Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-13
OCTOBER 13. 1S5.
A GLANCE AT GEN CASS AND HON. HOW.
ELI, COBB.

a HLaNSE AL GEN. SASS AMI hun. HOW
ELL COBB.
correspondent Of the Journal of Commerce fur.
nnhes that journal with the following brief but stri.
king descriptions OF Gen. Csss aud Hon Howell Cobb
in their offices at Washington:
Let us enter the old State department, through
whose halls have passed hs feet OF 80 MANY eminent
men. from Jefferson down TO Csss. His room Is in
the second story, East end. There nothing 10 dis
nguish the locality from any other room but SERIES
OF engraved portraits OF former Secretaries A mes.
senger s ready to hand in your name to the Secrsta
ry who receives all who call at certain hour WAS
cordially received by The venerable statesman, who
usually comes to his office about II A. NJ, who exc
cutes much Of his private business Il mean his ofii
cial cOmpostions) al his own house. Few papers ap.
pear on bis table, much of the manual documentary
labor being performed by his clerk in the adjscent
room, with which his own communicates by door
ueualy open. To him the Secretary frequently die.
tates. You may be aware that the Generals hand
writing is among the moat illegible on record pre-
sentiug quite contrast to the minute disuctness of
that OF the late John Quincy Adams, who wrote with
slow care. Probably Gen. Cass writes with ra-
pldty similar to that with which he talks. His wig
ls neatly adjusted TO his venerable head thus keeping
OF the idea OF extreme age. There is indeed nstu.
raj activity in his appearance while engaged in CON
yersation, though 1t is impossible for most men above
seventy to move about with the agility Of youth
the vlgor OF middle age. What deep international
work the venerable statesman may be privately en-.
gagged about | OF course did not presume to inquire
The assistant Secretary Mr.. Appleton, occupies the
room on the opposite side Of the entry.
Now let us look into ths Treasury department A
few steps South bring us to that building the greater
part OF which ia new, and more highly ornsmented
A long colonusde Of lofty columns adorns ita front,
which looks to the East Ascending the first flight of
marble stairs, we pass through long entry, each
side of which are rooms popuous with clerks. and at
the extreme end of which may be found waiting two
or three messengers, one Of whom announces your
name to the Secretary in the adjacent room. The vi.
sor is received with true Southern politeness by
gentleman in blue OF short stature, scarcely Of mid.
die age, with round, full. healthy face and good
conditioned form to correspond His hair lies in short
curls around his pleasant head he is instantly socia
ble prompt in question and answer, and with much
urbanity OF speech and address mingles good de-
gree of decision all the while indicating himself to
be man of free, natural, aud noble feelings, and
in whom the love OF humanity s not extinguished by
the experiences OF political life. 1t i. Howell
Cobb, the Georgian who may be considered quite sn
ornament TO Mr.. Buchsnan's cabinet, Of which he
must be the youngest member. Of his colleagues
more anon, AN OBSERVER ~ WAsHISGToS.