Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-04-05
Mime, Octayia Walton LIE Vert.

gusta, Ca, after a long life, which was
not without trouble, but which was
also full of honors and successes. Mime.
LIE Vert came of distinguished stock.
Her grandfather, George Walton, a
native of Prince Edward County, Va,
was one of the signers of the Declare
ton of Independence. He was a mem
Der of the First Congress, convened at
Philadelphia, and held successfully the
offices of Governor of Georgia ana
Judge of the Supreme Court. George
Walton, the second o of this couple,
was educated at Princeton, N. j., and
married Miss Sallie Minge Walker, the
daughter of a distinguished lawyer OF
Georgia. Octavia was the result OF
this marriage, having been born at
Belle Vue, near Augusta. Shortly after
her birth her parents movedt to Florida,
of which State General jackson was
then Governor.
Col. Walton succeeded the General
in the Governorship of the new State.
The seat of government was then at
Pensacola, but during Gov. Walton's
administration was removed to "Talla-
hassee," this Indian name signifylng
the beautiful land, /" being selected for
the new capital by his daughter Octa-
via. The first public notice taken OF
the young Octavia was at Mobile during
the last visit there of Gen. Lafayette.
This distinguished General having been
on terms of intimate frindship with
her grandfather during the Revolu-
tionary struggle, the Committee of
Reception presented the young girl to
his notice. The old General gazed up
on her for a few minutes, then, burst.
ing into tears, caught the child to his
heart, exclaiming, "The living image
of my brave and noble friend!" Young
Octavia, encouraged by his affection,
prattled freely in his native tongue for
she was even then an accomplished lin
guist), and after a long interview the
General turned to one of the commit
teemen and remarked: ga truly Won
derful child! She has been cOnversing
all this while with intelligence and tact
in the purest French. | predict for her
a brilliant career" Her history since
thattime has fully borne out this predic-
ton. Shortly after the removal of her
parents to Mobile, Octavia, in company
with her mother and brother, made a
tour throughout the principal cities of
| G1O OIIOH : anu lIlCh SoL1LAICuSNU IAO
remarkable career as a social genius
which gave her worldwide celebrity.
In the most select circles she was hail
ed by reclamation as the reigning belle,
but this title never affected her high
toned and comprehensive mind. 1t was
during this tour that Miss Walton be-
came acquitted with Washington Irv-
ing. The acquaintance was the result
of accident in the first place, but only
ceased with the death of Mr.. Irving.
Their last interview at S~unnyside was
of the most interesting character, and
on parting the author of the ''Sketch
Book" said, 81 feel as if the sunshine
was all going away with you, my
child" Miss Walton was a constant
attendant of the stormiest session of
Congress under President Jackson's
Administration, and committed to her
notebook the salient points in the
speeches of Webster, Clay and Cal
hCun. With Mr.. Clay she was ever a
favorite, and to his memory she has
given a glowing and atfectionate testi-
monial. In 1886 Miss Walton married
DR.. Henry LIE Vert, of Mobile, whose
father was Fleet Surgeon under
Rochambeau, and who was present at
the siege of Yorktown. In 1S49 Mrs.
LIE Vert was visited by Lady Emeline
Stuart Wortley, who was then ~sojourn-
ing in this country. In the summer of
1858 she accepted an invitation from
the Duke of Rutland, and, in company
with her father and daughter, sailed
for England. H~erreception in England
and throughout the continent amount
ii o1~,@~% ~ n~ @yo4,~4 nol rh0 nllAl
luster to all the brilliant Courts to
which she was welcomed. Returning
home in 1854, Mrs. LIE Vert spent a
year in seclusion and then revisited
Europe. 1t was during this last visit
that her celebrated "Souvenirs of
Travel'' were given to the public. The
souvenirs" were written by advice
of Lamartine, with whom she
became acquainted during a
visit to Paris. The work
at once obtained for its authors varied
abilities the appreciation of all intelli-
gent Americans, to whom Nine. LIE
Vert had been previously unknown, and
was read as eagerly in Europe as in
America. Nine. lie Vert was strongly
opposed to the secession of the South,
and did not forbear to make known
her feelings on the subject, even after
the outbreak of hostilities. She remain
ed at her home in Mobile throughout
the whole course of the war, however,
and exerted her large sympathies and
marked abilities in those humane SER
vices of which the southern soldiery
had peculiar need. At the end of the
war she visited the National Capitol to
ask pardon for her friend General Beau
regard, who had previously been the
recipient of her most decided opinions
of the civil a Several years ago she
visited the North, and found new fame
and hosts of friends wherever she went.
In person Nine. LIE Vert was of medi-
UNI height, with a ~countenance in which
was blended beauty, intelligence and
amiability. There is not a State of the
Union in which her departure will not
be mourned by sincere admirers of her
wit, wisdom and ncbleness of charac.
ter.-NeW York Herald.