Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-09
THE LATE JOHN MoDoNoGH.

THE LATE JOHN McDoNoGH.
The New Orleans Della furnishes the annexed
notice of the life and character of the late JOIN
McDoNoGH, of whom and his immense bequests
we gave some account few days ago:
DEArH OF McDosoGH. H.--This gentleman the wealthies
citizen in the South and perhaps the United States died
yesterday his residence in McDonoghvlle, opposite the
city. Mr. McDonogh had reached the sge of seventytwo.
Though his great vgor Of mind and energy Of spirit enabled
him to triumph for while physical debility, and to pur-
within few hours of his death the Industrious and busy
habits which he had pracised for fifty years. his health had
been declining for months, ard the termination Of bis
earthly daily looked for by himself well by
his friends. Two days ago him in our Streets en-
gagged in negotiation and discussion with brother
millionaire respecting settlement which he desired to
be called hence, and overheard him
say, in words which fell upon with force and en-
phass "My days are numbered, and my affairs must all be
settled this side the grave" The constitution of Mr. Nc
Donogh severely taxed by his habits Of Close concen
trated and wearing labor few months ago he told that
be devoted eighteen hours per day 10 labor and regretted that
he could spare few minutes TO read the newspapers
His labor consisted in keeping the accounts Deeds papers,
and vouchers Of the most extensive and landed properly
by single individual in the world His only assistants in
these duties negro slaves whom be had educated
and trained to his habits of method and industry No
white person lived in the ancient and dpdated chateau in
which he resided No person visited him, save on bu-
sness for charity His rigid, severe, and
epeng Every thing about his establishment partook the
spirit Of the master; all bleak cold, dreary and forbid
ding The dogs did not bark in his yard they cast at the
passerby peous hungry look, they sought kind
ly sympathy notice comfort their lean the
cocks did not cheely elsewhere but drawled out
their notes in funerea and hollow sain if from empty
somachs; the merry songsers flew around without lighting
upon the dark old trees, hung with melancholy which
nearly concealed from view his crumbng edce There was
no sunshine fell upon that spot upon the heart Of s
possessor.
Such the abode of who worshpped Mammon with
unceasng and all absorbing passion whose soul and mind
were entirely monopolzed by tho spirit OF gain, excluding
every tender emotion, every ennobing feeling every hu
manizing sympathy And yet there many familiar with
the character and history of John McDonogh who declare that
the life he led and his love of acquisition did not pro-
ceed from avarce from the spirit Of msery acquisition,
but that he had great phanhopc purpose yew to
which he had appropriated his life and fortune end in the
pursuit OF which he had hardened his all the affections
Of humanity This may be It would throw some light
upon picture otherwise dark and desoae. He fIe-
4ueny heard to declare that he lived only for the Lord
carry out great design Of his Maker. When asked if
ne would sell property, bis invarable reply was 81 own
none what have acquired belongs to the Lord arm bis
agent without the power of selling He had long employed
his mind which remarkably and sagacous one,
devsng modes by which his immense property might be
kept together after his death for term Of years. that bis
calculations OF its eventual value might be realized He had
great passion for buying waste and swamp lands, and es
mating with athmecal precision the yearly in the
value of those lands great admrer of the system Of popu
lar educaton friend to learning and colleges he projected
also some grand scheme Of education, to be maintained out
the yearly increase in the value of his and which
not to be sold for certain time, but only their product ap
Piled to that purpose He endeavoed get act Of the
Legislature passed tying up his property in this but
was not deemed practicable under our jurisprudence.
lie was also warm friend to the colonization enterprise.
lie established colony in Africa which he many of
us negroes, after giving them education trade It
lis custom to allow bis slaves certain time work for
themselves He kept accounts with each Of them that
when the value of the work Of the slave equaed his cost
le would give him his liberty and send him Africa He
hard, exactng man. In the prosecution Of his rights
y IN any relations Of business he knew pity no beraty
10 kindness. What 'snominated in the bond" he
would extor at every sacrifice Involved in nnumerabe law
us ne prosecuted his rights and interests with enaciy
igor and perseverance which stopped at obstacles, and
never moderated or soened by any Of the consdera
ions that ordinarily operate upon mankind And yet outside
bis business and legal relations he not nsensbe to
hartable appeals when properly approached he would
ometimes give cannot say literally considering bis MEANS
ut quite considering bis view Of his relation 10 the Al
mighty. He self willed and opnionaed and would
nly give in his fashion, and such undertakings
eased his peculiar IDEAS To his relations, who were quite
poor, he preserved and studied coldness-ony
evng their poverty by the most meager contributions. Of
Enterprise, the spirit Of public improvement and progress he
vas as destitute The old panks of his house Of
)wning immense property in the city, be left the greater part
i it entirely unimproved, until his possessions became
reat nuisance to the corporation When induced to build,
would only erect the toughest and most unseemy build
ngs usually put up by his slaves who brought the bricks
With which they made the river Many of these
udngs eyesores in city, tenantess and danger
from their dapdated condition. So too of his immense
ropey in the country. But small portion Of it in
uivalon He usually bought tracts of land by leagues
nd miles, instead Of He said TO fifty miles
ontng the Mississippi, in Louisiana Four-ffhs Of the
wamp land in the State belonged to him. He had, too, inn
nense possessions in Florida Mississippi and Texas. The
Of his properly would equal that Of of the small
es Of the Unon and exceed that of several Of the King
oms Principaties Of Europe. The preservation and
administration Of this immense property must have required
vast deal Of labor aud great administrative talents These
dr. McDonogh possessed. He was well educated, wrote
ery we'll understood the law, and quite familiar with
be history OF the country. native Of Baltimore, he re-
moved to this city in sO0 engaged in mercantile pursuits
successful and then embarked in the purchase Of wild
ands and vacant property which he followed the balance
lis fe He left the vicinity of the State, went
North but remained Of the standbys and originals of
y till few hours before his DEATH The singularity Of his
appearance in his old fashioned blue coat sapess pan
age white neckercbe with green umbrella under bis ARM
made him one of the peculiar features Of city.
But our notice has reached to an unreasonable length
We must close by expressing the hope that the will Of
Mr. McDonogb, which understand is 10 be opened on
Monday will realize the expectations Of his philanthropc
purposes long entertained by those familiar with his
Intentions He certainly had glorious opportunity Of link
his name with immortality through the establishment Of
great institution of charity education, science, and
trust that he has in this oberated from the memo
ties Of the people the recollection of the many hard and