without ostentation liberal, and on proper occasion munificent in its use. The passion for accumulation is in its nature as distinct and strong as its rival political ambition, and like that is very apt to increase with its gratification, and especially with years; but the reverse was the case with Mr. Brooks. His willingness to impart increased as he advanced in life. His donations to others, in no way connected with himself, exceeded, for a long course of years, his expenditure in the support of his family, and this without reckoning large sums given for single public objects. He was a liberal and discriminating supporter of every benevolent institution and every public-spirited object; and often gave time and counsel when they were more important than money. He gave, however, as he did every thing else, without parade; and, as appears from his books, annually expended considerable sums known at the time only to Him that seeth in secret. He remarked to one of his sons, not long before his death, that of all the ways of disposing of money, giving it away was the most satisfactory.

And this remark leads, by natural transition, to the last with which we shall detain the reader, namely, that his liberality, like the other traits of his character, was connected with an unaffected sense of religious duty. Although sparing of outward demonstration in all things, he embraced, with a lively and serious conviction, the great truths of the Christian revelation. He was a punctual and respectful observer of the external duties of religion; an unfailing attendant on public worship; a regular communicant; an habitual and devout reader of the Bible. He had a general knowledge of doctrinal distinctions; but took no interest in the metaphysics of theology. His faith was principally seen in his life; and even his business journal is interspersed with reflections, which show a mind deeply impressed with a sense of religious duty to God and man.

Several respectful and ably written obituary notices of Mr. Brooks appeared in the public journals both here and else where at the time of his decease. Among them may be particularly mentioned those of Hon. J. T. Buckingham, in the

Boston Courier,* of Hon. Nathan Hale, in the Boston Daily Advertiser, and of Charles Augustus Davis, Esq., in the Commercial Advertiser of New York. We would gladly add to the value of our memoir by extracts from these interesting tributes to Mr. Brooks's memory, but we have already exceeded our limits. We have aimed to perform our task with sincerity and in good faith, and venture to hope that what we have written from the warmth of a grateful recollection will be confirmed by the impartial judgment of the reader. "Hic interim liber, honori soceri mei destinatus, professione pietatis aut laudatus erit aut excusatus." †

* Mr. Buckingham's accurate and spirited delineation of Mr. Brooks's character is contained in Personal Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 181-186.

Taciti Julii Agricolæ Vita, § 3.

DORCHESTER IN 1630, 1776, AND 1855.*

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

THE following Oration is printed from the manuscript as originally prepared (of which about a third part was omitted in speaking in consequence of its length), with the addition as far as recollected of what suggested itself in the delivery.

Besides the original authorities cited in their appropriate places, I would make a general acknowledgment of my obligations to the "Chronological and Topographical Account of Dorchester," by Rev. Dr. Harris, in the ninth volume of the first series of the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and to the three numbers of the "History of Dorchester," now in course of publication by a committee of the Antiquarian and Historical Society of that town. Other interesting materials, of which my limits did not permit me to make much use, were placed in my hands by the late Dr. Thaddeus William Harris, partly from the manuscripts of his venerable father; by Mr. Nahum Capen, on the connection of Roger Sherman with Dorchester; by Mr. Ebenezer Clapp, Jr., on the subject of the Midway Church; and by Mr. Daniel Denny, from a memorandum of the late Mr. J. Smith Boies, on the occupation of Dorchester Heights. If those acquainted with the history of our ancient town should be disappointed at finding some matters of interest wholly passed over, and others lightly treated, they will be pleased to reflect upon the difficulty of doing justice to all parts of a subject so comprehensive, within the limits of a popular address.

In the narrative of the occupation of Dorchester Heights, I have followed the safe guidance of the "History of the Siege of Boston," by Hon. R. Frothingham, Jr.

It may be thought ungracious, at the present day, to dwell with emphasis on the oppressive measures of the Colonial Government, which caused the American Revolution, and on the military incidents of the contest. I be

* An oration delivered at Dorchester on the 4th of July, 1855. See Appendix. The following dedication is prefixed to the original edition: -"To the inhabitants of both sexes of my native town this Oration is, with warm gratitude for the sympathizing attention with which it was heard by them, respectfully and affectionately dedicated, by Edward Everett."

lieve, however, that no greater service could be rendered to humanity than to present the essential abuses and inevitable results of colonial rule in such a light to the governments of Western Europe, and especially to the English government as that most concerned, as will lead to the systematic adoption of the course suggested toward the close of this discourse; that is, the amicable concession to colonies, mature for self-government, of that independence which will otherwise be extorted by mutually exhausting wars.

Among the novel lessons of higher politics taught in our constitutional history, as yet but little reflected on at home, and well deserving the profound study of statesmen in the constitutional governments of Europe, is the peaceful separation from parent States of territories as large as many a European kingdom; an event of which five or six instances have occurred since the formation of the Federal Union, under whose auspices these separations have taken place.

BOSTON, July, 1855.

AMONG the numerous calls to address public meetings with which I have been honored during my life, I have never received one with greater pleasure than that which brings me before you this day. Drawn up with unusual precision and care by a skilful pen, subscribed by more than one hundred and fifty of your leading citizens, and placed in my hands by a most respected committee of their number, it apprizes me that "the citizens of Dorchester, without distinction of party, actuated by motives of public good, and believing in the salutary teaching of national events, when contemplated with an inquiring spirit and an enlightened judgment, are desirous of celebrating the 4th of July, 1854, in a manner that shall prove creditable to that ancient town, instructive to the young, renovating to the aged, and morally profitable to the nation," and it invites me, as a native citizen of the town, to join you in carrying this purpose into effect.

You are well acquainted, fellow-citizens, with the circumstances that prevented my appearing before you last year, in pursuance of this invitation. I might still, without impropriety, offer you a sufficient excuse, in the state of my health, for shrinking from the effort of addressing an audience like this; and I feel deeply my inability, under any circumstances,

to fulfil the conditions of your invitation as I have just repeated them. But I confess I have not been able to forego this first opportunity, the last, also, no doubt, I shall ever enjoy, of publicly addressing the citizens of Dorchester;-the place of my birth, of my early education, and of all the kindly associations of my childhood. I have been drawn by an irresistible attraction to the spot. I behold around me the originals of the earliest impressions upon my mind, which neither time nor the cares of a crowded life have effaced. Some fifty-six or seven years have passed since, as a schoolboy, I climbed, - summer and winter, what then seemed to me the steep acclivity of Meeting-House Hill. The old school-house (it was then the new school-house, but I recollect that which preceded it) has disappeared. The ancient church in which I was baptized, is no longer standing. The venerable pastor,* whose affectionate smile still lives in the memory of so many who listen to me, has ceased from his labors. The entire generation to whom I looked up as to aged or even grown men, are departed; but the images of all that has passed away have been cast and abide, with more than photographic truth, upon the inmost chambers of my memory. Some of us, my friends, companions of school-boy days, remain to cherish the thought of the past, to meditate on the lapse of years and the events they have brought forth, and to rejoice in the growth and improvement of our native town. We have pursued different paths in life; Providence has sent us into various fields of duty and usefulness, of action and suffering: but I am sure there is not one of us who has wandered or who has remained, that does not still feel a dutiful interest in the place of his birth; and who does not experience something more than usual sensibility on an occasion like this.

In those things, which in a rapidly improving community are subject to change, there are few places, within my knowledge, which within fifty years have undergone greater changes than Dorchester. The population in 1800 was 2,347; in

* Rev. Dr. Harris.