, 1874-07-26

NEW YonK, July 25.-Base bsll-Mutuals,
HItforus, g.
EX-SENATOR FOOTE.
| His 81 ttCasket of Rcminiscences.s5
From tie .seto York Erening Post.
| 1Ir. Henry $. Foote, in his '' Casket OF Remin
iscences." has gwen us good book, but no
near so good one as he is capable of giving us
| writer with trained literary talents and per
ception Of what are the best and most sgnif
cant things to tell. might, wero he possessed O.
Mr. Foote'S experience, have written = very
valuable work. Mr. Foote was distinguished
participant in the political life Of one Of the
most interesting period of it's history. The
| Southwest forty years ago was country
| brlmtul OF young men. We doubt il
| there existed at that time anywhere in
the world society richer in force and
originality, race Of men With more talent and
daring. We have no doubt TINT Mr. Foote'S
memory Is full Of things more worth preserving
than most OF what he has here given us. He ia
tho Yery man to write such book. This is the
Mr. Foote, we believe, Of whose duel with Sar-
gent 3. PrentisB popular story Is told The
people, hearing there was to be fight, came out
to see the two gentlemen shoot at one another
One little negro boy "a cat may look ut king)
had climbed into saplns quite out Of the range
OF the firing expecting to see the fun Just
the modest little African to find himself publicly
addressed by so great man as Mr. Prentlss,
and in these words "You'd better get down
from that, you little boy Mr.: Foote is = very
bad shot, and be is quite Al likely to hit you xs
no. The African dropped like persimmon.
Mr. Foote refers to this story and says that he
long Eefrained from contradicting it because it
was TOO good to spoil He says, however, that
he has no recollection Of the incident.
One of our objections to this book ls that it
contains too much OF Washington and too little
OF Mississippi Mr. Foote'S recollections Of the
Capital begin with the Inauguration Of John
Quincy Adams. OF A1r. Mouroe's last levee We
are told:
"Whea the address was brought to close,
most Of those present proceeded to the White
House in order to take leave Of Mr. Monroe,
who was about to set OF for his private resi-
dence in Virginia. Cu1iozity led me thlther. !
was much struck with the very healthy and
vigorous appearance of this venerable man.
Though I had seen him often before, had
never approached him 80 nearly as on this occa-
sion. His appearance and manners were full OF
life and cordlality- His face wore kindly and
genial smile, and he WAS evidently rejoicing in
aud cares Of office. I saw Mr. Adams also in
the throng of those who were eagerly pressing
forward to shake hands with his predeces-
cor. He seemed to bs wholly unnotioed.
and to be in graVely medtative mood.
was anxious to see hin more distinctly, And
urged my way to his whereabouts perhaps q
little indelicately. When bebeld him nearly
found that he was actually weeping. The tear
drops, which were constantly dlstll1ng from bis
eyelids, be ever and anon wiped away with a
white linen handkerchief. The spectacle which
1 beheld reminded me very forclbly Of what
had read Of the laughing and the weeping phi
losopher Of the olden time. Here saw Pres
ident OF tho United States departing from Office
lila S--
ousness. while he who was presently to fill his
place seemed Hulitten with indispensable Anguish
and melancholy. I did not then know what
soon after learned, that the tear-shedding which
had so painfully attracted my attention was With
Mr. Adams but an ordinary inuudation,' and
rhe result OF an optical dlstemper OF very long
standiue."
In 1895 aIr. Foote attended trial in the Case
OF vessel which the Government had coniscat-
ed for participation in the slave trade. The
Francis 8. Key. the author of The Star
Spangled Banner" aud the father Of Philip Bar
ton Key, klllod BY Gen. Sickles.
II was very much entertained with the whole
but Was particularly charmed with |
the speech Of Mr. Key. Mr.. Key was tall. erect,
and OF admirable physical proportions. There |
dwelt usually upon his handsome aud winning
features soft and touching pensiveness Of ex-
preston almost bordering on sadness,
Dt which, IN mon moments snvf5ns Gf special ss
s4btu1Euks VI hACH ally kAAuS OECuIIEu |
10 awaken the dormant heroism Of bis |
nature or to call into action the higher powers
IT his vigorous and wen-cu1irated intellect gave
place to bright etherealitY of aspect and
noble audacitv OF tone and gesture which pleased
While it dazzed the beholder. His voice was
,apable Of being in the highest degree touching
.ud persuasive. His whole gosticulation was Hat
lral, graceful, and impressive, and he Was as
free from everything like afectation
II rhetorical grimace as any public speaker have
Hn had a Sirp In rfr rhc md |
)ointed phraseology, such ~ could not fail to be
)leasan: to persons OF taste and discerument |
md l am sure that 10 ever heard him e1-
libit his extraordinary powers Of discussion, 10
'hom tho ideas to which be essayed to give
oppression seemed at all cloudy or perple1ed, or
lis elocutlon clogged and torpid, even for the
hortcst possible period Of time. On this occa-
ION he greatly surpassed the expectations Of his
most Admring frieuds- The subject WAS par
icularly suited to his habits Of thought and WAS |
ne which had long enlisted, in q special manner,
he generous Bensihllitles Of his soul. It seemed
0 me that he SAID all that the case demanded,
nd yet no more than was needful to be said
nd he closed with a thrilling and eEen electr1fy-
lg picture Of the horrors connected with the |
.frican slaye-trade which would have done
onor either to q Pitt OF Wllberforce in their
alm,est duys."
hr. Foote describes Prentiss: :
" There was much that was remarkable in the
ppearance and bearing of Mr. prentiss at this
me. He WAS not more, think, than feet 61I
lches in height; was very stout1Y built, and !
ell proportioned. His head was somewhat
rge when compared with his body it wad one
lat q Grecian artist might we'll desire to copy. :
rcular in it's outline-so admirably we're all the
ore important chronological organs developed. |
is eyebrows Wero full, but not bushy, and
ere gently a1ched- His eEes we're large bright,
I'd OF an EXPRESSION in which the absolute
aressnees of his nature was very happily
ended with the rare6t Ceniafttv of Hpirit and