Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-04-12
EXTRACTS FROM DIR. COMBE'S TOUR IN
THE UNITED STATES.

copousy quoted prove that his intellectual attain
ncnts are highly credable, while few American
pubic men, since Washington, can boast OF great
er uprghness, disinterestednoss, and devotion to
the best interests of his country When Govern
or OF the Northwest Territory he welded nearly
the powers OF a Dictator, aud his administration
was market Ivy singular equity, moderation, aud
! judgment.
General Harrison's residence nj North Bend
consists OF a centre house of two Stories now COW
cred with cap-boards, but which the General told
US IS really built Of logs, aud two clap-boarded
wings OF one story each. 1t stands about quar-
ter OF n mile from the Ohio, in grass park, hay
iIir-,er~eherry trees in the distance aud several
hburnums close to the door, The park may con
tam ioyty 10 fifty acres enclosed with IA rail fence.
A foot-path, worn in the grass, but not formed by
art, leads flom the gate to the door CT the house.
Tie hnor of the house is about fifteen or eighteen
lhches above the grass, and three stones of in
creasiDg thickness undressed, not built on each
other but each lying on the ground at successive
distances, serve as steps to surmount this height
lie centre house has much the appearance Of
lOg-cabin. The principal room in it is coarsey
finished and the wooden fire blazes on the hearth.
One oithe wings, however, is finished like mod
era house, and comfortably furnished as n draw
ing ROOM Between the park and the river ca
nal IS forming 10 connect Cincinnati with the in
terror of the state.
General Harrison was suffering from a violent
headache when we arrived, but Mrs. Harrison
gave us II kind welcome and the General at length
appeared. lie is now sixty seven, rather above
the middle stature, slender, and he stoops consd-
erabiy. His temperament is nervous and bilious
MS head is long, of iull average height, but not
remarkably broad. The anterior lobe is above an
average both IN length from front to back and
height; and both the observing and rejecting or
ga'is are well deve oped. The head Is obviously
flat in the region of Acqnsitiveness. The moral
region seemed 10 prevent an average develope-
ment. His eye is vivacious, and his counlenance
is highly expressive Of thought; indeed his whole
appearance is nnich moe that of literary or sci
emilio man, tlan Of military commander. His
hahtaton presented uncqu>oca indications of
humble lortune indeed may say land | say it
without the least feeling of disrespectl of power
y; yet his manner and appearance were those of
man of the world, who was familiar with the
best society, and who, in the retirement of his
farm at the North Bend retained the polish and
appearance OF a gentleman.
In making these remarks | may appear to be
trespassng beyond the limits of legitimate publ
cation, and trenchlng on the privacies of dome s.
tic life; but at the time of my vsi., and for man
subsequent months, all the circumstances of Ger l.
Earrison's conduct and condition, private as we
as public, were described and discussed i'm alnos
every periodical OF the Union; and state littI,
herd whit is not us public in The United States a.
ino tooii-,iay sun
Ita.mediatey after dinner ssc retired aud walk !.
cd with him over part Of bis farm. Ii is his own
pr,Teriy, and I'VE were told extends TO about 150n
acres, part of his wife's dowry. From the risng
sronnd behind his house the view is highly beau
tiu, embracing TWO bends of The Ohio and its
picturesque banks. At first it was intended to
plant on this spot the great city of The west bus
II Is saih that the commanding officer of the dis
tric entertained an affection for the wife of n SER
geunt who was then stationed at Cincinnati md
that this induced him to remove his troops there
from which circumstance the town spiaag into
beipg Behind the Generals house is large gar
den, in which we saw white headed eagle, with
only one leg. 1t was presented TO him by a con-
vehtion OF his political friends; and the gentle
man who delivered it, in the name of the rest OBJ
served, in his speech, that as an eagle was seen
hoVering over Fort Aei9s when the General
fought the battle in lis defence, this NAV possibly
be the identical bird The General remarked 10
us that the eagles were then so numerous in that
country that they might be seen lowering over
many places. The captors of the eagle had dis
located lis leg, and DR.. Thornlon, the Generals
son-ln-law, believing it TO be broken, had ampu-
tated it. The friend who Introduced us TO The
General said, General Harrison has promised TO
keep the eagle ill the 4lh of March next when
we hore he will go to the While House., THE fa-
inlllar name of the Presidents official residence in
the city Of ashington.) 'Ah p said the General
promptly, and in the most natural tore, there is
one other condition about that. If Mr.. Van Blu
ren nbendons his mischievous policy, he may STAY
in the Whine House, and shall ren1in in mne'
lie mentioned that in agreeing to be put in nom
Inaton for the Presidency, hs had distinctly an
nouDced his resolution TO retire at the enI of the
first term Of four years.
lie spoke of Bolivar and General Paez of CO.
lulnba. The former he praised but regarded him
as corrupted and ruined by his ambition. The
latter he described MS II true aud excellent man.
he was, he said, destitute of education, but studi-
ed when he became a man, aud he is now re-
Mas Ia first Al so1
by singular exploit daring the War of lndepen-
1ence. Two Spanish gunboats lay in the river
neaFwlTch BOvar's army encamped, and
annoyed them seriously. Bolivar had no boats of
any kind by which he could approach them. Pa
ez offered TO capture them with his division of
cavalry. Bolivar thought him in jest, ms the idea.
OF attacking two ships of war in a nayigahle riy-
er by mems of cavalry seemed far removed from
reason. But PaeZ, assuring him that he was quit,
Serious obtained leave and the next morning
presented Tie gunhoals to Bolivar trophies Of
victory and their crews rs captves. His mode
OF accomplishing the feat WINS the following "a
ez and his division were reared in distri Ct
which Is overfowed by large river every sprin.,.
The houses are built on emneDces, and stand
during the lnundaton, like so many islands in an
ocean. Communication is maintained between
the families by boats and also by swimming on
horseback. Paez proposed 10 his men, accustom-
ed 10 this kind of travelling, to enter the river on
horseback, about half mile above the gun-boats,
at night, and TO swim down to them with the
stream They readily volunteered; Paez led, and
both sides of the two gun-boats
were entered sword in hand, and captured with
out a struggle. The horses swan to the shore and
joined their regiment.
In the evening we left Moth Bend, and had
delightful drive along the right bank of the Ohio
10 Cincinnati. was impressed by this visit with
strong feelings of respect Tor General iiarrison.--
After long life spent in the service of his coun-
ny, he lives, poor in Iced, bur he seemed cheerful
aud happy. He does not conceal his poverty, nor
loes he make The least parade of it. lie alludes
10 il simply as n fact, aud he betrayed not one
emotion OF envy or jealousy ofany human being,
md still less did he indicate any feeling OF disap-
pointed ambition.
ANECDOTE OF WEBSTER.
The talent OF the New Englanders in bargain
making Is proverbia in America, aud the inhabit-