The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-10

Daniel Clark was native of the province
of Ulster in the North of Irelnnd-and was
ola family in very good circumstances. with
some high preteusions to honorable and en-
inent origin and connections. The family
name necessarily suggests English rather
Than Irish origin: but he claimed descent
(probaby through maternal ancestry from
the ancient Irish kings of Ulster. The Nor
mans, who were planted in that country by
conquest Mt various periods, from the time
of the earlier Plantagenets, sometimes inter
married with the native Irish Nobility, las did
the Fitz- Geralds, the Botelers, and the De
burghs or De Borrowes,) and secured a
stronger hold on their acquisitions of terrific
nv, by giving their children maternal nffini-
ty TO the original lords of the conquered soil,
so that in few generations their descendants
seemed to forget their English origin in de-
voted attachment TO the land of their birth,
and in patriotic pride rs lrishmen. though
not Cells. There are many of Scottish ances
try in Ulster; but the name of Clark, Ia very
common name in England, implying the
possession of superior education by those
who first assumed it as family designation)
is not in the usual form ofthe similar appela-
ton in Scotland, where the proper name is
spelled Clerk, as the common noun is in
England, from which the prevalent orthog-
raphy of Clark has been corrupted,to suit the
vulgar pronunciation.
Daniel Clark was sent in his early youth to
England to receive complete university ed
ucation. He is said to have passed through
his preliminary classical instruction at the
ancient and celebrated school of Eton, near
Windsor Castle, founded by King Henry
Wy and was thence transferred to the Uni
versity at Oxford, where he is supposed TO
have graduated in due course. He always
gave evidence Of the possession ola very
thorough and finished education, in his Ian
guage and tastes.and in the hooks with which
he entertained his leisure. But his acquire
ments were by no means limited to the mar
row though profound course of instruction
| furnished and enforced in an English Unver-
sity. He was a very accomplished scholar in
modern literature-spoke the French, Span
ish and ut least two other modern languages
ofthe European continent, with great ease
and accuracy, and at the same time had a
complete education in mercantile affairs, so
as to be qualified for all the business ola com
mercial life. This unusually varied and
thorough education, not only shows the pos
session of something like wealth in his tami-
Iy, but eyinces also more than ordinary intel
ectua! power and versatility ofgenius,as well
as zeal in the pursuit acknowledges, and i'm
plies than Daniel Clark was no ordinary man.
Soon after s'finishing his education" he
was induced to emigrnte to the City of New
Orleans, in Louisiana, then province un-
der European dominion;1 by the inyitation
of an uncle who had for some years resided
there, and had acquired in commerce prop
erty of 100000. With the expectation and
promise of becoming his uncle's heir, he &C
cordingIy left the country of his birth, and
that of his education, and went 10 Louisiana
where he became a merchant and planter
He soon acquired large property, and indie
pendenily of his expectations. His uncie,dy-
ing few yenrs after, left him all his wealth