The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-18
Observation-Disclosures.

Observation-Disclosures
Mp En1roR.-But few persons will fall tn
,roo;.ta tbe feeling and sentiment which
sfarlslo +hronoh the following communica-
s ~ fr,m an old citizen; for but few are
80 lf the fact that in the flora OF ones
tive cline are preserved the happiest MEM
6 of Young life. There is rustic IN the
NJ of 4 native tree. transpianted though 1t
,rh;ch the ear iutuitivciy detects & hue
Fits leaf an odor in its bud ana blossom,
.t meyer fail to repeat individual history,
"a awaken the gentest and purest emotions.
Sr LOUIS, Mo-, 2Sth Feb'y, 1867.
LEA. Leasburg, Caswell County, N c.:
Nv DEAR SIR-I am a native of Person
county. North-C Carolina; l write this letter
. YOU for the purpose hereinafter stated
gentleman, with whom it has been my
Food fortune to have and held most intimate
personal relations of friendship, and for
Syhom Ientertain the highest regard, In this
city. for period of more than forty years.
Henry Shaw, Esq, many years ago purchas-
ed large and valuable tract OF land near
this CITY. On this tract of land, he has been
ot work for more than twenty years, in es-
tabIisbinr an Herbarium, laying out and i'm
Drovinu his grounds at y great and heavy
expcpse ornamenting and embellishing these
lands with great taste and elegance, for this
nuroose collecting trees, shrubs, vines plants
and flowers from all parts of the whole veg
etable kingdom, in all parts of the globe
In this great work, including the original cost
of the lands. it has been said he has eXpen-
<lcd more than a million dollars, in the lay
inc out and emhellishing his grounds in the
most refined and tasteful manner, in erect
inc costly buildings of hewn stone, and
other expensive Improvements of a lasting
and permanent character, and so far. as ma
teriais and human ingenuity can make them
to last for all time. Growing on his grounds
with success and to perfection through his
hot houses in this climate by means of heat
REGULATED nv steam, the grapes of Muscat, and
shose of the richest flavor from Ithica in
Greece.
Mr., Shaw is gentleman of very large for
q tune, of fine classical and finished education.
n speakinr and writing more than one modern
}anouave with case and elegance, having his
mind enlarged and improved by extensive
trayels and observation throughout the whole
habitahle civilized world He intends to be-
oueath and donate this great monument of
his lberaity and genius-this his individual
proud triumph of civilization and cultiva
ted refnemcnt-to certain public functional
ries. to he held in trust in all coming time
for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of
this city. Having created an ample fund
for the support of the institution and to
maintain the same from the adjacent lands,
which he has leased out at L certain rental,
with provisions for, renewal of the leases, for
that purpose.
In visiting and cOnvcrsing with Mr.. Shaw
about his grounds and grand improvements,
| mentioned to him the fact. that there were
certain trees of my native State, North Caro-
lima none Of which lie had in his Herbarium,
which. according to the books on this sub
iect in which he was well read and informed
about, lie had knowledge of. He kindly
assisted me in making out the following list,
as desirable TO have amongst his other col
lections. viz:
Pines-prickley comb pine, pinus pungcns,
4 lollotv pine pinus It;ed, long leaf pine,
pinus australis. Tupulo-sour gum, two
kinds, black gum, sweet gum. Chinquepin-
chinquepn oak, water oak, iron wood feath-
er wood, poplar. Vines of fox grapes
or muscadine, commonly called slooes. in the
common language of the country scupper-
\ nong. &c, &c
Mr. Shaw has kindly offered to give
corner within the stone wall enclosure of his
valuable grounds, in which to plant any trees
or vines that might get from North Caro-
a lima. and which he would name the North
4 Carolina DECISION " in honor of that good
old State of which it is my pride to be a
native.
For the purpose of procuring these trees,
l send herewith a special messenger, Mr..
Richard Bowling, the bearer of this letter,
to you; and ask you to do me the kindness
to aid him by your counsel and advice in
procuring the trees, and effecting the object
ofhs mission. 1t is my wish to obtain some
IL. -
land on which / was born, and which lies
about half mile south of where Washington
Jeffrey's residence was, and on which he
resided in the 1884. Just thirty-three years
ago. I visited the place of my nativity, but
found no signs of the ancient domicile; not
even that last and mOurnful veStige of human
habitations, the ruins of chimney, were
left to mark the spot of my nativity, but the
sweet pure spring at the foot of the hill still
flows forth its pleasant stream, where when
a child had played in the branch and built
my little mills.
i For the trifing expense I may incur in
a procuring these trees from North Carolina,
Il am more than compensated in the reflection
that | may have contributed a very small
mite to this noble enterprise of Mr.. Shaw ;
and that any native of North Carolina who
shall visit these lastly cultivated grounds,
u some hundreds years hence, when l shall
have been swept down the stream of time
into the vortex of forgetfulness, and shall
there hear the breeze moaning through the
branches of these stately pines, like some
i spirit OF the air. will have his State pride
moved in looking at the North Carolina
dto'si0n." Then may it be said:
But when stood beneath the fresh green tree,
WMch living waves where thou ddst cease to
live"
1 These visitors and pilgrims to the classic
shades OF the Missouri Botanical Gardens"
VIII, at least then and there revere and honor
the memory of Henry Shaw, the founder of
that noble institution.
1 ana sir with very great respect &c.
JOHN F. DARBY.