ng their way as young men here in Georgetown at the same time, and
it is very interesting to follow, from many letters, how their
friendship continued through all their lives.

Mr. Peabody made frequent visits to his homeland, and used often to
visit Mr. Corcoran at his home in Washington, and to spend the summers
with him at the White Sulphur Springs.

When hearing of the beginning of the great gifts of his friend on this
side of the water, he wrote in October, 1851:

However liberal I may be over here, I can not keep pace with your
noble acts of charity at home; but one of these days I mean to come
out, and then if my feelings regarding money don't change and I have
plenty, I shall become a strong competitor of yours in benevolence.

He certainly made good his words. In London he entertained in princely
style. The following letter is one of the many telling of his parties
there:

London, May 16, 1853.

My dear Corcoran:

On the 18th I am to give a grand banquet to the American Minister
and about sixty-five English and eighty-five American ladies and
gentlemen, and have invited about fifty more for the evening. Mr.
Van Buren will be of the party and I hope to make it the best dinner
party I have ever given, as I have the Star and Garter, Richmond,
and the proprietor has no limit. I enclose you the programme of
music during and after dinner.

I have taken the house--Star and Garter--for a Fourth of July dinner
to gentlemen only, and expect about 150. I hear from Mr. Ingersoll
that your friend, Mr. Buchanan, will leave in June. Now, although I
only know Mr. Buchanan from his high character and what you say of
him, particularly as he is unmarried, and I would like to invite the
party for the fourth of July to meet "the American Minister, Mr.
Ingersoll, and the new Minister, Mr. Buchanan." Will you confer with
Mr. Buchanan on receipt of this and try to get me permission to give
the invitations as I propose? If Mr. Buchanan leaves 13th or 16th
June, he will arrive in ample time.

Very truly,

GEORGE PEABODY.

In 1867 he gave $15,000 to found the Peabody Library in Georgetown. A
large donation was given by him to the second Grinnell Arctic
Expedition. The museum in Salem, Massachusetts, called by his name, is a
fascinating collection of historic relics. To his birthplace he gave
50,000 pounds ($250,000) for educa