Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-07-28
Death OF Hon. Geo. y. Marsh, u. =.
Mtntater 90 Italy,


A despatch, dated July "a, announces the
death, in Yallambrosa, on that day, Of Hon.
George Perkins Marsh, United States Minis
ter to Italy since 1861.
Mr.. Marsh was born in Woodstock, in this
state, March II, 1901 and was educated at
Dartmouth college, from which institution he
was graduated in 1920. After leaving college
he removed to Burlington, where he studied
law and was admitted to the bar. At the age
of 81 he was made member of the execu-
tive council of Vermont. In 1912 he was
elected to the 2Sth Congress AZ Wing, and
was reelected to the Goth, 3Oth and 3lst Con
crosses by large majoritios. His active ser
vice in Congress continued from December 4,
1913, to March g. 1S40. In tho latter year he
was appointed minister resident to CONSTANT
nople by President Tayler, and held the Office
four years. In 1852 he was sent to Greece
on special mission and on his return home
in 1858 was appointed one of the commission
ers on rebuilding the State House at Montpe-
lier. From 1857 to 1859 he was one of the
state railroad commissioners, and in 1857 was
also appointed by the governor to make a re-
port to the legislature in regard to the artih-
cal propagation of fishes. In 1860 he re-
ceived the degree of LII. ID. from Dartmouth
College, and in 1861 was appointed Minister
to Italy, which position he held until his
death. During his residence abroad, Mr..
Marsh travelled extensively in the East and
Europe, spending some time in Denmark,
Sweden and Norway, where he has long been
recognized as leading Scandinavian scholar.
Early in life Mr.. Marsh began the philologi-
cal studies by which he has been distinguish
ed, In 1888 he published at Burlington "A
Compendious Grammar of the Old Northern
or lcelandc Language" compiled and trans
lated from the grammar of Rask He also
contributed several articles ON Icelandic lite
nature to the American Wing, and printed
several addresses he had delivered before diff
ferei learned and historical societies In
one of these, 1.-The Cloths in New England, 4"
he traced the presence of the Gothic race in
| the Puritans In 1856 he published 1.-THE
Camel: His Organization, Habits and Uses
considered with reference to his Introduction
into the United States" Referring to this
work at tho time it appeared, the North Am
erican Review said ut is as entertaining
as a book of travels, and abounds in pictures
from memory of life in the Desert and in the
East. In the earlier chapters there are evil
| dences of that extensive scholarship and ac-
| quaintanco with many tongues for which the
writer has 80 enviable a fame" "The great
book of natural history, the Universe" said
the London Athen@um, also referring to this
work, "does not contain q chapter more strik-
ing than that which is supplied by the sub
ject of this treatise" more important
production was his Lectures on the English
Language" which he delivered in 1859 in the
post graduate course of Columbia college,
This work was followed in 1862 by the 'Ori
gin and History of the English Language
and in 1864 by "Man and Nature" The lat
ter work, with numerous corrections by the
author, was translated into italian and pub
lished in Florence in 1870 1t has since beer
almost entirely rewritten and published un
der the title of THE Earth as Modified by
Human Action" Mr.. Marsh's acquaintance
with the fine arts was very extensive, and h,
was one Of the best American linguists. Hi
writings are as much distinguished for acute
ness and good sense as for scholarship, and
considering their topics, have been remarka
| bly, popular.