The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-09
At 1t Again.
From the ". Y. Tribune.


From the ~ Y. Tribune.
The old definition of an ambassador would
seem to need revisal for if the example of Mr..
Reverdy Johnson is to pass into precedent,
our diplomatic servants must be considered as
gentlemen sent abroad to digest in behalf of
their country. If we had the requisite leisure
we should, to show our sense Of Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson's services, compile. and publish
complete catalogue of all the banquets in Eng
land at which he has assisted, adding thereto,
possibly, a compend of the bills of fare. Ac-
cording to the latest intelligence received, Mr..
Reverdy Johnson has been dining in Glasgow,
where his powers of digestion were probably
tried by that well known Scotch dish, cele-
brated by Burns as the
"Great chieftain of the puddin' race"
The poet declares that he who feeds upon
hsggis becomes exceedingly valiant and war
like
"Clsp in his walie nieve blade,
He'll make IL whissle,"
1t is we'll that Mr.. R. Johnson psrtook of this
stimulating, valor- provoking, and fght-pro-
ducing esculent at the end instead of the
beginning of his diplomatic career, TOR other
wise we might at this moment have been
breaking Mr.. Bulls head, as he might have
been breaking ours. Mr.. Laird wasn't "reck-
less'' enough to feed Mr.. r. Johnson on such
terrible dish before the signing of the treaty.
Upon the whole, we fancy that our fulfilled
Plenipotentiary will be glad to come home.
He has eaten the dinners pluckily, but there
is q limit to the powers OF the human stomach,
and there is also dreadful complaint called
| dyspepsia, which causes, as we have been in
| formed the most intense agony of which the
| abdominal regions are susceptible. Mr.. X.
| johnson may not have had IL yet, but II he
escapes after "the haggis" in Glasgow, it will
be by special interpretation Of Divine PrOvi-
dence, which he has no good reason for count
ing upon.
From the report of Mr.. Reverdy Johnson's
speech at Glasgow, it is evident that the hsggis
or something else must have got into his Ex-
cellency's head. We trust that we do him no
injustice, bat our opinion is, when he talked
his last talk to Scotchmen, that the mountain
dew, the hot water, aud the tumblers must
have been for some time upon the festive
board. We think 80 because there was in Mr..
r. Johnson's Grafton what the North British
Mail styles "a strong infusion of balderdasb, I"
although we have never heard 1t called by
that name before. Moreover, Mr.. R. Johnson
Gin this respect resembling Mr.. A. Johnson)
indulged on this occasion In rather strong
theological expressions, such, for instance, as
"God knows what England would be without
Scotland;" "Heaven knows what would be-
come of you" Our deduction from the repe-
tition of these pious phrases is that the whisky
was uncommonly potent. No wonder the
Scotch newspaper speaks of "the gushing
|
But this diplomatic old gentleman, doubt
less having recollection of Anacreon in his
mind, did not forget in his cups to pay
proper compliment to the bonny Scotch
lassies-"women to be proud OF" as Mr.. r.
Johnson gallantly observed, thus reminding
us of Miss Snevellicci's papa at the bridal
banquet, when he declared that he 'loved
'em every one, including the married ladies', 4"
to the intense disgust of Mr.. L,llyviok.
"Scotchman, F" said Mr.. R. johnson, "without
Scotch women, what a poor, miserable set
you would bel' II there had been any Of
these estimable female creatures present at
the moment, we have reason to believe that
Mr.. r. Johnson would have winked at them
"winked openly and undsguisedly; winked
with his right eye." "They are not here, !"
said Mr.. r. Johnson; ~ wish they were." On,
the gallant Plenipotentisry
How this "joeund gentleman" (for so he is
styled in the journals) will ever be able to go
through with the melancholy business of bid
ding his convivial friends in Great Britain
farewell passes our comprehension, especially
ii bevy of beautiful British Amazons should
be on guard at the pier to prevent his en-
barkation. He will have to come away in
the night. He will be forced to leave incog-
nito. When he lands in this serious and
rather desOlate land, which he has been SO
cOnvivially representing abroad, We must
make sure to have banquet ready and wait.
. ing for him. Compared with British proven
der, We shall hardly have anything better
than funeral baked meats to offer, but Mr.. r
Johnson seems to be of such facetious power
, that doubtless he can impart relish even tC
a dinner of helbg,