The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-07 00:00:00

Death or Nathaniel Hawthorne,

American letters have again experienced a notable
loss. Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, widely known as
the author of several remarkable works of fiction,
died suddenly at Plymouth, N.H., on the 19th May.
He had been in but feeble health for some time past,
and had undertaken a journey in consequence. He
retired as well as usual, and was found dead in bis
bed about three o'clock in the morning by Mr.
Franklin Pierce in whose company he was jour-
neying.

Mr. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Mass., on the
4th of July, 1804. He graduated at *Bowden Col-
lEge in 1825, in the same class with George B.
Cheever and Henry W. Longfellow. Franklin
Pierce, who was in the preceding class, was his in-
timate friend. Upon leaving college, without en-
tering upon the study of either of the learned pro.
fessions, he devoted himself to general literature,
publishing in 1837 his "'Twice-Told Tales," which
at once attracted the attention and admiration of
tasteful and appreciative readers,and finally became,
to a certain extent, a popular book. A second beries
of these tales was published in 1842. Mr„ Haw-
thorne, in 1848, was appointed a weigher and
gauger in the Boston Custom House, from which
place he was, by a change in the Administra-
tion, removed in 1841. Ho then joined the so-
ciety at Brook Farm, where, however, ha re-
mained only for a short time, returning to Bos-
ton, where he resided until his marriage in 1813.
He then retired to Concord, a town which will
always be famous not only in our political but our
literary annals. In 1846 Mr. Hawthorne was ap-
pointed Surveyor of the port of Salem. In 1849,
having quitted office, during his continuance in
which he published " The Scarlet Letter," he re-
moved to Leno=, Mass., where the " House of the
Seven Gables," printed in 1851, was written. His
next novel was the "Blithesdale Romance," printed
in 1862, in which year he returned to Concord.
His life of Franklin Pierce was published during
the canvass which resulted in Mr. Pierce's election;
and the new President signified his gratitude, and
at the same time gratified friendly feelings long
established, by giving Mr. Hawthorne the pines of
United States Consul at Liverpool, said to be the
most lucrative at that time in the President's gift,
This office he resigned in 1857, end, after a period
of Continental travel, returned to the United States,
since which his " Marble Faun," and work on Eng-
lish traits have been published. Besides the books
already enumerated, Mr. Hawthorne was the author
of True Stories from History and Biography"
(1851); " The Wonder Book, for Boys and Girls"
(1851) ; " The Snow image, and other Twice-told
Tales" (1852) ; Tanglewood Tales (1853). He also
edited "Journal of an African Cruiser" (1845).
Mr. Hawthorne's reputation as a remarkable
writer of fiction, and an agreeable essayist, was by
no means confined to the United States. His most
important works have been republished and widely
read in England, and some of them, in the form of
translation, hare been popular in Germany.

Royal Botanic Society's Gardens, Regent's
Park,

A❑ exhibition of American plants, Indian and
American rhododendrons, &c., by Mr. John Waterer,
of the American Nursery, Bagshot, attracted a large
number of visitors yesterday to these charming
gardens. The show of rhododendrons is indeed a
splendid one, the plants being now in very fine
order. Mr. John Waterer is well known as the best
hybridiser of rhododendrons, and the large standards
were particularly fine, the nursery at Bagshot being
celebrated for all kinds of conifers. We observe that
there are greater quantities of new scarlet varieties
of rhododendrons than usual. In so magnificent a
display it is difficult to select for special mention the
specimens demanding Prominent notice. We be-
lieve, nevertheless, that we are correct in our
information in naming the following cases :
In Class 1, among the new and distinct hardy
scarlet and other choice rhododendrons, the Sidney
Herbert—brightest carmine, with dark blotch, fine
shape, large bold flower ; Joseph Whitworth—dark
purplish lake, dark spots, with large blooms and
excellent foliage; Princess Mary of Comb ridge—
nearly white centre, with a band of rosy purple
edging ; Annihilator—a clear, bright rosy scarlet,
with fine foliage; Lady Emily Peel—bright rosy
crimson, with large blotch of black spots; Consos
lator—a very bright scarlet crimson ; Brennus
—rich crimson lake ; Fulgetrum—dark crimson ;
Giorgione—brilliant rosy scarlet ; Meridian—.
dark crimson ; Raphael—reddish crimson. In
Class 2, hardy scarlet, crimson, rose, and
other varieties, we venture to mention specially
Bylsianum, clear white ground colour, with tips of
bloom, &o,; John Waterer—intense glowing car-
mine ; Johnsonianum—brilliant crimson ; Lady
Eleanor Cathcart—bright clear rose, with crimson
spots ; Lady Godiva—fine white, with yellow spots;
and Minnie—blush white, with a very large blotch
of orange spots.
The band of the Ist Life Guards performed during
the afternoon a choice selection of music in their
accustomed style.

The weather was so delightful that the company
seemed rather to prefer the promenade and listen-
ing to the band than the splendid display of rhodo-
dendrons.