that effect. Why he should have wished in this way to destroy an important part of the history of his country, as well as of his father's honorable career, or why any intelligent lawyer should have consigned to the flames thousands of papers by Webster and other illustrious men without at least causing copies of the most valuable of them to be made, is entirely beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. To the writer, in pointing out his carefully preserved papers, contained in the library of his beautiful home in Buffalo, represented in the accompanying vignette, the ex-president said: "In those cases can be found every important letter and document which I received during my administration, and which will enable the future historian or biographer to prepare an authentic account of that period of our country's history." The only opportunity probably that ever would present itself for properly defending and explaining the signing of the fugitive-slave bill; the existence of an unquestioned and strong public sentiment in favor of the president's doing so; the recommendations that the act be done, made by Mr. Fillmore's most eminent advisers-the proof of all these things unquestionably would have been presented by the letters and documents referred to; and now every one of these is gone.

Among the chief magistrates of our country there appear more brilliant names than Fillmore's, yet none who more wisely led on the nation to progress and prosperity, making her name great and preserving peace in most perilous times, without invoking the power of the sword, or one who could more truthfully say, "These hands are clean." Without being a genius like Webster or Hamilton, he was a safe and sagacious statesman. He possessed a mind so nicely adjusted and well balanced that he was fitted for the fulfilment of any duty which he was called to perform. He was always ready to give up everything but conviction when once convinced. A single public act honestly and unflinchingly performed cost him his popularity. Posterity, looking from a distance, will perhaps be

more just. All his acts, whether daily and common or deliberate and well-considered, were marked with modesty, justice, and sincerity. What Speaker Onslow said of Sir Robert Walpole was equally true of President Fillmore: "He was the best man from the goodness of his heart, to live with and under, of any great man I ever knew." His was an eminently kindly nature, and the last time the writer saw him, in 1873, he was relieving, with a liberal hand, the necessities of an old and unfortunate friend. He was a sound, practical Christian "without knowing it," as Pope remarked of a contemporary. His temper was perfect, and it is doubtful if he left an enemy on earth. Frederick the Great announced with energy that "Peter the First of Russia, to govern his nation, worked upon it like aquafortis upon iron." Fillmore, to win his way, like Lincoln and Garfield, from almost hopeless poverty to one of the most eminent positions of the world, showed equal determination, oftentimes working, for weeks and months together, till long past midnight, which happily his powers of physical endurance permitted him to do with impunity, and affording a fine illustration of the proud boast of our country, that its loftiest honors are the legitimate objects of ambition to the humblest in the land, as well as to those favored by the gifts of fortune and high birth. See Chamberlain's "Biography of Millard Fillmore" (Buffalo, 1856); Benton's "Abridgment of the Debates of Congress from 1789 to 1856," vol. xvi. (New York, 1861); Thompson's "The Presidents and their Administrations" (Indianapolis, 1873); Address before the Buffalo Historical Society, by James Grant Wilson (Buffalo, 1878); Von Holst's "Constitutional and Political History of the United States," vol. iv. (Chicago, 1885).

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

FRANKLIN PIERCE, fourteenth president of the United States, born in Hillsborough, N. H., 23 Nov., 1804; died in Concord, N. H., 8 Oct., 1869. His father, Benjamin Pierce (born in Chelmsford, Mass., 25 Dec., 1757; died in Hillsborough, N. H., 1 April, 1839), on the day of the battle of Lexington enlisted in the patriot army and served until its disbandment in 1784, attaining the rank of captain and brevet major. He had intense political convictions, was a Republican of the school of Jefferson, an ardent admirer of Jackson, and the leader of his party in New Hampshire, of which he was elected governor in 1827 and 1829. He was a farmer, and trained his children in his own simple and laborious habits. Discerning signs of future distinction in his son Franklin, he gave him an academical education in well-known institutions at Hancock, Francestown, and Exeter, and in 1820 sent him to Bowdoin college, Brunswick, Me. His college-mates there were John P. Hale, his future political rival, Prof. Calvin E. Stowe, Sergeant S. Prentiss, the distinguished orator, Henry W. Longfellow, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, his future biographer and life-long personal friend. His ambition was then of a martial cast, and as an officer in a company of college students he enthusiastically devoted himself to the study of military tactics. This is one reason why he found himself at the foot of his class at the end of two years in college. Stung by a sense of disgrace, he devoted the two remaining years to hard study, and when he was graduated in 1824 he was third in his class. While in college, like many other eminent Americans, he taught in winter. After taking his degree he began the study of law at Portsmouth, in the office of Levi Woodbury, where he remained about a year. He afterward spent two years in the law-school at Northampton, Mass., and in the office of Judge Edmund Parker at Am

FRANKLIN PIERCE. *

TRANKLIN PIEROF, for teerth p.esident of the Unit

es, born in Hillsboroug, N H., 23 Nov., 1864, died in oncord, N. H., 8., 1869 His father, Benjar erce (born in 'helmy ford, Mass., 25 Dec., 1757; died in Hrsborough, N. H., 1 April, 1839), on the day of the battle of I exington enlisted in the ratriot array and served until its disb.ndment ir 1784, attaining the rank of capter and brevet major He had intense political cor vietions, was a Republican of • schoo, of Jetterson, an ardent advare of Jackson, ar Leader of nis party in New Hampshire, of which he was governor in 1827 and 1829. He was a fan er, and treeed ris elildren in bis own simple and abous habits. signs of nature distinction in his son Irakur, at academ cal education in well-known inst fations at Hancock, Francestown, ard Exeter, and in So sert Em to BowdeP College, Brunswick, Me. His collage-rites olew e John P.

ted

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Pale, his future political rival, Prof. Crivin E. Stowe, Sergeant S Prentiss, the distinguished orator, Henry W. Longfellow, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, his future biographer and ate long personal friend. His ambition was then of a martial cast, and as an officer in a company of college studer ́s he enthusiastical y devoted nimself to the study of military tactics. This is .. Cason why he found himself at the foot of his class at the end of two years in college. Stung by a sense o dare, he le voted the two remaining years to hard study, an when he was graduated in 1824 he was third in his class. While in college, like many other eminent Americans, he taught in winter. After taking his degree he began the study of law at Portsmouth, in the office of Levi Woodbury, where he remained about a year He afterward spent wo years in the 'aw-scrool at Northampton, Mass.. and in the office of Judge Edmund Parker at Am