Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-24
COMMUNICATED.
"Reminiscences.

ed by the Hon. ~. D. LucaSi az lho icoioeioo
of Mr.. apd Mrs. Cabell Of Washington, re-
calls several pleasant "reminiscences. was
doubtless the only person in the large as
ssmbIage who had ever seen and heard the
Iriah orator. When nineteen years old, be-
ing in London, Audre W Stevenson, then our
Minister Plenipotentiary, called In hls pnse
ton and drove with me 10 the Houses OF
Parliament, that ! might have en- opportuni'
ty % Fee the public men OF Great Britain.
The debates in Parliament are not tree 10
the rubic in the American sense. Inc
press is admitted, and the debates are pup
lisbed: bat no one is admitted 10 the noor
or galleries unless introduced by memosr
or your diplomatic representative. When
wa entered the House Of Commons the de.
bate was stormy. O'Connell bad the floor.
| Never, even in the House of Representa-
lives. did witness a scene so tumntuous,
even frantic For awhile it resembled a
den of wild beasts rather than on Assem-
bace ofthe gentry of Eng land. II illustrated
the truth Of an old Grecan adage, III every
Athenian were Socrates, every Armenian
assemb lage would be mob" Amid this
wild and angry crowd O'Connell stood calm
and immovable, hia arms folded across his
breast, awaiting silence. Now and then,
wien his voice could be heard, he would
utter few sentences that seemed like cen
ire shot and brought forth renewed clamor,
till his voice was again inaudible. But he
held the floor, and concluded his speech,
amid the pillows Of passion.
Mr.. Stevenson and | then passed to the
| House of Lords, where we had the good
fortune to hear both Brougham and Lynd.
hurst The former spoke with grace and
animation the latter, in that calm anu
serene manner, acquired IL the course oil his
long judicial career.
The same evening, having letter of in
PRODUCTION to Daniel Webster, then making
the tour of Europe, from the late VIM. G.
Rives, of Virginia, presented my letter. II
administered dose of fattery to Mr.. Web
ster in the most delicate and charming man
ner which made it a pleasure to present it.
After reading the letter Mr. Webster ex.
claimed William c. Rives is a head and
shoulders above any man In Virginia" a
remark which l was caraful to repeat to
| Mrs Rives many years afterwards. Itseem'
ed 10 me, within the small circle OF my OBJ
servaton, that Andrew Stevenson made
more favorable impression upon the English
public than Mr.. Webster. At agricultural
fairs and mixed assemblages Mr., Stevenson
elected greater applause. MIR. Webstefs
talents resambled permanent Investment.
Mr. Stevenson's capital though much less
WAS all in ready money. | remember ~hen
Mr.. Rives handed me the letter Of introdnc
ton 10 Mr. Webster, asked him whether
| the reporis then current were true of MIR.
| Webster q intemperance. He thought they
were greatly exaggerated, but proceeded TO
Illustrate his suhject by several anecdotes.
He said upon one occasion, after dinner, Mr-
Webster entered the Senate chamber, and
walking down the centre aisle stopped with
his eye fixed on Calhoun, who wns then
speaking. After pause, pointing ct Cal
houn he said "Rives, there Is splendid
abstraction, but wretched concretion.
On another occasion, after dinner. Mr..
Webster turned abruptly npon Mr.. Ryes
and demanded 10 know why he was not
popular in Virginia. Virginia voted the
democratic ticket He resembled the Vir-
gnlans in many respects, yet ha was not
popular with Vrpiaians. He drank wits
ky like tho ireinians-he sometimes drank
too much liketbe Virginians. tie borrowed
money like The Virginiana and forgot TO re
turn it like the Vireinisns, aud yet he was
not popular with the VirgiuiaDs. Could be
explain the reason Mr., Rives was one Of
the most courtly gentlemen this country
|
coud not explain the reason, unless Inc
Virginians, feeling pride in having given to
the republic ts.mcat iiustiious citizen, did
not feel disposed to aid Massachusetts, to de.
priye them Of their title to this high disliuc
lion. To this exteut Mr.. Webster would
sometime indulge.
Many years afterwards Col Thomas II
Benton, under whose hospitabie rocfI passed
many pleasant days, Yves much in the habit
Of deprecatipg the talents of Mr.. Rives
| They once agreed. but afterwards differed
| politically. | reminded Col. Benton Of Mr.
Websters opinion of Rives HethreH back
his head, Sir, take Burke and Bolingbroke
from William G. Rives and lhero is nothing
Of William G. Rives Left" Then commenting
on MIR. Rives' speeches in The contest be-
tween Harrison and Van Buren, he related
incidents of hia visit to the latter at Kin
derhook. Mr.. Van Baren was greatly
incensed, it seems, ct Mr. R,ves'
nlliisions to the gold spoons then Tor
the first time used at the White Eouse.
II am not at I'll surprised" cried Benlor;
mo man had better right TO speak of The
gold spoons at the White House thnn VII
liam e. Rives, for no man licked them oft
tener.' To his friends no man was more
tender and aliectionae than Col. Benton; o
Die political opponents he was ierociou5, yet
of most of them he spoke with sincere re
apect especially of MIR. Clay, to whom he
did not speak for twenty years. One re
mark about Mr.. Clay, which he often re
peated, surprised me very much THAT CT
all the nen he had ever known Henry Clay
was the most lahorious. He knew not
much, he cared bus little for things remote
but about the business in hand he was the
most laborious man ne had ever known"
The criticism of Mr.. Rives was the result
of prejudice. Virginia has produced few
more eminent statesmen. An autograph |
letter, shown me by Mrs. Rivea from Thos
Jefferson to John Adams, introducing Mr.. |
Rives to the latter at the age of twenty-five,
speaks of him as lis eeve destined one day
to occupy the chair they had just vacated. T"
Dir. Rives never occupied the Presidential
chair. bus his long and brilliant cnreer In