The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-04-27

rHt pnTa or a. IoaA RrchgsE HEs SAD
HISTORY.

many years he has lsd 90 secluded hfo
that We presume nearly al % bis ae-
quaintanecs hercAbouis lost thought of
him, Of 4 they have remembered him At
al, il has been with the sappoaition
that he was ter away from here, and
possibly dead
We ailude to William Knight He
came to this county from England. and
settled in Davenpor, nearly thirty years
ago He was an attorney, bad prae
hoed law in London for years, and was
a very able man. His family eonnec.
tions in the old country we're all highly
respectable people lie hung out his
sign here and in Rockingham, and soon
built up quite practice, snch as il was.
He WAS finely educated man, possess
ed very retontve memory, and was
kindly in disposition; Of pleasing ad
dress, and Of a social nature. So il was
no wonder that he became popular
among the people All at once, when
be was looked upon as a rising man,
when his prospects wore brightest, he
dropped ont Of society, aud was soon
"as though he we're one dead, The
secret OF that refinement to lonely
cabin IN the woods is known TO but few,
but nov that be ia dead there can be no
harm in Publishing it
When knight left England It was
without the knowledge Of his relatives
aud friends there He arrived at New
York and Immediately pushed Tor the
far West, and Davenport was as Ear
West as men cared to go in those days
His friends in England supposed that
he had gone 10 America, and adyer,is-
cd descriptions d him, with offers Of
good reward for tidings Of bis wherea
bouts. For years their efforts were
fruit!ess. Bat at last they took anoth-
er course, which was successful, He
]
possessed worry heavy gold watch, OF
very peculiar construction. Desenp
tons Of this watch were sent to the
watch dealers in the principal cities in
! America, with instructions for close IN
vestigation as to the owner il Il ever
came into their hands Well, Knights
watch got out Of order There was no
body here who could repair it. Ac-
cordingly, be sent it to Philadelphia,
and, us luck would have it, 10 an estab-
lshment in which description Of the
watch was posted The proprietor
wrote to the London parties that he
bad received the watch. Over to this
country, as soon as the ocean winds
would let them, came Knights friends,
making their way to Davenport as rap
idly as the meagre facilities would al
low They held conference after con-
fenence with him, to induce his return
TO England They resorted TO strato-
gy, and endcayored to secure his arrest
for some offence, that he might be sent
back as prisoner All Ia vain, They
bade him farewell with sad hearts, and
returned to their native land.
And Knight From this time for
ward until bis death, on Sunday last,
he was changed man. He bought a
small farm near Rockingham, heayi-
I. ly wooded tract, erected sort Of shan
ty in the forest, and there. alone with
no companions but his pipe, books and
paper he spent his time. He received
letters from England regularly, and low
ed to read of new and noted books and
their authors He cooked his own food,
washed his own clothes, cut his own
wood, and was his own servant gener-
ally, He rarely received callers. Grant
q Smith were his agents, for no was IN
receipt Of little income, and either
one Of the firm was welcome, or mes
senger from them, nobody else was r.
His cabin had a rough interiors; bed
ia one corner, a table in the middle of
! the floor, one or two chairs aud trunk
/ constituting is furniture. A fireplace
that would admit cord wood, gave him
warmth and enabled him to cook his
food. Sometimes be would be seized
with letter writing it, and letter 70
! his lawyers every day for fortnight
would be lie result, au answer being
expected Ly him a fally rs though the
matter Of correspondence 9as 81 the ut-
most Importance Aud thus he lod tho
liie 81 hermit, save N relation With hls
attorneys alone
Tgo years ago knight was seized
with gout, and was s. afflicted al 10 bo
scarcely abls u move Qnarters wero
s provided iof Inn at the house 81 Ber.
Q nard Heniek, va the Locust street
road, two miles west u Brady street,
whore be was well taken caro- d unlil
+ Sunday. the l4lh instant. when be- died.
) having just passed the 74th annlgersa-
: ~ of bis birthday
? Why be, who WAS NO gifted by nature
) and 20 splendidly edaaeted, chose q
Z abandoa bis luxurious home and veal
! thy friends, make bis way b lhe Amer
D lean wilda for homo. and lLsn, when