Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1850-11-14


heard him say, in words which fell upon
our ear with force and emphasis, "My
days ore numbered, and my affairs must
all be settled this side OF the grave. !"
The constitution q. Mr.. McDonouoh had
been severely taxed by bis habits Of close,
concentrated and wearing labor.
A few months ago he told us that he
devoted eighteen hours per day to labor,
and regretted that he could not spare a
few moments to read the newspapers.
His labors consisted in keeping the ac-
counts, deeds, papers and vouchers of the
most extensive landed property owned
by single individual in the world. His
only assistants in these services were
some negro slaves, whom he had edu-
Gated ard trained to his own habits of
industry and method. No white person
lived in the ancient and dilapidated chas
teau in which he resided His manner
was rigid, severe. and repelling. Every
thing about his establishment partoox of
the spirit Of the master-all was bleak,
cold, dreary and forbidding. The dogs
did not bark in his yard-lhey cast at the
pasSer by a pileous hungry look, as if they
sought some kindly sympathy or notice 10
comfort their lean carCaSSeS; the cocks did
not crow cheeriiy, as elsewhere, but drawled
out their notes in a funeral and hollow
strain, as if from empty suomachs the mer-
ry Songsters flew around, without alighting
upon the dark old uees, hung with melan>
choIy moss which nearly concealed from
view his crumhling edifce. There was no
sunshine ever fell upon that spot CT upon
the heart Of the pnssessor.
Such was the abode OF one who worship
Fed mammon with an unceasinS and all
absorbing passion, whose soul and mind
were entirely monopol,zed by The spirit of
gain, excluding every tender emotion - ewes
ry ennobling teeliDg-every humaEizing
sympathy. And yet there are many, fa>
miliar with the character and history of
John McDouoush, who declare that the SCI
we're life he led and his love of acquisition
did not proceed from avarice-from the mere
spirit Of misery acquisilion-but that he
had some great phllanthropic purpose in
view, TO which he had apprupri ated his life
and fortune, and 10 the pursuit of which he
had hardened his soul to all the affections
of humanity. This may be so Ii would
throw some light upon picture otherwise
dark and DIES ilate. He was frequently
heard to declare that he lived only tor the
Lord-to carry out some great design of
his Maker. lie Was hard exacling man.
In the prosecution Of his rights, or in any
relations of business, he knew no pity, no
liberality. no kindness. Wha, was nomi>
naled in the bond, he would exlorl at every
sacrifice. Involved in innumerable law
suits, he prosecuted his rights and interests
with lenac,,y, vigor and perseverance,
which STOPPED at no obstacles, and were
never moderated or softened by any of the
considerations that ordinarily opel ate upon
mankind. And yet outside of his business
| and legal relations, he was not inSenSible
to charitable appeals; when properly ap.
preached, he would sometimes give, we
cannot say literally, considering his means,
but quite so, considering his view of his
relation to the Almighty. He was self wis
led and Opinionalet, aud would only give
in his own fashion. and to such underlak.
ings is pleased his peculiar idea,
| 10 his relations, who were quite poor
he preserved severe and st udied GOODNESS
only relieving their poverty by the most
spirit Of public improvement and progress.
he was as destitute as the old planks of his
house were of sap. Owning immense
property in the city. he left the greater par,
of it entirely unimproved. until his possess
sions become great nuisance TO the corpo>
ration. When induced to build, he would
only erect the toughest and most unseemly
buildings, usually put up by his slaves, who
brought the bricks with which they were
made across the river. Many Of these
buildings are now eyesores in our city, ten
antless and dangerous from their dilapida-
ted condition So too of his immense
property in the county. Bul small por>
ton of it was in cultivation. He US ually
bought tracts OF land by leagues and miles:
instead of acres.
A SOUTHERN CONFERENCE.-The. w.
T Grovson forn,arlv a mann hor Of Con