New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE OF GALLATIN.


of the political history of this country although MS
personal career was so destitute OF incident ana
his priyate life was of so tranquil and uniform
character as to afford few materials OF popular III
terest to the present biography In the REMARK 'i"'
Mr. Gallatins most permanent claim TO dlstncUoh
is perhaps to be found in the record OF ms scehIo
pursuits the wrterrecognizeS afact that willreaoS
be admitted even by the warmeSt polltlca auhliIeIs
of the veteran statesman. His fame as leauer III
Congress has been long since forgotten. Ills ihost
brilliant speeches are hardy known even by name
70 the orators of the present generation Ills CHI
nent services as Secretary Of the Treasury are I'M
portant matters of history, hut are no longer the
subject of conversation OF thought, and retain no
Mace i'm the most tenacious memory. lie was
among the first GipomatiSts of his time but MS ON
cia achievements have left little impression on the
public mind. His authority as political ecoho-
mist was conspicuous his day, but at present rev
readers remember even the titles OF his "oihs.
But he was the father of American ethnoiogy' ana
can never lose his place as the early leader oil the
stndv among scientific mquirers. In TINS
nursuit his method was sound and his execution
accurate In the construction of a comprehensive
system of American ethnOlogy, he laida broad ana
firm foundation in the study of comparative phllol-
ogy Abstaining from all unrpe speculation ne
devoted himself to the collection and sitting OF vo-
cabularies, to the grammatical structure OF IAN
Cuagcs and to classifying the groups and families OF
the American Indians on the principles thus
worked ont. He was the first TO establish the I'M
ouistie groups of the North American Indians on
large SCALE and to construct the first ethnoIOgcal
map of North America of any merit. Geography
was also one of his favOrte studies and his contrl-
buttons to this department in connection with eth
nology are reckoned of the highest authority.
Mr. Gallatin was born in the old Swiss City OF
Geneva, in 1861, and died at the house of his
daughter in Astoria in 1S49. at the advanced age OF
eiphty-eight. After receiving the highest educa-
tional advantages afforded by his native city, he
emigrated to this country in 1850, rather, it would
seem. from freak of fancy than with any settled
rlan or prospect in view. Accompanied by young
friend, he landed at Cape Ann, Mass, on the 18th
Of July. "The war was still raging, and the result
still uncertain. General Gates beaten at Cam
den on the 10th of August and all the country south
OF Virginia lost. More than year passed before
the decisive success at Yorktown opened prospect
of peace. The travellers had no plans, and. If one
may judge from their tone and behavior, were as
helpless as two boys of nineteen would commonly
be in a strange country, talking Ian
guare of which they could only stammer
a few words, and trying to carry on
mercantile operations without market and with
a currency at its last gasp. They had brought tea
from Nantes as a speculation and could only dispose
of il by taking rum and miscellaneous articles IN
exchange. Their troubles were many and 1t is
clear that they were soon extremely homesck; for'
after riding on horseback from Gloucester to Boston,
they took refuge at a French cotee-house kept by
certain Tahon, and finding there Genevan, whom
chance threw in their way, they chung to him with
an almost pathetic persistence" After mlscella-
neous life of three or four years. including a resi-
deuce in Cambridge teacher of French in Harvard
College he arrives at Richmond, Va, which he
found far more TO bis mind than the PuIltanc Vi
entity of Boston. His impressions of Richmond are
described in a letter written few months before
his death to the Virginia Historical Society,"
cannot complain of the world. have been treated
have resided But IL was at Richmond where spent
most Winters between the years 1888 and 1889,
sI Th Know no parallel any WITH
n th" circle of my travels 1t was not hospitality only
that to do not know how IL came 10
pass, but every one with whom ! became acquainted
appeared 10 take interest in the young stranger
was only the Interpreter OF gentleman the agent OF
foreign house that had large claim for advances 10 the
state; aud this made me known TO all the officers Of
government and some OF the most prominent members
al the Legislature. II gave me The nst opportunity OF
showing symptoms of talent, even as speaker OF
which was not myself aware Every one encouraged
me and disposed to promote my success IN me- To
name al those IRON whom TecfNed 9uer, Oh service
w0ulI an the most dis lnguished residents al
thar time at Richmond. Will only mention two: John
Marshall. who, though Ou young LAWYER IN 1853. was
almost al head OF the uar In 1856 offered 10 take Inc
I'm nj, Office without tee and assured me That would
become a distinguished lawyer Patrick Henry advised
Inc % 20 the West wneIe might study law II chose;
told me that this the which should be my
aim also rendered me several services on more than
one occasion.
In a few years more he had made so much prog
mss in American life that in 1893 he was married
10 a daughter of Commodore Nicholson, with whom
he passed a long and sngularly happy domestic life.
Soon after the marriage he gives an interesting de-
scripton of this lady IN a letter to friend: And
low | suppose YOU want TO know what kind OF wife
have got. Having been married near three months,
INV description will not be romantic as il would
have been last Fall but do not know but what 1t
may still be partial. # We feel so in favor of those
we love Her person is, in my opinion, far less at
tractye than either her mind or her heart and vet
do not wish her to have any other but that
she has got, for l thiuk l can read in
her face the expression of her soul and as to her
shape and size YOU know my taste, and she is ex-
actly formed on that scale. She twenty-s.x
when married her She Is possessed of the most
gentle disposition, and has excellent heart. Her
understanding is good she Is as well informed as
most young ladies; she is perfectly simple and I'M
affected; she loves me- aud she is pretty good
Democrat land So By the by, are all her rela-
tionsl' Mr. Gallatin's career as a member of Con-
gress commenced in 1895 and lasted TIL 1901, when
he became Secretary Of the Treasury. OF his Con-
gressional course, the author remarks:-
In some respects it was without parallel in our his
tory That a young foreigner, speaking with foreign
accent aLorEg under AL the Odum OF the western IN
surrccton, surrounded 10y friendly rivals IKE Madison,
John Nicholas, W. b. Giles John Randolph. and Edward
LvngstOn confronted by opponents IKE FISHER Ames'
james 4. Bayaru Il. G. Harper W L. sm,h OF s0ulh
Carolina samuel Ddua' OF Cohuectcut olu eve. JOIN
Marshali-ihdt such man ui9er suCh err ,anceS
should have at once seized the leadership OF MS party
and win 1rner aud hrmer grasp down to the
last moment az his service that he should have done
Inns sheer force Oi abiy aud character without 90
should nave had his leadership admitted without DIS
pue. and should have held IL without contest made
of rf mn