Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01
From the New York Tribune Of tho 2Sth. !

the granddaughter of his wife, has created a
sensation IN political and fashionable circles
both in this city and in Washington. 1t has
also revived the public interest in the unfor
tunate wife, who at one time may have been
said to have controlled the fate Of the coun-
try, or at least TO have been the chief cause
of change in some Of its important politi
cal relations. 1t will be therefore appro
pirate at this present time TO give resume
OF the leading facts in the biography Of tn,
party in this singular case with whom TIA,
public naturally are most concerned, name
ly, Madame Bourganani, formerly widely
known as Mrs. General Eaton.
The father Of this lady was a gentleman
Of wealth and position, and the lady hersel
was possessed Of great personal attractions
remains Of which are visible even to thi
day. She was well educated, and was gifted
with a singular fascination Of manner, Will,
not the least important element in her char
acter was a strength Of will, power of fixec
determination, which has well sustained hei
throughout all the vicissitudes Of her event
full career. In the hight Of her triumph as
belle at Washington, she married a mem
Der of the Timberlake family, who was Z
purser in the United States Navy. The nup
tials were celebrated with ocldt and the
father Of the bride presented her with a well
furnished hoase (which in after years passed
into the hands Of the Italian drawing-maste
Bourganani). BY her first husband the lad,
had several children.
Purser Undertake was an intimate per
sonal friend of Gen. Eaton, and il said to
have felt a presentiment that his life wa
not destined 10 be of great duration, anC
also 10 have expressed the hope that, in the
4 4 4 a .
herself 10 his friend. After the death Of
Undertake, Gen. Eaton, in due course OF
time, forwarded an epistle 10 the widow
expressing his sentiments of admiration foi
her, having, az he expressed il, know
her alike as a daughter, wife and widow,
and desiring permission TO visit her. The
permission was granted, and Mrs. Timber
lake became Mrs. Gen. Eaton.
Her second husband enjoying relations OF
the closest intimacy with President Jack.
son. his wife in consequence assumed a higl
position among the female notabilities o
the National Capital. She was received il
the kindest manner by the President, ans
was soon numbered among the circle Of hi
most priced acquaintance while her hus
bands position as Minister of War still fur
ther tended 10 enhance her notoriety anC
her influence.
According TO the usual law which gov
erns success in this world, Mrs. Eaton die
not escape scandal. Rumor busted itsel
with her NAME and President Jackson him
self did not fail 10 receive his share of socia
gossip. The opposition newspapers of thu
day could not afford TO dispense with sucl
an excellent opportunity for sensational
items, and the stories which "linked IL
wrong" the President and Mrs. Eaton began
to assume a political significance.
Calhoun at that time Vice President anC
President of the Senate, was bitterly oppos
sd 10 the policy and person of Gen. Jack
son, and having failed TO share the national
confidence in his superior, by attacks on tn,
management of the Seminole war, looked
around him for more available material
The Eaton scandal was accordingly skilliul
ly, though delicately manipulated by him
and was brought into practical shape. With
the truth or falsehood of the scandal itsel
we have naught TO do; neither is il our pro
vince 20 undertake to decide what real ere
dence Mr. Calhoun, in his own mind, at
tache1 30 the report. Suffice ii TO recorC
the facts Mr.. Calhoun, through the "ie
male element" in Washington, and especial
ly by his influence with the wives Of the
various members ofthe Cabinet, so arranged
IL that Mrs. Gen. Eatonwas socially ignored
by the ladies of the Cabinet circle, thus in.
crcaslng the scandal, and calling 10 it, in
ternal personal dssensions the uni5vurable
attention of the nation. President jackson
perceiving this wrote in his direct way con-
corning the matter TO Mr.. Calhoun, who re-
piled 10y very diplomatic note, stating that
the quarrel was emphatically a ladies quar-
rel, !" with which men could not successfully
interfere; that 'the laws of the ladies were
like the laws OF the Medes and Pcrsians
and admitted neither of argumentnor amend
ment;" with much more in a similar strain.
On the receipt of this epistle General Jack
son determined at once TO act. lie accor-
dinghy sent for Mr.. Van Buren,, then Secre-
tary of State, his polite; iavorite, and, ex-
planning his views, requested him as a per-
sonal favor 10 send in his resignation. Mr.
Van Buren, ut once complied with the rather
singular request, and of course his resisna-
ton was Immediately followed 10y that OF
each and every member of the Cabinet.
Ii is stated that at one stage of the pro-
ceedings, the President was willing to com
promise with the enemies of Mrs. Eaton
Withdrawing any claim of his to the pirate
social recognition of the lady, desiring only
her public recognition at receptions and great
jected, he acted rs we have above stated.
And thus Mrs. General Eaton proved the
direct cause of the dissolution Of the cabinet.
Directly subsequent to this event, the
President, who never iorsook a friend, &C
credited General Eaton as United States
Minister TO Madrid, and, in brief period,
his wife, directing her social talents 20 the
old world, became almost as noted there as
she had already rendered herself in the
new. She visited London and Paris, and
finally settling at Madrid, established her
self as a decided favorite Various anec-
dotcs are recorded of her stay in the Span
ish Court, for only one of which we can find
space Ii seems 10 have been a Spanish Gus
tom when wishing TO evincc admiration for
a lady, 20 profler her some valuable present,
merely rs a matter Of form, the lady being
presumed TO gratefully decline the offer.
Mrs Eaton was aware Of this custom and OF
It's meaning-o rather of its want of mean
ing-but being fond of a Joke, determined
10 avail herself Of il, much 10 the COnsterna-
ton of those who sought 10 compliment her
On one occasion being requested 10 accept =
case of Jewels, she replied that with the
deepest gratitude she would do So and
forthwith ordered her attendant to convey
the Jewels 20 her carriage. We can imagine
the surprise and Chagrin of the gallant pre-
senter of the Jewels aforesaid The dia-
monds were returned next day, but no future
opportunity was given 10 repeat the jest.
Mrs. Eaton is also stated TO have introduced
the American custom Of knitting among the
ladies of the Spanish Court. But we must
proceed 10 more serious details.
General Eaton died. and his widow be-
came the possessor Of his large estate. She
also assumed the guardianship of four or
five grandchildren, who were 10y iutcrmar-
riage. closely connected with the Randolph
family, of Virginia. One of these grand
children occupies post in the marine ser
vice of the United States. Another and
the Youngest, is clerk in the retail estah-
lishment Of A. T. Stewart in this slty,
Another has married 4 colonel IN the army,
while the fourth is one Of the unfortunate
victims of the arts of the Italian Bourganam.
This Italian adventurer came 60 this
country destitute of friends or means
earned a scanty livelihood rs n vendee of
images-thon became, in conjunction with
man named Marini, n dancing master; re
moved 10 Washington, became profession
ally acquainted with two of the grand
children Of Mr.. Eaton, who attended has
dancing school; by their instrumentality
formed the acquaintance Of Mrs. Eaton she
being sixty wears Of age, and he twenty,
ascertained her wealth, married her for
her money, in spite Of social and pub
lie opposition obtained the sole possession
and control Of her estate, BETRAYED her
,,ropd-cbild This own granddaughter low