New Series. ALBANY, SEPTEMBER, 1852. Vol. IX.— No. 9. 
Obituary of A. J. Downing, Esq. 
Stars, unnumbered and unwept, go out from the 
broad sky; but when a planet fades from our vision, re- 
flection is forced upon us. When one in the strength of 
his manhood and at the height of his usefulness is re¬ 
moved from his place, leaving his mission seemingly but 
half accomplished, we pause to acknowledge a higher 
power than our own, and purposes reaching beyond hu¬ 
man foresight. 
The sudden and untimely death of A. J. Downing, 
Esq., late editor of The Horticulturist, who was among 
those who lost their lives at the burning of the steamboat 
Henry Clay, on the Hudson River, on the28th July, has 
fallen with a crushing weight on the hearts of his friends, 
and upon the public generally, as a common calamity. 
The place he occupied is now a blank—the commanding 
position to which he had carved his way, will wait long 
for a claimant. Though comparatively a young man, he 
had earned a reputation for ability, and enjoyed a popu¬ 
larity, which few have been fortunate enough to win. 
Without the advantage of a liberal education,—forced 
from youth to rely upon his own unaided exertions,—at 
the early age of thirty-seven years he had elevated him¬ 
self to an enviable rank among the first minds of the age. 
At whatever point of view we regard him, we are com¬ 
pelled to admire the symmetry of his character, the vigor 
of his mind, the versatility of his talents, and that health¬ 
ful flow of enthusiastic feeling which marks his writings. 
There are those who can work out beautiful thoughts in 
marble, who can clothe them in the touching language 
of poetry, or bid them flow in the rounded periods and 
convincing strains of oratory,but few minds seem possessed 
of the power to add by art to the beauty of nature, and 
make the desert blossom like the rose. 
Mr. Downing first claims our attention as a practical 
Horticulturist and Nurseryman. Unlike the majority 
of working-men, he did not busy himself exclusively in 
the manipulations and detail of his art, though in these 
eminently successful, but labored to discover the first 
principles of his profession, and to bring it up to its pro¬ 
per rank in science and the fine arts. When we consider 
the discouraging circumstances under which he wrought, 
both in the means of prosecuting its work and the apathy 
of public sentiment, we wonder that he should have pro¬ 
duced a treatise so perfect in his kind, so elaborate and 
finished as his Landscape Gardening. He handles, 
with apparent ease, the subtil topics of abstract beauty, 
the moral and social influence of its development in na¬ 
ture, and what is more remarkable, he is equally at home 
in carrying his theory into practice. This work first ap¬ 
peared in 1841, and though an elegant and costly book, 
has now passed through four editions. It was the 
first publication on the subject by an American author, 
and so completely unknown was the art, that the manu¬ 
script remained sometime in the hands of the author 
without a publisher. It was, however, a complete tri¬ 
umph, and may be said to have almost created a taste 
for ornamental gardening—it certainly refined and eleva¬ 
ted it. 
The discussion of the disposition and adornment of the 
grounds pertaining to a residence, naturally led to the 
subject of Architecture. With all the branches of this 
art, Mr. Downing was familiar, aud his Cottage Resi¬ 
dences and Country Houses, display with great effect 
his admirable taste. He discusses the meaning and ex¬ 
pression of Architecture, in a profound and comprehen¬ 
sive manner • and following, what seems to have been a 
motto with him— u Never to lose sight of good sense,”— 
he shows the absurdity of adopting ancient architecture 
as the highest form of the art, and argues the necessity 
of a peculiar national style of building. That he found¬ 
ed a distinct school, we do not assert; but from many 
sources, and particularly from his own varied culture, 
sound judgment, and correct taste, he drew just what 
seemed best adapted to the wants and capacity of the 
country. 
The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America , which was 
issued in 1846, presents to great advantage, the pomolo- 
gical research and experience of Mr. Downing. This 
work is admirably executed, and has met with univer¬ 
sal favor. These works of Mr. Downing have given 
this country a rank among other nations in Horticulture 
and Rural Taste, and exerted a wide influence upon the 
improvement of our own gardens and houses. Many a 
residence, beautified by his skill, many a smiling lawn, 
and gracefully disposed group of foliage, remain as fit 
monuments to his memory, and many a home made hap¬ 
pier by his teachings, will be saddened by his death. 
In the editorship of the Horticulturist, he has shown, 
perhaps, better than in his other writings, the peculiai 
fitness of his talents to educate the popular taste for the 
beautiful in nature and art. The success which has at 
tended this periodical, and the increased attention which 
is being paid to Landscape Gardening. Horticulture and 
Rural Decoration, are proof of the beneficial influence 
of his labors. Whether we read his Letters from Eng¬ 
land, which exhibit a refined literary taste, and a deli- 
