Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-29


the latitude, cases similar to that Of Mr. - o.
frequent In those countries is called running
muck An individual becomes full of fight that he can
longer contain il accordingly, he hmsef with
species Of dagger, very similar to that from which Mr.
wiped the blood with his and, rushing
into the Streets wounds and sys indscrmnaey among the
crowd il that this gallant exploit always results in
the death of the person performing its the people OF the coun
try entertaining foolish notion that il 10 too dangerous and
expensive mode Of cuvasng national bravery. But in the
present instance trust this rule will be relaxed Mr.
the only specimen Of this peculiar habit OF spice
Islands, and be should be preserved . curiosity"
Mr.. Thorpe thus proceeds:
I was soon after Mr. Prentiss returned from Kentucky
that had the pleasure Of ht seeing him. In his personal
appearance he emneny handsome, and yet emineny
manly. Although Of medium height there that in the
carriage Of his head that asonshingy impressive il
gave wonderful idea Of power shall forget him on
OCCASION when be 1t public meeting q political
discusson) reply to an antagonist worthy Of h steel
His whole soul roused, biz hish smooth forehead fairly
enrn.es.d ne rsmainsd slsnt Os some second and only
boked The bald eagls gAscsd neIcsy from bis
eyne seemed = il h dssp gray 80 would distend until
Il swallowed up the thousapdsof bis audience For an in
slant the effect painful; he il and smiled, when
cheer burst from the admriDg multitude that fairly shook the
esrh.
His voice clear and sweet and could be heard at an
immense distances and yet to be all like Demoshsnes he had
percepible npedimen in his speech As reader be had
sentences subdued humorous but the impressive parts
delivered with effect that reminded Of descriptions
of the elder Kean
His imagination unrpassed and the rich stores Of
his mind supplied him with neyer-endng material quoted and
original The slightest ausion any thing gave the key
to all the pScuares If be had occasion to speak of the
diamond, ts discovery ty some poor native its being
cated with commerce. its polish BY the apdary, its adoing
the neck Of beauty its rays brilliant and serene, its BIRTH it
life its history, ali flashed upon him. So with every idea in
the vast storehouse Of his mind he seemed to know all
things in and in particulars confused,
loss the hearer listened wondered and dreamed Thoughts
of moment forth demanded but thousand other
thoughts, and beautiful continued to bubble up after all
effort ceased"
. Soon after Mr.. Prentiss settled in New Orleans meet
ing was held to raise funds for tho erection Of suitable
monument to Franklin. On that occasion the lamented
Wilde and the accomplished McCaeb delivered ornate and
chaste addresses upon the value Of and the policy of
rchDg New Orleans with its exhibition. AT the close Of the
meeng as the audience to DEPART discovered
Prentiss and called bis II echoed from all sides
he tried escape but literally carried the stand
sAs rich specimen Of ofhand eoquence, think the
address he delivered that occasion pnequaed Un-
like any other speech be had the arts to deal WITH and of
course the associations Of surprising spendor knew
that he ignorant Of the echnicaes Of art and had paid
but little atention their study, and my surprise
bounded 10 see him Unexpectedly, called upon, instantly
range in bis mind ideas, and expressing facts and illustrations
that would have done honor Burke when dwelling upon
the sublime and beautiful Had he been bred to the easel
confined to the scupo room, he could not have been
more familiar with the details Of the studio be painted with
all the biancy Of Titan and with the correctness of Ra-
Praxteles and the energy Of Michael Angelo.
Al this With Pren,iss intuition. believe that the
whole The spontaneous thought Of the moment the crude
outlines thai acaed brcugh bic mind bsing Hsd up BY the
was goresous ,s p@sa Nacolera - ~ susnix * ~
Alps; his hearers him and his steel ad wssms tIrea
ing the SHOWS Of Mount St Bernard and having gained -
dizzy height Prcntiss represented the Of destiny look
ing down upon the sunny plains Of Italy, and them with
mighty swoop descending from the clouds and making The
grasp Of empire secondary to that Of ant.
ssOf Prensss power before jury too much cannot be
said. lnnumeabe illustrations might be gathered up show
ing that be far surpassed any living advocate The trial
the Wikinsons is often cited, although far from be-
ing one Of his best efforts. Another trial
thy of particular notice, of which little has been said
the community Of those directly Interested On one occasion
two young men, only and deeply attached friends
quaelled and in the mad excitement Of them killed.
Upon the trial the testimony Of the mother Of the deceased
direct that it seemed render the clearing of the
prisoner hopeless. Prentiss spoke to the Witness and 10
the bandes and style. The mother
arsyed in weeds and bowed down with sorrow turned
wards Prentss and answered his inquiries with all the dig
nifty Of perfectly accomplished lady she calmly uttered the
truth, and every word she spoke rendered the defence
rently more hopeless.
60 Would you punish that young with death 2 said
Prentiss, pointing TO the prisoner.
" The questioned looked, and answered, He has made
me chidIess let the law take its course.
sAnd would wrnging her heart and hunying her gray
hairs with sorrow into the grave, by rendering her chdes
assuage your grief 2
bing was heard in the courtroom.
said the Witness with all the gushing tenderness
Of mother, No would not add sorrow to her heart,
nor that of her son ?
Admissions in the evidence followed and hopes were ut
tered for the acqua that changed the whole cha
racter Of the testimony What was few moments before 90
dark light and without the slightest that might be
construed into unfsr advantage in the hands Of Pents
the witness for the prosecution pleaded for the accused
The extraordinary inspiration that the presence Of ladies
gave to Mr. Premise when addressing audience easily
percepbe, and consequently his addresses ito the cour
were always eer from that soft imagery peculiar his
vein than his speeches before promiscuous audience
An amusing incident occurred many years ago that s worth
relating. In one Of the new counties of Mississippi, then
just wresed from the aboriginal Inhabitants Mr. Prentss had
IN Indan for client The cabin courshouse presented
e to excite the inaginson, and the etiquette Of the
bsneh almost lrecluded any thing but very
speech Mr. Prensss took bat little interest seemingly 10 the
matter before him, when two three ladies no4iesd
peeng into the hall of jusce, evidently anxious hear
voice, and Of whom they had heard much In
anty the Of Prentss changed and be
fdulgng in Of his flowing The polite
of the sheriff found for the fair intrude upon the
room, and the consequence that Mr. Pfenss
in the midst Of address in behalf of the wronged
Indsn that for pahos for beauty and for effect
exceled.
"Here perhaps while speaking of the involuntary COM
pments he paid to the presencc Of woman, may be
proper cay that toward oil connected with him by ties Of
blood be felt the most scve affection, and especial
sisters and mother Of all the of New England who
have found home in the far South have surpassed him
in attention those outward ckens that tell Of
cherished remembrance, everything love. From the time
haMr Preniss left the paterna roof almost the hour Of
decease did be pour out his soul to absent parent in
continued correspondence, which, preerud extends
over more than quarter Of century, growing in quantity and
skn of