New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-02
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1873
A Reward ef Merritt.

! Yesterday afternoon, just at the close Of
| office hours at the Custonlhoase, a neat
little episode occurred, Among che dnsty
| shelves and musty volumes OF the recoI d
room. a number Of the clerks c0rnectsd d
! with tie Office assembled TO pay a compl;-
! ment TO the late auditor OF customs.
| For nearly fulr years the duties oi tl.is
office has been ably performed by that
courteous and genial gent}emap, Captain
! Charles -, 2IeErit:.
Recently, however, lis SERVICES G&ye sesH
! REQUIRED in another :lsll OF Labor, and his
official career at tLe Gn'lit"r's desk was
| brought 20 & close. His associates and as
sistants took advantage of this occasion 10
testify TO him their esteem IN a neat ana ap-
nropriate manner Fer the services he has
rendered in she few yeags o1 their al0tual
association, tmey tcnGiedou lin silver ser
vice.
Il aUou. ;hTce O'Clock On Saturday af:e!.
noon committee escorted the gt&teman to
the record room. where the donors Of the
gift were already gathered. He was es-
corted to the head Of the hall, where, be-
d
eran warehouse book-keeper OF the Custom
house Mr.. Neelis. addressing himsc1; 20
Captain Merritt, said.
Captain Merritt, wnen in the course Q.
human events friends are called upon to
separate. tU dissolve The honda which have
iong connected them i'll the active relations
of life, it is natural and proper Oh such
occasions to review the past, in order that
| 4
pleasant remcmhranCes thereof should be
duly impressed upOn the mind, and tumdty
cherished in future years.
oSir-During the past three years Won
| have occupied the honorable and RESPONSE
| bic position Of auditor Of customs at the
| port Of New Orleans, and on behalf OF those
! gentlemen present-colabcrers and init
matelv associated with you during that pc
riOd-I beg 70 assure yOu that your MANY
| sterling qualities both Of head and heart
| have won for you the lasting esteem OF
| YOUR manV friends, their confidence and
friendship, aud as a small token or testiro-
| nial Of the regard in which you are held,
| now have the pleasure, on behalf of Your
! friends, of presenting you this beautiful
| silver set. Its intrinsic value is small COm-
| pared with the value which yOu will doubt
! less place upon it, aware, as you must De,
| that it comes 10 you stamped with the seal
ut warm. SINCERE and disnterested regard.
Captain Merritt, gOu may. If yOu please
regard this rs a withdrawal entry from ap-
prtci&tive friends consigned to a most ex
cellent "nd cGurtly gentleman, and, in
GustOmhouse phraseolOgy, IL comes to you
duty paid, or you may have received it il
bOrd-the bond OF friendship: and fondly
hope that this present will remain with
you, and remind you of the donors and of
Phis happy occasion. until you are exported
mot for the benefit of drawback to that
port OF eGsry on high where merit alone
will be the standard OF all.
As he closed, Sir. Neels uncovered she
gift that lay spread ont upon the table be
fole him, meantime banding Captain SIer-
r.tt "a letter OF which the following is %
copy:
Sew %bRLE4N$, February !, 1919.
~. 'har.As Il. Merritt:
SIR-Ne bog you? acceptance of the ac-
comp&uyi1g silver set as a slight testimO-
Mai of rhe regard and esteem in which
YOU are hei1 by the undersigned, your
longtime associates and cO-wOrkersin the
auditors office of thia department. As our
chief, we have ever found you so temper
ing Justice with courtesy and kindness a. to
retain our sincere friendship, without de-
tracing from official discipline. 1t is with
urtegned regret that we learn you cOnt'em
plate seVerlng the official relations that
have bound US together, but we trust that
no circumstances will ever occur to break
our pleasant bond Of friendship. This
slight gift We now offer you IN ~ serve to
remind you of the warm friends you leave
behind, and may in future call to your
inlnd some happy memories. Poor as our
offering is, It serves to show you and the
world that where yOu are best known you
are best regarded and most esteemed.
With hearty wishes tor Aour future vel
fare and sucfasS