Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-04-22
GENERAL HARRISON'S LAST LETT.
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Tho following touching inciden, is related
In the n. Y. Commercial Advertiser of Mon.
day afternoon. Improves more clearly than
volume OF studied eulogy could have done,
the genuine kind-heartedness of tho lat.
President:
On Saturday, "a hardy, weather beaten, bu.
very respectable looking seaman, presented
himselfto the Collector, at tho Custom House.
and inquiring for Mr.. Curtis, said, "Generai
harrison told me to give this letter into Your
own hand. lie told me to give his kind res
poets to Mr.. Curtis, and said Mr.. Curtis was
his friend, and would be my friend. MIR.
Curtis opened the letter, and found il to be.
from Its date, one of the last, if not the cerv
last letter, written by Gen. Harrison. Itbsars
date OF the day when his illness commenced.
Inc reader VIII see, from perusal Of it, that
amidst all the cares and troubles of his high
position, he was true to the humblest of HE
Old friends. Tucker says tho General made
him come to the dinner table with the great
folks, and when he hesitated and intimated
that he had better 60 beIoW for his dinner, tho
General said, fucker, you and Thave been
shipmates, and a long time together. You arc
an honest man; come and eat Your dinner
with me, and come here again Tomorrow NOR
ming and get your breakfast with NO."
Tucker says the General invited him to
stay in Washington, and told him he would
take care of him, but his wife and children
being in n. York, Tucker preferred to return.
He says Gen. III. followed him into the
grounds on the East side ofthe White House,
and then walked with him arm-in-arm-that
the General had no hat on, and when Tucker
adverted to his liability to take cold, he wa
we'd the remark by saying he was already I'M
tl,o 1ott4 Al
General, Tucker says he followed him to ths
door and shook him by the hand, saying, ego
to my friend Mr.. Curtis, and after you have
been to him don't forget to write to me that
you and your wife and children arc happy a.
gain"
Tucker says he had no money to come
home by land, but he did not let the Genera!
know that, for he knew he would give it to
him In minute, and he did not wish to take
money from the good old man who had been
SO kind to him. And so Tucker went on
board the schooner l.. l.. Sturgis, at Aexan-
dria, and worked his passage home to New
DIRK. When he came to the custom house
he had not been ashore thirty minutes, and
having first heard the sad news of the death
of his kind benefactor as he passed up the Old
Slip dock, the abundant tears that fell down
his hardy cheek testified that his is no I'M
grateful heart.
We are glad to hear that Mr.. Curtis imme-
diately appointed Mr.. Tucker an inspector of
the customs.
WASHINGTON, Goth March, le4,.
"DeaT Sir-'The bearer hereof, MIR. Tho
mas Tucker, veteran seaman, came with
me from Carthagena, as the mate of the brig
Montidia, in the year 1929. In an associa-
ton of several weeks imbibed a high opin-
ion of his characterize much so that Tex
pressing desire TO leave the sea.) invited
him to come to North Bend and spend the
remainder Of his days with me. Subsequent
misfortunes prevented his doing so, as he was
DESTROYS bring some money with him to
commence farming operations. His bad for
tune still continues, having been several
times shipwrecked within few years. He
says that himself and family are now in such
situation that the bumblest employment
would be acceptable to him, and | write this
to recommend him to your favorable notice. l
am persuaded that no one possesses, in a
higher degree, the virtues Of fidelity, homes
~ and indefatigable industry and, might
add, Of indomitable bragery, if that was a
quality necessary for the kind of employ
ment he seeks.
"Yours very truly,
"W. III. HARRISON.
EDWARD CURTIS, Esq.
tsCOllector Nc New VoxL