The New York herald., 1851-11-06

Barnum and Lola Monte 1.-THE Great
Question OF the Day.
A few days ago, . very form midsbls document,
signed by the great Barnum, and sworn to be-
fore high heaven, with the sun and moon, and
the attendant stars, as witnesses, and attes.ed
by Connecticut Justice Of the Peace, appeared
in the sparkling columns Of some of ear 90.
temporaries. In plain language, suitable to all
classes, it was an affidavit proceeding from the
conscience Of MIR. Bsrnum, in which he denied,
point blank, that he ever had any negotiation eok
ing to any engagement with the "notorious Lola
Montez," as he calls her; and, furthermore, do
claring, under oath, that the editor of this paper
James Gordon Bennett had no authority for stating
the rumors on the subject, which he had heard
during recent visit to Paris. The document is as
follows
BRrpeEpoRr, November 1851.
State Of Connecticut, Fairfield County, ss.-t p T.
I have read a paragraph contained in the Nsw
YoRx HERALD Of this date, published ey James Cor,
aGn ;ss hes ahorsy that Ls araad
Smith and Lola Monez had entered Into negotiation
for the sass thu ue Of
&C it is utterly false this paragraph more than
ntmaes that entered through the said LIE Grand
Smith any other person. into any negotiations what
ever for the purpose Of ecurpg the services
rous Lola that is absolutely and entirely untrue that
said Smith authorised by me to engage said
Lola Montez; that it is undenAby that said Lola
through person protesting TO be authorized by her,
made sppsaon to me 70 act IN ner behalf, or engage
unquRhedly refused that at no time and under cir
cusances would this deponent have consented to
gage the services in associate himself with
the interests OF the said Lola Montez aud that verify
believe that the said James Gordon Bennett at the time
he published said paragraph knew that the bes autho-
rity" he refers to was false in every particular.
p, T. BARNUM
BRIDGEPORT, November /, 1851.
Fairfield County, Personally appeared before me p
T. Bsrnum who subscribed the for Ding deposition
and made solemn oath to the truth Of the same
v. F. STERLING, Justice OF the Peace
The accompanying note is from his counsel, Mr..
Cromwell, of No. 6s Wall street, enclosing the
affidavit, and containing much legal advice on the
subject, which has been given to US voluntarily,
without any fee in advan:e, and for which We are
thank ful: -
Nrw YosK, Nov ], 1851
JAMES GoRpoS BENNETT, ESQ
Dean sIs-Accompanyipg is an affidavit showing that
yoUr publication touching Lola Monsez and Mr Barnum
in the HERALD Of the lst inst contains assertions
true in point Of fact which tend 70 the asgrae and in
jury Of Mr. Barnum in the estimation Of Miss Lind aud
the public He desires to ask the publication of the
affidavit, without fail in your paper with retrastion
And, also am desired to tina, he not for the
changes you may ring on Joyce Heth the feee Mer
Eaid, and that you may blackguard much you
that may charge pute to him anything disg-aoefu
or dishonest do not altogether approve of the last
Paraaraph in his affidavit, and Mr.. in the city
sheud advise iss modification; for, doubt not You
may have had grounds for the belief Of the truth Of che
publication.
sti Mr. Barnum entitled to bis belief and asks it,
Insertion 70 do away IN some measure the I'M us.ce you
have done him.
Believe me, yours, very respectfully; rn,,
We assure Mr.. Barnum and the civilized world
that we have 10 desire to misinterrre. his position
in relation to the extraordinary, the wonderful,
! nbo al A.
nation in which either Jenny Lind holds him 10
this world, or Joyce Heth holds him in the noxt.
We may add, with our hand on our heart that i.
is also the furthest from our intention to do any
thing that may impair the high estimation in
which he is held by the Happy Family, nov being
exhibited in the American Museum-or lessen tie
interest whi,h may still be felt by Tom Thumb for
his successful political career in Connectcus-or
diminish the veneration which the Fejee Mermaid
may entertain towards him for past Transactions
or even question the reverence which the remains of
he Woolly Horse, amidst the geological specimens
n as hilgtOp, may attach TO him here or elsewhere.
Far be it from US to impute anything discreditable
" dishonorable to the distinguished patriot who |
lug up Joyce Heth from the Mammoth Cave Of
and made a whole nation believe-with- |
ut evidence and without afidavit-an amount |
nough to make a new religion, or TO Sc. up nev
We never dreamed OF injuring our
ritr Barnum-the Apostle of Temperance No. 2 |
be right hand man Of all the ''notoriesies" that
ave appeared during the last fifteen years, from
oyce Heth, now in heaven and an angel on high, |
own to Jenny Lind, still On earth, bu. equally an
rgel below.
Yet we contend thas we alse have some character,
nd We are very anxious hat reputation for early
ews and correct intelligence should not be impaired
y the pety and fervor Of Mr.. BArnum, in an aft
avit made with his up lifted hand before Justice
f the Peace, or by laying bis hand upon the Holy
'ible He has charged us with saying what we
slieved To be untrue, because we stated tha. we
ad heard, on good authority, that Mr.. Barhum,
trough his agents in Europe, had been in nego-
istion with Lola Montez, and that she had de-
lined any connection with such q concern, for
easons sufficient therefor. Our information came
rom her agent and private secretary, Mr.. f. p.
Willis, brother Of n. p. Willis gentle man some
What known to Mr.. Forrest and Colonel Webb
III unsolicited on our part, and casually ex-
aessed on his. The evidence that We spoke of, and
vas currently believed in Paris and London, Is dis
ant; but, fortunately, ". have, in the following
ptter from Mr.. Barry, Of tho Broadway theatre, in
bis city, testimony showing that Lola Mon.ez her
elf confirmed the accuracy Of our statement, in
be teeth ofo respected friend, Mr Ba-num
BsoApwAr THEirRr. Nov 5, 1851.
TsS sfR-
beg leave 70 scknowledge the recsir. Of your
vcr cf this date The rumoE that tie Coan.esse de
on sftldt, (ola Montez) received last summer, from
IT, Le Grand smth-who was and believe s stu, the
ufopean agent II Mr Barnum-a proposal 10 pay visit
the United States and % receive FOR her professional
rvcef most sberal h. doubt not true;
CT Is there anything strange In a gentleman Of Mr.,
mi n experence and shrewdnese iesvorng to
~ either himself or his employer, ths services cf
rti'e who had refused from speculator In Paris ore
iar qf francs for eight months representation and
cr director of one q the theatres in Ps,s Elk thou
md francs per night TIE Cosfnf.ss ierssf Informed
}. 4 ne of,r fsads by " l. Gropds Ssif's, ard hsr
cnrs for esciinirg n. Had either Mr. Bsrnum or Mr.
nj, b been present, they would have laughed did
the comparison drawn by the Countesss between
~ and certain wonders Of the world that have Of late
obtained considerable noorie.y under the manage
ent a the gresest master Of his art the has ever
.ore upon. am, dea- cir. your obstt serv't.