Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-12-18
gelecteh Misrellany,
REvERDY JOHNSON.
Personal History and Peculiarities- His
Mission to England.

The Washington correspondent of the
St. Louis Democrat give the following in
teresting personal history of Revcrdy
johnson:
The old legal and social acquaintance
of Mr.. johnson say this q quote the ex-
act words, very nearly from a leading
lawyer Of Frederick:
oaer tbase. jnA England
merely as an advocate. He went there to
settle these Alabama claims, and he means
to do it. johnson took him for the place.
knowing his power and familiarity with
English statesmen, and Reverdy has been
quietly establishing a social and profess
sional correspondence with that side for
these fifteen or twenty years-not with
this particular design in mind, of course,
but with the intent to distinguish himself,
some day, III patriotic diplomacy"
"Does Mr.. johnson love the English
people ?" said to the same gentleman.
eyes, we all do-the gentlemen, that
is, of old English descent in the former
colonies of Maryland and Virginia. Eng
land has no such friends as the lawyers OF
the Maryland bar-students Of her COM
mon law. At the same time, Reverdy is
stout American patriot. He took a
musket as a private soldier at the battle
of Bladensburg. in the volunteer company
of William Pinckney, and a shot fired
over his head (for he is low man in sta
ture) killed tall man directly behind
him. ..:. :. ...
Eyes, sir Reverdy is thorough pa
triot. His attitude at the beginning Of
this war was as resolute as prize fight
er's. He is a perfect bull dog even at
his age of seventy-fve, and would fight a
duel to-day as quick as he would eat"
MR.. JOHNSON AS A FIRE-EATER.
find that cannot write the story Of
Mr.. johnson with the spirit it should have,
unless I give the name of my chief infor-
mant, and this I am not authorized to do
Sufficient it is say that be is a cotempora-
ry at the bar and kinsman Of Mr.. John
son; secessionist and political oppo
nent of our Minister Plenipotentiary.-
Thus much expressed, let me continue
this sketch in the conversational form in
which it occurred.
"Mr. johnson, you say is fighting
man? | thought his remarkable trait was
his want of moral frmness and his abid.
ing amiability.'
1.-The two things are consistent. Mos
men with moral weakness accept physi.
cal quarrel as an escaped. [ mean thai
Mr.. johnson, with pervading disposi
ton to be agreeable and have no violence
is fre-eater in physical brawls. At his
age be would challenge any man to-day
who impugned his faith in his diplomacy
OF course he cannot take notice of ''news
paper criticisms"
Ibid he ever fight 2"
II am not aware that he did, but aftel
the failure of the Bank of Maryland, II
which his name was associated with mucf
|reproach, Mr.. johnson challenged a mum
Der of people and permitted none to es
cape without apology. He lost his eye
you know, because of a duel"
''How did he lose that eye, sir?
"Well North Carolina Congressman
named Stanley, had been bull-raggins
Henry A. Wise, with the determination
to make the latter fight or be frightened
Wise finally resolved to suffer this thinl
no more, but to bring it to a head. So
at horse-race near Washington city, b.
ran his horse violently against stanley's