MR. LAWRENCE SERVES AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR.--GEN. FRANKLIN
PIERCE.--SUDDEN DEATH.--FUNERAL.
In November, Robert G. Shaw, Esq., and Mr. Lawrence, were chosen
Presidential Electors for the district in which they resided. Both, at
that time, were in the enjoyment of their usual health, and yet both
were removed within a few months by death. The Electoral College was
convened in the State House at Boston, in December; and Mr. Lawrence
has noticed the event by a memorandum, endorsed upon his commission of
Elector, as follows:
"_December 1._--I have attended to the duty, and have given my
vote to Winfield Scott for President, and William A. Graham for
Vice-President."
He did not add, that, before leaving the State House, he gave the
customary fee paid in such cases towards freeing the family of a negro
from slavery.
But little is found in the handwriting of Mr. Lawrence for the month
of December, except his usual record of donations to charitable
objects. He seems to have written but few letters, which may in part
be accounted for by having had his time much occupied by a most
agreeable intercourse with Gen. Franklin Pierce, who, with his family,
were his guests during a part of the month. That gentleman had for
many years been on terms of intimate friendship with Mr. Lawrence, and
had kept up a familiar correspondence from Washington and elsewhere,
which no political differences had abated. He had always been a
favorite; and now, having been elected to the Presidential chair, and
engaged in plans for his future administration, it may be imagined
what interest this intercourse excited in Mr. Lawrence, deeply
concerned as he was in every movement that tended to promote the
political and moral welfare of the country. Many excursions were made
to the interesting spots and charitable institutions of Boston and its
vicinity, during this visit, which has a melancholy interest from the
events which immediately followed it. On the twenty-sixth, General and
Mrs. Pierce left Boston for their home at Concord, N. H., with the
intention of spending a few days with their friends at Andover. They
were accompanied by their only child Benjamin, a bright and promising
boy, twelve years of age, whose melancholy death, but a few days
afterwards, will give an interest to the following note, which he
wrote to Mr. Lawrence in acknowledgment of a little token of
remembrance:
"ANDOVER, Dec. 27, 1852.
"DEAR UNCLE LAWRENCE: I admire the beautiful pencil you sent me,
and I think I shall find it very useful. I shall keep it very
carefully for your sake, and I hope that I may learn to write all
the better with it. It was kind in you to write such a good
little note, too; and I see that being industrious while you were
young enables you to be kind and benevolent now that you are old.
I think that you have given me very good advice, and I hope I
shall profit by it. So, dear uncle, with much love to aunt, I am
"Your affectionate nephew,
"B. PIERCE."
The brief history of this promising boy, who exhibited a maturity and
thoughtfulness far beyond his years, is soon told. Nine days
afterwards, in company with his father and mother, he left Andover on
his return home. A few minutes after starting, the cars were
precipitated down a steep bank, among the rocks, causing the instant
death of Benjamin, and bruising the father and many other passengers
severely. The accident sent a thrill of sympathy throughout the Union,
and cast a withering blight upon the prospects of the bereaved
parents, which, amidst all earthly distinctions, can never be
forgotten, and which has perhaps rendered more irksome the great and
unceasing responsibilities of high official station.
"_Dec. 28._--I sent a large bundle of clothing materials, books,
and other items, with sixty dollars, by steamer for Bangor, to
Professor Pond, of Bangor Theological Seminary, for the students.
Also gave a parcel, costing twenty-five dollars, to Mrs. ----,
who is a Groton girl, and now having twins, making twenty
children: is very poor.
"_Dec. 30._--To Professor ----, by dear S., one hundred dollars.
Books and items to-day, five dollars."
These were his last entries.
On the afternoon of the above date, the writer, in his usual walk,
passed Mr. Lawrence's door with the intention of calling on his
return, but, after proceeding a few steps, decided, from some
unaccountable motive, to give up the accustomed exercise, and pass the
time with his father. Mr. Lawrence appeared in excellent health and
spirits; and nearly an hour was agreeably spent in discussing the
topics of the day. He seemed more than usually communicative; and,
although always kind and affectionate, there was, on this occasion, an
unusual softness of manner, and tenderness of expression, which cannot
be forgotten. The last topic touched upon was the character of a
prominent statesman, just deceased, and the evidence which he had
given of preparation for an exchange of worlds. He spoke somewhat
fully upon the nature of such preparation, and expressed a strong
hope, that, in the present instance, the exchange had been a happy
one.
In the latter part of the evening, Mr. Lawrence addressed to his
friend, Prof. Packard, of Bowdoin College, the following note, in
reply to some questions asked by that gentleman in regard to the
Bunker Hill Monument, of which he was preparing a history for
publication among the records of the Maine Historical Society:
"BOSTON, December 30, 1852, evening.
"MY DEAR FRIEND: Your letter of Tuesday reached me just before my
morning excursion to Longwood to see our loved one there. In
reply to your first query, I answer, that Mr. E. Everett
presented a design of Bunker Hill Monument, which was very
classic, and was supported by Col. Perkins and Gen. Dearborn, I
believe, and perhaps one or two more. Young Greenough (Horatio),
then a student of Harvard College, sent in a plan with an essay,
that manifested extraordinary talents, and was substantially
adopted, although the column was amended by the talents, taste,
and influence of Loammi Baldwin, one of our directors. The
discussion of the model was very interesting; and, among the
whole mass of plans, this of Mr. Everett and Mr. Baldwin, or, as
I before said, a modification of Greenough's, were the only ones
that were thought of. Mr. Everett, and those who favored his
classic plan, were very cordial in their support of the plan of
the monument as it is, very soon after its adoption. Mr. Ticknor
was very active in support of the plan as adopted; and I have a
strong impression that young Greenough's arguments were wholly
just, and, abating some assertions which seemed a little strong
for a mere college-lad, were true and unexceptionable. I write
from memory, and not from overlooking the plans carefully since
the time they were considered. Young Greenough I felt a deep
interest in, and advanced money to his father to allow him to go
abroad to study, which has been repaid since his father's death.
Here I have an interesting story to tell you of this debt, which
I wished to cancel, that the widow might receive the amount. Mr.
Greenough was near his end, and deeply affected, but fully
persuaded that, by the provisions of his will, his widow would
soon have an ample income, and declined the offer. It has turned
out better than he ever anticipated. The books shall go forward,
as you requested. All our family, 'kith and kin,' are pretty
well. The President elect has, I think, the hardest time, being
over-worked; and, as we are now without any one, we shall be
rejoiced to see you here. Pray, come. I shall write again when I
send the 'red book' you request.
"With love to all, N. and I join; and I bid you adieu.
"From your friend,
"AMOS LAWRENCE.
"To Prof. PACKARD, Brunswick, Me."
The above letter was folded, directed, and left upon his table, and
doubtless contained the last words he ever wrote.
After the usual family devotions, he retired at about ten o'clock,
and, before his attendant left the room, asked a few questions
relating to the situation of a poor family which he had relieved a day
or two before. Mrs. Lawrence had been in an adjoining room, and, on
returning, found him lying quietly, and apparently engaged in silent
prayer. She did not, therefore, disturb him, but retired for the night
without speaking. In less than two hours, she was awakened by one of
his usual attacks. Remedies were applied; but, no rallying symptoms
appearing, the physician and family were summoned. All that medical
skill could do was in vain; and, at a quarter past twelve, on the last
day of the year, he quietly breathed his last, without having
awakened to consciousness after his first sleep.
All his temporal affairs seemed to have been arranged in view of this
event. The partnership with his brother, which had existed for nearly
forty years, was dissolved in that way which he had resolved in former
years should alone terminate it. From various prudential reasons,
however, he had changed his opinion, and had decided to withdraw from
all business relations, and accordingly furnished the advertisement,
which was to appear on the next day in the public prints, announcing
his withdrawal. Four days previous, he had executed a codicil to his
will; and thus seemed to have settled his concerns with the closing
year. The summons did not find him unprepared; for it was such as he
had long expected, and had alluded to many times in his conversation,
as well as in his letters to friends. The plans of each day were made
with reference to such a call. Nor can we doubt that he was, in the
highest sense, prepared to exchange what he sometimes was permitted to
call "the heaven on earth" for that higher heaven where so many of his
most cherished objects of earthly affection had preceded him. On the
morning of his death, the editor found upon his table the following
lines, which had been copied by him a few days previous, and which are
the more interesting from being a part of the same hymn containing the
lines repeated by his wife upon her death-bed, thirty-three years
before:
"Vital spark of heavenly flame,
Quit, O, quit this mortal frame!
Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying,--
O, the pain, the bliss, of dying!
Cease, fond nature,--cease the strife,
And let me languish into life.
Hark!--------"
It would almost seem that a vision of the angel-messenger had been
afforded, and that the sound of his distant footsteps had fallen upon
his ear; for, with the unfinished line, the pen thus abruptly stops.
The funeral ceremonies were performed on Tuesday, the 4th of January.
A prayer was first offered before the body was taken from the house,
in the presence of the family and friends of the deceased, by the Rev.
A. H. Vinton, D.D., Rector of St. Paul's Church. Public exercises in
Brattle-street Church were then performed, in the presence of a
crowded congregation, composed of the numerous friends and former
associates of the deceased, clergymen of all denominations, and large
numbers representing the various professions and trades of the
community.
The religious services were conducted by three of Mr. Lawrence's most
intimate and valued friends, representing three different
denominations. These were the Rev. Dr. Lothrop, pastor of
Brattle-street Church; the Rev. Dr. Hopkins, President of Williams
College; and the Rev. Dr. Sharp, pastor of the Baptist Society in
Charles-street. A beautiful and appropriate hymn was sung by the
members of the Lawrence Association, from the Mather School, who
surrounded the coffin, and, at the conclusion of the hymn, covered it
with flowers. The body, followed by a large procession of mourning
friends, was then conveyed to Mount Auburn, and deposited by the side
of the loved ones who had preceded him, and under the shade of the
"Old Oak," where may it rest until summoned to the presence of that
Saviour whose example and precepts he so much loved on earth, and
through whom alone he looked for happiness in heaven!