DEATH OF JAMES D. BONNER.

CHICAGO, Dec. 7th, 1855.

FRIEND DOUGLASS:--I have sad new to communicate. A friend and brother has fallen—and I have just returned from the funeral. A man whom I loved. and who doubtless was much esteemed by yourself and others, is dead. James D. Bonner's mortal remains now lays cold in its silent tomb, but his spirit, I trust, ever liveth, and is gone to God who gave it. How suggestive is the question, "If a man die shall he live again?" "The dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it."

This sad event took place on the 5th inst., at one o'clock in the afternoon, after an illness of three weeks, terminating in typhoid fever.

Not only is his death a sad bereavement to his much afflicted family, but it is a public as well as private loss. And it will be more severely felt in Illinois, being the theatre of his activities. In my humble opinion, we, of Illinois, have lost one of our brightest stars, and, perhaps, strongest man in a public way.

There is a most singular coincidence in relation to his family, which I cannot pass over without mentioning. His sister, Mrs. Smith, the one to whom he was particularly attached, has been confined to her room for over six months. And during her sickness they both lay in the same house, he up stairs, while she down stairs. And so concerned is she about her "brother James," that she has been, and still is, constantly inquiring after him. But the family have deemed it advisible, in her present, apparently dying condition, not to apprize her of his death. When myself and wife left the house in mourning, this evening, her beloved children, kind and venerable husband, and numerous friends were standing around her bed side watching the last breath.

I rejoice to be able to say, that though all

these trying afflictions are enough to overwhelm the family, and sink them in despair, yet they bear it with a commendable resignation and christian fortitude. What or that has a mind to comprehend, and a heart to feel, could witness such bereavements without being excited by the motions of sympathy--aye, the most active sympathy. But enough of this gloomy reality.

And to return a moment to our deceased friend. To my old fashoned seeming, he was rather gay and fashionable, and externally, had much the appearance of a fop, but this I found to be more seeming than real. In his social relations, he was sociable, generous and agreeable, with a happy turn of mind, and he seemed desirous of making others so around him.

I think I hazzard nothing in saying that he was quick to feel for the miseries and wrongs of others, and had the frankness openly to express, under almost any circumstances, his disapprobation, and willing to help, to extent of his powers, to put down existing abuses. He was not a man to equivocate or falter when he thought he was right; and he cared but little who was the man he combated. He was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Liberty for all mankind. And he was every ready and willing to make any reasonable sacrifice in doing what he could for the oppressed and proscribed of our own land.

Not feeling well myself, I must abruptly close. Your friend and Brother,

H. O. WAGONER