49 



perity or adversity could shake or corrupt. He was an affectionate son, a kind 

 relative, and a lirm friend. He was a Christian above sectarian prejudice, and a 

 man above fear and without reproach. He was born in Topsfield, April 2, 1758, 

 and died Nov. 24, 1830." 



The inscription which denotes the resting place of the remains of 

 Kev. Joseph Capen, who owned the old house above referred to, reads 



thus : 



" Here lyes Buried the Body of the Reverend Mr. Joseph Cnpen A Faithful Min- 

 ister of Christ who lined an ordained Pastor of ye Church in Topsfield 42 years & 

 Departed this Life ye last day of June 1725, aped 66 years. 



Dear Mr. Capen tlvit renered man, who did the Faith of Christ maintain. A 

 Learned Man and Godly too. None will Denie this who him knew." ' 



Mrs. Capen, his wife, ie thus commemorated: 



" Here lies Buried the Body of Mrs. Priscilla, ye wife of ye Rev. Joseph Capen, 

 who died Oct. 18th, 1743, in tlie 8Gth year of her age." 



If the poetry of Mr. Capen's inscription is of doubtful excellence, it 

 is not more striking, in this respect, than the following effort to im- 

 mortalize Mr. David Balch : 



MEMENTO MORI. 



"This monument, as a mark of filial respect, is raised to the remembrance of 

 DAVID BAIXH, who bid adieu to the delusive and transitory scenes of this world 

 on the 22 of July, 1812, yE. 59. Whose last dying words were, ' To the war.' 



' Non ille pro caris amicis 



Ant patria timidus perire.' 

 Sweet Jesus was resigned to the 

 Father's will, 

 Indeed so was he who lies here still." 



Mr. Balch died by suicide. In the Latin inscription above given, 

 his eulogist aimed to convey to the world the idea that he was not 

 afraid to die either for his dear friends or his country. 



Another queer inscription is that upon a stone erected by Amos 

 Lefavor, of a family of scattered Acadians, to the memory of Mary 

 Lefavor, who died May 28, 1797, aged 74. It runs thus : 



" Reader pass on, ne'er waste your time 

 On bad biography and bitter rhyme; 

 For what I am, this cumbrous clay ensures, 

 And what I was, is no affair of yours." 



There are many other things of interest connected with this town 

 which might be named if our limits served. 



With all the attractions and associations of the place, and the kind 

 attentions of the citizens, the party found no difficulty in deriving 

 pleasures from their rambles and knowledge of their good country 

 neighbors, who, at the collation, which took place at one o'clock in 

 the basement of the Methodist Church, spared no efforts to promote 

 the substantial comfort of the guests, furnishing delicious tea and 

 coffee as well as more substantial elements, in addition to the contents 

 of the baskets carried by the visitors. 



At 2 o'clock, the meeting for reports, discussions and speaking was 

 held at the Methodist Church, which was crowded with an attentive 

 audience ; many people of the town were present to listen to the ex- 



PBOCEEDINGS ESSEX INST., VOL. VI. 7 NOV., 1869. 



