The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-08

man, in his duplex character of preacher and
politician, exercised a weighty influence in his
State during the era of secession; and no man
did more by advice and counsel to save Ken
lucky to the Union than did the Reverend
Robert ]. Breckinridge. Full of prejudices as
great minds ever are, violent and bitter in his
denunciation of wrong and wrong-doers, even
indulping in perhaps too sharp personalities,
he made many enemies; but his arguments
were too strong and too forcibly put not to
have been effective, and scattered broadcast
through Kentucky during the war, they made
muoh Union sentiment of the true and radical
Not only 'the sage" but many other less
able. speakers of Kentucky caught Marshall
Hon the hip" in consequence of his many in
disoretions. During the famous Matt Ward
trial in Kentucky in 1853 or '54, Marshall, as
one of the counsel for the prisoner, indulged
in many bitter personalities towards r. B.
Carpenter, one of the prosecuting attorneys.
1t was many years before Carpenter got an
opportunity for revenging himself but at last
Marshall's indiscretion furnished it. 1t was
during one of Marshall's periodical fits of tenn
perance. He had delivered lecture
at Covington, Kentucky, the residence
of Mr.. Carpenter. on his temporarily
favorite topic, and in concluding it, called on
anybody present to answer his arguments, 'if
he could" Carpenter accepted the challenge,
and, springing upon the platform, gave full
account of all of Marshall's spTees, concluding
by admitting that Marshall was the most
powerful lecturer on temperance whom he had
ever heard and seem 'for, " said Carpenter, 'he
not only depicts the evils of intemperance in
glowing words, but strikingly illustrates them
in his own personl' Marshall never attempted
to answer that argument.
became acquainted with Marshall in 1857.
The manner of the introduction was odd enough
to be interesting. Marshall had engaged to
deliver a course of lectures at Louisville, Ken
lucky, on the "Popes of Rome;' and during
the fortnight employed in their delivery-and,
indeed, whenever in Louisville-he made his
home with his brother-in-law, Judge Caleb
Logan, of that city. l resided at the time in
the adjoining house, and only a party-wall
separated the rooms occupied by Marshall and
myself. These were at the rear of the build
ings, and when the windows of both apart
ments were open voices in one could be
plainly heard in the other. My business
kept me up late at night; so did MarshalPs;
and thus it frequently happened that we
found ourselves busy in our respective rooms
at a very late hour of the night. Midnight
was Marshall's favOrite hour for study, and
could sit at my window and hear him read
ing aloud. l found after an evening or two
that he was thus studying for his next lee
ture. One night heard him, in thus declam-
ing, frequently use the names of Bourbon, "
"Montpensier, " Marguerite de Valois," " and
being at that time engaged in writing an arti-
Gle based on the history of Charles de Mont
pensier, Duke of Bourbon, and Marguerite de
Valois was naturally interested in catching
the thread of his remarks. | went to the win
dow, and, leaning out, listened to him. He
was half-reading, half-declaiming, and was re-
lating the very episode in their lives on which
had been writing. While thus talking aloud
he came to the window and leaned out; our
eyes met, and, naturally enough, we spoke, he
askingif his loud voice disturbed my slumbers.
| explained that had been writing, and singu-
larly enough, upon the same event in history
upon which he had been declaiming. After
talking over the singular coincidence, he ex-
planned that he had been engaged in studying
for his lecture for the ensuing night. He stated
that he habitually read, on the night previous
to delivering his lecture, some standard history
OF the events which he proposed to describe,
and without further preparation, and without
notes, he would mount his rostrum and deliver
his discourse. His memory was so great that
a single reading of his authorities in this man
ner would enable him to recall and relate every
event andincident and date bearing on the sub
1ect OF his discourse. Of course his present
reading was merely to refreshen his memory;
he had long before the delivery of this course
OF lectures made himself thoroughly acquainted
with the history of the Popes. Indeed, there
We're few better-read men than Mr.. Marshall
IN all departments of literature. He had the
salient points of the histories of all nations at
his finger ENDS; and though superficial reader,
he had thorough acquaintance with the great
characters OF the past. His knowledge of the
Blble was very great, and Bible characters
were faVorlte studies with him.
l, OF course, went to hear his lecture on the
night following this conversation. The sub
iect as aOnOuncad pOpa rlap1ant VII
but Marshall hardly mentioned that worthy,
though he animadverted on the character of
his uncle, Lorenzo de Medici, at great length.
The loves of Marguerite de Valois and the Duke
OF Bourbon; the character of Francis | and
Bayard the intrigues of Louise de Savoe and
Duprat; and the history of that legal, pohtl-
cal, and religious persecution which sepa-
rated the lovers, banished Bourbon and MS
Protestant followers from France produced
the war with Charles V, and drove Bourbon
to besiege and sack Rome-my subject, inJdct-
was really that of Marshall, and the Pope was
forgotten.
Marshall frequently flew off from his subject
in this manner, but it was generally when ne
had been 'indulging." This, unfortunately
was frequently the case, and invariably inter
! tered with his success in every city Whlch no
visited. 1t did not always, however, detIacI
from the interest of his efforts, for, no matIeI
| how tipsy he might be, he was always lu9liS iI
| of speech, and clear-headed. One OF MS
most remarkable lectures was delivered W1en W
| in this condition. He was announced 10 leo-
| ture on Napoleon Bonaparte ana VeIy
| crowded audience assembled to near nm, a,
| Shortly after the hour at which ne WoI' WaS ~