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THOMAS HART BENTON.

THOMAS HART BENTON is a ripe scholar, a ready debater, a brave soldier, and the ablest statesman now living in America. He was born in North Carolina, in 1783, and educated at Chapel Hill College, studied law in William and Mary's College. In 1810, entered the U. S. Army, afterwards practised law in Nashville, Tennessee. Soon afterwards, moved to Missouri, where he edited a newspaper. In 1820, was elected to the U. S. Senate, and remained in that body until 1851. In the Senate he at once became distinguished for his surpassing talents. He was one of the chief supporters of the administrations of General Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He is now a member of Congress, having defeated the entire army of demagogues that opposed him— kicking down their platforms, breaking up their caucuses, exposing their wire-pulling, and mocking at their nominations. This apostle of freedom for the south and west, has an iron will, indomitable resolution, and perseverance that " never surrenders."

He is a short stout person, with a magnificent head; grey eyes; Roman nose, and a face beaining with intellect. As a speaker, he is more argumentative than eloquent; more philosophical than poetical. Webster, Calhoun, Clay, Benton,

and Cass were to the U. S. Senate what the five senses are tc the human system. "Old Bullion " is a hero of Herculean strength, who has turned the river of reform through the Augean stable of party politics in the State he represents.

WILLIAM L. MARCY.

WILLIAM L. MARCY was born in Sturbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, December 12, 1786. After graduating with honor at Brown University, he took up his residence in the city of Troy, in the State of New York, where he studied and practised law. He rendered efficient service during most of the war of 1812. In 1816, he was appointed recorder of the city of Troy, but owing to his political relationship with Mr. Van Buren, and his opposition to Gov. Clinton, he was deposed from office two years afterwards. In 1821, he became adjutant-general of the State, and in 1823, he was elected Controller, when he removed to the capital of the Empire State, and became a member of the Albany Regency. In 1829, he was appointed one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court, but resigned that office in 1831, when he was elected to the United States Senate, where he remained two years, during which time he was elected governor of the State of New York. He was twice re-elected to that post of honor. During Mr. Polk's administration he accepted the place of Secretary of War, the arduous duties, of which he

discharged with credit to himself and honor to his country. He is now Secretary of State, and is, far and away, the ablest man in the Cabinet. His State paper on the Koszta affair is one of the most profound arguments ever presented to the American people. It created a wonderful sensation in Europe, but no crowned head could find a man competent to meet his unanswerable logic. President Pierce could not have found another man within the radius of his party so perfectly qualified to be "prime minister" of the United States.

ALFRED BUNN.

I HAVE just returned from the New Music Hall, where I heard a repetition of the reminiscences of a stage manager, from the lips of Mr. Alfred Bunn.

Mr. Bunn is a portly man with a dull face, large round head, bald on the crown and thinly covered with grey hair on the sides. He looks, speaks, and acts like a gentleman John Bull. He must be nearly sixty years of age, but he is erect and elastic, as most men are in the prime of life. He dresses in simple black, wears a huge collar that threatens to saw his ears off, while the points of it play peak-a-boo around his ample chin. A lady at my side declared that his feet were handsome. The gentleman is a bun who has been more than half baked-but those who go to hear him will be done

brown, even though they be dough. Mr. Alfred Bunn has been over estimated by the American press. It is all fol-derol to prate about such a man lecturing on the genius of Shakspeare. He has not the genius to appreciate the writings of the immortal bard.

Twice have I listened atten

best efforts in his happiest

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tively and impartially to his moods, and I am not unkind nor unjust, when I pronounce both efforts utter failures. Not one new sentiment did he offer. There was not a gleam of originality in his lectures. What he did present, has been presented a thousand times before, and a thousand times better. Then his voice is thick and hazy, so that you cannot understand much that he says. While you look at him you seem to be listening to a voice from one of the ante-chambers, and when he quotes Shakspeare, he spoils the passage by the theatrical and forced gestures which accompany his quotations. abounds in puns, quips, quirks, jokes, bon mots, and anecdotes; and if you do not laugh at them, you certainly must laugh to see him laugh at them himself-besides, he has been the manager of the very theatre where Garrick and Sheridan amused an empire, and he has been personally acquainted with Lamb, and Smith, and Matthews, and has had large experience in London Life. I have no doubt he is an agreeable companion, lighting up the social circle with the sunshine of his goodnature. As the manager of a play house, I venture the remark, that he was judicious, liberal, and honorable. Mr. Bunn said that one of the admirers of the genius of Shakspeare, wrote in a legible hand over a

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glass case containing the works of the great Poet, the follow ing notice. To Authors, "Thou shalt not steal." To Critics and Commentators, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." To Actors, "Thou shalt do no murder."

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Since the foregoing was written, this "hot cross bun" has published a volume, in which he has caricatured some and flattered others. A cotemporary speaking of Bunn's sketch of Moses Kimball, says :

"We apprehend that should Mr. Bunn again visit the 'Little Yankee Theatre,' he will be served worse than he was by Macready, at Drury Lane, a few years ago. 'Smith, the box-office feller,' doubtless would assist the 'lusty looking fellow,' Kimball in a boot demonstration.

"Mr. Bunn's book is a mere record of 'hotel-bills,' vainglorious accounts of his lectures, flippant anecdotes, and useless descriptions. What is new in it is not true, and what is true is not new. As we last week hinted, the story of his intercourse with Mr. Kimball, of the Museum, is a fabrication from beginning to end; the best of it is, he puts the genuine cockney dialect into Kimball's mouth."

Here is the sketch :

"Take a seat,' said he; 'I'm d-d if I ain't glad to see yer; heard a deal on yer; read all yer works, and so I'll tell yer how I've got along.'

"When I observed that I had but a few minutes to stay, he replied

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"D-n that; it won't take yer long. I was formerly a

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