The New York herald., 1863-08-14

Count Joa nnes anG EerscraI tyebb--Com-
mon Nuisances at Home and Abroad.
We see that Boston grand Jury has rem
dered true bill Of Indictment againA George
the Count Joannes, for being what Is known In
the law books as barrator, stirring up IN
necessary strifes, suits and controversies among
quiet and honest citizens of the Common
wealth." in other words, as a "common nui-
sance." This action of the Grand Jury of
Suffolk county reminds us that there are many
other citizens, both at home and abroad, who
as appropriately as Count Joannes come under
the designation Of common nuisances;" and
we cannot at this moment think Of any one in
either hemisphere who has so well earned that
title as the United States Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court OF
Brazil, General James Watson Webb.
We have before us, in pamphlet of
sixty-four closely printed pages, q letter
from this individual at Rio Janeiro to mem
ber of the British Parliament, who had the mis-
fortune on one occasion Of saying something in
that,body which was supposed to be, in some
indirect manner, complimentary to him.
Though such supposition was entirely un-
founded, this "common nuisance"-in the
words of Count Joannes' indictment-ac-
knowledges the unexpected favor in maga-
zine full of most amusing and extraordinary
stuff, furnishing evidence enough to convict
him, twenty times over, of the crime Of stirring
up unnecessary strifes, suits and controversies
among quiet and honest people"
General James Watson Webb's peculiar
talent in that line is well known here, and we
imagine that by this time it must be fully
recognized in diplomatic and oil other circles
in Brazil. He was always in hot water here 1t
would not be in the nature of things that he
would keep cooler in the tropics. Accordingly
we Hnd, by glancing over his pamphlet letter to
J. Bramley Moore, Esq, M. p, that one Of his
first diplomatic acts in Brazil was to pick q
quarrel with her Britannia Majesty's Minister,
w. D. Christie, who is, to all appearances, as
great humbug and as much common nui-
sance as himself and it all arose out Of game
of whist-"shilling points"-as appears from
the following extract from Webb's letter to
Bramley Moore
We were as was custom, playing whist at shilling
points. Christie was my partner botn parties were At
and the rub Trumps all exhausted and there
but three cards in each hand II was Christe's lead
Hc knew rather he ought to have known That had
all the diamonds holding the three highest and he low
one Our had the winning cards OF the other
two suits. Mr.. Christie paused 70 consider what he
should lead. &C.
cause he was too stupid or wanted to spite his
partner. They lost the game. Webb inconti-
nently pitched into Christie. Christie remarked.
naturally enough, that Webb "talked too
much" and that was more than Webb "felt
called upon to bear" He resented 1t instantly.
But we will give his own words. He Says
Inasmuch as I represent government not identified
with the policy OF Europe and which does not expect
70 submit to any impetinence from an English Minister
which would resent IL came from less important per
sonage took upon myself the responsibility OF reading
him lecture which he had long needed, and which he
will not readily forget
There is model envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary for you. He spends
his time playing short whist for shilling points,
breaks out when he loses into Incorporate Ian
guage against his partner, who mildly intimates
that he talks too much, whereupon he reads
him 20 lecture that he will not readily forget"
and when q demand for settlement comes
answers:-"A meeting at sunrise and no apol-
ogy."
The Prussian and Russian Ministers won
the game, made their shiliings and kept their
tempers-managed to patch up peace between
the English and American brawlers But it
was of short duration. It was broken very
soon after, and oil about dinner. This might
be called a tempest in a soup tureen. They
managed to embroil in it two of Christie's
secretaries. These young men were repri-
manded, and one of them, Mr. North, was sent
home. This brought letters from these model
diplomats to their respective governments; and
Webb, not satisfied with boring Mr.. Seward,
undertook to do the like with Earl Russell
His rival and counterpart, Christie, apprehend-
ing the disapproval of his government, con-
ceived the idea of securing his place by getting
up row with Brazil. He therefore so managed
matters as to embroil the two governments and
1t was by the most fortuitous circumstances
that Brazil had not her seaports blockaded and
her coast towns bombarded as the result Of
webbs pugnaciousness and Christie's stupidity
over "game of whist at shilling pointsr So
much for the policy of disposing of common
nuisances" by sending them abroad as ENJOYS
extraordinary. = r. 81, ...s-
The most amusing and Characteristic feature
Of the whole affair is Webb's pretension to high
descent, decent manners, good standing in So
ciety and admission to aristocratic circles. He
boasts Of wearing seal bearing his family's
coat Of arms, (which was unquestionably cut
more than two hundred years ago." He says
he was commissioned as general by the Presi-
dent Of the tnltsd States n Y5ls, when he was
sent as Minister to Austrias He omitted to say,
however, that he made undue haste to get
away from New York, knowing that the
Senate . %eu.a is,c:. rs;c:. the aQpOin.@ent and
only intent upon having Q c!sim n
his outfit and travelling allowai1es. He