M E M O I R
O ' ' ' E
' NORABLE ABB '' LA E E O O WR NC ,
' RE 'ARE D ' O R ' ' E
‘ aiinn al nximit 65m fi ifl m,
' R E O W I L L I A M ' . S C ' ' , E S ' .
E''RAC'ED 'ROM '' E WOR' B' ' ERMISSION O' '' E ''BLIS'E RS
' RIN' E D ' O R ' RI' A' E DIS' RIB' 'ION .
1 856 .
M E M O I R .
N fol l o wi n I the g pages , we shall endeavor to present a sketch of the life and character of
ABBO'' t h LAWRENCE , now that e grave has closed
over him , and while his virtues are yet fresh in the
memory of his countrymen .
The name of LAWRENCE is on e of the earliest to be
f found among the Puritan settlers o Massachusetts .
L 'ohn awrence , the first emigrant of the name , was
1 635 established in Watertown as early as , and may have come over at the same time with Governor Win
hi t hrO . w s p He after ards removed , with wife , to 4 MEMOIR O'
n Groton , where he lived to a good old age ; leavi g, at
his death , a numerous family of sons and daughters .
From o n e of the former was descended the subject
o f . L the present memoir His father, Samuel awrence ,
was a soldier o f the Revolution . On the breaking out
- of the war with the mother country , he was among
the first to bear arms ; and was on e of the little band
of heroes who accompanied Colonel Prescott, and fought
’ by his side at the battle of Bunker s Hill . His regi
m ent was accordingly in the hottest of the action ;
being stationed at the redoubt, the principal point of
attack . It had nearly proved a fatal day to the young
soldier, who , besides a wound in the arm , had his hat
- , pierced by a musket ball which grazed his temples ,
off and carried part of the hair . He remained in the
1 778 army till , filling the post of adjutant under R General Sullivan at hode Island . He was a man o f
o f o f much firmness character, unblemished integrity , and of such frank and open manners as made him o popular with his t wnsmen . He lived till 1 827 ; lon g ABBO'' A 5 L WRENCE .
of enough to receive the best reward a parent, in
W itnessing the complete success of his children .
His widow survived him eighteen years ; and many
s may recall her venerable form , as een by them during
her occasional visits to her sons in Boston . As a
she mother, had probably greater influence than her
husband in forming their characters . She had strict
notions of obedience , with deeply seated religious prin ci l es she p , which succeeded in communicating to her
' ' m n children . Her for , to quote the la guage of a
' of descendant, bending over the bed her children in
for silent prayer, when she was about leaving them
of recol the night, is still among the earliest their
lections .
A son BBOTT, the fifth , was born in Groton , on the
f l 6t h o 1 92 . December, 7 His education , begun at
A the district school , was completed at the Groton ca
o f demy, which his father had been a trustee for
more than thirty years ; and which now , in grateful
commemoration of the endowments it has received 6 MEMOIR or
a from the m embers of that family , be rs the name of
the Lawrence Academy .
’ LAW RENCE s We have few accounts of Mr . earlier
d ays . In a passing notice of them in a letter of his
A brother mos , written many years after , the writer
' w - says , I ell remember him as the guiding Spirit of the boy s of our neighborhood in breaking through the deep snow -drifts which often blocked up the roads in
' winter . The fearlessness and buoyant disposition thus noticed in the boy were the characteristics of
the man in later life .
1808 In , it was resolved to send him to Boston ,
of and place him in the store his elder brother, Mr .
A L mos awrence , who had been for some years esta
bl i shed there in business as an importer of English
goods . There could have been no better Mentor to
- watch over the warm hearted and inexperienced youth , thus drawn from his village obscurity to be thrown
m upon the trials and te ptations of the world . It is
n un ecessary to speak of the character of this brother, ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 7 n o w so W idely known from a biography which may claim to be on e of the most graceful tributes ever
f paid by filial piety to the memory o a parent .
A BBOTT was cordially welcomed by his brother , who from that hour watched over his steps in earlier days
’ who with a father s solicitude , and followed his career in later life with feelings of pride and generous sym
' ' . a s pathy My brother came to me my apprentice ,
' . A L says Mr mos awrence , in his Diary , bringing his
w bundle under his arm , ith less than three dollars
firs - in his pocket 'and this was his fortune'. A t rate
business lad he was ; but, like other bright lads , needed the careful eye of a senior to guard him from
' the pitfalls he was exposed to . The following year,
their brother William came to Boston also, to seek his
fortune in the capital of New England . Their father,
on i m on this occasion , impressed his three sons the
u o f portance of nity, quoting the pertinent language
' A ' Scripture , threefold cord is not quickly broken ;
a l a precept which they religiously observed , living 8 MEMOIR or
ways together in that beautiful harmony which proved
one great source of their prosperity .
After somewhat more than five years had elapsed ,
A L Mr . mos awren ce was so well satisfied with the
f A sobriety and diligence o BBOTT , and with his capa
city for business , that he proposed to take him into
W partnership . He furnished the hole capital , amount
— of ing to fifty thousand dollars , the fruits his judi
i n cions management since his establishment Boston .
The times were by no means encouraging ; for we were
then in the midst of our war with England . But every thing seemed to prosper under the prudent
f o . L . direction Mr awrence Scarcely , however, had
the articles of copartnership been signed , than the Bramble news created a panic that fearfully affected
the prices of goods . The stock of the firm depreciated
A O to such an extent, that BB TT looked o n himself
as already a bankrupt . His brother, touched with his
ff distress, o ered at once to cancel the copartnership
indentures , and to pay him , moreover, five thousand ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 9
dollars at the end of the year . But ABBOTT had a
ow n spirit equal to his , and told his brother that he
had taken part with him for better or worse , an d that,
w come hat might, he would not swerve from the co n
tract . The generosity and manly spirit shown by the two brothers on this occasion gave augury o f the com pl et e success which crowned their operations in after
life . But success was still deferred , as things wore a
gloomy aspect during the war .
Most o f the younger men of the city at this time
o n were enrolled in the militia, which was constantly
duty , and liable at any moment to be called into active
A A service . Mr . BBOTT L WRENCE had joined the inde pendent company of the New - England Guards ; a
x cel l en t a oi n t m en t s corps remarked for its e pp , and
p commanded by men more than on e of whom after — wards rose to eminence , not, however, in the military
f fe w l a w . o n e o profession , but in the He was the of the company he had j oined who remained long enough on duty to entitle them to the bounty of land in the 10 MEMOIR OF
’ West offered by the general government . The soldier s life had something in it captivatin g to the imagination
- o f of an ardent, high spirited youth and the profession
ff arms , in the present condition of the country, o ered a more Splendid career for enterprise than was to be
’ found in commercial pursuits . With his brother s con
t o sent, he proposed to enter the service, and applied the War Department at Washin gton to Obtain a com
mission . Happily , before receiving an answer, the news
f o peace arrived , and all thoughts of a military life
were abandoned . Mr . LAWRENCE used to regard this almost in the light of a providential interposition in
his behalf. It was , indeed , the crisis of his fate . The lon g peace which followed condemned the soldier to a n
t i inactivity that lef him no laurels to win ; except, h
a s deed , such might be gathered from a skirmish with
the savages , or from the patient endurance of priva t on ions some distant frontier post . Mr . LAWRENCE was
reserved for a happier destiny .
O On the return f peace, the two brothers sa w at ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 1 1
once the n ew field that was Opened for foreign impor t a t i on s ; and the younger partner, commissioned to pur
' ' chase goods at Manchester, embarked in the Milo, — the first vessel that, after the proclamation of the
E . peace , left Boston for ngland The passage was a short
one , but long enough for Mr . LAWRENCE to ingratiate
himself not only with the officers , but with the crew,
- of whose good will he secured , as one their number
lately informed the writer of this notice , by his liberal
f acts no less than by the kindness o his manners .
t on With characteristic ardor, he was the firs to leap
A shore ; being thus, perhaps, the first merican who
touched his fatherland after the war was ended . He met with a cordial welcome from people who were glad to see their commercial relations restored with the
United States . Hastening to Manchester, Mr. LAW
RENCE speedily made his purchases , and returned to
Liverpool t heevening only before the departure of the
' Milo on her homewardvoyage . He at once engaged a lighter to take him and his merchandise to the vessel . 12 MEMOIR or
n d When he came alo gsi e , the mate plainly told him
there was no room for his goods ; t he cargo was all on
. . board , and the hatches were battened down But Mr d l . LAWRENCE would receive no denia This , he sai , was
t he o f his first voyage , and result was the greatest
so importance to him . He pressed his suit with much
s - earnestnes , yet good nature , that the mate , whose
- good will he had won on the passage , consented at last
to receive the goods . Mr . LAWRENCE lost no time
u in profiting by this ind lgence , and j oined his men in
pulling vigorously at the tackle , to hoist the bales on
l d board . Having safely o ged them on the deck , he
n made at once for the shore , aski g no questions how
' ' t hey were to be stored . The Milo had a short pas
- sage back . In eighty four days from the time when she
t he had left her port in the United States, goods were
landed in Boston , and , in less than a week , were
f disposed o at an enormous profit . His brother was delighted with the good j udgment he had shown and
' ' . ' o u his extraordinary despatch are as famous , he ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 1 3
' pleasantly wrote to him , among your acquaintances
o f here , for the rapidity your movements , as Bona
parte . This little anecdote is eminently characteristic of
the man , showing , as it does , the sanguine temper and
o f energy will , which , combined with kindness of heart,
hi m a n d gained an influence over others , formed the
u elements of his f ture success .
E He remained some time longer in ngland , extend
o f ing his acquaintance with men business, but still living as an unknown individual in the midst of the scenes which he was afterwards to revisit clothed with an authorit y that placed him on a level with the
proudest nobles of the land .
E Several times he repeated his voyage to ngland ,
and always with the same good results . Under the j udicious management and enterprise of the
house , its business became every day more widely extended ; and the fortunes o f the brothers rapidly
increased . 14 MEMOIR o r
1 8 19 In 'une , , an important event took place in
’ A L AW RE NCE s . w a s Mr . BBOTT life This his marriage
r with Miss ' atharine Bigelow , the eldest daughte of
the Hon . Timothy Bigelow , an eminent lawyer, who
filled for many years the office o f Speaker of the House
m a n of Representatives of Massachusetts . He was a of
high legal attainments , and singularly fitted for his
political station by his ready apprehension , his tena
h . . cions memory, and his familiarity wit business Mr Lawrence’ s acquaintance with his wife had begun in
she o f childhood for was a native Groton , like himself ;
though , long before this period, her father had trans
f ferred his residence to Medford , in the neighborhood o
Boston . It was a most happy union , continuing for
-five more than thirty years , until it was dissolved by
. o f death In the partner his choice , he found the
qualities of a true and loving wife , ever ready to share
with him all his joys and sorrows ; for the lot of the t most for unate has its sorrows , and sharp ones . These
t feelings he on his par returned , from first to last, with ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 1 5
the warmth and single -hearted devotion which be
longed to his noble nature .
During the last five years , an important change had gradually taken place in the internal relations of the
o f country , owing to the system domestic protection which n ow began to be recognized as a leading fea
o f r ture in the policy the gove n ment . The sagacious minds of the Lawrences were quick to perceive the
o f influence this must exert on the channels trade , o and the imp rtant bearing it must have , in particular,
N e w E on the people of ngland , whose industry and ingenuity so well fitted them for proficiency in the
t oo con mechanical arts . They leaned , , with greater
n on fiden ce than was justified by the eve t , the sta bil i t y o f the protective policy . The encouragement was especially felt in the cotton and woollen manu
factures , then almost exclusively confined to New
E ngland . With characteristic energy , the brothers accordingly resolved to give u p their business as i m
porters , and employ their capital henceforth in domes 1 6 MEMOIR OF
A tic manufactures . ssociating their names with those
L 'a ckson s A of the owells , the , the ppletons , and other sagacious men of the same way of thinking with
themselves, they devoted all their energies to foster
this great branch of the national industry . Under
w t he the se auspices, towns and villages gre up along borders of the Merrimac and its numerous tributa
ries ; and the spots which had once been little better
c than barren wastes of sand , where the silen e was
broken only by the moaning o f the wind throu gh
the melancholy pines , became speedily alive with the
cheerful hum o f labor .
Mr . LAWRENCE had too large a mind to embark in
this new enterprise with the feelin gs of a sordid spe
cul a t or intent only on selfish gains . He took a more
expansive view , founded on j ust principles of political
economy . He sa w the resources which this new field
of domestic industry would open to the country ; the
n w m e arkets it would afford to t he prod u ct s o f the
farmer ; the independence it would give the nation of
1 8 MEMOIR OF
A the State . bove all , he insists on the necessity
of the education of the poorer classes , as the only
o f true basis, whether in a moral or physical point
'
. view , of the public prosperity On this last theme he
was always eloquent, urging it in his public addresses,
abroad as well as at home , and with an effect which ,
as we shall see hereafter, was acknowledged , by those
who witnessed it, to have been attended with the
happiest results .
In 1 827 was held the Harrisburg Convention ,
h a meeting, it is ardly necessary to say, of delegates
from different parts of the Union , for the purpose of taking into consideration the best measures for pro
teeting the manufacturing interests of the country .
Mr . LAWRENCE , whose attention to the subj ect and the
o f soundness whose views upon it were well known ,
on e of was the seven delegates sent by Massachusetts . The large amount of practical information which he brought with him proved of infinite service in the deliberations that followed and there was probably TT A ABBO L WRENCE . 19 no one of the body who was more instrumental in procuring its sanction to the memorial which was
laid before Congress , and which had so great an i n
fl uen ce in determining the action of the government
in respect to the tariff of 1 828 . Notwithstanding the interest he took in public
ff w a airs, and the capacity hich he showed for the
o f . management them , Mr LAWRENCE had evinced no
t o on ffi desire enter the political arena, or to hold o ce
1 1 f . 83 o any kind In , he was elected to the Common
of of Council Boston , but, at the end his term , declined
- N r a re election . o did he from that time ever accept
or any place , either under the city government that of
1 834 the State . In , however, he consented to stand as a candidate for a seat in the House of Representa
t i ves at Washington .
i n wa s a t On taking his place that body, he once put on the Committee of Ways and Means ; showing that his reputation for financial talent had already
preceded him . During the two years that he sat on 20 MEMOIR OF
the floor of that house , he rarely attempted any thing
h like a set and elaborate speech . W en he did speak , it was on topics with which he was familiar ; and his
wise and practical views , which he enforced by ar
um en t s or g not local sectional in their nature , but
of embracing the interests the whole country, com m a n d d o f e the deepest attention his audience . His
frank and cordial address , flowing less from con ven t i on a l courtesy than from the natural kindness of his
' heart, conciliated his hearers ; and that inestimable
' temper which Gibbon commends so highly in the
L British minister, ord North , disarmed the severity of
his opponents , and served , like oil upon the waters , to
calm the angry passions of debate . The same qualities
f . O of gave Mr LAWRENCE , out the walls Congress , an influence which proved of the highest service to the
cause in which he was embarked . When he returned
f home , at the expiration o his term , there was probably no member of the body with which he ha d acted who
possessed a larger measure of their confidence , or
so who was universally popular . B TT E A BO LAWRENC . 21
His constituents testified their sense of his servi ces
on t o by inviting him, his return , a public dinner .
This he declined in a letter, in which he touches,
on briefly but comprehensively, the great questions
that agitated the public mind at that day, showing
- himself throughout a stanch but liberal minded Whig .
of Notwithstanding the importunities his friends, he declined a re- election to Congress ; n or could he be induced to alter his purpose by the remarkable assur ance given to hi m by the members of the Opposite
party , that, if he would consent to stand , no candidate
should be brought out against him .
Four years later, however, he consented to accept a
second nomination , and again took his seat in the
f House o Representatives at Washington . It was a
for disastrous session to him ; , shortly after his arrival ,
o f so he was attacked by typhus fever, malignant a
for type , that, some time , small hopes were entertained
of his recovery . But he had good advice ; and his fine
constitution , and the care of his devoted wife, enabled 22 MEMOIR OF
o f o f him , by the blessing Providence , to get the better
a n his disorder . It left behind , however, the seeds of
i n other malady, an enlargement of the liver, which
ff — caused him much su ering in after life, and finally
brought him to the grave .
c hi s Finding a southern limate unfavorable to health ,
he resigned his seat in Congress, and returned to Bos
a t . ton , where he once resumed his usual avocations
He was not long permitted t o indulge in a state o f
1 842 political inaction . In , the convention was held
fo r of - the settlement the North eastern boundary, m that vexed question , which , after baffling all atte pts
l at an adj ustment, including those by means of roya
h u arbitration , had at lengt ass med a form which me
naced an open rupture between the United States and
. f England Mr . LAWRENCE was one o the commissioners
f o . who , at the wise suggestion Mr Webster, were sent
o f by the States Maine and Massachusetts, to Washing
ton , with full powers to arrange the matter definitively L A with ord shburton , who had come out invested wit h C ABBOTT LAWREN E . 23
similar powers on behalf of his own country . N0 man in ou r community could have been better fitted for the
f r place than Mr. LAWRENCE ; o he had a good knowledge
of the subj ect, was well acquainted with the characters
O f the parties who were to discuss it , and possessed , in
for n e a remarkable degree , the qualities success as a
' ot i a t or . . g Mr LAWRENCE , said a distinguished foreign
who of minister, had personal knowledge his abilities
' i n in this way, had so much frankness and cordiality
his address, and impressed one so entirely with his
of own uprightness, that he could do much in the way
' a m negotiation that others could not . There was an ple field for the exercise of these powers on the present
of occasion , when prejudices long standing were to be
encountered , when pretensions of the most opposite
kind were to be reconciled , when the pertinacity with which these pretensions ha d been maintained had infused something like a Spirit of acrimony into the
of ' et breasts the disputants . no acrimony could
o f . stand long against the genial temper Mr LAWRENCE , 24 MEMOIR OF
or against that Spirit of candor and reasonable conces sion which called forth a reciprocity of sentiment in
those he had to deal with . The influence which he thus exerted over his colleagues contributed in no h slight degree to a concert of action between t em .
m Indeed , without derogating fro the merits of the
n o t sa other delegates, it is too much to y , that , but
for the influence exerted by Mr. LAWRENCE on this
occasion , the treaty, if it had been arranged at all , would never have been brought into the shape which
i t n o w wears .
h f In t e o . summer the following year, Mr LAWRENCE , whose health still felt the effects of his illness at
Washington , proposed to recruit it by a voyage t o
England . He embarked with his family on board the
' - Columbia, the ill fated steamer which was wrecked
l L on B ack edge , near Seal Island , in Nova Scotia .
All on board were fortunate enough to escape to land .
on Five days they remained that dreary Spot, ex
f o . posed to wet, hunger, and miseries every description
26 MEMOIR OF
a High Schools . He now contemplated donation , on a
. much larger scale , to Harvard University He was
satisfied , that , however liberal the endowments of that
institution fo r objects of literary culture , no adequate
provision had been made for instruction in science ,
more particularly in its application to the useful arts , a deficiency which naturally came more readily
re within the reach of his o wn observation . In a
. E markable letter addressed by him to Mr liot, the
o f ' 1 847 treasurer the college , in une , , he explains ,
with great beauty and propriety of language , his views
a n d on the subject, , with no less precision , points out
ff the best mode of carrying them into e ect . He con
f eludes by ofl eri n g the sum of fifty thousand dollars for the endowment of such a scientific school as he had
proposed . This sum he afterwards doubled by a pro
vision to that effect in his will ; thus making the whole
d L onation a hundred thousand dollars . arge as was
su m this , its value was greatly enhanced by the wise
arrangements made for its application . His sugges B A BOTT LAWRENCE . 27
o f tions met with the approval the corporation . He had the satisfaction o f seeing a building erected and an institution organized on the principles he had re
commended . Fortunately, the services were obtained , a t of a n u the outset , ill strious scholar, who , by the
o f E consent urope , stood at the head of his department
of science , and whose salary of fifteen hundred dollars
per annum was wholly defrayed by Mr . LAWRENCE , in
so . A addition to his other donations, long as he lived letter addressed to him by a distinguished professor of
hi m the school gave the sweet assurance, in his last
of illness , of the extraordinary proficiency the pupils,
in other words, of the complete success of his bene volent enterprise ; and he might well be cheered by the reflection that the Lawrence Scientific School would
perpetuate his name to future generations , who would
i cherish with gratitude the memory o f their bene
factor .
f Mr . LAWRENCE was a member o the convention
‘ which n ominated Mr . Clay for the Presidency . The 28 MEMOIR OF
interest he felt in public affairs led him to take an
active part in promoting the success of the Whig can
i d d a t e , as he had before shown equal zeal in the — canvass for Gen . Harrison , though as the country
has good reason to remember — w ith very different
1 4 . w a s results . In 8 7 , Gen Taylor nominated as the
f r n . o Whig candidate for Preside t, and Mr Fillmore
- ' ice President . The history of the convention which
made these nominations is too familiar to be reca pi t u
i s t o . lated here . It enough say that Mr LAWRENCE had
of received assurances, down to the very eve the elec
tion , which gave him every reason to suppose that he
ffi was to be named for the latter o ce . Whatever may
di s a om t m en t have been his pp , he did not betray it
' ' by a word . Well , I am perfectly satisfied , was the
answer he made to the friend who wa s appointed to
‘ of f inform him of the result ; and , instead looking or
n ot sa pretexts , as many , to y most, men would have
or f r done , for withdrawing from the canvass , at least o
looking coldly upon it , he was among the first t o join TT ABBO LAWRENCE . 29
of in a call for a meeting the Whigs in Faneuil Hall ,
su and to address them , in the warmest manner, in p f port o the regular ticket . In the same magnanimous
i i and patriotic sp r t, he visited the principal towns in
ff the State, delivering addresses and using all his e orts
to secure the triumph of the good cause .
f On the election o Gen . Taylor to the chief ma
i st ra c g y of the country, the confidence he reposed in
Mr . LAWRENCE , and the prominent position occupied by
t o the latter in the party , recommended him at once a
seat in the cabinet . The place of Secretary of the
ff Navy was accordingly o ered to him , and afterwards
that o f Secretary of the Interior . Bot h offices were
declined by him ; and when , soon after, he was nomi n a t ed by the President to take the highest diplomatic
of — post in the gift the government, the mission to
- E he . i m ngland , declined that also The large and portant interests of which he had the charge made hi m
ffi o f . see only the di culties such a step The place,
moreover, had been filled by distinguished statesmen , 30 MEMOIR o r
two of the most recent of whom st ood pre - eminent in
the literature of the country ; and Mr . LAWRENCE seems to have exaggerated the qualifications required for the
or . post, , at any rate , to have distrusted his own From
these various considerations, he had made up his mind to decl ine the offer when pressed upon hi m a second
time by Gen . Taylor, and announced his decision to
f . o ff his friends But some them , taking a very di erent,
of f and , as it proved , a more correct, view the a fair,
persuaded him to review , and subsequently to reverse ,
. 1 4 his decision In the month of September, 8 9, he
accordingly embarked , with his wife and a part o f his
E family , for ngland .
’ . LAW RE NCE s Mr mission to the court of St . 'ames
was the most brilliant part of his political career, and fully j ustified the sagacity o f those who advised him to undertake it . Taking all circumstances into considera
fe w tion , men could have been so well fitted for the place . If he had not the profound scholarship of his
immediate predecessors , he had , what was o f great L W N ABBOTT A RE CE . 31
moment , a large practical acquaintance with a fl a i rs ; a
o w n thorough knowledge of the resources of his country, and of the country to which he was accredited ; a
fo r n e ot i a talent quite remarkable, as we have seen , g
tion ; a genial temper, well suited to thaw out the chilling reserve of manner too apt to gather round the really warm heart o f the Englishman ; a generous
o f en spirit hospitality, with a fortune to support it, abling him to collect round him persons of most emi
n ce m n e in the society of the capital , and to bring the in contact with Similar classes of his own countrymen ; thus happily affording opportunity for allaying ancient
m u t u a l of prejudices , and fostering sentiments respect
- and good will .
A similar influence was exerted by the public a d
dresses which , from time to time , he was called on to m ake in different parts of the kingdom; at meetings
o f held to promote the great interests of agriculture ,
of . manufactures , or educational reform Coming from a land where the people had made such progress in the 32 ' MEMOIR o r
various departments of labor and mechanical Skill , and from a part of the country where popular educ ation
had made most progress , he was naturally listened to
n with much attention . The paramount importa ce of education for t he masses was the theme he constantly
pressed home upon his hearers . Thus , at Manchester,
we find hi m drawing a comparison . between the labor ing classes in England and the United States 111 respect
l ' to education , and plain y telling his audience , that, if
England hoped t o keep . her place in the van of civili z t i on o f a , it must be by educating the humblest her
' cla sse s up to the highest point of other nations .
' nent British journal , in which Mr . LAWRENCE handled
i m th s subject, made a deep i pression on his auditory ; and it had probably no inconsiderable influence in stimulating that highly creditable educational move
t w men of hich Manchester has since been the scene , and in which it has stood out i n strong contrast to the
f ' other great towns o the empire .
34 MEMOIR o r
o n is o f m uch length , embody ing his views the great
questions of interest touching the state o f that u n
o f E happy country , the policy the nglish government
towards it, and its probable future ; the whole aecom
a n i ed o f p by a mass statistical information , which his
position gave him obvious advantages for collecting .
This valuable report forms on e of numerous despatches
of a similar nature which occupied what was regarded as the American minister ’ s leisure time during his
f diplomatic residence . Many o the papers are o f great
length , and must have been prepared with much care .
o f Some few have been printed by order Congress . The
rest a re to be found on the files of the Department of
State at Washington . One has only to Specify the
titles of some o f these to Show the variety of the topics
to which they relate . Thus , we find one contai ni ng
curious estimates on the comparative cost of building and manning merchant ships in England and the
United States ; another on the guard - ships fo r the sup
pression of the slave - trade ; another on the commerce ABBO 'rr LAWRENCE . 35 ,
carried on with Africa ; two or three on the postal
o f relations the country, with reference to a reduction o f of - the rate ocean postage ; another, the result of
d on E much consi eration , the currency of both ngland
o u r wn and o country . Besides these communications on of particular topics, we find others, a more general n r of f ature , containing a su vey the actual condition o
E ngland , supported by abundant statistical detail ;
m o n with a ple discussion on its course of trade , the
f f o o . character parties , and the policy the government
The Opportunities of personal observation enjoyed by
Mr . LAWRENCE abroad served , it may be remarked , to strengthen the Opinions he had expressed at home of the necessity of a protective policy by our o wn govern
n w u me t, if we ould contend successf lly against the
f E o f cheaper labor o urope . In this survey the national
character and resources, the despatches of Mr. LAW
RENCE remind on e of the reports as they are
— of called which were made , by order their govern
t he ' ment, by enetian ambassadors , and which , after 36 MEMOIR OF
, being read , on their return , before the Senate were
deposited in the public archives , where they furnish
some of the most authentic materials for the historian .
Amon g the despatches are two particularly worthy
O of consideration , as relating to negotiations that pened
re the way to important treaties . The first of these
lates to the fisheries . No sooner had Mr . LAWRENCE become acquainted with the course pursued by the
English government in sending ou t a fleet of armed
vessels to assert its maritime rights on the coast of
Nova Scotia, than , without waiting for instructions , he
L at once opened the matter to ord Malmesbury , then
Aff Minister for Foreign airs , and urged the mischievous
consequences likely to result from an action so precipi
tate and so menacing in its nature . His remonstrances were of sufficient weight to influence the instructions
afterwards issued by the government ; and Mr . LAW
’ RENCE S w negotiations, hich received the approval o f
ff the President, placed a airs on the quiet basis o n which t hey continued till a treaty was definitively TT R ABBO LAW ENCE . 37
settled . When we reflect on the irritation that would have been produced in this country if the ill -considered measure o f the English government had been fully
ou t w a n d carried , e cannot doubt that the timely temperate remonstrance of the American minister did m uch to save hi s country from a rupture with Great
Britain .
ff n A — The other a air concerned Ce tral merica, that
n uneasy question , which , after havi g been formally
f disposed o by treaty, has again risen , like a troubled
f u o . A spirit, to dist rb the quiet the world The merican
n envoy, in obedience to instructions from Washi gton , brought the subj ect before Lord Palmerston as early as
4 November, 18 9 . He obtained from that minister an assurance that Great Britain had no design to occupy
of A or colonize any part Central merica, and that She would willingly enter into a guarantee with the United
States for the neutrality of the proposed canal across
er the Isthmus . But Mr . LAWRENCE was quick to p cei ve that these assurances would fail to answer the 38 MEMOIR o r
purpose , unless Great Britain would consent to aban
don her shadowy protectorate over the Mosquito In.
dians . He a ccordingly made this the subj ect of a
particular representation in more than on e interview
with the English minister ; and he further urged the
abandonment of the protectorate o n the stron gest
grounds of policy , in a long and able communication
4 1 L D 1 849 . to ord Palmerston , dated ecember , To this
letter he received no reply ; and early in the follow
ing year, it being thought there were greater facilities for conducting the negotiation in this country than in
E n d ngla d , it was removed , for a final a justment of the
ff a air, to Washington .
Meanwhile Mr . LAWRENCE had been diligently pre
a o w n paring communication for his government,
o f — O Since printed by order the Senate , the bject of
which was to trace to i t s origin the British claim to the exercise of a protectorate over the Mosquito terri
. tory In doing this , he travelled over a vast field of
historical research , showing the first occupation of the TT A ABBO L WRENCE . 39
territory by the Spaniards , its subsequent invasion by
E t the nglish , and establishing, o the conviction of
every unprejudiced mind , that Great Britain never did possess any legal right to the qualified dominion which
of she claimed as protector the Indians ; and that, if She
had possessed it, this would signify nothing, since ,
she by an express treaty with Spain , had formally r enounced such right . By a singular coincidence, this
- n 1 o f A remarkable state paper is dated o the 9th pril ,
1850 of , being precisely the same date with that the
- Clayton Bulwer treaty .
This latter instrument, confining itself to the Simple
object of a guarantee for a canal across the Isthmus ,
makes no provision for the Mosquito question , though by an incidental allusion it appears to recognize the
ex i st en c e o f a protectorate . Indeed , it seems to have
done nothing more than carry out the details o f the a rrangement to which Lord Palmerston professed his
readiness to accede in his first communication to Mr .
E . so LAWRENC But, as the latter wisely foresaw, impor 40 MEMOIR OF
tant an element in the discussion as the Mosquito
o u t o f a n d protectorate could not be winked sight ; , as
of it n ow appears , the absence so material a link in
the chain of negotiations has made the other provisio n s
o f the treaty of little worth .
’ S f The pressing n ature o f Mr . L AWRENCE private a
o f fairs made him at length , after an absence three
o f . years, desirous returning home Indeed , he could
not have postponed his return so long, but for the
son faithful and able manner in which his eldest , to
o f whom he had committed the charge his property, had executed that trust ; thus relieving his father, as
the latter often remarked , of all anxiety in regard to
own ff his a airs , and enabling him to give undivided
f attention to those o the public . Having obtained the
’ President s consent, Mr . LAWRENCE resigned his place
on as envoy from the United States the first of October,
1 852 , and bade adieu to those Shores where he had
landed almost a stranger, but where he now left a host of friends ; where the kindness of his heart , the charm
42 MEMOIR OF
o f t of business . The complexion the times was mos
unfavorable t o both the cotton and woollen m a n u fa c
tures . Great advances were required to be made for
the completion of works in which Mr . LAWRENCE was
ffi a d largely interested . It was di cult to obtain such
vances in the depressed state of the stocks . With his
usual spirit, Mr . LAWRENCE came forward to the rescue ,
n o t o wn o f and only bore his share the subscription , but took stock to the amount of three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars more ; though , in doing so , he
sacrificed half that amount , the stock having fallen
fifty per cent in the market .
But Mr. LAWRENCE , though he gave a general super f vision to his a fairs, left the conduct of them to his
younger partners , whose experience well qualified them
. for the task He did not possess, indeed , the same
strength o f constitution and physical energy that he
. once had Perhaps for that reason , though he still
ff maintained a warm interest in public a airs , with the
exception of his efl ort s in the canvass for Gen eral ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 43
t Scott as Presiden , he took no active part in politics .
He still showed the same zeal as ever in the cause o f
education , and watched with the deepest interest over the rising fortunes of the Scientific School which he
had founded at Cambridge . His labors in behalf of learning were fully appreciated by his countrymen ; one proof of which is afforded by the literary honors bestowed on him by the principal a ca dem i cs and col
leges throughout the State . Thus loved and respected by the community in
hi m which he lived , with a fortune that enabled to
m u n ificen t gratify his disposition , and a heart fitted by
of nature for the pleasures friendship , and , above all,
o f . A for the sweet intercourse home , Mr L WRENCE might reasonably promise himself that serene enjoyment for the evening of his days which should wait u pon the
- ' close o f a well spent life . Alas no such happiness
was in store for him .
1 854 b o f In September, , he was visited y a return the malady the seeds of which had lingered in his ' 44 MEMOIR OF
constitution ever since his illness at Washington . A
second attack, a few weeks later, while passing some days on his family estate amidst the beautiful scenery
of Groton , left him in a precarious state of health , from which he did not entirely rally till the winter was
. E far advanced ven then , although he recovered the
n atural buoyancy of his Spirits and again mingled
of ff c u n in society, the indications su ering in his o t e
nance , and the loss of his accustomed vigor, were j ust
f ' i causes o apprehension to his friends . s physician
of d advised change climate , and recommen ed to him
E a voyage to ngland , associated as it was in his mind
so . E ' with many pleasant recollections arly in une ,
1 855 c , he ac ordingly secured a passage for himself and
f . L on e o t Mrs awrence in the British s eamers ; but,
two days after, his malady returned , accompanied with — such intense pain that he took to his bed , from which
he was never more to rise .
It would be painful to follow him through the long
and wearisome summer, during which he was sensibly B T R A BO T LAW ENCE . 45
losing ground day after day, yet with occasional inter vals of ca se that seemed to give promise that the
N disease was arrested . o on e will forget the ex t ra or di n a r on y interest shown that occasion by all classes , and the eagerness with which they endeavored to draw from the physicians some encouragement for their
hopes . A more remarkable proof of the hold he had upon the community was the daily announcement of
of —a the state his health in the public journals, tribute the more touching that he held no official
o f position to call it forth . It was the homage the
heart .
of During the long period his confinement, his
' sufferings served only to Show the sweetness of his
disposition . The circumstances which filled those around hi m with wretchedness and with a pprehen sions they could il l disguise had no power to disturb
i . 0 his serenity. He loved l fe N man had greater reason to love it ; for he had all that makes life
valuable . But, as his hold loosened upon it, no mur 46 MEMOIR o r
u r n o f m , o sigh regret, escaped his lips ; while he bowed in perfect submission to the will of that Al
mighty Father who had ever dealt with him so kindly .
A a fl ec s his strength of body diminished , that of his
t o con tions seemed to increase . He appeared be
s t a n t l y occupied with thoughts o f others rather than o f
himself ; and many a touching instance did he give
O o f f this thoughtfulness , and his tender recollection
o f those who were dear to him . The desire of doing
on . good , the broadest scale , clung to him to the last
No t two weeks before his death , he was occupied with
- arranging the plan of the model houses for the poor,
so for which he made noble a provision in his will .
His last hours were cheered by the assurance , as we
d hi s have elsewhere notice , th at wise and generous provisions for promoting a more scientific culture at
Cambridge were crowned with entire success . He was
dying with every thing around hi m to soften the bit
t ern ess of w death ; above all , with the s eet con
sci ou sn e ss that he had not lived in vain . On the ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 47
1 8 A 1855 th of ugust, , a few months before he had
- completed his sixty third year, he expired , and that so gently, that those around could not be sure of the
m precise oment when his spirit took its flight .
’ o f . S The tidings Mr LAWRENCE death , t hough not
u . nexpected , fell like some startling calamity on the
of ears the community . A meeting of the citizens was at once called to e xpress their sense of this great
public bereavement . It assembled in Faneuil Hall , that hall where the manly tones o f his own voice had
m of been so often raised in aintenance the right, but
n ow of which echoed only to the sounds lamentation , as more than on e gifted orator poured forth an eloquent
and touching tribute to the virtues of the deceased .
The sympathies o f the community were called forth
f still more strongly on the day o the funeral, when the sad countenances and moistened eyes of the vast mul t i t u de that attended the services showed how truly
n ot they felt the death of Mr . LAWRENCE , merely as a
great public calamity , but as something personal to 48 MEMOIR or
E themselves . very honor that could be paid to his memory was eagerly rendered by the authorities of
the city on this occasion . The day was celebrated as
a day of public mourning . The bells tolled in the
principal churches . The flags of the shipping were
- - . o f at half mast . Minute guns were fired The places
business were closed in many parts of the town , and all along the road which conducted to the cemetery o f
A on Mount Auburn . s the spectator gazed the long company o f mourners taking their way through files of the soldiery, who lined the streets as far as the
bridge which unites Boston to Cambridge , he might well have called to mind the time when the object o f
all this homage first came to town , over this same
- avenue , a poor country lad , with only a few dollars in
on e his pocket , and but friend in that strange capital
. A to welcome him That friend was his brother, mos
L awrence , who , only three years Since , had been borne
A n to Mount ubur , amidst the tears and regrets of the — . whole community Still another brother William ,
50 MEMOIR o r
regulations as would accomplish the Obj ect he ha d in
i fi n . m u n ce t view In addition to these bequests , he left ten thousand dollars to the P ublic Library of the
o f f city Boston , and smaller legacies to dif erent insti t u t i on s ; making the whole amount of o n e hundred and
fifty thousand dollars devised for public obj ects . These
were the last acts of a life of benevolence .
Such are the outlines of the history o f a Boston
— o f merchant, one who , by the energy of his character
of and the winning frankness his manners , acquired a remarkable ascendency over all with whom he came in contact ; who supplied the deficiencies of early educa
tion by an assiduous diligence , that made him eminent in after- life both as a public speaker and a political writer ; whose conduct was controlled by settled reli
i ou s g principles, that made him proof alike against the intrigues o f party and the blandishments of a court ; w ho regarded every subj ect with t he se large and e u
d lightened views which gave ignity to his profession , and raised him to high consideration as a diploma ABBOTT LAWRENCE . 5 1
t i st and a statesman ; who, blessed by nature with a
sunny temper and a truly loving heart, was the delight o f O of his friends , and an bject little less than idolatry
to own family ; and who , holding the large property he had acquired by his own efforts as a trust for the
f w- good o his fello men , dispensed it in those noble charities which have gained hi m a high place among
t he benefactors of mankind .