Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-30
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 80, 1855.
THE POET PERCJVAL.
from the New York Daily Times.

re,iduary legatee to the city Of Chicago, in q
letter written to ascertain if it would suit
Chicago for City Library" As some City
Libraries are managed it would matter very
little of what books such al institution we're
composed; but it is somewhat amusing to
think of PereisaPs unique collection of books
as City Library for our fact brethren of
the great City of the Lakes. Cbicsgois all
extraordinary place. 10 twenty years it
reached population which it took London
or Amsterdam twenty centuries to achieve
1t is now the greatest primary grain market
in the world, though twenty years ago 1t did
not ship bushel Of wheat. But unless IL
has raised scholars as numerously as gram
merchants, we appreheud that it would ma
Percivaps library Of very little available
value. There are hardly dozen men 10 tne
Union to whom it would be serViceaD!e
collection. 1t was full OF books In all ING
languages which nobody reads, except some
such rare enthusiast of learning as ferclSai
himself Probably there was no other man
in the United States who could read all OF
them. ,,.
Perciyal was one of the most remarkable
men of his time. As linsuis. and as man
of science he was more eminent than as poet,
and vet biz poeiical faculty was marVeilousiy
brilliant aod profits. He was geoloSlst
and geographer; he understood the structure
of the earth We live on, ard knew all the
highways and byways of its surtace--Toads'
rivers and canals as Familiarity as most men
know their own domicile or the way to mar
ket. His habits of study were peculiar. lie
would take up volume at boz kSeiier's
counter. and stand till ne had read 1t throush
He never cut tho leaves Of bis books. For
many wears be occupied rooms at the HOS
pital. at New Haven, aud during the whole
period chose rooms we're entered only once
by visitor. lie had no food cooked during
that time, but lived frugally on dried peer,
herring, bread. with apples and other truit
when thew were abundant In the niarkee.-
He read all day and all nigh;--Ihrowing
himself on his bed in his clothes, when ma
ture insisted on repose. When his bed room
uas opeued. after HE death, 1t was covered
more than an inch thick with dust, except Il
path that had been kept free from the door
to the bed.
It was but seldom that Percival toos
lively interest in what was gong on 10 the
world, but when aroused by any e'ent, ne De-
came enthusiastic in relation tot. lae grea,
struggle OF Greece for independence appeaieu
most strongly to him, and his poetry at tue
time was devoted entirely to topics ccI'seG
from this source. 10 the famous poiineai
campaign preceding President Harrison
election, be was drawn out by bis ir>eho ~
Bacon, and entered into It with yea! Truly
poetic. 1t is not generally known that very
large number OF the songs Of those days, that
rang through the log cabins from Name TO
Lonisiaps. we're from the pen OF DR.. Perez
val. He would attend the political gather
ings at New Haven, where they were sung;
and enjoy them with as much gusto Rs toe
most devoted politician OF the canvass. "heh
engaged on the Geological Survey OF Copnec-
ticut, be was necessarily brought more IN
contact with men, and the influence OF this
association was to some extent visible IN
modifying bis morbid temper aud habits.
An anedete is told Of him in this cennec-
ton that serves to illustrate bis charscier.-
The Law contemplating the survey, provided
that the geoogist should receive bis remuner-
alton after he had made his report and 1t
had been approved by the Governor. Perez
val waited upon Governor Ellsworth with
the report, and was very cou!teously receiV-
cd. The Governor took the report, and prom.
ised to give it bis immediate attention, and
when be had examined it as the law requir-
ed, would make the necessary reqnisinon II
it we're satisfactory. Percival rolled up bis
report. and withdrew. He insisted that
neither the Governor dor any one else was
Ompetent to pass upon the merits OF DIS re-
port, and be would not submit to the ind'gni
ty. He was desperately io want of the mcu-
ey that the report would bring him, but ne
would not take it on such conditions Some
of his friends finally procured the repotttrcm
bin BY an innocent stratagem, and II rece'-
ed, of course, the formal appreciation OF the
Governor, who admitted his incompetence 70
revise geological work of DR.. Perciva,, but
was too good 40 officer not to yield due ODE
diepee to the law.
We all remember the story told OF the pair
of new shoes left at DR.. JohnsoD's door Wheh
he was Young man, and bad not decent
pair to bis feet. A similar anecdote Is reiat'
ed of Dr. Prrcivsl. A friend noticed thst
the cap, which had so long peered above
the cloak liz which the Doctor enveioped
bimself, was becoming altogether too SHABBY
and left word with a halter on the maih
street to present him with more appropriate,
though less poesicsl covering. In the most
delicate way possible, the shopman intimat
ed to the poet that any hat On the counter
was at bis service--but the poet turned on his
heels with contempt. He would never ac'
cept pecuniary favor Of any descr'T tor
Being at one time somewhst embarrassed hy
bis expenditure. on his books some OF his
friends made up purse Of Sl40O, which 'hey
rendered him to relieve bis difficulties. lie
wonld only accept it as loan, ana NOT
only insisted upon giving security but actu-
ally gave it in a mortgage on his library from
which his friends we're ultimately reimour
sed, principal and interest.
Of his poetical reputation DR.. Perelvai TOOK
no care. II he had managed his productiohss
with q 1.-THE of the art possessed by some OF
his Parnessiau brethren. be m'ght have &C
CURED money as well as fame from ms VIII
tiogs. Had he studied the secrets OF bot'presS
and establishment. o! cream-colored paper
laid between drab covers, or been iamiiiar
with the effects Of blue and gold 10 giving
popu larity to inspiration, Perelvai weu'o fave
become favorte, and the favor OF the peoli''
would bsvs reacted on his selection OF topics
aud famliarizsd bis style. Those lew poems
of his in which he treated common auo &C.
nestle subjects, fod q universal acceptance
with the lovers of poetry, end all ct them
deserve far larger popularity than they en-,
Joy. As to his library, We apprchend 1t VIII