The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-08-13
The Lnte Mr.. Marcy.


Mr.. Marcy was a great man in all
things, but it was in social and domes-
tic life that he appeared in his most in
viting aspect. When out Of Office he
laid aside all the cares Of public life
In letter written to Col. Berrott, one
Of his most intimate friends, July I'd,
he says.
"I make but slow progress in adjust
ing my affairs, preparatory to my Eu-
ropean excursion, and / begin to have
doubts whether I shall be ready to take
my departure 30 soon as the 1st Of
August.
"No man more suddenly withdrew
his thoughts from politics than I have
mine. I scarcely look at the news
papers. y * Il # I hardly care to tax
my memory with the fact that there is
such place in this country as the White
House"
How pleasantly Mr. Marcy spent
his last days and hours, is thus pictured
by the correspondent Of the n. Y. Even
ing Post:
His old books and his old friends
were his constant solace, and when he
stopped at the antique, shaded hotel at
Ballston, where he died, it was noticed
how he would take his chair out under
the wide-sproading olms, and entertain
his landlord, and the plain, old-fashion-
ed people who gathered about him, de-
lighted with the pleasant stories which
he told, and the philosophic humor, and
shrewdness, and social feeling which
twinklod in his keen, bright eye. At
other times he would retire to his room,
as his custom was, and taking up some
favorite old author, Che rarely read mod
ern litorature) Milton, Shakespeare, Her
vey among the poets, South, Barrow, or
Robert Hall, among diyincs; his French
edition Of Machiavol, Ca favorite work,
by the way, with Senator Seward) or
Bacon, among 'philosophic writings, and
would read until he fell asleep. And
this, indeed, was the way in which he
fell asleep on the noon Of Independence
Day. He had retired to his chamber
To
his dressing gown, and lying down
with knights edition Of Bacous Es-
says-a small red quarto volume, with
illustrations, When he was found, he
was still on his bed his eyes were quiz
city closed, on one side were the spec
tacles, on the other the wcll-remem ber-
cd snut-boX, and open on his breast
lay the book he so much loyed-that
immortal epitome of human wisdom
the Essays of Bacon, and over it were
clasped his hands, hugging it to his
heart. Such was his final sleep
peaceful, serene, and worthy of so
great a life-in the midst of the thun-
dcrs which commemorated the birth
day Of the nation whose fame and
power he had done so much 10 uphold
and extend.
What page it was on which the
volume was opened, I know not
Perhaps it was on that most appropri-
ate passage where the great philosopher
thus discourses "of Death:
"A mind fixed and bent on somewhat
that is good, doth avert the dolors Of
death; but above all, believe it, the
sweetest canticle is nuuc dimatis,
when a man hath obtained worthy ends
and expectations"
Like most New England young mon,
Mr.. Marcy was much thrown on his
own resources in early life When he
left home to engage in the study Of
law, his father gave him thirteen dollars
as an outfit When he had travelled
about twenty miles, ten dollars of his
money was proved counterfeit, by
stopping to work he cleared the ex
penses of his journey, and by teaching
carried himself to the Bar.