Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-09-23
From the New York Evening Post
Hawthorne's Life of Pierce.

AA0 w uAASA AAS . Al4xC VI i 1C1CO
The time has long since passed when it was
necessary for the author of Twice Told
Tales and the Scarlet Letter to avail him.
self of any transient popular enthusiasm to Sc
cure the attention of the public. Few authors
of the present day are more sure of readers for
whatever they may write than Nathaniel Haw-
thorne. 1t deserves, therefore, to be distinctly
understood, that in preparing biography OF
General Franklin Pierce, he has not been ac-
tuated BY desire to take advantage of the
present extensive demand for this species OF
campaign literature, usually marketable in pro-
portion to its worthlessness, nor tempted by any
personal interest in the political issues to be
decided at the coming Presidential election
He has simply obeyed the impulses of an early
and cherished friendship for one who, by the
une: pected action of national convention has
been exposed to vast deal of indiscriminate
and unmerted abuse. In the preface of his
work, with an early copy of which we have
been favored by its publishers, he thus states
with characteristic grace and dignity, his mo-
tives for undertaking it;
"The author of this memoir-being So little
of politician that he scarcely feels entitled to
call himself member of any party-would not
voluntarily have undertaken the work here Of
fered TO the public. Neither can he fatter
himself that he has been remarkably success
ful in the performance of his task, viewing it
in the light of political biography, and as a
representation of the principles and acts of a
public man, intended TO operate upon the minds
of mnlttudes, during Presidential canvass
This species of writing is too remote from his
customary occupations-a he may add from
his tastes-to be very satisfactorily done, with
ont more time and practice than he would be
willing to expend for such purpose If this
little biography has any value, it is probably of
another kind-as the narrative of one who
knew the individual of whom he treats, at pc
Rod of life when character could be read with
undoubting accuracy, and who, consequently,
in Judging of the motives of his subsequent
conduct, has an advantage over much more
competent observers, whose knowledge of the
man may have commenced at later dav Nor
can 1t be considered improper, TAT least the au-
thor will never feel II so, although some fool
ssh delicacy be sacrificed in the undertaking,)
that when friend, dear TO him almost from
boylsh days, stands up before his country, mis-
represented by indiscrminate abuse. on the one
hand, and by amless praise the other, he
should be sketched by one who has had oppor-
tunities of knowing him well, and who is GER
tainly inclined to tell the truth
1t is perhaps right 10 say, that while this
biography is so far sanctioned by Gen. Pierce
as it comprises generally correct narrative of
the principle events of his life, the author does
not understand him as thereby necessarily en-
dorsing all the sentiments put forth by himself
in the progress of the work. These are the
authors own speculalions upon the facts before
him, and may, or may not, be in accordance
with the ideas of the individual whose life he
writes. That individuals opinions, however,
so far as it is necessary TO know them, may be
read, in his straightforward and consistent
deeds, with more certainty than those of al
most any other man before the public
Hawthorne acquaintance with Pierce COM
menced at Bowdoin College, in 1921, and he
gives US the following account of the event,
and his early impressions of his now distin-
singuished friend:
In 1920, at the age of sixteen, he (Pierce)
become student of Bowdoin College, at Brun-
swick, Maine. 1t was in the autumn of the
next year that the author of this memoir enter
ed the class below him !; bot our college remin-
iscences, however interesting to the parties
concerned, are not exactly the material for
biography. He was then a youth, with the
boy and man in him, vivacious, mirthfuI, slen-
der, of a fair complexion, with light hair that
had curl in it,; his bright and cheerful as
pect made kind of sunshine, both as regarded
its radiance and its warmth insomuch that no
shyness of disposition, in his associates, could
well resist its influence. We soon became ac-
qualnted, and were more especially drawn to-
gether as members of the same college society
There were two of these institutions, dividing
the college between them, and typifying, res
pectlvely, and with singular accuracy of feature,
the respectable conservative, and the progress
i've or democratic parties. Pierce's native ten
dencies inevitably drew him to the latter
His cham was Zenas Caldwell, several years
older than himself, member of the Methodist
persuasion, pure minded, studious, devoutly
religious character endowed thus early in life
with the authority of a grave and sagacious
turn of mind. The friendship between Pierce
and him appeared 10 be mutually strong, and
was of itself pledge of correct department in
the former. His chief friend, think, was a
classmate named Little, young man of estima-
BILE qualities, and high intellectual promise
one of those fortunate characters whom an early
death so canonizes in the remembrance of their
companions, that the perfect fulflment Of a
long life wonld scarcely give them a higher
place.
Jonathan Clley, of my own class whose
untimely death is still mournfully remembered
"a person of very marked ability and great So
cial influence, was another of his, Pierce s
friends. All these have long been dead
There are others, still alive, who would meet
Franklin Pierce, at this day, with as warm a
pressure Of the hand, and the same confidence
in his Kind feelings, as when they parted, near
ly thirty years ago"
The notice of Pierces collegiate career closes
as follows
At this early period of his life, he was
distinguished by the same fascination of man.
ner that has since proved SO magical in win
ming him an unbounded personal popularity. Ii
is wronging him, TO call this pecularity mere
effect of manner; Its source lies deep in the
kindliness of his nature, and in the liberal gen.
erous, catholic sympathy, that embraces all
who are worthy of il. Few men possess any
thing like it, so irresistible as il is, so sure tc
draw forth an undoubted confidence, and ST
true to the promise which it gives. This
frankness, this democracy of good feeling, has
not been chilled by the society of politicians
nor polished down into mere courtesy, by hi:
intercourse with the most refined men of tht
day. 1t belongs TO him at this moment ant
will never leave him. A little while ago, af
tel his return from Mexico, he darted acros.
the street tn pYrhanuo L. l..