Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

pierre and his faction seem, however, to have grown on his esteem, because they sung with more emphasis the national song of Ca Ira. We have been somewhat at a loss to account for the strong disposition manifested of late years by French historians, to excuse the crimes and enormities of the men who governed France under the Convention. Is it the result of a sentiment of justice, rising out of a firm conviction, that the Sans Culottes have been aggrieved? Or does national vanity require, that the men who once ruled France should not go down to posterity as mere robbers and cut-throats, whose power had no better foundation than the dread and horror they inspired? Why is Robespierre, at this late day, tricked out in a "tawdry suit of qualifications which nature never intended him to wear?" Why are courage, eloquence, and political sagacity liberally allowed to him? Can his new-found admirers point to one great public measure of his devising,-to one speech of merit which has out-lived the time,-to one act of generous forbearance, or manly audacity? That he was honest in his private dealings is possible, and that he was persevering in purpose is certain,-as certain, as that he was cold, calculating, and cruel.

came

| Of Danton, his accomplice and victim, it is scarcely necessary to speak. His whole character may be read in the butcheries of September. He had more energy than his fellow-laborer, or rather he had less hypocrisy, and in that respect, nearer to humanity. As for the pack who howled in their train-the Couthons, the St. Justs, the Heberts, the Chaumettes, the Henriots, whose very names are pollution to the lips that breathe them,-they were but the willing tools of power, who in their subserviency followed the bent of their base nature. In Spain, and under Philip II., they would have been mutes of the Inquisition;-in their own day and generation, they were purveyors of the guillotine.

The French Revolution, when restricted in its operations to the remedying of abuses, was both just and necessary; but was it necessary, that it should be stained with so much guilt, or attended by so much misery? That beneficial effects have followed it in spite of its beheadings, and noyades and fullibades, is true; and let thanks be given to an all-wise Providence which has so ordered the course of human events, that even good may grow out of evil.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HERMAN BLENNERHASSETT,

AND MRS. MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT.*

future home, where he could utter his sentiments and enjoy the benefits of freedom undisturbed by spies or informers.

Before sailing for America, he visited London, and purchased a large library of classical and scientific books, with a philosophical apparatus, embracing various branches, and arrived in New York in 1797. By the aid of his letters, wealth, and his own personal and literary merit, he became acquainted with some of the first families in the city. Among others of his newly acquired friends, was Mr. Joseph S. Lewis, a rich merchant of Philadelphia, who became his business agent, and for many years his firm friend. Mr. Blennerhassett named his youngest son Joseph Lewis, in token of his regard for that gentleman, who was finally a considerable loser by this connection, and after Mr. Blen

HERMAN BLENNERHASSETT, Esq., was a descendant of a noble family of Ireland, in the county of Cork. He was born in Hampshire, England, in the year 1767, while his parents were there on a visit. The family residence was Castle Conway, in the county of Kerry, to which they shortly after returned. He was educated with great care; and when a boy, attended the Westminster school, celebrated for its classical excellence, completing his studies at Trinity College, Dublin, whose honors he shared in company with his relative, the celebrated T. A. Emmett. They read law together at the King's Inn Courts, Dublin; were admitted to the bar on the same day, in the year 1790; and between them existed ever after the warmest friendship. Having spent some time travelling in France and the Netherlands, he returned and practiced at the bar innerhassett's failure, and the destruction of Ireland. Expecting, however, to fall heir to a large estate in a few years, he made but little effort to excel in the law-rather cultivating his taste for the sciences, music, and general literature. At the death of his father in 1796, he became possessed of a handsome fortune; but on account of the troubles in Ireland, in which he became politically involved, he sold the estate to his cousin, Lord Ventry, and went to England, where he soon after married Miss Agnew, daughter of the LieutenantGovernor of the Isle of Man, and granddaughter of General Agnew, who fell at the battle of Germantown. Lord Kingsale, and Admiral De Courcey of the navy, both married sisters of Mr. Blennerhassett. The latter expressing rather freely his republican principles in opposition to his relations, finally concluded to visit the United States, and make that country his

|

his house and property, became the owner of the Island. His stay in New York was of only a few months' continuance; when, hearing of the rich valleys and beautiful country on the Ohio river, he crossed the mountains, and after spending a few weeks in Pittsburgh, took passage for Marietta in the fall of the year 1797. Here he passed the winter, examining the vicinity of that place for a spot on which to make his permanent residence. He finally decided on purchasing a plantation on an island in the Ohio river, fourteen miles below the mouth of the Muskingum, and within the jurisdiction of the State of Virginia. The situation was wild, romantic, and beautiful; and as it was chiefly in a state of nature, a few acres only being cleared, he could reclaim it from the forest, adorn and cultivate it to his own taste. | Its location also gave him the privilege of

* From a volume of Biographical Sketches of the First Settlers of Ohio, by S. P. HILDREede, M.D., of Marietta, written for the Cincinnati Historical Society.

See American Review, 1845. Article by Mr. Wallace.

holding colored servants as his own property, which he could not do in the Northwest Territory. The island was, moreover, near the settlement of Belprie, composed chiefly of very intelligent and welleducated men-disbanded officers of the American army-whose society would at any time relieve him of ennui. The island itself was a picture of beauty, as well as all of its kind, at that early day, before the hand of man had marred its shores. The drooping branches of the willow laved their graceful foliage in the water; while the more lofty sycamore and elm, with their giant arms, protected them from the rude blasts of the storm, and gave a grandeur and dignity to these primitive landscapes, now only to be seen in the remoter regions of the West.

The island at present known as "Blennerhassett's," was then called "Backus's," who had owned it since 1792. It is said to have been located by General Washington, as he owned a large tract of land immediately below, called " Washington's Bottom," entered by him in the year 1770. It was first surveyed in May, 1784, on a land warrant issued in 1780, and a patent made out by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, in 1786, to Alexander Nelson of Richmond, Virginia, who was a member of a mercantile firm in Philadelphia. By a bill in chancery of the High Court of Virginia, procured by Mr. Blennerhassett to perfect his title, it appears that Elijah Backus of Norwich, Connecticut, bought of James Herron of Norfolk, Va., in the year 1792, two islands in the Ohio river; the principal one being the first below the mouth of the Little Kenawha, then in the county of Monongalia, containing two hundred and ninety-seven acres, for the sum of £250, Virginia currency, or about $833 33. This island is of a very peculiar form, narrow in the middle, and broad at both extremities. In March, 1798, Mr. Blennerhassett purchased the upper portion, containing about 170 acres, for the sum of $4,500; and soon after moved with his wife and child on to his new purchase-living in a large old blockhouse, standing about half a mile below the upper end of the island, built in the time of the Indian war by Capt. James. Here he resided while conducting the improvements near the upper end of the

|

island, and building his island mansion, which was completed in 1800. Much labor and expense were necessary in preparing the ground for his buildings and gardens. It was covered at this spot with forest trees, which had to be removed and stumps eradicated, so as to leave a smooth level surface, with expensive landings up and down the banks on both sides of the river for convenient access to and from the island. Boats of various sizes were also to be procured, and a company of eight or ten black servants purchased as waiters, grooms, watermen, &c. His outlays, when the improvements were completed, amounted to more than 40,000 dollars. This sum, expended chiefly amongst the mechanics, laborers, and farmers of the new region where money was scarce and hard to be obtained, was of very great advantage to their interests; and Mr. Blennerhassett may be considered as the greatest benefactor, in this respect, that had ever settled west of the mountains. The island mansion was built with great taste and beauty; no expense being spared in its construction that could add to its usefulness or splendor. It consisted of a main building, fifty-two feet in length, thirty in width, and two stories high. Porticoes, forty feet in length, in the form of wings, projected in front, connected with offices, presenting each a face of twenty-six feet, and twenty feet in depth, uniting them with the main building, forming the half of an ellipse, and making in the whole a front of one hundred and four feet. The left-hand office was occupied for the servants' hall, and the right for the library, philosophical apparatus, study, &c. The appearance of the mansion indicated the fortune and the exquisite taste of its proprietor, the grounds being laid out with great care and elegance. A handsome lawn of several acres occupied the front ground, while an extended opening was made through the forest trees on the head of the island, affording a view of the river for several miles above, and bringing the mansion under the notice of descending boats. Well-graded walks, with a carriage-way, led from the house to the river, passing through an ornamental gateway with large stone pillars. A fine hedge of native hawthorns bordered the right side of the avenue to the house, while back of

it lay the flower garden of about two acres, inclosed with neat palings, to which were traced gooseberry bushes, peaches, and other varieties of fruit-bearing trees, in the manner of wall-fruits. The garden was planted with flowering shrubs, both exotic and native, but especially abounding in the latter, which the good taste of the occupants had selected from the adjacent forests, and planted in thick masses; through which wandered serpentine walks, bordered with flowers, imitating a labyrinth. Arbors and grottoes covered with honeysuckles and eglantines were placed at convenient intervals, giving the whole a very romantic and beautiful appearance. On the opposite side of the house was a large kitchen garden, and back of these, orchards of peach and apple-trees of the choicest varieties, procured from abroad as well as from the Belprie nurseries. Lower down on the island was the farm, with about one hundred acres under the nicest cultivation, the luxuriant soil producing the finest crops of grain and grass. For the last three or four years of his residence, a large dairy was added to his other agricultural pursuits, under the management of Thomas Neal, who also superintended the labor of the farm. The garden was conducted by Peter Taylor, a native of Lancashire, England, who was bred to the pursuit; but under the direction of Mr. Blennerhassett, whose fine taste in all that was beautiful, ordered the arranging and laying out of the grounds. The mansion and offices were frame buildings, painted with the purest white, contrasting tastefully with the green foliage of the ornamental shade trees which surrounded it. An abundance of fine stone for building could have been quarried from the adjacent Virginia shore, but he preferred a structure of wood as less liable to be damaged by earthquakes. The finishing and furniture of the apartments was adapted to the use for which they were intend

ed.

"The hall was a spacious room; its walls painted a sombre color, with a beautiful cornice of plaster, bordered with a gilded moulding, running round the lofty ceiling; while its furniture was rich, heavy and grand. The furniture of the drawingroom was in strong contrast with the hall; light, airy, and elegant; with splendid mirrors, gay-colored carpets, rich curtains,

with ornaments to correspond, arranged by his lady with the nicest taste and harmonious effect. A large quantity of silver plate ornamented the side-boards, and decorated the tables; yet they had not entirely completed their arrangements, when the destroyer appeared and frustrated all their designs for comfort and future happiness. The whole establishment was noble, chastened by the purest taste, without that glare of tinsel finery too common among the wealthy. Their style of living was in unison with the house and furniture, elegant, easy and comfortable."

Mr. B. was a highly intellectual man, greatly devoted to scientific occupations, which his ample library and leisure time afforded every facility for pursuing. He was studious, and fond of experimenting in chemistry, electricity and galvanism. His apparatus, though not extensive, was ample for such experiments as an amateur would wish to make. Astronomy was also a favorite study: a fine telescope enabled him to examine the constellations in their courses; a solar microscope to inspect the minuter bodies of the earth. In music he possessed the nicest taste and an uncommon genius; composing harmonious and beautiful airs, several pieces of which are now remembered and played by a gentleman who, when a youth, was intimate in his family. His favorite instrument was the violincello, on which he played with admirable skill: the spacious hall of the mansion being constructed so as to give effect to musical sounds, the tone of his viol vibrated through it with thrilling effect, calling forth the admiration of his guests. Electricity and galvanism received a share of his attention, and many experiments were made in these wonderful branches of modern science. Among his trials in chemical operations, was that of converting beef into "adipocere," large pieces of which were submerged in the beautiful little cove between the landing and the sand-bar at the head of the island. He fancied it might be used in place of spermaceti for lights; but the cat-fish and perch interfered so much with his trials, that he could never bring the "adipocere" to perfection. He was a good classical scholar; and so highly was he enraptured with Homer's Iliad, that it was said he

His wife was still

more charitable to the sick and poor in the vicinity, many of whom felt the benefit of her gifts. With all these kind acts fresh in their memories, several of these men were found among the banditti who ransacked his house and insulted his wife, after he had been forced to leave the island from the hue and cry of treason, which maddened and infuriated the public mind in the valley of the Ohio.

In person, Mr. Blennerhassett was tall, about six feet, but slender, with a slight stoop in the shoulders. His motions were not very graceful, either as an equestrian or on foot. Forehead full and well form

could repeat the whole poem in the origi- | he lived on the island. nal Greek. His manners were gentlemanly, and disposition social, hospitable and kind, especially to those with whom he wished to associate, but rather haughty to others. In mind he could not be said to be masculine and strong, but was rather wavering and fickle; easily duped and deceived by the designing and dishonest. He had quite a taste for medicine, and read many authors on that subject; which, with his natural propensities, often led him to think himself attacked with imaginary diseases; and it was sometimes difficult to convince him that they were merely ideal. To his sick neighbors and servants he was kind and attentive, often visiting and pre-ed, with a rather prominent nose and scribing for their complaints, freely tendering his medicines, of which he always kept an ample supply. His own heart being perfectly honest and free from deceit, he was unsuspicious of others, and very credulous in regard to their statements, which often led him into pecuniary losses in his business transactions. In bargaining with a notorious cheat for a quantity of the shells of the river clam, which, in the early settlements of the country, before quarries of limestone were opened, were calcined in log-heaps and used for plastering rooms, the fellow said it was a difficult matter to collect them, as he had to dive under the water where it was six or eight feet deep, and must charge fifty cents a bushel; when, in fact, he could collect any quantity where it was only a few inches. Thinking the man told the truth, he paid him the price, which was at least five times as much as they were worth. He was very kind and charitable to the poor and unfortunate backwoods

men.

A Virginian who had lost his house and furniture by fire, was soon after invited with his wife to dine with him. This man owed him a considerable sum for lent money. After dinner, he told him he would either cancel the debt, or give him an order on his store at Marietta for an equal sum, and let the debt stand. The sufferer was a man of honorable mind and just feelings; he therefore chose not to add to his present obligations, but accepted the cancelling of the debt, which was immediately done. This man still lives, and related the incident in 1846. Many such incidents are known to have occurred while

good proportioned face. Eyes weak, and sight imperfect, seeing objects distinctly only when near, so that in reading, the surface of the page nearly touched his nose. They had a nervous, restless agitation, which probably arose from weakness in the optic nerves, requiring the constant use of glasses. Yet, with this permanent and continual annoyance, he was a great student and operator in experiments.

He was also much attached to hunting, shooting quails and other small game on the island. To enjoy this sport he had to call in the aid of other persons whose vision was more acute than his own, who pointed the gun for him at the game, and gave the word when to fire. This person was often his wife, who, with the greatest kindness, attended him in his short excursions, and, with the tact of an experienced sportsman, pointed out the object, levelled the gun, and stood by with the most perfect coolness when he discharged the piece. His general habits were sedentary and studious, preferring the quiet of his library to the most brilliant assemblies. In conversation he was interesting and instructive, confining his remarks to the practical and useful more than to the amusing. As a lawyer, his wife, who had probably heard his forensic eloquence, has been heard to say that he was equal to Mr. Emmett, and frequently urged him to enter as an advocate at the higher courts of Virginia and Ohio, instead of wasting his time in obscurity, at his philosophical pursuits on the island.

His library contained an ample supply of law books. A list of thirty volumes,

« AnteriorContinuar »