The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-04-16
VIZ. Gay a. gsa.ana.

was treated with great respect BY the Captain
General OF Cuba, Don Jose dc la Concha -
The New Orleans Plcayule has the follow
ing account # the interview, furnished by Q
gentleman who was present:
Mr Clay having sgnified, when he trans.
mitted his passport, that II was his desire, il
common with many of his counirymen, tt
pay their respects TO The Captain General al
such time as he might be pleased to suggest
his Eycellency appointed the following day
at IL o'clock, as the hour when he would be
happy to receive them. AT that time Mr..
Clay, accompanied by his friend DR.. Mercer
and also by Senator Downs OF this State, Sc.
nator Clemens of Alabama, Senator Jones Of
Iowa, and the Hon. Messrs. La Sere and
Penn, Representatives in Congress from this
State /; and the Hon. Me.srs. Voney E. How.
ard of Texas, Stanton Of Tennessee, and
Holmes of South Carolina, with Col. Van
Allen of New York, Coils. Jennings and Stew.
art and d. c. Labat, E.q, of this city, re.
paired to the residence Of his Excellency.-
Mr.. La Sere, at The request of Mr.. Clay, &C.
ted as interpreter, the Captain General speak.
ing French.
Ga reaching The palace the party was ush.
cred into an elegant apartment, where the
Captain General, plainly but tastIly attired in
citizens dress, entered The room, and greet.
ed Mr.. Clay with much cordiai,y. The lat.
ter then introduced his friends, and begged
MIR. La Sere to say to his Excellency that he
was glad to have the opportunity of thanking
him, 10 pei son, for The courtesy with which
both himself and companions had been al.
lowed to land.
The Captain. General replied that he was
most happy to extend TO him The courtesies
of the Island during his stay, and desired to
know how long he and his friends purposed
remaining in Havana. Mr.. Clay answered.
that he desired 10 remain about two weeks
parenlhesising, with great good taste, "with
your Excelency's PERMISSION" He went on
to say that his friends we're returning to their
respective homes, with the exception Of Mr..
Holmes, who, on accoun; Of his extreme
youth. was on his way to California.
This was said with Mr.. Clsy's customary
smile Of dry and quaint humor, and occasion.
ed not IIiIe mirh among those who could
see that Mr.. H. had arrived al full years of
maturity. Mr.. Clay continued that he now
visited Cuba with three objects: one TO re.
cruit his health, another to meet his old friend
DR.. Mercer, Cunning gracefully TO that gen
tleman,) and the third to pay his respects 10
bis Excelency in person.
The Captain General then remarked, that
the Government Of Spain, had always been
the friend of The United States from The day
/ of their independence, and that he trusted
their amlcable relations would be strengthen.
ed by the visit Of ;he distinguished gentle.
men he saw around him. Mr. Clay replied,
that the Government Of the United Stales so
far as he was informed, was extremely anx.
lous to maintain uninterrupted those friendly
feelings which had ever existed, and that
whatever m, ght be done BY individuals, to
/ threaten the continuance Of these relations,
he was sure the Government would deploTe,
and do all in its power to avert.
The Captain General here alluded to ru.
NOR that another expedition was being fitted
out from the United States against Cuba, and
in the course of his remarks ntimaed that
the Island felt strong enough to defend Itself
in such an event. After Mr.. Clay had as.
sured hun that, in his opinion there was little
foundation for such rumor the Captain Gen.
eIal invited him, and such of his companions
as might remain in Havana, to dine at the
Palace on the Sunday following. at the same
time stating that he was sorry their short
visit prevented him from entertaining them
as he desired. He however invited them 10
bring their ladies in the evening, to prone.
made through the palace and listen to the mu
sic in the PIaza, and thus ended his interview.
In the evening, which was beautifully bril-.
liant, number Of American ladies, elegant
ly altired, visited the Captain General and his
amiable lady. Among them were Mrs. Gen.
Ashley snd Mrs. Cox Of St. Louis, Mrs. and
Miss Scott of Iowa, Mrs. Volnev E. Howard
Of Texas, Miss McCaleb of Louisiana. Miss
Louisa G. Reid Of New York, Mrs. Eckles
of Tennessee and Mrs. Capt. D. D. Porter
and nothing could exceed the cordall,y and
delicacy with which they were entertained
Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Porter conversed with
the lady Of the Captain General in Spanish
and were charmed with her hospltable affa
biity.
Several Castilian ladies' we're also presen,
and spoke English fuen,ly, while all the A.
mericaos we're delighted with their reception
as they were taken through the spacious and
gorgeously furnished apartments of the pa.
lace. Meanwhile the well known bands, foI
which Havana has been long celebrated, were
giving some Of their choicest music in the
plaza in front, the square literally crowded
+ with citizens and strangers.
When is lady no, lady ? When she il