manner and conversation. He carried into society a cheerfulness and sunshine of soul, that rendered him a pleasing associate, a companion of inestimable value. Possessing an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes, and an inimitable manner of relation, he never failed to delight and interest when telling them. In the summer of 1862, Mr. Hathaway entered the service of the United States as colonel of the 141st Regiment N. Y. S. V. In the language of one of his eulogists, "It was urged upon him, that in the depleted state of this and adjacent counties, the regiment could not be filled without the imprimatur of his name. He gave it, and after having received his commission, and publicly announced his intention to go to the field, eighteen companies sprang into being, as if by magic, each one striving to be one of the ten who should march to battle under the colors of Colonel Hathaway." On the 15th of September, 1862, his regiment left Elmira and moved to the front. As soon as he decided to enter the service he directed all the energies of his mind and talents towards perfecting himself in military knowledge and discipline. Having, however, served some time as an officer under his father, he was not without military experience. By the time his regiment was ready to move, few persons in the volunteer service were more thoroughly qualified for the field than he, evincing, that like many members of the bar, who have left the forum for the field, he could entwine the laurels of Justinian with those of the soldier. As an evidence of his military capacity he was soon placed in command of the Second Brigade of Abercrombie's Division, as acting brigadier-general; a position which he filled with great credit to himself and satisfaction to those under his command. With him the common soldier was as much the object of his solicitude and care as he upon whose shoulders glittered the badge of superiority and command. "Himself as sensitive as a woman, he invariably extended to others the same high-toned treatment which he demanded for himself." Such characteristics could not fail to render him a popular commander. But the fatigues and exposures of camp life soon produced a disease of the heart, which at length compelled him to leave the service. Early in 1863, with great reluctance, he left his regiment and returned to Elmira. The scene of parting with his officers and men has been described as extremely affecting. "I leave you," said he, as if speaking with a prophetic view of his approaching death, “I leave you, perhaps to die at home, far from the scenes of war and strife. But had it pleased Heaven to have directed otherwise, I could have wished for another fate; I could have wished to have died leading you to battle and to victory. But wherever I go, in health, in sickness, in all that awaits me in life, I shall watch with unceasing interest your welfare as a regiment and as individuals; and when war's trials, dangers and sacrifices are over, with duties well done, that you may be gathered to happy homes in the bosom of peace, duly remembered by a grateful country, will ever be the prayer of him who can command you no more.” On many a war-worn cheek tears glistened as Hathaway rode from the camp, never again to return. On many a weary march, on many a blood-stained field, amid the harvest of death, his regiment gloriously sustained itself. But many, ah! how many, who marched with Hathaway from their beautiful camping-grounds at Elmira, fell, where showered "The death bolts deadliest, the thinn'd files along, True to their duty, true to their country, they died "upon the ark of her magnificent and awful cause;" then let them not be forgotten; for in their blood are laid our nation's altars. Let us remember that in their once happy homes a something that vibrated with joy on the heart is still, "and the magic of the voyage of life is no more." After his return to Elmira, Colonel Hathaway placed himself under the care of a distinguished physician of that city; but as his disease had become so firmly seated that it would not yield to medical treatment, under the advice of his physician he sought the home of his father, in Cortland county. He arrived there in the beginning of March, 1864. He lingered, in dignified submission to that Good Being, "Who has been our refuge from one generation to another,' and his submission was entire; there was no alloy of impatience or distrust. He looked upon approaching death with the calmness of a philosopher, the resignation of a martyr, the confidence and hope of a Christian, whose silent communion with his God, whose secret prayers were the votive and acceptable offering of a heart and soul turned from the withering and fading scenes of the world to Him who is the fullness and source of life, thought, beauty, power, love and happiness. Will it be said that Hathaway was not a professing Christian? Those who knew him best, early learned that within his heart there was a spot sacred to Christian ingenuousness and sincerity. But it never was polluted by pretense, by affected fervor, by cant and fictitious zeal, for he believed that truth is "an emanation from God, a beam of His wisdom, and as immutable as its source." The scene of his sickness and suffering developed his religion, and he bowed to the will of his Maker without a murmur. "I am in God's hands, and His will be done," were sentiments which he uttered, not with commonplace and mechanica formality, but issuing, as his tones and countenance discovered, from the very depths of his heart. Thus he bore his long and painful sickness. During all his illness it was his constant wish that he might die in the morning; and there ever came to him a soft weird whisper that his prayer would be granted. Was it the voice of unseen spirits hovering near-of loved and lost ones of other days, waiting for him on the confines of eternity? As the 15th day of April, 1864, drew to a close, a beautiful sunset lingered upon the landscape in front of his room. He watched it until the last rays faded away; then whispering to those standing by, he said: "So the sun of my life goes down, but it will rise again to-morrow." The morrow came, and with its first bright sunbeams death came as gently, as softly, almost as sweetly as that glorious sunlight fell upon the morning air. And thus, in the fifty-second year of his age, died Colonel Samuel G. Hathaway. He was endowed with a liberal heart-with generous and high-toned sentiments—with a mind keenly attuned to every sense of honor-with a modesty that redeemed him from envy-a geniality which made him welcome in every circle. Whatever were his faults, they floated only on the surface of his character; they could not live in the recesses of a heart like his. As the dew-drops will dim the polished surface of the Damascus blade, but leave no mark on dull, rough iron, so the polished and graceful cast of his mind made error more conspicuous in him than in coarser minds; for, in common with all that is mortal, he had faults-perhaps many-who has not? "Still, they are but the fragments that surround the lofty edifice in its admirable whole-the broken frieze torn from its pediment, leaving still the glory and the grandeur of the Parthenon." JOHN C. SPENCER. Compared with Ogden Hoffman, Lord Tenterden, and Thomas Noon Talfourd.His Intellectual Qualities as Exhibited in his Speeches and Writings.-His Manners.-Interview with General Root.-His Birth.-Was a Son of Ambrose Spencer. The Society of his Early Years.-His Education.-Manner of his First Acquaintance with Dr. Nott.-His Friendship for the Doctor Exhibited at a Late Period of his Life.-Commences the Study of Law with his Father.-Character of Ambrose Spencer.-Young Spencer Appointed Governor Tompkins' Private Secretary.-Makes the Acquaintance and Gains the Friendship of President Madison.-Is Admitted to the Bar.-His Marriage.-Removes to Canandaigua.— General Peter B. Porter.-Spencer's First Experience in Housekeeping.-Ontario County in 1810.-Mr. Spencer's First Appearance at its Bai.-His Politics.-The War of 1812.-He Sustains Madison and Tompkins.-His Popularity as a Writer. -His Pamphlets in England.-Joins the Staff of General McClure and Enters the Service.-His Fellow Staff Officers.-Appointed United States Assessor.-Retires from the Service.-Appointed by Mr. Tompkins District-Attorney for Five Western Counties.-Amusing Anecdote. - His Name not Relished. - Spencer Elected to Congress.- Tammany Society. ton.-His Life Intimately Connected with Spencer's.-Candidate for United Buck Tail Party.-De Witt ClinStates Senator.-Rufus King is Elected.-Spencer Elected Member of the Assembly.-Chosen Speaker.-Compared with Calhoun.-His Career in the Legislature.-John T. Irving, Elisha Williams, Gulian C. Verplanck.-Legislature Adjourns amid a Storm.-Spencer Re-elected to the Assembly of 1821.-Defeated for Speaker.-Singular Career.-Resumes the Practice of his Profession.-Clinton Dismissed from the Office of Canal Commissioner.-Public Indignation.-Alfred Conkling.-Mr. Spencer Elected to the Senate.-Heman J. Redfield.-Lieutenant-Governor Talmadge.-His Hostility to Clinton.-Held in check by John C. Spencer.-Anecdote.-The Secret Pamphlet.-The Discovery. - The Check.Ambrose Spencer a Candidate for United States Senator.-Singular manner of his Defeat.-No Choice.-Nathan Sandford Elected United States Senator, next Year. -His Character.-Judge Kent.-Spencer's Professional Duties.-Holland Land Company.-Spencer's Remarkable Report upon the Title to its Lands.-Effect of the Report.-His Report on the School Question.-Political Prospects of Clinton and Spencer.-Description of Clinton's Death.-The Effect.-Spencer Appointed one of the Revisers.-Benjamin F. Butler.-John C. Duer.-Henry Wheaton.The Labors of the Revisers.-The Statutes compared with other Written Laws. -Objections to It.-Abduction of Morgan.-Daniel Mosely.-Appointed Special Prosecutor in the Morgan Case.-Appointed Circuit Judge.-Spencer Succeeds him as Special District-Attorney.- Enters on his Duties.- His threatened Assassination.-The Anonymous Letters.-The attempted Assassination.-Case of Mather. Of Jewett.-Trial of the Former.-Is Discharged.-Trial of Jewett.-Is Acquitted.-Reasons Why.-Spencer's Resignation as Special District-Attorney. -Unites with the Anti-Masonic Party.-Its Leaders.-William H. Seward, Thurlow Weed, Frederick Whittlesey, Bates Cook.-Spencer's Subsequent Political Career.-Connection with the Whig Party.-Removes to Albany.-Appointed 1 |