Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-10-05
interview between Aarau s,nrr
and Gratsau.
Ffom Judge Barrinston's Personal Sketches oyy,s
lana 80 years age.

Colonel Burr, who had been Vice
president Of America, and probably
would have been the next President bnt
,1r ms unfortunate duel with General
Hamilton, came over to England, and
was made Known to me by Mr.. Ram
ooiph OF South Carolina, with whom r
was very intimate. He requested
would Introduce him to Mr.. Grattan
whom ne was excessively anxious to
see. Colonel Burr was not a man 81
very progressing appearance rough
featured, and neither dressy nor polish
cd but well informed, sensible man.
ana though not particularly agreeable,
yet an Instructive companion.
People in general form extrayapant
iaIn,ticlpations regarding eminent persons.
Inc Idea of great orator and an Irish
chief carried with it naturally enouol,
corresponding notions OF physical! eIe-
gance, yigor and dignity. Such was
Colonel burr's mistake, | believe. a.
bout MIR. Grattan, and | took care not
to undecieve him.
We went to my friends house. who
was to leave London the next dav 7
announced that Col. Burr, from Ameri-
ca, Mr.. Randolph and myself, wished
20 pay our resp cts, and the servant in
formed us that his master would receive
us In short time, but was at that mo-
nent occupied on some business of much
Importance. Burr's expectations were
all on alert Randolph also was anx-
lous TO be presented to the great Graf
tan, and both impatient for the entrance
OF this Demosthenes. At length the
door opened, and in hoped small bent
henre, meagre, yellow, and ordinar,
one slipper and one shoe his breeches'
knees loose; his cravat hanging down;
has shirt and coat sleeves tucked I'd
high, and an old hat upon his head.
This apparetlon saiuted the strangers
very courteously, asked, without an in
PRODUCTION, how long they had been in
England, and Immediately proceeded
to make inquiries about the late Gener.
al Washington and the revolutionary
war. My companions looked at each
other; their replies were costiye, and
they seemed quite impatient to see Mr..
Grattan. l could scarcely contain nv
self, but determined to let my excentric
countryman take his course, who an
peared quite delighted to see his yisi-
itors, and was the most inqusitive per-
son in the werld. Randolph was far
the tallest and most dignifed man of the
Randolph at length begged to know
if they could shortly have the honor Of
seeing Mr.. Grattan. Upon which our
hest, net doubling but they knew him,
conceived it must be his son James for
whom they inquired, and said he belle
we'd he had that moment wandered out
to amuse himself.
This completely disconnected the A
mericans, and they were about TO make
their bow and their exit, when tho's
it high time to explain; and taking Col.
Burr and MFR. Randolph respectively by
the hand, introduced them to the Right
h. norable Henry Grattan.
/ never saw people stare SO, or so
much embarrassed! Grattan himself,
now perceiving the cause, heartily join
ed in my merriment. He pulled down
his shirt sleeves, pulled up his stock
ings, and in his own irresistible way,
apologized for the outre figure he cut,
assuring them that he had totally over
looked it in his anxiety not to keep them
waiting that he was returning to Ire
land next morning, and had been busily
packing up his books and papers, in
closet full of dust and cobwebs This
incident rendered the interview more
interesting. The Americans were char
med with their reception, and after
protracted visit, retired highly gratified,
while Grattan returned again TO his
books and cobwebs.