The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-10

hand bill, giving sober history of his cap
ture IN Caribbean Islands, by some bold ships
crew, who had brought him TO the United
States. lie had been secretly procured 10y
the proprietor at an expense which would
prove rllinous, unless lac was generously sus-
tained, as he doubted not he should be by a
grateful public, &c. &c.
The immense hand-bill was carefully pc
rused by many group at the corner Of the
streets, with all due gravity. The wise shook
their heads and looked very incredulous, but
OH the whole the canibal seemed likely to
meet with very warm and enthusiastic re-
ccption. Crowds came forth TO see the spec
tacle, and was surprised to find how few
regarded il us wax figure; for the majority
really seemed to think it Simon-Pure. pre-
served by some embalmng process. Not u
few ofour country patrons declared il was
really alive (for they saw his eyes moveg and
on the whole, the impression seemed TO be al
most universal, that no distinguished foreign
er had ever met so enthusiastic Il greeting in
the queen city. And must confess | was
one ofthe number.
was occupied in the Western Museum in
all about seven years, arranging the exhibit
tons already made, or getting up new ones.
But consumed great part of my time IN
The hyeT7lat RegiOnS, which perhaps succeed
ed about rs well MS any humbug ever got up
in ''those diggns." Railways had in view the
means ofgoing to Italy, and | could see no
way more likely to crown my efforts with
success than the Museum afforded me- But
several casualties conspired one after another
to destroy my plan.
About two years after entering the Museum
made an effort to 20 abroad added by the lib
erality ofmy friend, MIR Nicholas Longwortn;
but after reaching New York. and obtaining
permission 10 90 on a public vessel, as |
thought, free ofcXpensc, was informed that
the government afforded only passage to II
foreign por1 for artists aud professional men,
but ] must find myself in every thing. even TO
my hammock. The ship was just ready 10
sail. had no time 10 write home for further
assistance; and III counting my means found
| should be left in Gibralter without money
enough to take me TO Florence. And besides
| felt little disposed to go on hoard public
vessel already crOwdcd,und thus put the mid
shipmen with whom should mess, To incon-
vcnence; willie should be inIcjicd to govern
ment for a free passage To Italy, and eXpcnd
II considerably larger sum than it would cost
me in any other way. All yhese reasons i'll
duccd me to return TO Cincinnati, with the i'll
tention of making another attempt us soon Us
possible.
One ofthc first persons saw on my return
was the proprietor ofthe Museum, who made
me such offers as induced me TO wait ill
should have ample means of my own to eff
feet my purpose. But events which | need
not mention again blasted my hopes
At last determined OF taking some other
course to raise the necessary funds, and con-
suited the same friend who had generously
to assist me before. He propos-
ed 10 see the first men of the city, and get
them To unite in Il scheme for sending me IL
broad, with commissions Tor their busts, which
was to model at once, and receive one half
The payment III advance, and the remainder
when they were done. | had already made
several busts from time TO time, by which my
ability i'll my art might be estimated. But
his scheme failed, for only three besides him
self could be found willing to subscribe TO the
plan. Bu determined on making his bust
1t any rate, and | did; and when il was done
ne told me he would send me abroad him
self, aud if wished To 90 East and try my
ortImc there,i could do so as soon as pleas
I'd, and he would see my interests cared for
n Cincinnati (tor had wife and family !
lowG and that | should not want for support
while was gone, accepted this generous
and reached Washington Just be-
ore Congress met in 1895, taking with me
al men.
did not expect any commissions imme-
liately. All hoped for was to obtain rep
ltation as an artist and began with bust |
# General Jackson, who consented in the !
,indest manner 10 sit. He took the precall-
ion, however, first of all, TO ask me if it was
ny practice to put plaster on the face TO get
II impression of the features. On my re-
living in the negative, he said he was very
lad for he had heard of the manner in which
ir Jefferson had been taken by MIR Browere.
And for my part" said he, 81 should not
Ike to be tortured, or have my ears pulled
fl, as was the case with that great man when
G was obliged to go through with that dread
ii process.
He showed me an apartment next his sitting
Dom, where he said might arrange my ma
,rials. In two days my clay was prepared
The old General entered, and going to a shelf
t one end ofthe room he took down long
liled pipe from one box, and charged it with
ut tobacco from another. Pipe in order, he
,ok his seat, and remained with me for u
out an hour, and during most of the time he
noked and said but little. He was sitting
etorc Il window which fronted the Capitol,
nd noticed he took off his spectacles and {
cid them some distance from his face and {
'olled some time in the direction ofthe Cap /
oil Hill. AT last, with an expression of i'm
ntience, he exclaimed: t
81 thought so Boys, Mr. Powers, boys : +
icy are going to have holiday"
did not understand this; and perceiving S
he pointed to flagstaff on the Capitol a
"Don't you see," said he, 1.-THE flag is down. /
hey have adjourned over till Tuesday or u
yednesdny. Congress has Just met. That's Il
e way they do. They are all leisure now, e
nd they neglect the public business; but Il
,u'll find when the session is drawing to a n
ose all will be hurry and confusion, and O
ongress will break up leaving much impor- O
mt business undone."