Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-21
Original Shetfbes.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
LIVES OF
Distinguished ~Jerseymen.
BY Nh e ry ward
VT.
Alexander Henry.

M
IT is d universal principle inwoven in
our very nature and being, to delight in
the narration Of travellers, who have yisi-
ted remote regions, and given all the
charms Of novelty to their vivid descrip
tons Of sublime and beautiful scenery /;
of thrilling incidents, andof the manners
and customs of the people with whom
they came in contact in their route. Who
does not admire the lively writings Of
Brydone, Neihbur, Valiant. Carr, Park
and Lodyard-and Of those more recent
travellers, Silliman, Garter, Bayard Tay-
lor, Dickinson, Eddy, and a host Of 9th.
ers, who have done good service to the
cause of humanity. by charging the
bounds of knowledge, and greatly aiding
the cause of Science and Literature p
The honest fame Of an intelligent travel
er, rests upon no slender basis. For the
amusement and instruction Of his fellow
mortals, he has braved dangers. and sub
jected himself TO deprivations that might
have appalled, the stoutest heart. Cold
and anfeeling indeed, must that man be,
who does not say, in the sincerity of his
soul, "God speed thee, traveller /"
A~LExSNDEg HENRY, was born in the
State Of New Jersey, in the year 1740.
Possessed Of a vigorous constitution and
athletic frame, he early evinced an ire
pressible desire far adventure. ard for
daring feats of personal courage and
bravery. In 1850, being then twenty
years Of age, he enlisted as a soldier in
General Amherst's Army, and marched
with that expedition into Canada. An
attack was made upon Fort de Levi, near
Ontario, and after o tremendous assault,
that strong hold of the French was car.
ried by storm. Young Henry was pres,
ent in the engagement, and behaved him
self with great ~gallantry. He also &C
companied the brave Gen. Amherst to
Montreal and witnessed the surrender
of that city to the British and Colonial
arms.
After the famous battle on the Heights
of abraham between the English forces
under Gen. Wolfe, and the French Lee
Igions under Gen. Montcalm, in which
both those ~chiyalrous leaders were slain,
it is well known that the i~mpregnable
city of Quebec fell into the hands of the
English. The war was ended, and all
Canada was brought under subsection to
the British Grown. In consequence of
this suspicious event, Mr.. Henry obtained
an honorable discharge from the army,
and engaged with ardor and alacrity, In
the pursuit of merchandise. On ole oe-
%casion, in descending the river st. Law
renee, with a large number Of boats load
ed with choice and valuable goods, he
unfortunately lost three of the boats with
all their valuable cargoes, and came very
near losing his life. He barely saved
himself by clingfng with all his might,
to the bottom Of n of the boats that
was capsized.
But suc1. was his c~nterprising spirit,
that no danger could intimidate him, and
no pecuniary loss dampen his ardor. 1t
may well be said of him. that he was the
great pioneer traveller, through all the
vast and u~nexplored regions of the far
Northwest of America. long before the
celebrated expedition of Lewis and Clark.
As early as 1850, he explored the North
Lakes and their contiguous regions that
lay an immense distance beyond Lake Su-
perior ; and at a time, too, when the fa-
~cilities for travelling were few and far
between" He embarked in the fur trade,
and realized from this occupation q hand
some profit, to remunerate him for his
astonishing perseverance and self.sacri-
ice. For sixteen years did this indefat-
igable traveller roam through the wilder
ness of the great .Northw est, constantly
exposed TO imminent perils from wild
beasts. and savages equally wild /; en-
during hardships and privations sufficient.
ly severe to break down a constitution OF
iron, and expecting no reward but the
gratitude Of his c0untrymen for his wea,
risome service, in the cause of their en-,
lightenment respecting the then unknown
regions owe which he wandered for So
many years.
It is not within the province Of tht
writer of these Sketches. to follow tina
perseyering traveller threush all his I'm
daunted wanderings in the wilderness
for such a task would far exceed the LIN
It's marked out for these Biographical Is
says, which are designed to hold a middl
course between the brevity Of Dictiona
ries and tho extensive volumes Of Ne
moirs. Happily for the benefit of poster
ity, and Of an intelligent. reading comm
nifty, Nj. Henry not only travelled, bat b
wrote avery able and interesting yolpna
of his travels. That work was publishel
in New York, ia 1909 ; and is entitled
Trav els in Canada and the IDdiaa Ter
ritofiss, betwees the ysars 1880 ant