CODICIL TO WILL.—ILLNESS.—GEN. WHITING.—LETTERS.—DIARY.
In August, 1849, Mr. Lawrence reviewed his will and added to it the following codicil:
"Through the mercy of God, my life has been prolonged to this time, and my mental and bodily powers continued to me to an extent that has enabled me to see to the application of those trusts that have been confided to me; and, should my stewardship end now or next year, and the 'Well done' of the Master be pronounced upon my labors, all things here will seem nothing, and less than nothing, in comparison.
"In short, my life, cheerful and happy as it is made by the three blessings conferred upon man after his fall (wife, children, and friends), is in the keeping of a merciful Father, who, by thus continuing it, allows me a foretaste of that future home I hope for whenever he calls.
"In reviewing my will, above written, executed on the 21st day of February, A. D. 1846, I see nothing to alter, and everything to confirm. And I do hereby declare it still my will, and this codicil is to be taken as a confirmation of it; and I do earnestly hope all in interest will see clearly the meaning of every clause, and carry out my meaning without any quibbling, question, or controversy. I have been my own executor, for many years, of the surplus property I have received, and intend to be while my powers of mind will allow it. Many near and dear friends to whom I looked for counsel and direction, at the time my will was executed, have been taken hence, which makes me more desirous of giving a renewed expression at this time."
In this connection was the following note to his sons, found in his pocket-book after his decease:
"Dear W. and A.: In my will, I have made no bequests as tokens of remembrance, and have endeavored to do for all (whom I am interested in out of my own family connections) what is needful and proper and best; yet I wish some expression of kindness to M. and F., if in the family when I am taken." * * * *
Here follow donations to domestics who had been for many years in his family.
About the 20th of September, Mr. Lawrence experienced a severe attack of cholera morbus, which was then a sort of epidemic in the community. Of this attack, he writes to President Hopkins as follows:
"I hardly know how to address you, since I find myself once more spared to lay open my heart to you; for I do indeed feel all the force of the words, What shall I render unto God for all his unspeakable goodness? I have been upon the brink of Jordan, and, with my outstretched hand, seized hold of our merciful Father's hand, that was held out towards me, and was supported by his grasp as plainly as I could have been by your own hand. I was waiting, and praying to him to conduct me to the other side and permit me to join the company of loved ones passed on, and felt almost sure I should never see the sunlight of this world again, when, to my amazement, I found my pains subsiding, and that I had not finished the work he had assigned. When you were here, I gave you some little outline of my plan of work for ——. On the 18th of September, I completed that work, and felt stronger on that day than on any day for a month. Under the excitement of the scene and a sudden change of weather, I took cold, and had a terrible attack of cholera, which, by the immediate administration of remedies, was in a degree quieted. Thus my poor old worn-out machine was still kept from parting, as the sole of the shoe is sometimes kept on by freezing snow and water upon it."
In the beginning of this volume, mention is made of the first clerk whom Mr. Lawrence employed after entering business in the year 1807. To that gentleman, now Brigadier-General Whiting, was addressed the following letter, which was the recommencement of a correspondence which had ceased for many years:
"Boston, November, 1849.
"My dear General: I have been deeply interested in overlooking your volume of revolutionary orders of Washington, selected from your father's manuscripts, as it brought back scenes and memories of forty years and more ago, when I used to visit at your house in Lancaster, and to read those papers with a relish that might well be coveted by the youth of the present day. I thank you for this token of auld lang syne, and shall feel the more thankful if you will come and see me. I would certainly go to you, if I had the strength, and could do it safely; but shall never go so far from home, being at any moment liable to be called off. My earnest desire is to be 'in line,' and to be able to answer, promptly, 'here.' I hope to hear from you and your wife and wee things: all have a hold upon me, and you will give them an old man's love. I have taken the opportunity to send you some little reminiscences of old times. Butler's 'History of Groton' (which connects Lancaster in early days) is a model for its exact truthfulness: he was the preceptor of the academy until long after you entered the army. Then I have sent a catalogue of the school, from its beginning for fifty years or more; 'History of Lowell as it Was, and Lowell as it Is,' well written and true; 'Boston Notions,' put together by old Mr. Dearborn, the printer, whom you knew; and some other little matters, which will serve to freshen old things, as your 'Evolutionary Orders of Washington' have done with me. I have just looked into my first sales-book, and there see the entries made by you more than forty years ago. Ever since, you have been going up, from the cornet of dragoons to the present station.
"Farewell. Your old friend,
Amos Lawrence
"Gen. Henry Whiting, Fort Hamilton, N. Y."
(TO ROBERT BARNWELL RHETT, ESQ., OF SOUTH CAROLINA.)
"Boston, Dec. 12, 1849.
"My dear Sir: Your letter of November 30 reached me in due course, and gave me unfeigned pleasure in seeing my hopes confirmed, that the practical common sense of South Carolina was returning, and that the use of their head and hands was getting to be felt among the citizens, as necessary to their salvation as common brethren in the great family of States. Without the use of those trusts placed in their hands by our common Father, the State will not be worth the parchment on which to draw the deeds fifty years hence; and I most earnestly pray God to guide, guard, and save the State from their childishness in their fears that our northern agitators can harm them. I spent the winter of 1819 in Washington, and heard the whole of the debate upon admitting Alabama and Missouri into the Union. Alabama was admitted, Missouri rejected; and I made up my mind then that I would never interfere until requested by my brethren of the Slave-holding States; which resolution I have carried out from that day to this; and I still hold to it. But I would not have admitted Alabama then or Missouri on the terms they were admitted. We of the North have windy, frothy politicians, who hope to make capital out of their ultraism; but, in the aggregate, they soon find their level. Now, of the point to which I desire to come, I do earnestly desire your State to carry out your prophecy, that, in ten years, you will spin all your own crop of cotton; for we of Massachusetts will gladly surrender to you the manufacture of coarse fabrics, and turn our industry to making fine articles. In short, we could now, if you are ready, give up to you the coarse fabrics, and turn one half of our machinery into spinning and weaving cotton hose; and nothing will help us all so much as specific duties. The whole kingdom of Saxony is employed at this moment in making cotton hose for the United States from yarns purchased in England, and made of your cotton. How much better would it be for you and for us to save these treble profits and transport, by making up the cotton at home! Think of these matters, and look at them without the prejudice that prevails so extensively in your State. A few years ago, I asked our kinsman, Gen. ——, of your State, how the forty-bale theory was esteemed at that time. His answer was, 'We all thought it true when it was started, and it had its effect; but nobody is of that mind now.' Still, I believe, when an error gets strong hold of the popular mind, it is much more difficult to eradicate it than it is to supply the truth in its place. If I know myself, I would not mete to you any different measure from what I would ask of you; and I must say to you, that your State and people have placed themselves in a false position, which will be as apparent to them in a few years as the sun is at noonday. My own family and friends are in usual health; and no man this side heaven enjoys earth better than I do. I do pray you to come and see us. I hope to see your son at Cambridge this week.
Most respectfully yours,
"Amos Lawrence."
"Boston, December 11, 1849.
"To Gen. Henry Whiting, U. S. A., Fort Hamilton, N. Y.
"My early Friend: Forty years and more ago, we used to talk over together the dismemberment of Poland and the scenes that followed, and to pour out together our feelings for those martyrs of liberty. At the present moment, my feelings are deeply moved by taking by the hand Colonel P. and Major F., just landed here, and driven from their country, martyrs to the same cause. I need only say to you that they are strangers among us, and any attentions from you will be grateful to them, and duly felt by your old friend,
A. L."
"December 24, 1849.—I have been daily employed, of late, in accompanying visitors to our public institutions; among these, Mr. Charles Carroll, of Maryland, to the Mather School and the Perkins Asylum for the Blind. The effect of kindness upon the character of children is more strikingly illustrated in the Mather School than in any other I know of. Three fifths of the pupils are children of foreigners,—English, Irish, Scotch, German, Swiss, and the like,—mostly very poor. Two fifths are American; and these foreign children, after a few months, are ambitious to look as well and do as well as the best. The little Irish creatures are as anxious to have their faces clean, their hair smooth, their clothes mended, and to learn to read, write, and explain their lessons, as the upper children. These upper children, to the number of about one hundred, belong to the Lawrence Association."
"December 25, Christmas afternoon.—The following beautiful little note, accompanied by a silver cup, almost unmanned me. Forty-three girls signed the note; two others engaged in it are sick; and one died, and was buried at Mount Auburn by her particular request,—making forty-six of these children, who, of their own motion, got up this token. Their note is dated to-day, and runs thus:
"'Respected Sir: The misses of the Lawrence Association, anxious to testify their gratitude for the kind interest which you have ever manifested towards them, would most respectfully request your acceptance of this small token of their gratitude.'" (Signed by forty-three girls.)
"26.—We had great times with the children last evening at Sister M.'s. It really seemed to me that the entertainment gave me as much pleasure as any child among them; beside which, I went to the house of my old friend Dr. Bowditch (where I used to visit twenty-five years ago on like occasions), for a few minutes, and there found seventeen of his grandchildren enjoying the fruits of the Christmas-tree in the best manner possible."