The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-05
From Sir Jonah Barrington's Personal Sketches
Irish Anecdotes.

From Sir Jonah Barrington's Personal Sketches
" Irish Anecdotes. So, .-.-
| COLONEL Burr AND JOHN RANDOLPH.
Colonel Burr, who had been Vice Presi.
. dent of America, and probably would have
been the next President, but for his unfor-
tunate duel with General Hamilton, came
] over to England, and was made known to
me by Mr.. Randolph. of Virginia, with
whom was very intimate. Herequested
/ | would introduce him to Mr.. Grattan,
whom he was excessively anxious to, see.
Colonel Burr was not man OF very
prepossesslng appearances; rough;featur,.
ed, and neither dressy nor polished; but a
welI-inlormed, sensible man, and though
not particularly agreeable, yet an in
struciiye companion. People in general
7 form extravagant anticipations regarding
eminent persons, The idea Of q great
. orator and an Irish chief carried, with ii i
naturally enough corresponding notions of
physical elegance, yigour aud dignity.
Such was Colonel Burr's mistake. Ibelieve
about Mr.. Grattan. and took care n OF to-
undeceive him. We wentto my friends
lhouse, who was to leave London next day
4 / announced that Colonel Burr. from Amer
'Iica, Mr.. Randolph, and. myself. wished to
lpav our respects, andthe servant Informed
us that his master would receive us in a
short time, but was at the moment much
occupied on business Of consequence.
! Burr's expectations were all on the alert!
4 Randolph also was anxious to be present
ed to the great Grattsn, and both impa-
},ient for the entrance Of this Demosthenes~
4 1t len 9TH the door opened, and in hoped
a small bent figure, meagre, yellow. and
ordinary; one slipper and one shoe; his
breeches' knees loose; his cravat hanging
! down: his Shirt and coatsleeves tucked up
high, and an old'hatupon his head. This
4 apparition saluted the strangers svery cour
teouslv, asked. without any introduction.
thow long they had been III England, and
/ immediately proceeded TO make inquiries
about the late General Washington and
the revolutionary war. My companions
Hooked at each other; their replies were
Icostive, and they seemed quite impatien,
to see Mr. Grattan. | could Scarcely con
!, tain myself. bu, determined TO let my ec-
centric countfynnan take his course, who
! appeared quite delighted TO see his visiters.
and was the most inquisitive person ii tsc
world. Randolph was far the tallest and
4 most dignifed looking man of The two,
). gray .haired and well dressed; Grattan,
, therefore, Of course, took him for the Vice
!, president, and addressed him accordingly
3 Randolph. at length, begged TO know il
!. they could shortly have the honor Of see
! ling Mr. Grattan. Upon which our host
X 4 not 81 doubling but they knew him, conceiv-
!, ed ii mast bo his son James for whom they
! inquired, and said he believed he had that
| moment wandered out somewhere to amnse
!, himself. This completely sconcerted the
Americans, and they were about to make
! their bow and their exit, when | thought il
! high time 10 explain; and, taking Colone
Burr and Mr.. Randolph respectively by
!, tho hand, introduced them TO the Righ
! Honorable Henry Grattan. never saw
4 people stare SO. or so much embarrassed
Il Graitan himself, now perceiying the cause
J. heartily joined in my merriment. He pull
q ed down his shirt-sleeves,, Puiled:np hi
i stockings, and in his own irresistible way
+ apologized for the outre figure he cut as
). suririg them that he had totally overlooked
! it in his anxiety not to keep them waiting
that he was returning TO Ireland next morn
ing, and had been busily packing up hi
books and papers in closet FOIL of 'dns
and cobwebs!, This incident rendered III
!. interview more Interesting. The Ameri
;, cans were charmed with their reception
. and, after protracted visit, retired highl,
= gratifed, while Grattan returned again +
his books and cobwebs. rs
= A "REMINISCENCES OF GRATTAN.--On tn
= election in question, was proposed b
= Mr.. George Ponsonby,. and upon MI
i Grattan rising next to vote upon my tally
y he was Immediately objeeted TO as .havln
!. been expelled on the report Of Lord Clare
j committee. A burst tof Indignation on-th
= one side, and boisterous declaration o.
\ the other, forthwith succeeded. II was {
- an alarming nature: Gratan meanwlil
!, standing silent, and regarding. with
"a smile of the most ineffable contempt eve
: Expressed, his shameless accusers. Th
:, objection was made by Mr.. John Giffart
= of whom hereafter. On the first intermis
J. sion Of the tumult. with calm and digni
!. fed air. but in that energetic tone and styl
: so peculiar to himself, Mr.. Grattan deli,
- cred the following memorable words
- memorable, because conveying. in fe'
i short sentences, the most oyerwhelmin
4 ! phiippic-the most irresistible assembling
:. y of terms imputing public depravity, thu
+, the English, or, believe. any other lar
Il gnage, is capable of afording: !" Mr.: She
- Eiff,- when observe the quarter whence II
- objection comes, / am not surprised at i
J. !. being. made! 1t proceeds from the hire
: traducer Of his country-the excommun
4 Gated of his fellow citizens-the regal rel
- el-the unpunished rufIian--the bigote
!; !, agtator! In the city q frebrand-in II
!, court, a liar-in the streets bully in. Il I
- - field a. coward And so obnoxious is
~ TO The very party he wishes to, espous
= :. that he is only supportable by doing thos
:, : dirty acts the less vile refuse to execute,
- Gihard. thunder, struck, lost his usual a
=. surance; and replied. in one single sci
=. tence, II would spit upon him in q q de
% = ert!'" which vapid and unmeaning excl
nation was his sole retort! 5: 49,. sss.s,,.
We V or Fifty years ago steamboats, we're u
.. known; now there are 5000 ahoat on
- merlcan waters alone. In 1900 there "
~ ..;l,o - ~ ttt<, tx.c ,Jd lt. =