BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE HON. WILLIAM SULLIVAN. JOHN SULLIVAN, a gentleman of liberal education and of cultivated manners, about the year 1730, came from Ireland, and settled at Berwick, in the District of Maine. The ship in which he crossed the ocean, was driven by stress of weather into some port on the coast of Maine, so that he fixed his residence in that part of the country, more from accident than design. He lived in a retired manner, devoting his time to the education of his children, his two sons, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. These two sons, a third having died, survived him. They were named George and James. George, the elder of the two, was afterwards a major-general in the Revolutionary army, and, at successive periods, President of New Hampshire, and Judge of the District Court of the United States. He died leaving one son, the late Hon. George Sullivan, for many years attorney-general of that state, who departed this life on the 14th of June, 1838, at Exeter, N. H., in the 65th year of his age, leaving two sons. For a more minute sketch of his life, the reader is referred to the obituary notice contained in the July number of the Law Reporter, 1838. James, the other son, was born at Berwick, April 22d, 1744. He was educated by his father, and under the guidance of his elder brother pursued the study of the law. A biographical notice of him may be found in the LI. Letter of this work. He died while Governor of Massachusetts, Dec. 10th, 1808, leaving five sons and one daughter. The eldest son died. author of these Letters, was the second son. William, the William Sullivan was born at Saco, in the District of Maine, on the 12th of Nov., 1774. He was fitted for college under the care of the Rev. Dr. Phillips Payson, of Chelsea, near Boston, at a period when it was customary for clergymen to receive the sons of gentlemen into their families to initiate them in the rudiments of classical learning. He entered Harvard University in 1788, and was graduated with the first honors in 1792. He afterwards studied law in the office of his father, and was admitted to the bar at the July Term of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Suffolk, Mass., in 1795. During this year he made a visit to Philadelphia, and here formed acquaintance with many of those who subsequently rose to the highest distinction in the country. Many of the reminiscences recorded in these Letters were derived from this visit, and were made from personal knowledge and observation. On his return to Boston, he became engaged to Miss Sally Swan, whom he subsequently married. After his marriage he devoted himself most arduously to self-improvement and to his profession. It was his habit to rise at four o'clock in the morning, and to apply his attention to the study of languages and literature, until the hour for business called him to his professional duties. He thus acquired that taste for intense application, which never deserted him during his laborious life, and led him gradually into those sedentary habits which undoubtedly conduced to shorten his days. He commenced his professional career at a most fortunate period, when the tide of prosperity, which had been turned by war from the Old World, had begun to rise in this. Everything was comparatively new and exciting. Wealth rolled into the country through the channels of commerce, which the intelligent and far-sighted judiciously invested, and built up those princely fortunes, in some instances still to be seen, but which may not, perhaps, soon again be equalled. Possessed of capacity and industrious habits, combined with graces of manner and person, Mr. Sullivan soon became a favorite with the prosperous merchants of that day. Liberality was the spirit of the times; patronage was mutual, and professional services were more highly valued, certainly more liberally rewarded then, than they are at present. The profession was not so numerous, nor the competition so great; and its members, uniting a sense of honor with respect for merit, not only rose above the low arts of undermining and supplanting, but awarded to learning and talents their just and appropriate meed. Mr. Sullivan, having inherited a munificent and hospitable spirit from his father, who was equally distinguished for talents and laudable ambition, had the power, at an early period of his professional career, and the taste, to impart to social intercourse a full proportion of its zest and attractions. He habitually entertained his friends, and the strangers visiting Boston, in the most liberal and hospitable manner. He never allowed his professional duties, multiplied and arduous as they were, to interfere with a proper attention to the social obligations of life, which he ever held to be as imperative as his duties to his clients. It is a great pity that this spirit and devotion to social intercourse have been permitted to languish among the professional men throughout this country. There is a cause for this change, but it may not be appropriate to this sketch to discuss it. The fashion of the present day lamentably exacts a splendor and display in entertainments, which far exceed the means of all except the opulent. The heart, in its liberal sense, has been sacrificed to gaudy exhibitions of the purse, which only serve to awaken the vilest passions of envy and low ambition. The author of these Letters was six feet tall, very erect, and in his gait dignified and reserved. No one, saving his own family, ever approached him familiarly. His manners were those of the old school, now almost extinct, and he could more deeply wound with a formal bow, than many men, less dignified, with a blow. He used to say, that dignified civility, based upon self-respect, was a gentleman's weapon and defence. In private life he was the most devoted of husbands, and the most affectionate of fathers. He delighted to have his family about him, and to see them happy. Oftentimes he would steal an hour from his professional duties, to remain after dinner with his children at the table, where agreeable conversation, song and anecdote softened the cold realities of life, and united more closely the natural ties of affection which bound his circle together. He was attentive to the education of his daughters, and many of his works were originally written with a particular view to their instruction. A gentleman, intimately acquainted with the author, in speaking of him, said, "His manners among his friends and intimate associates were very delightful. He was not forgetful of himself, nor unaware of his talents for conversation; but his habitual kindness of feeling, and the natural nobleness of his character gave him, in a very unusual measure, the power of calling out from his guests whatever there was in them, which was most interesting; and many a person has left his table with the feeling, that although he might elsewhere have seen men who talked more, he had never been himself so agreeable. Mr. Sullivan never forgot a friend, nor failed to requite, with ample interest, any kindness. He considered the relatives of his friends as having claims upon his attention, and measured their claims by that high standard, so nearly allied to the perfect Christian, not what was really due them, but what they might be expecting, or hoping, that he would consider due. He accordingly sought out, and was constantly entertaining at his table, or in the charming evening parties which he gathered in his parlors, persons from various parts of the country, whose only claims to this notice was some slight attention paid, perhaps many years before, to Mr. Sullivan or to some of his friends." His habits were simple and regular. He possessed extreme pride of character, and never deviated from a certain course of conduct and demeanor, which secured to him the esteem of friends, and the respect of all who came in contact with him, both in public and in private life. He was a strictly moral man; and was in early life, and so continued to be, a member and communicant of the |