Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-01-25
NICHOLAS BIDDLE.

l. ",
is now at Washingt ton. On his way thilher
he called upon Mr. Blddle; and the follow
ing is his account of the interview.
as Mr.. Blddle in'"
"Yes," replied the speaker, very brus
quely.
Ipresume. from the studied modes,y with
which hid the devil in the corner of my
squirt face, he supposed was some poor
rascol in want of a loan.
"Wbere can find him."
| To this query hardly received reply,
unless il might be called sort of a gruat
which fat hogs give when they confess
their sins and. are put to dea'h in Gin
cinnat. On repeating my question, he
pointed to an inner door to the left.
passed on-traversed an aneroom-enier
ed another door, and found myself in the
presence Of the man who has kept two
worlds in hot wafer for the last ten years
The furniture of the room was simple in
| the extrame. A few busts were scattered
here and there, which gave it an air of at
tic simplicity and taste. Mr.. Bddle was
writing at small desk, placed to The right,
OF the fire- place "a gentleman was stand
to his left, and colored servant waiting at
the door. ! entered very quietly and 81 ood
up at my full length, caring nothing for any
person that God ever made, and feeling
equal to any position. or any person. that
treads the same planet with myself Tai.
ent is talent, energy is energy, resolution
is resolution, in any position of life. and
only esteem Mr.. Bldde because he has
almost done for financial science what
Franklin did for hysical-dscovered o
power that can regulate its mighty move.
ments.
After despatching his noe, Mr.. Bldde
rose, but did not recognize me at first
The first time that saw or was introduced
to Mr.. Biddle, was, | think, in the Auburn
State Prison-a very curious place to meet,
as the locofocos might say, bat still very
comfortable place, and a good study for
either philosophers or pickpockets. Since
that time, his face has grown fuller, his
hair longer, his form rounder, his sight
shorter his mind more acue-his name
more famous-and his power much greater.
Yet he is the same easy, courteous, agree
able, witty, and phlIosOphic man that he
he ever was. There is much about Mr.
Blddle that resembles the descriptions re.
naming of Dr. Franklin. He has the
same singular combination of wit, shrewd.
ness, deep philosophy, and knowledge of
human nature, which that celebrated man
possessed. With more refinement and
classic taste than Franklin, he has added
to his other peculiar traits, a singular
knowledge of commerce, banking and
finance as a science, not only of making
dividends, but as an element Of power and
public opinion. Ia talking of public affairs
in connection with himself, or the ins,itu-
ton over which he presides, there is vein
of good humor, wit, the curiOsn feHcitas OF
Illustration and argument, which is pecu
liarly his own. | do not know q single
great man of the age that is so mark ed
in this respect. unless perhaps it be DAME
O'Connell. Yet the former has the advan
tage in the calm, Franklin STYLE of manner
while the latter has all the Irish vehemcnce
and animation.
After a reasonable time spent in CONVEX
salion, ! took up my hat and departed,
giving place TO other visitors who were
announced,
Mr.. Bddle. at the head Of the United
States Bank may be justly considered one
OF the greatest men Of The country. Since
he assumed the management Of that insti-
tuition he has developed more of the rio ut
principles aud practice of finance than any
single individual has yet done, His policy
has been connected series Of mastery
movements, either for the preservation OF
the institution, or of the interests of the
country. HIS course has been n straight
llne-somelimes one party, sometimes
another bulting up against him. The
secret of his successful management has
arisen from welding his bank in concur
renee with The great movements of com,
nercc. The error of the administration
of Jackson consisted in attempting to
lhwart these currents. His successor, Mr.
Van Buren,, has begun to see the error Of
that policy, and, accordingly, he has nego
! cialed with the bank the whole amount Of