Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-25
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Thompson Of New York City, stands upon
pedestal OF gray granite, which rests upon
base OF blue rock from the hills OF the Brandy
wine in the State Of Delaware, the scene Of
the early youth and all Of the home life Of
Admiral DUPONT The artist has not onl,
been fortunate in producing likeness dc
| clRred TO be excellent by the family AnC
friends OF his subject, but in his representation
Of characteristic attitude and expression hai
admirably combined truth to nature witt
/ fidelity to art.
The admiral is represented as standing OF
the quarter deck, marine glass in hand which
be has just lowered after an inspection Of 8
distant object, leaving bis countenance lii
i with an expression OF alert interest IL may
be accepted as a vivid and realistic reproduc
/ ton and portrayal Of frequent incident IL
| his daily life, when in command OF tht
blockading squadron off the south Atlantic
coast, in which duty unrelaxed vigilance wat
| required. He is represented in the uniform
| OF the period, and Of his rank in the naval
| service.
After the unwilling of the statue, Senator
Bayard delivered an GRAFTON, and an admirart
salute of is guns was fired.
SENATOR BAYARp's GRAFTON.
Senator Bayard opened his address by re
| ferring by referring briefly to the inception,
execution and completion Of the enduring
memorial to the departed hero, the dedica'
tion Of which had. brought 30 large aconcourse
together on this occasion He followed this
with carefully prepared and very entertain.
ing review of the life and services Of Admiral
dupont, closing with the following tribute to
his memory
The proper scope Of an address on such an
occasion as this does not include mere
detailed biography Of the officer in whose
honor this statue is erected. In saying what
l have, 1t has been my intention only to
describe the man as he lived, and the circum-
stances which surrounded him, which tested
and proved the qualities he possessed, and
which entitled him to be perpetuated in the
respectful and affectionate remembrance of
his countrymen that the generation
who knew him may feel gratified by
the lust reward his name receives that the
youth who are now upon the threshold Of
life may find in his character and career an
example and incentive to pursue with earnest
devotion the path Of rugged duty until they
gather on the table lands Of truth the sweet
flower Of honor and the loftier crown Of
Divine approval. Our age is one OF utility,
and our lives in this new and vast country
are filled with ceaseless activity in the crea,
tion and acquisition of material wealth, so
that society needs other and counteracting
forces to free us from sordid influences and
lead us to higher and better lives Encour
agement must be given to pursuits that have
not wealth as their aim or reward. There
must be an incentive to our youth
rto scorn delights and live laborious days."
and this 1t is q public duty TO supply. Educa-
ton will broaden the horizon OF knowledge,
and learning will increase the intellectual
demands and knowledge will supply means
for their qualification and the mud and the
soul will thus rise above the grossness of
material life, and progress upward as well
as onward will mark American civilization
Public respect and recognition Of virtue ex.
hibited in the public welfare should be gener-
ously and gratefully bestowed. Nothing
should be omitted that can mould public
opinion to give honor and praise to those
who have served worthily and are entitled to
the palm Of public favor.
The night before the battle Of Aboukir bay
Nelson said TO his officers, Before this time
tomorrow l shall have gained peerage or
Westminster Abbey" Such were the rewards
which his heroic spirit sought. A peerage
officers Of the United States are forbidden to
receive, nor have we as yet in our new land a
venerable repository for the ashes and mem
| ories of our distinguished dead, but there are
public buildings fit to receive the statues of
those who have well served in the republic in
any calling, and no place 30 proper as this
/ city, the seat and centre OF the government
Of the United States. The erection OF this
statue ia in the line OF public justice and
proper recognition Of the unselfish devotion
4 Vi Tue luulNluuhl lOI hlt hellhEo vi tlo COIl-
munity. Approval Of this public act Of JUS
tice will be widespread in this bread land,
but nowhere so strong as in the State in which
the ashes Of her heroic son are deposited
The State Of Delaware has given to the
! United States navy men on whose brows the
laurels Of victory have been justly placed
/ The victory on Lake ChAmplain was gained
| by one OF her sons, Commodore McDonough,
and in the severest battles OF the second war
| with Great Britain, another of her sons,
| Commodore Jacob Jones, stood In the front
rank of honor. From the earliest confedera.
tion Of the American colonies, Delaware has
borne an honorable and faithful share in the
''common defense and general welfard," and
to-day the hearts Of her people are filled with
| gratitude in this recognition by the general
/ government, OF one OF her citizens, 80
proudly cherished and beloved in life and
mourned in death as Rear Admiral Samuel
Francis dupont.
The following brief sketch of Delaware'f
great naval hero is abridged from Senator
Bayard's address;
| Admiral Samuel Francis dupont was the
youngest son Of Victor Marie dupont and
| Gabrielle Josephine de Ia Fite Pelleport,
| daughter Of Rene, Marquis de Pelleport, and
was born at Bergen Point, N. j., September
27th, 1903. His father was born in Paris il
/ had been attached to the French legation in
the United States in 1887, and 1895 became
first secretary OF that legation, and in tbs
same year was appointed French consul al
Charleston, s. O., point long after made
interesting in the history Of his son. After
| two years service at Charleston ne was
appointed consul general of France in the
United States, but left the service and re-
turned to France, whence he emigrated to
the United States with his father, and finally
| settled permanently at Louviers, on the
Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del where he
died in 1924.
Pierre Samuel dupont deNemours. the
grandfather OF the rear admiral, was dis.
| tinguished French economist, statesman and
writer, whose interest in the united American
colonies was Importantly manifested, and who
finally became a citizen of the United States,
and died in Delaware in 1917. He had rem
dered active service in the negotiation Of the
treaty between Great Britain and France il
1882, in which the Independence Of the United
States was recognized. And in 1903 had been
Instrumental in the negotiation OF a treaty
with France under the administration OF Mr..
Jefferson, by which Louisiana was acquired
by the United States. On both sides Of hii
house Admiral dupont was descended
from an honorable and distinguished
as citizens Of the United States have main
tanned without blemish the high character oi
the race from which they sprung. Shortly
after his birth his parents removed L
Louviers, their country seat on the Brandy
wine, near this city. When but a mere child
little more than IL years OF age, on Decem
Der 18th, 1916, he received from Presiden
Madison his appointment as midshipmen il
the navy. Almost simultaneously ne wa
rendered cadetship ut West Point, but hi
preference was strongly for the navy and i'm
pre- ssed with the traditions Of his msterna
ancestery, he entered at once upon caree
of arms.
From this time onward, in war and peace
aiioat or ashore, he, diligently, and with in
tervsls Of leisure, few and Of short duration
served his country until his death in June
1865. For IL years as a midshipman for
years as a lieutenant for Is years as a con
mander for seven years as a captain, an
for three years as rear admiral giving pal
, even Of his childhood, his entire youth an
the whole of his entire manhood to faithft
! public service.
i During the Mexican war he commando
, the Cyaue, rendering efficient service
/ blockade duty and in cruising in the gulf
| California
: Commander dupont returned in the Cyar
. to Norfolk in October, 1S48, after three yea
OF constant and efficient service, having, no
\ withstanding long blockades at anchor al
' defense of harbors, sailed $4,000 miles. Fl
= personal gallantry flashed out on mar
occasions during this campaign as when
landed 100 of his officers and crew in the IA
OF military force OF all arms immense
superior, and at the head OF his little bar
d fought his way through many times the
It number and relieved the brave Lieutena
II Haywood and his heroic garrison in the mi
70 sion house of San Jose, where he had be'
It beleaguered and brought to great distrei
d After his return in the Cyane Captain duPo
was employed as examiner Of midshipm
and reviser OF the rules of the naval scho,
he became a member Of the light hou
a. | board, and combined with this imports