Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-02-10

;, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY. 10, 49,
rotary OF War. August, 1895, Mr.. Ed.
4 mund Randolph having resigned the Of,
nee OF Secretary of State, General Wash.
lngton gave Col. P. the temporary charge
4 OF that department also. Some time be.
lore the meeting Of Congress, which was
IN December following, he alsotendered
to Col. Pickering the office Of Secretary
OF state, which was at once declined but
as soon as Congress assembled, without
/ speaking to Col. P. again, Washington
nominated him to the Senate to be Sec
retafy OF State and the Senate approved
the nomination. He continued in this
Office until May, 1890; when he was re-
moved by the late President Adams.
AZ the close Of the year 1901, Col. P.
returned to live in Massachusetts. In
1919, the Legislature appointed him a
Senator TO represent the State in Con
gfess, for the residue of the term of
DwIght Foster, Esq, who had resigned.
7 a. 1905, the Legislature again elected
iim senator, and for the term of six
Being 10 deb9 for new lands purchased
some years before, and by the apprecia-
ton of which he had hoped to have made
an eventual provision for his eight surviv-
ing children land having no other resour-
ces-as soon as he was removed from Of
fee, in 1900, he carried his family from
Philadelphia into the country and with
one of his sons went into the back woods
Of Pennsylvania, where, with the aid of
some labourers, they cleared few acres
Of land, sowed wheat, and built log hut,
into which he meant the next year to re-
move his family. From this condition
he was drawn by the kindness of his
friends in Massachusetts,. BY the spon-
taneous liberality of those friends in TAX
ing a transfer of new lands in exchange
for money, Col. Pickering was enabled to
pay his debts, return to his native State.
and finally to purchase small farm in
this County, on which he lived many
years cultivating it with his own hands,
and literally with the sweat of his brow.
Col. P. continued to sustain the office
of Senator in Congress till 1911, when
he devoted himself entirely to the labours
of agriculture. Soon after he was chosen
by the Legislature of this State member
of the Executive Council, and, during the
late War, when apprehensions were en-
tertained that the enemy contemplated as
sailing our towns and cities, he was chosen
member of the Board of War for the
defence of the State. In 1914 he was
chosen Representative in Congress, and
held his seat till March, 1877.
In his retirement be enjoyed the re-
spect and esteem of his contemporaries
his devotion to his favourite rural pursuits,
his extensive correspondence with eminent
and worthy men in various parts OF our
country, his love of literature and science,
and his zeal in promotion of the interests
of cur best institutions, furnished his
mind with acllve employment.
The activity of his life and the magni-
tude and variety of his publick labours
left him little leisure for solitary and con-
tinned application to the pursuits of sci
ence and literature he made no preten-
sions to either,-yet few publick men
possessed knowledge so various and ex-
tehsive. The productions of his pen
beAr testimony to his ability power, ele-
gance, and yigour as a writer. The
charms and the variety of his powers III
conversation, were unrivalled and made
hin favourite of the social circle. The
grave and the gay, the old and the young
were delighted with his colloquaI elo-
quence and instructed by his wisdom.
In publick life he was distinguished
for energy, fidelity, frmness, promptitude,
perseverance, and disinterestedness.
of his private virtues there is no diff
ference of opinion. All men of all par
ties speak of them with rapture, and &C.
knowledge them with admiration. This
voluntary homage has been paid to his
I.character amid all the vicissitudes of par
ty.. In all the private relations of life he
was honest, faithful, and humane. No
man ever impeached his integrity with
any colour of justice. Love Of Truth,
and integrity that could not be shaken,
were his characteristics. " Where Truth
led the way, he did not fear to follow"
His manners were plain and simple, his
morals pure and unblemished, and his be-
lief and profession of the Christian Reli-
gion were through long life accompani-
ed with practice and conduct in accord
ance with its divine precepts.