Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-27

Local Intelligence.

presentation Of memorial by the clerks of
the General Land Office to Dr. Charles 8
Prailey on his retirement from the Office Of
Chief Clerk, the Commissioner Of that bureau,
Chief Clerk, and Clerks of the Office met At
the room OF the Chief Clerk, when Col.
Irwin, In brief and feeling manner stated
the object OF the meeting, and introduce Col,
II. II. Heath, who, with q chaste and appro-
pirate address, presented to the Doctor beau.
hful silver pitcher, pair Of goblets and salver,
as token Of friendship and appreciation of
his moral and clerical worth. TO which ad.
dress the Do:tor responded in appropriate
terms.
COL. HRArHs ADDRESS.
My Dear Sir: The severance Of long sub
sisting friendly relations between mon, has
never failed to produce emotions of regret.
Indeed, the occasions are not unfrequent, in
which sorrow is added to regret at the change
even Of unpleasant associations, when the re-
nsction steals upon rs that the relations once
sustained to those objects will never again
subsist bow, much more then, my dear sir,
must the spprecisting sympathies Of eur ma
ture be affected at 9 change in which those
relations have been not only of pleasing and
friendly character, but those, too, in which,
- many Of rs can with safety aver, of ma.
ture highly valuable in an official as vol as
social peint Of view. In this latter and most
stand with reference to yourself. The hand Of
change has been busy recently, and it has
taken you from amongst Us, with some of
whom, and with the places Of all, you have
been associated for nearly or quite the fifth
part of q century-the third part of mans
allotted career. To you, as the Chief Clerk
Of this office, whilst the change was one Of
choice as we'll as ne 'esGty-made so by de-
sire to repair an enfeebled constitution, it
- - 49, - -. -.
ordinary character. From the Office you have
departed as from an old and esteemed FRIEND
from N and those connected with it, as from
co-laborers who could be naught but friends
From position Of dignity, honor, and great
responsibility, you have recsded, to occupy
one moro quiet, as respectable, and highly
important; and may the results of the change
effected be as satisfactory in their character
rs our regrets at parting are sincere and IN
Affected.
have. by the kindness of my fellow clerks
In this office, In which you have, for so length
ened q period expended your highly scknow.
lodged abilities, and upon whose enduring
records have been left the impress of your
genius-been deputed to perform the pleasing
task Of presenting to you this testimonial
Our Offering is dedicated as an humble tribute
which friendship has heretofore sought as the
medium Of its appreciation Of worth, and will
hereafter seek, at the feet of the object Of its
devotion Accept 1t, sir, as an earnest of our
exalted appreciation Of your character, both
as an individual and as faithful public ser.
want. Accept it from US, sir, as from those,
who, though separated as to the daily sssocia.
tons once surrounding rs, yet not as from
those who, severed, forget. Accept it, sir, as
q pledge Of the past. and as o token for the
coming time-and may the decaying health
which took you from amongst Us be rejuve-
mated whilst pursuing the more pleasant walk
Of official life chosen, that you may long live
20 enjoy the pleasures Of beautiful world
the sympathetic warmth Of your manifold
friends, and the endesrmsnts Of q cherished
and undivided freside.
DR.. FRAILKY's REPLY.
Kind friend, and former sficial associates
The occasion which brings rs together this
day, within the walls of that oftce in which,
for nearly twenty years, had been associa.
ted with a few Of you-ales how few and
during the whole official life of the rest of
you, and the kind terms which have been
used by your organ in conveying to me those
palpable evidences you have deemed it proper
to exhibit Of the kind feelings you have en-
tertained OF me, as man and an officer,
awake in my breast emotions to the full ex.
preston Of which / find my powers Of mind
totally inadequate, and where any effort at
clothing them in Language BETTING their trus
character would be as futile as an attempt on
the part OF the mariner to control the bolster
Gus, but natural and salutary, connections Of
the mighty sea skirting our extended shores
Fed by It's thousand sparkling rills and hun.
dreds Of broad rivers. some gliding silently,
others bounding with joyfulness to their ulti.
mate destination in that vast ocean its bosom
tumultously responds to causes affecting il s
tranquility and stirring up its silent depths
mine has been filed with streams Of your
kindness and consideration and the breath of
this last approval coupled with causes, on
my part, which afforded its exercise) has crea.
ted storm therein, leaving me no other tn an
the mariners resource, to scud before the
blast and await the subsistence of the element b
now controlling me.
What q myriad OF images rise up before
one in taking retrospect Of period of twsn-
ty years Of official life What host of as
sociations, Of varied character, crowd upon
the heart, as those images bring to view those
associated with such one in the commence
msni ofthat period, but who have successive
ly dropped by the wsyside, leaving you to
toll on-the official life Of some having been
brought to close, and their talents and abiIi-
ties freed TO seek other channels for their ex
ercise; or, more sadly, the natural life of
others having terminated, leaving their friend 3
70 grleve, not only for their personal loss, but
slas! too often for the dcstitation and belp-
le,sness Of wives and children left behind !,
what reflections are forced upon such q one
In being compelled by declining health to Sc
yer ties linking him with the past binding
him 30 strongly to the few whom time and tri
al have spared Of his early companions, and
connecting him with fresh bonds to those who
nave successfully taken the places of the fal-
len To feel, with zeal unabated, with in-
dustry unhagging, with mind unimpsired,
mat, without abatement Of the exercise Of
these powers, the physical frame must yield,
tneeooing sands Of life receive an increased
impetus, and the shadows Of evening, nstur.
ally approaching, sooner end in the darkness
OF night, and that even with such respite, il
VIII be with the highest anticipations in re-
ianon thereto realiIsd) but a postponement
Tor limited period Of an event which my late
Eosiuon among you was greatly Fastening
10 iesl all this, aud more, vhisk has been re-
eenuy forced on my mind on the subject of
me Work OF the relentless one, brings with il
emotions OF regret connected with the sever
snes Of the relations between which greatly
enhance the pOignancy Of an event previously
contemplated only as likely to end with life
ieeII, leiI to my own yolItion.
drEuch tina and .;..nr,