ask him why he resorted to such an occupation. "Oh, sir," was the quiet answer, "I am not ashamed of it. You see, sir, this is my vacation. I go to college in the winter, and I come up here, where fares are high, to earn enough money in summer to pay the expense of a thorough legal and classical education in the winter. I am a New England boy."

Several years ago, an English nobleman-not a counterfeit Lord Massey-visited the Free Library in Boston, and fell in love with the beautiful girl who had charge of the business department of that noble institution. After showing her his letters of introduction, he proposed to her. Before she answered, she insisted upon taking him to her parents, poor but intelligent people, living some distance in the country. He was satisfied, and so were they; but the young lady insisted that he should return to England and see his parents and friends; and if they consented, she would be his wife. In a month or two, he returned with full credentials, in company with his sister, and the twain were made one. I have this incident from a native of New England, one of the leading merchants of Philadelphia.

Such is the harvest of the sowing of the Revolutionary men. How fascinating the story of these lives! Each is a romance and a wonder. Fisher Ames, the youthful orator and essayist; the delegate in the first Constitutional Convention, Representative in Congress during Washington's eight years; the wit, the philosopher, and the handsome man of the world; after whose death, at the early age of fifty, it was written, as Lord Chesterfield wrote of the elder Pitt, "His private life was stained by no vice and sullied by no meanness."

James Otis and Harrison Gray Otis, both Revolutionary orators; the first was characterized as the "great incendiary of the Revolution." John Adams said of one of his great speeches in 1761, "Otis was a flame of fire. With a promptitude of classical allusions, a depth of research, a rapid summary of historical

events and dates, a profusion of legal authorities, a prophetic glance of his eyes into futurity, and a rapid torrent of impetuous eloquence, he hurried away all before him. American independence was there born." His bold patriotism led him into difficulties with the royal authorities, and he became insane from his injuries, and in a lucid interval was struck with lightning while standing at the door of his house in Andover, Massachusetts, May 23, 1783, aged fifty-seven.

Harrison Gray Otis, born 1765 and died 1848, a nephew of the former, and son of Samuel Allyne Otis, the first secretary of the Senate of the United States, who held that office from the formation of the Government to the day of his death, in 1814. Harrison Gray Otis was many years in the Legislature of his State; two terms in Congress, United States Senator, United States District Attorney, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, etc.; a statesman of whom the author of “The Hundred Boston Orators" said, "He was never rivalled by any politician of his native State, excepting only his noble kinsman [James Otis] and the accomplished Fisher Ames. The contour of his head was beautiful, with animated eyes and a ruddy complexion. He was rather tall, of noble bearing, graceful gestures, and courteous manners."

And then the two Warrens-James and Joseph! James, eminent for his sturdy patriotism all through the Revolution, and better known, perhaps, through his magnificent wife, sister of the fiery orator James Otis. She was the correspondent of Jefferson and the two Adamses, and other characters, who always consulted her; she wrote poems and plays, and a history of the Revolution, prepared from her own notes during the war, and long a standard authority. Joseph Warren, more illustrious than either, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, aged thirty-four. Lawyer, orator, soldier, almost his last words were, "I know I may fall; but where is the man who does not think it glorious and delightful to die for his country?"

The British general Howe said his death was a full offset to the loss of five hundred men.

And then Timothy Pickering-what a career was his! Born July 17, 1745, at Salem, Massachusetts, he died there January 29, 1829; but between these two periods he filled out an unparalleled life. He held local offices in Salem; was threatened for his patriotism by the British; was a judge of the Common Pleas of his county, and then prize judge; wrote a plan for the organization of the militia; was colonel, adjutant-general, and quartermaster-general under Washington; present at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia; removed to Philadelphia, trading as a commission merchant; thence to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, as a commissioner to settle the dispute between Pennsylvania and Connecticut in regard to a large section of land in Wyoming valley; got into a controversy there with John Franklin, who was arrested for high-treason, and some of whose partisans captured Pickering and kept him in the woods for nineteen days as a hostage. Afterwards sent from Luzerne as a delegate to frame the Constitution of the United States, and after that as a delegate to frame the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Sent by Washington to adjust the Indian troubles in the wild Northwest. Returned to Philadelphia, 1792, to take the place of Postmaster-general under Washington; was then made Secretary of War, and finally Secretary of State, which office he held down to Washington's retirement, and three years under Adams. This ought to have been a full measure of service, and so, doubtless, he thought when he retired to the wilderness of Pennsylvania; where, however, he did not stay long, having finally yielded to his friends and returned to his old home at Salem, Massachusetts. But only to begin a new round of honors. Chief-justice of his district; Senator in Congress from 1803 to 1811; then member of the national House from 1813 to 1817; closing his eventful life by a review of the correspond

ence between John Adams and William Cunningham. He died aged eighty-four.

But why prolong the catalogue? Why epitomize characters that have reflected so much honor upon themselves and conferred so much benefit upon mankind?

I hope I am not insensible to the faults of this great Commonwealth, nor to the censures of those who magnify them; but there are facts which cannot be denied, and these are—a State without a crushing debt; municipalities based upon town meetings, free from rings; an almost perfect school system; an inimitable banking system; a delegation in Congress composed of the best men; a succession of eminent and honest governors; manufactures and inventions which command much of the trade and educate the skilled labor of the whole country; learned and scientific institutions of every character; extensive libraries and town-halls; progress in art, including painting, sculpture, architecture; and a people confessedly more intelligent in the aggregate than any other on earth covering the same space.

The growth of the seed planted by the passengers of the Mayflower in 1620, and their followers, may be seen in many characters-of modern times, and in none more conspicuously than in George S. Boutwell, present Senator in Congress. He is a genuine Massachusetts man, and his struggle upwards is a type of the high position won by his native Commonwealth against unspeakable obstacles. If any individual experience may be quoted to illustrate the experience of a State, it is that of Mr. Boutwell. His paternal ancestor, James Boutwell, an Englishman, was a freeman at Lynn in 1638. His maternal ancestors, also English, came over as early as 1650. His life has been the victory of industry, integrity, good temper, and earnest convictions, over the disadvantages resulting from a hand-to-hand struggle with adversity. His father was a member of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts in 1843

and 1844, and one of the Constitutional Convention of the State in 1853. His father and mother died in the same year, each aged seventy-nine. George S. Boutwell was born at Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, January 28, 1818. He was early put to work on his father's farm, and attended the village public school summer and winter till December, 1830, when he went to live with a trader in the town, with whom he stayed four years, attending the same school in the winter. only.

His mother was a woman of good education for the country and the times, and of large natural resources. She taught him the rudiments and aided him in his studies as long as he remained at home. In the winter of 1834-35, he taught a district school in the neighboring town of Shirley; and in March went to Groton, Middlesex County (where he has ever since lived), as a clerk in a store, and pursued business afterwards on his own account for several years. In 1838 he commenced the study of law, and for about five years acted as clerk for a master in chancery whose chief duties were connected with the administration of the insolvent law of the State. In 1839 he was elected a member of the school committee of the town. In the same year he was a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives and was defeated. In 1840 he supported and made speeches for Mr. Van Buren, and was again defeated for the House of Representatives. In 1841, '42, '43, he was elected to the House. In 1844, '45, he was a candidate and defeated. He was elected in 1846, '47, '48, '49. In 1844, '46, 248, he was the candidate of the Democratic party for Congress, and defeated. From 1838 to 1850 he contributed to newspapers and magazines, especially to Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, and delivered Lyceum lectures on various topics. In 1849 he was nominated for Governor by the Democratic party. He was again nominated in 1850, and in January, 1851, was elected Governor by the Legislature, no one having had a