Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11

fishing Company Mrs. Ellet's new book en-
titled "The Court Circles of the Republic" +"
which fulfils the expectations we had formed
| from the announcement that such book,
by the author of the Republican Court, J"
was in preparation. She says in her pre-
face ....
Lord Napier remarked TO a distinguished
lady in Washington that book descriptive
of Society in the National Capital ought to
be written; and that faithful record would
give a better idea of the spirit and character
of the period than any history. Except OF
the earliest " Republican Court" no attempt
has been made to portray the social char
| acter of any administration. In this effort
| to supply a lamented defect, the necessary
| descriptions and sketches have been con-
densed as much as possible, and no me-
moirs have been included of men whose
biographies have been elsewhere given to
| the public. The aim has been to exhibit
statesmen, leading ladies, etc., in their
| drawing-room aspect, with only notices
sufficient TO illustrate their appearance and
influence at special times. Thus mention is
| made repeatedly OF the same persons under
different administrations.
'Imperfect as u brief survey must neces-
sarily be, it will be found that fair idea Of
an administration can be gained by view
OF its fashionable life and everyday social
habits. A great difference will be perceived
| in the terms of the Presidents, traceable in
some degree to the influence of the Execu-
| tive, but far more to those who surrounded
him, and most of all to the ladies who ruled
in the fashionable coterles, and gave the
laws in assemblages, dress, and entertain
ments. The attention bestowed on these
| last may seem disproporiionate to those who
do not estimate their effect those who re-
member the large share they, occupy IN the
| delinea.ion of any period, will not charge
| the author with frivolous taste in dwelling
| on them"
| We will extract a few of the stories told
| by Mrs Ellet, which may throw some new
| light on the social life of the times of our
earlier Presidents. And first, this about
THOMAS JEFFERSON AND TOM MOORE.
Tom Moore, twenty-four years old, had as
vet published nothing which had crossed the
Atlantic but "gentle Little's moral song"
and Mr.. Jetleison had no idea that he stood
| in the presence of the young Catulus OF his
day. Standing in his height of six feet two
and half inches. the President looked down
on the perfumed little Adonis, spoke word
| to him and gave him no further attention.
Moore, after this unnattering reception, fell
to lampooMing the President and almost
everything American. Some OF his scurri-
lous attacks fell into the hands of Mr.. Bur-
well, formerly the Presidents private secre-
tary, who carried them to Mrs. Randolph.
| The gentle Martha was reused by such in
suits from man who had been intro iuced
| into society and patronage by the British
minister. They were indignant, and agreed
that it was proper to place the matter before
the President. This was done at Monticello,
| while Jefferson was reading in his library.
| He glanced through the obnoxious passages
| pointed out, looked at his daughter and his
| friend and burst into clear, hearty laugh,
in which they joined after moment OF re-
| Election.
When Moores Irish melodies appeared
years afterwards, and the book was put into
Jeffersons hands, "Why this, he said, sis
the little man who satirIzed me SOL" He
read on: he had always sympathized with
the Irish patriots; and presently exclaimed:
"Why, he Is a poet, latter all !" Henceferth
the bard of Erin shared with Burns the
house of the retired statesman.
The following "reminiscences of
MRS. MADISON
are also interesting:
At dinner Mrs. Madison always took the
head of the table; Mr.. Madison the middle
and one of his secretaries the bottom. Her
memory was so good that she never forgot a
name, and would address each OF her guests,
though Just introduced with twenty others,
as if She had known them tor twenty years.
She was a magnihcent-lo looking woman in
the drawing room. Her stately and Juno
like figure lowered above the rest Of the la.
dies. When she found timid young gir
she would attend to her most assiduously
conduct her to the piano, and remain Will
her till she became more at ease. AT one oi
her receptions, q tall, dangling youth, frest
from the backwoods, made his appearance
and took his stand against a partition wall
He stood in that position like fixture fol
half an hour, and finally ventured to take
n cup of coffee, which 1t was then the GUS
tom to hand around. Mrs. Madison's keen
7 eye had noticed his embarrassment, and she
wished to relieve it. She walked up ant
addressed him. The poor youth, astounded
dropped the saucer on the floor and uncon
! sciously thrust the cup into his breeche!
pocket. "The crowd is so great'-remar
ked the gentle lady" that no one cal
r avoid being iostled. The servant will brin
s YOU another cup of coffe. Pray, how di
T YOU leave your excellent mother? l ha'
once the honor Of knowing her, but l hav
. not seen her for some years" Thus sh
9 continued, till the poor boy felt as if h
i were in The company of an old acquaintance
, He took care, secretly and soon, to dislodg
: the protuberance in his pocket.
. OF the wife of
/, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
a we learn
Miss Louisa Catherine johnson, who b'
= came the wife of John Quincy Adams-w'
. born, educated, and married in Londol
r She was the daughter of Joshua johnson
n In advanced age her children were accu
u toned to call her " Madame and the
: father " The President" The utmost d
!. ference was systematically paid to bo
!, parents. In person she was petite, WI
a lively manners, very fluent and brilliant
i conversation.
N The following story about
10 ANDREW JACKSON AND THE PORTUGUESE MI
NJ IsTRR
is not new, but is good enough to be
u peated
a. According to Baillie Peyton, when McLa
~, was Secretary of State, u new minister
Z, rived from Lisbon, and day was appoint
g for him to be presented 10 the Presidel
no The hour was set, and Mcllane expected
II minister to call at the State Department
Il but the Portuguese had misunderstood \
ss McIanes French, and he proceeded ale
,a to the White House. He rang the bell, a
T., the door was opened by the Irish port
~ Jimmy ONel. " Je suis venu voir Nh
cd sieur lie President" said the minis'
re ,a " What the deuce does he mean mutte
in Jimmy. " lie says President, though, ;
Of l suppose he wants 10 see the Gener,
nc. Oui, oui," said the Portuguese, bowl
slv Jimmy ushercd him into the green-roe
ii, where the general was smoking his corn-'
iii pipe with great composure. The minis
,h, made his bow to the President, and addres
7ach him in French, Of which the General
v not understand word. What does
fellow say. Jimmy 2" said he. g Dell kno
SIR i: reckon he's a furriner." "Try
in Irish, Jimmy" said Old Hickory. jim