Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-11-02
Charleston Correspondence.

occasionally during the dull season. Until very
there has been little Of interest transpir
ing in the City, although we have been in the
enjoyment of that greatest of blessings-health-
and many Of our summer travellers lave spent
more of their time than usuel in town. Absen-
toes rapidly returning, business is reriving,
and our winter campaign Of work, pleasure, and
entertainment, is near at hand. So soon as it
shall have fairly opened, and the City becomes full
of strangers, will give you tho benefit Of some
Of my observations.
Having good doal of leisure time on my hands,
during the long summer mornings, have amused
myself with reuding somo Of the popular books
recently issued from our Southern Press. have
been particularly iuterestedn your townanan, Pro-
fcssor LaBorde's admirable History Of the South
Carolina College 1t has carried my thoughts
back to juvenile days, spent within tho classic
walls of that venerable Institution, and revived
a thousand pleasant "reminiscences of TINT joyous
aud careless period of life. Among my classmates
of twenty years ago, / recognize many an hor-
ored name, since associated with fame in public
or usefulness in private lie,-somc, still living in
Old Carolna-and jealous in advancing her IN
terestS-others who filled early graves, or went
out from their native State to seek their for
tunes in distant lands-muny cndcared to me by
the ties of youthful frendslip-and all bringing
back to my mind, each in Ills own way, some long
forgotten incident connected with our Collegiate
probation. Looking farther buck to the days of
our predecessors, what vast field of inquiry does
the perusal of that long catalogue of ilustrious
Statesmen, Judges, Advocates Heralds of the
Cross, learned Doctors and Professors, and men of
every cnling and pursui; in the world, suggest to
the rejecting mind? Apart from ull Of its trials
and rcyerses, its turmoils dscords, and occasional
injurious influences, what unnumbcrcd blessings,
on the whole, has our cherished Alma Mater con-
forred gu our State, and on the South, in literally
furnishing them with eminent ard useful citizens.
Going back iiftv years. - the earliest days of
the College, fluid names Of four survivors IF
the classes of 1S0S-0-who are now living in our
City, having reached the honorable age Of three
score years md ten. The only Representatives
of that memorable era in the History of the Col
lcgc when the great anu good Maxcy, to whom
they aillnokcd up 4 father ard friend, waS called
to preside over its dcstilics, these gentlemen form
Il connecting link between the early and Latter
days of our College. They can Look back almost
to its origin and Inauguration as Il par: of their
"reminiscences Of College life. I alluAc to Major
Benjamin y. lIcrio. Hon. James l.. prtigrl Hon.
William j. Grayson md Hon. Arthur p. IIayrc.
OF The class of lSnS the first named gentleman Is.
I believe, the sale survivor.
H. was n cassmatc of l[nn Jusiuh !. Evans:
with whom hn had formed youthful rrirnl-
ship, which was kept up until The lamentcd death
of that excellent nun md high. tnne,l Statesman
with mutual warmth and cnnstancy. (Julse liar
per, Governor NJ Her and Dr. Branrly, the former
President of Charleston College were a'so ncnl-
bers of this cass.) lie left College in his Senior
year, just before his class was gratluatrd-anl
entered the Army in which liz served until the
year 1916, when he married and removed to ;his
City. Cul. Erving. L.. S. A. and himself were
assistants of the distinguished patriot, Col Fran
ris kinlock lIugcr, who was Adjutant General
under Major General Thomas Pinckncy. lie cum-
nanded the Fort ut Georgetown, 5. C., during the
War of 1872. Three Of his brother Officers, Ma
ors Laval and Chanplin aud Col. Furgnson, are
now residing in Charleston. After learing the
Army, be was engaged i'll business in this City E'r
for some twenty years and WAS about removing
ais family to his extensive Sugar ESt2tc ii Florida
- hrol 4
lis plantation and valuable improvements, together
with many Of his negroes, were among the first
sacrifices to the destructive incurSiuns Of the In
lians.
In 1886 he received from General Jackson, then
President Of the United States, the appointment
If Navy Agent ut this fort, which he still holds.
Of naturally strong constitution ard large
muscular frame, he retains, ut an advanced age
both bodily und mental faculties. With un in
tinctiye aversion to politics and public life he has
ong since withdrawn from any connection with
either, while his habits Of reading and study have
Kept him fully posted in the literature anc history
If the times. Living peacefully and happily in
he retirement Of his family and surrounded Icy
hildren and grandchildren. and largo circle Of
,oung relatives he illustrates i'll his various rca
ions, the character Of tho good citizen, fond
ather and sincere christian.
OF the Class Of 1850, Hon. James L. Petigru.
he eminent Jurist and Hon. w. J. Grayson, the
former member OF Congress, from
his State, IRE the only living Representatives,
nr as I can learn. Both these gentlemen having
evotcd a nrgc portion of their career to public
ife their history is familiar to all of your readers
lr. Petigru is still actively engaged in The duties
f the profession Of which he stands at the head,
nd is, ut this time. as laborious student of its
nystcrieS rs any one Of the younger asprants Tor
Is honors und emoluments at our enlightened Bar.
Iulding and adorning the enviahle reputation of
eing the great Constitutional lawyer Of the South.
nd one of the intellectual giants Of tho profess
ion in this great country, he has long since
cached an eminence from which he can look down
pom popular hunors and demonstrations E:joy-
1g the rich rewards Of Il stern devotion to his
aling, and oecurpying position .emnenty
xulted above all tho distinctions it can confer
pom its votaries, he has long ceased to mnglc in
10 strifcs Of popular factions. leaving TO his
ounger brethren, the example Of y lifa Of labo.
ous devotion to the profession as the surcSl means
+ rising to emncnce in it. OF !; substantial hu,li-
frame, and genial, cheerful temperament, onr
fitted fellow citizen looks 10 he good for many
ore years of usefulness.
Mr.. Grayson, after serving his constituency long
nd faithfully in Congress, anu the Government
II twelve years ny collector of this port. retired,
,mc years ago from public life and has since
eroted himself earnestly to studios and pursuits