, 1855-02-24

The late Geo. w. stevens. =
1t is with profound regret that we an
nsunce the melancholy intelligence of the
death by drowning of GEo W. STEVENS,
the relative and private secretary of Gov.
Stevens. Up to the present time all efforts
to recover his remains have proved unayail
ing. -r
This young gentleman was singularly
fitted for high career of honor and use
fulness; particularly is his death, loss to
this young Territory, in which he took the
most lively interest, and of whose great
future he had a thorough appreciation.
He delighted in its scenery, and understood
and sympathized with its inhabitants. He
was emphatically one of our pioneers, and
had, at the time of his death, established
among scientific men a reputation us the
Astronomer of the Eastern Division of the
Northern Railroad Exploration. He was
fortunate in the tender sympathies and
careful nurture of his youth. A father of
learning, of high social and moral qualif-
cations, now filling with credit an impor-
tant judicial position a mother whose
loveliness and beauty of mind and person,
although some years deceased, is fresh in
the hearts of all her friends, brothers and
sisters united in the ties of most happy
family circle-these constituted the happy
elements of the rearing of his childhood
and youth. Great care was taken with
his education, and in this connection his
grandfather, now s5 years Of age, must not
be forgotten. This venerable man had
travelled extensively abroad, and in his early
and mature manhood, as a merchant in a
large business, was know for his rare prob
ity and his extensive information. The
last mail brought from him to his beloved
grandson q long letter, the character, as
firm as that of man Of 40 years, giving
the news of the family and neighborhood
and replcte with q practical and genial
wisdom, characteristic Of the venerable old
patriarch.
At eighteen years of age, the subject Of
this notice entered the public service as an
aid in the survey of the coast Of tlc United
States, under the superintendent of Prof.
Bache, and here his varied and decided
ability, his unwearicd application, and his
courteous manners, soon caused him to be
rapidly promoted and to be generally and
favorably known. His labors were, for so
young man, remarkable. In six months
he was promoted to the chief clerkship Of
the office, aud at the end of the two years,
he not only had made himself familiar with
the ordinary business placed in his hands,
but had mastered nearly oil the methods
used in the observations and computations
had became a good practical Geodetist
and Astronomer, and was familiar with
the mechanism of nearly every instrument
on the survey.
1t was the observation of Mr. Hilgard,
one of the ablest mathematcans of the
country, and his preceptor and chief on the
survey in his scientific studies, that his
progress and requirements were altogether
the most remarkable he had ever known.
When his relative, Gov. Stevens, was
appointed the Governor Of this Territory,
and placed in charge of the exploration of
the northern route, the situation of private
secretary, and of one of the Astronomers
of the exploration, was offered to and ac-
cepted by him.
Since this time his course is SO well
known to many persons in this vicinity,
that any extended observations are unnec-
essary. 1t will be sufficient to state. that
since his arrival in the Territory, he has
been unwearied in prosecuting his scientific
studies, and that he has contributed full
series of meteorological observations for
for one year, and has determined the geo.
graphical position of this place. He was
well fitted for high duties in many careers
Of usefulness