The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-06
The New British Minister.
From the New York World, Jan. Is.


From the New York World. Jan. IS
Since the decease of Sir Frederick
Bruce, tho late British minister to the
United States, Great Britain has been
without an accredited envoy or embassa-
DOR at Washington. Yesterday, however,
the Cunard steamer Siberia, on landing at
her dock in Jersey City, brought as sue
cessor to Sir Frederick Bruce, Edward
Thornton, Esq the newly-appointed min
lister from the court of st. James to the
United States. The Siberia reached her
dock about O'clock in the afternoon.
After the mails had been delivered and
the vessel and its passengers examined by
the custom-house officials, our reporter
had the pleasure OF taking look at the
representative of her majesty. Mr.. Ed
ward Thornton was dressed in a light-col-
ored mixed Scotch tweed pantaloons, and
a heavy cloth palctot or cloak without
arms, wearing the cid style garrote cho-
king collar with plain necktie. Dir.
Thornton is perhaps 60 years of age, of
rather bilious complexion, bright hazel
eyes, very quick in their motion, white
English side whiskers, whitish gray hair,
mixed here and there with few black
streaks, and stands rather slender in build,
about feet and 10 inches in height.
Dir. Thornton is very quiet looking
gentleman, without anything acidulous,
firm. naughty, or pompous in his manner,
aud has not by any means that pompous,
port-wine look so often observed In the
servants Of her most gracious majesty ex
lied to this "horrid" country. Mr.. Thorn
ton wore silk nat carelessly on the back
Of his head, aud brought with him two
male servants Taking him all in all, Mr..
Thornton, as he stood leaning over the
side of the steamer. reSem5led Mr.. Car
lyle very closely as he stood when del YER
inc his inaugural address, IS lord rector of
the university of EdiEburgh. The same
unaffected, simple, and unostentat.ous
manner, and the same utter absence OF pre-
tention. Mr.. Thornton, having made all
things ready, he appeared on the gang
plank with two silk umbrellas in his hand,
and having gained the deck, he held a
personal inspection of lbs baggage which
was spread out on the dock in great con-
fusion. As luck would have it, the very
first person encountered by the represe Mt
alive of her Britanc majesty on stepping
on shore on American soil, was a full
blooded and athletic built Fenian, who
profered his services to the English am
bassador to carry Mr.. Thornton's trunks.
TIE Fenian was not aware that he stood in
the presence of the representative of Eng
lish tyranny, and the ambassador knew not
that the man asking to carry his trunks
vas member of the Brian Boru circle of
che Fenian brotherhood. But SO it was,
and with an Involuntary shudder and
wave Of the hand refused the Fenian's Of
fer sternly. The Fenian, on being inform
ed that the gentleman who refused his as
sistance was the British minister, went
away, after expectorating in his half-clos-
ed fist az if about to perform some terrific
deed Of blood. Then Dir. Thornton in
spected his baggage, heavy trunks, pack
ing cases, and leather and tin dispatch
boxes, cases of claret from Old England,
jars of picalili, chow-chow, picked onions,
and walnuts, basket of champagne, and
many other creature comforts, all labeled
from the foreign Office as if Lord Stanley
himself had watched the packing of the
precious edibles and drinkables. One Of
the male servants brought over by Mr..
Thornton kept strict guard over the bag.
gage, cycling each custom-house officer like
policeman, in fear that they might, with
true American recklessness, put their off,
cial clutches on the sacred traps of III. Is.
NJ. minister. At about balf-past four o.
clock Mr.. Thornton, his luggage and SER
wants, were driven to the Clarendon hotel
where he will remain the space Of twenty
four hours to recuperate, and then it is uu-
derstood that he will start direct for Wash
ington, perhaps this evening on the late
train. Mr. Thornton was without any
suite, as it is intended that the staff or le-
CATION formerly attached to Sir Frederick
Bruce will act under the orders of Mr.
Thornton until farther news from the for
eign Office.