Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-11-18
MiscELtA5R EoUs.
ENGLISH HREMINIs0RNCRSOFT
LATE JAMES M. MASON.

Contributed to the N. o. Sunday Herald.l
N BOUT four years ago, party of gentie>
men were seated at ease beneath the arr
cade of the somewhat imposing hotel in the
village of Warrentou, Virginia, listening with
keen interest to the, animated aud graphic
English "reminiscences of the late James NJ
Mason. then but shortly returned to his ma
tive land, whose beaming eyes, ruddy cheeks
and vigorous frame gave no premonition whats
ever OF the end which so quickly followed
Upon reaching Virginia, the retired states.
man had sought secluded spot few miles
from Alexandria, along the shores of his be.
loved PotomacS aud but short distance from
if not in full view of the Capitol, whose walls
had for large portion of his life, echoed to
his brilliant efforts to preserve, in its purity
and integrity, the Constitution of his fathers
and on that spot he proposed to rest with dig
nifed calmness until the final dread sum.
nous. Op the occasion to which we now res
fer, he had taken run of some forty miles
up to Warrenton to breathe the mountain air,
and to exchange greetings with his many
friends, personal and political, in that vicini-
ty. And from the patriarch of fourscore,
who for fifty years had bastled in the cause
OF Democracy; who had been twice Gov
error OF Virginia; who even at his advanced
age, had entered the Confederate army as n
Colonel and had won his way, step by step,
to Major Generalship-need we say we re-
fer to extra Billy Smith-down to the youth
whose proudest boast was that he had ridden
in tthe Black Horse"-the welcome extend
ed to Mr.. Mason was hearty and complete.-
His brief stay was celebrated after the time
honored fashion of the Old Dominion, in
fessting, and those who were fortunate enough
to participate in the symposia will not soon
forget either of them, or the conversation re-
plete with wit, wisdom and pathos.
1t was on the morning after one of these
dinings, as is the phrase of the country, that
the assembly we alluded to met at the hotel,
which in Virginia, as in English and Scotch
towns and villages, serves the inhabitants tho
purpose of club and exchange, as we'll as
s'hoste'Ty for man and beast" On benches
aud split-bostomed chairs blowing cloud of
the native weed, and with foreheads barred to
the cool breezes that came dancing from the
Blue Ridge down through Ashby's Gap, they
gathered about the veteran statesman and
reminded him of his yesterday IS promise to
tell them something of his venture into the
hitherto untried fields Of diplomacy Where
upon he gave thcm rapid aud vivid sketch
af sll that had befsllen him of importance
from the day he left Richmond till Els re-
of himself and Mr.. Slidell by Captain Wilkes;
and his account of the wrsthful outbursts of
fiery indignation which Mr. Slidell fairly
rsined upon the head of Wilkes and all who
were concerned in thet memorable affair, was
fully appreciated by those who were at all
familiar with the proud and sometimes haugh-
ty nature of Louisiana's late political chief.
tain. He stated that Wilkes fairly fed from
the quarterback, aud never more ventured
into the presence of tha. gentleman, whose
sense of dignity he had SO outraged.
MIR. Mason, however, look matters more
philosophically, and comforted his colleagues
in this wise: "My dear fellow, it is the best
thing that could have happened to us. AS
you say, it is a clear violation of international
law, and gross blunder, for which that crop.
cared knave captain will got worse wigging
at the hands of his government than was ever
meted out to his black guard English name
sake by King Georges parliament. I think
Seward will give us up without word, upon
the demand of the British Government. and
that will be damaging blow to the Washing.
ton people. IF he refuses to give us up. pre-
pare your ears for mighty roar, for as fast as
the wind and steam can bring them, tho
British Lion will dispatch his cubs TO the
Canadian border, and there we shall see what
we shall see. In either event, we are serving
the Confederacy. And, by the by; come to
think of it, we'll be in the nick of time for
the Saddle-rocks and canvass>backs. Take
my word for it, there are many worse places
to spend few weeks IN than q government
fort, and Seward will zee that we have the
best to eat and drink in the land. He owes
me on that score anyhow, for when Jack
Pendleton brought him out to Culpeper, some
years ago, to show him real old-fashioned
Virginia negro corn shucking; 1 captured
him, took him over to my house and gave him
the best in the cupboard, and plenty of it, and
his parting shot was that If my political prin-
ciPles were only half as sound as my apple-
jack, 1 would be his next choice for the Presi-
dency. And remember, too, that VIM. G.
Rves and Webster have often told me that
diplomacy in Europe, means nothing but din
ners. To the best treDcherman the victory
always. So let Us calm our minds, throw
Vattel to the dogs, and prepare ourselves for
our laborious official duties abroad by care
full system of gastronomy. which shall put our
digestion in such condition as shall win for
US and the land We love great triumphs a, ST.
James aud Versailles" Thus philosoph>
ophised the old political campaigner, whose
equaaimity was not to be disturbed by the
trifie of brief imprisonment, especially when
accompanied by generous living and due re-
gard for personal dignity.
Upon being set at liberty, the now famous
gentlemen sailed for Europe, and repaired.
each to his post. Mr. Mason's duties were