Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-19
From the Boston Courier.
CHARLES CARROLL.

VIA IL LES y N RhOLL.
This venerable representative of a
former generation, now in the ninety
third year of his age, and which he has
almost completed, is in the full enjoyment
of most of the faculties which appertain
to the meridian of life. During a recent
journey to the south, the editor was for
tunate enough to fall into the company Of
a respectable merchant at Baltimore, a
particular friend of Mr.. Carroll, by
whom he was introduced to the "time-
honorcd" patriot. AS we entered his
paIlor, Mr.. Carroll rose to salute us with
the customary compliments, and offered
chairs with almost as much ease and firm
ness as a man of fifty. His appearance
Indicated Il high degree of he alth, which
he affirmed he enjoyed without Interrupt
ton. His under dress was of brown
broadcloth-his waist-coat of the fashion
of the last century. He wore no coat,
but gown of the same material as the
waist-coat and small clothes. His hair
was Of silver whiteness; his teeth ap-
parcntly perfect; his eye animated and
sparkling, though, us he stated, it had be-
come too dim to enable him to read
His sense ofhcaring did not seen to be
in the least degree impaired He spoke
with case, articulatcd with uncommon
distinctness, and his voice possessed all
the clearness ofvigorous manhood. He
seemed to be pleased with his friend for
having introduced stranger, and to be
delighted in answering all our intcrrog-
atories respecting the incidents and the
individuals to which he had sustained an
interesting relation in the earlier part
of his life. He spoke often ofJefTerson,
Hancock, the Adamscs, and other mem
bers of the congress of scventy-siy; but
he seemed to take especial delight
in talking of DIR. Franklin, whom he de-
scribed as one of the most pleasant and
fascinating men he had ever known
He remarked that he and Franklin were
commissioners to visit Canada, and en-
deavored to induce the inhabitants ofthat
province to Join the other colonies in de-
clarng themselves independent of the
mother country and that the journey,
though beset with difficulties and over
bad roads and sometimes through forests
where there was no road, was rendered
comparatively pleasant and agreeable
by the wit and good humor of DIR. Frank
lin.
He related many anecdotes of the
Doctor, illustrating these distinguished
traits in his character, and which made
him welcome and even favorite COM
panion in the politest circles Of Paris
There was nothing in Mr.. CAROLS man
ner or conversation that indicated the
existence of that species of egotism,
which is usually the bcsetting infrmity
of old age; and though he related in half
an hour more anecdotes than we could
write down in half day, he was in no
instance, that we recollcct, the hero of
his own story. His "reminiscences were
of the mighty dead and his commenda-
tions were bestowed with unlimited gen
erosity on his cotemporaries who had
gone before him to receive the "recom-
pensc of reward" and left him, as it
were, to speak their cpitaph.
Mr.. Carroll appeared to feel lively in
tcrest in the ordinary topics of convcrsa-
tion-made several inquiries of his friend
respecting political affairs, the prospect
ofbusincss, and the progress of the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad; and asked of
the editor many questions respecting
Boston, its population, improvements,
sc. lie spoke more than once Of the
great inventions in machinery for saving
labor, of the improvements in the mode
of travelling, and expressed regret that
the family of Robert Fulton had not been
fortunate enough to obtain a greater
share of the benefits resulting from his
improvements in the application of steam
to navigation. He alluded several times
to his own great age-attributed that as