12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



nities if he had desired high station. The office of Justice of the 

 Supreme Judicial Court was offered for his acceptance. Twice he de- 

 clined an appointment to the Senate of the United States ; once on the 

 resignation of Mr. Webster in the year 1849, and again in place of 

 Mr. Everett in 1853. He was sincerely diffident of his capability 

 for efficient public service. He feared lest his long and exclusive de- 

 votion to practice at the bar had unfitted him' for the varied duties and 

 labors of political life. Once only, after he had retired from the active 

 pursuit of his profession, was he induced by a peculiar public exigency 

 to serve as a member of the Senate of Massachusetts. Those who 

 were cognizant of his eminent usefulness during this brief term of 

 service know how great would have been the gain to the public if 

 he had been willing to give more of his time and talents to similar 

 labors. 



But although he elected the walk of private life, and expended the 

 strength of his mature years in the zealous and faithful performance of 

 professional duty, he was not regardless or neglectful of the claims 

 which the community in which he lived had on that portion of his time 

 and talents, which would be spared from the pressing cares and labors 

 of his regular pursuits. To the cause of education, to the institutions 

 of religion, to public chai'ities, to private benevolence, to social 

 culture and intercourse, to the offices of friendship, he never failed 

 to contribute his full share of whatever of duty or service or bene- 

 faction it was in his power to render. He served for nearly twenty 

 years, during the busiest portions of his life, as one of the Fellows of 

 Harvard College. For many years he was superintendent of the 

 Sunday-school connected with the religious society to which he be- 

 longed, and always prepared himself with scrupulous fidelity to give 

 instruction to a class of pupils under his special care. He never 

 failed to give largely in proportion to his means to every object which 

 seemed worthy of encouragement and support. In the social circle his 

 frank and kindly nature, his quick and warm sympathies, and his 

 charming conversational powers, made him always the welcome guest 

 as well as the genial and generous host. It is not strange that a man 

 in whose character and life so many admirable qualities were blended 

 should have gained a wide and commanding influence in the community 

 in which he lived. If anything had been wanting to make him the one 

 to whom all persons turned with abiding confidence, reverence, and 

 love, it would have been supplied by the noble enthusiasm with which 



