The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-28
THACKERAY ON WASHINGTON.

Mr.. Thackeray handsomely explains the Mis-
ter WAsalsero. fling, by the following inge-
NOUS and we'll pointed letter:
SIR:-Allow me word of explanation in
answer to a strange charge that has been brought
against me in the United States, and which
your New York correspondent has made public
in this country.
In the FIRST number Of Z periodicalstory which
I am now publishing, appears . sentence in
which | should never have thought Of finding
any harm until il had been discovered by some
critics over the water. The fatal words are
these:
. When pig-tails grew on the backs Of the
Dtitish gentry, and their wives wore cushions
q their heads, over which they tied their own
hair, and disguised it with powder and poma.
lam, when Ministers went in their stars and
osders 10 the house Of Commons, and the orat-
oss q the opposition attacked nightly, the mo-
bic lord ia the blue ribband when Mr.. Wash
ingtoa was heading the American rebels with
courage Ii must be confessed, worthy Of
better eause- there came TO London, out Of
Northern country, Mr. &c.
This paragraph has been interpreted in Amer.
lea as an insult TO Washington and the whole
uuian; and, from the sadness and gravity with
which ynur correspondent quotes certain Of my
words, 10 evident he toa, thinks they have
Having published the American critic . com
ment, pessnit the author Of faulty sentence 10
say what he did mean, and ~ add the obvious
moral Of the apologize which has been SO oddly
construed. arm speaking Of q young appren-
iice coming 10 London between the years l770-
20, and want 70 depict few figures Of the last
century. (The illustrated head letter Of the
chapter was intended to represent Hogar.h's IN
dustrious appreniice.) fancy the old society
- harn nj u
numbering At Lord North asleep on the Treas
ury bench 1.-The news readers at the coffee room
talking over the paper and o~ ming that this Mr.
Washington. who was leading the rebels, was
very courageous soldier, and worthy of bet.
tes cause than fighting against King George.
The images are at least natural and pretty con-
secutive. l776-the people in London in 20
The Lords and House Of Commons in &c.
Lord North w ashington-what the people
thought about Washington-l am thinking
about rs Where in the name Of common sense q
The insalt TO 1883 The satire, if satire there
-, applies TO " 1t home, who called Washing
ton I" Mr.. Washiogton;'' ~ We called Frederick
the Great . the Protestant Hero" or Napoleon
" the Corsican tyrans, or "Genera! Bonsparte. !.
Need say, that our officers were instructed
(uulil they we're taught better manners) to call
Warrington !" Mr.. Warrington 7" and that the
Americana were called rebels during the whole
~ sneS conseNs REBELS LOT course they were
rebels, and should like to know what native
American would not have been rebel in that
cause?
Az irony is dangerous, and has hurt the feel
ings Of kind friends whom would not wish to
offend, let me sav, in perfect faith and gravity,
MAT think the cause for which Washington
fought entirely just and right, and the champion
The very noblest, purest, bravest, best Of God :
men.
am, sir, your very faithful servant,
w. M. THACKERAY.
Atheneum, Nov. %.