The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-13

New YoRx, June IL. 1851.

| New YoRK, June III, 1851
| We are never without seyen-days wonders In New
York AT times they OF great public interest and i'm
portance, and often ally, II moi more injurious TO pub
lie MORALS than can express your readers The city
newspapers play with the fancy and Of public
as nurse does with those OF child just changing from
infancy 10 boyhood They keep gewgaw always
on hand, holding il up TO view whenever Master
Pop seems inclined for mischief, wearied OF doing
nothing IN the way OF exercising his nqurng propensi
ties The negroqueston oyfor such has been IN The
hands OF TOO many of our editorial nurseshavng ceased
to satisfy the craving OF the public appetite for wonders
when Simms duly returned from Boston. they have
seized the Willis and Webb controversy. aud the dis
solution OF the temporary business partnership between
Miss Denny Lind and Mr. Barnum with which, for the
time being to tickle this scandal young appetite
presume that every woman, and child in New York
capable OF reading English, has read the papers in
the of Smith CoIdngon and his wife against James
Watson Webb, OF the Courier and Enquirer, recently
pubshedi in the Herald. Their history embraces
ing against the tendency of the style in which too many
OF city journalists seek to purvey for their readers to
which refer above. II is, in few words, follows:
Many years ago personal misunderstanding occurred
between Mr. N. P. Willis and Col. Webb, in which the
former held himself to have been nsued by the latter
Since then intercourse has taken place between them
When Col Webb was sent by the government 10 Aus
tria, Mr.. Willis according to Webb's account took
every occasion to prejudice society the connenand
more especially in Vienna--agans him, by secretly
sending around dsparaging publications relative to him.
The London Times in recent article on American
journalism, took occasion to quote these writings OF
Willis against Webb to show that conductors OF leading
papers in this country at times convcts, notorious
lars poltroons &c. at least, that they were in the
habit of designating each other with mpunlty On
the temperance OF the old attack of Mr. Willis in the
Times, Col Webb published elaborate article to show
that the (assumed) magny of Mt. Willis against him
had its origin in the fact that he had been OF two
enen selected by friend TO force from Willis the writ
ten evidence of his in seducing young, inno
cent, and beautiful girlthat friends daughter. Will
lis rejons and discaims the charge alleging the let
tiers called for and given up to have been the mere child
sh literary illusions Of pure and talented but ndscreet
boarding school girl. Webb reteraes the allegation,
claiming to refer TO entirely different from that
one Of the se affairs OF Willis In the meanwhile
the tongue Of the public gliby upon the matter,
until in fashionable circles it is whispered to all that the
lady in question is the daughter Of the celebrated painter
Inman now dead Kind friends Of that lady, the
vile Of Smith Coddngon, esq, HE to her and her hus-
band and Inform them of this charge against her virtue
which is in the mouths OF all New York quidnuncs
whether sitting in pews OF fashionable churches or
slipping jueps in flash doggeries on Broadway. The
lady, conscious that her correspondence with Willis has
been misepresented in the heat OF the resentment OF
Webb against him, sends to demand the letters, which
are in Webbs hands Believing them necessary to his
purpose of vndicatng himself he hestaes about giving
them up 10 their righul owners Whereupon, the lat
ter, fortified with affidavit from the gentleman who
acted with Webb the fathers request in getting the
papers out Of the hands OF Willis, proceedings
for an Injunction TO obtain them; and by way OF cor
recting the public misunderstanding OF the facts OF the
controversy so far as the lady is concerned they send
for publication in the Herald all the ahdavis on their
side, which, if true, place Col. Webb in position as
man which he could not hold ai'ue for twenty-fou
L II ky vnnsaa lima al
Webb rejons in day two in the Herald, reteraing
his declaration relative TO the character OF the cores
pondence and accusing his former associate in the work
of obtaining the evidences OF the ruin OF the lady OF con-
spring with Willis to sustain the latter. and using the
poor victim and her husband in furheance OF his wicked
schemes.
Now terminate as this dssraceful quarrel between two
editors may the peace OF family is TO be forever de-
stroyed by it, SO much for the private injury inflicted
by this squabbe the demorazing influence OF which on
the taste of the reading public OF the city is
worse than any pen can express or explain
So far the Jenny Lind and Barnum affair has attracted
much less ne attention than would have been be-
slowed on il but for the absorption OF the public mind
with the other bi, Of scandal The truth is. Miss Lind,
by her terms with Barnum has the right to cease shar
ng her profits with him at the termination Of her hun
dredh concert, on paying him forfeiture OF $4,000.
This she has concluded TO do though between you and
me the knowing ones aware that but for BaInums
.killu management her profits would have been hardly
holt the high figure they have undoubtedly reached
Byhe- by next to her own and those Of Mr.. Barnum,
Genin the fashionable Broadway halter. has made the
heaviest profits from her visit TO America. Indeed, his
career within the past year has been well nigh extra
ordinary as that of Barnum, and illustrates capaly the
new system in trade coming IN vogue here When
purchasing the frs, Jenny Lind ticket for s225, all the
prudent business of this city rolled their eyes in
Constituent at his apparent extravaganza They little
knew how shrewd scheme OF trade was involved in his
bid He commenced business here when just OF age,
about nine years ago. literally depending upon his hands
and wits Gradually he increased his stock and bus-
ness by dnt of perseverance, and the undou5ed excel
ence of his fabrics, until when Jenny Lind arrived he
had commenced be regarded by the ton a serious
competitor for the palm OF being the most fashionable
halter of the day Having brought capital into his
men TO be found in Europe this country, and by dnt Of
labor made himself master OF the "hisory Of the hat in
all ages and countries. concerning which he has written
much, he went to work to get his name in all the
newspapers by buying the first Jenny Lind concert
| ticket sold in this country, at enormous price
Every paper in America duly chroniced his pur
chase. Forthwith the inquiry was made everywhere,
{" Who is Gennl" and the press OF this city, ever
ready to aid the business OF liberal advertiser let
the world know him familiarity any other business
man in the Union is known Next to Barnum his house
has probably spent than any other house in New
York in advertising within the last two years Now
mark the difference Oss,an F. Dodge Boston vocalist
fancyng the secret OF the rapid fortune which Genn is
/ L. n IL a.