The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-28
REVERDY JOHNSON.
His Personal History and Peculiarities
His Mission 10 England.

The Washington correspondent OF the st.
Louis Democrat gives the following interesting
personal history OF Rcverdy Johnson:-
The old legal ent social acquaintances of Mr..
johnson say this U quote the exact words, vers
nearly, from leaolng lawyer OF Frederick,
"Reverdy is over here in England merely as
an advocate. He went there to settle these
Alabama claims, and he means to dOit. johnson
took him for the place, kuo wing his power and
familiarity with English statesmen, aud Reverdy
has been quietly establishing social and pro-
iessonal correspondence with that side for
these fifteen or twenty years-not with this
particular desig ign in mind, OF course, but with
the intent to distinguish himself some dayi III
patriotic dplomaCy.n
"Does Mr.. Johnson love the English peope?r
| SAID to the same gentleman.
"Yes, we all do--the gentlemen, th at is, of Old
English descent in the former colonies OF
Maryland and Virginia England has no such
friends as the lawyers OF the Maryland bar
students of her common law. AT the same time,
Reyerdy is stout American patriot. He took
musket as a private soldier at the battle OF
BladensDurg, in the volunteer company OF
William Pinckney, and SHOT fired over his
head (ior he is II low man in stature) killed u
tall man directly behind him.
Yes, sir Reverdy is a thorough patriot. His
attitude at the beginning OF this war was as
resolute as prize-hghters. He is perfect
bulldog even at his age of seventy-dye, and
would fight duel to-day as quick as he would
eat."
Mr.. JOHNSON AS A FIRE-EATER.
find that cannot write this story of Mr..
johnson with the spirit 1t should have, unless
give the name of my chief informant, and this
| am not authorized to do, Sufficient IL is to
say that he is contemporary at the bar and a
kinsman OF Mr.. johnson, a secessloulst aud a
political op[oneut OF our Minister Plenipoten-
liary. Thus much expressed, let me Continue
this sketch IN the conversational form in which
1t occurred.
"Mr. johnson, you say, is a fighting man?
thought his remarkable trait was his want OF
moral 6rnness aud his abiding amiability.n
The two things are consistent. Most men
with moral weakness accept physical quarrel
as an escape. i mean that MIR. Johnson, with
peryadiDg disposition to be agreeable and have
no violence is ire.eater in physical braws.
AT his age he would challenge ans man to-day
who ia pugned his faith IN his diplomacy. OF
course he cannot take nouce OF newspaper
eIiIcisms"
Did he ever fght?"
81 am rot aware that ne ever did, but after
the failure of the Bank of Maryland, in winch
his name was associated with much reproacb,
MIR. johnson challenged "A number OF people
and permitted none to escape without apology.
lie lost his eye, you know, because OF DUEL"
"HOW dld he Iose that eye, slTY
"Well! North Carolina Congressman named
Stanley had. been bull-raggiUg Henry A. Wise,
with the determination to make the latter hight
or be frightened. Wise finally resolved to suffer
this thing 10 mere, but 10 bring 1t TO head.
So, at q horse.race near Washington city, he
rAn his horse violently against SANKEY'S, and
then, pretending 10 believe that Stanley was
the aggressor, turned sharply round aud cut
the latter with stick. Sauley had to chal-
lenge Wise, OF course, and he went to ReVerdy's
ueighborhood, near Baltimore, 10 learn how
10 use he pistol. Some say Reyerdy was teach
ing him. At any rate Reverdy went out to see
him fire one day. Stauley's bullet struck tree
and glanced, shot Reverdy in the eye, brought
h m down, and nearly killed him. He lay in
bed long WHILE his lie despaired OF. The
friends of Stanley and Wise topped the duel
and Reverdys misfortune was kept out of the
papers"
Does that lost eye give Mr.. johnson any
trouble now. .a-daysN
Yes sir. cataract has formed over his
other eye sand he is reXt to stone blind. They
show HIM good deal OF attention in England
galleries OF nobeme aud gentlemen they sho "
him GOOD many paintings. With the old fel-
lows plausible amiablity he replies that they
are beautiful, but he says he never any thing
at Hll.n