Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-24
Death of Hon. Charles 9. Anterior.

Hon. Charles G.. Atherton, one of the most
distinguished democrats of New Hampshire,
and a member of the Senate of the United
States, died at Manchester, N. H. on Tues
day, Nov. 18th. He was attacked with paral-
ysis of the left side, while engaged in his du-
ties at court. The Granite Farmer describes
his illness as follows -
ale was standing in the bar converslng
with another counsellor in relation to the dis
position of another case upon the docket, when
he became pale, and his speech failed him.
This was at once noticed, and, he was assisted
down stairs, under the impression that he was
suffering from faintness but before he had
reached his rooms with the assistance of those
supporting him, it was discovered that the
limbs of his left side had become useless
Physicians were Immediately in attendance,
who pronounced him laboring under paralysis
of the left side. He had but little use of his
speech during the day-but retained perfect
consciousness, communicating with his friends
by writing, and remarked upon the nature of
his disease with the utmost selt-possession, in
way that shew the full exercise of his men
tai powers. On Thursday evening he was
able to converse, and explained the Fremont
tons and first stages Of the attack with the ut
most precision and the most cheerful remarks.
On Friday morning the disease had assumed
no better type, and on Saturday his strength
continued TO fail. Sunday he was still worse,
ceased to be conscious, and it was thought he
could not continue through the night
Through Sunday he suffered much pain, all
supposing that each hour he would breathe
his last. He continued in this state of un-
Consciousness until he breathed his last''
The Nashua Gazette renders the following
tribute to Mr.. Atherton's worth, and adds a
brief sketch of his active and valuable political
life -
g Paralysis was hereditary disease in his
family. He anticipated that he would be at
tackled by it, though not SO soon. A post
morton examination showed, that the whole
of the right hemisphere of his brain was in a
softened state. The weight of his brain was
found to be lbs. 8 I-2 ounces that of Web
ster weighed lbs. 10 ounces. The brain
of men in general weighs, it is said, about 3
lbs. l ounce.
Thus, another great light is extinguished
in death. Another jewel is plucked from the
crown of New Hampshire. Cut. off in the
pIlIHG vi HIdHHOOu, anu Ill IiIG IulI POSoCSSlOH
of mental powers Of the rarest excellence and
fnencss, occupying one of the most eminent
positions in the national councils of our repub-
lie, and filling large space in the public es-
timatiOn not only at home. but throughout the
Union, Mr.. Anterior will be mourned not on
ly as the loss of New Hampshire, but of the
nation at large. No mans future career had
a more brilliant prospect, whether we cOntem-
plate him as statesman or lawyer. Pos
sessed of rare attainments and talents, there
were no heights of the most exalted cminence,
which he might not scale and adorn. But it
is otherwise ordered by the mysterious de-
crees of an All-Wise Providence!
Mr.. Anterior was born at Amherst in 1904,
and was consequently 40 years of age at the
time of his death. lie graduated at Harvard
University in 1922. Immediately after his
admission to the bar in 1925, he took up his
residence IN Dunstable, now Nashua. In 49,
81 he was appointed solicitor for Hillsborough
county. In 1881 he was elected representa-
tive to the state legislature from Dunstable,
and again four years in succession in 1888,
"a, '35 and SO, in each of which years he
was elected speaker. In 1884, at his election
as speaker, he had all the votes cast in the
house except 10 in 1885 he had them all but
5; and in 1886 all but g. In 1887 he was
elected representative in congress from New
Hampshire, and held his seat in the house for
three terms in succession. In IS43 he was
elected by the Legislature United States sena-
tor, which office he held until March 4th, l849
In 1850 he was elected delegate from the
late town of Nashville in the New Hampshire
constitutional convention. At the June session
of the legislature in 1852 he was elected a
United States senator from this State, and
took his seat on the 4th of March last, which
office he held at the time of his death.
The funeral obsequies were attended at
Nashua Thursday afternoon, and were very
solemn and impressive. The places of bust
ness were closed, and the whole aspect of the
city bore the impress of mourning A large
number of gentlemen, public and private, from
various towns and cities in New Hampshire
and Massachusetts were present, among whom
the Hon. Moses Norris, u S. senator, Hon.
Messrs Kitteridge and Morrison, members of
congress, Hon. Richard Jenness, ex-senator,
Hon. N. b. Baker, candidate for governor,
Hon. Judge Minot, ofthe common pleas court,
Hon. Chas II. Peaslee, collector of Boston,
n |. Bowditch and Nathaniel Thayer, Esqrs
of Boston, b. f. Aver, Esq, county solicit
tor, and others. The attendants from abroad
were received at the Pearl Street House as
guests Of the deceased's family, and after par
taking Of refreshments, walked in procession
to the late residence of Mr.. Atherton. After
prayer at the house the body was conveyed to
the Unitarian church, followed by very large
concourse of citizens and strangers. An ele-
quent and feeling address was pronounced by
Rev. Nathaniel Gage of Western Mass, in
which he paid high tribute to his late class
mate and friend, as a husband, Christian,
a citizen, lawyer and statesman. The -gener-
al respect felt for the memory of Mr.. Anterior
was evinced by the great number of citizens
congregated to pay the last tribute of love and
honor to his remains, and the universal sense
expressed of the great public loss the country
mas sustained in the sudden departure of one
u tne most able and patriotic citizens of the
nation.
. friend at our elbow wishes to know
how much difference there is in the time Of
sunrise between the Universalist and MINER
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