The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-04
LOVE AND LUNACY.
P-om the N. Y WorId Of yesterday.

From the ~. T. HOftd 0j gcSterdGU.
A most extraordinary case has transpired,
and is soon 10 be brought before Judge Suther-
land, OF this city, in which the honor and good
name OF family that has given to the Re-
public one Of its most distinguished soldiers is
involved.
Major General George G.. Meade, who com
manded the Union armies at Gettysburg, has
brother named Richard w. Meade who was
well known in past years to the PUBLIC of this
city and Brooklyn as the commodore of the
receiving ship North Carolina at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. Commodore Meade was born in
Mnorca an island belonging to Spain, in the
Mediterranean, at the time when his father
was United States Minister at the Court of
Spain. General Meade was also born in Spain
during his fathers residence there.
Commodore Meade received his commission
as midshipman in the navy in 1926, and served
the flag in various capacities until July, 1862,
when he was promoted to the rank of captain.
During the war Captain Meade was in COM
mand of the receiving. ship North Carolina,
and while in that position exhibited traces of
mental excitement and eccentricity which
made him noticeable to strangers. The old
veteran who had smelt the brine in active SER
vice for so many years, found service at the
Navy Yard very irksome, and sought for as
sgpment to duty where the cannon's smoke
and conflict of battle might rehabilitate his
rather shattered nerves.
The Government, at his solicitations, granted
him his request, and appointed Richard W.
Meade to the command of the tirst-class steam
ship San Jacinto, vessel constructed in 1850
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and which was
famous for having taken part in the attack on
the barrier forts in China, and also for having
overbauled the steamer Trent while Com
modore Wilkes had command of the San
Jacinto, when Mason and Sldell were CAP
tnrpd Tho San JapiOtn n1sn al1ouyad tba
Alabama to slip away from her at Martinique
one night to 60 forth burning and destroying
merchantmen. 1t was to this vessel that
Captain Meade was commissioned in the fall of
1868, and while in command of her the San
Jacinto was driven ashore on the Florida
Reefs, the vessel being total loss.
The skill and vigilance of Captain Meade
under the pressure of this disaster, or at
least, his soundness of mind and Judgment,
had to undergo a great deal of criticism, and
on his arrival home he was tried by a COM
mission for whatever indi-cretion the loss of
his vessel involved, ard was censured and
subjected to three years suspension from
duty. The judgment of the commission was,
however, set aside, in Difference, as it was
then believed, to the eminent services of his
brother General Meade, and Captain Meade's
name was placed on the retired list without
any loss of his rank or standing. Captain
Meade had his temper son~ed by his unfor-
tunCte experience of active service, and many
things combined to make his mind unsettled
Captain Meade's family consisted of his wife,
his son, Lieutenant Commanding R.W Meade,
Jr, who was at ore time in charge of the
guuboat Msrblehead on blockading duty, a
very gallant and brave officer, and two daugh-
ters, fair as lilies and blooming as June roses.
1t was said that these two young ladies far
surpassed all Brooklyn feminines for their
charms of loveliness, and accordingly many
admirers paid suit to the beautiful daughters
Of Captain Meade. But the veteran was a stern
''parient," and warned off all suitors in
melo- dramatic voice. Some four orfve months
since, however, lady friend of the Meade
family, who is gifted with great matchmaking
pTopersities, had the audacity to introduce to
the bosom of the Meade family gallant, rich
and beautiful young man, who had amassed, it
is said, the sum of $500, 900 in land specula-
tions in Vineland, New Jersey. This young
gehtleira an was not slow in making advances
to ona of the young ladies, who soon "recipro-
cated' his affection, as the poetical slang of the
present day terms love-making. After a short
bat sweet lOve-makng our ardent friend pro-
posed ana was accepted, after proper inquiries
had been made as to his previons history. Mrs.
Captain Meade was very well pleased with the
manner in which matters were proceeding, as
she had obtained most excellent and
well-to. do son-in-law, but with Captain Meade
II was Inherent. The old sea dog WaXed fierce
at what he believed to be a most decided piece
of impudence on the part of the lady who had
introduced the Vineland proprietor into his
house, with view to stealing away one of his
daughters. Besides, Captain Meade believed
that the blood of the BOuIbons, the Bruns-
wicks, Hapsburgs, and several other noble
houses channelled his blue veins, and he was
exceedingly full OF wrath at the idea that a
mere speculatOr should become allied with the
House of the Meades.
The aged veteran met some opposition in his
own fanlly, and return of his periodical
irritability seemed once more imminent. He
is reported to have told the lady friend who
introduced the Vineland speeulator to the
bosom OF his family, that he 'thought she had
a great deal of impudence in introducing the
id speculatOr, AID he wanted her to know
that his children were never intended to be
placed on exhibition for id Yankee wife
the id speculatOT, he would have more need
of the undertaken than wife" In other
words, the aged veteran threatened to blow
holes in the Vineland speculator. This
pious yet valiant New Highlander had no
desire, however, to have daylight pene-
trate his earthly frame in that manner, and
accordingly he took a hack and forthwith he
hied him to the TOmbs, where he made COM
plant against Captain Meade, who was bound
over in the sum of $500 to keep the peace for
one year. The bail was procured at once, and
here comes the mysterious part of the story.
Instead OF being discharged, the aged veteran,
who, 1t seems, according to the Vineland
speoulator's story, had showed symptoms of
alteration of mind, was taken to another
part OF the TOmbs, some flrtber LEGAL forms