New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-12
coLoSTL pEyroys REPLY.

WASHINGTON CRY Feb. 4, 1s.5.
Ctear a Committee &c, g.. .
GIs1LExES: Ihave duly received your most Kind
letter. and the beautiful silver pitcher and sslver
which accompanied it-testinonial Of the good VIII
Of the Mercantile Library Association Of the City Of
New.York, for the little service ! was fortunate
enough TO render it.
Be assured, gentlemen, aud please to make it
Known to the Association, that feel myself three
times compensated, and overpsid every time, for the
little that did: FIRST, in the most numerous ane
emine n,ly respectable audience which did me the
honor to listen TO my Discourse seeondiy in the rich
and massive pieces OF plate which you have sent me
and in the workmanship Of which the taste and skill
Of the artist have WED with the munifcencs OF the
donors; and thirdly in the most generous terms IN
which you have referred to my public laoors Tor our
country as well as to the small service was able 10
rerder TO your Association.
In making these acknowedg nents take leave to
say that there was an Appropriateness in the selec-
ton of the particular article for the testimonial, be-
yord what might have been understood when the
pitcher was fixed upon, and which is this: When
was Young came what Dr. Franklin was-lmy only
pobt of resemblance to that nustrious man-Then
ne worked at his early calling in London an aquac-
the term which his comrades applied to designate hlm
as water OflDKer. also uIeuk Hdteri duu no1nius
stronger, in the early part of my fe-the first half
Of it, and to that abstinence from all vnous, spirit
uous and fermented fluids l attribute the good health
and general vigor which now enjoy.
As this sllusion touches point at which word
mieht be useful to other young men deslrous 10 ad-
vance Themselves in life, and 10 have good health IN
old age will go TO say that, at that time and In
the South il the custom in every house to otter
something TO drink 10 all visitors-even boysi aud
that excuses were no defence for those Who would
refuse. Pressure importantly, custom broke down
all excuses AID il became Necessary to oppose rM
where reason was unavailiDg; so l made a law for
my self that would drink nothing until should be
in the decline of lfe and might need it-and reeo-
lutey pleading that law, after ward escaped impor.
tubity II was the fret stand, solitary AMI alone
that ever made, but not the last. was young
enough and silly enough, at that time, TO suppose
that this decline would come upon me at thirty: and
40 fixed that age as the limit for my Law. When
thirty same-I old not feel the decline, and extended
the time, and eventually relaxed into temperance,
and have remained at that point ever since. Thus
the first half Of my life abstinent--the second
half temperate; and TO these conditions attribute
whatever of mental and bodily vgor l may nov
have, and whatever Of business application have
ever thown.
The laudablenees Of lie objects, and your indul-
gence will excuse this episode; and the classic wafer
pitcher you have sent me-medeled in the fashion Of
that in which certsn ever blooming pymph was
supposed to have handed something both sweeter and
stronger than water to certain mythical percentages
who claimed a superiority over common mortals 10
everything except Their frates)-will be continual
remembrance Of how much am indebted TO the early
limitation of my imbbng faculties 10 the of that
innocent fluid of which-since the dssppearsnce OF
Hebe, Nectar and Jupiter-it has been the appropri.
ate holder. Very respectfully gentlemen,
THOMAS Il. BENTON