The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-01-19

a correspondent ot the christian ne
pository (Montpelier) thus writes of the
early life and of the intellectual charac-
teristics Of Mr.. Brownson:
Many who know of him may not
know from whence he originated. 1t is
rumored that his birth was in New
Hampshire, somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of Keepe. About the first traces
which have of the Brownson family,
his mother resided in Stockbridge, Vt.
There were several children, and as the
family was very poor, most of them were
bound out at an early age. Orestes had
brother Orrin, who was placed in the
family of Benoni Wight of Barnard =
He lived with Mr. Wight until he was
about ls, and afterwards became a
Methodist minister Orestes, at the
age Of about four years, was placed in
the family Of a man by the name of Lu-
tber Hunting, who was poor man, but o.
restcs lived with him about twelve years
or until little past sixteen. Mr.. Hunt
ing's residence was in the part Of the
Pomfret. We came across good sub
stantial farmer in the ncighborhood, who
informed us that Mr.. Hunting and hi.
adopted son Brownson had labored fol-
his father when boy many day. o
restes was described as rather an atbleti,
and sturdy boy. He could shoulder hi!
two bushels Of grain at IA, which re
quires tolerablc degree of muscular
strength. 1t was stated that every leis
ure moment was improved with bool
in his hand. Many time he woulc
build fire Of knots, lie upon upon Iii
back, and improve the light in this way
Orcstes was Graded in poverty and knew
well its advantages and disadvantages
At the age Of l6, at the solc itatiol
of his mother, he went to one of the
border towns of New York, and at nj
early period entered the Universalis
ministry, At Pomfret, the place wher,
grove. once stood was pointed out to
me, in which, as univeralist, Brownsol
addressed large concourse ofpeople. Fl
was pronounced man Of promise. II
studied with Rev. S. G. Loveland for
time, preached in various places in Yer
mont, and was ordained at Jaffrey, n
H., in 1927 or 8. | well remember tn
substance of what Rev. Paul Dean one
stated to me concerning the remarks h
made to Brownson at the time of his re
ceiving letter of fellowship or at tn
time Of his ordination. Said Mr.. Dear
"Br. Brownson, ,yoa have talent sufficien
to place you at the head of the demon
ination, but l fear you have not go
/ faith" So it proved in the end. Nj
Brownsons mind was. doubtless, alway
of skeptical cast 80
When Rationalist,he said in defenc
of that system the substance Of all The
odorc Parker has said, and said it bette
and stronger than Mr.. Parker had til
ability to say it. Parker's rhetori
is as pretty as Brownson's, bu
Brownson will urge an argumen
with far the most force. He must hay
the credit of being one of the mos
forcible writer's of the times. If he wa
cradled in poverty and has arisen abov
it, he deser yes the honor of the victory
for he has encountered hardships an
privation in this particular equal to a
most any other man of any note. lla
it not been for his changea blencss, h
would have stood in far better ligh
before the world as man of power an,
consistency than he now does or eve
can