REFLECTIONS.—LETTERS.—ACCOUNT OF EFFORTS TO COMPLETE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.
In the memorandum-book of property for 1843 is found the usual estimate and list of expenditures; after which Mr. Lawrence writes as follows:
"My outlay for other objects than my own family, for the last fourteen years, has been —— dollars, which sum I esteem better invested than if in bond and mortgage in the city; and I have reason to believe many have been comforted and assisted by it, and its influence will be good on those who follow me. God grant me grace to be faithful to my trust!"
To Hon. R. C. Winthrop, Member of Congress, at Washington, enclosing a letter from a young colored man:
"Boston, Feb. 15, 1843.
"Dear Sir: This young man, as you will observe by his style, is well educated; and the circumstances he states, I have no doubt, are true. He applied to me, about two years since, for employment in writing or other business, to obtain means for further education; and I interested myself to secure to him what was required. A few months since, he started from here to go to Jamaica, to commence the practice of law, and was supplied by those who had taken an interest in him with a library suited to his wants. He received his early education in Indiana; and his parents were once slaves. He is a handsome colored fellow, better-mannered, better-looking, and more to be respected, than many young gentlemen who move in the higher walks of life, either in Carolina or Massachusetts. Now, I should like to know, if he should be admitted as an attorney to practice in our courts, and should take passage for Jamaica, and put into Charleston, would he be imprisoned, as is now the practice in regard to our black sailors? I feel a much stronger desire to see your report upon this subject of imprisoning our colored people, after the unfair course taken by the majority of your house to smother it; and I hope still to see it in print before the adjournment. I would further remark, that N. T. is a member of Grace Church in this city, I believe, under the care of Rev. T. M. Clark; and would, doubtless, bear affliction, if it should ever be his fortune to be afflicted by being imprisoned because his skin is dark, with a spirit becoming his profession. With great respect and esteem, believe me very truly yours,
Amos Lawrence."
(TO HIS SISTER.)
"Boston, April 19, 1843.
"Dear Sister M.: When I heard a gun this morning, I was immediately transported back in imagination to the 19th of April, 1775, when our grandmother retreated from her house on the roadside in Concord, with her family, to keep out of the way of the 'regulars;' and that day and its scenes, as described, came back upon me with a force which kept me awake in considering whether the gun was fired to recall the facts to the people of this day; and, if recalled, whether we can profit by the events which followed. I found, however, on receiving my newspapers, that the gun was not for commemoration of Lexington and Concord, but to announce the arrival of the British steamer from Liverpool. The news by this steamer is of no more than common interest; and the intercourse is now so easy and rapid, that the interest felt to learn what is passing in Europe is not much greater than we used to feel on Call's stage-coach arriving at Groton from Boston once a week, fifty years ago. The changes within my own recollection are such as almost to make me distrust my own senses; and many of the changes are at the cost of much good. The downhill tendency in the standard of character is a bad sign, and threatens the prostration of our political fabric. Built as it is on the virtue and intelligence of the people, every waste of these endangers the stability of the whole structure."
"April 24.—I resume, though not in the same train of thought, which is slept off. My birth-day has passed since then; and I am now in my fifty-eighth year. This is the birth-day of our father, who would have been eighty-nine if living; and this week on Saturday will also complete thirty-six years since I left home to spend a few months in this city, preparatory to my commencing business in Groton. Here I have continued; and the consequences to our family seem to have stamped upon us such marks as make us objects of influence, for good or evil, to a much greater extent than if I had returned to commence my business career in my native town. I view in this a hand pointing upward,—'Seek me and ye shall find,'—and a caution to us to use without abusing the good things intrusted to us. How hard it is for those in prosperity to bring home to their feelings their dependence, their abuse of their privileges, their desires for objects wholly disproportionate to their value, their anxiety about trifles, while they are so utterly careless and indifferent about those of the highest moment! How we strive unceasingly to secure objects that can, at best, give us but a slight reward, and, in many cases, if attained to the full extent of our hopes, only serve to sharpen our appetite for more; thus demonstrating the benevolence of our heavenly Father in removing these obstacles to our progress in the ways and works of godliness! How important, then, for us to see a Father's hand in the disappointments, not less than in the success, of our plans! I now speak practically of those anxieties which I feel and condemn myself for, in looking forward to the condition of my family. This is all wrong; and I pray God to pardon me the want of faith this feeling implies.
"I have thought much of your account of Mrs. N. going out, on the Sabbath after her husband's death, with her nine children. I remember her, and many others of my youthful schoolmates, with interest and regard. Please say so to her. And now, dear M., as the clouds seem thinner, I may hope to secure a little run, and shall take the post-office in my way; so must bid you adieu."
(TO GENERAL ——.)
"May 5, 1843.
"My dear old General: Our anticipated drive to-day is not to be: the weather settles it that I must keep house; and, to indemnify myself for the disappointment, will you allow me to feel that I have not gone too far in requesting you to receive the enclosed check? I am spared here for some object, and do not feel that to hoard money is that object. While I am in the receipt of an income so ample, I find it sometimes troublesome to invest exactly to my mind. In the present case, the hope that you may, by using this, add something to your enjoyment, makes me feel that it is one of my best investments; and for the reason that your proverbial good-will cannot refuse me such a boon, I have made this request. My heart yearns strongly toward the old-fashioned John Jay school in politics and morals; and, when I have an opportunity to minister in any way to one of the early members, it is a pleasure that sweetens my days as they pass."
On the letter written in reply to the above, Mr. Lawrence has endorsed:
"This letter from old General ——, now eighty-eight years old, and blind, is an acknowledgment of some little kindnesses I was enabled to render through the hand of Judge Story. It has afforded me more pleasure than it could have done either the Judge or the General. I am sure the good old man's feelings were gratified; and I am thankful that I could comfort him."
On the 17th of June, 1843, took place the celebration in honor of the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument; an event which was regarded with no ordinary emotions by Mr. Lawrence, after so many years of effort and expectation. His only regret was that the whole battle-field could not have been preserved, and have remained, to use his own words, "a field-preacher for posterity." Eleven years before this, he had written to his son in Europe:
"If we be true to ourselves, our city is destined to be the Athens of America, and the hallowed spots in our neighborhood to be the objects of interest throughout all future time. In this view, I would never permit a foot of the battle-field of Bunker Hill to be alienated; but keep it for your great-great-grandchildren, as a legacy of patriotism worth more than their portion of it, if covered with gold by measure. Until you are older, I do not expect you to feel as I do on this subject."
This would seem to be the proper place to mention a few facts in regard to Mr. Lawrence's agency in securing the completion of the monument. It has already been mentioned that he was one of the earliest friends of the project to erect a monument, and, in 1825, had been placed upon the Standing Committee of Directors, with full powers to manage the affairs of the Association. In September, 1831, in a letter to his friend, Dr. J. C. Warren, who himself had been one of the warmest and most efficient advocates of the measure, he proposed to subscribe five thousand dollars, on condition that fifty thousand dollars should be raised within one year. The following passage occurs in that letter:
"I think it inexpedient to allude to the sale of the land on Bunker Hill, as a resource for paying the debt, except in case of extreme necessity; and, at this time, I should personally sooner vote to sell ten acres of the Common, in front of my house, to pay the city debt (of Boston), than vote to sell the ten acres on Bunker Hill, until it shall appear that our citizens will not contribute the means of saving it."
The proposition thus made was not responded to by the public.[6] As early as December, 1830, he had made provision by his will, in case of his own death, to secure the battle-field, liquidate the debts of the corporation, and complete the monument. These provisions were superseded by another will, executed April 1, 1833, after his health had failed, so as to forbid active participation in affairs. An extract from this document will show the views of the testator:
"I am of opinion that the land owned by the Bunker Hill Monument Association, in Charlestown, will be of great value to posterity, if left as public ground. The spot is the most interesting in the country; and it seems to me it is calculated to impress the feelings of those who come after us with gratitude to the people of this generation, if we preserve it to them. The whole field contains about fifteen acres; and, in the hope of preserving it entire, either as the property of the State, of this city, or of any other competent body, and with the further view of insuring the completion of the monument, which now stands as a reproach to us, I have set apart a larger share of my property than would be necessary, had not the subject been presented to the public in such a manner as to discourage future attempts at raising the necessary funds by voluntary contribution."
The amount thus devised for the monument, in case that amount should not be raised in other ways, was fifty thousand dollars. In June, 1832, before the annual meeting of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, the same offer of five thousand dollars, as first named, was renewed, with an urgent appeal for the preservation of the land, and completion of the monument. A movement followed this appeal, but was not successful. In April, 1833, Mr. Lawrence proposed to the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association to attempt the raising of fifty thousand dollars, to be secured within three months, for completing the monument and preserving the field; accompanying the proposition was an offer of five thousand dollars, or ten per cent. on any less sum that might be raised, as a donation to the Association. A public meeting was held in Faneuil Hall in response to this proposition, at which Hon. Edward Everett made a most powerful appeal, which produced so great an effect upon his auditors that the object was considered as accomplished. The effort was again unsuccessful. Early in 1839, Mr. Lawrence addressed a letter to George Darracott, Esq., President of the Mechanic Association, in which, after expressing regret that his feeble and precarious health would not permit him to make personal application to the citizens of Boston, he adds:
"The next best thing I can do is to give money. The Monument Association owes a debt. To discharge the debt, finish the monument, surround it with a handsome iron fence, and otherwise ornament the ground as it deserves, will require forty thousand dollars more than it now has. If the Association will collect thirty thousand dollars the present year, and pay off the debt, I will give to the Charitable Mechanic Association ten thousand dollars to enable it to complete the work in a manner which our fathers would have done, had they been here to direct it."
A further donation of ten thousand dollars was made by Judah Touro, Esq., of New Orleans; five thousand dollars were received from other sources; and this, with thirty thousand dollars received at the great fair held in Quincy Hall, September, 1840, afforded the means of completing the monument according to the original design. Thus was consummated a work which had been very near to Mr. Lawrence's heart, and which had cost him many a sleepless night, as well as days of toil and perplexity. To his associates in this work too much credit cannot be awarded, discouraged, as they often were, by indifference, and even censure. Their names will be handed down for centuries, in connection with a monument, which, while it commemorates a nation's freedom, teaches also a practical lesson of the perseverance and energy of man.
The following is an extract from a newspaper published about the time the monument was completed, giving an account of a festival held in commemoration of the event:
"The president remarked, that, among the benefactors to whom the Association had been particularly indebted for the means of completing the monument, two, whose names were written on a scroll at the other end of the hall, were Amos Lawrence and Judah Touro, each of whom had made a donation of ten thousand dollars. He thought it proper they should be remembered at the festive board, and gave the following:
"Amos and Judah! venerated names!
Patriarch and prophet press their equal claims;
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck,
Each aids the work by giving it a check.
Christian and Jew, they carry out a plan;
For, though of different faith, each is in heart a man."