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

writing from Albany, N. Y communicates
the following in regard 10 the late William l..
Marcy:
"Durins potion OF the day, had time
TO visit the Two houses at different times 90.
cupied by the late Secretary-one in the row
of bouses SO much occupied By the Cover
nors, on the east of the Capitol Square, tbs
other, the "Knower House," owned by MI
Marcy, on Sale street. They are both largo
substantial brick buildings, plain In appear
ance, and no,,ceably principally from their
association with their former illuslrious occu.
pant. The sight OF .hem brings back to his
old friends a thousand "reminiscences of his
genial hospitality aud sterling qualities, ,ha,
endeared him 10 SO large circle, including
men OF every shade of political opinion
Indeed, il was in social and domestic life
that Mr.. Marcy appeared in his most 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 last few weeks OF his
life, when he had worldwide and honora.
BILE reputation, when his circumstances were
such as 10 allow him TO rest upon the honors
which he had acquired, he was in The happi-
est cohdion. His old books and his old
| iIiends were his constant solace, and when
he stopped at the antique, shaded hotel at
BalIs,on where he died, ii was noticed how
| he would take his chair out under the wide
spreading elms aud entertain his landlord
and the plain, old fashioned people who gath.
cred about him delighted with the pleasant
stories which he told and ph!osorhic humor,
and shrewdness, and social feeling which
twnkled in his keen, brigh, eye. AT other
times he would return TO his room, as his
custom was, and taking up some iavonle old
author, (he rarely read modern lileratore),
Milton, Shakespeare, Heivey. among the po
els, South, Barrow, or Robert Hall, among
divines his French edition of MachiUvel,
"a favorite work, by the way, with Senator
Saward,) or Bacon, among pbIlosopLic wfi
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, pu, on his dressing gown
and laying down with Knights edition OF
Bacon's Essays-a small red quaro volume,
with illustrations When he was found, bo
was sil on his bed, his eyes were quietly
closed, or one side wero the s2ectacss, or
The other the well remem bered snuff box and
open on his breast lay The book he so much
lnuaI-th mi, tal ;top nG b,,
dom-lhe Essays Of Bacon, and over il were
clasped his hands, hugging it 10 his heart--
Such was his final sleep-peaceful, serene,
and worthy of so great lte-in the midst of
the thunders which commem o rated The birth
day Of the nation whose fame and power hc
had done so much TO uphold and extend.
|, What page it was on which The volume
was opened know not Perhaps il was on
that most appropriate passage, where tho
great philosopher thus diScourses on Death
, IA mind fixed and bent on somewhat that
is good, doth avert the dolors Of death bnt
above all believe it, the sweetest canticle is
3 nune dimittis,' when a man hath obtained
/ worthy ends and expectations"
The following letter, for which we are in .
i debted TO Col. Barrett of Washington, one of
Mr.. Marcy's most intimate frerds, will show
= the cheerful and pleasant frame OF mind in
which the veteran statesman passed his clio.
D sing hours. The numerous illusions TO spir-
ilualism, 10 his friend Thomas, who had re-
4 ceved a nomination as Governor of Utah, 10
4 the silver ervice which he was about TO re-
ceive from the merchants Of New York, will
be readily appreciated.
: sir. MARCY TO COL BERRETT.
9 "BALLsToN SRA, July 2. 1857.
: "My Dear Colonel: do not know when
:, ! shall be likely 10 find myself so much st
}, leisure as now 10 write to you have, ,bero.
g fore, concluded 10 bring up my arrears in our
y correspondence, though do not expect you
e will be at Washington when my letter will
arrive there.
81 have been at this place more than a
:. week. There Is very little company here,
but in fifteen minutes can be in the miIst
of that al Saratoga.
i every much TO my surprise and gralifica-
!, linn. Gen. Thomas (Assisant Secretary OF
DR. State,) appeared in this place on Saturday
,s morning. We spent Sunday at the Springs.
N He will, do not doubt, give you surprising
~ and wonderful account OF the performance OF
a young lady IN trance whom he heard at
the Springs. The visit he made was, as
S. sure you, a very agreeable one. You
IN were not unremembered in our two days
conversation.
al make but slow progress in adjusting
my affairs preparatory TO my European ex-
curson, and have doubts whether ] shall
e be ready 10 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
III hardly care to tax my memory with the
m fact that there is such place in this country
n- as the White House.
am right glad that on: friend Governor
[P Fl Thomas thinks he can do better than
h he would have done in exile among the Mor
mons.
have received day or two since bill
from MIR. K, silversmi,h, at Balls,ou. II you
es caI tell what amount yon paid him for me,
s and tchen YOU paid il, | wish Won would