The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-28
THE BoURGANANI-EAruN CASE.

1he recent remarkable elopement of an Italian
adventurer (Nho seven years ago welded the
widow OF General Eaton) with the graud-daugh.
ter OF his vile, has created a sensation in polt
cal and fashionable circles both IN this city aud
in Washington. IL has also revived the public
interest In the unfortunate wife, who at one time
may have been said to have controlled the tate
OF the country, or at least to have been the chief
cause OF change in some of its most important
political relations. 1t will be therefore appro
PIRATE at this present time to give resume of
tie leading facts in the biography of the party in
this singular case with whom the public natu.
rally are most concerned, namely, Madame
Boureananl, formerly widely known as Mrs.
General Eaton.
The iatner of this lady was a gentleman of
wealth and position, and the lady herself was
possessed of great personal attractions, remains
OF which are visl BILE even 20 this day She was
well educated, and was gifted with a singular
fascination OF manner; while not the least lm.
portant element in her character was a strength
OF will, power of fixed determination, winch
has sustained her throughout all the vic sstudes
OF her eventiul career. In the height of her
triumph as belle at Washington, she married
a member of the TimbeIake family who was
purser in the United States Navy. Tne nup,ials
were celebrated with great ecidt and the father
OF the bride presented her with wel.furnlshed
house (Which, in after days passed into the
hands of the Italian dancing master Bourga-
nani). BY her first husband the lady had seye-
raj children.
Purser Timberlake was an intimate personal
friend OF General Eaton, and is saidto have felt
a presentiment that his life was not destined to
be OF great duration, and also to have expressed
the hope that, in the case of his decease his
widow would unite herself to his friend. After
the death OF Timberlake, General Eaton, in due
course OF time, forwarded an epistle to the
widow, expressing his sentiments OF admiration
for her, having, as he expressed it, ''known her
and appreciated her alike as a daughter wife
and WIDOW" and desiring permission to visit
her The permission was granted, and Mrs
Undertake 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 notabilltes of the national
capital. She was received IN the kindest man.
ner by the President, and was soon numbered
among the circle OF his most prIzed acuuaint.
ances, while her husbands position as Min
ister OF War still further tended to enhance
alike her notoTiety and her influence. Accord.
inc to the usual law which governs success in
this world, Mrs. Eaton did not escape scandal
Rumor busted itself with her name and Presi.
dent Jackson himself did not fail to receive his
share OF social gossip. The opposition news
papers of the day could not atoro to dispense
with such excellent opportunity Tor sensational
items, and the stories winch linked in wrong~
the President and Mrs. Eaton began to assume
a political significance.
Calhoun. at that time Vice President and Pre-
sident of the Senate was bitterly opposed to the
policy and person at General jackson; and
having failed to share Che nariOnal confidence
In his superior by attacks on the management
OF the seminole war, looked around him for
more available material. The Eaton scandal
was accordingly sklliully, though dehcately
manipulated by him, and was brought into prac.
tical shape. With the truth or talsehood of the
scandal itself we have naught to do; neither is
1t our province to undertake to decide what real
credence MIR. Calhoun in his own mind attached
TO the report. Suffice 1t to record the facts. Mr..
Calhoun, through the "female clement" in WASH
inc ton, and especially by his influence with tbe
wives OF the various members of the Cabinet 30
a ranup6 that Mra Cannro1 Ea
ignored by the ladies OF the Cabinet circle, thus
increasing the scandal, and calling to its internal
personal dissensions the unfavorable attention
OF the nation.
President Jackson, perceiving this, wrote in
his direct way concerning the matter to Mr.
Calhoun, who replied by a very diplomatic
note, stating that the quarrel was emphatically
"lades' QUARREL with which men could nct
successfully interfere; that "the laws OF the
ladies were like the laws of the Medes and Per
SLAMS, and admitted neither OF argument or
amendments" ith much more in a similar strain,
On the receipt OF this episte General Jackson
determined at once to act. He accordingly sent
for Mr.. Van Buren, then Secretary of State, mis-
political tavOrite, and, explaining his views re.
quested him a. a personal favor to send in his
resignation, Mr. Van Buren, at once c1mnIied
with the rather singular request, and OF course
his res gnation was Immediately followed BIZ
that OF each and every member Of the Cabinet
1t is stated that at one stage OF the proceedings
the President was willing to compromise with
the enemies OF Mrs. Eaton; withdrawing anv
claim of his to the priUdte social recognition of
the lady, desiring only her public recognition at
receptions and great occasions. But as this
compromise was rejected he acted as we have
above stated. And thus Mrs. General Eaton
proved the direct cause OF the dissolution of a
Cabinet.
Directly subsequent to this event, the Presi-
dent who never forsook a friend, ccredited
Gen. Eaton as 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 her
self in the New. She visited London and Paris
and finally settling at Madrid established her
sell as a decided favOrite. Various anecdotes
are recorded of her stay in the Spanish Court
tor only one of which we can find space II
seems to have been a Spanish custom when
wishing to evince admiration for a lady to
protfer her some valuable present, merely as a
matter OF form, the lady being presumed to
gratefully decline the offer. Mrs. Eaton was
aware of this custom, and of its meaning-or
rather of its want OF meanng-but, being fond
OF Joke, determined to avail herself oft much
to the CONSERVATION of those who sought to
compliment her.
On one occasion being requested to accept
case OF Jewels, she replied that with the deep
est gratitude she would do So" and forthwith
ordered her attendant to convey the Jewels to
her carriage, We can imagine the surprise and
chaprln OF the gallant presenter OF the Jewels
aforesaid. The diamonds were returned next
day, but no future opportunity was given to re.
peat the Jest. Mrs Eaton ls also stated to have
introduced the American custom of knitting
among the ladies OF the Spanish Court. But we
must proceed to more serious details.
General Eaton died, and his widow became
the possessor of his large estate She also as
sumed the guardianship OF four or five grand |
children, who were, by intermarriage, closely |
connected with the Randolph family of Virginia. |
One of these grandchildren occupies a post In |
the marine service of the United States. An.
other, and the Youngest is a clerk in the retail
establishment OfA. I. Stewart in this city. An.