314 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



MARCH 18, 1840. 



amd horticultural register. 

 Boston, WednkshAy, March 18, 18-10. 



OBITUARY. 



Died on Wednesday last, Jon v Lowell, Esq , of Rox- 

 bury, aged 70 years. 



Obituary notices are foreign from our general practice ; 

 but it would be a signal ingratitude for the New England 

 Farmer to pass over without notice the departure of this 

 excellent man ; one of the founders of this paper ; while 

 health permitted, one of its most liberal and instructive 

 contributors; and a gentleman, to whose intelligence, 

 activity, public spirit and liberality, the agriculture of 

 MassachUtecUs, for any improvements it has attained, is 

 perhaps more indebted than to any other individual, liv- 

 ing or dead. We can do but viTy imperfect justice to 

 his elevated cliaracter ; and no language would bee.vagge- 

 rated in expressing the unminglcd and profound respect 

 with which we have always regarded him. He was, in- 

 deed, an honor to human iiuture. 



Mr Lowell was born at Newburyport, and canio to Bos- 

 ton early in life with his father, the lirst judge of tlie Dis- 

 trict Court appointed by Washington. He entered 

 college at twelve, and became a practitioner at the bar 

 before he was Iwentyone years of age. He came at once 

 in competition with the eminent men of that period — 

 Dexter, Parsons, .\mes. Gore, and Sullivan, cpmjiosing 

 an extraordinary galaxy of learning and talent; and in 

 spirit and activity, in legal learning and aoquiienienls, in 

 quickness of perception, in addri_'ss, jn fidelity to his cli- 

 ent, and above all, in a character iurintegrity and honor, 

 he held a rank at the bur second to none. Immersed in 

 a flood of professional cares and labors, which were quite 

 too much for bis excitable and active temperament, his 

 health became greatly impaind ; and at the age of thirty- 

 five, when in general other men are just beginning to 

 find tlieir f4)Othold in the profession, he retired, and went 

 to Europe (or the restoration of his health. After an ab- 

 sence of three years, he returned to the country ; and 

 without resuming his profe.ssional business, he gave the 

 energies of his enriched and active mind, bis time, his 

 services, and the powerful influence of his character to 

 every object of a public nature, in which he saw an op- 

 poitunily of serving the public welfare. 



From the accession of Mr JefTerson to the Presidency 

 to the close of Mr Madison's war, politics Were the en- 

 grossing theme ; and his contributions to the public press 

 were immense and incessant. They were always recog- 

 nised. They were universally read. They were re- 

 markable for their fullness of, and familiarity wUii, liicts ; 

 f'jr their boldness ; for theif extreme severity without 

 any coarseness; and for the pungency and closeness with 

 which he treated every subject which he discussed. With 

 whatever severity he might write, no man was ever far- 

 ther than he from making willingly any misstatement "or 

 exaggeration ; and no one was ever more candid and jiisl 

 toward.s his adversaries. Few communications ever .ad- 

 dressed to the public through newspapers or in a pam- 

 phlet form, probably ever had more influence upon public 

 opinion than these. Though a zealous politician, no one 

 could be more disinterested. At one tune Mr Lowell 

 represented the town of IJo.ston in the General Court ; 

 but excepting Ibis, he neither sought nor would accept 

 any public service, or any political trust of profit or honor 

 whatever. 



The finances of the town of Boston being at one time 

 in some measure embarrassed and confused, he at once 

 effectually exerted his influence to introduce system and 

 arrangement, under which they were recovered ; and the 



beneficial effects of which are felt to this time. The 

 foundation of a general Hospital and a Hospital for the 

 insane becoming then matter of interest, Mr Lowell may 

 be said to have taken the lead in this humane project, 

 and in laying the foundation of thi."! distinguished monu- 

 ment of public liberality ; and devoted his time, talents, 

 money, and especially the powerful influences of bis ar- 

 dent mind and character to this object, with signal effect. 

 Tlie controversy then arising, which led to the great di- 

 vision of our churches, Mr Lowell, as a layman, came 

 out with great eloquence and power in behalf of the 

 rights of conscience, of free inquiry, and private judg- 

 ment. The Institution for Saving.s, which has done 

 more for humanity and good morals than almost any in- 

 stitution among us, and the Atheneiini, among the bright- 

 est honors of our city, are largely indebted for their foun- 

 dation and succes.s to his intelligent and liberal exertions. 

 During this time he had been appointed one of tliecor- 

 pf»ralion of Harvard college — a situation which he held 

 for many years ; and as such, no one could be more dis- 

 tinguished for his punctuality, assiduity, and devotedness 

 to the best interests of the institution, or have done more 

 for its honor and usefulness. Through this whole period 

 Mr Lowell had resided for a considerable portion of the 

 year, on his farm in Roxbury, which he inherited from 

 bis father; and had given the most enlightened, exact, 

 and practical attention to the i harming pursuits of gar- 

 dening and an improved agriculture. He had been a 

 long time a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Agricultural Society ; for some years one of 

 its Secretaries ; and for several years its President — al- 

 ways active, prompt, liberal, and efficient, until declining 

 health compelled him to retire from all public duties. 



He rendered very eminent seivices to horticulture and 

 agriculture. No man had a juster appreciation of the im- 

 portance of these arts to the general welfare and com(^),-t 

 of the community ; and with his enthusiastn of curiosity 

 in respect to physical science, his extensive inquiries into 

 the varied branches of knowledge, his refined and culti- 

 vated taste for the beauties and charms of natural scenery, 

 added to an honest conscience and a mind uncankered 

 by avarice or ambition, no man could enter with a stron- 

 ger relish into the pure and delicious satisfactions and 

 pleasures of lural pursuits. 



Besides taking the lead for year^ at llie agricultural 

 shows at Brighton, his communications on agricultural 

 and rural subjects to the public through the Massachusetts 

 R:;ppsitory, the New England Farmer, and other publi- 

 ralions, were numerous and highly instructive ; possess- 

 ing not an ephemeral but a pi*rmanent value. His care- 

 ful journaJs of the seasons and the progress of vegetation, 

 continued for a series of years, h:ive been annually looked 

 for by the public with strong interest. He was eminent- 

 I}' instrumental in introducing several new and useful 

 articles of culture, and some of the most valuable fruits 

 which are known in the vicinity of Boston; the seeds or 

 scions of which he always distributed in the most liberal 

 manner. In the introduction of improved breeds of cat- 

 tle, horses, sheep, and swine, and improved implements 

 of husbandry, and in extending the knowledge of im- 

 proved mod s of cultivation ; and especially in seeking 

 to elevate the character of the art by improving the char- 

 acter and condition of our husbandmen, and to lead the 

 public to a higher estimation of agriculture as a liberal 

 I has ever labored with more zeal or effi- 



pursnit, 

 ciency. 



ftlr Lowell, on account of declining health, had been 

 for some time retired from general society; and has at 

 last obtained his release from this scene of trial and labor 

 in a way which a truly philosophic and good man would 

 most desire -suddenly and without pain. He died while 

 reading, in his chair. He has left a character which his 



children and friends will cherish as the richest legacy in .] 

 this case that heaven could have bequeathed to them. 

 Mr Lowell's mind was of the highest order, and remarka- 

 ble for the quickness of its perceptions, the comprehen- 

 siveness of its views, and the soundness of its conclusions. ■ 

 His temperament was exceedingly excitable ; and when ' 

 engaged in any object of public interest, he kindled with 

 enthusiasm, and his whole soul showed itself in his eyes, 

 his words, and his actions. Other susceptible minds 

 brought into contact were at once brought into sympathy 

 with him ; and thus always rendered his society delight- 

 ful. His conversation was always full to overflowing; 

 and distinguished not more for the copiousness of its utte- 

 rance iban the fulness of his thoughts. His activity, 

 promptness, and perseverance in whatever he undertook, 

 were eminent traits of character; and he shunned no la- 

 bor, wiierever and whenever he h«d the power to do 

 good. In his manners he was distinguished for his ur- 

 banity, his aceessiblencss, his simplicity, and perfect free- 

 dom from ostentation ; and though from his talents and 

 temperament he was always in the foreground in what- 

 ever society he mingh^d, yet it was evident no man ever 

 thought less of himself as a leader. While he assumed 

 for any object to which his mind and energies were de- 

 voted, all the importance which belonged to it, and to 

 others it might be obvious that it was mainly effected by 

 his personal exertions, yet no one ever assumed less for 

 his own agency. Like the highest moral rank of minds, 

 to which he belonged, he entirely lost sight of himself in 

 view of any great object of social improvement, of useful- 

 ness and humanity. But what above all things was the 

 crowning glory ol" his life, was his integrity; his clear 

 and inflexible j>erceptions of moral right; his lofly and 

 profound sense of duty ; his honor, liberality, magnanimi- 

 ty and disinterestedness. We do not use these terms 

 without miSaning In their higliest sense virere they ap- 

 plicable to the lamented subject of thi'* imperfect notice. 

 We have no hesitation, from a long observation and 

 knowledge of his character, in pronouncing him one of 

 the riiost intelligent, useful, and excellent men that ever 

 adorned our community ; and in saying, without dispar- 

 agement to any one, that he has not left his superior. — 

 We bow in humble submission to that solemn but mys- 

 terious mandate, which has removed him from among us. 

 We may truly say of him Ijere that he has come to his 

 grave like a shock of corn fully ripe in its season. We 

 cannot doubt that a mind so bright and a heart so pure, 

 has been translated to a sphere more congenial to its pur- 

 poses and affections, to diffuse a wider and more benefi- 

 cent influence than it could exert here; and that a life 

 like his, of honor, integrity, usefulness, and beneficence, 

 under the government of God, cannot fail of rewards cor- 

 responding to all our reasonable hopes and to our purest 

 and best desires. H. C. 



NINTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING. 



The Ninth Agricultural Mecilng was held on Thurs- 

 day evening, 12th inst. at the Representatives' Hall, Mr 

 King in the chair. The attendance was quite full. The 

 subject announced for the evening was the Silk Cultuie, 

 and several gentlemen from other States attended the 

 meeting. 



Mr Timothy Smith, of .\mherst, who came as a dele- 

 gate from the 1-Iampshire, Hampden and Fianklin Agri- 

 cultural Society, brought with him some beautiful speci- 

 mens of raw silk, of sewing silk, and of lutestrings, the 

 silk raised by himself and the manufacture done at North- 

 ampton. 



Mr Benedict, likewise, of Pawtueket, R. I., exhibited 

 some remarkably fine sewing silks. 



The Commissioner presented some beautifiil sewing 

 silk, manufactured at Harvard ; some splendid ribbons of 

 various patterns and colors, and some silk velvet, the pro- 

 duction from the worms, of Miss Gertrude Rapp, ofEcon- 

 omy, Penn. ; and some beautiful specimens of raw silk 



