The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-18
An.odo,. specially Dedicated to the President.

Lord Chatham once said that confidence is plant oil
slow growth in aged bosom How slow il should be
with like Gen. Taylor, who has been forty years
ncamp destitute Of civil qualifications inexperienced in
satesmanshp, and in things Of the political world, and
who saw single member Of his cabinet until he
first met them in Washington Still more slow it should
be, when we see how easily like Mr.. Clay, man
Of the world experienced in all the ways and arts Of men,
can be taken in by plausible impostor, appears by
the following recent and amusing anecdote:
A coNyIDENcE MAN AND Hon. HENRY CLAr--The Gin.
cinnat Dispatch Of the 9Th inst speaking Of the way in
which confidence man imposed upon the Hon. Henry
Clay on his recent return from the Morrill, says He made
Buffalo % ssSdusRS and aSs coming
brother Of Mr. Winthrop OF Massachusetts,, Speaker of
the last Congress. AS Mr.: Cays boy. Levi had acci.
aeasy been le behind a. Buffalo and as the venerable
tenilons ne bestowed upon him in the absence of his
regular travelling companion, taking care Of baggage
a the various changes, and other little attentions Of the
kind, were gratefully received, and won the old mans
confidence. Such a thing the fellow being an
impostor never crossed his mind. Upon Mr.. Clay's
arrival; arrival at the Broadway Hotel in this ely, he in
and, from the Difference which Mr.. Clay's rec
ommendatlon inspired, he at once had the enfree
e the best society He lived at the top Of the heap at
the Broadway--invited friends to dine with him-or-
dered expensive wines and had all his little bills even
down to his washing paid at the hotel Office. He Dor.
rowed money Of several gentlemen upon whom he i'm.
posed rumpednp story OF having his pockets picked OF
all his money. His baggage not making very bulky
show, ne also spoke OF having lost his trunks travel
ling After living at the Broadway, where he Jared
sumptuously every day. Tor some ten days. always neg
ecng to settle for board and washing he concluded to
accept the invitation OF the venerable statesman visit
Ashland, made in the presence OF the large crowd
bled to witness his departure Tor home. II so happened
mat the baggage OF Gov Letcber, minister TO Mexico,
and the Hon Orlando Brown, Indian agent whose &C.
Saaintance he had also made during their stay the
had haon Infs Ank.
was to be forwarded after them. AS this impostor
going by the stage to Lexington, the trunks of these
gentlemen, containing important matters, by friend
Of theirs ntrusted to this young scamp. who took them
IN charge in his own name promising TO deliver them to
the owners He had not left the city long. before his i'm
posture was discovered. Upon the ezpost, friend Of
as well as TO Governor Letcher and Mr. Brown Al the
SsRs, into saa s asnHa b had INSTALLED
others TO whom be had had letters from gentlemen here
or had been presented by Mr. Clay himself He was re.
ceiyed into the fret society OF the Kentucky metropolis
this ssssapSc despatch sSsari Of his an a WEE
have been kindly permitted by gentleman of this city,
who was instrumental ia exposing this base vlany, to
use the following extract from letter received from Mr.
Clay, in answer to his telegraphic despatch:
ASHLAND, Sept. %.
DEAR FRIENDS have been deceived the young man
who called himself Winthrop and am sorry for IT, be.
came acquainted with him the voyage from Buffalo
Sandusky and without formal introduction. He rep
resented himself the brother Of Speaker Winthrop, and
OF course believed him. During that voyage aud during
the from Sandusky Cincinnati nothing could exceed
his kind attentions me-takng Of my baggage, aud
performing other little friendly offices for me Having left
my Buffalo, these kind very useful
acceptable and felt very grateful the young for
bem. suspicion crossed my mind genu.
OF his name, to his being mposior nntl
received Mr.. Cfonwes elegraphic despatch. Aer that
tecgraphed Speaker winthrop rom whom learned that
he his brother, and that he had brother Of
The young got into good society here was invited
out several times dinner, Ne He made mpts
TO borrow money without much success and suddenly
ffIav fE.lIa ~
spply for money lam truly that young
man capable should be unworthy and that may
have been the Innocent cause OF misleading others e
his real character
Your friend, H. CLAY.