The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-05

tive town. The enthusiastic reception ne met Win
from the people of Danvers has left impression on
all concerned that will not soon be erlced. He re-
turned to England in 1858.
His Gift to the Poor of London.
A few years after his return to London, he set
about giving effect to his long-cheTshed Intention
OF doing something for the poor Of London. Whether
we consider the prlncely magnitude of the gift or
the wise application that has been made OF It, this
scheme of bencvolence is one Of the grandest re-
cord, either in ancient or modern times. The sums
bestowed, and the dates OF their announcement are
as f0llows:-March 12, 1862 G150,000 January 90
1866, c1O0,OO0; and December 5, 1865, etO0,O0O
making total Of cS5O, coo, given "to ameorate the
condition Of the poor OF London. This almost un-
paralleed generosity awakened grateful response
in the hearts Of Englishmen Unfortunately, in one
sense though not in another, it was not easy to nd
tangible mode OF expressing tine deep gratitude
and genuine admiration that had been aroused in
the community. The same feelings that led Mr.. Pea
body to decline the public Acknowledgements of the
cities Of his native land in 1885, prevented him from
accepting the hOnors which were ready to be
showered upon him. The freedom of the city was
bestowed upon him by the Corporation of London:
and acknowledgements from many other public bodies
were freely offered Arrangements were also en-
tered into for The erection OF his statue The only
occasion on which he appeared in public was at the
close OF the Working-Classes Exhibition in the
Guildhall, in 1885, when he received most enthus-
astic reception.
But this did not satisfy the gratitude OF the Eng
lish nation, and few years ago it was proposed to
confer upon Mr.. Peabody either baronetcy or the
Grand Cross of the order Of the Bath Mr. Peabody,
still true to his American instincts, declined them
both and when asked what gift, If any, he would
accent he repied:-"A letter from the Queen of
England which may carry across the Atlantic, and
deposit as memorial Of one of her most faithful
sons" To this request ready response was given
by letter. which has since been deposited, along
with the portrait Of her Majesty in the Peabody In
stitute at Danvers In this letter. which dated
Windsor Castle March 2S, 1866, the Queen said:-
'The queen hears that Mr. Peabody intends shortly
to return to America and she would be sorry that
he should leave England without being assured by
herself how deeply she appreciates the noble act OF
more than prncey mundcence by which he has
sought to relieve the wants OF her poorer subjects
residing in London. 1t is an act, as the Queen be-
leves, wholly without parallel, and which will carry
It's best reward in the consciousness Of having con-
can little help themselves.
"The Queen would not, however, have been sats-
| of her sense of his munifcence, and she would
gladly have conferred upon him either baronetcy
or the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, but
that she understands Mr. Peabody to feel himself
debarred from accepting such distinctions.
'It only remains, therefore, for the Queen to give
Mr. Peabody this assurance OF her personal feelings,
| which she would further wish to mark by asking
him to accept miniature portrait OF herself which
| she will desire to have painted for him, and which,
when finished either be sent to him in America
given to him on the return which she rejoces to
hear he meditates to the country that owes him so
| much"
To this letter Mr. Peabody made the following
| response:-
| ''THE PALACE HOTEL, BUCKINGHAM GATE, LONDON,
April 8, 1S66--Madam Il feel sensibly inability
to express in adequate terms the qualification with
which have read the letter which your Majesty has
done me the high honor of transmitting by the hands
| of Earl Russell.
"On the occasion which has attracted your Ma
| jesty's attention, of setting apart portion of my
| property to ameliorate the condition and augment
| the comforts of the poor of London, have been
| actuated by deep sense of gratitude to God, who
has blessed me with prosperity, and of attachment
to this great country where, under your Majesty s
benign rule, have received so much personal kind
ness and enjoyed so many years of happiness.
| Next to the approval of my own conscience,
' aes eT@yS Letter. P5Te to me OF
! appreciation of the Queen of England,
whose whole life has attested that her exalted sta
| the humbest of her subjects. The portrait which
your Majesty is grac!ousy pleased to bestow on me,
| shall value as the most gracious heirloom that
can leave in the land of my birth, where, together
with the letter which your Majesty has addressed to
me, it will ever be regarded as an evidence of the
kindly feeling OF the Queen of the United Kingdom
| towards citizen Of the United States.
'Your Majesty's most obedent servant
| GEORGE PEABODY"
His Second Visit to the United States.
During the civil war in the United States, Mr.. Pea
body remained in England, taking no part whatever
in the struggle either by action or public expression
of sympathy. BY birth he was a Northern man, bu
his business relations in this country had been prn
| cipally with the South and with Southern men, and
it was therefore NATURAL and perhaps eXcusabe, tina
he should take an entirely neutral stand, devateG
FROM however, in gift of $4,000 to the Sanitary
Fund But soon as the war was fairly closed, h
paid another visit to the United States arriving il
1866 and remaining nearly year, and during hi
stay gave ample proof that he sincerely desired tC
promote the best interests of the Southern States
The Southern Educational Fnnd aud Other
BeneiactiOns.
The number and munifcence of his benefactiOn
during this visit win appear almost incredible. Tt
Phillips Academy, in Andover, he gave S25,OO9; tC
the Newburyport Library, $4,000; to building new
church in Georgetown, Massachusetts, SleO,OOO
to library in the same town, $4,000; t
the Essex Institute, at Salem, $4,000; TO thu
library at Thedord Vermont, $1,000; TO tht
Massachusetts, Historical Society, in Boston, 800 900
to the Peabody Institute OF Archaeology at Cam
bridge S150000; to found a geological brdnch a
Yale College, $780, 900; to the Peabody Institute,
Baltimore the additional gift, alluded to above, o
$500 OOO- to the Maryland Historical Society, $4,000
to KENYON College, Ohio, S25OOO and for library il
| GEORGETOWN, D. c., sl5,O ,OOO besides an addtlona
Gift TO the Peabody Institute at Danvers and s 400,
600 which were distributed among his relatives il
| this country. But the crownng benefacton OF thi
visit was the foundation OF the Southern Educa
| tional Fund. The fund was entrusted b.
| MIR. Peabody to the management of
| ROard of Trustees composed OF eminent men o
both sections Of the country, in whose hands, darnl
his second visit, he placed money and securiGe
amounting to 81 100000, to which was added, las
summer another million by his direction, am
urider the direct superintendence of the Rev. DR.
| Sears the general agent selected by the Board o
| Trustees the interest and part of the principal o
this vast sum Is being applied TO the assistance 0
schools and the general promotion of education II
the Southern States, without distinction of race o