Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-12-01
DEATH or JOHN THOMPSON BROWN.

DfED.--OUo uIlOdy the @UtH lHStdIil,
:. at the residence Of his father, in Bed
ford county, after a protracted illness
of four months, which he bore with the
fortitude of Philosopher, and the res
ignation Of q Christian, JOHN IHoMp-
son BRowN, Esq, Of Petersburg, va,
in the Both year Of his age.
The untimely death OF Mr.. brown,
in the meridian OF manhood will dlifuse
regret throughout the Commonwealth.
His age regarded, he was undoubtedly
the first man ir Virginia and his age
disreqarded, we believe she possessed
I no son more literally gifted by nature
with great and varied abilities and
not one who ON the subject Of Politics
and Government had combined an G.
quail degree Of research and reflection.
He was a great orator in despite Of the
want Of an imposing person, an enga-
| ging manner, and a musical voice.
His sentences dropped from him ready
for the press, (whether prepared by
particular or general study, no man
knew and if the weight, rhetorical
beauty, and the absence of all imperti-
hence, be considered as the standard
Of excellence I; no orator of ancient or
modern times was hlssuperior. Great as
was the expectation of his audience af-
ter his fame was established, it was me-
yer disappointed, nor was it gratifled
by mere flash, and defamation, quail
ties which attract the applause of the
multitude, and which the most superb
cial are apt to excel in, but always by
argument and instruction. In the mere
ornaments of oratory, while none was
more capable of success, for We have
knowledge ofno contemporary so skill
led in Cicero and Quintillian, he dis
dained to attempt success. While ev-
cry age and every degree of informa-
ton were spell-bound by his peculiar
eloquence, none were so deeply impress.
sed by it as the grave and the learned.
We have seen Chapman Johnson pas.
sionately advance from his seat in the
House ofDelegates and tender his hand
and congratulations to the youthful or
ator at the close of a most powerful
and brilliant display /; a compliment,
than which Cicero only could boast a
finer.
John T. Brown was endowed with a
capacity equal to discharge with abili-
ty, the most elevated functions of Civil
Government. So far as mind was con-
cerned, he could scarcely have a supe-
rior. His natural capacity was en-.
lightened by a good education, and his
own tastes had conducted him to the
study Of man and government as sat
forth in history-the study the most
important and the most neglected in
our country. In his early manhood,
after his return from Princeton, he was
dissipated, and near being cast away
on the sunken rocks of dissipation f;
but he made a vigorous effort at self
reform, and gloriously succeeded. He
went to the county Of Harrison, remote
from his native county (Bedford) and
in u brief space acquired her conf
dence, and was returned to the Legis-
lature. His splendid career there is
sufficiently known.
He was no relation to the famous
John Thompson, (Curtius) who died at
Petersburg about thirty years ago
in the flower of his youth and prime.
Mr.. Browns nativity was remote
from Petersburg, and his settlement
in that Thermopyl@ of Virginia,
was accidental and connubial. 1t is
however, remarkable, and increases
tho number of those strange coinciden-
ces which mark the page Of history,
that two of the most celebrated orators
and statesmen to whom Virginia has
given birth, resided in the same town,
had the same name, though not related,
and died in the spring time of life and
renown. The distinction Of having
been the residence and patron Of John
Thompson, and John Thompson Brown
adds a peculiar lusture and verdure to
to the laurel which adorns the patriot
brow ofthe town ofPetersburg. Rich
mond Wing.