Alexandria Gazette

Manners and Speech-making:
Some of the Opposition journals find it rare sport to criticise General Taylor's speeches and ridicule his manners. They say that he is awkward before strangers, and does not make a favorable impression. On this point there may well be a difference of opinion. Surely enough, he has not the manners of a dancing master, but it has been well said that he gave a reception to twenty thousand strangers at Buena Vista in a style that few dancing-masters could have equalled.
As to his speech-making, the people knew very well what kind of speeches General Taylor would make before they elected him President. Heaven has bestowed divers gifts on divers persons. It was not necessary for General Taylor to make long speeches, in order to gain the popular confidence: and that confidence will not be withdrawn because he fails to make long speeches.
When the chivalrous Hull broke the spell of England's supremacy on the ocean, by the capture of the Guerriere, on his return to port he was complimented by the citizens of Boston with a public dinner. The cloth being removed, after a few preliminary toasts came that to the honor of the captain: "Our gallant guest who has secured for himself a name and a praise among his countrymen, and added terror to the courtesy of his country's flag." The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and then all was quiet.
A friend, sitting next to the gallant captain, said, "Sir, we are waiting for your speech." "A speech!" said the chivalrous but modest Hull, "I can't make one-I don't know how." A gentleman on the opposite side of the table exclaimed, audibly, "Sir, you are in for a speech. Don't you see that the president is waiting for your response to the toast?" The noble Tar rose up and said, "Mr. President, the gentlemen round me say that you and the other gentlemen are waiting for me to make a speech. Sir, I never made one in my life. I can't do it, sir. I don't know how, sir. By ---, I'd rather fight the battle over again than try it."
The rafters of Faneuil Hall were a little displaced by the truthful delicacy of the gallant captain: but we never heard that the newspapers of that day thought it a proper subject of ridicule, or that it impaired the well-earned honors of the chivalrous sailor.-Republic.