Several passages in Mr. Lawrence's letters will show the attachment which he felt towards the place of his birth, connected as it was with so many associations and memories of the past. The old house, with the great elm in front and its welcome shade; the green meadow, stretching for a mile along a gentle declivity to the river; the range of mountains in the west, just distant enough to afford that tinge of blue which adds an indescribable charm to every landscape; the graceful undulations of the hills on the east, with the quiet village sleeping at their base, all seemed in his mind so associated with the loved inmates of his early home, that he ever contemplated the picture with delight.

On June 4, in a letter to his sisters, he writes:

"R. leaves us this morning, on his way to the old homestead, which, to my mind's eye, has all the charms of the most lovely associations of early days, with all the real beauty of those splendid descriptions given by the prophets of the holy city. I would earnestly impress all my children with a deep sense of the beauty and benefit of cherishing and cultivating a respect and affection for this dear spot, and for those more dear objects that have served to make it what it really is to all us children."

In a letter to his son, whose visit is alluded to above, he says:

"The beautiful scenery from Gibbet Hill, in Groton, and from the road from our old mansion south for a mile, towards the Wachusett and the Monadnock Mountains, comes next, in point of beauty, to my taste, to these views around the Boston Common. Be careful to do all things as you will wish you had done, that you may look back upon this visit with pleasure, and forward to another visit with increased relish. Remember that in the best performance of all your duties lies the highest enjoyment of all your pleasures. Those pleasures that flow from plans and doings that your conscience condemns are to be shunned as the net of the wicked one. When once entangled, the desire and effort to be released grow weaker, till, at length, conscience is put asleep, and the sleep of death comes over the soul. Be careful, therefore, to avoid evil, and not only so, but to avoid all appearance of evil. In this way, you will grow up with principles and fixed habits that will secure you against the ills of life, and supply a foretaste of the enjoyments of a better life to come."

During a visit which he made to his early home a few months subsequent to the date of the preceding extract, he writes to his daughter:

"I was very tired on arriving here last evening, but a quiet sleep has brought me into my best state.

"This morning has allowed me to ride for two hours, and I have enjoyed everything and everybody here to the utmost. Groton is beautiful beyond any other place I have ever seen; but perhaps I am in the situation of old Mr. ——, whose opinion of his wife's beauty, when questioned of its accuracy, was justified by the declaration that the person must have his eyes to look through.

"The whole country is full of charms; nothing seems wanting to impress upon the heart the goodness of that Parent who seeks by all means to bring us nearer to himself.

"This visit has been full of interest, and it is a source of unfeigned thanksgiving that it has been permitted to me."

Mr. Lawrence always took great delight in sending to friends and relatives, little and great, mementoes of his affection; and a great deal of time was spent in penning and reading the letters and notes which such transactions called forth. He had a rare faculty of adapting his gift to the peculiar necessities or tastes of the recipient; and, whether the matter treated of was a check for thousands or a bouquet of flowers, equal pleasure seemed to be given and received. In sending a gift of the former description, he notices the commencement of the year 1840 as follows:

"January 1.

"Dear S.: W. will prize the enclosed more highly from your hand; for he will have proof that a good wife brings many blessings, that he never would know the value of but for you. May you experience many returns of the 'new year,' and each more happy than the past!"