Anecdotes of public men; by John W. Forney.

HENRY E. MUHLENBERG. 67
lenberg, who was then a prominent candidate for Governor.
As my relations to Mr. Buchanan were close and intimate, and
my preferences rather for Francis 1R. Shunk-the great rival
of Mr. Muhlenberg-it was thought that my visit to the Berks
County statesman would do much to control the delegates from
my native county. I think I preserved a proper neutrality for
so young a man-six years younger than Mr. Muhlenberg's son.
We conversed freely about Europe and about his father's prospects. It will be recollected that James Buchanan was a candidate for President for more than twenty years before he attained that high position. He could not afford, therefore, to
take part between the competitors for State offices, and it was
primarily necessary that the delegates from his own county of
Lancaster to the State convention should be divided between
the two great men who were then contesting for the gubernatorial prize. I was particularly struck with the affable and cordial manners of Mr. Muhlenberg, and with the foreign graces
imported into good old Berks by his brilliant and self-assured
son. We talked very little politics, but as the object was to
make a good impression upon us, Mr. Muhlenberg directed the
servant to open a bottle of Johannisberger (the wine celebrated
for centuries, yet as utterly unknown to me as if it had been
the nectar of the gods), and as he opened the cork he said:
" This is the genuine article," the only wine of the kind that
had ever come to America up to that period, "and was presented to me by the Emperor himself"-of whom it is historical
justice to say that Mr. Muhlenberg, who was a thorough German scholar and a gentleman, was always a confidant and
friend. When the cork was drawn, the aroma of the wine
seemed to fill the room, and the first bottle was soon dispatched,
when General Cameron, with his own peculiar manner, insisted
on another, upon which Mr. Muhlenberg gayly remarked, "You
shall have it, although it costs a great deal of money." The
contest between Muhlenberg and Shunk will be remembered