Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/517

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THE AMERICAN COLONY.
511

and Mrs. J. W. Foster left the kindliest remembrances behind them, and I often heard them mentioned in the highest terms, especially Mrs. Foster, who seemed to have thoroughly studied and appreciated Mexican character. At the time that I was at the capital, she, too was on a visit there, accompanied by two brilliant Washington belles. On her arrival, according to the custom of the country, she at once took a carriage and called on all her Mexican friends.

Ex-Minister Morgan and family also left similar pleasant impressions, and Consul-General Strother ("Porte Crayon ") seemed to have endeared himself to both natives and Americans. Consul-General Porch, too, became very popular during his brief stay.

Our people may congratulate themselves on the peculiarly fortunate manner in which they have been represented in our neighboring republic.

There are two American dentists, two physicians, and about twenty-five merchants, besides mechanical agents of various kinds, and cotton brokers.

Father Gribbin is the only American priest, and no countryman of his fails to receive from him the kindliest attentions.

Among the best appointments made by President Cleveland was that of General Henry R. Jackson as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Republic of Mexico.

A Bayard "without fear and without reproach," in him are combined the high chivalrous character, noble intellect, and generous heart that have commended him to the esteem and veneration of his own countrymen, and the highest consideration of all.

Diplomatic service was his by heredity, his father having been Minister to France for a number of years, while the General himself was sent to Vienna as Charge d' Affaires in 1853, and was promoted to Minister Resident in the summer of 1854, but resigned in the summer of 1858, having spent five years in Austria.

He is widely known as a man of letters, a poet, and an eloquent orator.

General Jackson occupied the elegant house of President Diaz, and