New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19
THE SEWARD MEMORIAL
TRIBUTE OF THE HON. CHARLES FRANCIS
... ADAMS

.r. ADAMS
EXERCISES AT ALBANY YEsTERDAY-THE CHURCH
cRowDED-DIsuNGUrsHED PERSONS PRESENT
ALBANY, April 1s-The Seward memorial services.
under the auspices Of the Legislature, took place
to-day at the North Reformed Dutch Church, OF
which DIR. Clark is pastor. Every seat was occupied
aud number of people were obliged TO stand
in the aisles though the tickets, it was thought,
were limited to q much smaller number than the
church would seat. The Senate and Assembly met
in their respective chambers. The Court Of Appeals
room, the Adjutant-Generals room, and the
various Committee rooms were used for the
judges State officers, and other bodies who
were to participate. About $50 o'clock Gov. Dix,
accompanied by the members of his staff. led the
way from the Capitol to the church. Following
came Lieut.-Gov. Robinson and Speaker Cornell,
with the two houses of the Legislatures next the
members of the Seward family and invited guests
from various parts of the State. Among those in
this division of the procession were Frederick W.
Seward, VIM. II. Seward, G. w. Seward and son;
ex-President Fillmore ex-Gov. Edwin ID. Morgan,
Thurlow Weed, the Hon. VIM. NJ Evarts, the Rev.
DIR. Z. n. Potter, President of Union Universe
ty; ex-senator T. @. Alvord. the Hon.
Geo. w. Patterson, the Hon. James Bowen, Freder-
lex Douglass, John NJ. Langston, DR.. s. Oakley Van
derpoel Health Officer of New York, the Hon. Rich
ard NJ. Blatchford, the Hon. e. Cornell, the
Right Rev Arthur C. Cox, Erastus Brooks, Angus
tus Scbell, Judge Prinde of Genesee, DR.. Brainard
of Auburn w. G. Warner of Rochester, the Rev. A.
ID. Mays, and many others. The rest Of the line OF
march was arranged az follows: The Judges Of the
Court of Appeals. the Judges of the Commission of
Appeals the State officials, the Mayor Recorder and
Common Council of this city, members of the press,
the officers of the Senate and Assembly Of the State
of New-York.
At 10 o'clock the procession moved, the church
bells tolng, and marched to the church. All along
the line of march flags were displayed at half-mast
and draped in mourning. During the services many
places OF business were closed. On reaching the
church, the ushers under the direction OF Senator
Perry seated those in this procession in the pews
reserved for them All the other pews were already
occupied by ladies and invited guests. The Gov
ernor Mr.. Adams, the Lieutenant-Governor,S Speaker
Cornell, the Rev. DIR. Clark Bishop Cox, Senator
Perry, Assemblyman Clapp, the Chairmen of the
Senate and Assembly Memorial Committees, and the
Clerks Of both Houses Messrs. Dayton and ODon-
nell occupied seats ON the platform directly behind
the pulpit.
At 1045 the exercises began. How sleep the
brave" beautiful quartet for male voices by
Rookie, and arranged by Mr.. j. X. Thomas. was Sung
with admirable skill and precision by Messrs. VIM
Mcdonald first tenor; II. r. Humphrey, second
tenor j. r. Thomas, first bass, and VIM. III. Davis,
second bass This was followed by long. approprl-
ate, and affecting prayer by the Rev. Dr. Clark. Mr.
George ". Morgan then performed Handles Dead
March in Saul" Charles R. Dayton, Clerk Of the
Senate read the memorial resolutions, after which
Mr. J. T. Thomas sung the recitative and aria, 1.-The
trumpet shall soundn from Handel. Gov. Dix then.
in the following brief address introduced the orator
to the audience:
quarter OF a century this very month and within
these walls, William II. Seward delivered memorial
the character and public services OF John
Quincy Adams and to-day the OF Mr.. Adams Is here
30 pronounce a similar discourse Mr.. Seward. Thus
with these two kindred ceremonies associated the
names Of three eminent statesmen who have shared
largely IN the confidence respect Of their country
men, and who by their distinguished talents and the
purity their lives have contributed largely to their
countrys welfare and reputation present To you the
Hon. Charles Francis Adams.
Mr.. Adams then stepped forward, and IN voice,
low but well modulated and distinct, began the
delivery of his tribute TO VIM. II. Seward. The
opening sentences in which he spoke of his own re-
laton to the days event and 20 its subject, and
ferred to the fact that Mr. Seward was the eulogst
of his iustrous father this day twenty-five years
ago, were delivered with marked tenderness of feel
ing, and impressed the audience with the fact that
his heart, as we'll as the best gifts Of his
mind, was fully enlisted in the task he
had set before him. He then proceeded to
give an interesting review of the political
history of the country with which Mr.. Seward was
SO intimately identified, following him through his
active career in State and National affairs touching
meantime upon some of the secret springs which
guided campaigns and influenced public events. and
referring with delicacy and Judgment to the promi-
-, 70 8 ~, =,
doing so kaleidoscope picture Of the past of rare
beauty and singular completeness.
Mr.. Thurlow Weed and family occupied seat
directly in front of the speaker and it interest
ing to witness the play of emotion on the furrowed
countenance of the aged companion and friend of
the statesman whose ably and elo-
quently sketched. The Grafton occupied about an
hour and threequarters in its delivery and during
the entire time there was scarcely movement in
the thoroughly interested audience. Once or twice
there were manifest symptoms of q desire to
applaud, but the propretes Of the occasion
were appreciated by every one, and no breach Of
decorum occurred. Once, aud indeed the only time,
when Mr.. Adams rose above the quiet and scholarly
style of delivery in alluson TO the evident inability
Of sovereignty, whether of one or many to appre-
ciate those who served it, there manifest buzz
of applause, and there was fire in Mr.. Adamss
manner as with forciDle sweep of his arm he babe
his audience remember that he did not save the
State alone; he saved the nation"
After Mr. Adams had sat down the singers gave
Flemings quartette, Integer Vita," with ex-
quisite taste and with simple and feeling bene-
diction by the Right Rev. Bishop Cox the memorial
services were concluded. As the great audience
slowly separated all impressed with the solemnity
of the event in which they had participated, the
grand overture to William Telr was played upon
the organ, closing finally with the familiar strains
of Home, Sweet Home"