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."
[6] For a history of the Bunker Hill Monument, see an article in
collections of "Maine Historical Society," vol. iii., by Professor
Packard, of Bowdoin College.
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."