Ill 



they are pleasant to the upright in heart. We care little for the 

 mere possession of talents or genius ; real merit is above them 

 both. And where shall we look for one who in the meritorious 

 use of talents is greater than our departed friend ? Such a life as 

 his cannot be traced too minutely, from its dawn to its close. 

 Genius and eloquence have already, on various occasions, bestowed 

 a rich and glowing eulogy on the learned jurist, the man of science, 

 of letters, and of worth, leaving us, in echoing the voice of praise, 

 little more to do than to enforce its justness, and to gather what 

 instruction we may from the virtues which have called it forth.* 

 The simple truth, Gentlemen, bestows the highest eulogy on our 

 lamented President, while it affords us the truest consolation and 

 the best instruction. 



John Pickering was the eldest of ten children of the late Colonel 

 Timothy and Rebecca White Pickering, and was born on the 7th 

 day of February, 1777. His ancestors were of a most worthy 

 character. The first of them known in this country was John 

 Pickering, who was one of the early settlers of Salem, and in 1642 

 bought of Sir George Dovvning's father the farm on Broad street in 

 that town, which has ever since descended in the male line of the 

 family, and always, except in a single instance, has been owned 

 by a John Pickering, as it still continues to be. On it stands the 

 ancient and picturesque mansion, the late summer residence of our 

 deceased friend, who by his skilful arrangements converted the 

 greater portion of the farm into a beautiful and flourishing village. 



Colonel Pickering was a vigilant and devoted father, but his 



* See the noble tribute to the memory of Mr. Pickering, contained in the Law 

 Reporter (Vol. IX., p. 49), from the gifted pen of Charles Sumner, Esq. ; also his 

 admired Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard University, at 

 their Anniversary, August 27, 1846. 



