The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-03
THE MADISONIAN.
WIN. II. CRAWFORD.

interest They have been communicated ny
Eugene Vail, esquire, now IN faris, who
officiated as his Private Secretary al the Pc
Rod referred to, and whose opportunities, oil
course for accurate observation, were un-
doubted. They place the character of Mr.
Crawford in some new and striking points Of
view. Ed. S. L., Messenger.
William H. Crawford, the subject Of the
following remarks, was a man approaching,
as near as can be, the noblest work of God"
as defined by the immortal Pope. He could
bear TO be scrutinized in every sense. Take
his heart, or take his mind. you would meet
in each enough TO satisfy the most fastIdious.
Destined TO be a statesman, he possessed ina,
frmness Of purpose which may be 'ermeu
civil courage Had he been a soldier, ne
would have been brave 10 audacity 10 lhls,
many circumstances but little known, except
by those in the habit Of close Intimacy win
him, can testify.
La the wear 1913, when it was deemed ut
that an envoy extraordinary, uniting weight oil
character with talent should be sent TO France,
Mr. Crawford was selected by Mr.. Madison
for that delicate mission-but immense indeed
were the difficulties that interposed. Our
seaporis were blockaded; and If perchance
a vessel eluded the blockadng squadron, new
and greater dangers still awaited her at The
entrance of French harbor. Yet the me-
cessity that our minister should reach tho
imperial court without delay was imminent,
and accordingly he embarked on board soop
of war whose gallant captain had most posi-
tive orders to avoid as much as possible an
action with the enemy The safe landing of
Il. l. .,l, ahi ,
to arms was to be had only in the defensive.
This vessel successfully evaded the British
cruisers on our side, and rapidly strobe across
the Atlantic She made for L'Orient, in the
vicinity of which she had nearly been barred
by far superior force. We shall never
forget, although we cannot Justly describe,
the manner of the noble commander, now no
more, when he related to MS the struggle, that
like 4 tempestuous sea arose in his breast, at
the near, and at times nearer approach OF the
armed vessel which as the fastest sailing
ship of the British squadron, had been de-
tached for tho purpose of intercepting ours
Cruel was the temptation, and burning the
desire to grapple with an enemy they were
conscious they might have subdued, even be-
fore the other forces could have come up
What pen could Justly describe the impatient
step of the commander, as he paced the deck
the glistening eye of the young officer that
bespoke Indignation, the bosom that heaved
a sigh, and may be, an imprecation against
the order that propelled onward the noble
vessel, However intense the feeling which
Pervaded the whole gallant crew, more i'm
posing still was the cause of obedience that
kent her on the track
From the hesitatng movements of the chase,
it was evident that over confidence did not ex
ist on board of her, and that she hut little re-
iished the idea of separating herself too much
from her consorts behind-at times drawing
back, she would at others come closer; and
when the latter happened, more arduous be-
came the duty Of the American commander,
inasmuch as he had to look both to the rigid
execution Of his orders to force sails which
otherwise might perhaps purposely have been
but sluggishly hauled; and to the less impor.
tant duty of keeping his passenger from harms
way. This, however, vas no easy task. By
this time Mr., Crawford had fully identified
himself in feeling with the ships company,
anu would willingly, had an action been un-
avoidable, have exchanged his ministerial
charge with the humblest member Of the crew.
Mounted upon gun, he keenly watched the
enemy's movements, and seemed at tunes to
rejoice at her superior sailing. There he
stood like target, and would inevitably have
been ihc first SbJeci aimed at onboard. True
1t ~. ihst ~ tals captains request, Mr.. Craw-
ford would sep d1~n and return to the deck,
where, sSsa his high stature. towering over
the gHag1ss, still marked him for the first
fire which @ss every minute expected and
true II l., that upon observations made by the
captain, he would occasionally retire into the
cabin, but he was no sooner there than up
again he was seen. This was so o(ientimcs
repeated, and placed him in such imminent
danger, that, at last. the captain felt under the
necessity of notifying his prisoners, that were
il 10 occur again he would have to enfore his
orders, and to keep him down by compulsion.
OF this thorough contempt of death, of this
complete self denial in Mr.. Crawford, many
proofs can be adduced.
The sudden transpos,ion of the plain mat
ter OF fact republican from the plough to the
dazzling circles Of European society, is fire.
quently the cause of extreme embarrassment
to the uninitated, and of mirh TO others. Ex-
cessivc modesiy that frequently borders upon
awkwardness, naturally intimidates AT first,
whilst on the other side we have seen that
long residence abroad had a tendency to dIvest
some OF our citizens of those habits Of can
dor that betit them much better than an out
landish mimicry, winch, to their disgrace. too
many Of them do adopt. Agains, all this,
William III. Crawford wa- proof; and whether
surrounded by the most reSned-wheihcr al
Woodland or at the Tuillerles, he ever re-
manned in manner, and in deed, an American.
In the drawing room, without fas,idlousness
he was courteous and attentive TO ladies' in
general, who found a great charm. no, the
least for being novel to them, ia his frank aud
open conservation; anI we have ourselves
heard Madame de Stael-ihan whom, in such
matters no better Judge could be found, assert
tnat she mad rarely conversed with foreigner
Win had edItial L.. 49, 2