CORRESPONDENCE.—DIARY.
(FROM LADY BUXTON.)
"Northrupp's Hill, Sept. 8, 1852.
"My dear Friend: Again I have to thank you for your kind remembrance of me in your note and little book on the abuse of tobacco, and your sympathy with me in my late deep anxiety, ending in the removal of my most tenderly beloved and valued daughter Priscilla. It pleased God to take her to himself on June 18, to the inexpressible loss and grief of myself, and her husband and children. We surely sorrow with hope; for she had loved and followed the Lord Jesus from her childhood, and had known and obeyed the Holy Scriptures, which did make her, under the influence of the blessed Spirit, wise unto salvation. To her, to live was Christ, and therefore to die, gain; and we are thankful, and rejoice for her. Her spirit is with the Lord, beholding and sharing his glory, and reünited to her dearest father, brothers, and sisters, and many beloved on earth, in joy unspeakable. Still, we do and are permitted to mourn. * *
"Priscilla traced the foundation of her illness to the great exertion she used in revising and altering her father's work on the remedy for the slave-trade. The stress upon her feelings and mind was too great for her susceptible nature. I believe it might be traced further back to her very great efforts to assist her father in his public business; so that I may say, I have had to part with the two most beloved, and gifted nearly, I have ever known, for the cause of God. But the comfort is intense that they cannot lose the abundant recompense of reward given through mercy and favor, not for any merits of their own, to those who love and serve the Lord. I must thank you most warmly again for the valuable gift of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' When it arrived, it was unknown in this country; now it is universally read, but sold at such a cheap rate, in such poor print, that this very beautiful copy is quite sought after. How wonderfully successful a work it has proved! I hope your little book upon tobacco may be of use here. I shall send it to my grandsons at Rugby. I fear you have been suffering much from bodily illness and infirmity, my dear friend. I trust your interesting circle about you are all well and prospering, and enjoying the blessing and presence of the Saviour. With kindest regards and affection, I am yours very sincerely,
H. Buxton."
"September 23, 1852.—By a singular coincidence, at the same time I received Lady Buxton's letter, I received one from 'Mrs. Sunny Side,'[18] from her sick chamber, asking the loan of some of Miss Edgeworth's works; also a note from Mrs. Stowe, giving me some information respecting the publication of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' in England and Germany; also a letter from our minister in Portugal; and, three or four hours later, 'Uncle Toby' called, having spent the day in the Mather School, lecturing on tobacco."
From a letter written about this time, an extract is made, which is interesting as showing his system of diet.
"My own wants are next to nothing, as I live on the most simple food,—crusts and coffee for breakfast; crusts and champagne for dinner, with never more than three ounces of chicken, or two ounces of tender beef, without any vegetable, together eight ounces; coarse wheat-meal crusts, and two or three ounces of meat, in the twenty-four hours,—beginning hungry, and leaving off more hungry. I have not sat at table with my family for fifteen years, nor eaten a full meal during that time, and am now more hale and hearty than during that whole period."
(TO A LADY IN FLORIDA.)
"Boston, Oct. 14, 1852.
"Dear Mrs. ——: Your deeply interesting note reached me within the last half-hour; and I feel that no time should be lost in my reply. My life has been protracted beyond all my friends' expectations, and almost beyond my own hopes; yet I enjoy the days with all the zest of early youth, and feel myself a spare hand to do such work as the Master lays out before me. This of aiding you is one of the things for which I am spared; and I therefore forward one hundred dollars, which, if you are not willing to accept, you may use for the benefit of some other person or persons, at your discretion. Your precious brother has passed on; and, in God's good time, I hope to see him face to face, and to receive, through the Beloved, the 'Well done' promised to such as have used their Lord's trusts as he approves. I enclose you Lieut. ——'s letter on his return from sea. * * * *
"I had a charming ride yesterday with my nephew Frank Pierce, and told him I thought he must occupy the White House the next term, but that I should go for Scott. Pierce is a fine, spirited fellow, and will do his duty wherever placed; but Scott will be my choice for President of the United States. God bless you, my child, and have you in the hollow of his hand, in these days of trial.
Your friend,
A. L."
(TO THE HON. JONATHAN PHILLIPS.)
"Boston, Oct. 25, 1852.
"To my respected and honored Friend: The changing scenes of life sometimes recall with peculiar freshness the events and feelings of years long past; and such is the case with me, growing out of the death of our great New England statesman, who has, for a long period of years, been looked up to as preaching and teaching the highest duties of American citizens with a power rarely equalled, never surpassed. He is now suddenly called to the bar of that Judge who sees not as man sees, and where mercy, not merit, will render the cheering 'Well done' to all who have used their trusts as faithful stewards of their Lord,—the richest prize to be thought of. Our great man had great virtues, and, doubtless, some defects; and I pray God that the former may be written in the hearts of his countrymen, the latter in the sea. Here I begin the story that comes over my thoughts.
"About forty years ago, walking past your father's house, with my wife and some of our family friends, on a bright, moonlight night, we were led to discuss the character of the owner (your honored father); some of the party wishing they might possess a small part of the property which would make them happy, others something else, when my own wish was expressed. It was, that I might use whatever Providence might allow me to possess as faithfully as your father used his possessions, and that I should esteem such a reputation as his a better inheritance for my children than the highest political honors the country could bestow. A few years later, I was visiting Stafford Springs with my wife, and there met you and Mrs. P., and first made your acquaintance. Still a few years later, I became personally acquainted with your father by being chosen a Director of the Massachusetts Bank, he being President. Still later, I became more intimate with yourself by being a member of the Legislature with you, when the seceders from Williams College petitioned to be chartered as Amherst College, which you opposed by the best speech that was made; and we voted against the separation, and, I believe, acted together on all the subjects brought up during that session. Since then, which is about thirty years, I have been a successful business man, although, for the last twenty years, I have been a broken machine, that, by all common experience, should have been cast aside. But I am still moving; and no period of my life has had more to charm, or has had more flowers by the wayside, than my every-day life, with all my privations. The great secret of the enjoyment is, that I am able to do some further work, as your father's example taught me, when the question was discussed near forty years ago. Can you wonder, then, my friend, that I wish our names associated in one of the best literary institutions in this country; viz., Williams College? My interest in it seemed to be accidental, but must have been providential; for we cannot tell, till we reach a better world, what influence your speech had in directing my especial attention to the noble head of the college, when I first met him in a private circle in this city; and, since then, my respect for his character, my love for him as a man and a brother, has caused me to feel an interest in his college that I never should have felt without this personal intercourse. The two hundred young men there need more teachers; and the college, in view of its wants has appealed to the public for fifty thousand dollars, to place it upon an independent footing. * * * * *
"There is money enough for all these good objects; and, if our worthy citizens can only be made to see that it will be returned to them four-fold, in the enjoyment of life in the way that never clogs, it will not be thought presumptuous in me to advise to such investments. From long observation, I am satisfied that we do better by being our own executors, than by hoarding large sums for our descendants. Pardon me for thus writing to you; but knowing, as I do, that the college has commenced its appeal for aid, I am sure you will excuse me, whether you contribute to its aid or not. With great respect, I am, as I have always been,
"Your friend,
Amos Lawrence.
"P. S.—If you wish to talk with me, I shall be rejoiced to say what I know about the college."
In his diary of the same date, Mr. Lawrence writes:
"6 P. M.—My good old friend has called to see and talk with me, and a most agreeable conversation we have had. He expressed good wishes for the college, and will subscribe a thousand dollars at once, which is a cheering beginning in this city. The interest in the college will grow here, when people know more about it."
"Boston, Saturday morning, Nov. 13, 1852.—The circumstances which have brought me the following letter from my valued friend, 'Honest John Davis,' are these: Many years ago, I learned, from undoubted sources, that his pecuniary losses, through the agency of others, had so straitened him as to decide him to take his two sons from Williams College, which seemed to me a pity; and I therefore enclosed to him five hundred dollars, with a request that he would keep his boys in college, and, when his affairs became right again, that he might pay the same to the college for some future needy pupils. Two or three years afterwards, he said he was intending to hand over to the college the five hundred dollars, which I advised not to do until it was perfectly convenient for him. The circumstances which now call him out are very interesting; and, to me, the money seems worth ten times the amount received in the common business of life. Within ten minutes after Mr. Davis's letter was read to me, Dr. Peters, the agent of the college to collect funds for its necessities, called in to report progress in his work. I immediately handed over the five hundred dollars from John Davis, with a request that he would acknowledge its reception to my friend at once."
"Worcester, Nov. 12, 1852.
"My dear Sir: I have been in Boston but once since my return from Washington, and then failed to see you. Nevertheless, you are seldom absent from our thoughts; you do so much which reminds us of the duties of life, and fixes in our minds sentiments of cherished regard and unalterable affection. No one can desire a more enviable distinction, a more emphatic name, than he whom all tongues proclaim to be the good man; the man who comprehends his mission, and, with unvarying steadiness of purpose, fulfils it. There is such a thing as mental superiority, as elevated station, as commanding influence, as glory, as honor; and these are sometimes all centered in the same individual; but, if that individual has no heart; if humanity is not mixed in his nature; if he has no ear for the infirmities, the weaknesses, and sufferings of his fellow-beings,—he is like the massive, coarse walls of a lofty fortress, having strength, greatness, and power; but, as a man, he is unfinished. He may have much to excite surprise or to overawe, but nothing to awaken the finer sensibilities of our nature, or to win our love. The divine efflatus has never softened the soul of such a man. The heavenly attributes of mercy, brotherly love, and charity, have never touched his heart with sympathy for his race. He forgets that a fellow-being, however humble, is the work of the same God who made him, and that the work of the Almighty has a purpose. He forgets the great command to love our neighbor. He forgets that all who are stricken down with disease, poverty, affliction, or suffering, are our neighbors; and that he who ministers to such, be he Jew or Samaritan, is, in the lofty, scriptural sense, a neighbor. Neither the hereditary descent of the Levite, nor the purple of the priest, makes a neighbor; but it is he who binds up the bleeding wound. This is the act upon which Heaven places its seal of approval, as pleasing in the sight of him that is perfect. Where there is an absence of purity of heart or generous sympathy, the man lacks the most ornate embellishment of character, that lustrous brightness which is the type of heaven. To minister to the necessities of the humble and lowly is the work of God's angels; and the man who follows their example cannot be far from his Maker. You have the means of doing good; but have what is greater, and a more marked distinction, the disposition to do it when and where it is needed. Your heart is always alive, and your hand untiring. * * * * *
"Some years ago, you did that for me and mine which will command my gratitude while I live. I needed aid to educate my children; and you, in a spirit of marked generosity, came unasked to my relief. I need not say how deeply, how sincerely thankful I was, that one, upon whom I had no claim, should manifest so generous a spirit. After a while, times changed somewhat for the better; and, feeling that I was able to do it, I asked permission to restore the sum advanced, that you, to whom it belonged, might have the disposition of it, since it had performed with me the good that was intended. You kindly gave me leave to hand it over to the college, but advised me to take my own time, and suit my convenience. That time has now come; and, as you are again extending to the college your sustaining arm, and may wish to take this matter into the account, I herewith enclose a check for five hundred dollars, with the renewed thanks of myself and my wife for the great and generous service which you have done us. We shall, in all respects, have profited greatly by it; and have no wish to cancel our obligations by this act, but to recognize them in their fullest extent. I am, most truly and faithfully,
"Your friend and obedient servant,
"John Davis."
Some inquiries having been made of Mr. Lawrence respecting the early history of the Bunker Hill Monument, he writes, on the 12th of November, in a short note:
Dear Son: You may be glad to copy the twelfth section of my will, executed in 1833. This information is not before the world, but may be interesting to your children. I could have finished the monument, sick as I was, at any time before Edmund Dwight's death, by enlisting with him, who made me the offer, to join a small number of friends (three Appletons, Robert G. Shaw, and us three Lawrences), without saying, 'by your leave,' to the public."
* * * * *
"Surety-ship is a dangerous craft to embark in. Avoid it as you would a sail-boat with no other fastenings than mere wooden pegs and cobweb sails."