The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-14

II NC il ioCt3 PIlhclple HOW-dnQ tasting
as the materials from which nature and
! mind were created.
CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON.
Mr.. Buckingham of the Boston Courier, on
late visit to the South, had the envabe for
tune to pass an hour with this man of other
years, and has given the following account of
his visit:
This venerable representative of a for
mer generation,-now in the ninety-third
year of his age, and which he has almost
completed in the full enjoyment of most
OF the faculties which appertain to the me-
ridan of life. During a recent Journey to
the South, the editor was fortunate enough
to fall into The company of respectable
merchant at Baltimore, a particular friend
OF Mr. Carol, by whom he was introduced
to the lime nonored patriot" AS we en-
tered his paror, Mr.. Carroll rose to salute
us with the customary compliments, and Of
tered chairs with almost as much case and
trmness as a man of fifty. His appearance
indicated high degree of health, which
he affirmed he enjoyed without Interrupt
ton. His under dress was of brown broad
coth-his waistcoat of the fashion of the
last century. He wore no coat, but gown
OF the same material as the waistcoat and
small clothes. His hair was of silverv
whlteness-hls teeth apparently perfect
his eye animated and sparkling, though, as
ne stated, 1t had become too dim to enable
him to read His sense of hearing did not
seem to be in the least degree impaired
lie spoke with ease, articulated with un-
common listlnctness, and his voice possess
ell all the clearness of vigorous manhood.
He seemed to be pleased with his friend for
having introduced stranger, and to be de-
lighted IN answering all our interrogatories
respecting the incidents and the individuals
to which he had sustained an interesting
relation in the earl part Of his life. He
ans and Ha. NJ or ro 0Gs i:.f ssS d
seventy-six bnt he seemed to take especial
delight in talking of DR.. franklin, whom
he described 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 endeav-
or to induce the inhabitants of that province
to join the other colonies in declaring them
selves Independent of the mother country
and that the journey, though beset with diff
hcultles 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. Franklin. He related many anecdotes
of the Doctor, illustrating these distinguish
ed traits in the character, and which made
him welcome and even favorite compan-
ion in The politest circles of Paris. There
was nothing in Mr.. CAROLS manners or
aop hot Indicated &
that species of egotsm, which is usually the
besettng in6rmIty 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 recollect, the
hero of his own story. His "reminiscences
were of the mighty dead, and his common
dations were bestowed with unlimited gen.
crosby on his contemporaries who had gone
before him TO receive the recompense oil
reward" and left him, as it were, to speak
their epitaph.
Mr.. Carroll appeared to feel lively in
terest in the ordinary topics Of conversation
made several inquiries of his friend re-
speeding political affairs, the prospect oil
business, and the progress of the Baltimore
and Ohio RAILROAD; and asked the editor
many questions respecting Boston, its popu'
latlon, Improvements, &c. He spoke more
than once of the great inventions in ma
chinery for saving labor, of the improve
ments in the mode of travelling, and ex
pressed regret that the family of Rober
Fulton had not been fortunate enough tC
obtain greater share of the benefits result
ing fIom his improvements IN the application
OF steam to navigation. He alluded severa
times to his own great age-attributed tina
as well as his health to the regularity ant
temperance he had always observed IN biz
mode OF living--said that some people
thought he would live to be hundred years
old-but added with smile, that 1t was no
his desire to live so long, unless his menta
and physical faculties could be retained
which he could not expect to retain mucl
longer. When we arose to leave him, Mr.
Carroll walked down the stairs with hearlj
as much elasticity of limb and tirmness o
step as either of his visitors.
The time we spent with this delightful
old gentleman was short OF an hour, but /
was worth more than the fortnight we hat
then just wasted in the metropolis Of tn,
i United States, where the lives Of moderI
great men exhibit but few traits Of charac
Ter that entitle them to admiration, and thei
actions present but feeble claims to tn
gratitude of their countrymen. In the hall
Of Congress or IN the mansions of those win
are elevated by the Partially of the peopl
TO places of power and dignity, one sees bu