On March 3, he writes to his brother at Washington:
"I awoke this morning very early, and, after a while, fixed my mind in prayer to God, that your duty may be clearly seen, and that you may perform it in the spirit of a true disciple."
And again on March 5, after hearing that his brother had declined the proffered seat in the cabinet, he writes to him:
"The morning papers confirm my convictions of what you would do; and I do most heartily rejoice, and say that I never felt as proud before."
"April 11.—A subscription paper, with an introductory letter from ——, was handed me, on which were seven or eight names for a hundred dollars each, to aid the family of ——, lately deceased. Not having any acquaintance with him or family, I did not subscribe. Applications come in from all quarters, for all objects. The reputation of giving freely is a very bad reputation, so far as my personal comfort is concerned."
April 21, he writes to a friend:
"The matters of deepest interest in my last were ——, the religious movement, ——'s ill-health, and ——'s accident. All these matters are presenting a sunny show now. Our dead Unitarianism of ten or fifteen years ago is stirred up, and the deep feelings of sin, and salvation through the Beloved, are awakened, where there seemed to be nothing but indifference and coldness; my hope and belief are that great good will follow. In the matter of the enjoyment of life, you judge me rightly; few men have so many and rich blessings to be thankful for; and, while I am spared with sufficient understanding to comprehend these, I pray that I may have the honesty to use them in the way that the Master will approve. Of what use will it be to have my thoughts directed to the increase of my property, at the cost of my hopes of heaven? There, a Lazarus is better off than a score of Dives. Pray without ceasing, that I may be faithful."
The following extract of a letter is taken from a work entitled "A Romance of the Sea-Serpent, or the Ichthyosaurus," and will show Mr. Lawrence's views respecting the much contested subject of which it treats:
"Boston, April 26, 1849.
"I have never had any doubt of the existence of the Sea-Serpent since the morning he was seen off Nahant by Martial Prince, through his famous mast-head spy-glass. For, within the next two hours, I conversed with Mr. Samuel Cabot, and Mr. Daniel P. Parker, I think, and one or more persons beside, who had spent a part of that morning in witnessing his movements. In addition, Colonel Harris, the commander at Fort Independence, told me that the creature had been seen by a number of his soldiers while standing sentry in the early dawn, some time before this show at Nahant; and Colonel Harris believed it as firmly as though the creature were drawn up before us in State-street, where we then were.
"I again say, I have never, from that day to this, had a doubt of the Sea-Serpent's existence. The revival of the stories will bring out many facts that will place the matter before our people in such a light as will make them as much ashamed to doubt, as they formerly were to believe in its existence.
"Yours truly,
Amos Lawrence."
To a friend he writes, July 18:
"Brother A. has received the place of Minister to the Court of St. James; the most flattering testimony of his worth and character that is within the gift of the present administration, and the only office that I would not advise against his accepting."