Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-04-20


him." An enemy to none, to all a
friend; he could rejoice with those who
did rejoice, and weep with those who
wept. As husband, he was tender,
affectioaate and kind, as father his
posterity, to the fourth generation, can
declare that 10 one better understood,
or more faithfully practi,ed the rela-
tive duties of parent and child. As a
Citizen he was honest aud upright in
all his department to his fellow meu.-
In his death an aged widow and nu-
merous offspring have been deprived Of
him to whom they will never find an
equal. r.
COMMUNICATED
DIED-At his country seat, on
Monday last, John Holcer, Esqr, long
resident of this comfy.
Mr.. Holker, was born in England, in
1T+5. His father was the proprietor
of au extensive Manufacturing estab-
iishment. He joined himself to the
exiled Charles in his attempt to place
himself and family upOa the British
throne, and his fortunes fell with
those oil the Pretender. He was
compelled to seek ali asylumin France,
whittier his family, with His son John,
then an infant, soon followed. His
father bestowed on him an excellent
education, aud he remained in France
until the United States raised their arms
against the government OF England,
when he urdently espoused the cause
Of this infant Republic. Before The
King of Franco avowed any DISPOSE
tiou 10 aid us in our revolutionary
struggle, Mr.. HOiker entered into a
private contract with DIR. Franklin,
who was ar Paris, to supply the Uni.
ted States with large quantity Of
clothing and arms. Having procured
the articles he had contracted 10 fur
nish, he embarked for the United
States in 1879, and arrived at Ports
mouth, in New Hamshire thence he
proceeded TO Philadelphia, where he
remsined during the war, affording
every aid which his ample funds, and
his station as Consul . eneral ofFrance,
10 which he had been appointed by
Lewis XVI enabled him TO do. Those
who are acquainted with the history
of the revolution we'll remember the
successful exploits of the armed ship
Holker, which was fitted out by him.
After the achievement of our indie
pendence, being disposed to lead more
retired life, he explored the country
as far "a Georgia, and at length pur.
chased very handsome farm in this
county, on the river Shenandoah,
where he had resided for the thirty
years previous to his death.
Few men have passed through more
OF the vieissitudes Of human life than
the subject of this obituary. Few
have seen more of human mature or
profited more by their experience.
His death claims the sympathy of
every friend to this country, for he
was her benefactor when she was in
distress, and with the generous chIvaI-
ry of La Fayette he embarked his pri-
vate fortunes in her cause, besides Civ
ing that tone to the public feeling of
his own country which the important
station he held enabled him TO command.
As private individual his manners
were those Of perfect courtesy, and his
mind, in addition TO the vast quantity of
information derived from his personal
experience, was deeply imbued with all
those natural sciences which were cul-
tivated with such peculiar success ut
Paris about tho time of his residence
there. But there was something in the
closing scenes of Mr.. Holker's, life
interesting and edi6ins-LouS before
be was visited by any direct attacks of
disease, and whilst bis health was IN
common for his years, he became ex-
cee6ingiy contemplatiye and seriGnS'
1t was the seriousness of a man who
had seen life in all its forms and felt
the vanity pf al! its pursuiis-It was
the seriousness natural 10 age, when il
locks around for tho5e with whom it
has been associated IN The active pur-
suits or the Idle pleasures of life. and
can find them only in the.siIent scenes
ut the graveyard. This sensible
change in bis appearance struck all
who were acquainted with him; his re-
'igiOn was that of Bossuet & FeneIO1,
and until his intellect was deranged
by The violence of disease, he practised
iMPrecepts with the strictest eare:-but
he is gone,-and this sketch iswritten
because ii is believed he has rendered
essential services to this country, and
this country owes it to his memo
rythat those services should be known,