Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-19
Ex-President Pierce and Lady.

We find in the New Hampshire Patriot very inter-
esting letter. dated Funcha Island of Madeira Deem
Der 80 1851 from which extract the following no
tice of ex-President Pierce and bis nestmabe lady,
who were passengers with the writer board the Uni
ted States steamship Powhatan for that island whittier
the exPresdent has ourneyed for the benefit of Mrs
Pierces health. The writer says:
1t will be gratifying tc the numerous friends of Mrs
Pierce, for indeed have yet to learn who is not to
learn that she bore the voyage with surprising ortitue
and though Frustrated days by rough sea- rallied
again. and reached Madeira in good health as when
she left the United States For considerable part of
the passage she walked the deck daily and with SO firm
and elastic step to surprise, well crafty, those
who knew her exceeding delicacy and fraty. She
seemed to enjoy the ocean scenery and the movements
of the ship and the drill and muster of the and
when on the Sabbath morning she woke up breathing
the balmy air Of Madeira, the church bells softly peang
upon her ears and the proud mountains and picturesque
scenery bursting upon her eyes, her spirits instantly raj
lied and the next day she established herself in her new
home; and most charming one it is Devoutly is it
to be hoped that lady of many of the highest and
best qualities of the head and heart and of whom hui
voice spoke but in praise and even that pain
ed her. may receive all that benefit from this admirable
climate which her friends anticipate Should her health
be improved by winter residence here Gen. Pierce pro-
poses visiting Spain and Italy in the summer and may
indeed proract his travels on the continent beyond
year.
need not say that the presence of Gen Pierce added
ident at Washington, and taking with him only his own
manhood he all hearts by his courteses and atten-
tons mingng freely with the officers as an equal and
visiting the sick as regularly the physician When
he left the highest military honor was shown him. The
yards were all manned, the marines drawn up under
arms and the stationed at the immense guns while
the band, in their red jackets ready to strike up
the music Arm-in-arm the General and Mrs. Pierce
walked to the gangway, where Capt Pearson's boat
awaited them, when Gen Pierce suddenly stopped,
turned about and uncovered and addressed both officers
and men in of the neatest most pertinent and eo-
quent speeches which, the officers confessed thew ever
heard.
Captain Pearson briefly and sensibiy replied in behalf
Of himself and his fellowoicers and, when the boat
was fairly under way the guns roared such thunder
storm as never heard-terrible without thunder
bolts and bullets. The reverberations from the noun
tains, and peaks and the immense gorges admra
BILE, rolling about and upwards and backwards and in
termngling till it could not be told from whence they
started the whole mountain seemed to shake. Reach
ing the Shore carriage awaited them; like the top of
old stage let down upon equally old woodsed and
drawn by yoke Of oxen Such are the only carriages
in Funcha and in one of them the late President of
the United States and his fair and honorable lady en-
tered nothing doubling and conducted to their pa
latial home
Alice" said one girl to another, Il am so glad