[1]Somewhere about the year 1842, the writer of the foregoing address
was narrating the substance of it at the White Sulphur Springs of
Virginia. Among his hearers was Mr. Samuel Davis, of Philadelphia,
but formerly of Natchez, Mississippi, who supplemented the story
with the following anecdote. He was standing on the wharf at
Natchez, one of a crowd, watching the approach of the New Orleans on
her first voyage. There was a rise in the river at the time; and
when the steamboat rounded to, to head up stream, she was some short
distance below the landing,—and, for a while, the current was more
than she could overcome. At Mr. Davis’ side, was an old negro
servant, who watched the struggle with much excitement, slapping his
thighs and gesticulating in a most outlandish way. When at last,
after a more rapid revolution of the wheels started the boat ahead,
the negro threw up his hat, exclaiming, “By golly, Sa, old
Massesseppa got her massa; hooraw.” Mr. Davis sent a quantity of his
cotton by the boat to New Orleans, against the advice of all his
friends. He was the first person who ventured a bale on such a risk!
[2]The reference here is to a letter of the Chancellor (numbered 25 in
the collection I have,) in which, being then in a dissatisfied and
complaining mood, he says: “I again repeat, Sir, that I trust in a
few days to hear that experiments have been made and to be minutely
acquainted with the result, that I may take my measures accordingly.
In doing of which should wish to receive your advice. From a frank
and candid communication much more advantage will result to all
parties than from reserve, silence and distrust.
I am, dear Sir, your most obt. hum. servt.
R. R. LIVINGSTON.
_See letter of Aug. 31, 1798._
[3]The plan here referred to is not among the papers. L.
[4]The Chancellor had evidently forgotten the concluding paragraph of
his letter of August 31, 1798.