o 



06 EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH. 



secured for him approval, reputation, and fame. Such productions 

 from his pen as came into print are simply fragmentary, mostly in the 

 form of brief sententious "Reflections," having the point and force 

 of clear moralizing and cast into the compressed shape of proverbs. 

 He had a sagacious discernment, a fertility of imagination, and a 

 vivacity and sparkle of wit and humor, running with equal facility into 

 ppose or verse, which, however, he indulged in fulness only in the fes- 

 tive enjoyments of a large and happy family circle. 



Intervals of impaired health, making journeys and travels in this 

 coiHitry and in Europe occasionally necessary for restoration, and a 

 genei'al susceptibility to some depressive moods, — no doubt aggravated 

 by his constant and faithful service in agencies of ministration to the 

 sorrows and ills of humanity, — seemed at times to cloud the spirit of 

 Mr. Wigglesworth. His modesty, diffidence, and self-depreciation, his 

 purity of heart, his gentleness of spirit, and the fulness and generosity 

 of his benevolent sympatiiies, drew to him the most tender attachment 

 of his family and his connections, and the profoundest respect and 

 regard of the whole community in which he was known. His name, 

 with a generous sum attached to it, appeared in answer to all such 

 appeals as made necessary the announcement of subscriptions for the 

 purpose of drawing others ; but there was no record, public or private, 

 of his da ly alms or of the secret channels of his generosity. The reli- 

 gious sentiment was deep and strong in him through life, and it was 

 the most potent element in the training ami influence of his character. 



For more than thirty j^ears, Mr. Wigglesworth gave of his means, 

 his time, and his warm interest, most efficient service to that foremost 

 of the benevolent institutions of this city, " the Massachusetts General 

 Hospital ; " having been through the whole of this period a member of 

 its corporation, as one of its trustees, or vice-president, or president. He 

 was also an officer of the first and best administered of the now numer- 

 ous corporations for similar purposes among us, " 1 he Provident Insti- 

 tution for Savings in the Town of Boston." In the discharge of this 

 responsible trust, he engaged with a constant and patient diligence and 

 fidelity, examining investments and securities as if he were himself the 

 guardian of the frugal savings of each of the depositors. He took en- 

 tire charge of two of the City Districts of the Boston Provident Asso- 

 ciation, and for years supported them from his own resources, making 

 no draught whatever upon the funds of the Association. Most of the 

 other numerous charitable institutions of the city, and very many of 

 its literary and religious enterprises found in him a wise and just 

 administrator, and a generous patron. There are many of his associ- 



