St. Mary's beacon., 1858-07-29
[FsOza PorsaSs SPiyif y tGs 7sases. ]
william I. Porter

sans task, two years axp, 20 aun.u,nce this new
foHD ef Mr.. PoRTER's journalism, and TO say
Of him. IS his associate, q few things mhich his
worth demanded; but which. fssF uisvious req
SOM, delicacy required should. II these Columns
fall short Of his true merits. The task came 10
rs. then. in bright, sparkliug, elm, and gent
al stIlzsliine: loI it returns upsm us now. in
gloom and shadow-aud thas hisie unwrinklesi
kreiScad, which was once marble maxim. aud
has ratiiatsd cheer upon the fesding world for
more than quarter Of q century, folds Its
beams, and takes Its last repose under the ples-
SAINT slasie Of death. He sleeps well: without
the soil Of any unjust deed, and with the kind
thoughts ofevery one who knew him. for his
pillow.
For several moaths past. ID was evileas 20
Mr.. PogTER's friends, that his constitution.
which hal been much tired BY the exizencies
of an active and laborivus lie. was gradually
breaking mp; and Il was fke special care Of ii.
who surrounded him In he oiiicc. nos Do task
him with any requests ut could possibly be-
met by others 50 with re exception of few
articles, and characteristic decisions Of moosed
points, his editorial career may be said % have
closed early in the Spring. His last articles of
mark were spontaneous tributes 10 the memory
of some of his old friends; and i was q matter
Of observation among those who knew him
well, that his generous nature delighted most
in such sacred services, and kak his best efforts
were always performed in ing these he
loved. His most prominent and recent COM
municatiOns in this way. we're obituary notices
Of the late Commodore JcHS 8. STEPHENS, Of
New Jersey, and Colonel WADE HAMPTON, of
Charleston, s. c. During the last two months
OF his life, his heart was still thus rclgiously
engaged, and he occupied nearly all Of his re-
naming time and powers Of reflection, in the
preparation Of full biography of the late
HENRY WILLIAM HERBtRT, whose course, as
a sporting writer in this country, Mr.. PORTER
had 80 largely fostcred and sustained. The
leaves were on his finger when he died, and
the biographer and friend now sleep together
MIR. PORTER was a native Of Vermont, and
was, at the time of his death, about fifty-two
years Of age. He was tue third of FIVE BROTH
ers, all Of whom are now dead; and he has two
sisters still surviving, both Of whom are mar
ried TO gentlemen distinguished for their learn
ing, ability, and position in society. All Of his
brothers were men Of stirling talents; and the
literary qualities by which they distinguished
themselves in life, were shared equally by the
SISTERS. His eldest brother, BENJAMIN, died
many years ago. the second brother, DR.. 7. o.
PORTER, was once engaged in the publication
of weekly paper with Y. z. WILLIS; the
fourth GEORGE was associated for long while
with the N. o. PicGyune, and died in the har-
ness of its service; and the youngest, FRANK,
who was attached for while 10 the Revenue
service, succeeded his brother GEORGE in the
Picayuae, and shortly after died WILLIAM,
who was never married, was the last.
Mr.. PORTER came to this city from his ma
of al, PfN md
at once into the printing business; and after
acting as foreman in large publication Office
for two or three years, he concluded to enter
into the publishing business himself Being
an ardent follower Of 6eld-spnrts, with an en-
thusiastic passion for the Horse. his attention
was directed to the vacancy which then exist
ed in American literature for an organ devoted
to physical pastimes and gentlcmanly sports.
With the view of supplying that want, he an
nounced the publication of a weekly journal,
called The Constellation, which he soon after
merged into the lSDirit of the Times To this
pursuit, Mr.. PORTER brought broad abilities,
large experience, keen instincts, strong powers
Of observation, and, above all, high and deli
cate sense of honor. His juurnal-cOnductcd
notwithstanding its strong, manly nature, with
a most delicate regard to propriety Of thought
and language-at once attracted the attention
of the leading gentlemen of the United States
who were addicted to 6eld-sports, or who were
engaged in raising thoroughbred st 'ck. 4 new
stimulus was thus given to these useful and i'll
MIGRATING pursuits; and sympathetcally a CO.
terie was formed, which gathered at his edito-
rial rooms for social intercourse and spontane-
Gus discussion of mutual interests, which num-
bered within it the very flower Of the wealthy,
intellectual, and distinguished Of the land.
Loftiest among them all-with gentleness
and grace that so mingled man and woman in
his nature that his own sex might love him
even to tenderness and not feel ashamed
WILLIAM PORTER moved among the LIVING
sToNs, HAMPToNs, STEVENS, SToCKToNs,
happy by his cheerful spirit, and distributing
favor by his presence, rather than receiving
patronage. The merit of his paper, and the
high character Of these voluntary associations,
not only drew around him the most distin-
guished writers and correspondents Of the time,
both at home and from foreign lands, bat
brought out new class Of writers, and created
a style which may be dcnOminated an Ameri-
can literature-not the august, stale, didactic,
pompous, bloodless method Of the magazine
pages of that day; but fresh, crisp, vigorous,
elastic. graphic literature, full Of force Teadi-
ness, actually, and point, which has walked
up to thc7elcgraph, and hardly been invigoEat-
ed OF improved. by even the terse and emphat-
ic lightning. This literature was not stewed
in the closet, or fretted out a some pale PEN
stoned labOrer's desk, but spanked from the
cheerful leisure If the easy schOlar--poured in
from the emulous officer in barracks, or at sea
|-emanated spontaneously from The jocuud
poet-and flowed from every mead, or lake, or
mountain-in the land where the rife or the
rod was known. Of this literature, which IN
better known as American, Sporting Litera-
lure" Mr.. PORTER may be said 10 be the foun-
der and the head; and for is creation. and
thousands Of happy hours, the People Of the
United States owe him as great debt Of graft
tude, IS they do for that stimulation 10 the inn
proyement Of the breed Of horses, which has
made us, already. foremost Of all the void, in
the production Of the most valuable species Of
working and pleasure stock.
The life Of Mr.. PoRTEE, for the thirty years
which terminated with his management Of this
paper, was not marked by any striking incl
dents His life flowed equally from day 70
day; and year by year parted company with
him. without taking 81 its record single
quarrel, or scarcely rufaed feeling against
L. A. -