The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-08-10
An Illustrious British Exile.


civil and military, in the colony Of New
South Wales. Many anecdotes she told me
of celebrated characters, who had, in the
words Of one of them, cleft their country
for their .cOuntry's good" With most, if
not with all, of these celebrities the good old
lady had come in contact personally.
"One morning." she began, ~ was sitting
in my drawing-room with two little children,
who are now middle-aged men with large
families, when gentleman was announced.
gave orders for his admission; and on bis
entering the door of the apartment l rose
from my chair and greeted him with a bow,
which he returned in the most courtly and
graceful manner imaginable. His dress was
that of man of fashion, and his bearing
that of person who had moved in the high
est circles of society. A vessel had arrived
from England few days previously with
passengers, and fancied that this gentle.
man was one of them. l asked him to be
seated. He took chair, opposite me, and
at once entered into conversation, making
the first topic the extreme warmth of the
day, and the second the healthy appearance
of my children-as he was pleased to call
them. Apart from mother liking to hear
her children praised, there was such mar
vellous neutness of expression, that could
not help thinking he would form a very val.
liable acquisition to our list of acquaintan.
ces, provided he intended remaining in Sgd
ney, instead of settling in the interior of the
colony.
~ expressed my regret that the Major (my
husband) was from home; but mentioned
that expected him at one o'clock, at which
hour we took our luncheon; and further ex-
pressed hope that our visitor would remain
till the appointed hour-which was then
near at hand. Our conversation was resum.
ed; and presently he asked my little ones to
60 to him. They obeyed at once, albeit
they were rather shy children. This satis-
fed me that the stranger was man Of kind
and gentle disposition. He took the children
seated them on his knees, end began to
tell them fairy story evidently of his own
invention and extemporized1 to which they
listened with profound attention. Indeed,
could not help being interested in the story
so fanciful were the ideas, and SO poetical
the language in which they were expressed
"The story ended, the stranger replaced
the children on the carpet, and approached
the table on which stood in porcelain vase
a bouquet of flowers. These he admired
and began a discourse on Horticulture.
listened with intense earnestness, SO pro
found were all his observations. We wert
standing at the table at least eight or ter
minutes, my boys hanging on to the skirt
my dress, and every now and then compelI
ing me to beg of them TO be silent.
"One o'clock came but not the Major.
received, however, note from him, writer
in pencil on slip of paper. He would b'
detained ut Government House until half
past two.
"Again requested the fascinating stran
, ger to portake of luncheon, which was nov
. on the table in the room; and again wit
the ssme winning smile he declined. A
O he was about, as thought, TO depart, I ex
o tended my hand; but, to my astonishmenI
he stepped back, made low bow, and de
clined taking it.
"For gentleman to have his hand refus
ed when he extends it to another is embar
Il raising enough. But for lady Who cal
possibly describe what were my feelings =
Had he been the heir to the British throne
visiting that penal settlement in disgus
: (and from the strangers manners and cor
versation he might have been that illustrou
n personage,) he could scarcely have, unde
L. the circumstances, treated me in such an e1
u traordinary manner. scarcely knew wht
IS to think. Observing, as the stranger mu:
70 have done, the blood rush to my cheek
and being cognizant evidently, of what wa
passing through my mind, he spoke as fo
~ lows:
IL "'Madam, l am afraid you will never 70
give the liberty have taken already. B.
IL the truth is, the passion suddenly stole owe
me, and could not resist the temptation
= satisfying myself that the skill which mat
me so conspicuous in the mother count
> still remained to me in this convict land
- "I stared at him but he did not speak.
T. Madam he continued, 'the penalty
sitting at the table with you, or taking Il
hand you paid me the compliment to prof
no me-yourself in ignorance Of the fact a
o. about to disclose-would have been the 70
10 feiture of my ticket.of- leave, a hundred las
- es, and employment, ON the roads, in iron
;e As it is, l dread the Majors wrath; but
VI; cherish hope that you will endeavor to a
l pease it, if your advocacy only be in retu
ne for the brief amusement afforded yo
On children
"'You are convict! l said indignant
my hand on the bell.rope.
he "'Madam,' he said, with an expression
q countenance which moved me to pity,
ng spite Of my indignation, shear me for m
h. ment.'
Ia. "'A convicted felon, how dared you to e
ne ter my drawing.room as visitor = I aske
m, my anger again getting the better Of all n
ou other feelings.
IA. WsThA Maior madam said the strange