The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-01

new York Csr~SspenAsnee.
Nav YORK, 1sb. 20, go.
EpIroRs GATE CIrY Tit Is sometime since
last wrote you, not because there are no,
enough Of daily passing events which are not
notiosd in the public prints to make out a
letter Of, but because have not had the
time, nor have felt in the mood for writing.
| And, mnraoxer, i doubt not thu readers Of
the gate will agree with me in opinion
that my commu nicaaions will be more satis-
factory to be few and far between.
To-day, Washington's birth day, 10 cele-
brated here, and though the rain has poured
in torrents much Of the day, the Military have
been out in full Uniform. do not believe
there is so bad climate in the world a. New
York. Salt water not only laves her shores,
giving an extremely damp atmosphere, but
salt water, mixed with mud and snow, runs
down her streets like . mighty dirty river.
One Of the daily papers very appropriately
compares the atmosphere along Broadway
to that part of pork house in which they
pack and sHis the pork.
Afsw evenings aimee heard Cassius M.
Clay at Cooper Institute. No man probably
was ever received there with more enthusi-
asm. had never seen him before, and I
never listened to speech with more inter-
est. He is q noble man, without political
ambition, devoting his life to the cause OF
liberty and human rights. You have no doubt
read bis speech, but there were some inter-
ssting incidents which occurred during his
address which we're not reported.
When speaking Of the men who had 70.
gently been driven out Of Kentucky BY mob
Law for expressing their opinions on the SUBJ
ject Of slavery, he said that every man in that
State laid himself lisbls to be driven from
bis home If be expressed an opinion in favor
of freedom. Here some person Dried out,
"bus they can't drive you out" This
brought down the house, and shout after
shout, and cheer after cheer rang through
the immense hall, and IL seemed az though
the audience could never become composed
again. At last, when order again prevailed,
81 will tell you (said Olay) why they have
not, and cannot drive me out. 1t 10 not be-
cause have more physical power or more
courage than hundreds Of other Kentuoki-
ans: but it 10 because defend the rights Of
the poor non slaveholding white men OF nv
State. Wherever make an appointment to
speak, there they rally around me. L am
thosr pfat nd al
me.n / could mention several other Incl
dents which interested me, but cannot give
any adequate idea of the effect they produce ID.
On Monday the funeral Of Stephen Whit
ney took place at Trinity Church. He was
| the next in wealth to Astor--probably was
worth twelve millions. Having been q ten
ant of his many years ago, and knowing him
personally, turned aside to witness the last
sad rites over his remains. The service was
brief-a short prayer, the reading Of por-
ton of Scripture and some professional mu-
sic-and the remains Of the millionaire were
carried to their last resting place. A son
and several grandchildren were the only
mourners present-perhaps 1t would be more
| appropriate to. say the only relatives present.
| There were no female mourners in the
| Church--that custom which is as cold and
chilling as the walls of Trinity itself, for
babe their attendance.
| This rich man died. Do his neighbors
speak of his benevolence? Do the public
t Journals state hew much of his vast yearly
income he has given to ameliorate the con-
| dition OF his fellow men; to spread christi.
anity; to endow institutions Of learning p
Not word; but they say be was a shrewd
and successful merchant; that he was meth
odieal, and that for many years he had
employed no assistant, but attended in per-
son TO the details Of his business. And we
we're informed by one of the daily papers
that the last act of his life ives to put his
check book into bis desk drawer, lock it up,
and put the key in his pocket
Some three or four years ago, in passing
Trinity Church, about noon, seeing few
persons entering the Church stopped, and
on entering the vestibule found it was fu
neral occasion. There were about twenty in
the Church when entered. approached
the cofiu, which was open and standing ia
the vestibule, and discovered that the re-.
mains were those OF aH aged female. The
sexton, the only person in the vestibule, In
formed me that the remains were those of
Mas. ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
The cofkn was Immediately closed. do
not think more than five or six persons saw
the corpse, and not more than ten or fifteen
entered the church after went in; so tia,
there were not to exceed thirty-fve persons
in the church during the services, which 90.
cupied not to exceed ten minutes, after which
this relict of the great Alexander Hamilton
was placed in q vaultin Trinity Church yard
where rest the ashes Of the husband Of hel
youth. Ipresume the burial OF Mrs. Hamii.
ton Ia the only one which has taken place in
Trinity Church grounds in quarter Of q
century.
/ This "city Of the dead" (Trinity grounds, ]
where sleep the remains OF more than two
hundred thousand, "a greater number at on,
period than the living popula ton OF thi,
great city at the same period,-is always Il
mo place Of interest. When q boy, and
while it was open TO burial, used to 2.
4 through the grounds. Then there were sew
eral large yAults.-made like vaLar cistArns