New-York tribune., 1875-02-02

that rs evil III our sentiments ana nihheIs' o ~
caration Of Independence is an abridged Acorah Vi
political doctrine laying open the first foundations
of civil society but he does not appear to have been
aware that it also laid open precpice into winch
the saveholding planters of his country sooner or
later must fall With the Declaration of lndepend-
ence ON their lips and the merciless scourge Oh
slavery in their hands, a moro fragrant image OF
human inconsistency can scarcely be conceived tnah
one of our Southern slavehOlding republicans Jei-
ferson has been himself all his life slaveholder
but he has published opinions so blasting 10 he very
existence of slavery, that however credltaDie they
| may he 70 his candor and humanity, they speak not
much for his prudence or his forecast as Fngih'ah
planter. The seeds of the Declaration OF lndepend
ence are yet maturing. The harvest VIII DC what
West the painter, calls the terrible sublime Inc
following sketch of a well known Southern politl-
clan and journalist will hardly be recognized by
those who remember him only in the latter years OF
his life. "Mrs. Adams had this evening her usual
weekly tea-party, which attended by about hity
persons. Among the company were Mr. j. s. SKIN
ncr the Postmaster at Baltimore, and his wife. lie
Is a man of mingled character, of daring and per-
nicious PRINCIPLES of restless and rash temper, ana
vet of useful and honorable enterprise. Ruilian,
patrot and philanthTOpiSt are so blended In MN
that | cannot appreciate him without mingled
sentiment of detestatOn and esteem CONSIDER
him as the originator and cause of all the Baltimore
n,racies which have injured and still dishonor tins
nation He has infected not only that city, but the
moral feelings of this whole community and the pub
lie councils of the country. To such degree as 10
STAY the hand of justice itself lie has embrolled
lis with two foreign nations whose g0od Will IL Is
most important to us to possess. lie has been no"
nearly two years under indictment for being con-
cerned in the Baltimore piraces, and has cOnrived
,t,.l4 4l,g Vrfl lfFN a To-
eide upon them. Yet his private character is such
that he has numerous and very ardent friends. lie
made to the Government, at a critical period inn
portant disclosures concerning McGregor and his
Amelia Island buccanccrng expedition, and he has
been during the last year editor of weekly news
paper called The american Farmer, devoted altoge-
ther to agricultural improvements, and which Is a
very valuable publication"
British statesman of moderate abilities who was
! Minister at Washington at that time, but who has
| left scarcely token to mark his memory, Is pre-
| sented in more favorable light. Mr.. Bagot is a
Younger brother Of Lord Bagot, Peer of Great
Britain; and his wife, very discreet. amiable, and
lovely woman, is daughter of Mr.. William Welles-
| lev Pole, Master of the Mint and brother to the
| Duke of Wellington Bagot is about thirty-hve,
| tall, well prOpOrtioEed and with remarkably
! handsome face perfectly well-bred, and Of dgni-
|
feature of his character is discretion, one of the
most indispensable qualities Of a good negotiator
but neither his intellectual powers his acquis
tious are III any degree striking His temper is scr
ous. but cheerful. lie has no depth of dissimua-
tion though enough to suppress his feelings when it
is for his interest to conceal them He has resided
here three years, and, though coming Immediately
after war In which the national feelings here were
! highly exasperated against his country. has made
! himself universally acceptable. No English Minis
ter has ever been popular; and the mediocnty OF
his talents has been Of the principal causes Of
his success This so obvious that 1t has staggered
| nv belief in the universally of the maxim that men
of the greatest talents ought to be sought out for dip
| lomatlc missions. BagOt has been better Minister
| than a much aber man would have been: better for
the interest of England-better for the tranquility
of this countrv-bcttcr for the harmony between the
two nations for his quiet, and for the comfort
! of those with whom he has had official intercourse
here. For a negotiation that would require great
energy of mind activity of research, or fertility Of
expedirnts such man would not be competent; /;
but to go through the ordinary routine OF business
and the common intercourse of society, to neutralize
fretful passions aud sOOthe prejudices, a man of
! good breeding, inO1cnsive manners, and courteous
department is nearer to the true diplomatic stand
ard than one with the genius of Shakespeare, the
learning of Bentley, the philosophical penetration of
Berkeley, or the wit Of Swift
Prior to MI Edward Everett's entrance upon the
political career in which he became So celebrated
for the discretion of his principles and the eOquencc
of his discourse while still professor at Cambridge,
and an occasional occupant of the pulpit he preached
a sermon, during a visit at Washington in the
Capitol. the traditional fame of which has not yet
passed away from the collection of anecdotes regard
ilaa f1o
scene as follows:
Attended the divine service at the Capitol and heard
Nj. Edward Everett, the Professor OF the Greek IAN
guage al Harvard University, NOUug man of shining
tIlents and of iilustriOus promise text was from
Cor. vii %: Brethren, the time Is sioIt ana II was
without onparsou the most splendid composition
sermon that ever heard delivered. io had preached
II last Sunday evening, where my 500 mad beard HIN,
and George had written to me that II us the finest ser
mon he mad heard and fOretellIi that would
preach 1t again here HdcEncyed TINS subject the
shUTtness OF time. Is never before saw 20 l0rcby ex
emphed the truth thar nothing is stale or tre IN the
hands Of genius His composition i more rich, more
varied, cOpious, more magnificent than was that
of Bucknnster There were passages that reminded
me perhaps too much OF Masslon, but the whole ser
equal 10 any OF the best that MasSilon ever
wrote. 1t abOunded in splendid imagery IN deep
pahos, in cutting satire IN profound reflections OF
morals in coruscations OF wit in thunderbots OF feel
ing His manner OF speaking was SLOW and his arcu-
lauon distinct perhaps to excess Ihere was some
want OF simplicity both IN the matter ana manner
sill defect OF unity in his subject.
lie gave sermon cento OF extracts from two or
more. There was description OF the destructive 0pCr-
atiOns OF tme absolutely terric-dnd portrait OF the
blessings ana fuUre ROltS OF tnls country, wrought
up like work Of enchanunent. The house was fun,
but not crowded. The New England hearers were
rapt In enthusiasm. Mr. King Told me he had never
heard hing like st. the Southern auditors approved
cOoy. Mr.. Clay, with whom walked. after the
service, 10 call upon ChefJustice Marshall, told Inc
that although Everett had nue fancy and chasie
stye OF composition his manner too theatrical, and
he like d Mr.. HOlley's manner better.
The death of Mr. Adamss mother one of the
noblest Of the many noble women of New-Engand
in the days of the Revolution took place in 1918.
The event called forth burst of feeling, to which
comparatively few similar instances to be found