"The favorite games of Mr. Peabody were backgammon after dinner, and whist in the evening. He was as fond of the latter, and as rigorous a player, as Charles Lamb's friend, Sarah Battle, who neither gave nor took quarter."

At the time of the Great Exhibition of 1851, in England, Mr. Peabody redeemed the good name of his countrymen by promptly supplying a sum of fifteen thousand dollars, which was greatly needed, in order to place in suitable array the contributions to the World's Fair from America, and to save his native country from appearing unworthy of its public and private enterprise. On the occasion of Mr. Peabody's public reception by his native town, in 1856, Hon. Edward Everett thus eloquently alluded to this generous deed of the London banker; saying, "We are bound as Americans, on this occasion particularly, to remember the very important services rendered by your guest to his countrymen who went to England in 1851 with specimens of the products and arts of this country to be exhibited at the Crystal Palace. In most, perhaps in all other countries, this exhibition had been a government affair. Commissioners were appointed by authority to protect the interests of the exhibiters; and, what was more important, appropriations of money were made to defray their expenses. No appropriations were made by Congress. Our exhibiters arrived friendless, some of them penniless, in the great commercial Babel of the world. They found the portion of the Crystal Palace assigned to

our country unprepared for the specimens of art and industry which they had brought with them; naked and unadorned by the side of the neighboring arcades and galleries fitted up with elegance and splendor by the richest governments in Europe. The English press began to launch its too ready sarcasms at the sorry appearance which Brother Jonathan seemed likely to make; and all the exhibiters from this country, and all who felt an interest in their success, were disheartened. At this critical moment, our friend stepped forward. He did what Congress should have done. By liberal advances on his part, the American department was fitted up; and day after day, as some new product of American ingenuity and taste was added to the list, McCormick's reaper, Colt's revolver, Powers's Greek slave, Hobbs's unpickable lock, Hoe's wonderful printing-presses, and Bond's more wonderful spring governor, it began to be suspected that Brother Jonathan was not quite so much of a simpleton as had been thought. He had contributed his full share, if not to the splendor, at least to the utilities, of the exhibition. In fact, the leading journal at London, with a magnanimity which did it honor, admitted that England had derived more real benefit from the contributions of the United States than from those of any other country."

CHAPTER V.

GREAT AND GOOD GIFTS.

Help to find Sir John Franklin.—Donation to Danvers.—The Peabody Institute in Peabody. - The Public Reception of the Benefactor.

"For his bounty,

There was no winter in't: an autumn 'twas,

That grew the more by reaping."

SHAKSPEARE: Antony and Cleopatra.

"He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity."— ROM. xii. 8.

by himself,

N 1852, Mr. Peabody again showed himself a generous giver to good and noble objects. That friend of humanity in America, Henry Grinnell, had generously offered a vessel owned "The Advance," for a second expedition, under the brave and dauntless Dr. Kane, to the Arctic seas, in search of poor lost Sir John Franklin. Sympathizing with the pluck and energy and perseverance of the American explorer, and also with the deep sorrow of the devoted Lady Franklin and other English friends, who mourned the unexplained delay of the intrepid adventurer, Mr. Peabody felt it to be his privilege to aid in the matter.

According to "The Boston Transcript," "a private individual offered a vessel for the purpose, on condition that Congress should make a grant of money in aid of the expedition; and when time ran on, and Congress seemed inclined to do nothing in the matter, Mr. Peabody pro

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vided the means of equipping The Advance.' By this timely aid, Dr. Kane was enabled to carry out his enterprise; and the name of 'Peabody Land' will be found marked upon part of the northern shores which that gallant discoverer then visited."

In the month of June, 1852, the town of Danvers held its centennial celebration, and Mr. Peabody was invited to be present.

"Although Mr. Peabody had long been absent, yet the many proofs by which he had, in previous instances, evinced his regard for the place of his birth, gave him peculiar claims to be included among the invited guests. Accordingly, an invitation was early forwarded to him, by the committee of the town, to be present at that festival, with a request, that, if unable to attend, he would signify by letter his interest in the occasion. In his reply, after stating that his engagements would allow him to comply only with the latter part of the request, he said, 'I enclose a sentiment, which I ask may remain sealed till this letter is read on the day of celebration, according to the direction on the envelope.'

"The indorsement on the envelope of the sealed packet was as follows:

"The seal of this is not to be broken till the toasts are being proposed by the chairman, at the dinner, 16th June, at Danvers, in commemoration of the one hundredth year since its severance from Salem. It contains a sentiment for the occasion from George Peabody of London.'

"In obedience to the above direction, at the proper moment the reading of the communication was called for; and the following was received by the delighted audience with loud acclamations :

"BY GEORGE PEABODY of London:

"EDUCATION, -A debt due from present to future gen

erations.'

“In acknowledgment of the payment of that debt by the generation which preceded me in my native town of Danvers, and to aid in its prompt future discharge, I give to the inhabitants of that town the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS for the promotion of knowledge and morality among them.

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"I beg to remark, that the subject of making a gift to my native town has for some years occupied my mind; and I avail myself of your present interesting festival to make the communication, in the hope that it will add to the pleasures of the day.

"I annex to the gift such conditions only as I deem necessary for its preservation, and the accomplishment of