CODICIL TO WILL.--ILLNESS.--GEN. WHITING.--LETTERS.--DIARY.
In August, 1849, Mr. Lawrence reviewed his will and added to it the
following codicil:
"Through the mercy of God, my life has been prolonged to this
time, and my mental and bodily powers continued to me to an
extent that has enabled me to see to the application of those
trusts that have been confided to me; and, should my stewardship
end now or next year, and the 'Well done' of the Master be
pronounced upon my labors, all things here will seem nothing, and
less than nothing, in comparison.
"In short, my life, cheerful and happy as it is made by the three
blessings conferred upon man after his fall (wife, children, and
friends), is in the keeping of a merciful Father, who, by thus
continuing it, allows me a foretaste of that future home I hope
for whenever he calls.
"In reviewing my will, above written, executed on the 21st day of
February, A. D. 1846, I see nothing to alter, and everything to
confirm. And I do hereby declare it still my will, and this
codicil is to be taken as a confirmation of it; and I do
earnestly hope all in interest will see clearly the meaning of
every clause, and carry out my meaning without any quibbling,
question, or controversy. I have been my own executor, for many
years, of the surplus property I have received, and intend to be
while my powers of mind will allow it. Many near and dear friends
to whom I looked for counsel and direction, at the time my will
was executed, have been taken hence, which makes me more desirous
of giving a renewed expression at this time."
In this connection was the following note to his sons, found in his
pocket-book after his decease:
"DEAR W. AND A.: In my will, I have made no bequests as tokens of
remembrance, and have endeavored to do for all (whom I am
interested in out of my own family connections) what is needful
and proper and best; yet I wish some expression of kindness to M.
and F., if in the family when I am taken." * * * *
Here follow donations to domestics who had been for many years in his
family.
About the 20th of September, Mr. Lawrence experienced a severe attack
of cholera morbus, which was then a sort of epidemic in the community.
Of this attack, he writes to President Hopkins as follows:
"I hardly know how to address you, since I find myself once more
spared to lay open my heart to you; for I do indeed feel all the
force of the words, What shall I render unto God for all his
unspeakable goodness? I have been upon the brink of Jordan, and,
with my outstretched hand, seized hold of our merciful Father's
hand, that was held out towards me, and was supported by his
grasp as plainly as I could have been by your own hand. I was
waiting, and praying to him to conduct me to the other side and
permit me to join the company of loved ones _passed on_, and
felt almost sure I should never see the sunlight of this world
again, when, to my amazement, I found my pains subsiding, and
that I had not finished the work he had assigned. When you were
here, I gave you some little outline of my plan of work for ----.
On the 18th of September, I completed that work, and felt
stronger on that day than on any day for a month. Under the
excitement of the scene and a sudden change of weather, I took
cold, and had a terrible attack of cholera, which, by the
immediate administration of remedies, was in a degree quieted.
Thus my poor old worn-out machine was still kept from parting, as
the sole of the shoe is sometimes kept on by freezing snow and
water upon it."
In the beginning of this volume, mention is made of the first clerk
whom Mr. Lawrence employed after entering business in the year 1807.
To that gentleman, now Brigadier-General Whiting, was addressed the
following letter, which was the recommencement of a correspondence
which had ceased for many years:
"BOSTON, November, 1849.
"MY DEAR GENERAL: I have been deeply interested in overlooking
your volume of revolutionary orders of Washington, selected from
your father's manuscripts, as it brought back scenes and memories
of forty years and more ago, when I used to visit at your house
in Lancaster, and to read those papers with a relish that might
well be coveted by the youth of the present day. I thank you for
this token of auld lang syne, and shall feel the more thankful if
you will come and see me. I would certainly go to you, if I had
the strength, and could do it safely; but shall never go so far
from home, being at any moment liable to be called off. My
earnest desire is to be 'in line,' and to be able to answer,
promptly, 'here.' I hope to hear from you and your wife and wee
things: all have a hold upon me, and you will give them an old
man's love. I have taken the opportunity to send you some little
reminiscences of old times. Butler's 'History of Groton' (which
connects Lancaster in early days) is a model for its exact
truthfulness: he was the preceptor of the academy until long
after you entered the army. Then I have sent a catalogue of the
school, from its beginning for fifty years or more; 'History of
Lowell as it Was, and Lowell as it Is,' well written and true;
'Boston Notions,' put together by old Mr. Dearborn, the printer,
whom you knew; and some other little matters, which will serve to
freshen old things, as your 'Evolutionary Orders of Washington'
have done with me. I have just looked into my first sales-book,
and there see the entries made by you more than forty years ago.
Ever since, you have been going up, from the cornet of dragoons
to the present station.
"Farewell. Your old friend,
AMOS LAWRENCE.
"GEN. HENRY WHITING, Fort Hamilton, N. Y."
(TO ROBERT BARNWELL RHETT, ESQ., OF SOUTH CAROLINA.)
"BOSTON, Dec. 12, 1849.
"MY DEAR SIR: Your letter of November 30 reached me in due
course, and gave me unfeigned pleasure in seeing my hopes
confirmed, that the practical common sense of South Carolina was
returning, and that the use of their head and hands was getting
to be felt among the citizens, as necessary to their salvation as
common brethren in the great family of States. Without the use of
those trusts placed in their hands by our common Father, the
State will not be worth the parchment on which to draw the deeds
fifty years hence; and I most earnestly pray God to guide,
guard, and save the State from their childishness in their fears
that our northern agitators can harm them. I spent the winter of
1819 in Washington, and heard the whole of the debate upon
admitting Alabama and Missouri into the Union. Alabama was
admitted, Missouri rejected; and I made up my mind then that I
would never interfere until requested by my brethren of the
Slave-holding States; which resolution I have carried out from
that day to this; and I still hold to it. But I would not have
admitted Alabama then or Missouri on the terms they were
admitted. We of the North have windy, frothy politicians, who
hope to make capital out of their ultraism; but, in the
aggregate, they soon find their level. Now, of the point to which
I desire to come, I do earnestly desire your State to carry out
your prophecy, that, in ten years, you will spin all your own
crop of cotton; for we of Massachusetts will gladly surrender to
you the manufacture of coarse fabrics, and turn our industry to
making fine articles. In short, we could now, if you are ready,
give up to you the coarse fabrics, and turn one half of our
machinery into spinning and weaving cotton hose; and nothing will
help us all so much as specific duties. The whole kingdom of
Saxony is employed at this moment in making cotton hose for the
United States from yarns purchased in England, and made of your
cotton. How much better would it be for you and for us to save
these treble profits and transport, by making up the cotton at
home! Think of these matters, and look at them without the
prejudice that prevails so extensively in your State. A few years
ago, I asked our kinsman, Gen. ----, of your State, how the
forty-bale theory was esteemed at that time. His answer was, 'We
all thought it true when it was started, and it had its effect;
but nobody is of that mind now.' Still, I believe, when an error
gets strong hold of the popular mind, it is much more difficult
to eradicate it than it is to supply the truth in its place. If I
know myself, I would not mete to you any different measure from
what I would ask of you; and I must say to you, that your State
and people have placed themselves in a false position, which will
be as apparent to them in a few years as the sun is at noonday.
My own family and friends are in usual health; and no man this
side heaven enjoys earth better than I do. I do pray you to come
and see us. I hope to see your son at Cambridge this week.
Most respectfully yours,
"AMOS LAWRENCE."
* * * * *
"BOSTON, December 11, 1849.
"To Gen. HENRY WHITING, U. S. A., Fort Hamilton, N. Y.
"MY EARLY FRIEND: Forty years and more ago, we used to talk over
together the dismemberment of Poland and the scenes that
followed, and to pour out together our feelings for those martyrs
of liberty. At the present moment, my feelings are deeply moved
by taking by the hand Colonel P. and Major F., just landed here,
and driven from their country, martyrs to the same cause. I need
only say to you that they are strangers among us, and any
attentions from you will be grateful to them, and duly felt by
your old friend,
A. L."
* * * * *
"_December 24, 1849._--I have been daily employed, of late, in
accompanying visitors to our public institutions; among these,
Mr. Charles Carroll, of Maryland, to the Mather School and the
Perkins Asylum for the Blind. The effect of kindness upon the
character of children is more strikingly illustrated in the
Mather School than in any other I know of. Three fifths of the
pupils are children of foreigners,--English, Irish, Scotch,
German, Swiss, and the like,--mostly very poor. Two fifths are
American; and these foreign children, after a few months, are
ambitious to look as well and do as well as the best. The little
Irish creatures are as anxious to have their faces clean, their
hair smooth, their clothes mended, and to learn to read, write,
and explain their lessons, as the upper children. These upper
children, to the number of about one hundred, belong to the
Lawrence Association."
"_December 25, Christmas afternoon._--The following beautiful
little note, accompanied by a silver cup, almost unmanned me.
Forty-three girls signed the note; two others engaged in it are
sick; and one died, and was buried at Mount Auburn by her
particular request,--making forty-six of these children, who, of
their own motion, got up this token. Their note is dated to-day,
and runs thus:
"'RESPECTED SIR: The misses of the Lawrence Association, anxious
to testify their gratitude for the kind interest which you have
ever manifested towards them, would most respectfully request
your acceptance of this small token of their gratitude.'" (Signed
by forty-three girls.)
"_26._--We had great times with the children last evening at Sister
M.'s. It really seemed to me that the entertainment gave me as much
pleasure as any child among them; beside which, I went to the house of
my old friend Dr. Bowditch (where I used to visit twenty-five years
ago on like occasions), for a few minutes, and there found seventeen
of his grandchildren enjoying the fruits of the Christmas-tree in the
best manner possible."