42 MR. stone's address. 



sion, as well as my own deep feeling, prompts me to offer a 

 ' brief tribute to the memory of one, endeared almost beyond 

 any now living, to the citizens of his native county. I knew 

 Mr. Saltonstall well. I have seen him in public and in pri- 

 vate, under circumstances most favorable to the study of his 

 character. For honor in his profession, fidelity to his friends, 

 conscientiousness in the discharge of public and private trusts, 

 and for qualities that charm the intellect and win the heart, 

 he was excelled by no man I ever knew. Acting from the 

 loftiest principles, he made his professional opportunities sub- 

 servient to the noblest ends. Often and successfully was 

 his influence employed to prevent litigation, and many now 

 live to bless his disinterestedness. To him, in its complete 

 sense, applied the beatitude, "blessed are the peace makers;" 

 and his repeated calls to public service, are the best proofs of 

 the confidence of his fellow citizens in his ability and integrity 

 as a statesman. He was thoroughly republican in his sympa- 

 thies and preferences. The spirit of the "Old Charter," 

 brought to this country by his noble ancestor and the patriot 

 Winthrop, securing to the colonists of Massachusetts Bay the 

 rights and pov/ers of self-government, mingled with every 

 thougljt, and infiuenced every act for his country. 



Mr. Saltonstall was warmly interested in the objects of this 

 Sviciety. He spoke of agriculture as " the basis of all other in- 

 terests, and essential not only to the comfort but to the very 

 existence of society." And he honored it, not only for its 

 peaceful spirit, but for its purifying and elevating influence on 

 the heart and mind. " Who that has a heart," he exclaimed, 

 with the fervid eloquence that imparted a charm to all his pub- 

 lic addresses, — " who that has a heart in his bosom, can look 

 abroad on our hills, crowned with trees, — our pastures cover- 

 ed with flocks, on our valleys and plains, laden with ' food for 

 man and beast,' and not think and feel how good God is 1 — 

 Who can behold the meadows ornamented with flowers, and 

 reflect that the wide spread prairies, the solitary wilderness, 

 nay, that the whole earth is strewn with an infinite variety of 

 those most lovely objects arrayed with more beauty than was 

 Solomon in all his glory, and his heart not be softened into a 



