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"Doubt not!

But trust implicit in a Love Divine.

"Peace, health, and joy attend you evermore.

"Very sincerely,

"HORATIO KING."

For sixteen years he took great pleasure in his duties as a member, and most of the time as secretary, of the Washington National Monument Society, and had the great satisfaction of witnessing the completion and dedication of the beautiful marble obelisk,—a magnificent tribute to the memory of the Father of his Country. Congress, having put the monument and everything concerning it under the charge of the War Department, and the work allotted to the Society having been accomplished, he, with other of his associates, tendered their resignations.

Mr. King spends his winters in Washington, and since 1882, about four months each season, has resided at his summer home in West Newton, Mass., where with his own hands he has cultivated a garden and raised most of the vegetables required for his own family.

On May 25, 1835, he married Ann Collins, of Portland, Maine, by whom he had seven children,-only three of whom, Mrs. Annie A. Cole, of Washington, D. C.; General Horatio C. King, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Henry F. King, of West Newton, Mass., survive. The others died young. His first wife died September 22, 1869, and he married, February 8, 1875, Isabella G. Osborne, of Auburn, N. Y.

Mr. King's somewhat eventful life has been one of great usefulness. In all the positions he has filled he has inaugurated important improvements, including, within the last few years, that of the official "Penalty Envelope," a convenient and economical device; and by his literary efforts he has contributed much to elevate the tone of society at the national capital. He is a notable example to the youth of his country. Born and bred under circumstances which

gave him no greater advantages than are enjoyed by a large majority of the young men of our Union, he has attained. by his own energy, industry, and perseverance an exalted station, and made for himself a name and a reputation of which any man may well be proud. He has succeeded. because he has diligently and untiringly used the means, and the only sure means, to accomplish those ends. Our country has its thousands and tens of thousands as richly gifted by nature, and as much favored by circumstances, as was the subject of this sketch, who, by pursuing the same methods, may attain equally distinguished success.

HORATIO C. KING.

TURNING ON THE LIGHT.

PART I.

CHAPTER I.

ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Treasonable Course of the Constitution Newspaper-Correspondence of ex-President Pierce, John A. Dix, Postmaster of New York, Nahum Capen, Postmaster of Boston, Hon. D. S. Dickinson, and the Author, with Remarks on the Loyalty of President Buchanan.

I HAVE often regretted that I did not keep a complete diary of the more important events at Washington during the fall and winter of 1860-61; but the truth is, I had not the requisite time and strength to do it, so onerous were the official duties then devolving upon me. I did, however, find time to make some brief notes, and these, with some of my private letters hastily thrown off in connection with my official correspondence, serve to refresh my recollection of many of the startling occurrences of that appalling epoch. Many of these private notes were addressed to General Dix and Mr. Capen, the postmasters of New York and Boston, through whose kindness I obtained copies of them, those from General Dix having been received about a year before his death. Of others of my letters I fortunately retained copies, and all, together with the answers to some of them, have been shown to a few friends, who have earnestly advised me to allow them to be published. To this I have consented, hesitatingly, with the assurance that any seem

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ing egotism will be pardoned, if not overlooked, since it is apparent that I am not actuated by any selfish motive.

I have put the letters as nearly in their order of date as practicable, introducing only such explanatory remarks as may seem necessary to their correct understanding.

"P. O. DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.,

"October 16, 1860.

"MY DEAR SIR,-. . . Politically the signs look dark. It is painful to hear so many sound and conservative men give it as their decided opinion that there will certainly be resistance to Lincoln's administration of the government. Property holders in this district are greatly concerned.

"Very respectfully and truly yours,

"HON. JOHN A. Dix, P. M., New York."

"HORATIO KING.

1860.

"P. O. DEPARTMENT, November 7, "MY DEAR SIR,-. . . I write this (on the business of the department) early in the morning, before seeing hardly any one. The bright sun is shining into my office window, and everything is quiet, but a weight presses on my heart which I never felt so sensibly before-all foreboding 'breakers ahead.'

"Very respectfully and truly,

"HON. JOHN A. DIX, New York."

"HORATIO KING.

"P. O. DEPARTMENT, APPT. OFFICE,
"November 7, 1860.

"MY DEAR SIR,-As indicating how I feel to-day, I take the liberty of enclosing a copy of a letter I sent to the President this forenoon.

"The article in the 'Constitution' referred to will do infinite mischief, and I am not certain that the writer of it ought not to be stretched up as a traitor. I presume, however, it is the result only of bad judgment. "Very truly,

"HON. JOHN A. DIX, New York."

"HORATIO KING.

"WASHINGTON, November 7, 1860.

"MY DEAR SIR,-The die is cast, and Lincoln is elected.

"Shall we now fan the flame of disunion, or shall we exert our influence toward calming the already excited sentiment of the South?

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