"My dear Brother: I have thought best, before you go abroad, to suggest a few hints for your benefit in your intercourse with the people among whom you are going. As a first and leading principle, let every transaction be of that pure and honest character that you would not be ashamed to have appear before the whole world as clearly as to yourself. In addition to the advantages arising from an honest course of conduct with your fellow-men, there is the satisfaction of reflecting within yourself that you have endeavored to do your duty; and, however greatly the best may fall short of doing all they ought, they will be sure not to do more than their principles enjoin.
"It is, therefore, of the highest consequence that you should not only cultivate correct principles, but that you should place your standard of action so high as to require great vigilance in living up to it.
"In regard to your business transactions, let everything be so registered in your books, that any person, without difficulty, can understand the whole of your concerns. You may be cut off in the midst of your pursuits, and it is of no small consequence that your temporal affairs should always be so arranged that you may be in readiness.
"If it is important that you should be well prepared in this point of view, how much more important is it that you should be prepared in that which relates to eternity!
"You are young, and the course of life seems open, and pleasant prospects greet your ardent hopes; but you must remember that the race is not always to the swift, and that however flattering may be your prospects, and however zealously you may seek pleasure, you can never find it except by cherishing pure principles, and practising right conduct. My heart is full on this subject, my dear brother, and it is the only one on which I feel the least anxiety.
"While here, your conduct has been such as to meet my entire approbation; but the scenes of another land may be more than your principles will stand against. I say, may be, because young men, of as fair promise as yourself, have been lost by giving a small latitude (innocent in the first instance) to their propensities. But I pray the Father of all mercies to have you in his keeping, and preserve you amid temptations.
* * * * *
"I can only add my wish to have you write me frequently and particularly, and that you will embrace every opportunity of gaining information.
Your affectionate brother,
"Amos Lawrence."To Abbott Lawrence."
Again, on the 28th of the month, he writes to the same, after his departure:
"I hope you will have arrived in England early in April; and if so, you will be awaiting with anxious solicitude the arrival of the 'Galen,' by which vessel you will receive letters from home, a word which brings more agreeable associations to the mind and feelings of a young stranger in a foreign land than any other in our language. I have had many fears that you have had a rough passage, as the weather on the Friday following your departure was very boisterous, and continued so for a number of days, and much of the time since has been uncomfortable. I trust, however, that the same good Hand which supplies our daily wants has directed your course to the desired port.
"With a just reliance on that Power, we need have no fear, though winds and waves should threaten our destruction. The interval between the time of bidding adieu and of actual departure called into exercise those fine feelings which those only have who can prize friends, and on that account I was happy to see so much feeling in yourself.
"Since your departure nothing of a public nature has transpired of particular interest. All that there is of news or interest among us you will gather from the papers forwarded.
"Those affairs which relate particularly to ourselves will be of as much interest as any; I shall therefore detail our business operations.
* * * * *
"My next and constant direction will be to keep a particular watch over yourself, that you do not fall into any habits of vice; and, as a means of preserving yourself, I would most strictly enjoin that your Sabbaths be not spent in noise and riot, but that you attend the public worship of God. This you may think an unnecessary direction to you, who have always been in the habit of doing so. I hope it may be; at any rate, it will do no harm.
"That you may be blessed with health, and enjoy properly the blessings of life, is the wish of your ever affectionate brother,
"A. L.
"To Abbott Lawrence."
(TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE.)
"Boston, April 15th, 1815.
"My dear Brother: By the favor of Heaven I trust ere this you have landed upon the soil from which sprang our forefathers. In the contemplation of that wonderful 'Isle' on your first arrival, there must be a feeling bordering on devotion. The thousand new objects, which make such constant demand on your attention, will not, I hope, displace the transatlantic friends from the place they should occupy in your remembrance. Already do I begin to count the days when I may reasonably hear from you.
"I pray you to let no opportunity pass without writing, as you will be enabled to appreciate the pleasure your letters will give by those which you receive from home. Since your departure, our father has been dangerously ill; he seems fast recovering, but we much fear a relapse, when he would, in all probability, be immediately deprived of life, or his disease would so far weaken him as to terminate his usefulness. Our mother continues as comfortable as when you left us. Should you live to return, probably one or both our parents may not be here to welcome you; we have particular reason for thankfulness that they have both been spared to us so long, and have been so useful in the education of their children.
"All others of our connection have been in health since your departure, and a comfortable share of happiness seems to have been enjoyed by all.
* * * * *
"Now for advice: you are placed in a particularly favorable situation, my dear brother, for improving yourself in the knowledge of such things as will hereafter be useful to you. Let no opportunity pass without making the most of it. There are necessarily many vacant hours in your business, which ought not to pass unemployed. I pretend not to suggest particular objects for your attention, but only the habit generally of active employment, which, while making your time useful and agreeable to yourself, will be the best safeguard to your virtue. The American character, I trust, is somewhat respected in England at this time, notwithstanding it was lately at so low an ebb; and I would wish every American to endeavor to do something to improve it. Especially do I wish you, my dear A., who visit that country under circumstances so favorable, to do your part in establishing a character for your country as well as for yourself. Thus prays your affectionate brother,
A. L."
To his wife, at Groton, Mr. Lawrence writes, under date of June 4, 1815:
"The Milo got in yesterday, and brought letters from Abbott, dated 4th April. He was then in Manchester, and enjoyed the best health. He wrote to our father, which letter, I hope, will arrive at Groton by to-morrow's mail. I received from him merchandise, which I hope to get out of the ship and sell this week. I suspect there are few instances of a young man leaving this town, sending out goods, and having them sold within ninety days from the time of his departure. It is eighty-four days this morning since he left home."
(TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE.)
"Boston, June 7, 1815.
"Dear Brother: By the arrival of the Milo last Saturday, and packet on Monday, I received your several letters, giving an account of your proceedings. You are as famous among your acquaintances here for the rapidity of your movements as Bonaparte. Mr. —— thinks that you leave Bonaparte entirely in the background. I really feel a little proud, my dear brother, of your conduct. Few instances of like despatch are known.
"The sensations you experienced in being greeted so heartily by the citizens of Liverpool, were not unlike those you felt on hearing the news of peace. I am happy to state to you that our father has so far recovered from his illness as to be able to attend to his farm. Our mother's health is much as when you left.
"Your friends here feel a good deal of interest in your welfare, and read with deep interest your letters to them. The opportunity is peculiarly favorable for establishing a reputation as a close observer of men and manners, and for those improvements which travelling is reputed to give.
"When writing to you sentences of advice, my heart feels all the tender sympathies and affections which bind me to my own children. This is my apology, if any be necessary, for so frequently touching on subjects for your moral improvement.
"In any condition I can subscribe myself no other than your ever affectionate brother,
A. L."