The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-19
A Quadrilateral COnteSt---Adams, Craw-
ford, Clay and Jackson.
BEHIND THE SCENES on "THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING
The Rise and Progress of Adams
as a Candidate.
THE MACBETH POLICY.
"lf Chance viii Have Me King Why
Chance May Crown Me-"

NlhlCC way SIOWi VIC,
MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, COMPRISING
Portions or HIS DIARY FROM 1895 TO ls4s.
Edited by Charles Francis Adams. VOL vi.
Philadelphia: j. B. Lippncott Co. 1875.
We had occasion few days since to review
ZONE OF the questions discussed by Mr.. Adams In
TINS most interesting hook We now return to
the subject, ana propose to follow the author
through that period OF his career which terml-
mated his service as Secretary OF State, and was
signallzed by his entrance upon the Presidency.
The great value OF this book will be understood
when we remind our readers that 1t covers
one OF the most interesting episodes In
our history, the episode marking the close
Of ''the era OF good feeling" and the
contest between Adams, Clay, Jackson
Ind Crawford for the Presidency; the failure OF
The Electoral College 10 unite upon candidate,
and the election by the House, and the beginning
OF new destiny in our politics. This book is vir
tually the dividing line between the old and the
new the past and the present OF the Republic the
period OF the Revolution and what will be known
hereafter In history as the period OF emancipation.
SOCIETY DURING TIE ERA OF GOOD FEELING
Before entering upon these stormy passages
let US note some aspects OF social lie in Washing
ton fifty years ago. In 1922 Charles Mathews en-
tertains Mr.. Adams and a company at Washing
ton with "The Trip TO Paris" and "The Diligence"
In which he personated ten or twelve characters,
male and female This entertainment was
''wonderlul and amusing and continually
laughable.n but "most or the hearers were
weary before 1t was over. 1t is a picture OF
reniers, OF OF Jan Steen, imitation to admire OF
that which in nature is only despised.n The en-
tertalnment was injured by the enthusiasm or the
performer on the piano, who was $50 rapt In
ecstacy at the exhibition OF Mathews himself as
to he never In time for bis 0wn.n There was
famous dinner party on the I'd OF November, 1922,
which Is not without interest, seeing. that among
the guests was John A. DIX. Dix was IN Wash
lngton, endeavorlng to further the interests OF
John O. Calhoun. Mr.. Adams notes that at this
dinner there was o controversy between Taze-
wen and himself on the subject OF Tokay wine.
Tazewell was Virginian, who died at the verge
OF the war In extreme old age. AT the time OF
this dinner he was a Commissioner under the
Florida treaty. "iIe perseverlngly insisted that
Tokay was a species OF Rhenish wine. Alter
Insisting to the contrary for some
time IN perfect good humor and ciyilIty,
as he still persisted, IN The warmth OF the COLI
sion SAID why, you never crank drop OF To-
kay In your life y set this down as a token OF
selldisapprobaton for having said It.n This act
OF discourtesy made o deep impression upon the
writer's mind, for again he says, al have no good
apology TO make 10 myself for this incvIliEy, for
The clash OF conversation aud had been much
otherwise even at TINS dinner Is no Justification
10 me.n One of the secretary's favorite amuse-
ments was swimming in the Potomac, to which
habit he makes frequent reference. There was
some excitement as TO how to properly bury the
Baron Greuhn, Prussian Minister, and the first
foreign dplomatist who had died In washington,
ana much correspondence about funereal ETH
quette. one diplcmatist proposed that Baron NAL
IItz should carry the ribbon and OF the Order
ofthe REQ Eagle on a cushion before the hearse. II
advised rhem,r says Mr.. Adams, mot to carry the
cushion with the ribbon and tne cross Tor if they
did there would be danger thar the people would
take them for Freemasons.n The Baron was prop
erly buried however. GalIatin, Adams and South
aid attending the procession, which numbered
twenty-five carriages, 1.-THE rain pouring in tor
rents.n On the sth OF January, 1924. the anniver-
sary OF the battle OF New Orleans, a great ball
was given to General Jackson, newly arrived as
Senator from Tennessee. at which a thousand per-
attended. This ball was the great event OF
the season, ano was celebrated In the newspapers
In poetry and prose. At this time Jackson aud
Adams we're unusually friendly, Adams courting
Sue military splendor OF Jackson's name. and
dreaming or running for the Presidency with
Jackson on his ticket for vice President. Jackson
himself was profuse in his own hospitalties. for
we have dlnner party at which Clay and CAL
houn and Adams attended. Clay became
"warm, vehement and absurd upon the
tariff" $50 ardent dogmatical and over
bearing that IL was extremely difficult TO pre-
serve the temper OF friendly society with him.r
There was a visit to the theatre to see "The
School Tor Scandal,n with Cooper as Charles SUR
face and Mr.. and MRS. Barnes as Sir Peter and
Lady Teazle. This was Thomas Altnorp Cooper.
ward OF william Goodwin. who had been playing
fnr
ago. managed the old PARK Theatre. At another
performance at which was played "Damon
and Pythias" and katharine and Petrucnio,m
amGng the audience we're Monroe, Lafay cite,
General Jackson and Mr. Crawford. "Tne per-
formance was good but Cooper Is getting into
the decline OF age.n We fear It was drink and
high life. Tor Cooper was really about 1fty TAere
was another dinner party, which Is not without
Interest, Tor among me guests were Dennison,
aterward speaker OF the House OF Commons; and
70 become Lord 0ssory; stanley. who was to be
the famous Lord Derby, father OF the present
Earl: whortley, aftorward Lord WharneliGe, and
Laboucherc, afterward to be Lord Taunton. So
that, although air. Adams was distressed by the
newspapers and beginning 10 feel the fever or
Presidential am oition he SUI maintained 10 more
than an ordinary degree brilliant, social lie.
There were some lines published By fashionable
poet al the time, aud wnicn appeared on the
morning OF the sth OF January, 10 wncn we have
referred, an extract from which may be OF Inter.
est now, as showing the social temper that pre-.
vailed du Inn the era OF good feeing;-
Wen1 you with the world 10 nights
Brown and iair and wise aud wntys
Eyes that hoat III seas 81 light,
Laughing mouths anu dtmples pretty
relies am matrOHS, maids
All are gone u, Mrs. Adams.
here tie mist d funre. the gloom Of the past,
Az melt iato ii4htas the warm glance % pleasure;
And the only regret Is, lest melting too fast,
Manmaa should move on la the midst OF q measure.
wend you with the world 20 nipnt;
East and aud south north,
Form CONSERVATION bright
And pour splendid britliaEcc forth.
hra the tide Of taAhlun dnwtngi