Year: 1861




it imprudent to remain upon the tide. He
thinks lightly of the mercantile interest,
and in fact undertakes the manners of the
cities generally he believes that their in
habitants are all hollow-hearted and insin-
cere, and altogether wanting in that sub
stantial intelligence and honesty that he
afirms to be characteristic of the country.
He is a great admirer of the genius of Vir-
ginia, and is frequent in his commendation
of toast in which the State is compared
to the mother of the Gracchi; indeed, it is
familiar thing with him to speak of the
aristocracy of talent as only inferior to
that of the landed interest-the idea of
freeholder inferring to his mind certain
constitutional pre-eminence in all the vir-
tues of citizenship, as a matter of course.


The solitary elevation of country gem
tleman, we'll to do in the world, begets
seme magnificent notions. He becomes
as infallible as the pope: gradually ac-
quires the habit of making long speeches;
is apt to be impatient of contradiction, and
is always very touchy on the point of hon


or. There is nothing more conclusive
than a rich mans logic anywhere, but in
the country, amongst his dependents, it
flows with the smooth and unresisted
course of gentle stream irrigating YER
dant meadow, and depositing its mud in
fertilizng luxuriance. Meriwether's say
ings, about Swallow Barn, import absolute
verity-but have discovered that they are
not so current out of his jurisdiction. In
deed, every now and then, we have some
obstinate discussions when any of the
neighboring potentates, who stand in the
same sphere with Frank, come to the house;
for these worthless have opinions of their
own, and nothing can be more dogged than
the conflict between them. They some
times fire away at each other with most
amable and unconvincing hardihood for Il
whole evening bandying interjections, and
making bows, and saying shrewd things


with ali the courtesy imaginable; but for
unextinguishable pertinacity in argument,
and utter impregnabilIty of belief, there is


no disputant like your country gentleman,


who reads the newspapers. When one of
these discussions fairly gets under way, it
never comes to an anchor again of its own


acccord-it is either blown out so far to sea


as to be given up for lost, or puts into port


in distress for want Of documents or is up


set by call for the boot-jack and slippers,
, which is something like the previous ques-


ton in Congress.


If my worthy cousin be somewhat over
, argumentative as a politician he restores
the equilibrium of his character by a con-
siderate GOODNESS in religious matters. He
piques himself upon being high-church-
man, but he IS only rare frequenter OF
places of worship, and very seldom permits
himself to get into a dispute upon points
of faith. If Mr.. Club the Presbyterian tutor
, in the family, ever succeeds in drawing


him into this field, as he occasionally has
. the address to do Meriwether is sure to fly


the course: he gets puzzled with scripture


names, and makes some odd mistakes be-
tween Peter and Paul, and then generally
turns the parson over to his wife, who, he


says, has astonishing memory.


Meriwether is a great breeder of blooded


horses; and, ever since the celebrated race


between Eclipse and Henry, he has taken
to this occupation with a renewed zeal, a:
, matter affecting the reputation of the state


1t is delightful to hear him expatiate upon
the value, importance, and patriotic bear
ing of this employment, and to listen to all
f his technical lore touching the mystery oi
horsc-craft He has some fine colts in
training that are committed to the care oi
pragmatical old negro, named Carey who
, in his reverence for the occupation, is the


perfect shadow of his master. He and
Frank hold grave and momentous consul
f tations upon the affairs of the stable, and
, in such sagacious strain of equal debate
that it would puzzle spectator to tell
which was the leading member in the
council. Carey thinks he knows great
deal more upon the subject than his master
and their frequent intercourse has bcgot a


familiarity in the old negro that is almost
fatal to Meriwether's supremacy. The old


man feels himself authorized to maintain


his positions according to the freest parli-
mentary form, and sometimes with yio-
lence of observation that compels his master
to abandon his ground out of faint-hearted-
ness Meriwether gets little nettled by


Carey's doggedness, but generally turns 1t
off in laugh. was in the stable with
him a few mornings after my arrival, when
he attempted to expostulate with the ven-
erable groom upon a professional point,
but the controversy terminated in its Gus
tomary way. "Who sot you up, Master
Frank, to tell me to fodder that ere cretur,
when as good as nursed you on my knee?'
"Well, tie up your tongue you old mastif,
replied Frank, as he walked out of the sta
BILE, "and cease growing, since you will
have it your own way" and then, as We
left the old mans presence, he added, with
an affectionate chuckle-" a faithful old
cur, too, that licks my hand out of pure
honesty; he has not many years left, and it
does no harm to humor himl1


| 1DoEsrIcKs ~ is writing as well as ever