Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-10-29
From the indianapolis Journal.I
A Dinner by Lord Ashburton ii
Washington.

"reminiscences by Hon. o. H. Smith, late SEM.
Tor iIcm lndiana.
For many years Mr.. Fox represented
Great Britain near our Government He
was under the. common size, with good old
English face. very large eyes, and remark
ably heavy bro-s; his manners were bland
and rather prep"ssessing, his dress very
plain, his conversation interesting. ii 5
talents were not OF tn highest order He
was quite f,vorite in Washington circles,
bu, SO far as have any knowledge, lie was
nev,r instructed by his Government TO
make any important treaties with us. NJ.
Fox was relative Of the celebra;cd Charles
James Fox, OF England. vino wes said to
know everything by weight and measure,
though like our Webster, he paid no atlen-
tion whatever to his pecuniary affairs, or
rather like Cardinal Woolsry, he was rich
in promises but poor in performance SO
far as his monetary affairs W, re concerned.
On one occasion he sent for his Minis
lerial associates Oh important business, with
directions to enter his mansion by back
window. Several of them arrived Mr.. Fox
inlormet them of his embarrassed circum-
stances, and asked their advice. One OF
them frankly advised him to reduce his es-
tab ishment nd dismiss at least part 81
his servants. AS we came 10 your house
we saw over twenty at the fronl door with
slaves in their hands, Mr. Fox roared out
in loud laugh. They are all tip stats
waiting to urrest me Tor debt the moment
open the door, The complex relations
between the United States and Great Brit
ain had assumed character greatly embar-
RAISING to both nations, when it was deter
! m !ntd d oil the part oi the British Govern
ment to create Il spec ial mission to the U.
States, to act directly with our Admins;ra-
tion at Washington, with full powers to ne.
gotiate treaty between the two nations
On the part of Great B:itain, Lord Ashbur-
ton, of the house of Barring u Brothers
who bad married an American lady, and en-.
tertaned friendly feelings towards the u. s
was appointed, who, with Messrs. NJ ldmay
Bruce and Stepping, formed the legation.
MIR. Webster, Secretary OF State, receivee
full powers from President Ter to enter
into negotiations with Lord Ashbur on upon
his arrival.
Matthew ST. Clair Clark, of Washington
Ciry, in the days of his highest prosperity
had built splendid mansion across the
open square in front OF the norlh pOrtico ol
the Presidents house, at a cost of some sew.
enty five Thousand dollars, and furnished it
finely Lord Ashburton requested MIR. Web
ster to rent him furnished lodgings for the
rece ptiuu of himself and suite, on their Brri-
val at Washington, Mr.. Webster rented
MIR. Clark's mansion, furniture and all, and
agreed to pay one thousand dollars per
month, and keep il one year, with the refu-
sa for another, and also 10 pay all damages
done to the property and furniture. Lord
Ashburton took possession Of the house,
he Id it ten monlhs. and paid twelve thous-
and collars rent, and one thousand dollars
d nmsges, for breaking some lights OF glass,
tearing and soiling the paper OF one of the
rooms; all this Mr.. ST. Clair Clarke told me.
About the close of the mission ! was in
viied with other Senators, iy Lord Asnbur-
ton, to his dinner party, at tho hour OF SIX
o'clock in the evening, the common hour
for dinners at priva,e parties, from the Pres