Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-01-10

Hunt regarded him as the best sonnet writer
of his time.
In 1852 Boxer dined one day with Daniel
Webster at a dinner party given by the lat
ter in Washington. Webster had been speak
ing to his guests on the relations then exist
ing between the United States and England.
Suddenly turning to young Boxer lie said:
81 think you have expressed the true senti-
ment concerning this subject i'll that admira-
Bile sonnet of yours" He then recited the lines
referred to to the party much to Boxers sur
prise, who sat listening to the splendid per-
Torrance in elocution doubtless with great
delight:
Lear and Cordclia! Twas an ancient tale
Before thy Shakespeare gave it deathless fame;
The times have changed, the moral is the same.
So like an outcast, dowerless and pale,
Thy daughter went; and in a foreign gale
Spread her young banner, till its sway became
a wonder to the nations. Days of shame
Are close upon thee: prophets raise their wall,
When the rude CosSack, with an outstretched
hand,
Points his long spear across the narrow sea-
40, there is England!' when thy destiny
Storms on thy straw crowned head, and thou dost
stand
Weak, helpless, mad, & byword in the land
God grant thy daughters Cordelia bel
Mr.. Boxer wrote very prettily in the way
of light love verses. Here is a dainty bit
which reminds one Of some of Leigh Hunts
work:
ON MY LADY's LETTER.
This slip of paper touched thy gentle hand,
Doubtless was summed beneath thy radiant
eye;
Perhaps had clearer honor, and did lie
Upon thy bosom, or was proudly famed
Within thy fragrant breath. At my command
A Thousand fancies, growing as they fly,
To maddening sweetness, hit my vision by,
And mingle golden vapors with the sand,
That times my idle being. Senseless things
Start into dignity beneath thy touch,
Mount from the earth on loves ecstatic wings,
And to my eyes seem scared, If from such
draw such rapture, who may say how much,
Vert thou the theme of my imaginings,
But Mr.. Boxers main work was in di-
plomacy. During the civil war he was an
interchangeable worker in the Union cause
being one of the organizers of the Union
League club, of Philadelphia, for the pur-
pose of standing by the government. Be
sides this he devoted his pen to the service of
the Union. When Grant became president
he made Mr.. Boxer minister to Turkey. He
soon showed great talent for the work before
him, and left Turkey with the approval Of
the United States government and the good
will of the sultan. From this mission he was
promoted to st. Petersburg.
Allt lllllSlt " NIlt ' - Sllllllo al
fair occurred. A wanton outrage on a
United States ship had been perpetrated by
the officers OF a Spanish vessel. President
Grant was very much opposed to going to
war with Spain, but the case demanded
either war or an apology from the Spanish
government.
From Washington instructions were sent
to United States ministers abroad to endeav-
or to gain the influence of foreign govern
ments to the cause of the United States. All
the efforts of those who followed these in
structions failed. except in Mr.. Boxers case.
The work required great delicacy, and the
Spanish minister at st. Petersburg sought
to thwart the Americans efforts. However,
he succeeded in inducing Prince Gortschakoif
to send instructions to the Russian minister
at Madrid taking ground in favor of the
United States. This settled the question
Spain apologizel for the Virginius affair and
war was averted.
Mr.. Boxer was doubtless aided by the
friendly relations between Russia and Amer
lea, which sprang from Russia's pronounced
declaration in favor Of the Union in sending
a fleet of war vessels to New York during
the civil war. But he unquestionably gained
a great ascendency over the Car Alexander
and his minister of state. Both requested
that his term us minister to Russia might be
prolonged, When his successor arrived al
st. Petersburg it is related that Gortschakofi
said to him: Il cannot say that | am glad
to see you. In fact, I'm not sure that | see
you at all, for the tears that are in my eyes
on account of the departure of our friend
Boxer
For many years Mr.. Boxer was a conspicu
GUS light in Philadelphis, and it is due to his
efforts that Egypt. Turkey and Russia were
led to take an interest in the Centennial ex
hibition of 1876. He had a fine library, tc
which he devoted himself during his later
days. His house was decorated with many
articles of vertu, obtained during his resi-
dence abroad.