New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
GEORGE PERKINS MARSH.
SCIENTIST, AND MAN OF LET
TIERS.

Complied By CAROLINE CRANE MAKsH, In tive ves-
uueS Vel L svs. PIP. XII, %7s Charles Serb
per's sons.
In her preface to this memoir Mrs. Marsh states
that the preparation of it was committed to " an
intimate friend Of the family" the late Rev. DE-.
Samuel Gilman Brown. whose death kft the
present compiler no alternative but to assume the
duty herself or leave ii undone.' 1t may be
that Mr.. Marsh's biography IL written rs origi-
nslly Intended, would have been fuller In the
parts specially relating TO his literary and hn-
guistic studies; but 1t is altogether improbable
that Dr. Brown would have been moro success
full than Mrs. Marsh has been In making such q
study of her husband ss enables the public TO
comprehend and appreciate his many excellenccs
aud to relish the delightful and apparently mex
haustiblo humOr which so strongly characterized
him.
Tho first volume Of his life and letters, just Is
sued, Is highly interesting 1t is the account Of
an American Of perhaps al old-fashioned type, but
a.type which has furnished tho best examples OF
culture, patriotism and piety the history of the
Republic can point to. George Perkins Marsh
was an eminent illustration of New-Engiand
culture and capacity; Of modern development
grated on the Puritan stock with the happiess
effects. His blood was good on both sides OF the
house; which is not to be interpreted as refer
ring to any arstocratic strain In tho race but TO
the fact that his fsther and mother both possessed
cultivated minds and sound principles HIS
father Charles Marsh, was at the head OF the
Vermont bar; O position which the son would
have succeeded to by right of his attainments had
he continued TO practice. The boyhood OF George
Perkins Marsh showed his ruling prediction.
When only seven years Of age he injured his eye
sight by porting over the Encyclopedias Britain
nica' His desire for knowledge was passion,
o,d dc refe
read to some purpose He resembled Macaulay
In his peculiar power Of rapid apprehension. He
appeared to master the contents Of book almost
as quickly as he could turn the pages. He had
. also great facility In acquiring languages ana
while vet very young man knew more OF phil
iology than perhaps most mature professors among
his contemporaries
The record of his earlier years shows him to
have been remarkably quick in learning everything
he undertook. His father used to say that he
never knew when how George prepared for
college, but he passed his entrance examination
with credit and distinguished himself while
studying for his degree. In the same way after
admission to the bar he seems to have developed
almost Immediately into o fullfedged lawyer,
and we find him obtaining plenty Of business.
trusted, respected and looked upon by all rs a
man Of mark and special powers He married
early but after the birth Of his second child he
lost his wife great grief to him In 1888 he
married Caroline Crane the author Of this blog-
raphy. About this time financial difficulties came
upon him. He was involved by the general de-
preston following the panic of 1887, and these
tmbarrassmen:s remained TO plague him until
1861, when be gave up all his real property TO
his creditors and went abroad. as United States
Minister to Italy On first leaving his profession
after acquiring, as he then thought, competence,
a.. pnl linn
ton, was elected, and served with credit TO him
self and satisfaction TO his constituents.
At Washington he enlarged the circle Of his
friends greatly, and his linguistic attachments
made him specially sought after by many OF the
foreign diplomatic representatives circumstance
destined to be useful to him afterward. 1t was
here that he formed that intimate friendship with
Spencer Baird which was to endure through LIE,
and which was the cause OF so many Witty ana
delightful letters, Of which many are here given.
The Mexican War was heartily disapproved by
Marsh. who made at least one vigorous and able
speech against the then dominant policy, on tho
hoor Of the House. Though always man of strong
convictions he preserved the thorough self-con-
troll, GOODNESS and even temper which are 30 nee
essary in the practice of diplomacy He was in |
Congress during q most difficult and critical
period; when the blood of the South was grow
ing hotter every session, and the Capitol was
overrun by frc-esters eager to pick quarrels with
Northern men Social life was already feeling |
the presence OF political sentiment The time
when Abolitionism was joked about had passed |
The question Of Slavery was so serious that pru |
dent men of both parties and sections eHdeaVoreo
to avoid 1t when meeting socially. MARSH was
able to speak the truth without offending INC
South or lowering the Northern standard, and this
alone was evidence Of remarkable tact and judg- |
tffna dam
self as TO the issue of the controversy. He felt
that IL must come to the ultima ratio regum, |
and he had. no doubt that the North would con-
quer in the struggle.
His bent, however was more literary than po- |
litical. Could he have done SO he would have |
devoted himself to study, but circumstances were |
too strong for him. When General Taylor became |
President he offered Marsh the mission to Turkey,
and though he would have preferred more civil
lied country he accepted IT, The events OF his
residence at Constantinople are chiefly told In his
letters Of which the majority here given are adj
dressed to Spencer Baird. Among his Washington
friendships was however, another warm one, con-
nected with Colonel and Mrs. Estcourt. The
former was one Of tho English Boundary Commits
eioncrs, man of very noble character. and after
ward Adjutant-GenerL TO Lord Raglan in the
Crimea. General Estcourt died OF cholera there
but few days after the decease OF his chief
While he was at Stamboul Mr.. Marsh was called
upon to undertake difficult negotiation with the
Greek Government which he carried TO success
full termination in the face Of serious and pro-
tracted difficulties and at considerable cost to his
health. During his mission, too, occurred tho
famous Koszta case. in which Captain 1ngraham
Of the United States sloop-of-war st. Louis
threatened 20 fire upon an Austrian frigate ON
board of which a Hungarian refugee had been
kidnapped. Mr.. Marsh was not at all sure OF the
law of the case, for it was extremely
complicated. Keszta claimed protection es an
American citizen; but he was really only an
nchoate citizen, having taken out his first papers
alone; while the fact that he had continued to
reside In the United States after the expiration
Of the time required for full citizenship. without
applying for his final papers, seemed to argue an