Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-17

A pleasant interchange of courtesies has re-
Gently taken place between Leicester in old Ed
gland and the Leicester of our immediate
neighborhood, which will not fail to interest
many readers, and do something, we trust, to
strengthen good viii and kindly feeling between
the two countries.
II had its origin in the visit which our former
townsman, Abraham Firth, Esq, now of Boston,
made TO England two or three years since. Mr..
Firth was a native of the English Leicester,
though leaving it an early age, and, when he re-
visited the old country, naturally turned his
steps towards it. He became so much interest
ed in its antiquities and monuments, as well as
in its modern Improvements, interesting manu-.
features, and evident prosperity that on return
ing home, he presented to the public library Of
Leicester, our neighbor-town, a valuable set of
books and photographs on the history i. e. of
leicester in England; being moved to do so by
the fact that his first home in America, and his
only hoPe until mature manhood, was in Lei
eester, wh.re bis education was obtained and his
first work done. His pleasant and kindly re-
membranee OF his early life there has been fire.
quently manifested by handsome donations 10
Its town library Wishing moreover 10 keep
both the Laicesters associated in his mind he
made a collection OF documents relating to the
history and condition Of our New England Lei
cester and sent them as gift to the prjncipal
library in Leicester, England.
This gift sent abroad, with letter of which We
have seen no copy, was acknowledged in due
time sby letter, of which the following is a
copy;
LEICESTER, England, Feb. 2. 1872
Dear eT: IN the name of the council of tbe
literary aud philosophical society of the town /
thank you very heartily for the interps,,tg
pamphlets relating 10 Leicester in New EngIand
the young namesake Of our own,-whleh W.
have recently received We shalt be yery ,Iad
indeed TO have the bound volumes OF pamD6lets
10 which You refer; copy Of Mr.. Washburn's
"HisiOry chichester would also be particularly
acceptable
So lmperlecty is the topography Of America
known ia this country, that TO most of us. the
FACT thar a second Leicester existed in New En-.
gland was a revelation. We shall not forget il.
however, in the future.
Your pamphlets are being read among ne
with deep interest The town reports etc set
before MS the portrait Of a brave, industrious
well-ordeTed community; while the account oil
the anniversary festival, (in July last) gives
poetry 70 the pictura, and shows us thar the
Angio-saxon race is everywhere of one blood
loving gold much, but truth and right and
Deanty sim more; striking out fearlessly into
Nahleo paths nut always yearnlng tenderly
alier the Old places Jeff behind
w sai " you ncross the great water. and
1niopsh YOU 70 al the inhabitants of New
5, ,essa God speed you, brothersl Build M
loMn EteAtf aud nObier that old Leiceeter'.
we sha not be Jealous You shan ~. -. ~.
sympathy aud all good wishes, aud anv N.Y..
which az Oh community can render ~ 1 ~ Dclp
one" young
We arc sending you little packet rs -.
aud photographs which we hope NAV ! oOo@s
much interest lor yon as your pamphlets an Si
Letter have Tor Us anu
WIFI cordial greetings, as from citizens n,
The Old republic under queen 10 citizens "a m
new republic under president, almost we ma,
brothers, parted only W an ocean, and bet,fep,
whom eumils and war shall be impossible, ",