The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-09

marks and notes. In tho appendix To this vol
unie are set forth some Of the writings OF Mr..
King during tho earlier part OF his public
career. aud one Of these claims particular atten-
tIon. II appears that Mr.. King took notes OF the
proceedings In the Constitutional Convention
which met In Philadelphia in 1887, and OF
which he was a member. These are now pub
lished for the first time. and IL Ia these upon
which we shall principally dwell after outlin-.
ing the preceding incidents OF the authors life
Rufus King was born on March "a, 1888. in
scarborough. Me-. which then, and up 10 1920.
formed a part Of the province. afterward State.
of Massachusetts. His father. Richard, wasthe
son Of John King. who came TO America
from Kent, England. soon after the year
1900. and settled in Boston. where. for his
second wife, he married Mary stowell.
daughter Of Benjamin stowell OF Newton,
Mass. by whom he had several children. Of
whom Richard. the eldest. was born IN Bos-
ton in 1918. There Is evidence that Richard
received q liberal education, which prepared
him for an active life In later years. We find
him In IT4O In watertown. Mass, engaged In
business as n trader and factor for Ebenezer
Thornton. one OF the principal merchants in
Boston. for whom lie purchased and prepared
large quantities OF timber. In l145 he was ap-
''' ~ " univ " VI buD-
sstance. with the rank OF captain, In the we'll
known expedition despatched against Cape
Breton. and was present at the capture Of that
fortress. On his return he sold his property in
watertown and removed TO Scarborough. where
he remained Till his death, I'm 1875. He was
both n farmer and a merchant. and In the dual
capacity was 80 successful rs to become the
owner Of 5000 acres Of land and TO be
the largest exporter NJ lumber from the
htAtFlCf NJ MaIna lie pra ,.rl,n nn..-t.I
the eldest child by the first wife being
Rufus King. who. after receiving such ele-
n,entary education as the town and times az
orded. was sent, at the age OF IL, TO Byfeld
Academy in Eewburyport, OF which Samuel
Moody, q teacher then in high repute. was
master. In August. 1773, he was admitted To
Harvard. being then In the eighteenth year OF
his age. and. although. In 1878. his father died.
leaving q good estate, but little money. he was
enabled through the liberality Of his brother-in-
law, DR.. southgate. to finish his collegiate
course. After graduating in 1877 with come
distinction for his classical and literary attain
ments and for oratorical powers. he entered
upon the study OF the law In y ewburyport, under
Theophiius Parsons. a%fterward Chief Justice of
Massachusetts, While he was pursuing his law
studies he accepted the position OF Aide-de-
Camp under Gen. Glover, who conducted a de-
tachment Of soldiers from Newburyport TO assist
5000 So hs, AhAAR'Ao tut hahl vi !
l77s. The campaign failed, as IL is well known.
owing 10 the failurs of the French feet under
Count D'Estaingt to render effective coSpcration.
Rufus King returned to his professional studies
at Sewhuryport, where he was admitted 10 the
bar In 1850. lie seems TO nave promptly gained
employment and reputation, both as an adyo-
cate and as a learned and painstaking attorney.
for three years later, we find him chosen bv the
town In which he practIsed TO be one OF her rem
Fesentatives In the General Court. Young as he
was-he was but as-hs made such n favorable
Impression on his colleagues that, in 1884. he
was selected by the Legislature as one OF the
delegates OF the State TO the Continental Con.
gress, then sitting ut Trenton. IL IA certain tina,
the value Of the services rendered by Rufus King
IN the Congress Of the Confederation during the
next three years has not hitherto been adequately
appreciated. II Is demonstrated by the present
blographer that to Rufus King belongs the arst
practical suggestion for the Immediate and an
solute exclusion Of slavery from the Northwest
territory, and that 10 aim, acting I'm concurrence
with Timothy Pickering, belongs a great share
OF the merit for the admirable plan on which
far~seelng reservations for education and the
common welfare stipulated therein. II is true
AAAn IA