The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-26
Egyptian Antiquities.

4NeU VOItu nave been amusing the puOHc Win eA-
aggerated and erroneous accounts OF an unpleasant
rencontre which occurred between MIR. Gllddon and
myself, on the day previous to my leaving the city
II is now nearly two years since these men COM
menced their unprovoked and llbelious attacks upon
me which they have continued up to this time,
with singular bitterness-though have never gwen
either OF them the slightest provocation TO abuse
me and, until lately have treated the whole mat
ter with contempt. Circumstances have, however,
ranspred recently, which seem to render it neces
sary for me give brief statement OF facts touch
ing my acquaintance with Mr. Glddon, that all who
may feel an interest III the matter, may the more
readily Understand and appreciate the differences
between Us.
My first acquaintance with Mr.. Gliddon occurred
in the winter Of 1910, at the Cataracs OF the Nile.
On my arrival there, Mr.. Gliddon, then u. S. Con-
sui tor Cairo, being on an excursion IN Upper
Egypt, and, at that time, at the Cataracts, came
on board of my boat, and rendered to me and my
companions such clvilltes circumstances rem
dered available. We met him subsequently, seve-
raj times, in passing down the Nile; and his aten-
tons CONSISTING of little nothing more than his
accompanying us on some excursions among the
ruins,-which all, including Mr.. Ghddon, as well
as ourselves were DESTROYS 10 make } were courte-
ously returned. When finally we parted with him,
at Ihebes, il was upon terms OF apparent cordial
ty though, it would seem from his published de-
carations, his second visit to this country, that
ne was-even IN Egyptosatlslled That mr.. Cooley
company" says MIR. Gliddon, "even on the sandy
beach at Aswan, or amidst the ruins OF Elethyas,
Edtoo, or Thebes, Mr.. Cooley was indebted sole
ly to my respect for the parties he was with.
had, certainly, very respectable and agreeable
companions; but neither they nor myself obtruded
on the retirement of Mr.. Gddon. The advances
were, in every instance, made by himself; and, !
may say, that 1t would not, probably, have occa-
stoned any serious amount OF grlet, on our part,
even had MIR. Gliddon stllted himself upon the dig
nifty of his "offica station" and not noticed us at
all. For one, however offensive might have been
my company to Mr.. Gliddon, had, certainly, full
h,Fh tyaa no arI-
ty-nor, at that time, considered by either my
companions myself, any g:eat dellcacy. lie ac-
ted however, with apparent sincerity, and we were
by no means disposed to make discourteous re-
turn for his civties. | endeavored TO treat HIM
with po,teness while in Egypt; and when about
to publish my book that country, | inserted the
following complimentary paragraph OF Mr.. Gid
don, IN grateful remembrance OF our acquaintance;
We were" Con our arrival at the cataracts OF the
Nile,) Immediately waited upon by George H.
Gliddon, Esq, Consul of the United States, who
politely rendered us his services In any way they
might be required. We found him and his COM
panion, another English gentleman, Intelligent, al
fable, and very obliging We met them alter
wards, at Thebes and Edfoo, and shall long retain
pleasing recollection Of their urbanity and polite
attention."t
have greatly displeased him-tOr, after concocting
a abOred review of "The American in Egypt"
from copy of that book which he dishonorably
obtained in advance of its publications. review
puerlities, that journal in New York or Phi la
delphia, except the New World, would take the
responsibility of publishing 1.-THE renewed his at
tack upon me -" in pamphlet FORM, with the de-
in Egypt and its author" In this pamphlet, en-
titled, "Appendix to the American in Egypt" MIR
Gliddon, abiding to the complimentary notice OF
him quoted above, (Which comprises, l believe,
the Oniy paragraph wherein the lustrious name OF
Giiddoi is mentioned in my book,) says; " Mr..
Cooley apparently supposes that the co"Piimsnte
with which he has despatched me, tor common CT
vties extended to his party, are to neutrallze any
feelings of reese ntmen, with which might here, in
America, regard his contemplate deiainations OF
my father; and although intended as deprecatory
OF my feelings, yet, coming from Mr.. Cooley, are
to me offensive II
had certainly no desire to offend Mr. Gliddon-
and, although at the time wrote the No him) Of
ensve paragraph, quoted above, was aware OF
certain facts, touching his career In Egypt, which
were in no wise calculated to heighten my esteem
for him--yet, as a simple matter OF justice, and
sctuated by no improper motive, did mention his
name in my book but beg the reader to bear IN
mind that, to the best OF my recollection, the name
OF Gl!ddon appears on no other pase OF me
by Mr. Gliddon with having 'seen INT to devote not
less than five hundred and seventy lines, equivalent
TO between eighteen and nineteen royal octave
pages to defamations of his father, John Glddon,
U. S Consul in Egypt, or other OF his own per
sonal friends, connected IN various ways win the
consulate in that country" (d)
do not intend to deny that, in humorousy
sketching the phases OF Egyptian society which
came under my observation, while travelling IN
that country, had In view certain rather conspcu
ous-not to say Observation-Disclosures whom
found there but what were precisely the relations
Of those individuals with MIR. George T. Gliddon,
or how Justly the acetious character OF the Egyptian
humbugs, as dellneated in my book, may have
fitted him hls own personal friends, Is not now
incumbent to show 1t is sufficient to say, that q
the best my recollection the Of Gtiddon is
where used in my book on Egypt with disrespect. H.
however Mr. Giiddon will assume to himself and per
sona fri. ndsn more Of that work. having special
to them than what apparently, belongs to them.
certainly affair of mine The responsibility, in that
case with hmselffor nothing Of the kind is thrust
upon him. But If those characters to which he so savage
ly audes in his pamphlet be drawn so true to the lie,
be easily recognized those Of his father and
sonal friends" he need not give himself much trouble
vindicate their characters in this community and they
be perfect pictures OF his personal friends would
difficult determine What necessity there was for hi
attempting TO vindicae them at all He has, however
comelout against very ferocously in his vndica
tory eusion declares that some things must be ted
and ii snce:ths publicationaof The American in Egypt
it be work Of supererogaton on his part to place upoI
public record the petulant vagales Of upstat to
cal the petty shifts of itinerant mser-to unmask thu
nsidous insipdities of would auhoror to reiute thu
DDS of literary abortion-it will be allowed tina
the deed is none OF his seeking but has been fastened OF
him. the only within the letter OF American laws
whereby poltroon can receive chastsement from thos
who would have gladly vndcated their honor by means
to them far mors;satisiactory." ~
Again, Mr. Glddon says a" greved that, not having
been gifted with prophetic vision neglected apply
the corbash in the Thebaid to Mr. Cooley himself fol
may never have such eligible chance again" (c
Probably not-thongh not aware that Mr.. Gliddor
ever had any very eligible chance for achieving ar
exploit Of that kind He however, discourscs most va
antly upon that topic and the public that had
he been in Cairo at the time of my departure from that
city he should have laid aside all Official character
at the risk Of eventual censnre-and Mr. Cooley
should not have perpetrated his pasquinads in Arabia
Petrea aud Palestine, before he had hung cswskn
on those recreant limbs y" (d).
Strange what imminent dangers travellers sometimes
pass harmlessly through Nothing could have been
more remote from my mind than the idea that Mr. Gid
don entertained thoughts Of cowhidpg me in Egypt =
Though little farther oncn his pamphlet, he declares
that " il he do not apply horsewhip to Mr. Coo
lcys shoulders it is solsly because in community
amongst which we both residing, the satisfaction he
should derive from physical expression OF his obsa
tons to Mr.. Cooley, might prove more expensive than
the pleasure Is worth" (e) very judcious cacula'
ton, that, no doubt
Having "vindcated the character of his father and
personal friends" with thirty forty octave pages Of vi
Imperative abuse of me- of which the above fair spec
mems Mr. Gliddon tenders his thanks and apologies to
MIR Park BENJAMIN, Ito whom he, very properly, dedca
ted the Appendix TO the American In Egypt and winds
up with the following