The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-08-21
Jefferson and Merry.

I
not heard of the business-like manner
in which the affairs of the white house
were conducted. He was stunned at
the manner Of his reception 1t made
an impression upon his mind which nei-
ther explanation nor the lapse of years
could even soften, much less obliterate.
And, really. when we consider that he
had passed his life at courts where the
nod, the smile, the frown, the glance,
the tone, the silence, the presence, the
absence. of the. head, of the. government
were matters of Importance, to be noted,
recorded, transmitted and weighed, we
ought not to laugh at this MIR. Merry
as we do. Besides, as Mr.. Jefferson re-
marks, " Poor Merry had learned moth
ing of diplomacy but its suspicious
without head enough to distinguish
when they were misplaced. Ne er-
theless,. he comes down to us borne on
tbs hillOw of laughter, and he remains to
| this day one of the stock tests of Wash
lington.I Thus he lfecoQnted hIs woes,
| three years after the event, to Mr.. Jo-
viah Quincy of Massachusetts, the ablest
federalist IN congress, and gone OF the
.worthiest f-.r
| 4" I called on Mr.. Madison, who ac-
! companied me officially to introduce me
to the president. We went together to
the mansion -house, 1 being in full Off
cial4 costume, as the etiquette of my
place required on such a formal intro
duction of a minister from Great Bri-
tain to the president of the United
States. On arriving at the hall of au-
dience we found it empty, st which Mr..
Madison seemed surprised, and pro-
ceeded to an entry leading to the presl-
dents study. l followed him, suppo-
sing the introduction was to take place
In the adjoining room. At this moment
Mr.. Jefferson entered the entry at the
other end, and all three OF us were
packed in this narrow space, from
which, to make room, was Obliged 10
back out. In this awkward position my
Introduction to the president was made
bv 8Ir. Madison. Mr.. Jefferson's ap-
pearance aoon explained to me that the
general circumstances of my reception
had not been accidental but studied. l,
in my official costume, found myself, at
the hour of reception he had himself
tappointed, introduced to man as pres
Eident of the United States, not merely
in an undress, but actually standing in
slippers down at the heels, and both
pantaloons, coat and underclothes indl-
cative of utter slovenliness and lddlffer-
ence to appearances, and IN a state of
negligence actually studied. 1 could
not doubt that the whole scene was
prepared and intended as an insult, not
to me personally, but to the sovereign l
represented. ,'-'''
&. 1t is lust possible that Mr.. jefferson
thought that morning, of the time
when Gouvernour Morris kicked his
heels four months in london waiting
! for the promised answer to the British
I government to as Reasonable and urgent
| a communication from President WASH
! ington as one government ever made TO
| another, and then had to leave England
without getting it. Possibly, also, 1t
did happen to occur to his memory,
that Mr. Adams had been kept vainly
waiting three years in England for a
reply to the same proposals. Perhaps,
| too. he remembered the period when
! he himself was presented to the king
of England by AIR. Adams, and the king
! froze to them both; an example which
was followed by the kings friends, 3"
and society generally; so that 1t re-
| ouired courage for a courtier to show
| them more than cold civility at an even
! ing party. And this, while they were
| only asking the king to stay the bloody
ravaCes of the Indians by giving up the
seven posts within the boundaries of
their country. He may, too, have
thoughtof the time when he, as secre-
| tary OF state, would send an important
communication to the British minister
| at Philadelphia, and wait many months
for an answer but if he failed to an
| swer a letter within three or four days,
| he would be "goaded" by a second.
| Perhaps he thought the time had come
! to show the federalists that he did not
accept Great Britain at her own valua-
| ton. and did not believe she was fight
/ ing the battle of man and liberty against
B0naparte. It may be, too, that ne,
knowing the childish politics of Eu-
rope. and what a ridiculous importance
was attached there TO trihes, may have
paused before ringing for a pair of
shoes not down at the heels, AMI Won
| dered if his old slippers, duly reported
| to Bonaparte, might not drive another
] nail into the bargain for Louisiana. just
concluded by Mr.. Livingston and Mr..
| Monroe, to the great Joy of president
| and oeople. All these thoughts may
have fitted through the presidents
mind. and held back his hand from the
bell-rope; but, in all probability, he
had 40 thoughtsOf the kind, and only
wore the clothes lie usually did while
| at work.
A few weeks after, arrived in Wash
| ington the young Irish poet, Thomas
| Moore, who had crossed the Atlantic in
| the same ship with Mr.. and Mrs. Merry.
To him, also, the affrOnted Britou re-
/ lated his sorrows, and even exhibited
| the president clad in the same style. Mr..
| Merry presented Mr.. Moore 10 the pres
| ident at the white-hOuse. found
/ him " the poet records, 80 sitting with
] al,
/ officers. and In the same homely COS
I time. comprising slippers and Conn e.
mara stockings, in which Mr.. Merry
had been received by him, much TO that
/ formal minister's horror, when waiting
/ on him in full dress TO deliver has Gre
| dentials NY single interview with this
remarkable person one was of very short
/ duration but TO have seen and spoken
/ to the man who drew up the declaration
| of independenee was an event not to be
! foreotten. " The poet did not approve
| of the president, and said so IN several
/ satirical stanzas and poems In his next
publication. at which Mr.. jefferson was
/ amused, and even surprised for he had
fnot before heard Of this new light IN
| literature. Mr.. Randall relates pleas
I ing incident to show how little he had
come to regard the stings and arrows Of
I outrageous polFlIcS. 4 rev wears a1Ler
his retirement, a grand-daughter placed
/ in his hands Moore's Irish Melodies. as
/ the book of the season, which was hav-
/ ing ~ great nm on both sides OF the
/ ocean. The young lady, curious and
+ expectant, watched him as he opened
4 the work and turned over the leaves.
/ Said Jefferson, % This is the little man
/ who satirized me so. Reading on he
/ was won by the flowing music and pa
[ triotic feeling OF the verse. Why,
/ he said 1T leagth, she Is aePOet, after
T all - and. eyer after. even to the end Of
/ his life, he was fond Of reading certain
favorites among the poems Of Thomas
Moore.
/ But poor fAfefry's troubles were not
wet 1t an end. re and his wife dined
one day at the white-house; and, when
dinner was announced, the president
I offered his arm to the lady nearest him
I at the moment, Mrs. Msdison-not 70
I Mrs. Merry, who was on the other side
/ of the room Insult upon insult 3
Poor Merrv made such an outcry at
I tl,ss =. GToatireytJn that Mr. Madison