Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-07-25

| or changes, and his thoughts generally in the
first draft assumed the form Of expression in
which he was willing TO publish them. lie
almost always used a pencil, and left the
second draft to be peDned by clerk. This
however, he rarely altered His handwriting
was legible and handsome, without being
cerky.
| Mr.. Marcy's library numbered perhaps FIVE
thousand volumes. the character Of which
has before been indicated. lie had but little
taste for the fue arts yet Palmer, the
sculptor, William Page, the painter and we
think, other American artists Of note, owed
the beginning of their success to his liberal
encouragement. In addition to the works
OF these American artists, the house of Mr..
| Marcy was adorned with many foreign
lection (about one hundred in ally Of German
paintings, obtained by Mrs. Marcy's sister
while travelling abroad
No man could give a more agreeable well
come to his guests than Mr.. Marcy. Though
always temperate in his habits, he never OBJ
jected to those creature comforts which pro-
mote conviviality, and are by many thought
TO make life pleasant. A glass of wine and
a pinch of snuff were rarely unacceptable !;
but he was not fond of smoking.
Mr.. Marcy was as willing to be rallied as
| to make joke himself at tho expense of his
friends. When Ambrose Spencer alluded to
the maxim imputed to Marcy. "ro the victors
belong the spoils," Mr. Marcy replied, "Why
Judge, | hear that at different times you
have 10 substance avowed the same doctrine
That may be-" retorted the Judge, "but |
never had the folly to put it into so quotable
form" very felicitous compliment.
He was much pleased with a humorous
n do 10 &c lnc, -
candidate for fourth gubernatorial term,
which was caused not by the popularity of
his opponent, but solely by temporary disaf-
lection in the Democratic ranks, which thus
elected Seward. Some years later, when
Marcy's name had recovered its potency.
there was talk Of again putting him up for
Governor-a nomination at that time cquva-
lent TO victory. He, however, declined to
run, and one day privately announced his de-
cision to Seward. II am very glad o. it,"
replied Seward, "for otherwise | should be
put to the Inconvenience OF running myself
as | am the only man in New York who can
beat you"
In this place it may be well to repeat the
fact that, after his defeat in 1888, Mr.. Marcy
never submitted himself to the chances of
popular election, aud until he entered Folks
cabinet, withdrew TO private life, with the
exception, (Whlcn we nave not seen mentioned
in any biography of the period when he
served as one Of the mixed commission on
Mexican clams-an Office to which he was
appointed not far from the year 1871.
During Folks administration, Mr.. Marcy
was on friendly terms with John Y. Mason,
of Virginia, then Secretary of the Navy, and
whom, as one of the Ostend diplomatists, he
nonplussed so remarkably. lie
was, however, rather disposed to banter his
cabinet associate or the forwardness Of the
Old Dominion, the Mother of Presidents in
urging the claims Of her children for federal
otiice--a propensity which was amusingly
illustrated at a private dinner where they
were both present. "llow strange it is
Mason" said he, "that ont Of the thousands
OF fat appointments we have had to make,
there is not one that Virginia does not fur
nish u candidate for, and that every candidate
is backed up by the strongest testimonials
that he was expressly educated for that par
ticular post - Mason bore the joke very well !
contenting himself with the observation that
the people Of the United States seemed to
know where 10 look for her great men.