Anecdotes of public men; by John W. Forney.

ADVENTURE IN MEXICO. 291;ers in that city. Among these commissioners were Ambrose
H. Sevier, of Arkansas, and Nathan Clifford, of Maine [at present a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States]. We
had whipped the Mexicans, taken their fortresses, subdued their
country. That magnificent empire lay at our feet. We ought
to have gobbled it then, as we shall have to absorb it hereafter.
The war was over, but the entire country was swept by predatory parties, and no American was safe within a few miles of the
city of Mexico. The route from the capital to Queretaro, distant some sixty or eighty miles, was beset by guerrillas, and the
commissioners, with their attendants, occupying several handsome coaches, drawn by fine horses, could not proceed on their
errand without due military escort. Captain Andy Porter was,
as I have said, in command, and I was selected as surgeon, no
doubt because I liked him and he liked me. Before starting,
a very fine-looking filly was set apart for me; for you must recollect, gentlemen, that we laid under contribution the best animals the vicinage could afford. I am fond of a good horse, and
you can imagine my displeasure when I saw the animal that
had been assigned me was considered too light by the owner,
who came to me, saying:'Dr. Reyburn, you have a long journey before you, and would not like to find your horse lame. I
have, therefore, brought with me a handsome roadster, capable
of carrying you comfortably. As I am the owner of both, and
as you would be certain to destroy the filly by your heavy
weight, without helping yourself, why not take the easy and safe
roadster, and therefore subserve your own comfort and my interests?' Captivated by the candor of my friend, and not knowing that his only object was selfish, and, above all, not knowing
that the roadster, as he called it, had been an old campaigner,
I gladly mounted him, and the cortege proceeded on its way,
headed by Captain Porter. It was a beautiful day, and our
course ran through a picturesque country. The commissioners
were happy, the command in good order, the surgeon (that is