190 
This is not the time, nor have we space, to add more respecting the departed, 
or his official life and labors. 'The latter were numerous, exacting and often 
very difficult ; but we believe that. results will prove that they were generally 
judiciously devised, well performed, and will be found highly beneficial to the 
country at large. ‘The accompanying resolutions will show in what light the 
deceased and his official deeds were regarded by those associated with him in 
the department. His fellow-citizens of Pennsylvania, temporarily residing here, 
have also voluntarily expressed their sentiments in regard to him as a man and 
as a public officer. We feel, therefore, that with such “a cloud of witnesses,” 
we may properly close without further comment on his well-spent life and hon- 
orable character. 
J. W. STOKES, 
Acting Commissioner. 
MEETING OF DEPARTMENT EMPLOYES. 
At a meeting of the clerks and employés of the Department of Agriculture, 
held Thursday morning, June 20, to take action upon the decease of Hon. Isaac 
Newton, late Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. John W. Stokes, Acting Com- 
missioner, was called to the chair, and Charles H. Folwell appointed secretary. 
Upon taking the chair Mr. Stokes said : 
GENTLEMEN: It becomes my painful duty to announce to you the death of 
Mr. Newton, the head of this Department. He expired yesterday at his resi- 
dence in this city, surrounded by his family and friends. 
We meet together, gentlemen, to-day, to express, in a suitable and becoming 
manner, our feelings upon this sad bereavement. Many of you have been asso- 
ciated with him in the discharge of the duties of the Department from its organ- 
ization, and have been the recipients of his kind and generous confidence. You 
are the living witnesses of his earnest and devoted attachment to the great agri- 
cultural interests of the country, and of the industry with which he ever pur- 
sued the labors of his office. Personally, I feel this bereavement keenly ; he 
was my personal friend, and for many years I have enjoyed his confidence as 
his personal friend and legal adviser, and twice have I been honored by him in 
the position which I hold among you to-day, which makes me the successor 
and temporary occupant of that vacant chair until it shall be again filled by 
regular appointment. 
On motion of Colonel E. M. Whitaker, a committee of three, consisting of 
Rev. A. B. Grosh, J. R. Dodge, and Wm. Saunders, was appointed to draught res- 
olutions expressive of the feelings of the meeting. 
During the absence of the committee, Colonel E. M. Whitaker, Walter E. 
Gardiner, and Colonel James Gleason were appointed a committee to make ne- 
cessary arrangements for the funeral, and a committee of twenty was appointed 
to accompany the remains to Philadelphia. 
Mr. Grosh, from the committee on resolutions, said they felt so deeply 
this sad affliction that it required much effort to suppress what they would say, 
lest more would be said than seemed proper. We have been associated with 
Mr. Newton for years—some of us before this Department was organized—and 
have shared his arduous labors, and sympathized with him in his many trials— 
received his kindnesses and met his approving smiles ; and when we look at his 
now vacant chair, and recall his benevolent countenance, and realize that the 
seat shall no more be filled by his noble form, crowned by those silvery locks 
of an honored old age, we feel that the words are tame in which we have en- 
