The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-07-11
An English Portrait of President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward.


Mr.. Diccy, an English Author, in tho last
number of Macmillan's magazine, gives the
following unique sketch Of Mr.. Lincoln and
Secretary Seward:
"First, then, of the President. To say
that he is ugly, is nothing; to add that his
figure is grotesquo, is to convey no adequate
impression. Fancy man six feet high, and
then out Of proportion; with long bony
arms and legs. which somehow seem to DO
always in the way; with great furrowcd
hands, which grasp you like vico when
shaking yours; with long scrasgy neck,
and chest too narrow for the great arms at
his side. Add to this figure head cocoa.
nut shaped and somewhat too small for such
a stature, covered with rough, uncombed
and uncombable hair, that stands out in cy-
cry direction at once face lurrowcd, wrin.
klcd and indented, as though it had been
SCARED by vitriol: high narrow forehead,
and, sunk beneath bushy eyebrows, two
bright, somewhat dreamy eyes. that seem to
gaze right through you without looking at
you q few irregular blotches Of black bris-
tly hair. in the place where whiskcrs
ought to grow, close set, thin.lipped, stern
mouth, with two rows Of large white teeth,
and u nose and ears which have been taken
by mistake from head twice the size.-
Clothe this figure, then, in q long, tight,
badly fitting suit Of black, creased, soilcd
and puckered ur at every salient point OF
the figure, land every point of this figure is
salient y put on large, ill.Gtting boots, gloves
too long for the long bony fingers, and u
fluffy hat, covered to the top with dusty,
puffy Grape; and then add to all this an air
of strength, physical as we'll as moral, and a
strange look Of dignity coupled with oil this
grotesqucness; and you will have the i'm
preston left upon me by Abraham Lincoln.
THE PRESIDENT IN SOCIETY.
On the occasion when I had the honor Of
meeting tho President. the company was a
small one, with most Of whom no was per-
sonally acquainted. have no doubt, there.
fore, that he was as much at his ease US
usual. There was look Of depression about
his face. which I am told by those who zee
him daily. was habitual to him even before
his child's death. 1t was strange to me to
witness the perfect terms Of equality on
which he appeared to be with everybody
Occasionally some Of hi, intcrlocutors called
to him, Mr.. President, but the habit wa'
simply to address him as SIR 1t was not,
indeed, till | was introduced to him that !
was aware that ,ho President was one of the
company. He talked little, and seemed to
prefer Others talking to him to talking him.
self; but. when he spoke, his remarks were
ALWAYS shrewd and sensible. You would
never cay he was gentleman; you would
still less say he was not one. There are some
women about whom no one ever thinks in
connection with beauty, one way or tho 9th
or, and there are men to whom the epithet
Of gentlcmanliko or ungcntlemanliko appears
utterly incongruous-and Of such Mr.. Lon.
coin is one. Still there is about him an ut.
ter absence Of pretension, and an evident do.
sire to be courteous to everybody, which is
the essence, If not the outward form Of good
breeding. There is softness, too, about
his smile; and sparkle Of dry humOr about
hi, eve, which redeem the expression Of his
face, and remind me more Of the late DR..
Arnold, rs child's recollection recalls him,
than Of any face I can call to mind.
The conversation. like that Of all Ameri.
can official men have met with. was unrc-
strained in the presence Of strangers, to q