Extracts from the Diary and Correspondence of the Late Amos Lawrence; with a brief account of some incidents of his life

Mr. Lawrence was of about the medium height, and, until reduced by sickness, was erect in person, and active and vigorous in his movements. The expression of his countenance was...

If, at the close of the last year, Mr. Lawrence could say that "his happiness had been superior to that of any year of his life," it could not be said that its successor was one...

During the summer and autumn of 1832, Mr. Lawrence's health and strength were so much improved, that he was enabled to take exercise on horseback; and almost daily he took long...

A few days after the date of the preceding letter, a change was thought desirable for the improvement of Mr. Lawrence's health; and he accordingly, with Mrs. L., went to Portsmo...

"_January 1, 1852._--The value of my property is somewhat more than it was a year ago, and I pray God that I may be faithful in its use. My life seems now more likely to be spar...

Mr. Lawrence had always taken a deep interest in the academy at Groton, of which he, with all his brothers and sisters, had been members. The residence of his former master, Jam...

At the commencement of the year 1844, President Hopkins, of Williams College, delivered a course of lectures on the "Evidences of Christianity," before the Lowell Institute, in...

It was not uncommon for Mr. Lawrence, when a good work was in progress, to give not only his own means, but to lend a helping hand by soliciting contributions from others. The f...

The correspondence in the preceding pages will, perhaps, give a clearer view of the character of Mr. Lawrence than anything which can be adduced by others. It may not be amiss,...

"My expenses have been ---- thousand dollars this year; of which about one half went for persons and objects that make me feel that it has been well expended, and is better used...

"MY DEAR FRIEND: Again I have to thank you for your kind remembrance of me in your note and little book on the abuse of tobacco, and your sympathy with me in my late deep anxiet...

On the 29th of November, Mr. Lawrence addressed to his son a most joyous letter, announcing the birth of twin-grand daughters, and the comfortable health of his daughter, the wi...

"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;...

The Rev. Dr. Sharp, of the Baptist denomination, who has been previously alluded to as a valued friend of Mr. Lawrence, had made a visit to England, the land of his birth, after...

"_January 1, 1846._--The business of the past year has been very prosperous in our country; and my own duties seem more clearly pointed out than ever before. What am I left here...

"_Jan. 1, 1848._--In reviewing the scenes and the business of the past year, I have continued evidence of that mercy which a Father bestows on his children, and a louder call to...

The sense of loss and the state of depression under which Mr. Lawrence labored were so great, that he was advised to try a change of scene; and accordingly, after having placed...

In searching for records of the business at this period, the first copied letters are found in a volume commencing with the date of March 10, 1815; since which period the corres...

"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...

"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 ad...

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...

In November, 1850, Amin Bey, Envoy from the Sultan of Turkey to the United States, visited Boston. Among other attentions, Mr. Lawrence accompanied him on a visit to the Female...

"_January 1, 1849._--THE habit of keeping an account of my expenditures for objects other than for my family, and for strictly legal calls, I have found exceedingly convenient a...

"The amount of property is great for a young man under forty-two years of age, who came to this town when he was twenty-one years old with no other possessions than a common cou...

The first public instruction received by Mr. Lawrence was at the district school kept at a short distance from his father's house. Possessing a feeble constitution, he was often...

"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 aft...

After the establishment of the cemetery at Mount Auburn, Mr. Lawrence had taken a deep interest in its progress, as well as in every plan for its gradual improvement and embelli...

During these years, Mr. Lawrence was in the habit of making occasional visits to his parents in Groton, thirty-five miles distant. His custom was to drive himself, leaving Bosto...

"Be sure and visit La Grange before you return; say to General Lafayette that the Bunker Hill Monument will _certainly be finished_, and that the foolish project of a lottery ha...

On the first of January, 1850, Mr. Lawrence, as usual, reviews, in his property-book, the state of his affairs during the preceding year, with an estimate of his expenditures. T...

After receiving a note from a relative of Lady Colebrooke, announcing her death, at Dunscombe, in the island of Barbadoes, Mr. Lawrence wrote the following note of sympathy to h...

During the autumn of 1830, in order to testify in a more marked manner his appreciation of Mr. Webster's distinguished services in the Senate of the United States, Mr. Lawrence...

After the death of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Mr. Lawrence had read what had been published respecting his life and character, and had formed an exalted opinion of his labors in...

"The closing of the old year was like our western horizon after sunset, bright and beautiful; the opening of the new, radiant with life, light, and hope, and crowned with such a...

Mr. Lawrence, with a large party, left Boston on the 13th of June, and passed through Vermont, across the Green Mountains, to Montreal and Quebec. Compared with these days of ra...

On the 29th of the same month, he took his father's horse and chaise, and engaged a neighbor to drive him to Boston, with, as he says, many years afterwards,--

"I adopted the plan of keeping an accurate account of merchandise bought and sold each day, with the profit as far as practicable. This plan was pursued for a number of years; a...

On the 19th of August, 1815, Mr. Lawrence, in the following letter to his brother, announced the sudden death of a sister, who to youth and beauty united many valuable qualities...

Amos Lawrence was born in Groton, Mass., on the 22d of April, 1786. His ancestor, John Lawrence, was baptized, according to the records, on the 8th of October, 1609, at Wisset,...

In April, 1821, Mr. Lawrence was married to Mrs. Nancy Ellis, widow of the late Judge Ellis, of Claremont, N. H., and daughter of Robert Means, Esq., of Amherst, in the same Sta...