Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-01

ciated her alike as d daughter, wife and
widow and desiring permission to visit
her. The permission was granted, and
| Mrs. Timberlake became Mrs. General
Eaton.
Her second husband enjoying relations
Of the closest intimacy with President
jackson, his wife in consequence assumed
a high position among the female notabili-
ties of the National Capital. She was re,
ceiyed in the kindest manner by the Pre-
sident, and was soon numbered amongthe
circle of his most priced acquaintance,
while her husbands position US Minister
Of War still further tended 70 enhance
alike her notoriety and influence. Ac-
Cording to the usual law which governs
success in this world, Mrs. Eaton did not
escape scandal. Rumor busted itself with
her name, and President jackson himself
did not fail to receive his share of social
gossip. The opposition newspapers of
the day could not afford TO dispense with
such excellent opportunity for sensational
items, and the stories which "linked in
wrong the President and Mrs. Eaton be-
gan to assume a political significance.
Calhoun, at that time president
and President Of the Senate, was bitterly
opposed to the policy and person Of Gen.
jackson, and having failed to share the
national confidence IN his superior by at
tacks on the management of the Seminole
war, looked around him for more avails-
bic material. The Eaton scandal was ac-
cordiBgly skillfully, though delicately
manipulated by him, and was brought into
practical shape. With the truth or false
heod Of the scandal itself we have naught
to do neither Is s. it our province TO under
take TO decide what real credence Mr.. Cal
houn in his own mind attached to the re-
port. Suffice II to record the facts. Mr..
Calhoun, through the q female element
in Washington, and more especially
BY his influence with the wives
of the various members of the Cabinet,
SO arranged it that Mrs. General Eaton
was socially ignored by the ladies Of the
Eahinnt eircla thus innrpasinn tina scandal
and calling TO its internal personal dissen-
sions the u|niavorable attention Of the ma
ton. President Jackson, p%erceiving this,
wrote IN his direct way concerning the
matter to Mr.. Calhoun, who replied by a
very diplomatic note, stating that the quar-
rel was emphatically a "ladies' quarrel,
with which men could not successfully in
%terfere that the claws of the ladies were
like the laws of the Modes and Persians,
and admitted neither of argument or
amendment with much more in a similar
strain. On the receipt of this little epistle
General jackson determined at Once TO
act. He accordingly sent for Mr. Van
Buren,, then Secretary of State, his politi-
cal favorite, and, exs laining his views, re-
quested him as Il personal favor 10 send in
his resignation. Sir. Van BUreH at once
complied with the request, and of course
his resignation was Immediately followed
by That Of each and every member Of the
Cabinet.
It is stated that ut one stage Of the pro-
ceedings the President was willing to COM
promise with the enemies of Mrs, Eaton;
withdrawing any claim Of his 20 the pri-
vate social recognition of the lady, desir-
ing only her public recognition on recep-
tons and great occasions. But as this
compromise was rejected he acted as We
have above stated. And thus Mrs. Gen.
Eaton proved the direct cause Of the dis
solution Of Il Cabinet.
Directly subsequent to this event, the
President, who never forsook a friend,
accredited General Eaton rs United States
Minister to Madrid, and in a brief period
his wife, directing her social talents to the
Old World, became almost as noted there
as she had already rendered herself in the
New. She visited London and Paris, and
settling at Madrid established her
self as a decided favOrite. Various anec-
dotes are recorded of her stay in the Span
ish Court, for only one Of which we can
= M rr-nn L rzan,z q, Ln.-a -, G.. i
ish custom when wishing to evince admi-
ration for alady to prefer her some valu-
able present, merely as a matter of form,
the lady being presumed to gratefully de-
cline the offer. Mrs. Eaton was aware Of
custom and of its meaning-or rather |
of its want of meaning-but, being fond
of a Joke, determined 10 avail herself of !
it. much to the CONSERVATION Of those who
TO compliment her. On one occa-
sion being requested TO accept a case of
she replied that " with the deepest
gratitude she would do so, and Forthwith
ordered her attendant TO convey the Jewels |
to her carriage. We can imagine the sur
prise and chagrin of the gallant presenter
of the jewels aforesaid. The diamonds
were returned next day, but no future op-
portunity was given to repeat the Jest.
Mrs. Eaton is also stated to have intro
duced the American custom of knitting
among the ladies Of the Spanish Court.
But we must proceed to more serious de-
tails.
Gen. Eaton died and his widow became
he possessorof his large estate. She also
assumed the guardianship of four or five
grandchildren, who were, by intermar-
closely connected with the Randolph
smily of Virginia. One of these grand
occupies a post in the marine ser
ice of the United States Another, and
he youngest, Il a clerk in the retail es-
ablishment of A. T. Stewart in this CITY.
Another has married n Colonel in the
.rmy, while the fourth Is one Of the un-
.ortunate victims Of the arts of the Italian
}oursgsnaDi.
This italian adventurer came to this
ountry destitute of frieads or means
armed a scanty livelihood as a vender Of
mages-then became, in conjunction with
man named Marini, a dancing
master; removed to Washington, became
professionally acquainted with two of the
grandchildren of Mrs. Eaton, who attend
d his dancing school by their instrument
atty formed the acquaintance of Mrs.
Eaten tshe being 60 years of age and he
aseertained her wealth, married her /,
or her money in spite of social and pub
ie opposition, obtained the sole pcsses-
ion Of her estate, betrayed her grand
hid ibis own granddaughter by adop-
ION sold secretly by means of a general
of attorney and his wifes unlim-
ted trust and love, all the property Of his
wife, pocketed the proceeds, sold out pri-
-ately his nominal business STRAW goods
tc- and leaving behind him q cold and /
ruel letter, departed last Wednesday, BY 5
be steamer to Europe, accompanied his :
his granddaughter, who by his means an