Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06
Written for The Evening Star.


ence Of the late Mr.. Corcoran with his number
less friends thro ISaout the world, it might be
said, for the vo. :e contains letters from dis
tinguished rep; .entErives of every sphere OF
Efe-statesmen men Of letters. financial mag
hates, heroes Of the two wars ole xican and our
recent domestic TROUBLED. The most interest
ing to the readers Of The STAR will be those
from the numerous benefciaries of Mr.. Cor
corun's liberality. The letters from the ladies
OF high social position and from those in re-
duced circumstances all tell the same story, the
story of benevolence and liberal dispensation
Of the wealth with which Mr.. Corcoran had
been blessed. The volume was printed for pri-
vate distribution only, and the good deeds for
which Mr.. COrcoran received bis reward in the
thanks and Acknowledgements contained in this
volume merit a more extended recognition than
car be hoped for by the private distribution of
this really beautiful volume.
Its historic value demands a more general
perusal, for here are letters from Webster,
Clay, Everett, Judge Mclean, Clayton, Jeffer-
son Davis, Robert E Lee, Fillmore, Polk,
Gales Blair, Seston, Buchanan, Bancroft, Sill
dell. Breckenridge, Edmund Burke, Chief JUS
tice Chase, Corwin, George Washington Parke
Custis, Hon. John Davis of Massachusetts,,
Gen. Dix, Washington Irving, William A.
Graham, Baron GerOlt, Bodisco, Hancock,
Humboldt, Charles J. Ingerson. Amos Kendall,
Hugh Legare, Lord Lyons, Sir Henry Bulwer,
James VI. and John u Mason, Father Matthew,
Bishops McIlveine McGill Spalfing. Greene,
Wilmer. Pinkney and Odenheiner. George Pea
body, A. de Rothschild, Gen. Sherman, Gen.
shields, Andrew Stevenson. Chief Justice
fancy, Ben ogle Tayloe, Alexander II. H.
Stuart, Sir Edw. Thornton, Martin f. Upper,
Robert J. Walker, Robert &. Winthrop. William
II. Prescott. Sir Gore Ouseley, Mrs. Polk, Mrs.
Jefferson Davis, Mrs. Fillmore, Mrs Gales,
Mrs Gen. Dix, Mrs Clemson daughter of Mr..
Calhoun, Mrs Clay of Alabama Mrs. Judge
CloptonJ, from the superiors of all the asylums
here and many in other cities, Sister Cbantal
of the Visitation Convent and so many others
Of like distinction that the list could be eI-
tended to fill this column.
LETTER FROM LAFAYETTE.
OF the many letters from which extracts
might be made of the greatest interest will
only take those Of historic value and local in
terest, with q sincere regret that this volume
could not be more generally distributed With
all that Is known Of the benevolence and phian-
thropy OF Mr.. Corcoran-and his monuments
sbound in our city-these letters exhibit him in
more tender relation to some of the old
friends upon whom the hand of affection had
fallen he letters begin with one from Gen
Lafayette TO Mrs. Commodore Morris, with a
portrait of the commodore. painted by the re-
nOwned artist VI. AIRY Scheffer. Lafayette re-
turned to France, from his visit in 1924 on
the L s. ship Brsndywine. of which Commodore
Morris was in command, who spent some
l-lllO AT Lagrange Win Lafayette. ana tlerS
this portrait was painted. The letter which ac-
companled the portrait is dated Paris, January
%, lo26, and expresses most grateful thanks for
the attentions bestowed upon him while in the
United States The painter Is the same who
painted the likeness Of Lafayette in the hall of
the House OF Representatives and presented it
TO Congress.
Letters from Mrs. Commodore Decatur writ
ten IN the freedom OF familiar intercOuse-
charming, by the way, they are. too. Several
IA~rA
in command of foreign stations. Several let
tiers from Mr.. Bancroft, one acknowledging
Indebtedness of a dozen champagne and send
ing 1t with the hope lit may prove medicine
TO your soul and benefit our friend Conmo-
dOre Morris" This was written in 1916 while
Mr.. Bancroft was Secretary of the Navy. A
letter from Robert Dale Owen, dated Septem-
Der IL, 1916. requesting Mr.. Corcoran to obtain
from the Smithsonian bequest S24O. 900. gov
eminent bonds. for the use OF the institution.
HON. ROBERT C. WINTHROP.
very interesting letter from Hon. Mr.. Win
throp, dated March "A. 1s47, inquiring IF the
late news from the Rio Grande is likely 10 in
volve an extra session Of Congress" Il do not
see, he says, what Congress can do to help
matters. There Is money enough TO last TIL
December and the President has already been
authorized to enlist more regular troops and
call out more volunteers than can easily be
mustered. still. shoul like some assurance
contemplafion of the executive I have ac m.
aIlv tak.D massage in the Uiberria ,,biob 81
next week. But if I thought that Congress
would be wanted before August. at the earliest
Iwould abandon ali idea of poing Yon boys
the golden kew for unIocking The mvsteries -
WaISerdom If not of Polkdom. Will Won do me
the favor to give me a line az your earIi+st con-
yerience communicating a. coufJentiallv "a
you please such iutinations or assurances as
you are able 10 obtain!
PRESIDENT POLK.
This letter from President Polk exhibits a
shrinking from dealing in auv wsy in bonds of
the government while occupvine the executive
cbai. I, .ho,,. a.. .v.ns.- .ei..-'
s.bicb ,-ova-ioJ = ~. 49, Iii
$780, - -. -. 80 -. ' ntsu PuDllc
.-~, 80, .s,;E in1iee lil9h
AZ -.''" Win ~ ~ ~ =. OPIIe'S; II uateu
v, "AsHINDLoN ; NAY :, Eih-
CIR "hsh iequeeNu You, early IN
naiSI iaSs, 70 PuIcha1e iOr me So,OVO oil PnDhc
s.ooA tuAU- me- ~ uesAieu 10 invest that
s suil, Hei4 '! me as uus' Iuhu- Oh the Jay
ioAONHe our conversation you transferred GER
unSA'ss u Shi'eu States STOCK 10 me IN my
OsH Hahe' anu NOV as VI us'ee LOT my ward. Tor
which Pai4 on premium OF l per cent, or
the sum Oh SS.OJO- DO not doubt my lawful
right 70 make soch investments, but IN view of
my 0nSlAi position ueeni 1t proper to reiin-
qush the stOek Dyre transferring 1t to you and
invest the iund In some other mode. desire,
therefore 10 transfer the STOCK TO You without
premium OF htefestand request you VIII place
70 my creclt the precise sum which pald you
Tor Tue stock