Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-24
HAWTHORNE TO A FRIEND.
A Graphic and A musing Epistle to "the
Model Clerk.O

The first Of the unpublished letters Of Ma.
thaniel Hawthorne, announced last week to
appear In the Gazette, Is presented below.
II Is addressed to MIR. Zachariah Burchmore.
who was associated with Hawthorne in the
Salem Custom-house. Mr.. Burchmore, as
will appear in this correspondence, was on
very intimate terms with Hawthorne. He
Is referred to In the predatory chapter of
'Ihe Scarlet Letter" treating of that
Custom-house as "the model clerk" Haw-
thorne's opinion of Mr.. Burchmore as an
officer Is further on record in the following
letter addressed 10 the Treasury Department
at Washington year earlier
SURVEYORS OFFICE, |
SALEM, January IA, 1S49.
SIR: learn that by the operation of re.
cent circular from the Treasury department,
MIR. u. Burchmorc, Jr., is likely to be depriv-
ed Of the principal part of his emouments as
clerk in this Custom-housc. As my position
enables me to perceive the Importance of
his services, take the liberty to offer a few
considerations which seem to render his
case worthy OF an exception to the general
rule. MIR. Burchmore has spent about 20
years comprising his whole active life in
the Collectors office, and has acquired
knowledge of the nature and forms of this
particular business, and a facility in trans
acting it, which 1t would be in vain to look
for elsewhere. The mercantile community
repose the highest confidence in him, and,
owing to particular circumstances, feel
strong interest in his continuance in office.
The inf1rmities of the collector have for a
n ttV,.n xAokk
| sponsbilities on Mr.. Burchmore, which in
ordinary cases would not appertain to The
situation which he fills. know not why
should hesitate to say that his remarkable
| business talent and thorough familiarity with
the reIenue laws have made him 1.-THE Col
| lector's health being such as it now is) prac-
tically the head of the Clistom-house aud
that he is 80 regarded by the merchants.
They would feel his loss severely, and could
| not for a long time to come bestow simi-
lar degree of confidence upon any other
person. In the internal economy of the
Custom-housc he would be equally re-
1rclttd, for there is not a department in
which MIR. Burchmore's influence is not
benedcially felt, nor an officer who has not
frequent occasion TO avail himself of his
knowledge and experience.
l wish TO speak Of Mr. Burchmore exclus-
lively as man of business, and shall there
fore lay no stress upon his merits as an
active friend of the administration bat
may be allowed to say that, though his
political character has always been most
decidedly marked, the Wings. while in
power, found 1t impossible to dispense with
his services in the Custom house.
(5ignedD
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE,
Surveyor.
| And Hawthorne again wrote concerning
him four years later
| CONCORD, March 4, 1858.
MY DEAR SIR: My friend, Mr.. q. Burch
more, is an applicant for the place O
Appraiser in the Boston Custom-house, ant
# you would assist him toward obtaining /
| should consider it a very great favor. II,
has the recommendation of Mr.. Lord ant
untes the whole democratic influence (of tn
right sort, mean in Essex county. Gen
Pierce knows him both through me an,
personally, andI think will be favorably in
clined toward him. l cannot speak to-
highly OF his qualifications as man O
business, (see THE Scarlet Letter" for hi
character iu that respect,) and have foun
him a true man and sleadfast friend i
very trying circumstances.
Very truly and respectfully yours
NATH. HAWTHORNE.
Hon. CHAs. e. ATIIIKToN, Washington.
, MIR. Burchmore was. after his remove
from the Salem Custom house, employed fC
/ several years as clerk in the Ordnance ID,
, partment of the Navv-yard at Charlestowr
lie is now living in retirement from bushes
in the vicinity Of Boston. The letter frol
Hawthorne which follows explains itse
without further comment
LENox, June o. 1850,
DEAR ZACH. received your letter
due season, and should have answered ii b,
fore, but have Just got settled in my ne
residence, and hardly that. Besides, l ha
, a cold that confined me TO my chamber fC
several days. Since my recovery hay
planted vegetables enough to supply a
Salem, il could only bring them to msrke
am well pleased with my situation hav
already got good tan on my face, and e,
pect to flourish. The children keep out a
day, and are as brown az berries. My wife
on whose shoulders kindly shifted all th
trouble of arranging the house, will doubles
be very comfortable when she gets over he
fatigue.
My house Is an old red farmhouse Gas re
as 1.-The Scarlet Lottery a story and hal
high; not very splendid in its outwar
aspect, but snug and comfortable, and wit
about mile and half from the village
whittier have not been since my arrival
Neither have seen single newspaper Eek
cept an anti-slavery paper) since the day
left Boston, and know no more Of what |
going on in the world than II had emigrate
to the moon. l find it very agreeable to &c
rid of politics and the rest OF the damnabl
turmoil that has disturbed me for three o
four years past; but must plead guilty t
, some few hankeriugs after brandy an,
water, rum and molasses, an occasiona
cigar and other civilized indulgences of tn
like nature,
, BY the by, have met with an unexpected
piece of good luck. Sending TO Pittstield {
few days ago for package we expected b.
railroad, tn. expressman brought back ,
strange looking box that had come bv way
of Albany. On examination 1t was found t
contain champagne of o tirst-rate brand, ant
had been aout by the same unknown friend
who rs believe told you, offered to lent
me $1,000 few months ago. II you COM
, to see us this summer you will probably tiul
few bottles left. All other liquor (excep
, water you must bring with you, unles
p should send me Q case of gin, accord
, ing to promise. For my own part woul,
rather have gin than champagne, as benz
both wholesother and more agreeable
| While on the subject permit me to expires
, hope that you will be as abstinent from
) choice as am from necessity. Hadn't W,
better make mutual pledge not to drink &
glass of spirits until we meet again1 Awful
| don't believe you will agree 10 it, nor 6ticl
TO 1t II you do. As for: myself, | coull
not break the pledge if wished, liquor beinl
quite unattuinable.
hope and believe that you will yet live t
acknowledge p to be true man, a
far as regards his conduct toward you ant
NO. II false, he is the most consummat,
hypocrlte that ever lived but fifty c.
should not shake my confidence In him, un
less by circumstantIal and other evidenc,
better than his own word.
P has real affection for you, and
trust that you will not do or say anything
that may make it impossible for you to b,
| friapds haroafter ie ia certainly moi ,