Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-05

City and County.
EARL OF ABERDEEN.
And His Connection With Richmond Library
Recently Burned.


mond, was the favorite haunt of the sixth
earl of Aberdeen who made that town his
home for time under the name of George
Osborne. On account of this his mother
made the library gift of valuable books
The Richmond Bee publishes the follow
ing taken from the history of the earl's
stay at Richmond:
George spent some time in 1868 at
Richmond, Maine, to which place he re-
turned, and made it his home between his
subsequent voyages. Mr.. Sewall Small,
at whose house he lived at this time says
HE and /, when he first went to Rich
mond with me, used to fish together If q
boat which we bought, and after that he
bought boat for himself He knocked
off the fishing business about the month
of August, ,and employed himself in tie
business of shipping Ice In October he
was engaged as mate on board the Wal
ton, and in December was promoted to
the command of the vessel, and sailed for
Jacksonville, Florida.
He returned to Richmond on the 9Th OF
June, 1869, and made several other coast
ing voyages in tho walton" But, in
consequence of some difference of opin-
ion with the owners, with regard to re-
pairing and rigging the ship, he resigned
his command, and returned to Richmond
in October. Here he boarded for some
time with Mr.. Green, who had been mate
in the Walton and afterwards at the
house of Mr.. and Mrs. Loomis. But,
wherever he was, the same testimony was
IN, ho cir nd NH ,,l
his life, and to the warm attachment felt
for him by all who knew him. He spent
much of his time, as he had done in Bos-
ton, in the public library, reading many
books on history, biographies, &c, but
seldom works of fiction. His love OF
children, and great kindness to them,
were remarkable He would sit for hours
with the little ones on his knee, telling
them Stories and amusing them. 1t is
remembered by some little girls who lived
in the house next to the one where be
lodged, how, if they had been at lecture
and did not understand all that was said
George would make it plain. He wrote out
for them in pencil Longfellow's verses
1.-THE Rainy Day. on a scrap of paper
now in his mothers possession. A copy
set to music, in his own handwriting, was
found in his seachest.
He was fond of drawing, and Otter
amused children by making pictures fol-
them. His love of music was not lost
during his absence from cultivated so
ciety. Mr.. Green mentions his often play
ing on the piano in his house; and that
he was also fond of listening to music
and much panied at any discord. The
chairman of the Lodge or Good Tcmplar'
states that George first attracted his at
tention at their weekly meetings by lis
clearness of expression and the exceeding
purity of his language. He says -
have seldom heard a man speak the Eng
fish language with such purify as he
spoke it. All his speeches were full o
thought, and very suggestive. In oul
discussions l noticed that he was cautious
in taking up his position; but, having
once taken it up. he was tenacious IL
maintaining it, The effect of his speeches
on the society was latterly very percep
tible. He read great deal, while of
work, ana on Sundays. His character wa
without blemish.
One who knew him at Richmond oh
serves: II knew from Captain Os
borne s conversations that he was a vel
educated man. He used good language
and was very respectful in all his ques
tions and answers. In my intercourse
with him he was very precise and &c
curatc in all he had to do. His characto
was very upright and honorable. Al
though he was connected with rougl
working men, and | was afraid he nigh
be drawn into their ways. noticed tina
he kept aloof from them
A gentleman who was part owner OF
brig mentions that he offered him tn
situation of mate; and that he went T.
Boston to join the ship; but. finding tn
old mate wished to return, he would no
stand in his way, but Mt once gave up Tn
situation to him. "This conduct h
adds, tsstruck me rs very remarkable. ~
Tho account of his death as given b.
ono of his shipmates is as follows:
cit was before the dawn of the sixtl
days sail from Boston, on the 9th Jan
nary, 1870 that his end came. He ha'
the watch from four to eight A. NJ W
were lowering the main sail. Osborne ant
I were side by side hauling on the sam
rope. The ship gave heavy roll, AM
the down haul got slack; then with an
other roll, the down haul got taut. Os
borne and were both caught in the bigh
of the down-haul The first shock cam
on him because he was nearer the sal
than /. / had time to lay myself down
and the rope passed over me, while os
borne was dragged across me. and int
yxr VI