The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-07-22
THE LATE WILLIAM L. MARCY.
HIS uomE-Hls STUDIES, AND HIS CLOSING LIE

|
writing from Albany, N. Y communicates
the following in regard 10 the late William l..
Marcy:
"During potion of the day, had lime
| 10 visit the Two houses at different times 90.
cupied by the late Secretary-one in the row
of houses so much occupied By The Cover
nors, on the east of the Capitol Square, the
other, the "Knower House, owned by Mf
Marcy, on Sale street. They are both largo
| substantial brick buildings, plain In appear.
ance, and nollceably principally from their
association with their former luslrious occu
pant. The sight OF .hem brings back TO his
old friends q thousand "reminiscences OF his
genial hospitality aud sterling qualities, tha,
endeared him 10 so large circle, including
men OF every shade of political opinion---
Indeed, ii was in social and domestic iia
that MIR. Marcy appeared in his mos, inviting
aspect. He loved his family, his children,
his friends, and was never SO happy as,
when away from the burden of official cares.
he could freely enter into the pleasures which
their presence afforded.
Hence, during the las, few weeks of hs
| life, when he had worldwide and honora.
BILE reputation, when his circumstances were
such as 10 allow him 10 rest upon the honors
which he had acquired, he was in the happi-
est cohdiion. His old books and his old
tIiends were his constant solace, and when
he stopped at the antique, shaded hotel at
Ballslon where he died, il was noticed how
lie would take his chair out under the wide
spreading elms and entertain his landlord,
and The plain, old fashioned people who gath
cred about him delighted with the pleasant
stories which he told and phosorbic humor.
and shrewdness, and social feeling which
twinkled in his keen, bright eye. AT other
times he would return 10 his room, as his
custom was, and taking up some favofi,e old
author, (he rarely read modern lilerature),
Milton, Shakespeare, Heivey. among the po
els, South, Barrow, or Robert Hall, among
divines his French edition of MachigveI,
Ia favorite work, by the way, with Senator
Ssward,) or Bacon, among pbIlosopLic wri.
tings, 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 10 his chamber, put his boots
IN the usual corner, put on his dressing gown
and laying down with Knights edition oil
Bacons Essays-a small red quar,o volume,
with illustrations. When he was found, be
was still on his bed, his eyes were quietly
closed, OF one side wero the spectaces, or
the other the well remem red snuff box, and
open on his breast lay the book he so much
loved-lhat immortal epiiome OF human wis
dom-lhe Essays of Bacon, and over il were
clasped his hands, huggng it 10 his hearl.-
Such was his final sleep-peaceful serene,
and worthy of so great life-in the mids, of
the thunders which commem grated the birth
day OF The nation whose fame and power ho
had done so much TO uphold and extend.
What page it was on which The volume
was opened | know not. Perhaps it was on
that most appropriate passage, where tho
great philosopher thus discourses on Death
ga mind fixed and bent on somewhat that
is good, doth avert the dolors Of death bnt
above all believe ii, the sweetest cantce is
'nune dimittis,' when a man hath obtained
worthy ends and expectations"
The following letter, for which we are in =
debted 10 Col. Banei, of Washington, one of
MIR. Marcy's most intimate frieCds, will show
The cheerful and pleasant frame OF mind in
which the veteran statesman passed his clio.
sing hours. The numerous illusions TO spir-
ilualism, 10 his friend Thomas, who had re-
ceived a nomination as Governor of Utah, 10
The silver Sc rvice which he was about TO re-
ceive from the merchants OF New York, will
be readily appreciated.
Mn. MARCY TO COL. BERRETT.
"BALLsToN SRA, July ., 1857.
My Dear Colonel: do not know when
, ] shall be likely 10 find myself SO much Ut
, leisure as now 10 write TO you /; | have, tbero.
} fore, concluded 10 bring up my arrears in our
: correspondence, though do not expect you
will be at Washington when my letter will
arrive there.
81 have been at this place more than
week. There is very little company here,
but in fifteen minutes can be in the miiIst
Of iha, at Saratoga.
every much to my surprise and graiifca-
, tinn. Gen. Thomas assistant Secretary of
r State,) appeared in this place on Saturday
morning. We spent Sunday at the Springs
He will, do not doubt, give you a surprising
and wonderful account OF the performance of
yotng lady IN a trance whom he heard at
the Springs. The visit he made was, I as
sure you, very agreeable one. You
were not unremembered in our two days
conversation.
81 make but slow progress ii, adjusting
my affairs preparatory TO my European ex-
cursion, and have doubts whether shall
, be ready TO take my departure so soon as the
lsl OF August.
No man more suddenly withdrew his
thoughts from politics than have mine.
scarcely look at the newspapers. y y
| hardly care to tax my memory with the
, fact that there is such place in this country
as the White House.
am right glad that on. friend Governor
[P. +. Thomas thinks he can do better than
, he would have done in exile among the Nor
mons.
have received day or two since bill
from MIR. K, silversmih, at Bals,on. II you
S can tell what amount yon paid him for me.