The Ross Memoirs: I

SIR JOHN ROSS (1853-1935), THE LAST LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, WROTE RANDOM REMINISCENCES IN 1924, IN A BOOK ENTITLED THE YEARS OF MY PILGRIMAGE

THE AMERICAN ENCOUNTER

ON one occasion, we met an American gentleman, who had formerly been a Foreign Secretary to the United States Government.

In those days, Americans were much more aggressive than they are now; he deprecated all our institutions and exalted those of his own country.

I enjoyed myself very much in contradicting and arguing with him.

After dinner one evening he said: "Are you connected with the miscreant General Ross-of-Bladensburg, who burnt down our capital, Washington, in 1814?"

Out of mischief, I resolved to borrow the rights of my friend, Sir John Ross-of-Bladensburg KCB, for the occasion.

Admitting that I was, I added:

"If you go on as you are doing, we are determined to go over and do it again."