Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-05
THE HON. RUFUS KING.

F. LIE I1ON. AOE OC hAA~os
This distinguished individual, after having
devoted large proportion Of his life to tho
service Of his country, and grown weary with
age and n6rmities. on Sunday evening last, re-
signed his soul to the hands Of his maker;
-"his hcnors 10 the world again;
His blessed part to Heaven and slept in peace.
A man who has held so conspicuous place
in the eye of the world, as this distinguished
gentlemen, should not be suffered to pass to
the grave, without having his history told, for
the benefit of the rising generation; and as h:s
biography may be as useful as nstructing To
our readers, we shall, in our feeble way, at
tempt to lay it before the public, though to 9th
ers, far more capable than ourselves, the duty
will be assigned by grateful country.
IRUFUs KING was born in the town Of
Scarborough, District Of Maine. ITS, and
was descended from respectable family, and
one that had been somewhat conspicuous tor
the production Of genius. At an early age, he
gave evidence of unusual talents, which deter
mined his parents TO give him finished educa-
ton, and to prepare him for the performance
of those duties, which he has subsequently, full
filled, TO the credit of HIMSELF and the honor
and advantage Of his country. After having
gone through with the requisite preparatory
studies, he was, in the year I773, entered
student at Harvard College, where he soon
distinguished himself as an Industrious, an in
telligent, and promising scholar; and by the
display of precocious talents, won the admi-
ration of the officers of the institution, and the
undivided respect Of his classmates. Even at
this early period in life, he gave many, and IN
teresting evidences, Of those powers Of oratory,
augmentation, and defamation, which IN
later years, gained him just celebrity; and
convinced those who were interested in the ris-
ing fortunes of the young speaker, that he was
destined to hold no inconsderable rank, among
the great men of the nation.
In l777, he graduated at Harvard, and re-
ceivcd the honors ofthat institutions; and soon
after he had emerged from the scholastic halls
of Harvard, he migrated TO Newbuypor'
Massac chusetts, where he was entered a stu
dent at law, in the Office of Chief Justice Par
sons. Whilst under the tuition of that celebra-
ted civilian and statesman, he won his good
will and admiration; and on leaving the guard
ianshp Of that great man, Judge PARsoNsi is
said to have remarked to the friends of young
KING, "that young gentleman possesses hose
talents, which, if properly directed, will lead
nun 10 the acquisition of the first honors Of his
I country; and hesitate not to say, that in the
i future councils of this nation, he will be dis
tinguished as first among the eminent statesmen
| of the age"
How fully the predictions Of Chief Justice
| Parsons were verified, the subsequent history
| of Mr.. KING has amply proren: he lived 10
verify all the anticipations of his friend and
| bencfactor.
| In the year 1850, he was admitted to 'he
Bar of all the Courts in Massac achusctts; ana
in little time, gained reputation, which f. -
arc successful in struggling 10 acquire; and "a
his talents had already began 70 be app:e ria-
ted, he was called upon by the people to par
| ticipate in the politics of .he day, to cid them
in their legislative delibera'Ions, and IN COM
plancc with the wishes of his countrJmen, in
the year 1893, lac entered shc Logslaiwrc CT
! Massa chusetts, where he made a display Of
those talents, which, in after times, gained him
| the admiration of the country, and which, Sc
| cured to him the cnviablc title of Ga leader. in
! that delibcrative Assembly"
The politics of the country, at this period,
| we're in an unsettled condition; we had just
| emerged from state of yasstlago and depen-
| dencc; the population of the country having
Just been relieved FROM martial law, were but
little prepared for social legislation; and as
perstructure, the wisest and best men werc
called upon 10 lend their resources, and to
participate in the Grand Drama And Mr..
KING was elected TO represent the State Of
Massa acbusetts in the old Continental Congress,
when he distinguished himself as one of the
most talented men OF that body, and by his
mastery oloqucnce and sound arguments, soon
obtained decided influence. The speeches
delivered by him, whilst member of that vc-
ncrated assembly, are among the finest spcci-
mems ofmodcrn cloquence, and are well worth
the attention of those who are preparing them
selves for legislative life. On ono occasion,
1--WE alude to that evcntful period, when the
friends of universal liberty were making an cf-
fnrt 10 nrnhihif the Introduction of slaxcs ipfo