All travellers agree, that in the ratio of their dis-
tance from the white, in that ratio is the prevalence of
the good qualities of the red men. All experience con-
firms this remark; they acquire our vices without
any of our virtues; and they melt away on our ap-
proach, like snow at the mouth of a furnace. My
kind regards to your family.

I am, your friend, DE WITT CLINTON.
MR. THOMAS EDDY, New York.

When Doctor Hosack

contemplated writing the life
of his friend, Thomas Eddy, he addressed a note to
Mr. Roscoe, requesting him to furnish any informa-
tion he might have in regard to the philanthropic
labours of the Howard of America—to which the
Doctor received the subjoined reply. It was dictated
by the accomplished author of the LIVES of the
Medici, and of the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo X., when
the writer could no longer bear the fatigue of writing
a single page with his own hand. It came from a
mind about to depart to a better world, but which
then reflected the images of virtue, sentiment, and
affection, as purely as it did in the prime of his exist-
ence. In the soul of Roscoe there was no sediment;
the last rays of the lamp of life were redolent of taste
and poesy. There was no envy, no aversion, no
repinings breathed from his lips, and his criticisms
have the weight of truth and sincerity, which can
only flow from a pure and exalted spirit. Praise
from such a man, under such circumstances, can
never be forgotten. I could not contract this letter.
I had no right to do it.

MY DEAR SIR,

Some time previous to the receipt of the letter
with which you honoured me, dated the 29th April,
1829, and accompanying the present of your valua-
ble memoir of Governor Clinton

, I had an attack of
paralysis, which had interfered with my usual occu-