Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-03-04
DelawI.r,, IT,.,or.eal sseIesy.

Society OF Delaware, Doctor ASkeW, Tor the
Committee on Resolutions, read the following
memoir Of the lite William i. Read, written
by George B. Rbiaey, ESQ, ofNew Castle
WILLIAM T. READ, ESQ.
Mr. Read was the son Of the late George
Read. and the grandson Of the slgner Of the
Declaration OF Independence OF that name. =
His father was considered one of the most pro-
found in his day at the Delaware bar, and ed
ucated his two oldest sohs, George and VIII
liam I. for that profession
The latter was born at New Castle, August
22d, 1902, and after the usual academic instruc-
ton finished his education 1T Princeton,
where he graduated about the year 1910, be-
ing a SlasS-alata OF the late Chancellor Johns,
OF this State. The war with England came on
soon after, and Mr.. Read jOtneda volunteer
Company, undbr the command OF Cesar A.
Rodney, and marched into the state Of Mary
land and encanlped below ELlLtOn some time,
when the enemy soon retiring. the company
returned 10 New g AsIle.
Mr. Read studied law and was admitted to
the bar. but finding the profession unsuited to
his retiring disposition he never praciiced
mnch,l although later in lifehe renewed his
Acquaintance with the details Of his profess
SION and engaged in it for several years
During the administration of James Mon
roe and after tile acknowledgment OF the in
dependeoce OF lhe South American States, Mr..
Read went out as Secretary 70 the Hon. Cesar
A. Rodney, ono of the Commissioners sent by
our government to Buenos Ayres to negotiate
a commercial treaty, and continue In that en-
pl0yment until the commission had fulfilled
its object. While in that country he enjoyed
the opportunity given him to study aud OBJ
serve the customs and habits of the people
making frequent excursions over the immen Sc
plains that abound in it. After his return
home he shortly after married the sister Of the
late Governor Charles Thomas, with whom
he lived most happily for over forty years, as
he died about tive years since.
Mr. Read was fond Of q cOuntry life, and
being SO blessed in his domestic relations, he
lived for some years after his marriage upon
farm near New Castle, and only left 1t on
being appointed 70 situation In the Treasury
Department at Washington, d. C., while the
Hon. Louis MaLane was Secretary. He re.
turned from Washington on the death Of his
father, IN 1855, and eyer lived in and near
New Castle
For several years Mr.. Read served as a
member OF the Legislature OF this State, and
in that capacity discharged the various duties
of his position with entire satisfaction to the
people OF this county. He had withdrawn
from all public or professional employment
for many years before his death, and employed
his leisure hours IN the pursuit Of literature
and classical learning. He was fond of his
tory and Biography, and having Ia his pos
session his fathers and grandfather g
private papers and correspondence, he set
about the work Of collecting and arranging
them with a view to publication, and which
ended in his writing in connection there with;
a life Of his distinguished grandfather and
some of our own State, who lived at that
period. In the composition OF this work, MI.
Read was engaged several years and visited
various places in this State and elsewhere In
making researches and collecting materials,
aud when he had brought 1t to close he did
not venture upon his own estimate OF its val
ue to send it out to the world, but put his
int iVa n khnoA hest
qualified to form an opinion Of its merits, and
among Others Mr.. Bancroft, the historian
who advised its publication, He had reason
to be gratifed with the result OF his lAbors, as
the work was well received by the reading
public, and will remain IN favor, aSthe memo
rlals Of our great struggle become Obliterated
by the lapse Of years. This work, by deVe-
Looping more of the private history, OF our
eminent public men, will help to supply Q
want generally Acknowledged.
To limit q nJtice Of Mr.. Reed to his position a.
q man Of lsttsra and writer would bo to place too
low an estimate upon his character. Combiaed
with a mind well cultivated he possessed morll
qualities which give 10 other endoWments their
higbest value. lie was q pure man, unblAmable
in hiS conduct, and irreproachable as q christian
professor; simple in habits, Affabls and courteous
In manner. ln his intercourse with others he
never lOst sight Of the dignity and sobriety which
became his profession as 3 member OF the church.
For many yeats hs vas member of Emanuel
Church and deV1ted himself TO tbs advancement
OF her spiritual interests with q zeal and SneTgJ
which continued as long as ne lived. In every
good work for the advancement OF the spiritual
good Of others, he was always foremost, and made
by bis wal liberal bequesti tor the Parish and for
the Epscopats OF the Diocese. HiS death will
cause . vacancy in the Church and the loss Of .
wise councillor aud ready co-operator in her work
which win not easily be supplied.
It should be Addsd that Mr.. Read was, from itl
organization, ah Interested and valued member OF
the Historical Society Of Delaware, and at his de-
cease ives one bf its Vice Presidents. He made
some impoH1pt contributions to the historical
materials collected By the society, among which
was paper rehd before the society on the lth OF
September, 1868, and afterwards puhlished in q
pamphlet containing some interesting and valha.
bic reminiscente from the early history Of Della.
ware and Maryland His deceass is loss to the
community which It will be dificult o supply
After the reading Of the memorial the following
resolutions were adopted, and ordered to bo pub
lished:
Resolved, That the Historical Society Of Della
ware has heard with profound sorrow the decease
Of VIM. I. Read, Esq, late one OF Its members
and one of its Vice Presidents; and we recognize
in this diSpanaAtiOn the loss of one of cur most
useful and valued fellow workers i'm the cause foE
which the Seeiety FSs organized.
heSofped. That We plaes upon record our testi-
mony to MF. HeAds eKoaleaf q attainments IN Acbol-
arshlp and general literature his uTbanty aud re,
hnement in sotal intercourse, the rare purity and
consistency Of his Christian life, and ms unblem.
lshed charactet as man in all respects; although
Kept for the moSt part by his mOdssty and quiet
loving tastes ID private ie the value Of his pres
ence and example, and din6uencs TO the eommnRity
IA which he lived are beyond estimate, and his less
must be long aud kssnly felt.
ExTRAcr gRbN TIE NINUFEs or THE SOCIETY.