New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-23


and ye,teIday Was invited TO go fishing. IL
vas under,tcoA to be very 6ne smusemsnt.
"a. IA the boat two hours tAOagh is WA very warm.
and caught two fIb.' 'Of what kind, B,roni'
Asie the LADY Indeed, do Rot rscolIecs per-
fectly, but one of them wSa whale "A whale!
Baron, in tie North River'' Yes, on my word,
a very fac whale, as that gentleman informed me.
Did sou sot tell me i. Was 8 whale, Maori AN
eel, Baron Il beg jour pardon, my lady, bat tho
gentleman certainly called il awhile. But It n Of
little consequence. shall abandon the trade not.
wittstarding the fine Amusement. it Affords"
Immedistsiy after the act Of Congress in June,
1880, SLOWING him handsome annuity as q COM
promise Of ha claims, Steuben retired 10 bis farm,
alluded TO above, where from tia. time 10 regularly
spent the Summer months, returning in the Autumn
to New.YOrk TO pass the Winter among hi, old
scqusinianees. 1.-THE idea Of culti7sting his lands,
of which about sixty acres were then cleared, aud
of erecting fns manson on it, had been favor
ie plan of Steuben since he began to enjoy his an
nuity, and TO feel easier in his money affairs. AT
that time some sixteen families residsd on dis
patent, WI o had durable leases at from $40 TO $50
of talking about bis farming prospects, about the
artificial lake, which he proposed to make by using
the water Of two fne brooks that flowed
through his land; about he fine QuAliy and situa-
ton of lis land and its settlement On his little
mare Molly he rode through the fields, watched tho
improvements, and gave directions. In the even
ing he .aw his friends and neighbOrs, played chess
with bis companions, read newspapers or spoke of
the politics Of the day, which, Just at that time,
when the French Revolution had reached its cul-
minatine point, and when the revolutionary armies
fought VIGOROUSLY against Prussia and Austris,
were particularly interesting. Steuben subscribed
to The Ltydtn (IIollsld) Gazette, weekly news
paper which, at that period, held the rank of the
present Gahgndni's Messenger, and gave the best
and quickest information about the events Of the
day."
Thus few years passed away, until the Autumn
Of 1924, when on the 18th Of November, in the
apparent Enjoyment of perfect health, and the best
humOr, after spending the evening as usual, no re-
tired about II o'clock, aud early in the morning
was found by bis servant stricken with paralysis
and in dying state. He remained, however, ap-
phItHtg uuins SASssNA H@As VI 'NN
day, although he was often in commissions. The
medicines which were administered gave him only
temporary relief. The stroke was too violent, the
case was hopeless and after lingering till little
after noon Of The 25th, he expired without any
struggle or visible pain.
Steuben had often expressed the wish, in the
circle Of bis friends, that his remains should DO
wrapped in bis military cloak, and buried without
parade The place for his interment was selected
under hemlock tree, on bill in the midst Of
wood. The funeral was appointed at noon on the
30tb. eli, neighbors, about thirty in Dum6er,
FASTENED to the farm to pay their last respects to
their beloved old tOwnsmsn. 1t was simple and
modest cortege which, on shveting, Winter day,
accompanied bis remains to the grave. No mourn
ing parade or music was there; no crspe covered
eagle, or colors were to be seen; no cannon fred a
military salute; no word was spoken; no funorsi
Grafton delivered Some hsndfuls of earth, and the
tears of few manly and sincere friends, were the
last tribute paid to the citizen soldier who, having
contributed in no small degree to the attainment OF
American Independence, now found lasting repoao
in the unbroken stiffness Of her primeva forests"
In addition to the immediate subject of the BIZ
ography, many interesting details are interviewer
in the narrative in regard to the leading military
men in the war of the Revolution. The author has
discussed the character of Lafayette with freedom
and bOldness; but the comparatively unfavorable
estimate which he has formed of that illustrious
patriot is hardly confirmed by historical evidence,
and, we are persuaded, will produce little change
in the cherished convictions Of the American
people.