Political Reminiscences; Including a Sketch of the Origin and History of the "Statesman Party" of Boston Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835 edition. Excerpt: ...life, I am convinced that I derived my appointment, either through instructions given to Gen. McNeil at Washington, (as some equivalent for broken promises, ) or through the influence of the " Statesman leaders," exerted with the design that I should act as a spy on the General's movements, and keep him in subjection to their authority. They justly supposed, that the General was not the sort of man to serve under such officers, when he had been in the habit of leading in contests rather more perilous than party warfare. Accordingly, he was never admitted into their political consultations, but pointedly excluded; and on every inviting occasion was treated with neglect, and subjected to mortification. At the 4th July dinner of the Washington Society, (in 1830, ) at Concert Hall, the General was left to find a seat at the bottom of the table, while Henshavv, Simpson, Dunlap, Brodhead, Greene, and even some petty Custom House officers, took possession of the "chief seats,"--at thdiead. But these newspaper patriots did not perceive, that the place occupied by a gentleman, who had proved his patriotism by real services to his country, and carried about with him the evidence of it, and of his valour, viz: his wounds, was the actual head of the table. On this occasion, while we waited in the anti-room the announcement of dinner, I noticed a little man, to whom the general attention was directed. His countenance was peculiar. There was a strange attraction about it; if I looked in another direction my eyes involuntarily turned to survey it again. It recalled to recollection faces I had seen in dreams, (when suffering with indigestion, ) which in spite of all my exertions kept close to mine, and were dreadful to look upon. I thought of Asmodeus, in " the...