New-York tribune., 1899-01-08

mission for the thirteen months during which
the negotiations continued There is sug-
gestive anecdote or two Of this period among
the papers. One has TO do with an eminent
Frenchman who ''talkd OF the growing great
ness OF America, and that the thirteen united
States would form the greatest Empire IN the
world. Yes sir l replied. and they will all
speak English; every one OF EN- His triumph
was check'd. He understood what was intended
TO be conveyed viz, that frS a similarity OF
Language, Manners and Religion. that Great
Empire woI'd be English not French" The
British plenipOtentiary worked stfenuously TO
secure for the American Loyalists indemnifca-
uon for their losses, and the American Commis-
sioners resisted as strenuously. One Of the lat
ter is recorded in these Anecdotes as observ-
ing 1t is strange you should insist on our re-
wardiDg People who have been plupdering.
burning, and cutting our throats. If you think
them so very deserving, why don't you reward
them yourselves? But il would be very hard
TO oblige US TO do II even II you had conquered;
and you VIII please to r-collect that you have
not conquered US"
One Of the most Interesting papers il this COL
lection contains the anecdotes OF Laurence
Sterne which were gathered at the request OF
Whitefoord by his friend. John Croft, the anti
quarry. Croft was in manner brought up
under Sterne, he was born at StDlington,
where the author Of the Sentimental Journey
was vicar and where he was often a guest AT
the house Of Croft's brother. II was on one OF
these occasions that Sterne read aloud after
dinner 10 the company some OF the Ms. OF MS
~Tristram Shandy"; snd when he found that
most Of his hearers. fat and comfortable BRUSH
squires, no doubt had fallen asleep, he was SO
nettled that he threw his Ms. into the nTe IL
was only MI Crofts hasty clutch al the
scorched sheets that saved the work from de-
struction. 1t was the elder Croft, too. VINO LOOK
his wear TO London, paying all MS expenses
when the latter made his famous arrangement
with Dodsley, the publisher. 1t was after th1s
nor.gaging Of his brains that he came skipping
into Crofts ROOM declaring that ne was the
richest man In Europe. Neither as man nor
ecclesiastic does Sterne appear to advantage III
the Croft "reminiscences. HE was far Hom
being q good man" writes John Croft to White
foord. "as Your Adelphl is from the Eiephah'
that stood at Buckingham Gate he repeats
the story describing Sterne as leaving MS oio
mother TO die "in the common Goal al forh IL
a wretched condition" ard has much TO say
concerning the vanity, selhshness and eccen-
tricity Of the parson. He notes that Sterhe
showed to most advantage in small company
for in large one he was frequently al Loss
and dumbfoundered as he assumed the privilege
/ of Wit he would frequently come out with
very silly things and expressions, Whch II lhey
did not meet that share Of appreciation from
the Publick which he expected he would be very
angry and even afrontive" As for his appear
ance as a clergyman, Croft says that when II
was his turn 10 preach al the Minister half the
congregation usually went out as soon as ne
mounted the pulpit, his delivery and voice were
90 very disagreeabe. His country congregation
generally considered the vicar crazy or crack
brained "Once il is said that as he was going
over the Fields on a Sunday TO preach at Still
,ngton II happened that his Pointer Dog sprung
a Covey Of Partridges when he went directly
home for his Gun and left his Flock that was
waiting for him in the Church, In the lurch
Another time when he was skating on the
Car at Stillingtcn, the Ice broke In WIFI
him In the middle Of the Pond, and non'
OF the Parishioners would assist TO ex
tricate him, as they were at variance
Another time a Flock Of Geese assembled in th'
Church Yard az Sutton, when his Wife bawi
out Laurie, powl EN- l. e, pluck the quills, OF
which they were ready to riot and mob Laurie
Sterne's wife was but homely woman, say
Croft but she was well educated and mao
comfortable little fortune. 1t was the husband
fault that they did not live happily together
Though she declared that the largest house II
England could not contain them both "on ac
count OF Turmoils and Disputes they wrote
love letters TO one another every day. one o.
their 'Turmoils' is thus described. 1t wa
agreed betwixt them to have Strong BOX VIII
Nick in the Top, and 80 they were 10 pu'' i
what each saved out Of their private expense
towards raising a fortune for tneH rau9hle
Ildia. when unhappy Mrs Sterne fell lll an'