Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-30
DEATH OF MR. LEGARE.

With deep regret we announce the death of the Hon
HUeH g. LEeARE, Attorney General and acting Sc
cretary Of State Of the u s., which took place at Bos
the 20lh inst after short and severe illness
The painful circumstances will be found in the snh
Joined correspondence from Boston, communicated bv
friend.
Mr.. Legare was, from esrly life, distinguished By bs
intellectual accomplishments and classical attainment,
He was, for some time, we believe Attorney General
of South Carolina; afterwards Charge dAff,ires ~
Brussels during General Jackson's Administrator
then member of Congress; and, upon the resigns.
ton OF Mr. Crittenden, was appointed Attorney Ge
nera-n which capacity Gas took pleasure in saw.
ing at the tine) he distinguished himself BY the ali.
ity OF his opinions, which, notwithstanding much on
position in some cases. sustained by professional
as well as popular appreciation Upon the resignation
OF Mr. Webster, he took charge also c the Department
of Sta.e-for the duties of which high Office he was
peculiarly E:,ed ty his studies tastes and diplomatic
experience.
Mr.. Legare was Of kindly feelings and amabe man.
ners Few politicians have incurred less personal ami
mostly in high party times. He presented an attractive
illustration Of those lofty and graceful studies which
adorn and soften the aspertes of political career.
He had cultivated with
'That sense, the bland philosophy OF fe
Which checks discussion ere it warns TO strife"
With his estimabe and amiable sister-left desolae
by his untimey decease, among strangers in name,
though not in feeling-our whole community symps.
thizes most deeply.-Giobe
DEATH OF MR. LEGARE
The news Of this event, most sudden and unlocked
for, reached here on Saturday. and filled the city with
gloom Groups Of men gathered around the announce.
ment throughout the day, read and walked away SADLY
as ii each one felt sense OF bereavement 1t is in
deed, loss to South Carolna-one of her gifted
is taken from heroine Of her brightest lights is
quenched forever. It's, too, addition TO the causes
Of grief that he had just attained that high POSITION
where all the great qualities and glorious culture of his
,ipd iOhf heir In . fhpir Nvbt
over the gaze of the world. Alas that station has
crumbled under his rs ep-tba proud wing folded
in the grave. How esstlessly up to the thought
those strong words Of Milton
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise,
THAT last infrmity of noble mind,,)
To delights, and live labori0us days:
But the fair guerdon, when We hope to hnd,
And think 10 burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes the blind Fury, with the abhorred shears,
And Sits the thin spun le
MIR. Legare left Washington on last Tuesday week,
in apparently perfect health and excellent spirits
There truly something inspiring to soul like his,
in the thought Of witnessing that mighty gathering Of
The American people TO give the GROWING glory toa
noble memorial of the First Day of the Revolution.
He did witness 1.-THE trinmpha march OF The null
ltude that day 10 his dmly through walls of
a sick chamber. He arrived in Boston on Friday the
day before the celebration and received the visits OF
his friends at the fremont House. At one o'clock on
Saturday morning, he seized with avioent attack
of bilious cholic, complaint 10 which he had been oc-
casonally subject since he went to Washington,
but which had always readily yielded to medical treat
ment Dr.. Thomas, who accompanied the President,
was instantly called in and prescribed for him, ou. with
out effect He gradually grew worse, and on SUNDAY
afternoon was removed from the fremont to the house
OF his friend Mr. Tcknor Additional medical aid was
called in but the disease beyond the reach OF human
remedy His sickness only lasted about 10 hours, and
in The early stage of he suffered greatly, but towards
the close he became entirely free from pam his mnd
was calm and clear TO the last, and so gentle and
~oco r;r,t nd ndv
nor in whose arms he died did not perceive the change,
till the physician touched him and whspered-"he is
dead"
So died HUeH SwlsTos LEoARE. Its of little con-
sequence his memory to enumerate the places ne mas
filed for may be safely said OF him that lever In ms
life til near the close Of it, did he hold place equal
TO his acknowledged ablties-and IT It be indeed True
that Congress affords scope for the greatest MINDS s
the ru de contentious the lowlived strife the everlasting
storm Of personal abuse the triumphant uamPhng oil
blockheadsm over sense, learning, e!oquence and IT,
beral discussion made the House OF Representatives.
the last place in the world for the display ofthe powers
of fastidous scholar like Legare. But though he
had never held an Office that afforded room for The play
of his mind his great talents and consumate learning
were known and appreciated, and his appointment 10
the Cabinet was hailed with lively satisfaction oy The
whole country-t was felt that at last he had gained
his position and that brilliant and noble lame lay oe
fore him. glowing with fair promise for himself and 10,
his country. How much died there, when ne brea'hed
MS n as' irgare was ua.,,= ., unarles,on born we
believe in 1885, He graduated at the South Carroll
College, where he STOOD tongo intcrraio, first IN
his class in all departments pronounced, even
then, by Dr.. Maxcy, himself man of profound
learning and ablesD to be the first mind he had
met. He had even, then, that most extraordinary
power of application, which enabled him to drive away
Sleep night after night: in the Calculating, and master.
ing any subject on which he had his mind. And this
power, and the unsparing he made Of it, through
life was the secret Of that wondrous treasure house Of
learning, that made him, among the living scholars Of
our country, perhaps the very first Mr. Legare COM
pleted his education in Germany, and retained, through
life, the warmest affection for the language and tera.
ture of that lard Of scholars.
His after career is familiar to the minds Of all and
in the fresh remembrance of his varied talents, his
splendid eloquence his profound learning, all Of which
he had done and the still higher achievements that
seemed cluster brightly before him, start back
as the shadow of death drops sharp across the view,
and what seemed triumphO procession, darkens into
funeral tran-death swallows up all else, and we can
only honor him with mourning, whom we had thought
TO no nor with praise and joyous congratuution
Charleston Mercury.