New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-14
DAILY CRESCENT.
@. Edwards Lester.

The above namel individual, who it appears
is an associate editor Of the London Times, and
who has lately been traducing the United States
through the columns Of that journal, receives
most unmerciful castigation in the Washington
Union of the 9th inst. Mr. G. Edwards Lester
is an American by birth and was formerly our
Consul at Genoa, where he gained some notoriay
by the discovery. of an ivory statute of Christ
on the Cross which was afterwards exhibited in
this country.
Although the Union does not mention Mr..
G. Edwards Lester by name, it so daguerreo-
types him that there is no mistaking his indvu
alty. The Union thus speaks of him:
We shall not write down the name Of this
hired traducer of his own country's fame; but
we will daguereotype him by the light Of truth
reflected from the record of his past life, until
all good men will call out for "a whip Of scor-
pions to lash the traitor naked through the
world
He was United States Consul at Genoa, Sar-
dinia, and was appointed by Mr. Tyler in June,
1872; and, though protesting to be democrat,
removed by President Polk in September, 1s47
His career at Genoa presents n record of mis-
conduct and disgraceful abuse of his trust rs an
| American Consul which more than justified the
Executive act which called him home in dis
grace. We have no wish to nauseate our read
| ers by detail of his profigacy and abuse Of
| trust whilst at Genoa, but will be content to
glance at few of the well authenticated facts.
The Hon. r Wickliffe, Junior, our distinguished
Charge dAffairs at Turin during most Of the time
| that the correspondent of the London Times
was at Genoa, being his superior in position,
and more or less acquainted with him, was COM
PEELED to report his misconduct to the Home
Government He did so in repeated dispatches,
the whole making, as we are assured, solid
| and irrefragable mass of evidence of his un-
worthiness Of the respect and confidence of bis
country MIR. Wickliffe charges him with re-
peated acts of falsehood fraud and deception
| He claimed to be the nephew of Presd ent Polk
in order to induce NJ Vespucci of Florence, te
| reward him, on condition Of his getting the
American Congress to grant him large body
of land because he was a lneal descendant o1
Americus Vespucius. To bind the bargain, NJ
Vespucci put into his hands picture of great
value and age, which had been in the family fol
years. He attempted to procure a large fet
from an Italian gentleman who wished to bt
made United States Vice-Consul at one Of the
Sandman ports, the revenue of which he gross
ly and intentionally exaggerated. de wa
charged with appropriating the wages OF tn
sick American seamen who were lying sick Il
| the hospital at Genoa, and when he lC1t on leaV
of absence he provided no money to repay tn
debt SO that the poor sailors might be relieved
To save the credit of the American legation
Mr.. Wickliffe and the Vice Consul paid the debt
left by him, including the money retained b
him, and belonging to the invalid seamen
When he left on leave not to exceed fou
months, but which was protracted beyond
year, he directed the Nice-Consul at Genoa
take the key Of the consular chest, and b
would find in that money to pay the debts OF tn
consulate by him, the London Times's CORES
pondent, contracted, and upon opening the ches
, not a cent was found
But we shall not pursue these disgusting dc
i, tails of official misconduct So infamous di
I the disclosures at Genoa make him, that Nj
: Wicklite, our Minister at the Sandman Cour
I advised that he should be kept at home. II
|. was removed in September, 1S47, and eftel
wards assaied Mr.. Polk and Mr.. Buchans
: with the same virulence with which he now a
sails President Pierce. s#
Il The crowning act of infamy in the history
d Mr. c.. Edwards Lesters life is to be found
i, his voluntary abuse Of his own country throu
&c the columns of an inimical press. Pass
|, scamp around!