New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-02-09

himself 10 the pleasant pursuits Of Literature are
generally Of too quiet character to attract or en-
gross much attention 1, is the startling and pictur
esque in character or action that cap,ivates mostly
the imagination OF the crowd.
But the man Of literary tastes and pursuits has
history Of his own. II is a psychological history
The progress Of the mind from it's chrysas state to
fuller and more perfect development is to the
cultivated and intelligent observer far more inter
esting study than the achievements Of war or the
tortuous diplomacy Of peace-vhich form the staple
of what is usually called History
Unfortunately for the qualification and improve
ment Of mankind sefknovedge is a study Of rare
cultivation Few men are capable Of laying bare
the secret Of their mental organization, or OF record
ing their progressive intellectual development
Still fewer are qualified to perceive in anothers
mind the various phases Of its being Something
it is true can be derived from acute observation
something from external signs-but much must be
left to conjecture and plausible hypothesis The
autobiographies sometimes published by men Of
letters give occasional facts IN ethical philosophy
Goethe and Gibbon in this way have contributed
no little to the history Of the mind-bu much is still
10 be written.
fled from inclination. from happy adaptation of fsc
ultes, habits ofthougbt and various requirements
to give to the annals Of our literature psychology
cal history than GEO p. MARSH, Representative
in Congress from the State of Vermont.
Thus far he has made OF literature rather selfish
qualification than a means Of great and general use
fulness He has stored deep in the recesses of his
mind his various learning, in unproductive mag
misunderstanding it there, Sterne says the
monks Of old were stoned to hoard the relics q
the Saints, without being able TO work single mir
ace with them.
Ii is incumbent upon him to discharge the debt
Lord Bacon says every man owes Society and pub
lish some work which, while it grstied and i'm
proved the public taste might make his own repu.
tation equal to bis sntecedents
His trainings and the efforts he has made TO ar
rest public attention are assurance strong Of his
ability for an achievement of Importance.
Some slight sketch Of his previous life may be
sufficient to indicate the latent powers of his mind,
as well as his great command over the philosophy
of language. 1t may also crafty the curiosity OF
many persons ignorant of the earlier portion OF his
history but DESTROYS tSknow something OF man OF
whom they have heard much.
GEo. P. MARSH was born in sol and was gradu.
ated at Dartmouth College. Hanover, n II. in the
year of 1920. being then nineteen years OF age
Through his whole acsdemical or collegiate career
be devoted himself with passionate assiduity to
the acquisition Of knowledge OF language. lie
made familiar to his apprehension not only the an
cient and unspoken languages Of Greece and Rome
but the more modern and yet more rarely cult
waited languages of Scandinavia, that otfcind gen
tiam. The library that his taste and pecunary re-
sources have induced and enabled him TO purchase
is of most iastdous selection. Ii is composed OF
more than 5000 volumes. Ii embraces the choicest
editions Of the choicest works, comprising some Of
the rarest books in most OF the modern languages
1t il the selection the antiquarian and the scholar
At Dartmouth Mr. MARSH built solid the iounda-
ton of his learning the facilities there offered
were not then great for various acquisitions as
in some more richly endowed Universities, they
were perhaps better improved. Dartmouth is too
distant from the popuous aud noisy world to be
subjected to its meretricious allurements. And II
is the singular pride OF that institution to point to
one of the best scholars and the greatest statesman
Of the age as her alumni. For WEBSTER gradu'
ated there no less-and there his Is holden in
fresh and grateful remembrance. For il was he
who saved its franchises from the rude and semi
barbarous attack Of malignant jealousy, whereby
he repaid and more the price Of its academic hon
ors confirming by the Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States its privileges alike guaranteed by Crown
and People
fiat Elton College, in remembrance of assistance
conferred
Grateful Science s,lll sdores
Her holy Henry's shade
~ L. -. -. .f,l IN ,.,,
portant support in the time of its great tribulston
10 held in still warmer commemoration.
Mr.. MARsHs passion for literature no, suf-
fered to divert his whole attention from graver Pur
suits After the completion of his collegiate course
he devoted himself with honest labor to the study
of the law, and commenced practice at burlington
Vermont in 1925. But the instances are extreme
ly rare where a man Of fsstidious education o.
great deicacy Of thought. and chastened inagins
ton makes what is called figure at the bar The
poe,icsl temperament relucts a. the sladlatorla
and somewhat boisterous contentious OF the forum
and seeks safety in early flight. There are some
exceptions, il is true Tsliourd. for instance, has
preserved through all the aridity and savage laoo
OF the profession. his original freshness and luxu
rant Imagination The Poe, has not been lost in
the Sergeant Bat such cases are unfrequent-
The Law is Jealous mistress and demands the ex
elusive devotion of its proseyte-
Mr.. MARsH continued the practice OF the law iol
twelve years. from 1925 to 1897. His practice per
haps and also bis reputation certainly IS a"ye
extended beyond the confines OF his own state
And though the law was not his early love nor Il
it presumaoe, ever acquired his msturer esteem
be distinguished himself at the bar.
But while practitioner at the bar and ater
ward while engaged in agricultural and manuiac
turing pursuits, he cultivated seduously his pas
sion for literature. Like Csnnings it colored hi
whole life. The moments Of recreation, few aud
brief the English Statesman stole from the cares o
Office, were devoted to books. Both be and PITT
were extravagsnty fond Of the Classics and We
read in the life Of Wilberiorce that these two great
men would be found OF an evening poring over some