Litchfield enquirer., 1860-12-27

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF MH DE FoREsT.--HEARD FROM AT LAsT.--Ihe follow ing condensed account of the wanderings of young MT. Erastus l.. De Forest of Watertown we find in the ~. y. Times of Tuesday. It will be read with interest by the many friends of Mir. Dc Forest ill this County:
 interest excited three years ago by the mysteri- ous disappearance of young De Forest from the Metropolitan Hotel-and the utter failure of all endeavors to detect any trace of him, He had very respectable connections was of good hab- it's. and it was impossible to account for his sud den absence. The general belief was that he had been murdered-or had fallen into the river during some momemtary attack of insanity. The last Australian mail, however, has brought let ters which place beyond doubt the fact that he is alive and in llls right mind. His experience, as related by himself, is most interesting and in condensed form we present it to our readers. Coming to this City he put up at the Metropol- tan Hotel. While there he became oppressed with the feeling that his friends no longer loved him or cared for him, and that they would be glad to know of his death. Having ample means with him he procured passage to San Francisco under an assumed name, and departed thither, leaving behind him his entire wardrobe and all the money he had over, to the amount of $500. While oa his passage, he found to his terror that lie was an object of notice from several persons whom he had known in early life as factory hands in his native village, and deeming that he had been discovered, he reas- sumed his own name and ever after retain cd it. He landed at San Francisco with nothing to do, with no friends, and without Ennsounonflxy ho c,,ffa only from privation, but from the inclemency of the weather. and was heartily glad of an oppcr- tunity to earn his board and lodging on ranch at some distance from the city. Not content, however, with this life, he made successful att tempt at teaching school, and as he was gradu- ate of Yale College, it is fair to presume he found the employment more congenial. At that he continued a year, by which. time he had saved sufficient to enable him to buy passage ticket for Australia, to which point he had determined at the outset to go. He at once found employ ment in the High School at Melbourne, as a Professor, referring the Trustees to Yale College for his identification. During all this time his mind was terribly exercised and his heart most keenly lscerated by the thought that his friends rsioiced in his departure. Supposing that those i who had recognized him on the steamer would have written home, he watched carefully the Eastern papers for adveftisoments. but seeing none, concluded that he was indeed forsaken by all whose affection he prized.
 His father and other friends, who have ever leherished him in their heart of hearts, think he FIT kRve been tsnperarily insane; and now HI <eEs from III n irties have been exchanged,
 lltirs matter. satisfactorily a1lpsted, it Iis jl6F to know that perfect undeIstand- ing anbs1ll l 1ith sall parties. Ampls Adnds have fbeen renaitted to Melbourne, and Dc Forest will in tho course of tho year, start homemard rid India and the contirent. This is certainly a very dortsnate teruliaasion off ssan9 adventure.