Stone Chapel, formerly the King's Chapel, the first Episcopal Church of Boston; nor did he leave that church, when, under the pastoral care of the late Rev. Dr. James Freeman, it became the first Congregational Unitarian Church of the world. The fruits

of his belief in Christianity were visible, not only in his social intercourse, and in his public career, but in those secret charities, which remained unknown, until the widows and orphans, whom he had privately succored and aided, after the announcement of his death, came to pay their last tribute of tears and gratitude to the remains of their benefactor.

The author of these Letters lived during the most exciting political period our country ever saw. It can scarcely be conceived now, to what extent a difference in, political opinions estranged men, who had been intimately associated theretofore. It was a period of great interest. The foundations of the old European governments were disturbed and broken up. Many sources of contention existed between England and this country, while our relations with France, then undergoing the change of new systems, became from time to time threatening and severe. At home, the country was divided into two great political parties, the Federalists and the Democrats, whose zeal for their respective causes engendered the bitterest feelings of animosity, particularly in the New England States. The administration of George Washington had been succeeded by that of John Adams, who certainly disappointed the Federalists in many respects; this administration was followed by that of Thomas Jefferson, whose whole course exhibited the most determined and settled hostility to all Federal measures, and to that view which the Federalists took of the constitution, as contemplated by its framers. While Jefferson's adherents warmly upheld and defended the principles and doctrines promulgated by their leader, the Federalists as warmly denounced and condemned them. All was excitement. Mr. Sullivan was a Federalist, his father a Democrat. This variance of political creeds threatened for a time to disturb their intercourse permanently; but reflection soothed the rancor of

partisanship, and they were saved from such distressing consequences. He, being a prominent person of the party, was brought into contact with all the best men among the Federalists, and although he never appeared in Congress as their champion, being obliged to decline successive invitations to be a candidate, owing to duties that detained him at home, yet he was their counselor and friend, and to judge from the words of the living, and the letters of the dead, was much esteemed and respected by them.

The war with its embargo under Mr. Madison's administration fell so oppressively upon New England, that the majority of the people were forced to do something towards alleviating the general distress. The Federalists were, and had been opposed to the war, and to them all eyes were turned for some remedy,some step of a public character, expressive of disapprobation, as well as remedial of the universal ruin of Madisonian measures. The Hartford Convention was the result. That convention, so frequently condemned by politicians who know not even the origin of Federalism, much less the designs of the men composing that honorable body; that convention, consisting of the purest patriots, the ablest statesmen, and the most disinterested of men, was intended only as a meeting, at which the views of the States respectively should be heard, and such steps adopted as were best calculated to bring relief, or, at least, to make known to the general government what the wants of New England were. If calm deliberation upon the public condition of a portion of the country, oppressed by certain measures of the government, be treasonable, then is Liberty robbed of her choicest blessing, and Freedom of her only shield. Of that convention Mr. Sullivan was not a member, but he was cognizant of all preliminary and subsequent measures, and was sent with Harrison Gray Otis and Col. Thomas Handyside Perkins, as a committee from Massachusetts, to bear to Washington the protests and resolves of the legislature, based upon the convention's report.

Mr. Sullivan, in the year 1803, pronounced the oration on the

anniversary of our national independence at Boston. The impression he made on the occasion led to his election in 1804, as Representative of the city in the General Court of the State. He remained in the legislative halls, sometimes as senator, sometimes as representative, and at other times as member of the executive council, until the year 1830. During these years he was frequently solicited to become a candidate for congress, but he invariably declined a nomination, owing to his duties at home. As a politician he is universally believed, and by many known to have been as pure as man can be. His attachment to his party was the result of mature deliberation and pure patriotism. He dreaded to the last the dire results of Jeffersonism; not from any party rancor, but from a conviction, that unless checked by the sober second-thoughts of the people, they would divert the objects of the constitution. He feared the people, while they could be so easily guided and influenced by leaders, whose selfish interest in the success of party, would tempt them to deceive and blind their constituents. But it was only while they were ignorant, and, in consequence of their ignorance, liable to become the blind instruments of wily demagogues, that he had any fear of the action of the people. He had confidence in an educated and intelligent people; and he clearly saw that the permanence of our institutions, and much more, our advancement in what constitutes the real greatness of a nation, must depend on the education, the intelligence and the virtues of the mass of those who held the power. During all the latter part of his life he was, therefore, warmly and actively engaged in popular education; to its furtherance he gave a great portion of his time, and it is a prominent object of several of his publications. One object of these Letters was to exhibit the evil of blind partisanship.

The ambition for political distinction too often diverts the young lawyer from the study and pursuits of his profession. In this country, the necessity of the case compels him, in most instances, to commence practice before he has acquired an exact and profound knowledge of its principles. But the taste for study is too

often lost amidst the political strife of party. This, however, was not the case with the author. He devoted himself most assiduously to his profession, and became an able, well-read lawyer. Not only was great trust deservedly reposed in him, but in many cases he was entitled to the praise of eminent ability. Few exceeded him in research, none excelled him in thorough, con scientious preparation of his causes. His name is of frequent occurrence in the volumes of the Massachusetts Reports. His argument for the claimants in the case of the Jeune Eugenie, before the Circuit Court of the United States at Boston, December, 1821, reported by Mr. Mason, and published in his Reports, is a favorable specimen of his ability and research. His eloquence was interesting and persuasive, always graceful and subdued; but he never was of the highest order of advocates, like Samuel Dexter, as represented to have been, among the dead, and Daniel Webster, who still lives to adorn the senate chamber of the nation, as well as the bar.

Although, at a late period of his life, Mr. Sullivan relinquished the practice of the law, yet he failed not to take a deep interest in what concerned the honor of the profession. He was for many years engaged in establishing rules to regulate the social and professional intercourse of the Bar of Suffolk. He was for many years their President, and presided, also, over the Social Law Library Association, which was formed under his auspices. He presided at their meetings, whether for social enjoyment or for business, with a grace and dignity, which always inspired the members with mutual respect and courtesy. In 1824 he pronounced their anniversary discourse, in which he gave a minute history of the origin and growth of the profession in the State of Massachusetts. It was published. He was one of the committee with the present Chief Justice Shaw, who prepared the charter for the city of Boston. Believing, as he did, that a well-regulated militia is the defence and ornament of a republican government, and that, with the decline of military discipline, the people lose much of the spirit of liberty, he consented to accept the office of

Brigadier-General of the militia, in order to sustain its failing honor. His example and talents produced salutary effects, still visible throughout his State.

His style of writing was simple and clear, full of anecdote, and oftentimes conversational. His fugitive pieces to newspapers, journals and reviews were very numerous. He delivered many courses of lectures before the charitable institutions and literary associations of his native city, for the improvement of their members, and with the design to cultivate, as far as he could, a taste for science and literature among the young.

He delivered the discourse before the Pilgrim Society at Plymouth, December 22d, 1829, which was published. He delivered the discourse before the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, May 23d, 1832, which was published at the request of the Society. This discourse contains a brief history of the Society, which was formed in 1805, under the name of the "General Association in Massachusetts," and was the first step in the great temperance reform. Samuel Dexter, that gifted citizen and distinguished lawyer, was the first President, and warmly aided the cause until his death.

In January, 1837, Mr. Sullivan published an exceedingly valuable book, addressed to the Rev. Ed. T. Taylor, minister of the Mariner's Church, Boston, at whose request it was made known through the press. It is entitled "Sea Life; or what may, or may not be done, and what ought to be done by Shipowners, Shipmasters, Mates and Seamen." It was highly spoken of, and did much to reform the condition of seamen in Boston. The Rev. E. T. Taylor, well known as "the sailor's parson,' was first brought into notice by the author of "Sea Life," &c., who chanced to hear his voice from the Bethel, while passing in the street, and was led by curiosity to listen to his discourse. The natural and stirring eloquence of Taylor, addressed as it was to sailors, induced Mr. Sullivan to think that his preaching might be made serviceable in ameliorating the seaman's condition, which had been long neglected and unheeded. Assisted by a