The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-26
Bali Rum Russell's "Diary North aAd


|
e0uth.'
Having Lett this country In disgust, after
doing the Union cause all the harm he could
Bull Run Russell now favors US with Par
THAN arrow in the form of his "Diary." more
curious tumble Of gossip, description, moraliz-
ing, history, bad Latin, scandal, anecdote,
second rate French, egotism, abuse, personali-
ties, impertinence, ill-breedng and penny-a-
lining we have never had occasion to peruse.
Only ian Englishman born in Ireland" as
Russell describes himself, could ever have kept
and printed such diary. From the time no
landed in this country and duly recorded
everything the servants at the Clarendon said
to him In regard to national affairs, down to the
moment when he sneaked on shipboard, fearful
Of assassination and thanking Heaven that he
was off for Europe. he seems to have had no
| other object than to insult the American people
as bitterly as possible. Invited to various din
ners--not on account of any personal or social
merits of his own, but simply as any other
man would have been who represented
the London Ismes-he rushed away from
every table to make note of the fact that
his host or hostess had an immense mouth or
noticeable nose. Visiting Mount Vernon, he
observes that our "principles Of liberty were
contained in the charters Of the colonies, and
were 'in no degree derived from or dependent
on the Revolution" and that Washington twas
il we are to Judge from most of the regular
actions, in which the British had the best Of it."
After inspecting our largest army, he declares
that few thousand English soldiers could
march over it without difficulty. When he is
at last laughed out of the country, his false
hosds exposed, his stockiobbing operations
discovered, and his character known, he still
retains impudence enough to represent himself
| as q martyr to truth and our national vanity,
and his last words are thanksgiving that he
has left us forever. To this we can sincerely
say amen.
In New York city Bull Run Russell found
nothing to admire. Its rapid growth is 'far
inferior to that of many parts of London"
Fifth avenue is full Of houses, with a "com-
pressed, squeezed up aspect" and "narrow,
lanky' parlors The city railway cars are in
convenient and "the destruction Of all comfort
or rapidity in ordinary carriages" lie bought
a copy of the constitution "for three CENTS" but
was dissatisfied with his bargain, because it was
not "self-expounding." He dined with Belmont,
the banker, and, although the house was elegant
| aud the company agreeable "yet there was
something wanting. Not in host or hostess, or
company or house. Where was it," Evidently
in Russcll's self, who was unaccustomed to
| good society. The American ladies were
pretty, but were not "of the grandiosc Roman
type, which Van Ranmer recognized in Lon
dom He visited poor Greeley, who enjoined
upon him "to be sure and examine the slave
pens" when he went South From New York
he proceeded to Washington in "s long box on
wheels" which we barbarians call railway
car, and dined at Minister Sanford s
on the evening Of his arrival, where
he met Senator Anthony Of Rhode Island,
who will not follow Simmons example
and resign, and who is correctly described as
having can Israelitish cast of face" and mind
The next day Secretary Seward introduced
Russell to President Lincoln, of whose personal
appearance he gives comical description. II
is characteristic Of Russell that he details the
full particulars Of the Presidents reception OF
the Chevalier Bcrtinatti, although Secretary
Seward had limited to him ''yon are not sup
posed to be here" President Lincoln did not
look like "what is called gentleman" but re-
ceived Russell Gin friendly Manner de-
clared that the London Times was the most
powerful thing in the world "eycept. perhaps
the Mississippi" and welcomed Russell as the
Times minister" Mrs. Lincolns features
are plain, her nose and mouth Of an ordinary
| type, and her manners and appearance homcly,
stiifencd, however, by the consciousness that
her position requires her to be something more
than plain Mrs. Lincoln, the wife Of the Illinois
lawyer The day after penning this descrip-
ton Russell received "a magnificent bouquet of
flowers" from Mrs. Lincoln. JEFF. Davis, on the
other hand, is "a very different looking man
from Mr.. Lincoln. He is like gentleman
and Mrs. Davis 'is a comely, sprightly woman,
verging on matronhood, Of good figure and man
ners, well dressed ladyike and clever"
Some of Russell's hits have spice of truth
about them. Speaking of q conversation with
| Sumner. he says:-"I thought detected desire
to let the Southern States 20 out with their
slavery if they desired it. Mr.. Chase, by
the way, expressed sentiments Of the same kind
more decidedly the other day" This shows
that the radical programme of accepting ''the
best attainable peace now that the emancipa-
ton proclamation is issued, is by no means a
new idea. OF Senator Wilson, who used to be
a shoemaker, Russell says that he sis ultra
crpiddm" in his present position. Fremont is
''without the smallest external indications
Of extraordinary vigor, intelligence or abili-
| ty. If he has military genius, 1t must
como by intuition; for assuredly he has no pro-
fessional requirements or experience" Pres-
dent Lincoln called Mcclellan '.Georgy.- and
! Inconvenience Captain Dahlgren by perpetual
visits; for he sis animateLby most extraord-
nary curiosity about naval matters and ma