MR. AVILDF.R'S EULOGY. 



his kindness and hospitalitj', she says: " I never shall forget, nor ever be able to fully 

 acknowledge them, feeling as I here do at this moment, all the blessings of a perfect 

 home.'" 



He also possessed, what is rarely found in combination with these qualities, keen per- 

 ception, great energy, decision and boldness. Blessed with an almost intuitive perception 

 of character, he read men at a glance. AVhen he was in London, he desired an assistant 

 who would return with him to America, and aid him in the architectural department of 

 his business. He visits the architectural exhibition in that city, and seeks an introduc- 

 tion to the secretary of that association, to whom he reveals his object, and by whom he 

 is introduced to Mr. Calvert Vaux, as a gentleman well qualified for the place. They ex- 

 change references; and so readily did he inspire confidence in this stranger, and also per- 

 ceive that he might safelj"- repose the same in him, that on their interview the next morn- 

 ing, he concludes a contract, agrees upon the precise time when thej' will start from Liver- 

 pool for America, hastens to Paris to complete his unfinished business, fulfills his engage- 

 ment, and in two weeks they are unitedly prosecuting their labors at Newburgh. Such 

 was his activity, proinptness, and despatch. 



The increasing extent of his business would have employed several common men; his 

 correspondence alone would have occupied a private secretary; yet the number and urgen- 

 c}' of his duties never depressed him, never confused him, never made him in a hurrj-, 

 because he was alwaj's the master, never the slave of his business. 



Having once thoroughly investigated a subject, he rested with confidence in his conclu- 

 sions, and published the same with a boldness which arrested attention and commanded 

 respect. Witness his just cor.demnation of " white houses" amidst rural beauty, a color 

 which no master of land.scape would dare to transfer to his canvass, yet which is as com- 

 mon in the country, as it is opposed to economy and good taste. Witness also his con- 

 demnation of the impure air of stove heated and unventilated dwellings, air which, with 

 equal truth and propriety, he denominates " the favorite poison of America." This arti- 

 cle, copied by numerous journals, read by thousands, and commending itself to their com- 

 mon sense, is fast producing a reform, conducive alike to health, comfort and long life. 

 But his kindness and magnanimity , his freedom from envy and jealou.sy, enabled him to 

 admire and commend whatever was excellent and praiseworthy, as freely and decidedly 

 as he condemned their opposites. These characteristics are exemplified in his monthly re- 

 views of the press, and in the notices of the works of other writers, which appear in his 

 volumes. 



Li a word, Mr. Downixg was in manners modest, polite and gentlemanly, — in percep- 

 tion of fitness and propriety intuitive, — in taste accurate and refined — in tact and practi- 

 cal skill remarkable — in love of country strictly national, American — in sentiment pure 

 — in life incorrupt — in most respects a model man — in all, nature's own child. It has been 

 justly said of him, " at whatever point of view we regard him, we are compelled to ad- 

 mire the symmetry of his character, the vigor of his mind, the versatility of his talents, 

 and that healthful flow of enthusiastic feeling which marks his writings. There arc those 

 who can work out beautiful thoughts in marble, who can clothe them in the touching lan- 

 guage of poetry, or bid them flow in the rounded periods and convincing strains of orato- 

 ry; but few minds seem more fully possessed of the power to add by art to the beauty of 

 nature, and make the dessert blossom like the rose." 



His writings are a faithful transcript of his own character. If his diction sometimes 

 contains unusual and even strange words and phra.ses, possibly ungrateful to som 

 sic ears, the worst which enlightened criticism can say of them is, that they subord 



