The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-12-13

great ueai ABOUT society in Europe
and the etiquette Of their courts
In speaking of the aristocracy o,
England, he said there was nc
country in the world where the
classes were kept more distinc,
than they were in Great Britain
There was no association whatever
between the higher and lower
classes in society. In this connec
tion he mentioned several anec.
dotes Of James Barbour, willis,
| American Minister at the Court OF
st. James. He had greatly shock.
ed the pride Of the nobility by ac>
cepting an invitation from Ark.
wright, a famous wealthy DENTS, in
London, who had been employed
professionally in his family. He
disgusted them, too, very much by
going to the bar.room and calling
for a mint jnlep. In his first inter.
view with Lord Aberdeen, Gov.
ernor Barbour was informed that
it was not polite to address him as
"sir," but to say "My lord" or
simply "yes" and "no." He soon
forgot his instructions. and in
every sentence he used the forbid.
den word "sir," greatly to the an
noyance of his lordship. James
and Philip Barbour, said Govern.
or Middleton, were brothers and
sons of poor sheriff of one of the
counties in Virginia. They de.
served great credit for their sue
cess in lite. Whilst their father
was sheriff they were his deputies.
James was self educated, and as
sisted in the education of Philip.
He was vain man, and sometimes
abused the kings English in his
speeches, which always read bet
ter than they were when deliver.
ed. The corrections were made
by the reporters. Philip was a
clever man, but an unpleasant
speaker. lIewas a good lawyer,
and delighted in telling of his sue,
cess at the bar. The brothers
were both members of Congress
under the administration of John
q. Adams, but of different poll
tics. James said to Philip, one
day, that he, Phil, had happy
knack of always snufBng the pop
ular breeze at long distance, and
was never caught in a minority
Philip was a Jackson man, and
James sustained the administra.
tion OF Adams.
On my return from Washington,
in 1916, l heard Senator Hunter,
of Virginia, tell of a speech James
Barbour once made, whilst can.
didatc fr the Legislature, after
his return from Europe. lie was
opposed by a Jackson Democrat,
whose name was Jack Davis
Tho canvass waxed warm, and
Barbour took the stump. He
saw that he was likely to be beaten,
and told the people that he had
come to a pretty pass. After be.
ing a member of Congress, United
States Senator, Governor of the
Commonwealth, and Minister 10
the first court in Europe, am now
a candidate for a seat in the Legis.
lature of Virginia, and am opposed
ny Jack Davis, whose highest rec
ommendation is that he can drink
more liquor and play a better fid
die .han any man in the county
The result Of the election proved
that Jack was q more popular
man before the people than the
ex-governor, senator and embassa.
dor
When about to leave St. Peters
burg, Mr.. Middleton told me he
proposed selling to his successor,
Mr.. Randolph, of Roanoke, his fine
coach and four beautiful horses.
Randolph replied, with indigna
ton. 81 am NO Southern nabob
and will not sport such an equip
agep lie rode in a plain car
riage, and drove only two horses, 6
style adopted by shopkeepers aut
tradesnen alone in st. Petersburg
On his return to the United States
Governor Middleton met him driv
ing coach and four blooded
horses In Virginia, Randolph
was disposed to play the nabot
and aristocrat Bnt in Russia he
preferred acting plebian and dem
Ocrat! Such was his remarkable
eccentricity Of character.
| Governor Middleton told me
that he was personally acquainted
with almost every distinguished
man in Europe. He saw Bona
parte in every station which be
had filed, from that of General o.
the Interior to his seat on the
throne of France. He was OF
terms of intimacy with him willis
he was General of the Interior
and was in the habit Of visiting hi
family At one period of thei
| Ia eaAn.uol