Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-04-01
The Late william Jarvis.

America Mrs. Cults is daughter Of Mr..
Jarvis, and in the oft repeated descriptions of
the remarkable scenes and adventures OF hi.
life. among notable men both Of Europe and
America. when the world was shaken by the
first Napoleon. and in the valuable papers
left by him, She has had abundant and rich
materials for her work and cannot fail of
making an interesting and valuable volume.
Mr. Jarvis was born IN Massachusetts, just
previous to the Revolution, and IN the neigh
borhood of the most eminent men OF that
State. In his youth, John Hancock and Sam-
uel Adams were yet living, John Adams was
in full vgor, and they were the intimate
friends of his father while Josiah Quincy
and john Quincy Adams were ncighbors, and
not far from his own age. His education was
completed at Bordentown \. j., and at Phil
adclpha II was the period Of the organiza-
ton of the United States government, and
Philadelphia was then the national capital.
Here, then, Young Jarvis knew Washington
and all the most eminent men OF the country
at that day. \ brief tune was spent a.
clerk and book-kecpcr at Portsmouth aud
Norfolk Virginia, and then at twcnty-one he
returned to New England and commenced
business as a merchant at Boston. lie was
successful at first, but lost every thing 10y the
failure of New Yorker for whom hc had en-
dor.ed lie then served FIVE years as master
of vessel, sailing to different countries, and
realized enough 10 pay an his debts 10 the
last penny, when President jefferson appoint
cd him consul general and charge-duiiuire-
at Lisbon. In this post he remained nine
years, and awaited himself OF the opporu-
nifty afforded by the dethronug Of an tha
royal fools, idiots, aud hogs OF Eu-
rope hy Bouoparel 10 purchase and trans
port 10 america one specimen OF un,on-
tammatoj royal hiood,--thc royal Spanish
Mcrino sheep Immediately thereafter Mr.
Jarvis came TO Vermont, doubles, preieniuq
IL as the most promising field for sucee,s in
sheep husbaudry, and from that time until hi.
death, hc was ana influential and important
citizen of the State
Had Mr.. Jaryi, done nothing but introduce
the best sheep Of Europe to America, he would
Justly be ranked as national beuoiactor
For this, Vermont, especially, is greatly iE-
debted TO him Forty years ago our Farmers
were not swiil TO accept costly Improvements
They were then struggling with the difficulties
of new openings in the wilderness, and ia this
section OF the State probably 70 minority Of
the mrus were under mortgage. Apitarccn
was bigger then than dollar Is now. and q
Spanish merno sheep was to themulttude as
wonderful and as dubious as Bauums woolly
/ horse. Seeing was not believing TO the many
the few. who we're most intelligent. cnterpris-
ing and wealthy, were first to bee induced Co
test theuew blood and by practical expert
ment. la different parts Of the State to convince
/ the public. This required the personal labor
and hard labor at thot-of Mr. Jarvis.
The writer Of this recollects 900 example in
point. Regarding che members of the Lrg'.-
atura as the best representative meu of ,he
State, Mr. Jarvis camo personally with hi.
sheep to Montpelier during session. and by
exhibiting the animals and adding his patient
and persuasive cloqucncc, he gained some to
his cause The results every body uow un-
der,tand-
But this j. not all the claim Mr. Jaryi. has
upon the gratitude of the state aud of the
nation. The production Of fne wool in Amer
lea wa, Of little Importance, indeed of double
fill utility, if American farmers were merely
to export it and compete ia the markets OF
England with the nearer European producer,
Of the same material. II Mr.. Jarvis had
been an enterprising and intelligent farmer
:. only, he might think himself well repaid by
improving his own and hi- neigbbor- hocks
but he was really statesman OF the broade,i
views and in the front rank of American
statesmen at that day He forcsaw that the
Introduction Of. ine wool was 10 make Amer.
&c" the competitor Of England IN iis manuiac'
'ure ana not VI Weoi alone hli ia every ma-
le'l"l essei'''al 10 the independence OF the ma
non ana 10 gam iaif held ior competition
III 'ne commerce @, 'ns world. | doubt 1t
eu{ 'Aniefi''n was 'nen De,ief sAniel 10 polii-
'e'', economy or IA tue political ana CONNER
g'@ history Oh 'hS le"Iius nations OF Che
%o''u i''ueeu' "o.' anne once told me
,'-' .I'' 'a'''s was IA .ue h"pt OF meAsar-
Luz o,lI's ny ui',' pron',eMey IA 'nat sor' oi
e'og 'V,'s' .''u ne VINO l'h 'h'f'' would De-