Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-18
OUR REPUBLICAN COURT
RecoIlsetious Of Distinguished Americans
Of Former Generation


The Court Circles of the Republic y
She saws in her preface:
Lord Napier remarked TO a distin-
vuishpd lady in Washington, that q
book description of society in the
national capital ought TO be written
and that a faithful record would give
II better idea Of the spirit and charac-
ter of the period than any history.
Except OF the earliest Republican
Court !" no attempt has been made to
portray the social character of any ad-
ninistration. In this effort to supply
"A lamented defect, the necessary de-
scriptiOns and sketches have been con-
densed as much rs possible, and no
memoirs have been included Of men
whose biographies have been else
where given TO the public. The aim
has been to exhibit statesmen, leading
iadies, etc, in their drawing-roOm as
pect, with only notes sufficient TO Illus
trate their appearance and influence
at special times. Thus mention is
made repeatedly OF the same persons
under different administrations.
Imperfect as q brief survey must
necessarily be, il will be found that a
lair idea of the administration can be
gained by view Of its fashionable lite
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
Executive, but far more to those who
surrounded him, and most of all TO
the ladies who ruled in the fashionable
cOterieS, and gave the laws in assem-
blages. dress and entertainments. The
attention bestowed on these last may
seem disprOpOrtiOnate TO those who
do not estimate their effect; those who
remember the large share they occupy
"a the delineatioa Of any period, viii
not charge the author with frivolous
taste In dwelling on them.
We viii extract a few Of the stories
told hv Mrs. Eilet, which may throw
SOME new light on the sociAl life Of the
times oil 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.. Jefier-
son had no idea that he stood in the
presence Of the young Catullns of his
day. Standing in his hight of six feet
two and a half inches, the President
looked down on the perfumed little
AdOnis, spoke word TO him and
gave him no further attention. Moore,
after this untiattering reception, fell
10 lampOOning the President, and al
most everything American. Some Of
his scurrilOus attacks fell into the
hands OF Mr.. BurWell, formerly the
Presidents private secretary, who car
Tied them 10 Mrs. Randolph. The
gentle Martha was reused by such in
suits from a man who had been intro
duced into society and patronized by
the British Minister. They were ia
dignant, and agreed that il was proper
Ia place the matter before the Presi-
dent. This was done at Monticello,
while Jefferson was reading in his IL
brary. He glanced through the OBJ
noNiOus passages pointed out, looked
at his daughter and his friend, and
burst into a clear, hearty laugh, in
which they joined after a moment Of
reflection.
When MOOre's Irish melodies ap-
peared years Afterwards, and the book
was put into JefiersOn's hands, " Why
this" he said, ais the little man who
satiriZed me SOL" He read on: he
had always sympathized with the
irish patriots, and presently eX-
claimed: Why, he is a poet, after
ailp' Henceforth the bard of Erin
shared with Burns the house of the
retired statesman.
The following "reminiscences Of
MRS. MADISON
are also interesting: q.
At dinner, Mrs. Madison always
took The head Of the table, Mr.. Madi.
son the middle, and one Of his secrc-
taries the bottom. Her memory was
20 good that she never forgot a name,
and would address each OF her guests.
though just introduced with twenty
others, as ii she had known them for
years. She was a magnificent looking
woman ia the dTdwing-rOOm. Her
stately and JunO-like figure lowered
above the rest of the ladies. When
she found a timid young girl, she
sgOuld attend 70 her most assidu0usly,
conduit her TO the piano, and remain
with hef fill she became more al her
s-.lse.
At one Of hsF receptions, a tall,
dangling youth, fresh rom the back
woods. made his appearance ard took
his stand against a partition wall. lie
stood in that position ike fixture for
half an hour, and finally took cup OF
coffee. rhigh it was then the custom
20 hand around. hrs, MadisOn's keen
eve had noticed his embarrassment,
and she wished 10 relieve Il, she
walked up and addressed him. The
poor youth, astounded, dropped the
saucer IN the floor, and unpOnsciOusly
thrust the cup into his breeches pocket. I
The crowd ~ 80 great, " remarked
the gentle lady, "tiiat no one can avoid !
being jOstled. The servant will bring
you another cup Of cofise. Fray how
did you leave your excellent mother?
4 had once the honor Of knowing heF, 4
bat ] have not seen her for sDnle I
year, Thus siie continued, till the 1
poor youth felt a. though he were in /
the company OF an old acquaintance. 1
lie took care, secretly and coon, 10 I
dislOdge the protuberance in bis /
pocket.
or the wife Of
JoHS QT-INcY ADAMS,
we learn:
Miss Louisa Catharlne Johnson, /
who became the wife Of John Quincy 1
Adams, was born, educated and mar /
ried in London. She was the daugh- /
ter of Joshua johnson. In advanced
age her children were accustomed 10
call her " Madame" and their father
a. The President.u The utmost defer
ence was systematically paid to both |
parents. IN person she was petite,
with lively manners, very fluent and
brilliant In conversation.
The following story about
ANDREW JACKSON AND THE PoRTU-
GUEsE MINISTER
Is not new, but is good enough to be
repeated:
According to Baillie Peyton, when
MeLane was Secretary of State, new
Minister arrived from Lisbon, and a |
day was appointed for him 10 be pre- !
sented 70 the President. The hour |
was set, and McLane expeeted the |
Minister 20 call at the State Depart /
ment; but the Portuguese had misun- /
derstOod Mr.. McLane's French, and /
he proceeded alone 70 the White /
House. He rang the bell, and the |
door was opened by the Irish porter, I
Jimmy O'Eeil. q sJe suis FeRU rot /
Monsieur L President" said the Min
lister. What the deuce does he /
mean 90 muttered Jimmy. he says 1
President, though, and suppose he |
wants to see the General" Oui, |
Oai. 2 said the Portuguese, bowiBg. |
Jimmy ushered him into the green |
room. where the General was smok- |
inc his cOrne0b pipe with great COM
posture. The Minister made his bow /
IL tie President, and addressed him
10 French, Of which the General did |