Historical sketch of the Karens-Their apparent readiness to Uncourteous demeanor of a few natives-Interesting case of a His letters to Mrs. B. at Maulmein-Leaves Tavoy to take MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. Including a sketch of Mr. Boardman's early history. "It is a homage due to departed worth, whenever it rises to such a height as to render its possessor an object of general attention, to endeavor to rescue it from oblivion; that when it is removed from the observation of men, it may still live in their memory, and transmit through the shades of the sepulchre, some reflection, however faint, of its living lustre. By enlarging the cloud of witnesses by which we are encompassed, it is calculated to give a fresh impulse to their desire of imitation; and even the despair of reach. ing it is not without its use, by checking the levity, and correcting the pride and presumption of the human heart." HALL. GEORGE DANA was the third son of the Rev. Sylvanus and Phebe Boardman. He was born in Livermore, State of Maine, Feb. 8, 1801. His father was at that time pastor of the Baptist church in that place, but has since removed to New Sharon, in the same State, where, though now in the decline of life, he still performs with ability the duties of a faithful and affectionate minister of Christ. As it is desirable to know something definite of the early years of one, whose memory is cherished, and whose name is held in high esteem by all who knew him, curiosity eagerly pries into the dawning and gradual development of that intellect, which, in the zenith of its strength, shed an influence at once so healthful and enlightening, on pagan darkness. From the scanty materials in our possession, we are able to discover the germ only, or at most the tender bud, while the flower, in its early freshness and beauty, was "born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air." His venerable father, however, by the request of the Compiler, has furnished a few interesting incidents of the early years of George. From childhood he was much at tached to books, and would often attempt to conceal his bodily indisposition from his parents, lest it should induce them to detain him from school. To his instructers he was uniformly endeared by his proficiency in juvenile studies. His opportunities for improvement were rather limited, till 1810, when his parents removed to North Yarmouth. Here he enjoyed better advantages, and evinced a more ardent desire for the acquisition of knowledge. His attachment to books increased; and while they withdrew him from his youthful sports, they rewarded the trifling sacrifice by the superior enjoyment of their perusal. He had begun to "sip at the Pierian spring," and so sweet to him were its waters, that at the age of twelve years he determined, if not immediately, yet at some future period, to allay his thirst by drinking "more largely" at the fountain-head. At that early period, says his father, he had resolved on a collegiate education, and had remarked to his mother, that if the circumstances of the family were such as to forbid it at present, this should be his first object after he became of age. This ardent thirst for knowledge his parents wisely cherished; and after having stated to him distinctly, that if such were his determination, he must depend for support on his own resources to which he promptly and cheerfully assented -he was sent to the academy in North Yarmouth. was now in his thirteenth year. An incident here occurred, which, as related by his preceptor, evinced the ease with which he could commit to memory the lessons assigned him, and the power with which he retained them. He was put upon the study of the Latin grammar. This he despatched in less time than his instructer had ever known it done before. Having gone through it the first time, he fondly hoped to be put immediately to the use of the Lexicon. He was told, however, that previously to this he must go through the grammar once or twice more. He was disappointed, but took his seat; and after an hour or two, was asked if he had got a lesson, and being called, he recited, verbatim, sixteen pages. He was then asked if he had got more. He answered, “ yes;" and on being asked how much, he replied, "I can recite the whole book, Sir, if you wish." He In 1816, his parents removed to New Sharon. George was now placed for a season at the academy in Farmington, where his proficiency gave him the pre-eminence over most of his fellow students. He soon after commenced the study of algebra, in which he made no considerable progress and seemed discouraged; but when he was removed to Bloomfield academy, and put under the tuition of Mr. Hall, a thorough mathematician, he soon overcame the difficulty of obtaining the knowledge of that abstruse sci ence, as he before thought it. Mr. Hall ever retained for him a high degree of respect, and was often heard to speak of him as a youth of much promise. Such was his confidence in him as a scholar that on one occasion, having business that called him abroad for a week, he committed the whole charge of the academy to his young pupil during his absence. Mr. B. was then only sixteen years of age. "From a child," says his father, "he possessed strong passions, but not turbulent,-was fond of pleasure, but more fond of books. The labor he did on the farm was done hastily, and often so as to indicate absence of mind from his employment; but when he had done his work he could always find a book. On a rainy day in hay-season, when the laborers had left the field, he was soon missed, and upon inquiry, where is George?' it was replied, 'he is in school.' To his parent's authority he seemed to feel bound and willing to submit. His health, after the age of three or four years, was generally good, and he appeared to possess a strong and vigorous body. He bid fair, till after his close application to study, to be very strong and athletic; but after the age of about fifteen, he was seldom long at home, and seemed to grow tall, spare and delicate." His aptness to teach, and his talent in commanding the attention and respect of his pupils, were evinced at an early period of his life. When in his sixteenth year, an age at which few persons think of entering the field of public instruction, he was found capable of governing, to the entire satisfaction of parents and children, the most unmanageable schools in the country. On his entering the place where anarchy had prevailed, order arose out of confusion, and the. discordant elements, of which district schools are often composed, settled down into unbroken |