Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-13
WORTH A VISIT.

NOhIA n NlSlI.
The main library room is very spacious,
and there are other smaller rooms in which
are gathered all sorts of volumes, most
carefully arranged. Strangers will gener-
ally find him in the larger chamber, sub
stantially dressed, hard at work before a
ponderous desk, with place for every
thing and everything in its place" You
see slight appearing young man of "A,
though looking like a child, somewhat
hump-backed, moving about constantly
and industriously assisting. This is a
Youngest son, Paul Leicester, whose mem
DRY / found marvel. He was asked incl
dentally a score of questions, and his re-
plies were always immediate ana accurate
l have no doubt his photography is to be
found in the State Library of the works
written by and relating to Alexander
Hamilton. 1t is superbly done, without
an error, and shows him admirably adapted
to such laborious tasks He is also the
author of volume on the genealogv of
his great-grandfather, Noah Webster The
father, Gordon L., was an ardent friend of
Horace Greeley, and after his death, from
1873 to 1881, was the business manager of
the New York Tribune. Grant made him
SOllCCtpl vi 1HlCI hSNGnut Ill lOOJ. DuI
his utilization with the Liberals lost him
the position. He is man of large wealth,
has extensive railroad connections and is
now President of the Brooklyn, Flatbush
and Coney Island road.
Since the death of DR.. Sprague, of AL
bany, his collection of autographs is per-
haps
THE MOST VALUABLE IN THE COUNTRY
They are all arranged alphabetically, and
by the aid of Paul he can Immediately put
his hand on any document or letter. For
example, there are fully six or eight
papers in the handwriting and with the
signature of William Penn. The Wash
ington collection is large, and | have no
doubt has been increased through the State
Department. He will frequently edit a
letter of value so that its importance is
very much increased. A famous one writ
ten at Valley Forge is superbly bound in
full morocco, with opinions concerning it
from Jared Sparks and
EMINENT HISTORIANS,
| And printed slips giving important facts
| concerning it, and constituting volume
of rare value. Mr.. Bonner asked Mr..
Greeley to write condensed life of Ed
ward Everett for the Ledger, giving his
estimate of the man, his oratory and pub
lie services. In this collection we find the
original manuscript in full-Bonner's let
ter of request, Everett's reply to Mr..
Greeley, full of gratitude, yet answering
many criticisms, the article as published,
extracts from papers about it, etc, and as
weaved together making a collection
which any one would highly prize Mr..
Ford has pursued this course with num-
Der of important papers, thus adding to
their interest and monetary value. Days
could be consumed in examining this mag
nificent array of manuscripts, which in
cludes the handwriting in some form or
other of the eminent men of all countries
and all ages.
His wife is daughter of the celebrated
educator, Professor William C. Fowler,
and is herself an author of no mean pre-
tensions. Fowler's English Grammar "
and his English Language in its Ele-
ments and Forms +" are little used now, but
| am sure they are destined always to rank
among the best contributions to our liter
ature. 1t seems incredible that Secretary
Bayard would be a party to the publica-
ton of these Washington volumes, yet
with the enormous labor incident to so
vast work, it is impossible to conceive
how the collaboration could have been
carried on without his knowledge and
consent. The greater blame, therefore,
must attach to him, and not to the editor.
presume it is too late to take steps to
recompense the Government for the large
sums expended at various times for these
important papers, but am confident that
the Fifty-6rst Congress will make pro-
vision to prevent the recurrence of such
misdeeds in the future. Such a transaction
is inconceivable under an older Govern
ment, and we are now becoming nation
| important enough to guard its archives
| with jealous care and watchful interest.
E. DYE.