Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-06-07

"I.i)s Of Timothy Derier: embracing sfeich-
ss oThe eccentric chnracisrs that composed has
associa.rs. By Samuel l.. Knapp" Boston,
Weeks, jordan ~ Co. ls3S.
This is on some accounts, an entertaining
and instructive book. "Lord Dexter" ~ the
F" fortunate fool" insisted upon being called,
was one Of those whimsical characters who
sometimes succeed in attracting public aticn
ton and accommodating wealth, without the
slightest pretension to any Of the qualities
which deserve respect. The story OF his
|lli,c. from his obscure birth in Maiden, Mass,
lin l7I3, to his final establishment in prince
Il ly mansion in the ncighborhood Of Ncwbury-
| port.is here traced with sufficient minuteness.
II lie was bred to leather. dressing, aud early
acquired a little property by it, AT the close
| of the revolution hc increased his store by
/ marrying a low, congenisl hucksicr- woman
II in Boston, with n little shop. by somc op-
erations in continentol money he grew ricI
| rapidly, laid aside his mechanical business,
| .peculatcd largely in stocks, and acquired a
| priLcely fortune. The reminder the queer
history is briefly summed up as follows
II lie soon ospired to join the upper circles
llof society in Boston nnd Charestown, bu
| finding his ambition not likely to be gratticd
| he removed to Salem, where meeting no bet
ter success, he went to Newburyport, ant
thought, at a greatly depreciatcd value, two
splendid mansions, which had been built b,
merchants, who were afterwards ruined by 4
II .cvulsion of business. On the revival 0
trade Mr. Dexter sold one of them at a large
profit, and the other he fitted up IN his own
style. lie raised minarets on the roof, sur
mounted by profusion Of gilt sand paint
cd the whole building as finely as n fiddle
In the garden in front of il, bounded by the
highway, he erected rows of columns fifteen
feet high, on Which hc placed colossal images
carved in wood. Directly in front OF the
door Of the house, on Roman arch OF grea
beauty and taste, stood General Washington
| lin military garb ON his left hand was JEFF
farson, and on his right, Adams, his uncover
ed head exposed to the rage Of the clements
for Lord Dexter would suffer no one, to b.
on the right Of Washington with his hat on
On the columns in the garden were figures
of Indian Chiefs. military generals, philoso
pliers, and statesmen, with here and there ;
goddess of Fame or Liberty, and, to protcc
the whole, four lions---two rampant and TIVE
couchant. There were upwards OF forty
figures, and cost probably, not less than fur
; teen thousand dollars. Ills furniture wa
: imported from France, and was Of the mos
} costly description, but it was soon spoiled BY
abuse, for both he aud his son were addicte,
to deep potntions, and, with such companions
a. they could find, kept up their rcvels in th'
best apartments. Ills wife was seldom a
home, for she could not live there in conlfor
or safety, and the house became pcst.hou
and not unircqucntly bagnio.
Il lie bought splendid books, because he ha.
seen them at IIancoek's and Russcl's, AM
employed young man to purchase pictures
for him in Europe, because he was told tina
the noble Lords Of England had passion fol
paintings. But he selected from those
bought, all the daubs, and declined the works
of Masters Ills favorite painting was the
Family Coat Qf Arms, contrived by an inge-
mons sign painter. in defiance ofall the laws
OF heraldry. He had n passion for horses
and kept costly but gaudy aud lincal coach
HIS son died drunkard. His daughter mar
ricd-becamc iniemperatc-wasle led astray-
a divorce followed, and sho fingered out
wrc,cbed life of bloatcd idiocy.
The ancient mansion, it is said, still re
mains, and the walls yet bear some of those
remarkable statues which the eccentric geni
US Of the former occupant placed thcro il
company with others.