Page images
PDF
EPUB

waters, till at its appointed time it gushes forth, the full and happy development of the latent traits of his character was reserved for the hour of his death. At that painful moment, when all around him was irrepressible emotion, he alone was calm;-and while friends were unmanned, and kindred weeping by his side, with an affecting serenity he addressed them in the words of exhortation, and, above all, in those words of faith and hope which are now their best and only solace. They mourn, but not in bitterness. Yet to him who pens this notice of him,-to the playmate of his infancy, the companion of his boyhood, the associate of his collegiate course, and the familiar friend of his maturer years, as each day recalls his memory, and each frequented spot revives his image, the feeling recurs, which is embodied by more than one of those authors, the study of whose works long formed in this place their common pursuit:

Dormis, O amice, nec te

Vultus exanimes, silentiumque

Per longa atria commovent, nec ulla
Sororum tangeris, aut meo dolore;

Nec sentis patre separatus illo—

Quando, quando tales

Venient meis oculis sopores.

II. ELIZABETH CHESTER.

III. SUSAN VAUX, died March 26, 1836.

IV. HANNAH.

V. JOHN CHESTER, died in infancy.

VI. JOHN CHESTER, died in infancy.

ELIHU CHAUNCY OF PHILADELPHIA.

ELIHU CHAUNCY, second son of Charles and Abigail Darling Chauncy, was born in New Haven, January 15, 1779; was graduated at Yale College, 1796; was admitted to the Bar in Philadelphia; died April 8, 1847. The following notices of him appeared at the time of his death:

[From the North American, Philadelphia.]

Death of Mr. Chauncy.

"Our city is called to mourn the death of one of its wisest and most virtuous citizens, Mr. Elihu Chauncy, who expired at his

residence in Walnut Street, at an early hour yesterday morning. Mr. Chauncy was a man of far-reaching sagacity, solid judgment, and profound reverence for truth. Altogether his understanding was of the most dignified order, and though it was employed. chiefly on private affairs, it was felt often in the councils of government, and in the most important public movements of the people, through those men who were in the habit of refreshing their intellects at the clear spring of his well-informed and various conversation. He was one of the firmest and stateliest pillars of our society, which gave promise of harmony and endurance to the edifice; and though his fall may hardly be felt in the outer corridors, it will leave for years a mark and sense of ruin in the centre which he adorned."

[From the United States Gazette.]

"We again recur to the subject of the death of Mr. Elihu Chauncy. This day the last sad tribute of respect will be paid to his remains.

"For many years he took an active part in the busy scenes around us, and it is especially the duty of the United States. Gazette to embalm his memory. This is a grateful duty, and there are noble hearts which will respond to our further tribute. Mr. Chauncy was of the good old Puritan stock, and among his ancestors are to be found some of the brightest names which adorn our history. His early training and all his associations from childhood up, were worthy of his name and lineage. He had the advantage of a liberal education, prepared himself for the profession of the law, and was admitted to practice in our

courts.

"It is the opinion of those who knew him best and whose opinion is authoritative, that if he had continued in the practice he would have attained the highest rank in the profession. He came into active life just at the time when the struggle was going on for those great principles which Washington had endeavored to infuse into the administration of our government. Of patriotic impulses and dauntless spirit, an able writer, and possessing the confidence of leading men of the day, he entered the field of politics, and was, for a time, as we have already stated,

associated with the late Mr. Bronson, as one of the Editors of this Gazette. In this position he was surrounded and sustained by a galaxy of young men, who have since done honor to our city: we refer to this period with pride and pleasure, as the palmy day of the Journal, which has now for so many years been identified with the name and fortunes of its present editor. Here, doubtless, he laid the foundation for that extensive and commanding influence, which, afterwards, he so long and well and justly exercised. Retiring from the Gazette he devoted himself to financial studies and pursuits, for which his mind was eminently qualified, and became a complete master of political economy. He was one of the most accomplished men in this difficult science, which our country has produced. After having been for many years a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania, he was elected to take part in its executive administration. His great and peculiar talents soon became extensively known, winning for him everywhere upon financial subjects 'the applause of the applauded,' until he came to be generally regarded throughout the country, as one of our most able, reliable, energetic and efficient men. He was not only consulted by our own merchants, statesmen, and capitalists, in their great enterprises; he also possessed in an eminent degree the confidence of the leading capitalists abroad. He was for many years a working man in our City Councils, and rarely, during a long period, was any great loan negotiated by the State or General Government, without his aid. How much the City, the State, the Country owes to him, we have not now time or space to tell. In the commercial revulsions of the country, which no human sagacity could foresee, nor human skill or power avert or control, he too suffered, and now his great qualities were put to the severest test. How faithfully, patiently and perseveringly he labored to gather up the fragments of a handsome fortune and do justice to all, those who knew him best will say. That a deep, pervading and governing principle of conscientiousness actuated him in these noble, and we rejoice to know, successful efforts, they too will bear testimony. Retiring for a few years past within the bosom of his family and the circle of his more intimate and confidential friends, his virtues here shone out with peculiar brightness. He won all their confidence,

affections and respect, and his death is mourned by them with a depth, truth and poignancy which can hardly be surpassed. In this we would fain assure them they have the heart-felt sympathies of this community.

"Those near our departed friend and fellow-citizen in his last hours, were privileged to see the truth and beauty of that place and presence, where

and speaks

'Heaven

owns her friends
* and points them to men;'

to virtue peace.""

"The death of a man of large views, liberal principles and generous purposes, is not only an affliction to his relatives and immediate friends, but a subject of sorrow to the community in which he lived and moved. The impulse he communicated, while living, to all schemes of public enterprise and improvement, may indeed be continued; but his aid and influence will be missed in many channels which no other could successfully fill. Such a man was he, whose name heads this article, and whose death will be felt as an unusual loss wherever his exertions for the public benefit have extended.

"The people of our Chester County, and of our own immediate community are more deeply indebted to Mr. Chauncy than many of them are aware. He was the leader in the great enterprise of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and invested a large fortune (upwards of $100,000) in it. A letter from one of his friends, which is now before us, says: 'It is highly probable that, but for his financial ability, vast resources and indomitable energy, the work (of the Reading Railroad) could hardly have been completed. In justice to his memory it must be also stated, that he undertook this enterprise in no spirit of opposition to the Schuylkill Navigation; he uniformly discountenanced all attacks upon the rival work, and strenuously opposed every measure based upon the mere principle of opposition; he started upon the broad principle that the resources of the coal region and of the Schuylkill valley would furnish ample trade for both works, and uniformly held this language while he lived.'

"It is also well known that Mr. Chauncy was one of the largest original subscribers to the enterprise of the West Chester Railroad, and it was mainly owing to the influence of his name that the money was so readily obtained to complete it. He afterwards increased his interest in the Company, and continued to hold it, up to the time of his death.

"The funeral obsequies of this distinguished citizen were attended by the Rev. Drs. Cuyler, Barnes and Boardman, and some appropriate and eloquent remarks were made at the interment, by his pastor Dr. Barnes, touching particularly his Christian character as it appeared in view of death."

Mr. Chauncy married HENRIETTA TEACKLE, upon whose death the following notice was prepared by a friend :—

[From the National Gazette of March 13, 1832.]

Obituary.

"Died, on the second instant, Mrs. Henrietta Chauncy, wife of Elihu Chauncy, Esq., of this city, and daughter of the late John Teackle, Esq., formerly of Accomac County, Virginia.

"Possessing an uncommonly powerful mind, and great decision of character, this lady early became distinguished, and attracted the admiration of those who were most remarkable for superior intelligence. Her clearness of perception and acuteness of discrimination, at once fitted and inclined her to analyze the various subjects which she had occasion to contemplate, and rendered it impossible that she should slavishly adopt the sentiments or practice of others. The character of her mind thus necessarily produced a high degree of independence, which was enhanced by peculiar purity, delicacy and correctness of moral feeling. There was so much in the world to shock and disgust her, that she could not receive as binding, either its maxims or its usages. She affected no singularities, and was studious to avoid improprieties, but she always dared to do that which seemed to her to be right, whatever were the views, feelings or habits of those who were around her.

"With all her independence and practical contempt of what was base, though countenanced by the multitude, there were united so much gentleness, kindness, sincerity and friendly feel

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »