New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-04
NEW.ENGLAYD HOSPITALITIES.
THCRLow WEEDS PERSONAL REcoILEcTIoNs of
FIFTY YEARS AGO.

THJRIOW WEEDS PERSONAL RECOl-lbCi'O''' W
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
To The Editor OF the Tribune
SIR: The statement now going It's he"SpaPoi
rounds that sixty or seventy years ago John Mars
ton dined on Saturdays Quincy with eX-Fresidoh'
John Adams is suggestive of another Quincy dln-
ncr with ex-President John Quincy Adams lofty
two wears ago. | called upon Mr.. Adams IN Iooo
to invite him 20 take the stump in favor Oh 'no
election of General Harrison II being New-Lnsi ahu
Goldfish day Saturday, we were served, as MI
MarstOn was by tn. senior ex-President, with
large fresh Goldfish supplemented by baked pork
and beans. An old gentleman who came IN before
and remained to dinner introduced to me by
Mr. Adams as my Ncighbor." Who that neighbor
was had no idea. IL soon apparent, however,
from his language and manner that his mind was
stored with all kinds Of useful knowledge When
the gentleman retired after dinner | asked Mr..
Adams who his "neighboi was. why" said he, l
supposed you knew il was my ncghbOr Quincy. We
dine together very often" | had been listening for
more than an hour unconsciously to the learned and
elder Josiah Quincy.
And his seems to invite reference to anothcr
political midlothian incident which as believed
then and believe now, prevented the election oil
third member in direct succession OF the Adams
family to the Presidency. In 1872 the popular SEN
timent and feeling against General Grant was so
strong that nothing wanted 10 defeat ms re-
election but n nomination that would unite all the
elements of opposition. Several asprants were III
the field. among whom Charles Francis Adams was
most prominent and his nomination was confidently
anticlpa.ed Several weeks before the assembling
of the National Convention Dir. Adams came 10
this city to embark for Europe as q
delegate 20 boundary convention be-
tween England and America. In familiar
conversation with him the night before he sailed
remarked that hc would in all probability hear oi
ms nomination for the Presidency soon after ms
arrival in Europe He replied: IF such nomination
is contemplated, INV letter TO be published to-nor-
row morning will render 1t impossible That, much
to my regret, proved 10 be too true Mr. Adams, by
his own gratuitOus aud l-judCed letter, prevented
both his nomination and election. Ar. Greeley
nomination did not unite all the elements oil opposl-
ton and General Grant was reelected. Close and
cherished personal and social relations have existed
between Mr. and Mrs Adams and myself and
daughter for more than twenty years and again
say that | deeply regret the circumstance which
prevented the election of third Adams to the
Presidency, being assured that his Administration,
Ike that of his honorcd father, would, by its purity
ard patriotism, have proved alike useful and hon
orablc to his cOuntry.
These incidents recall other refined and enjoyable
New-England inequalities. 1t my privilege to
have been tho guest two occasions OF sir. Web
ser at his Marshfcld home and to have paI.aker
of his historical "chowdcrs.' our host himself pre-
pairing and dispensing his favorlto pOttagc. Mr..
Webster in officiating as cook and scryitor lost
nothing of the dignity which distinguished him in
the Courts and in the Senate. Nor are these the
only Boston Inequalities remembered pleasantly.
To say nothing of other surviving friends, cannot
forget Mr. Phlo ). shelton. on board Of whose yacht
many years ago frequently enjoyed the luxury of
chOwdcrs compounded OF cod and haddocb that
ha been drawn hOGndenng from the sea half or
three-quartcrs Of an hour before were RECALLING
ourselves with them at table. Nor shall ever for
get the excellence of SwamuscOt dinners OF the
diality of our host, Colonel Charles A. Stct-
SON Of tecmiug AstOr House memories.
Even more precious, if possible are my rccol-
Iectlons of dinner with Abbot Lawrence
at who's. table | met distinguished literary, pro
fessional aud commercial gentlemen. Again a; a
dinner given by Edward Everett to Sir Henry llol-
land where met Boston literary celebrities; and
again, at an evening party where | accompanied
Mr.. Wcbsicr, given TO the elite Of Boston b. Mrs.
Harrison Gray Otis, whose daughterin-law, the
widow Of the late James Otis is now our much-rc-
spccted ncxt-door ncighbOr
The present century has been one OF unprecedented
progress in nearly all the elements which enter into
ma, cral intellectual and social iic But whether
our statesmen, jurst, aud merchants are more
distinguished or their Inequalities more bouniitul
and refined now than they were half century ago
is problem which shall / OF undertake to solve.
Ner-IOrk Nov. -, 1881. Nv.