Hunter personally, was this : At the the time of his graduating from Columbia College, twentyone yeaiii of age, it so hapiiened that he came into full po.S8essiou of his property. A friend and fellow-student, traveling in Europe while Najioleon was campaigning in Italy, wrote earnestly, reminding him that, on account of insecurity, art treasures were olTered for sale at great sacrifice, and that an oppoitunity to indulge cherished t^istes had now arrived, the like of which had not been known before and might never come again. ' My answer was prompt,' said Mr. Hunter, 'availing myself of his service, with faith in his judgment and discretion.'

" Here, at this iioint of writing, I have arrested my pen in oriler to read aloud to a friendly caller what, as it happens, I have just now written, and have thus drawn forth this critical (pie.stioning : Surely, the Italian art dealers nnist have seen their opportunity in negotiating with a young connnissioned American, and might liave been quite equal to the occasion. How have the claims of these choice treasures been verified? However fair and apt that questioning may be, suffice it here for me to s;vy that it is not within the scope of my purpose to determine the origin of the pictures, aud that with a youth's faith in the keen insight aud ciitical judgment of so highly educated au amateur as the

Hon. John Hunter, it was my fortune to realize, amid our surrotmdings in the gallery, all possible delight and mental quickening, limited only by the measure of receptivity. Outside of the family circle, Mr. Hunter, who, in his spirit and style of manners, represented a high ideal of the typal gentleman, the courteous and accomplished State Senator, reappears to the eye of memory as the first personality that I can recall as associated with my early life in Pelham.