Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-05-05

which uuuS uot iittie " tue beauty Oh
the landscape.-H Humphreys Tour.
From the Tere. Hau,o (ia.) Courier.
DEATH OF Cor. VIGo. lit is with
the deepest regret that we announce
the death of the venerable and patriotic
FRANCIS Vrco, who departed this life
at his late residence in Knox county,
on the 22d of March. Few men have
done more for their county than Col.
Vigo, and none, perhaps, have met with
poorer recompense for his many sac
rifces to the public cause. A native of
Sardinia, he early emigrated to Ameri.
Gu, and by his industry and public spi-
rit, amassed princely fortune, every
dollar of which, long since, has either
gone to support the starving and per-
ishing army Of Gen. George Rogers
Clarke, in the conquest Of our present
soil, or been expended in the exhibition
of those Inequalities for which the old
man was so long proverbial. Though
born the subject Of a king, Francis Vi
go was by nature republican, and
through long life of checkered pros
peri,y and adversely, maintained that
character to the last moments of his
existence. The early settlers of this
country knew him well, and though the
writer of these lines had bu. slight
knowledge of him personally, his his
tory-his patriotism--his sacrifices
and his misfortunes, are deeply engra-
ven on his mind. His purse, in early
life, was cast at the feet of his adopted
country-his credit was her's-his SER
vices-and even his life was thrown
into the scale Of American liberty and
independence. When the army was
without dollar, Col. Vigo was its
banker-when it was without credit,
he was its endorser-when it had no
friend he was its guide through the
wilderness, and in its defeats and its
triumphs, the daring Sandman was al.
ways at his post. The public archives
of Virginia bear testimony to his de.
votion to the cause of our common
country, and that ancient common
wealth has already acknowledged the
justice of Col. Vigo's claim to pecuni-
airy remuneration. Though living in
comparative indulgence for many years
almost depending on the hand ofcha.
rity for sustenance-it has been found
that the government was his debtor to
the amount of thirty odd thousand dol
lars, for money advanced and necessa-
ries furnished the Virginia troops du-
ring the early wars Of the west. Too
patriotic to urge his claims, or too
proud to beg at the door of Congress
for his rights, the venerable man has
been dragging out life of poverty and
want, while hundreds of miscreants
have fattened on the spoils of the trea.
sury, and rioted on the plumber of the
public service. The plentiful and pro-
fuse board had long since given way to
the scanty repast, and the silence of
the halls where he once entertained his
friends, was only broken by the solitary
step of some kind citizen who bent his
way to the earthly house. of the af-
flicted but unyielding patriot. The
man who once Observation-Disclosures
private munificence and public spirit
made glad the heart Of the suffering
soldier--closed his eventful but virtu-
Gus life without vestige of the wealth
he had so freely dispensed to others.
An enterprising citizen of Knox coun-
ty, lately undertook to prosecute his
claim on the government, and much to
the qualification Of Col. v. numerous
friends, had succeeded in getting his
claims acknowledged. When the old
man heard that his claim was allowed,
that his country was just-and that
the remainder ofhis days wouldbe rem.
dered comparatively comfortable, he
calmly replied always knew my
country was just--that she would in
demnify her citizens for every sacri-
fice made in her behalf--but in this
case, it comes too late. 1t is like fur
nishing guest with mustard after din
ner !" So, indeed, it was. The frosts
of more than ninety winters had sha.
ken the iron constitution of the decea.
sed patriot, and after a short Struggle,
the good old man went to the "house
appointed for all the living" with the
+Col. vigo volunteered as a guide to the ar
| my Of Gen. George Rogers Clarke, from Kas.
kaskia 20 vincennss.sad was ct the capture Of
the last named place.