The New York herald., 1850-04-25
Thon,. the seaipsor. ~


| We notice with regret the death Of James Thom,
the sculptor, who expired az his lodgings in New
York on "Wednesday Of this week. Mr.. Thom
came TO this country nom Scotland some twelve or
fourteen years ago, in pursuit of person who had
been previously sent by the proprletors to ex
hbit his Tam O'Shanier and Old Mortality but
xho, we believe, made no returns or report OF his
proceedngs. Arriving in New York, he traced
| him. the dcnquent-a fellow -Scotchman, OF some
shrcw,lness and addrcss-to this city, and here re-
covered, IL we rightly remember, portion Of the
money for which Il appeared these admirable works
Aad been sold. and transmitted II 10 the proprietors
rbo had been hs bcncfactors, concluding 10 remain
here himself pursue his profession In exploring
he country in this vicinity for stone adapted 10 his
purposes, he brought into notice the isc frees,one
rnarry Al Little Falls, which has since become so
hmoiIs. having furnished the stone for the Court
House in tins city, Trinity Church in New York. 4.
and many other public buildings in various parts OF
. the country.
ready named executed an imposing statue of Burns
and filed yarious orders for ornamental pieces for
pleasure grounds. The copy Of the Old Mortality
|eroup--incudng the pious odd Presbyterian and his
rcny with the familiar presence OF the immortal
genius which made them the property Of the uni
yersal mind-was sold, fair price, 20 the propri-
siors Of Laurel Hill Cemetery, near Philadelphia,
and II the appropriate frOntsrcce oi that spa
eious city of the dead. Tam OShanier and SOD
Ter Johnny keep "waich and ward" al the en-
trance of The hospiabc mansion of our friend Ros-
well l.. Colt, Esq, az Paterson. II " upon these
kncomparaNle works That the lame Oi tnc 1YrSnlre
Yfcupior must chiefly rest They are, beyond
doubt. the best illustrations Of his peculiar genusi
and 80 we believe he himself considered them !;
thouuh, Ike most other men Of his class. he was
always anticipating the time and opportunity when
he would snrpass them. That more convenient
reason never came.
The Tam O'Shantcr first raised him into notice,
from the condition Of obscure stonc-cutter, with
ont anteccdcnis, education, the slightest know
l.dcc Of the schools "-concated the admiration
of his own counirymcn, and secured for him fame
srd ennloytneni in the world Of London. In
,Lst METROPOLIS he received numerous orders for
Insts which were. we believe. crcdifably executed
m the favortc Scotch grey stone, with which he had
been familiar. M. e-,..
II csncvinf tbat hc could excel in that depart
,,cn, ~ ar gave considerable attention 10 IL, but
are not aware that he produced anything re-
,,,s,L sble beyond a few designs that were never
.Ssru,cd When IL was concluded 10 build Trinity
,Inrcb with the Little Falls stone. Thorn made an
yeous contract 10 do the stone cut ting and
c,,,rd much Of the fine carving for that costly
4 .1eb,,ecfural hundcr. Owing 10 some msundcr-
''ai;sg with the architect, or the committee. he
70 ,hs work. however, before IL was completed,
II L.xino realzcd considerable profits, purchased
I'm near Ranapo. in Rockland county, on the
ins M thc Eric Railroad, and grniiicd his tancy
H. r.,tnr M y house after one ot his own conccp-
80 since that time we have had no kno~iedge
~ Lis pnrsniis. but believe that he abandoned
800 sson in which with due cultivation he might
have .,tained the highest rsilk.--lNsusFk <ddr.