New-York tribune., 1872-10-11
OBITUARY.
con,Inrca ,rnn, l1r,f PC,

|
ing the election of Col premont. IfNyas his polit
ica fortune to be always the champi''n Oh o'Aefs
He failed of receiving the nomination, whi'" never
was any secret that he desired III 1860; yet 'pe VINO
in the National Convention received l73 YottS l"u
certainly q right to aspire to the coveted o. 'ce
But other considerations, winch subsequent even
have fully justified, rendered imperative the nom-
nation of Mr. Lincoln which Mr.. Seward promptly
supported. 1t was almost q matter Of course that
the new President should tender TO him the first
place in the Cabinet, and he became Secretary OF
! State in 1861.
| The Rebellion followed. OF Mr.. Stewards course
during that momentous period it is hardly necessary
that we should speak in detail From the beginning
| the Secretary was prompt, active shrovd, and un-
| compromising. His course has been tho subject OF
| some adverse criticism, but it must be considered
with all the surrounding circumstances. Perhaps
! the foreign policy which camo specially within Mr..
Stewards official province win be the feature of his
administration Of affairs destined hereafter TO re-
ceve the greatest attention. His correspondence
with Mr.. Charles Francis Adams. our Minister IN
London and with the diplomatic corps in Europe
generally, has been published, and remains monu-
ment OF Mr.. Stewards energy, official industry, and
patriotism.
The general JOY which porvaded tho country upon
the suspension of hostiites was sensiby abated by
the assassination Of Mr.. Lincoln, and by the at
tempted murder Of the Secretary, who was assaulted
while in bed and ILL., by Paine ono of the Booth con-
sirators. Mr.. Seward escaped and but just escaped
with his life, ana his pTccarl0us condition Tor 8omo
time added TO the anxiety of the country. Happily
recovering hc remained in the Cabinet OF Mr. John
son, sharing IN its responsibilities and bearing his
share of the criticism which the President 5 policy
provoked. This may be considered the cud Of Mr.
,Ifr IIp M
the pleasures and the equal pains of oco but spent
the evening of his days in extended foreign trayei,
and in recording the great events in which he had
borne so conspicuous a part.
In 18C9-1O Mr. Seward, in company with
party, visited California and Mexico. which
he reached after leaving San Francisco,
in which city be had been received
with much public attention. 1lr. Stewards journey
round the world, an extraordinary achievement Tor
man of bis years, is the last event Of his lie at
tracing public attention. 1t is needless to say that
everywhere and even in the far East his reputation
had preceded him, and everywhere no was kindly
received and entertained Many letters from persons
of his party found therway into the public Journals
and were read with interest.
Since his return Mr.. Seward has lived at bis home
in retirement, and mostly engaged in literary pur-
| suits His residence of Auburn is spacious
| and elegant house, standing IN the midst
of large and wooded garden which
| fills an entire block. The retired statesman here
| dispensed that generous Hospitality which those
who have enjoyed it can never forget. The house is
filed with singular testimonials of regard and es-
teen from every quarter Of the world which have
been presented to SIR Seward since his retirement
to private life. There specimens of ore from
Western mines; pictures from the young Art
Academy of Mexico; walking sticks ard snuff
Il. of ..olah ha Iut ln
most curious present is a gorgeous silk banner from
China. such "a the men OF rank have horne before
them in professions, with the portrait Of Mr. Seward
in the center lis sons embroidered at the top, and
around the border Il grotcsque crowd of bypotheti-
cal ancestors.
II is understood that since his return. Mr.. Seward
has been ENGAGED upon two literary works of i'm
portauce. These are : /. An Account of His
Travels, with Comments and Observations; and 2.
A History of His Life and Times. lie was accus-
toned TO spend several hours OF every day upon
these works. All tho FIRST was dictated to Miss
Olive Risley Seward, his adopted daughter He was
greatly assisted in the second by Alr. f. W. Seward,
formerly Assistant Secretary Of State. The first is
finished and is to be published by the Mcssrs.
Appleton The second, we regret TO say, Is only
about half written but it will probably be COM
Melted by Mr. T. w. Seward. At Auburn, Mr.. Sew
ard divided his; time between reading, debating,
driving in the open air. and receiving his friends.
The hooks which those who are interested in this
event will desire to consult are The Works OF Mr.
Seward, with Biographical Memoir, edited by
George f. Baker; The United States Diplomatic
Correspondence 1S6l-GS; the same, abridged by the
author; Stewards Life, by JeffersOnian Repubh-
can 1860 Mr.. Seward contributed the article on
DE Witt Clinton to the New American Encyclopedia,
and wrote The Lifo of John Quincy Adams with
the Eulogy before the Legislature of New-York.
The best history of the man will be found IN the
annals of the Republic for the period of full half
century.
In this hastily written sketch OF career so long
and 40 crowded with incident much has necessarily
been omitted and much may have been forgotten.
We have elsewhere endeavored to give an estimate
of Mr.. Stewards personal and public character In
the war of politics and in the conflicts of ambition
many things may have occurred which we should
not care to mention in the presence of such death.
We choose this morning mainly to remember
the statesman who was oftenest found
ON tbe side of what he deemed to be
the best interests Of his country; the advocate who
without fee or hope of il, so often came to the de-
tense of the poor and the otherwise defenseless the
early advocate of education and of philanthropic
reforms; the busy student, the untiring worker the
philosopher who met old age with cheerfulness, and
consumed his last days in liberal pursuits The diff
ferences of Mr. Seward with his contemporaries will
he forgotten but n great portion of what he did
for the Republic will pass into history and will JUS
tify an honorable record.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MIR. sEwARD'S DEATH.
AUBuRN. n. Y, Oct. 10.-Mr Seward, having
taken cold and been somewhat ailng for day or two,
was on the evening of Saturday the 5th inst, seized
| CHI ulyslCian Theodore