The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-28

After their marriage, in the qualification
of an interest which be in common with most |
cultivated Europeans felt in the American
Indians, and which some fortune on the part
Of his wife enabled him to indulge. they trav.
eled for several years in the Southern States
where large tracks Of country we're still &C.
cupied by the aboriginal tribes.
The means Of communication in that coun-
try then we're very rude, and they travelled
as with the custom Of the day, when means
permitted, with their own carriage, horses
and servants, stopping where convenience
Of towns and dwellings required, and not un-
frequently passing the night in Indian villa
ges or BY campfire. 1t was during one of
these excursions that they chanced to pass
the night at the inn in Nashville where oc-
CURED the personal encounter between Cen
eral jackson and Colonel BentOn-well re-
membered in that country-the balls from
whose pistols passed through the rooms in
which they happened to be sitting. And it
was during temporary halt at Savannah in
Georgia, in the progress Of the same expedi-
ton, on the 2lst Of January, 1913, that Mrs.
Fremont gave birth to their eldest child and
son, John Charles Fremont, who, with bis
fathers name, seems to have inherited, also.
his nOmadic instincts.
The second child, daughter, was born in
Tennessee, and the youngest, son, in Vir-
ginia; shortly after which, Mr. Fremont's
preparations to return to France were de-
feated by his death. At this time, an elder
brother, Francis, was in Norfolk with his
family. lie had emisrated early from St.
Domingo. The loss Of bis eldest son, a boy
of sixteen, who was killed by the bursting Of
a gun at 4th Of July celebration in Norfolk,
sa,ldened the place to him, and he returned
with his family to France. He had been aEx-
ious to take with him his brothers family,
and made it point with his widow to accom-
pany him. Her decided refusal to leave her
own country, occasioned an alienation BE-
tween them also, and she vas left to herself
with the usual defenseless lot and narrow cir
cumstances which are not the most uncom-
mon heritage of widows aud orphans.
Of the brothers family, which returned to
France, We have no knowledge, except Of the
recent death Of a daughter, CorneIia, who
died nun in convent in Sosth America
The widow, with her young family, now re.
moved permanently to Charleston, South
Carolina.
AT an early age the eldest boy, with whose
future fortunes we are more particularly con-
ccrned, entered the law office of John W.
Mitchell, Esq, one Of the prominent citizens
of Charleston. Here he gave such evidence
Of intelligence and industry as greatly to in
terest Mr.. Mitchell, who found pleasure in
directing tile capacity he seemed to possess,
and devoted many of bis leisure hours to
young Fremont's instruction. The lads Wig.
orous appliration required mo re- time than
Mr.. Mitchell had at his disposal and, in pros.
ecutlon of the plan he had formed for him, he
placed him under the instruction Of DR.. John
Roberton, Scotch gentleman, who had been
educated at Edinburgh, and who had EST ab
li>hed himself as teacher, principally Of an
vient languages, at Charleston.
DR.. Koberton, who is now about seventy
years Of age and continues in the faithful ex
ercise Of his profession at Philadelphia, IL
the preface to translation of Zcnophon'
Anabasis, published by him in 1850, take
occasion to refer especially to the in,ellectu
al and personal habits of Fremont, while un
der his charge, and to commend them to hi
pupils, to whom the book is dedicated, as pre-
eminentIy worthy Of imitation. His state
!. ment embodies some personal details whic|
our readers will pursue with interest
"For your further encouragement, vii
here relate very emarkable instance O
patient diligence and indomitable persever
ance:
!, In the year of 1927, after he had returne
r. to Charleston from Scotland, and my classe
T.. we're going on, very respectable lawye
came to my school, think some time in tn
a month Of October, with youth apparent
" about sixteen, or perhaps not so much, a.
Of middle size, graceful in his manners, rati
d er slender, but we'll formed, and upon th
$, whole what should call handsome of
,e keen, piercing eye, and q noble forehea'
s. seemingly the very seat Of genius. Tt
n gentleman stated that he found him given
re study, that he had been about three weel
Mt learning the Latin rudiments, and (hoping,
IN suppose, to turn the youths attention fro
r the Law to the ministry, be bad resolved
in place him under NV care for the purpose Q
learning Greek, Latin and Mathematics, So
ID ficient to enter Charleston College. vel
ct gladly received him, for Immediately pc
IS ceived he was no common youth, as INTEL
a. gence beamed in bis dark eye, and shor
g, brightly on bis countenance, indicating gre
in ability. and an assurance Of bis future pro-
b ress at once put him in the highest elias
er just beginning to read Caesars Comment
ries, and although at 6rst inferior, his pr
ly digious memory and enthusiastic applicable
" soon enabled him to surpass the best. Il
" began Greek at the same time and read vi: