218 Memoir of Mr. G. W. Featherstonhaugh.—By J. D. F. 
server a wide contrast to the governments of the old con¬ 
tinent. Arriving here with letters to the most eminent 
citizens, the young traveler, a classical scholar, and fluently 
speaking several languages, soon acquired the friendship of 
the cultured men of the day, and being of striking personal 
appearance, measuring more than six feet in hight, with 
courteous manner and an accomplished musician, gained a 
ready admission to the somewhat exclusive society of that 
period. 
As the time approached for his return home,/in paying 
some farewell visits to his hospitable friends in the neighbor¬ 
hood of Philadelphia, by a providential mistake in his road 
he became instrumental in saving the life, perhaps, of a young 
lady, endangered by a vicious horse. This lady was the grand¬ 
daughter of Robert, third proprietor of the Livingstone manor 
and daughter of Mr. James Duane, first mayor of New York 
appointed by governor Clinton, and an intimate friend of 
general Washington. The lady was beautiful and accom¬ 
plished ; the intimacy thus established led on to mutual 
affection and marriage. 
A large residence was erected, almost in the then wilderness 
on the patent known as Duanesburgh in the neighborhood of 
their kinsman, general North, of revolutionary distinction 
where the subject of our memoir devoted himself to the 
interests of agriculture, importing largety from the best 
blooded stock abroad. He served for some time as corre¬ 
sponding secretary of the board of agriculture of the state of 
New York, the patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer being presi¬ 
dent, and was the active spirit of that useful institution, and 
the one upon whom the compilation of its memoirs and the 
other literary work chiefly fell. 1 
When the construction of the Erie canal, which had over¬ 
shadowed all their schemes of internal improvement, was 
completed, reviving his old idea, 2 he vigorously agitated in 
lu Mr. Featherstonhaugh from the committee appointed to propose 
the most important measures necessary to be adopted at the present 
session of this board, and to whom was likewise referred the subject 
of rules or orders for the government of this board, in the transaction 
of business, reported as follows : ”— Memoirs of the board of agriculture 
of the State of New Yorlc, Vol. 1st. page 11. 
“ George W. Featherstonhaugh, corresponding secretary for the 
United States and foreign nations,” Ibid page 40. 
