GEORGE SEWALL BOUTWELL. I9 



works, probably, which I do not at once recall. If I gained 

 some knowledge of the law as practised in the country, that 

 knowledge was gained from an acquaintance with the lawyers 

 of the town, with the students, and there were several usually, 

 and from my opportunities as Clerk of the Insolvency Court. 



In the year 1836, July 4, an Act was passed by Congress, 

 granting to a class of widows of soldiers of the War of the 

 Revolution, a pension for the term of five years. The towns 

 of Groton, Pepperell and Shirley had supplied a large number 

 of soldiers, and there were many widows who were entitled to 

 the benefits of the Act. My acquaintance as clerk was 

 already large, and my studies with Russell had given me the 

 faculty of preparing ordinary papers, and I at once commenced 

 canvassing for the business. I obtained in all about fifty 

 cases under the Act of 1836. Subsequently I obtained other 

 cases under the Act of 1838. I sent the applications forward 

 to Washington, and in a few cases certificates were received 

 in return. In a majority of cases there was a delay. The 

 women became anxious and their visits and importunities 

 were annoying. In the month of January, 1839, I joined 

 Gen. Staples and made a visit to Washington. Staples' object 

 was to make mail contracts, or to arrange existing difficulties. 

 My purpose was to obtain action on pension applications. 

 Our journey was a slow one, if not tedious. From Groton to 

 Boston by stage, and from Boston to Stonington, Conn., by 

 rail; from Stonington to New York by steamboat; from New 

 York to Perth Amboy by steamboat; from Perth Amboy by 

 rail, I think, but possibly by stage to a town on the Delaware 

 River, Franklin perhaps. From that point to Philadelphia by 

 steamboat. Our journey from Philadelphia to Washington 

 was by rail in part and in part by stage. We passed the 

 creeks between the Susquehanna and Baltimore upon a 

 railroad. 



We stopped over night in New York, and went to the Park 

 Theater. Another night we spent in Philadelphia, and went 

 to the Chestnut Street Theater. Staples had a fondness for 

 theaters, and on these occasions I followed his example. I 

 had been in a theater but once, when I saw Forrest in Boston, 



