Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-26
OLD HICKORY'S
Letters TO Mrs. Decatur, Widow Of the
Immortal Commodore, Supplement-
ed by Those from the Testy
Randolph, Of Roanoke, Who Writes with
Marked Plainness PerVaded by
a Cranky Humor.

The Paris correspondent of The Boston
Herald writes that pa pert An advertisement
in the Herald Informs me that Prof. Sumner
has been writing, and HougbtoD, Miffiiu &
Co. publishing, book entitled Andrea Jack
SON as Public Nav, 1t was q singular coin
cidence that CHI the very day when saw the
notice Washington lady came to my apart
ments to show me some old and hitherto un-
published letters written by "Old Hickory
She also brought with her come very curious
and interesting letters written by John Ran
dolph, OF Roanoke, TO Mrs. Susan Decatur, 10
whom, by the way, President Jacksou's cor
reepondence is also addressed. Further she
left with me large parchment giving to
Com. Stephen Decatur the freedom of
the city of New York in gold box, add a
resolution expressive Of the appreciation by
The Common Council of New York "of the
gallantry, skill and patriotism of the captain,
officers and crew Of the frigate United
States in the capture OF the British
frigale Macedonian, an event which
added new laurels 10 the great
commercial interests OF The Union, in its
practical illustration Of the utility and its
enforcement Of the necessity of a navy. +"
This parchment bears the seal of the city Of
New York, the signature of Dewitt Clinton
r.
1872, and the penmsnship was the work OF
Mr. q. Thresher. The lady who brought the
old papers and documents to my Office Is the
daughter of one of the Oldest Of our retired
naval officers. Her mother came into pos
session OF them in a proper manner many
years ago. Although Miss 3. merely
brought them to show them 10 me, knowing
that l was interested in such things, she has
kindly consented to my copying them with a
view TO their publication. The personal
references INDUCED in by the writers will be
80 generally understood that do not deem
it necessary to enter into those ex plantations
which my charming visitor gave to me. To
the old residents Of Washington, especially.
will some OF those remarks be Of great in
terest.
JACKSON TO MRS. STEPHEN DECATUR.
WAsHIsGToN. January 2, 1880.
MY DEAR MADAM-I have the pleasure
pi acknowledging the receipt of your note of
Thursday LAST together with lie iucIosiire.
You may rest assured, fdadanl, that M y aid
shall be most cheerfnlly accorded in support
OF your claim and getting it allowed by Con-
Eress. l believe il just and righteous one.
and should have long since been recognized
By the government and paid. / have too
much confidence in the disposition of Con-
gfess to do justice TO those gallant men and
their representatives to believe for a moment
they will refuse to mete out 10 them the
same measure OF justice that has 40 often
been extended 10 Others in similar situations
1t viii, however, be necessary for you and
your friends 20 act with great caution and
circumspection, studiou5.y avoiding every.
thing that may by possibility be calculated
to produce the least feeling on ihe psrt OF
the members OF Congress. 1 perfectly sgree
with you that the anonymous letter YOU in
close me 10 evidence not only Of malicious
and vindictfve community in this district.
but also OF corrupt and profigate coms
munIty. l believe no lady has been more
basely slsndeted tn h Mrs. Eafoo. /
have heard much said to her preiu-
dice, but no one has ever vet
hsd the hsrdihood to. say to me
that be or she, OF their own knowiedg; knows
anything against her IS a moral vir,uous
ahd Correct woman l have on all occasions
treated Mrs. Eaton with IS mach respect as
any other lady in this district, because
nave ever believed her entitled to it; aud
snail continue 10 do so Until shall become
convinced she is undesersing of it, in spite
Of The theers and ti,tie-tattles Of a set of eos-
eips who, 10 many respects, ars greatly her in
Ieriors, and in none, believe, her SUPERIOR.
hope, my dear madam, you know to well
what is due 10 the sex and your own charac-
ter to be inlimidated by the Threats of sueb
base, corrupt and unprincipled villains as
your anonymous correspondents shall
ser SItsII.4e--vou have Enclosed me. with
the nope oil being aoIe Some day OF finding
out the name of Its vile author. l thiuk /
know him and her. am, with much res
pee, your friend, ANDREW JACKSON.
Mrs. s. Decatur.
WAsHINGTos, May Is, 1888.
DEAR MADAM-Your note of this day
reached me late this eytning-teo late TO
lnciose you check for your china and
plated ware in tine to present it for pay
hent at the bank to-day. | ipcIose il that
you may, early on Monday, have it cashed.
You will please direct your servant to have
some careful aud experience d person to pack
them for transport alton safely by water to
The Hermitage, and employ a drayman 10
bring them here, and l will pay for the
package and all Other expense L will en-
deavor TO get better place for them
for you from some OF the heads OF depart
ii1enls. II cannot, will send the M 10 the
Hermitage, ard there leave them for those
who come after me. / write in great pain
In my side and breast this evening; hone
it will be better tomorrow. l am, with
great respect, your friend,
Atrs. 8. Desatbf. '-O'N0es'
JOHN RANDOLPH 10 MRS. DECATUR.
DowsoN's. No. ., SATURDAY EVENING,
MY DEAR Mrs DEcAruR-Not only as
my cable physician" but az nv cordial
friend" have right, or, at .eaei, claim,
70 worry you with my moshs, and not even
CAliban's in the cloveu pine fam / right or
a mill. wheel itself could otistrike nine.
Ny object, however, after a week of indie
scrlbable misery, is to inquire li,w you do this
delightful, genial weather, and 10 offer he
homage ef my faithful and respectful sffec-
ton. JR.ofR.
LAiter this informal signature come the
two following posscripis, the first written
on the left and the second on the right:
Mr.. Mason gets better. / have not seen
the Etreasurer for more than ten days, or
thereabouf.
/ have lOst the art Of writing, being zone
cramp."
JOHN RANDOLPH TO MRS DECATUR
MONDAY MORNING, Both March.
Mr. DEAR Mrs. DECArUR-Destiuyl Dss-
tinyl Who can resist fate-not the gods
themselves, We are told. How, then, should
poor old E'on hear up against weddings
and deetnsrs (ss Lady Margaret Bsllender
would say), at which "his most sacred mai
esty" appeared, uoosiu person, indeed, but
by proxy, as is the wont of kings on such oc.
casions. set out that very day to pay my
dev0irs to you. But died on the road of a
piece, aye, large slice, of rich plum cake
an divers glasses of champagne. Perhaps
might have got over this childish indiscre-
ton, but had previously taken glass of
rich punch at Mr.. Vaughan's; even that
might perchance have survived, but, as
cope stone" leo writeth the Rauerley msn),
capped the whole with an uud4gested
speech, heavier than the plum cake itself,
and ss indigestible Lobies la Diseases (de
Sweet as Miss Ramsboitom called HIM
ducks liver.
And now for business. Yesterday / had
some friends TO dine At Dowsons, No. 8,
when gave the most creditsble dinner you
can think OF; and then, for the first time,
ventursd 10 uncork your wilma. Although
not Htrnitsge, it would deserve 20 be go, il
II was not fall as good as il is. II is Bordeaux,
and of fine quality. The bar5lrians would
call II claret, but the said barbsrians do
not know that the finer qualities OF Bordeaux
wine are as highly priced by US qou,7nets as
Hermitage or ChambertIn, and, into the bar
gain, it Is much better for that seat of all
that is valuable in man, the stomach. Mere
MUS Agrlppa was right, and 1 will, with two
grains OF emetic tartar and a little glauber
salts united, take away even Mr.. Adams's
wisdom, Mr.. Clay's patriotism, dying to strve
his desr country; nay, will cure the strongest
love fiji OF any of Lord Byron's ruffisn Gia-
ours aud corsairs VINO love and fight like
mad.
The wine OF Bordeaux is richly worth the
money land not worth more) that you aak
Tor ii. You have done right TO sell it. 1t
has reached its acme. In one more year it
would become like Capt. c., tn pez passe
forgot how much you said you had of that
quality. 1 will take it all (preferring small
% large boxes), at least all that 1 can pay
ior. shall wish to send it BY Wednesdays
boat home, ria Norfolk.
This letter is written in case rain this
morning should prevent my mounting my
ralfanf and xnreaeufinO NV rt1afni oor,r