The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-26
Mistrllaneuns.
DEATH OF ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
BY INWARD EVERETT

Mr.. Lawrence was merchant OF that
class who do not look upon commerce as
merely the pursuit Of private gain. No, sir,
fa' higher were his views. lie considered il
as one Of the great callings Of humanity
He considered it, know full well, sir, as
ore oi the greatest developments of our
modern civilization. once had conver.
saion with him on this subject. was 60
ing to deliver lecture before one Of our
public institutions, and went to Mr.. Law
renee and asked what I should say to the
Young men who would como to hear NO.
"Tell them, sir" said he, "ihat this COM
nerce in which we are oil engaged, is no
selfish pursuit. Tell them that it is an hon.
orable calling. Tell them that the hand Of
God spread out those great oceans, not to
seperate but to unite tho nations that the
winds that wait our sails are breathed from
him that all these varieties of climate and
productions were made to form the founda.
lion Of friendly exchange between distant
lands" These were his views, and ho
carried them out through all his career
His business, you all know full well, extend
cd over several Of those commissions which
shook the pillare Of the commercial world,
but they never shook the foundations Of his
prosperity, because they rested upon that
rock of honor which has already been allud.
ed TO. Sir, he was not ashamed ofthe hum
bic beginning with which he commenced his
career. He was like the merchan; princes
vf Florence, who, when they dwalt in pala-
ces and gave laws to Italy, used to keep
cCnspicuously in their palaces the cranes
with which their ancestors had formerly
lifted merchandise into their storc.houses -
| saw yesterday a young man who informed
me that six weeks ago Mr.. Lawrence, in his
presence, took from his pocket q pair Of
scissors, and said they used to servo him
when he frs. began business. You have
spoken OF his Integrity. Sir, I do believe
tha, il the dome of the State House, which
oyershadows his dwelling, could have been
coined into ono solid diamond, and laid at
his fee; as the prico Of dishonest transac-
ton, he would have spurned it from his
presence, si'.r
Although Mr.. Lawrence was brought up
in somewhat narrow circumstances, although
he belonged to that strict old school where
men are taught to mind their own business
exclusively, and leave other people to mind
theirs, yet II was remarked in him that no
man was more ready to encourage great and
noble projects. 1t was no objection to him
that these projects were new. Sir. he was
one Of the leaders, one oil tho most Efficient
promoters Of those two great industrial pro-
jects-crcatiops, might almost call them
which have put new Taco upon portion
of our, country. t.,.-4 otsi 'W -
: alludo in the FIRST place 10 the immense
manufacturing system. Mr.. lawrence wa'
not brought up a manufacturer; ho was
, merchant,in successful trade, and wa
sure, under the blessings oi Providence.
realizing his most arden. hopes of acquirinI
wealth, yet he was the. FIRST to engage II
manufactures. Mr.. Lawrence often talke'
, with me upon this subject, and told me sha
, nature designed New Eusland for q grea
, manufacturing country. Was oil this i'm
mcnse water power, he asked, to run ioI
ever to waste upon the rocks Should nc
the industrial resources OF tho country b
} developed, and were We never to receive IN