The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-09
Letter from Father Matthew.

The New York Tribune says that the
following letter from the city's distinguished
guest was on the evening of the 9th trans
mitted to the Common Council by His Hon
or the Mayor. 1t will be read with interest:
To HIS Honor the Mayor of N. York:
My DEAR SIR: Before entering on the
discharge Of the important duties imme-
diately connected with my Temperance Mis-
sion, permit me to return to you, Sir--to the
Municipal authorities, and to the citizens of
New York, my most grateful and heartfelt
thanks, for the generosity and kind feelings
displayed towards me, and which would
have oppressed me by its intensity, were
not conscious that it was paid to that great
and sacred cause, of which | am esteemed
the personification. The courtesy and po-
lite attention of Alexander Haws and the
honored members of the Committee, and
the many disinterested proofs of sympathy,
kindness and affection which have rceeiv-
ed from the citizens, have made an impress
sion that will never be effaced.
From the moment caught the first view
OF American land, every moment has AVA
kened new pleasure and delight. have
gaZed with rapture on the bold outline of
Your coast, and have adm ired the beautiful
scenery of your noble Bay, unrivalled for
It's maritime capabilities, and designed by
Nature as the great entrepot Of Trade and
of Commerce of the Western World.
have seen your majestic River dotted
with richly freighted vessels bearing the
teeming produce of your luxuriant soil to
far distant Nations; and oh, sir could not
look on those winged messengers of Peace
and Plenty, without assOciating with them
the magnanimous bounty Of brave People
to an afflicted Nation.
have visited your busy warehouses, your
thronged streets and busting thoroughfares.
and have been forcibly struck with these
external evidences of mercantile greatness
and prosperity which shadow forth the high
comercia! destiny that yet awaits your al
ready glorious Republic | have seen in
the comfort and abundance enjoyed by all
in the total absence Of squalid Poverty,
and in the liberal remuneration which awaits
honest Toll, proofs of prosperity which
contrast strikingly with scenes that have
often narrowed my soul in that poor Old
Country which trodden down and oppressed
as she is, is still the land Of my birth and
of my affections. | have visited your Cod
like Institutions, upheld with munifcence
worthy Of your mighty Republic, in which
Of the Redeemer, making the s'Blnd to see,
the Dumb TO speak" have infinitely in
spected their internal arrangements, and
witnessed with intense satisfaction the phi
lanthropic system and the absence of all re-
ligious exclusion. on which those Asyluins,
sacred to Humanity, are based and conduct
ed. have also inspected in admiration the
stupeudous structures at High Bridge; the
Reservoirs. sufficiently capacious to supply
an abundance OF the purest water 10 your
multItudiDous citizens; magnificent works,
far, far surprising the boastel acqueducts
of Ancient Rome. Nor in my intercourse
with your people, could | overlook that
manly independence of character the deco
rum and self-respect so worthy Of freemeH,
which cbaracterizes American citizens, and
which may be observed as we'll in the joy
Gus celebration of their National fetes as in
their commingling with each other ia the
active duties of social life.
Oh Sir, what powerful influence must
the example Of such People necessarily
exercise on the destinies Of Mankind! AZ
ter!years Of toll aud anxiety, am cheered
and consoIed 10 find my humble efforts wor-
thy of such approval, and ] feel inspired
with new energy TO commence, with the
Divine assistance, my exertlons in the State
under such glorious auspices.
Joining in the aspirations &C your most
distinguished President, | feryently pray
that He who holds in His hands the desti-
MES of nations may make yours worthy Of
the favors He has bestowed, and with pure
hearts, pure hands aud sleepiess vigilance,
that you may guard and defend to the end Of
Time, the great charge He has committed
to your keeping.
With the warmes, gratitude for the kind
ness conferred, in imparting to me the nos
pitaiities of yodr city, and treating NE as
It's honored guest, AIN, Mr.. Mayor.
With sentiments Of profound respect,
Your devoted and grateful friend,
THEOBALD MATTHEW.
New York. 18th July, 1919.
LAUGHIsG--Away with all the systems