Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-20
MEN OF THE PAST.
An Interesting Chapter Of Reminis-
cence and Anecdote.

Gu ADOMb INC EhfuOuS ChhisaCtcE5
Hc Net.
The late Benjamin Ogle Taylor,of Wash
ington, was, for more than forty years, dis
tinguished for his refined and generous
hospitality. He was on terms CT intimacy
with Mr. Madison, Mr.. Monroe, MIR.
Adams, Mr.. Van Buren,, General
Harrison, and Mr.. Fillmore, as well as
with Mr.. Bush, Mr. Clay, Mr.. Crittenden,
Mr.. Livingston, Mr. Berriep, Mr.. Pres
ton, Mfr. Everett, Mr.. Winthrop, Mr..
John G. Hamilton, AIR. William A. Duer,
Mr.. Sparks, Mr.. Prescott, and host of
others of almost equal fame. He recorded
during the latter years Of his life many in
teresting anecdotes of men and events,
which, with his letters from Europs in
1866, '67, and some of his contributions to
the press, have been privately printed in a
volume of rare typographical elegance.
Mr.. Ssrtiges, French Minister in 1852 SO,
was a great stiekler fer etiquette. At
large dinner at Mr.. E. Riggs, he co.,
Quoted to the table the most beautiful and
the only young lady OF the company, Miss
Dulany, who had been celebrated by the
notice of Washington Irving. She was
agreeable, too, In conversation. Mr.. Sar-
ties was then unmarried. At dinner he
did not speak to the lady, and after dinner
he complained to his host Of dIsTespect in
not being allotted to one Of the married
ladies, prefsrrng, perhaps, some senator,
wife. In the drawing room he manifested
his displeasu by his disrespeet to the
company, BY turning his back to the fire,
around which the ladies were sea'ed, with
the skirts Of his coat over his arms. This
| saw,
Prince Napoleon, / am tol', did nearly
the same thing Governor Stewards, at
ladies' party. He, too, straddled chair
and turned his back to the cOmpan7. His
potStions could be his only spology, if he
did not intend Insult. He knew better.
At dinner given by MIR. Webster, when
Secretary D State, to General Ciss, on his
return from France, Mr. Webster req Vested
Mr.. Pageot, the French minister, to take
his sest next the wife Of the Spanish min
lister, "as you speak the languages she
understands, French and Spanish, whica
do not speak Before going into din
ner, Mr.. faseot took Mr.. Fletcher
Webster, the son of the secretary aside,
and Inquired, Gam l invited Gere TO
be insulted? Am invited here as min ster
Of France, or nol?" Mr.. Fletcher Webster
said be did not understand the object of
the inquiry. While the explain ton was
being made dinnsr was announced, and
Miss Cass left without an escort. To re-
lieVe her from embarrassment M. Barnard,
of Alb any, offered his services. Just at tn s
moment Mr.. Pageot offered himself as es-
cort to Miss Cass, and Mr.. Barnard retired.
Mr.. Pageo. did not address a word to
Miss Cass, but made sn4ppish replies
to her, and she then gave him no
further consideration, but fAncied he was
i'll. On their return 20 the drawing
room, Mr.. Paegot made known his griefs
10 General Cas-, who disregarded them
as unworthy of consideration. Not lo2g
afterwsrd, Mr.. Psgect gave dinner to
which Mr. Webster was invited. No no.
tice was taken of him, then secretary of
State. The postmaster general, Mr.. Wick
life, had the post Of honor, and MIR. Web
s.er seated himself among the most hum
bic at the table. This preme1itated insult
was not noticed By the Sec. etary of Safe,
brt Mr.. and Mrs. Webster ceased to visit
Mr. and Mrs. PaGect. Af;er .
while, Mr.. Webster met Mr.. Pase0t at tie
table OF Mr.. B0disco, the Russian minister.
Mr.. PageOt endeavored to appear dlgnidad,
out Mr.. Webster carelessIy took hold Of
decanter, and, looking a. the French minis
ter said: "a glass of wine with you, Mr.
Pageot," and be had to swallow l..
viii an b Giles, of Virginia, and judge
Duval, cf Maryland, wera members of
Congress during the administration Of
Washington, and boarded in Philadelphia
with Mrs. Gibbons, whose daughter was
neither young nor taciturn. sir. Giles, as
MI IA OF
the Treasury, met again in Washington at
the beginning Of Jefferson's administration.
They were happy in the revival of old times,
until Mr.. Giles inquired of Duval, "Whst
bas become Of that id cackling q maid,
JejDy GibhoD?n "She is Mrs. DuVal, sir, -
was the reply.
Mr.. R D. Shepherd, of New Orleans,
told me re was acquainted in former years
with Mr.. Earl, of Baltimore, who, willie
in England, visited Hampton Court palace.
On MS re urn TO the inn where Re had left
his horses, the iDnaeeper net him at the
door, cap in hand, regretting "his lordship'
had not received The attention to which he
was entitled. "How did you find me QUIZ"
said Earl, who was somewhat of wag.
zone Of the servants discovered your title
fpm your hat" was the reply. In the hat
was written, John Earl of Baltimore"
Punctuation is sometime essential.
Mr.. Stevenson, on his return from Eng
land, told me he was at the entrance Of
the palace at the same mo Tent with the
hero of Waterloo, on one Of the Queens
receptions. The people shouted Justify,
and apparently with great unauimity,
s'HurIah for Wellington! Hurrah for
Wellington !" waving their hats. The old
hero was unmoved, and took no notice Of
the people. AycuDg duke approach d the
Duke Of Wellington, and remarked: "Y0ur
grace must be much grstilied at this out
burst If spontaneous applause" Looking
toward the people with great contempt, and
then toward his residence, Apsley House,
be replied: al ok, there, at my iron bars,
to defend my windows from the same
people"
at the Marquis of L2ndsdowne's, when
the duke was quietly taking his refresh
ments standing, Nc. N. P. Willis, who was
on the other side of The table, SAID to Mr..
P. Coybin, in . voice so loud that the duk.
coald not fail to hear him, "Hhis is the no
blest Roman of them all; how l do revere
him." etc etc. The duke never SO much
as raised his eyes to look at him. He was
obstina ely deaf.
During the canvass for the presidential
electi N in which jefferson beat Adams,
Burr, who was an early riser, met boy
soon after sunrise, With basketful of
pamphlets. Burr stopped him and in
Quired, "What have You?" at the same
time taking up one of the pamphlets, say
ing, 81 must have one" mo, sir"
said the boy; 81 have my directions wher,
to leave every one of them" Burr induced
him to part with one Of them. Il was Ham.
iltOn's attack on Adams, to show lis unfit
ness for The presidency, and intended TO
hive been privately circulated among tho
Federalists, to promote the election Of
Charles CoteswCrth Plnckney, Of S nth
Carolina. Burr had the pam, hlet publish
ed St once in the Democratic neWspa-
p9rs. 1t went like wildfre, and sided the
election of Jefferson and Burr. Theirs was
tie vote, and Burr was near being elected
President, because a Federal EIectOr had
written bis vote for the ballot, preferriHg
him for the Presidency to Mr. Adams,
but on reflection substituted Adams, for
fear that his vote might elect Jefferson.
The Elector, sm informed, was Mr. Cole
man, of 7, syivania.
Two years ago, in 1862, at Saratoga, as ]
was walking with Mr.. John G. Hamilton,
son of Alexander Hamilton, l asked him
whose house it was next to his own.
! {" B1fTy'S" he said. | could not but re-