Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-01-16
-.. From the New York. Times.
Col. Parker III. French.

|
| The mutabty Of human things has been a
| theme on which essayists have written and
| preachers dilatcd. But never has it been more
| fully illustrated than by the changes in the life
| and fortunes of Col. Parker II. French few
years ago all New York knew that Captain French,
such was his then title, about to lead an en-
igrant party across the plains to the Ell Dorado.
Every one here inspected his wagons and hoped
the best fate for the hardy adventurers that com
posed his company. When he started on his
journey he was followed by set of men who
protessed to have unlimited confidence in his
courage, and implicit reliance on his skill Soon
after the country was startled by the distressing
accounts of the Captains party, and grave ru-
mors of the distrust, discomfort and fierce feel
ings entertained towards him by his once dryot-
ed adherents, came up from the southern trail he
followed to reach California. Many telegraphic
dispatches appeared in the columns of the New
York papers, giving news of our hero's acts and
condition. Reports, strong and for some time
undoubted, of his murder, and the utter disper
sion OF his company, were printed in every pa
per, and believed throughout the Union. The
whrl of events, and the rush of other items, had
almost pushed Captain French, his hardships, his
crimes, and his supposed tragic fate, out of mems
memories and newspaper columns, when one day
we received the news that, having clung to life
with more than feline tenacity, he turned up, to
the amaZemcnt of every one, somewhat shattcr-
cd, but still alive, in the land of gold. He lived
there some time, and doubtless must have found
California life disgustingly dull, when General
Walker commenced his Nicaraguan career The
Colonel rushed to the aid of our modern Pizarro
Gen. Walker-performing prodigics of valor in
the field, and exhibiting in financial mat tiers skill
and power of making great deal out of, as it
were, nothing, which belonged to statesman or
artists" whose profession it is to raise the
wind.
When appointed to the offices of Minister of
Hacienda and CommisSary of War, he found an
exhausted treasury to be replenished, needy
army to be supported.
& Our Colonel French had recourse to none
of the ordinary modes in use for exacting mon
ey or creating credit, but by some magical wave
of his sword or his pen, collected funds, illed
the treasury, fed the army, and entitled himself
to be enrolled among the list of the greatest f.
nanciers of our time.
Under the arduous and unremittng duties of
his high posts Of honor. the health of Colonel
French gave way, and forced upon him the res
ignaton of his office of Minister of Hacienda and
Commissary of War Of the Republic of Nicara-
qua. His fellow Ministers rendered him, and the
exiSeRces of the public service induced him to
accept, a position which enables him to come to
New fork-he who was so abused, so distrusted
and once so universally looked upon rs dead-in
the character of Minister Plenipotentary and
Envoy Extraordinary to the Uuited States and
Great Britain.
When the Colonel has really died for the last
time. what field will the novelists find in his
romantic career for their cultivation. How stu
pid, in comparison with him, will the heroes of
past romaHces seem? ..