, 1854-09-23
Death of A. Nj. Berry, ESD,


week of chronicling the startling intclli-
gence to us, of the, death of A. NJ. BERRY,
Esq, one of our partners in business and
senior proprietor of this paper. The seals
of the letters of his brothcr-hi-law, DR.. Csc
G. BREWSTER, Of Portsmouth, n. H., were
broken in joyful anticipation, from the
similarity of the hand writing), that they
were from Mr. BERRY himself But the til
dings of death in its most horrible FORM,
quickly dissipated the pleasurable feelings
we had expected to entertain in the peru
sal of letters from one for whom we enter
tanned the highest confidence and regard.
As stated last week, he died on the lst
of August, at the residence of his father,
THOMAS BERRY, Esq, Greenland, n. H.,
in the 29th year of his age, of that most
terrible disease, the black small pox The
disease was contracted in the ears, whilst
on his way from Portsmouth to Greenland
by an unfortunate collision with person
infected. Death accomplished its work
with rapidity, and the same house in which
light dawned upon his existence, darkened
upon him the shadow and windows of
death. The family circle and aged parents
for whom he had so much esteem and af1
fection, and from whom he had been sepa1
rated for years by continent between two
oceans had at least the consolation of the
reflection that be died in the land Of his
fathers, and that his ashes are deposited in
his family tomb.
ALFRED METcALF BERRY emigrated to-
California in lS49, at the commencement
of the gold excitement in that section of
country, but protracted i'll health induced
his removal to Oregon in the fall of $780,
In December last business connection was
formed between us, for which we had hoped
a more enduring continuance.
The object of his visit to the scenes of
his early childhood was of threefOld char
acter. First-to perform the last duty Of
filial devotion to his aged parents, who, he
was aware, were rapidly declining" pass
ing away to the land of the leal "-to say
farewell, perhaps forever, to his family
connections, and to give an honest parting
hand to the friends of other years But,
alas those parents, and that family circle,
were called upon to close his eyes in death,
That same parental hand that taught him
how to kneel at the family altar, held at
night the candle, whilst his brothers con
signed the mortal part of Alfred to its last
resting place. That old mans voice, that
fashioned his sons mind to repeat in deyo-
ton the words" Our Father who art in
Heaven, ,"4 &c, on that melancholy night,
might have been heard to say, could his
thoughts have been OWNED, "The will Of
the Lord is accomplished, so mote it be-
The second object of the visit of Mr.
BERRY to the east, was for the purpose Of
replenishing the Office with new and addi-
tional materials, the better to execute,
within the Territory, the legislative print
ing which duty we infer he had perform
ed previous to his death, and that his pur.
chases are now probably on their way here
A third motive was to attend to the exc
cution, under his own personal supervision
Of the laws, journals, &C., in book form
passed and transacted by the last legisla
ture of this Territory, and from advices
from his agent, DR.. BREWSTER, we are as
sured that the business entrusted to his
care will be promptly attended to.
As an intimate acquaintance of the de
ceased for three years duration, we are
prepared to speak Of his sterling qualitie:
without hesitation. Possessed of generou;
impulses, and polished gentlemgnly de
meanor-" None knew him butfo love hin
none named him but to praise"
For the short time he had been resi-
dent Of this Territory, he was universally
esteemed, and possessed the unbounded
confidence Of all who knew him. He was
a man of more than ordinary ability as q
writer-possessed of high moral sentiments
prudent, discreet, and every way trustwor
thy. His natural inclination to venerate
led him to respect every person. This so
cial virtue was reciprocated by all who had
intercourse with him. If there was frail.
ty of judgment in him, It was that he cher
ished the spirit of charity unduly in his
conversation and transactions with his fel
low-men. Hewas not Ofa suspicious DISPOSE
tion to induce him to seek for the foibles OF