Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-12
NTEREsTINe nETTER.


Jackson, at the Hermitage, is from The pen Of Mr.
Nathan Lester, formerly Of this cfce but now editor
of the Democrat published at Columbus Mississippi.
The letter was communicated 10 Mr.. Bosaneon,
editor Of tbs Free Trader Nlceez and 10 that source
are we indebted for the privilege OF transferring il
to our oolumus It is in al respects highly credita
10 the writer, and it is pride that nurtured
the Young man who describes SO we'll scenes that
cannot fail 20 interest every American citizen -
Ed Frssman's Jour.
NASHVILLE, TENN Sept %. 1887
FRIEND Dbl arrived Ia this town af,W days sin e.
Il is taated on the Cumberland river, which is
igable hsfthe year for the largest class Of steam
boats The city about the size of hatcher; perhaps
it contains larger number Of inhabitants at least
more pretty ladies The place is healthy, and slltbe
comforts Of life, and its Injuries too be obtained
for about one half what they cost in Mississippi.
Middle Tennessee is the garden Of the south
In company with J. o. Bradford, Esq, the taleu-
ted and accomplished editor Of the Nashville
Uuon," l visited the Hermitage, which you know is
the residence Of the most dist suished American OF
the age lie lives about ten miles from the town.
entirely fee the noise and hustle incident TO
city lie The house is perhaps half mile from The
maiu road-a gate opens TO private avenue which
leads TO the dwelling Of the retired soldier and
statesman, who, Cucinnsus ike, has gladly embrs-
cd the quiet of rural life after having long and
successfully served his country. The house has
nothing remarkable about There are several in
your town gaudy in heir exterior and interior
poEtico gallery extends he length Of the house,
both front and rear, each supported by six stately
pillars. beautiful yard, gently elevated, extends
for some distance in front The grounds taste
! fully ornamented with shFubbeTy.
General jackson was in the main hail when We
rode up-he met at the door, sfter cordislly sau-
| ting my esiimable friend B., l was introduced
General Jaokson's manner is so easy and familiar
that every body Is perfectly at home his company
/ NJ ! L =
have lost Of its youthful Vig0T, although time
| is gently making inrOads upon his noble and con- i.
! mauding De 8 IA very good idea OF the general
contour or his face aud had Is conveyed / the
various Hkenesses vi WIich We Frequently meet
He is inclined to stcop u lttle when walking, yet
steps with all the frmness and activity Of a man at
the age of thirty His memory appears to be re-
| marx ably retentige: he recited incidents Of the
revolutionary struggle, of the lale war, and Of the
Creek and Seminole campaigns, which were Ii tened
| to with great curiosity and interest DO you knew
the origin of his cog1omOnO Of "Old Hlo' oyE' AT
the battle of New Orleans, when he returning
with the Kentucky and Tennessee volunteers, be
loaned his horse 10 a sick soldier in the neighbor
hood of hatcher; the General fell in the Of the
army, and pursued his way on foot. After be had
marched some 20 or 80 miles, one Of the soldiers
| observed to his comrade that "the General would
break down." .'NO,' observed his companion she
| is as tough as hickory" Ever since the occurrence
Of the anecdoLe 10 1875 be has borne the title. He
recolleels men and incidents with great accuracy:
he is a living history of the age.
The politics Of the day formed prominent topic
of the conversation. Those who have called him
an :" ignorant man. and stgmatized him with other
epithets which / will not repeat, must have hsd q
tbeam in their own eye " He has the history Of
banking at his tongues end he shed q mass oil
light upon that subject, well as upon all others
Of which he spoke, that could not fail TO instruct
and improve lie deprecate5 the circulation Of
1 ho frat lacta
President of the United States some of the poor
market women came TO him with complaint that
they we're seriously imposed upon by being com
PEELED to receive the deprecated paper which was
then issued by the corporations OF Washington
Georgetown aud Alexandria, in payment fer their
produce. They lost twenty five cents on the dols
in getting them changed into specie General Jack
son told his humble petitioners that he bad no
power over tie matter, but they had to-mOrroT
morning just form a resolution among yourselves
not to take cent of il from end Of the market
house to the other" They di so, and il three days
the corporations called in their unlawful issues and
specie circulated in abundance
The General has a very foe garden culled
some choice seeds, which will divide With you tho
first opportunity. The garden is astefully laid Of
plats, oroamcned with various kiads Of flower:
and shrubbery The toad Of his l3mented wife
is il one corer Of the garden, brt short distances
from his dwelling. i is surrounded by rose bushes
and the weeping willow, and covered by plair
summer house. The inscription upon ths tomb
was written By Major Lee. She died IN 1888, aged
81 Afer speaking Of her unho1nded beueyo'ene'
and ferVent piety, it concludes thus: being s.
gentle yet SO vIrtuous, SANDER might wound, bd
could not dish0Dor Even death, when he tor
her from the arms Of her husband, could but rams
| port her 10 the bosom If her God You recollec
The foul ISLANDERS which heaped upon General
jackson, and his lady too, during the first canvass
Shame! shame upon their heartless authors Al
] lar rhsar. hn h-nv
and the good Old yet survives to receive th'
blessings Of grateful millions. Long may 1t b.
before he shall occupy the little tenement prepared
I by the side OF his deceased wife.
The carriage made of the live oak OF the frigatC
Constitution, is looked upon with peculiar interest
by all his visitors it is indeed beautiful specimen
of American mechanism: The associations connect
ed with it are peculiarly interesting.
The hall Of the Generals dwelling is quite elevst
ed. beautiful painting decorstes one Of thu
walls representing the attack made upon the Amer
leans and others in Mexico, by the degraded an
ilGterate population Of that ancient and beautiful
CITY. Mr. Poinsett, the American minister walk
out upon the balcony Of bis residence, accompanied
by q high-spiri ed young Vrginian, by the name o
Mason, ana unfuTled the flag Of his country. Tht
stars and stripes Of sour own loved land" had WOE
derful effect in allaying the feeling Of the ezcite
populace. 4 hundred we'll aimed muske.s we're di
veTtel from tbe mark and that furious people re
] 70
instance Of the power Of the American flag. A bus
of Mr.. Livingston and Mr.. Woodbury. are kept il
the main hail. In the psrlor is very goo Likeness:
of Mrs. Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren,
The dinner wes q plain and substantial Tepast
Previous to retiring the Generel proposed toast
I" Our absent friends" which was drank by all
Andrew Jackson jr., and his intelligent and beau
tfu lady, and Colonel Earl, one Of the most accom-
plished gentleman in America, are Of the General'
household.
No one can visit the hermitage, without beiui
pleased Everything is calculated to make the sta.
of those who call, agreeable and pleasant. Their
is no display, no ps'entatiou you are at home au'
welcome The Hermitage is almost constant!
thronged with company, and will be, so long as it
distinguished owners sojourns amOng5the living -
And when he has been gathered to his fathers
thousands will make pilgrimage to his tomb, AM
bear away some relic in memory of one Of the Pures
patriots that ever lived. n. L.
To T. A. S. DONIPHAN, Esq.