The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-23

has had its good and gifted men. Judge
Daniel Crommelin Verplanck was, for many
years, member OF Congress; his city home
was large yellow mansion standing on the
spot IN Wall street, where the assay Office
mas since been built. He was a gentleman
OF great intelligence. and force OF character,
be married the daughter OF Dr. johnson.
the first president of Columbia college. His
iather was Samuel Verplsnck, who was
BETRoTHED TO HIS COUSIN.
judith Crommelin, when 7syears of age.
She was the daug liter of a wealthy banker
of the Huguenot stock in Amsterdam,
When the young man was Of the proper
age he was sent to make the tour of Europe
and bring home bis bride. He was married
in the bankers great stone house, the doors
opening from the wide marble entrance
hall upon fair D2tch garden. The count
ing room was upon one side of the passage
ana the drawing room, bright with gild-
ing, upon the other. The lady was p2rticu-
larly accomplished, and versed, not only in
the several modern languages, but in Greek
and Latin, speaking the latter fu-
emily. 1t was this lady who, in her beautiful
old age, trained her grandson Gulian, SO
Wen known to New York political and So
cial life, and to all lovers OF Shakespeare. 10
love books and study. She taught him,
when mere babe, to declaim passages from
Latin authors, standing On table, and re-
warded him with hot pound-cake. 1t is said
that she used to put sugar plums near his
bedside, to be at hand in case he
should awake and take q fancy
to repeat his lessons in the night
THE BOY WAS A BORN SCHOLAR,
He took to books as other boys take 20 mar
bles. He entered Columbia College at
eleven. The tradition is that be studied
Greek lying fiat on the floor, with his thumb
in his mouth and the fingers of the other
hand employed in twisting a lock of the
brown hair on his forehead. He rose to en-
lnenee in the law, in politics, and in liters-
ture. He served in the state legislature,
and was sent to congress. One OF his chief
acts while in the councils OF the na-
ton was to secure the passage of a bill
lin 1881 for the additional security of liter
airy property. In 1884 he was the whig can
cidate tor the mayoralty of tho city, but
Cornelius w. Lawrence, the democratic
candidate, wss elected by about TWO hun
bred majority. In 1855 he was made vice.
chancellor of the board of regents of the Uni
versity OF the State of NeW'York. He was
also one of the six gentlemen, s'of the very
highest character" who formed the beard OF
commissioners OF emigration charged with
the oversight and care of the vast
INFLUX OF STRANGERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.
l. took eight years for this board (which
was at that time wholly free from party in
duencse) to obtain the privilege ef,a special
landing place for immigrants. But finally
a grant from the legislature enabled them
TO lease Castle Garden for this purpose.
Mr.. Verplanck ministered 10 the public
welfare in innumerable ways. He was
trustee of the Society library, one of the
wardens of Trinity Church, one of the gov
srnors OF the New York hospital, one of the
most active members of the New York His
orical Society, and one of the trustees of the
public school society. He was an author Of
no little distinction-some OF bis legal writ
ngs are among the most elaborate, learned,
and exhaustive that have ever been produced
n America, and was editor of one of the
pest editions of Shakespeare printed in this
country. He spent his summers In the old
homestead, and il wss here that many of his
inest literary conceptions saw the light. He
entertained generously, and most of the
celebrities OF his day were, from time to
ime, invited te this lovely retreat. Few
louses are hallowed by more varied or
harming associations than the Verplanck
homestead on the Hudson.