Chapter VI

BRAMBLE NEWS.--JUNIOR PARTNER GOES TO ENGLAND.--LETTERS TO BROTHER.

In 1849, Mr. Lawrence writes as follows:

"On the 1st of January, 1814, I took my brother Abbott into
partnership on equal shares, putting fifty thousand dollars, that
I had then earned, into the concern. Three days afterwards, the
'Bramble News' came, by which the excessive high price of goods
was knocked down. Our stock was then large, and had cost a high
price. He was in great anguish, considering himself a bankrupt
for at least five thousand dollars. I cheered him by offering to
cancel our copartnership indentures, give him up his note, and,
at the end of the year, pay him five thousand dollars. He
declined the offer, saying I should lose that, and more beside,
and, as he had enlisted, would do the best he could. This was in
character, and it was well for us both. He was called off to do
duty as a soldier, through most of the year. I took care of the
business, and prepared to retreat with my family into the country
whenever the town seemed liable to fall into the hands of the
British, who were very threatening in their demonstrations. We
still continue mercantile business under the first set of
indentures, and under the same firm, merely adding '& Co.,' as
new partners have been admitted."

In March, 1815, the junior partner embarked on board the ship Milo, the first vessel which sailed from Boston for England after the proclamation of peace. On the eve of his departure, he received from his brother and senior partner a letter containing many good counsels for his future moral guidance, as well as instructions in relation to the course of business to be pursued. From that letter, dated March 11th, the following extracts are taken:

"MY DEAR BROTHER: I have thought best, before you go abroad, to
suggest a few hints for your benefit in your intercourse with the
people among whom you are going. As a first and leading
principle, let every transaction be of that pure and honest
character that you would not be ashamed to have appear before the
whole world as clearly as to yourself. In addition to the
advantages arising from an honest course of conduct with your
fellow-men, there is the satisfaction of reflecting within
yourself that you have endeavored to do your duty; and, however
greatly the best may fall short of doing all they ought, they
will be sure not to do more than their principles enjoin.

"It is, therefore, of the highest consequence that you should not
only cultivate correct principles, but that you should place your
standard of action so high as to require great vigilance in
living up to it.

"In regard to your business transactions, let everything be so
registered in your books, that any person, without difficulty,
can understand the whole of your concerns. You may be cut off in
the midst of your pursuits, and it is of no small consequence
that your temporal affairs should always be so arranged that you
may be in readiness.

"If it is important that you should be well prepared in this
point of view, how much more important is it that you should be
prepared in that which relates to eternity!

"You are young, and the course of life seems open, and pleasant
prospects greet your ardent hopes; but you must remember that the
race is not always to the swift, and that however flattering may
be your prospects, and however zealously you may seek pleasure,
you can never find it except by cherishing pure principles, and
practising right conduct. My heart is full on this subject, my
dear brother, and it is the only one on which I feel the least
anxiety.

"While here, your conduct has been such as to meet my entire
approbation; but the scenes of another land may be more than your
principles will stand against. I say, _may be_, because young
men, of as fair promise as yourself, have been lost by giving a
small latitude (innocent in the first instance) to their
propensities. But I pray the Father of all mercies to have you in
his keeping, and preserve you amid temptations.

* * * * *

"I can only add my wish to have you write me frequently and
particularly, and that you will embrace every opportunity of
gaining information.

Your affectionate brother,
"AMOS LAWRENCE.
"TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE."

Again, on the 28th of the month, he writes to the same, after his departure:

"I hope you will have arrived in England early in April; and if
so, you will be awaiting with anxious solicitude the arrival of
the 'Galen,' by which vessel you will receive letters from
_home_, a word which brings more agreeable associations to the
mind and feelings of a young stranger in a foreign land than any
other in our language. I have had many fears that you have had a
rough passage, as the weather on the Friday following your
departure was very boisterous, and continued so for a number of
days, and much of the time since has been uncomfortable. I trust,
however, that the same good Hand which supplies our daily wants
has directed your course to the desired port.

"With a just reliance on that Power, we need have no fear, though
winds and waves should threaten our destruction. The interval
between the time of bidding adieu and of actual departure called
into exercise those fine feelings which those only have who can
prize friends, and on that account I was happy to see so much
feeling in yourself.

"Since your departure nothing of a public nature has transpired
of particular interest. All that there is of news or interest
among us you will gather from the papers forwarded.

"Those affairs which relate particularly to ourselves will be of
as much interest as any; I shall therefore detail our business
operations.

* * * * *

"My next and constant direction will be to keep a particular
watch over yourself, that you do not fall into any habits of
vice; and, as a means of preserving yourself, I would most
strictly enjoin that your Sabbaths be not spent in noise and
riot, but that you attend the public worship of God. This you may
think an unnecessary direction to you, who have always been in
the habit of doing so. I hope it may be; at any rate, it will do
no harm.

"That you may be blessed with health, and enjoy properly the
blessings of life, is the wish of your ever affectionate brother,

"A. L.
"TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE."

(TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE.)

"BOSTON, April 15th, 1815.

"MY DEAR BROTHER: By the favor of Heaven I trust ere this you
have landed upon the soil from which sprang our forefathers. In
the contemplation of that wonderful 'Isle' on your first arrival,
there must be a feeling bordering on devotion. The thousand new
objects, which make such constant demand on your attention, will
not, I hope, displace the transatlantic friends from the place
they should occupy in your remembrance. Already do I begin to
count the days when I may reasonably hear from you.

"I pray you to let no opportunity pass without writing, as you
will be enabled to appreciate the pleasure your letters will give
by those which you receive from home. Since your departure, our
father has been dangerously ill; he seems fast recovering, but we
much fear a relapse, when he would, in all probability, be
immediately deprived of life, or his disease would so far weaken
him as to terminate his usefulness. Our mother continues as
comfortable as when you left us. Should you live to return,
probably one or both our parents may not be here to welcome you;
we have particular reason for thankfulness that they have both
been spared to us so long, and have been so useful in the
education of their children.

"All others of our connection have been in health since your
departure, and a comfortable share of happiness seems to have
been enjoyed by all.

* * * * *

"Now for advice: you are placed in a particularly favorable
situation, my dear brother, for improving yourself in the
knowledge of such things as will hereafter be useful to you. Let
no opportunity pass without making the most of it. There are
necessarily many vacant hours in your business, which ought not
to pass unemployed. I pretend not to suggest particular objects
for your attention, but only the habit generally of active
employment, which, while making your time useful and agreeable to
yourself, will be the best safeguard to your virtue. The American
character, I trust, is somewhat respected in England at this
time, notwithstanding it was lately at so low an ebb; and I would
wish every American to endeavor to do something to improve it.
Especially do I wish you, my dear A., who visit that country
under circumstances so favorable, to do your part in establishing
a character for your country as well as for yourself. Thus prays
your affectionate brother,

A. L."

To his wife, at Groton, Mr. Lawrence writes, under date of June 4, 1815:

"The Milo got in yesterday, and brought letters from Abbott,
dated 4th April. He was then in Manchester, and enjoyed the best
health. He wrote to our father, which letter, I hope, will arrive
at Groton by to-morrow's mail. I received from him merchandise,
which I hope to get out of the ship and sell this week. I suspect
there are few instances of a young man leaving this town, sending
out goods, and having them sold within ninety days from the time
of his departure. It is eighty-four days this morning since he
left home."

(TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE.)

"BOSTON, June 7, 1815.

"DEAR BROTHER: By the arrival of the Milo last Saturday, and
packet on Monday, I received your several letters, giving an
account of your proceedings. You are as famous among your
acquaintances here for the rapidity of your movements as
Bonaparte. Mr. ---- thinks that you leave Bonaparte entirely in
the background. I really feel a little proud, my dear brother,
of your conduct. Few instances of like despatch are known.

"The sensations you experienced in being greeted so heartily by
the citizens of Liverpool, were not unlike those you felt on
hearing the news of peace. I am happy to state to you that our
father has so far recovered from his illness as to be able to
attend to his farm. Our mother's health is much as when you left.

"Your friends here feel a good deal of interest in your welfare,
and read with deep interest your letters to them. The opportunity
is peculiarly favorable for establishing a reputation as a close
observer of men and manners, and for those improvements which
travelling is reputed to give.

"When writing to you sentences of advice, my heart feels all the
tender sympathies and affections which bind me to my own
children. This is my apology, if any be necessary, for so
frequently touching on subjects for your moral improvement.

"In any condition I can subscribe myself no other than your ever
affectionate brother,

A. L."