The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-17

| been the pride of his life. and around which
his warmest affections seemed 10 twine. To
ward its founding and subsequent endowment
| he gave his best energies He made the tour
, of the West and South more than once In its
behalf. His appeals brought liberal responses
from the proverbially generous people OF
! those sections, many of whom were so devoted
! TO him that they travelled fifty miles to hear
him speak.
/ Ever since founding Bethany College he had
been its President. Those who have attended
! that institution do not need 10 be told of its
most interesting feature. Mr.. Campbell's
morning lectures, reported, as many of them
were during late years, for publishers, will
always be read and remembered. A chapter
was read in the Bible by some student selected
by alphabetical order, and then common ted
upon by the President. During these lectures
he always sat in his chair, and his remarks
We're of the easiest and most conversational
character. Frequently the whole hour would
be consumed on the philology of a single verse
But it was in social life, in the midst of his
friends and relatives, especially around his
own ever thronged and ever-hospitable fire
side, that Alexander Campbell was most truly
loved and honored, and there the vacuum can
never be filled. As 4 conversationalst, he
was as cons family the devoted centre of attrac-
tion for old and young, stranger or relative, as
ever were Coleridge or Macaulay. His infor-
nation, derived from lifelong study ana from
travels in Europe and America, and from his
experience among every variety of life, was
ineXhaustible, and always charming by It's
exceeding simplicity. His manner toward
the humblest domestic of his household was
engaging. Never were the Unborn character
istics of q gentleman more certainly mani
tested than in him. Children loved the very
sight of him. "None knew him but to love
him"
For months past he had been in failing health,
but his end was accelerated by n recent severe
cold, against the fatal effects of which his
long overtaxed energies struggled in vain. He
began TO sink very noticeably more than q
week ago, but up 10 the very last his wonder
full VITALITY resisted the approach of death, and,
in the language of one who watched with him.
the struggle was gigantic to the close. Few
men ever possessed greater strength of consti-
tuition. He had never known until recently
what it was TO suffer bodily ailment. For more
than forty years at one time in his life, He had
not been confined TO his ped by illness for a
single day. And yet no man ever taxed his
strength more constantly or more severely.
From his earliest manhood, and for more than
sixty years of his life, early and late, Mr..
Campbell was an incessant worker. His en-
durance was wonderful. Very little rest suf-
feed for him, so perfect and harmonious was
the organization of his physical and mental
powers.
The closing hours of this great and good
mans life were inexpressibly affecting TO the
group of tender friends and relatives that
watched round his bedside. At times his
mind would wander over old familiar scenes,
and he would recall them by name. He was
home. He was weary with his long journey,
and he spoke of his desire to be led to his
friends and kindred, and 10 be al peace. Not
a murmur, not complaint once escaped
him he was gentle, and meek, and patient
throughout-only he was oppressed with a
estless WEAKNESS. A letter, dated from his
chamber just before he died, speaks thus of
him:
uncle. We fully thought this would be his
last night Oh earth, but he has survived the
turn of the night, and may possibly wear
through another day. His strength is Won
derful All this night l have thought, as
w"tched him, of Il giant graphing with des
perate foe, or OF some noble animal struggling
TO be diSentangled from the enemy's tolls
chated and fretted within its narrow bounda-
rieS. Death has no power TO dim his great
mind; his senses are rs acute and clear as
ever, and his beautiful nature shows the same
in all things. His gentlenesS and patience
mid his suffering break all orr hearts. Such
sweetness and submission 10 the slightest
wish of others around him, such kind
consideration for every one who comes
into his presence-hiS little expressions of
greeting, and his inquiry after the well
fare of those who come to see him, and such
putting away of personal complaint or suffer
ing, moves every beholder to tears. All this
could never be seen in a character less great
and grand than his. He is himself, noble and
good and great, as Nature made him, TO the
very last. The commanding and fascinating
elements OF MS character are lnIlCL III Tie
midst of the wreck of matter. Such grand
sentences as have fallen from his lips-such
beautiful soliloques upon the fieetness of
time and upon doing good while we can &c.
ARE wonderful, very wonderful, to all of us.
All the records of great men, and their closing
hours, give no such precious remembrances.
To us who love him so he appears the greatest
of them all. Humboldt, you know, looking
upon the setting sun with his dying eyes,
said, Light more light . and Goethe, dying
at the same hour of closing day, raised his
hand and made as though he were writing in
the air, according 10 his habit of describing
all his sensations as they came. But these
dying witnesses of the lives they had led,
characteristic as they We're, how tame, how
meaningless, compared with what our uncle
expressed an evening or so ago in watching
the glores of the departing sun. It's last
rays were streaming through the windows
directly in front of his bed, and fell upon 1t.
A group of friends sat around him in silence,
and he, turning from them to the sinking sun,
repeated that passage from Malichi which
had been so often on his lips during his life,
running thus: But unto you that fear my
name shall the sun of righteousness arise with
healing in his wings What a beautiful tesu-
mony of the work of his long life was conveyed
in that question"
Mr.. Campbell died at his residence, near the
village of Bethany, Brooke county, West Nlr-
ginia, sixteen miles from Wheeling, on sun
day night, the 4th of March, instant, at
fifteen minutes to twelve o'clock, In the
seventy eighth year of his age.