cording to custom, was presented by our
minister, at the country palace, few
miles from town. He describes him as
rather below the middle size, enormous
ly fat, of very dark complexion, large
black eyes, with good natured face
He was in military dress, spoke in
French to Mr.. Sumpter, and asked the
commodore great many questions re-
speeding his profession and country. He
protested great respect for the govern
ment of the United States, and declared
himself extremely DESTROYS of cultivating
its friendship: this, he said, he valued
highly, because he knew when we pro-
fessed friendship, it might safely be
relied on. In Withdrawing, it is the Gus
tom to initiate the movement of GER
tain animal, not yet the most graceful of
the creation, as it is considered indeco-
rous to turn ones back upon the king;
the audience room being very long, the
commodore found it inconvenient, and
not a little difficult, to back out with
safety and grace. The commissioners
did not think proper to claim the honor
of a presentation. Having no commu-
nication to hold, they could only be re-
garded here in the light of private citi.
zens."
Lord Strangford was actually struck by one
of the guards, and taken from his horse.
+ The author of the Picture of Lisbon, MUIR
phy) gives the following character of him at
twenty five years of age " He is naturally of
good disposition, but young. Experience
has not yet enlightened his understanding, or
fortified his courage. He is timid, and his
ministers make him pusillanimous: he wishes
to know every thing, and his ministers conceal
every thing from him. he wants to govern,
and his ministers keep him aloof from the gov