IV 



whole soul was so absorbed in his country at that alarming crisis 

 of her affairs, that he could bestow but a transient attention upon 

 his son's early culture. Fortunately for this son, he was, like Sir 

 William Jones, whom in other respects he so strongly resembled, 

 blessed with a mother in every way qualified to fulfil the duties 

 of both parents. In his intelligent, docile, and sweet disposition 

 she beheld the image of her own gentle spirit, and she could 

 not fail in all her intercourse with him to exert a propitious influ- 

 ence upon his opening mind and character. He had an excellent 

 uncle, too, the Honorable John Pickering, who lived in Salem, 

 and who indulged for him all the feelings of a parent. John and 

 Timothy Pickering were only brothers, and their souls were knit 

 together in the closest friendship. Both were zealous Whig patri- 

 ots, renowned for their integrity and steadfastness. John was 

 graduated at Harvard College in 1759, four years before his 

 younger brother, and was one of the original founders of the Amer- 

 ican Academy. He sustained various important public trusts, and 

 at the time of his nephew's infancy was Speaker of the House 

 of Representatives of Massachusetts. They had seven sisters, all 

 of whom were married and had families, some of which were 

 highly distinguished. Young John, bearing the favorite ancestral 

 name, and possessing uncomaion attractions, was the object of 

 observation as well as interest, without being exposed to those fond 

 and admiring attentions which are so apt to foster vanity and 

 selfishness. 



As it is our desire to show from his example how characters like 

 his may be formed, where natural gifts like his are bestowed, and 

 how human excellence is best attained, whatever may be the en- 

 dowments of nature, we shall freely avail ourselves of the most 

 authentic information we possess, without using the family corre- 



