The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-27
A. An..al FOR F.thsr nraths,v.


Am Appsal Tor Father Mathew.
We find in the New York papers an appeal in
behalf Of the Very Rev. THEcsoLD MATHEW, the
great apostle Of temperance, signed by Messrs.
Nj. II. Grinnell, Charles H. Marshall, L. X. Col
Inns, Shepherd Knapp, James Harper, Thomas
O'Conor, John W. Edmonds, Charles M. Leupp,
Robert Emmet, J. /. Coddington, A. C. Kingsland.
Hamilton Fish, James q. King, G. w Lawrence,
Robert Kelly, Simeon Draper, Matthew Morgan
VIM. V. Brady, Terence Donelly, Marshal 5. Bid
well, and Greene c. Bronson, urging his claims
upon the generosity of the public, and strengthen
ing their appeal by letter from the Hon. HENRr
CLAY m the same behalf.
Those who are willing to contribute to the FG-
Their Matheto Fund are invited to send their dona-
tons TO HEsRY GaINSELL, esq, New York, who
will act treasurer; and friends in other parts Of
the Union are requested to adopt prompt mea-
sures to collect funds, which they are, also, in
vited to forward TO the address, to any OF
the above-named gentlemen.
The following is the letter of MIR. CLAY referred to
Letter of Hon Henry Clay to Henry Grinnsll, Esq.
AsHLAND, Wednesday, May rs, 1851.
My DEAR SIR; have enjoyed the high satsfac-
ton Of NEE ting with Father Mathew, and enter
tanning him at my house. On his return to the
city OF New York from the prosecution of his noble
works Of humanity and beneyolence, in the valley
of the Mississippi he did me the honor to call and
/
he has been again stricken with paralysis, which,
although it has not affected the expression of his
bland and benign countenance, nor materially i'm
paired his articulation, dsqualifies him from
making those great exertions, To which he was ac-
customed in earlier life, and in robust health
Nevertheless his labors, with butStSste relaxation
and repose, have been unremittEF and been at
tended with the most encouraging Success Upon
descending tie Mississippi, he administered in one
| of the towns Situated on Its banks the pledge TO
seven hundred persons He assembled it, after
inter az nnth a at tbxoa
town, he had the qualification to find that among
the converts there were but three instances of re-
| lapse.
| have had an opportunity Of obtaining accurate
information from authentic source (not from
himself his extreme delicacy would restrain him
from making such a communication to the
condition of the pecuniary affairs of this good man.
1t has deeply interested me, and excited my warm
est sympathIes. During his long and brilliant
career in Ireland, among the millions of persons,
the victims OF intcnpcrant,e, or In danger of be-
coming addicted to it, TO WHOM he gave the pledge,
he often met IN the poorer CLASSES persons in great
indulgence and want. To some o. these he sup
pied, from his own purse, money t. afford them
immediate relief, which, though small In parucu-
lar cases, in the aggregate amounted to consider
able sum. To aid him in these audable cha rites,
he was under the necessity of borrowing largely
from his friends, which he did under full convi,r
ton that he would be able to reimburse them from
resources which he had entire confidence in count
ing upon receiving, from rich maiden aunt who
had promised to make an ample provision for him.
Her will to that effect actually prepared is
now in existence; short day assigned for it's
execution, and before it arrived che died suddenly
with the govt and was found dead in her bed.
The consequence is that this great benefactor of
mankind, this true friend of the poor ia left in a
state of great pecuniary mbarrassment-th threat
ened by creditors on his return to Ireland, and
posed, himself in old age, and under the influence
of disease and inirmity, to that pnching want
which, in better days and in more prosperous
times, he SO generously relieved in others.
The British government granted him pension
a hundred do afe in Rt,fh c hacp not
received one cent Oft having scrupulously ded-
Gated the whole Of it to the payment of his debts.
TO enable him to defray unavoidable expenses dur
ing ms present tour IN the United States, he was
supplied with the requisite means by the liberaliy
of a public spirited gentleman in Liverpool
This most excellent and extraordinary man is
about TO depart from among US, after h wing, 1t is
to be hoped, with the aid of Providence redeemed
near half million of inhabitants of these States
from one OF the most debasing of all periicious
habits Shall he return without any substan tinl
manifestation of the public gratitude towards hiIo?
Shall even no effort be to put him at case.
and to smooth and soften the pillow of his declin-
ing years! think am not deceived as to the ge-
nervous hearts OF my counrymen, nor as to the
warm Irish hearts of his, in believing that, if his
actual condition were generally known, thousands
would readily. and with the greatest alacrity, rush
to his rolief. His fame and Just appreciation of
his signal merits are secure, and will be transmit
ted to the admiration of the posterity. He
will be regarded as of the wonders Of this re-
markable age. But what will that posterity think
of the present generation, he be permitted to pine
and languish in poverty and want and suffering
during the remnant of life which has been worn
out by exclusive devotion to its services2 And
such glorious servicei What reproaches will not
be made for culpabo insensibility TO the value of
the greatest moral reform ever achieved by one
mani Shall not we, in the United States endeayor
not to merit any part of them?
Knowing well your public spirit and your gen
erous impulses, my object in addressing you is to
ascertain ii something cannot be done for Father
Mathew, worthy of him, and worthy of US, before
he leaves our shores. On all occasions of munf-
cence we naturally turn attention to our great
cities, and to yours as the fret of them. We
ought to do something, we can do something, in
the interior. am ready, from my limited means
to contribute my mite But it is in the large
cities, where concert and operation are so easy
TO be brought about, that most can be effected
II has occurred to me that few liberal and en-
ghtened gentlemen Of your city, favorable to the
object, might have informal meeting to consult
together; that they might organize committee of
subscription and collection correspond with other
places, and thus accomplish the desired end. The
pleasure of making the requisite contribution
should be diused among as many as may be con-
venient and practicable, without allowing that
pleasure to be monopozed by only few.
will you, my dear sir, turn these suggestions
over in your fertile mind and if you approve their
object, give to it your powerful aid?
am, faithfully, your friend and obedieut SER
want, ii. CLAY.
HENRY GRrNNELL, ESQ.
The Lock CoNTRovERsY.--Wit reference to the
lock controversy, wo glad to hear that Messrs.
Bramah intend raising no captious objections at
the award OF the arbtrators, having determined to