361 



the Bank of the United States and the Value of its Capital Stock 

 on the 3d of March, 1856. 



The Van Buren Executive Committee issued a Life of Martin Van 

 Buren in Philadelphia, 5th January, 1844, written by Mr. Gilpin. 



He was the author of many reviews of works of great variety — of 

 history, travels, biography, poetry, discoveries, annals, law, &c. 



He was occasionally devoted to the poetic muse. Productions of 

 his in verse are found in the '^ Atlantic Souvenir." 



His pen was prolific, and indulged itself in great variety. It drew 

 freely from the resources of his own cultivated mind, and found ready 

 illustration and support in the pages of a large library, by which his 

 desk was surrounded. This love of literature and science was in- 

 dulged of late years in occasional visits to the Astor Library in New 

 York, which is rapidly developing itself into one of the most valuable 

 and interesting collections of the age. The learned superintendent 

 of that institution always received him with the congenial feelings of 

 an instructed and inquiring intellect; and the kindest relations sub- 

 sisted between them to the close of Mr. Gilpin's life. 



It was not until one of the later years of his career that he visited 

 the home of his ancestors, and there met and made many friends. 

 He travelled with his excellent wife on the Continent of Europe, 

 and penetrated into remoter regions of other sections of the world. 

 He refreshed his knowledge of antiquity, which had been derived 

 from books, by navigating the ancient Nile, and beholding the monu- 

 ments of Egypt, which have stood amid the changes of mankind for 

 thousands of years. While in Europe, not only did the scenes of 

 modern elegance attract his notice in the capitals of Britain, and 

 France, and Prussia, and Germany, but Rome became the object of 

 especial and devoted study, not less than literal enjoyment. Her 

 classic exhibitions and memorials of the past, as well as her splendid 

 displays of modern and ancient art combined in gorgeous pageantry, 

 and all the solemn and magnificent exercises of an attractive and 

 brilliant form of worship, were before him. Greece, too, the land of 

 Xenophon and Homer, as well as of Plato and Socrates, of Solon 

 and Lycurgus, of Themistocles and Leonidas, of Demosthenes and 

 Pericles, of scholars and philosophers, and statesmen and legislators, 

 of heroes and orators, was not trodden without a full measure of 

 delight. 



He returned home and renewed his social and literary occupations. 

 These were pursued for some few years with satisfaction and enjoy- 

 ment. It was not long, however, before his health began to fail. A 



VOL. VII. — 2 v 



