New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-18

w ASHlN6IoN oah' ~, iD'I'
The spectacle of two Presidents at the same time
honoripg the metropolis with their presence has, l
believe, been seen but once before in history,
namely, in 1886, when the Mexican President,
Santa Anna, paid a visit to General Jackson. That
was a curious and interesting conjunction of re-
markabe characters, but not so curious, think,
the conjunction of Buchanan and Walker, the Presl
dent of the United States and the President of
Nicaragua
Animated by that instructive desire, which Plu-
tarch mentions OfcOntrasting the great men OF one
generation with the great men of another, have
diligently sought in the records of the past for
parallels to these two eminent personages. have
not found any in those graver and heavier works OF
history which treat Of the affairs OF nations. In the
long lines of kings, empcrOrs princes, popes aud
presidents, from Menes and Agamemnon to our own
day, can find no matches for James Buchanan and
William Walker as they present themselves to the
contemplation of near and impartial observer Fit
parallels for these lustrious pOtentates, y am con-
WINGED, exist only in the lighter and more diversified
Glass of historical literature which deals with men
rather than with nations, and confines itself chiefly
to the portaiture of individual aud private character
In the history of the firm Of Dombey Il Son,
narratedby Mr.. Dickens, the character OF MAJOR
BagstOck, AS described by himself in one ct his fire.
quent sOliloQuies II be at recognised in Wash
ingon az an accurate and graphic sketch OF Mr..
Buchanan. IL fits him even 10 the Initials vi Ms
name:
d. is awake, Sir; wide awake. j. Is. is alive,
Sir. j. b. knows a move or two. j. Is. has his
weaher-eye open, Sir. You'll find him tough, Su
Tough, tough, is j. Is. Tough and dev--ish sly.'
The legion of odice-ceekers who are beleagnenng
the White IIouse in the hope OF badgerlng y. Is.
into attending 10 their little business, will mourn
fully admit the force Of the last remark: Tough
tough is j. B. Tough, and dey-il-ish sly"
A parallel for Walker, az he appears at Wash
ington, need not be sought among the magnificient
Spanish fllibusters Of the sixteenth century. lie
is not a COrtez, q Pzsrro, an Almagro, or De
Soto. But remember in the literature Of SPAN
(if. as the critics assert, lie Sage is indebted ~
Spanish original for his famous noyel), in the his
tory Of the adventures of Gil Blss, character 10
whom he bears striking perso'al resemblance
the ingenious and renowned Master Ambrose de
Lamca.
Senior Gil Bias, you will remember in prosper,
Gus moment OF his earlier career, was persuaded
by the bnkeeper at Burgos TO hire servant "ho'n
he rccommended--a prudent, sober fellow a. ne
said. Gil Bss describes him as
"A fellow thirty years old, OF simple rehsip1us
aspect. His rame was Ambrose de Lamtl"' raf
fIOm being selfish he Dade no "otur oDo"t 80
but assured ne lie would be contented WIN "ha' 10
nv coedpes4 / should think proper 10 be'tow.
Now. Walker il preaminently "a fellow oi
simple. religious aspect" He -, IN iact' the
most deyout man have yet seen IN Warrington, ana
I NAV say. almost the only public man VINO EXHIBITS
apv ,irn: IF vital pety. In all that he does ne re-
Co.. n;mssIf 10 the direct interpOstlOn Of Prov.
denca snJ s>.umes TO himself no other credit than
a sincere desire TO dc bis duty.
From Burgos Gil Bias Travelled to Valadoid,
whore he nut up at an inn, and being fatigued with
his tourney. threw himself on bed and fell asleep:
-; II hing almost night when walked, called for
,nbrcse who was gone Oat but returned 10 q little
,;me When asked where he had been, he replied,
with pious sir, that he was just come from church,
where he had been 10 return thanks 10 Heaven for
having preserved him from all evil accidents on the
road from Burgos unto Valladolid."
This pious youth, however, with his simple, reli-
gious aspect had been out to arrange with hs con
!pderates, Don Raphael and Donna Camilla, plan
Tor rotbDg Gil Blss.
q" Mex, morning when ! awaled, perceived that il
was already late, and god deal surprised th"'
my valet did appear. Ambrose, said to myself,
~ faithful Ambrose. either a. church, or Wy lazy
,o-dby. But soon lest that opinion If him, G'r getting
up frd missing my Portmautean suspected him OF
laVirg stolen il IN the plight
\ suspicion very soon confirmed into certainty
The devout Ambrose had hbu. tered himself ass ~