Chapter XXVI

CAPTAIN A. S. McKENZIE.--DIARY.--AID TO IRELAND.--MADAM PRESCOTT.--SIR WILLIAM COLEBROOKE.

(TO CAPT. ALEXANDER SLIDELL MCKENZIE, U. S. N.)

"November 2, 1846.

"MY DEAR SIR: I was exceedingly gratified by your kind
remembrance of me, a few days since, in sending me a copy of your
'Life of Decatur,' which to its merits as a biography adds the
charm of bringing before me my old friend Bainbridge, and the
writer, whom I have felt a strong interest in ever since reading
his 'Year in Spain;' for my son resided in the same family soon
after you left, and made me acquainted with you before I had seen
you. I am a 'minute-man' in life, but, while I remain here, shall
always be glad to take you by the hand when you visit us. Whether
we meet here is of less importance than that our work be done,
and be said by the Master to be well done, when called off.

Respectfully and faithfully yours,
"A. L."

"_December 17._--Thirty-nine years have passed since my first
entry in this book; and, in reviewing this period, I have
abundant reason to bless God for his great mercies, and
especially for continuing us four brothers, engaged as we have
been in business, an unbroken band to this day, and for the
success attending our labors. We have been blessed more than most
men, and have the power, by our right use of these blessings, of
benefiting our fellow-men. God grant that the spirits of our
parents may be cheered in their heavenly home by our doing the
work here that we ought to do! To my descendants I commend this
memorial, with the prayer that they may each of them be better
than I am." * * *

"Fifteen years hence, and the chief interest in us will be found
in our Mount Auburn enclosure; and we ought to look well to the
comment."

As an expression of the feeling here referred to, he purchased a gold box of beautiful workmanship, and forwarded it to his youngest brother, then a resident of Lowell, with the following inscription engraven upon it:

"BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL
TOGETHER IN UNITY!"

TO SAMUEL LAWRENCE,

FROM

HIS BROTHER AMOS.

"_December 19._--Rode to-day to the Asylum for the Blind with
Major Arthur Lawrence, of the Rifle Brigade, British Army, and
had a very interesting visit. Dr. Howe very attentive; and Laura
Bridgman and Oliver Caswell both appeared well."

"_December 27._--Rev. Mr. Rogers said to-day, 'Gold is not the
coin of heaven: if it had been, Christ would have been rich; but
he was a poor man.'"

"_January 1, 1847._--In July last, I had spent the advance of my
income, but am thankful now to be able to state the case
differently, being in the receipt of ample means to be a comfort
to the needy."

From the various entries quoted in his Diary, it will be inferred that Mr. Lawrence's means for charitable distribution varied considerably in amount from year to year. To explain this difference, it may not be amiss to state here, that he had, from the first efforts to establish home manufactures in New England, taken a deep interest in their success, and had consequently invested a large proportion of his property in the various manufacturing corporations which had been built up in Lowell and other towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The great fluctuations in this department of industry are known to every one; for, while the returns of one year would be ample, those of the next year would, from embarrassments in the commercial world, or from some other cause, be little or nothing.

"_January 8._--T. R. and S. J., two Englishmen in the employ of
J. C., mended our pump to-day. I gave them some books and a word
of counsel, and hope to observe their progress."

"_February 15._--T. J. called, and is to embark to-morrow, on his
way to the war in Mexico. He asked me to give him money to buy a
pistol, which I declined, as I could not wish them success in
Mexico; but gave him some books, a Bible, and good counsel."

During the month of February, an appeal was made to the citizens of Boston in behalf of the famished population of Ireland, and resulted in the sending to that country a large quantity of food and clothing. Mr. Lawrence contributed himself towards the object, and, as was often the case, endeavored to interest others equally with himself. On the 24th of that month, he addressed a note to J. A. Stearns, Esq., Principal of the Mather School, at South Boston, for the pupils of his school composing the Lawrence Association. This Association, comprising a large number of boys and girls, had been formed for moral and intellectual improvement, and had been named in honor of Mr. Lawrence, who had, from its commencement, taken a deep interest in its success, and had often contributed books and money when needed.

"Wednesday, March 2.

"MY FRIENDS: The value of the offering to suffering Ireland from
our city will be enhanced by the numbers contributing, as the
offering will do more good as an expression of sympathy than as a
matter of relief. The spirit of dear R. seems to speak through
your 'Oak Leaf,'[11] and to say, 'Let all who will of the
Association subscribe a half-dollar each, and all others a
quarter each, for their suffering brethren, and children of a
common Father.'

A. L.

"P. S.--The purses were presents to me, and must be returned. One
of them from the lady of Sir John Strachan, herself a descendant
of one of our Boston girls; the two open-work ones from ladies in
this city. Take from them what is required, and return the
balance, if any be left. If more is required, let me know, as I
do not know the amount in the purses.

"A. L."

[11] A little newspaper published by the Association.

One hundred and two members of the Association, and four hundred and thirty-eight other members of the school, in all five hundred and forty, availed themselves of the privilege thus offered them, and contributed the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars towards the object.

At the church in Brattle-street, a collection was taken in aid of the same object; and, among other contributions, was a twenty-dollar bank-note, with the following attached to it, probably by Mr. Lawrence:

"A ship of war to carry bread to the hungry and suffering,
instead of powder and ball to inflict more suffering on our
brethren,--children of the same Father,--is as it should be; and
this is in aid of the plan."

Among the most respected and valued friends of Mr. Lawrence was the venerable Madam Prescott, widow of the late Judge William Prescott, and mother of the distinguished historian of "Ferdinand and Isabella." Years seemed rather to quicken her naturally warm sympathies for the distresses of others; and, at the age of more than four-score, she was to be daily seen on foot in the streets, actively engaged upon her errands of mercy. Mr. Lawrence had, the year before, found a small volume, entitled the "Comforts of Old Age," by Sir Thomas Bernard; and had sent it to several of his friends, principally those in advanced age, asking for some record of their experience. His note to Madam Prescott on this subject was as follows.

"March 8, 1847.

"DEAR MADAM PRESCOTT: I have been a long time anxious to receive
a favor from you, and have felt diffident in asking it; but am
now at the required state of resolution. The book I send you is
so much in character with your own life, that my grandchildren,
who love you, will read to their grandchildren your words,
written by your own hand in this book, if you will but place them
there. I must beg you, my excellent friend, to believe that I am
desirous of securing for my descendants some of your precious
encouragements in the discipline of life.

"Your friend,
"AMOS LAWRENCE."

The volume was returned with the following record:

"BOSTON, March 10, 1847.

"MY DEAR SIR: You ask me what are the comforts of old age. I
answer, the retrospection of a well-spent life. The man who
devotes himself to the cause of humanity, who clothes the naked,
feeds the hungry, soothes the sorrows of the afflicted, and
comforts the mourner,--whom each rising sun finds in the
contemplation of some good deed, and each night closes with the
assurance that it has been performed,--surely such a life must be
the comfort of an old age. But where shall we find such a man?
May I not be permitted to apply the character to my highly valued
and respected friend, whose charities are boundless, and who
daily dispenses blessings to all around him? May the enduring oak
be emblematical of the continuance of your life! I depend much
upon accompanying you to Mount Auburn, and to visit the spot
which contains the precious relics of him whose life it is sweet
to contemplate, and whose death has taught us how a Christian
should die. The perusal of this little volume has increased my
veneration and friendship for its owner.

"Respectfully and affectionately,
"C. G. PRESCOTT."

"MEM. _by A. L., May 20, 1850._--Madam P., now much passed
four-score years of age (born August 1, 1767), is as bright and
active in body and mind as most ladies of fifty."

* * * * *

"_April 10._--Mrs. T. called to ask aid for a poor widow, which I
declined, by telling her I did not hear or read people's stories
from necessity, and I could not inquire this evening. She claims
to be acquainted with Rev. Mr. ---- and Rev. Mr. ----. She gave
me a severe lecture, and berated me soundly."

"_April 19._--Mrs. C., of Lowell, asks me to loan her three
hundred dollars to furnish a boarding-house for twelve young
ladies at S., which I declined by mail this morning."

In reply to Sir William Colebrooke, Governor of New Brunswick, who requested Mr. Lawrence to notify certain poor people in the neighborhood of Boston that their deposits in the Frederickstown Savings' Bank, which had been previously withheld, would be paid by means of an appropriation for the purpose recently made by the Provincial Assembly, he writes:

"BOSTON, April 26, 1847.

"MY DEAR SIR WILLIAM: Your kind letter of the 8th instant reached
me on the 13th, and is most welcome and grateful, in making me
the medium of so much solid comfort to the numerous people whose
earnings are thus restored to them through your unceasing and
faithful labors. May God reward you, and enable you to enjoy
through life the elevated satisfaction that follows such good
works to those who can give you nothing but their prayers! It is
alike creditable to your Provincial Government and those true
principles which are the best riches of all free governments; and
I hope may exercise some good influence upon our State
Governments, which have done injustice to many poor persons who
have given credit to their promises. I have caused your notice to
be scattered broadcast, and trust that all who have any interest
in the Frederickstown Savings' Bank will know that their money
and interest are ready for them. Pray present me most
affectionately to Lady Colebrooke and your daughters; and assure
her we shall take more comfort than ever in showing her over our
beautiful hills, that have health and joy in every breeze. My own
health continues as good as when you were last here; and my
family (who have not been taken hence) seem devoted to my
comfort. What reason have we for devout thanksgiving, that our
two countries are not at swords' points, and that the true
feeling of our common ancestry is now sweeping over our land! We
are in deep disgrace on account of this wicked Mexican business.
What the end is to be can only be known to Infinite Wisdom; but
one thing is certain,--no good can come to us from it.

"Again I pray you to be assured of my highest respect and regard,
and am very faithfully yours,

"AMOS LAWRENCE."