Life of Alexander H. Stephens

Front matter

Coll

in 2011 witii funding from

Tiie Institute of Museum and Library Services through ap Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

Chapter I

The Stephens Family — The Fugitive Jacobite — An Idyll on the Juniata — Removal to Georgia — Andrew B. Stephens — Purchase of the Homestead — The Grier Family — Marriage of Andrew B. Stephens — Birth of Alexander — Second Marriage of Andrew B. Stephens — Birth of Linton Stephens — Marriages 17

Chapter II

The " Giles and Finkle" Correspondence — Early Recollections — Schoolmaster Day — Georgia "Old-Field Schools" — A Mutiny — Barring out — The Inquisitive Owl — Schoolmaster Duffie and his Advice 22

Chapter III

Home-work — Youthful Trials — Recollections of his Father — A Painful Lesson — "Learning Manners" — Exhibitions — Almost a Tragedy — Death of Andrew B. Stephens — A Great Sorrow 30

Chapter IV

Death of Mrs. Stephens, and Dispersion of the Family — Sunday-School — Rapid Progress — Removal to his Uncle's — O'Cavanaugh — Becomes a Hero in a Small Way — Leaves School — A Turning-point in his Life — Mr. Mills — A Generous Offer — Goes to the Academy at Washington, Georgia — An Imperfect Understanding— Mr. A. H. Webster — Adopts the Name of Hamilton — Mr. A. L. Alexander 41

Chapter V

Goes to the University — Expects to enter the Ministry — Happy Days — A Piece of rare Good Luck — Diligence in Study — Social Enjoyments — One Shadow — A Silent Struggle and a Final Resolution — A Debt discharged . . .53

Chapter VI

More College Reminiscences — The Pig in Class — Standing at Graduation — Dr. Church and his Family — Journal — Goes to Madison and teaches School —

Unhappiness — Leaves Madison — A Secret Sorrow 60

Chapter VII. Pagb

A Private Class — Mr. Le Conte — A Liberal Offer declined — Goes to Crawfordville and begins to study for the Bar — Hard Work — -A Damper — Journal — An Anniversary — Begins to study Politics — President Jackson and the Bank — Despondency — First Fee offered and declined — Height, Weight, and Personal Appearance 7C

Chapter VIII

Journal — Youthful Judgments — Forebodings — Jilsthetic Criticisms — Opinion of Railroads — Solitude — First Plea — Self-Censure — Ambition — A Critical Period — Out of the Depths — Dr. Foster and his Prescription — Moves to Uncle Bird's — A Shock to Modesty — A Narrow Escape — A Fourth of July Speech — Adhesion to the Doctrine of State Rights — Right of Secession — Admission to the Bar . 78

Chapter IX

First Case — "Riding the Circuit" — First Fee taken — Hezekiah Ellington — A Desperate Strait and a Convincing Argument — A "Revival" and the Scenes there — Increase of Business — Buys a Horse — An Exciting Case — A Great Speech and its Effects 90

Chapter X

A Hard Winter — A Friendly Rival and an Accurate Prediction — An Offer — A Trip "Out West" — An Indian Host and his Family — Interview with President Jackson — Uncle James Stephens — A Toast — Dr. Foster again — Friendly Counsels — Georgia Railroads .......... 98

Chapter XI

Political Review — The Two Great Questions — The National and Federal Plans — The Two Parties — Powers of the Federal Government and of the States — Great and Small States — Meaning of the Two Houses of Congress — Different Interests of the Northern and Southern States — Apportionment of Representation—The " Three-fifths Clause"— The Tariff— The North wishes to cede to Spain the Navigation of the Mississippi— Ingenious Strategy — The "Alien and Sedition Acts" — Resolutions of 1798 and 1799 — War of 1812 — Acquisition of Louisiana — Mr. Quincy, of Massachusetts — The " Missouri Compromise" made and broken — Mr. Clay's Compromise — "Internal Improvements" — " Protective" Tariff's — " Nullification " Movement in South Carolina — A Threatened Collision — Northern and Southern Democrats .... 109

Chapter XII

Mr. Stephens Elected to the State Legislature — Speech on the Railroad Bill — Letter of Hon. I. L. Harris — Severe Illness — Controversy with Dr. Mercer — Re-election — ^Voyage to Boston — Letters to Linton Stephens — Visits to New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland — Tries the White Sulphur Springs with Advantage — Friendship for Mr. Toombs 125

CONTENTS. ] I

Chapter XIII. Page

Improved Health — Delegate to Southern Commercial Conyention — Answer to Mr. Preston — "My Son" — Linton at the University — Fourth of July Celebrations in Auld Lang Syne — Grand Doings at Crawfordville — A Speech — " Caesar and Pompey" — Independence of Party — The Whigs — Uncertainty of the State-Rights Party — Re-election to the Legislature ]32

Chapter XIV

Transition of the State-Rights Party — Error of the Georgians — Law Business — Letters to Linton — Views on Scholarship, Aristocracy, and the Devil — Literary Criticism — Religious Beliefs — Visit to the Gold Region — Political Parties 140

Chapter XV

Declines Re-nomination to the Legislature — Letters to Linton — Philosophy of Living — Death of President Harrison — Advice to Linton — Serious Illness — Election to State Senate — Reports of Committees — The Tariff of 1842 — Breach of the Compromise of 1833 — Debate on Federal Relations — The Minority Report — Principles of the Georgia Whigs — Resolutions ..... 148

Domestic Arrangements — Trip to Florida — Home News and Surgical Practice — Deaths of Friends — A " Real Soaker" — Election of Governor Crawford . 194

Chapter XX

Connection with the Whigs — Opinion of President Polk — Dispute with Mexico — War breaks out — Correspondence — The Oregon Question — Opinion of Mr. Calhoun — State of Things in Congress— Speech on the Mexican War — Letter of Judge McLean — Misunderstanding with the Hon. Herschel V. Johnson — A Challenge sent and refused 200

Chapter XXI. Page

Position of the "Whigs — Resolutions on the Mexican War — Their Effect — Danger ahead — The Wilmot Proviso — The " Missouri Compromise" repudiated — Speech on the Mexican Appropriation Bill — A Queer Genius — Speech of Mr. Toombs — Election of a Speaker — Cure for Melancholy 210

Chapter XXII

Presidential Nominations — Opinion of Mr. Calhoun — Mr. Clay — Anecdotes — A Conversation and a Prophecy — Death of Mr. Adams — Nomination of General Taylor — The "Allison" Letters — Slavery in the Territories — The Clayton Compromise — Speech of August 7th — Returns to Georgia — Difficulty ■with Judge Cone — Mr. Stephens's Life attempted — Public Indignation . 224

Chapter XXIII

The Abolitionists in 1848 — Rise of the Free-Soil Party — State of Feeling at Washington — Attitude of Southern Whigs — The Vote for Speaker — Duty of the South — ^A Bad State of Things — Signs of a Coming Catastrophe . . 236

Chapter XXIV

Calhoun, Clay, and Webster in the Senate — Signs of the Times — President Taylor's Policy — A Glance into the Future — Dismemberment of the Union inevitable— AVhat the South should do — -Mr. Clay's Compromise Resolutions — Mr. Clay's Speech — A Sketch of the Scene and the Audience— Sorrow for a Humble Friend — A Wedding in Low Life — Death of Calhoun — The Galphin Claim — Seward's Plot — The Secretary of State and Sir Henry Bulwer — "A most Wonderful Characteristic of our People" — Sits for his Portrait — Hot Debates in both Houses — Principle of Non-interference established — Death of President Taylor — Passage of Mr. Clay's Bill and Renewed Pledges of the Northern States — Georgia Resolutions — Jenny Lind 243

Chapter XXV

Rio the Dog — The Secret of Mr. Stephens's Life — The Campaign of 1851 — Re-election to the House — Disappointed Curiosity — An Anecdote . . . 261

Chapter XXVI

Louis Kossuth — Speech in Baltimore — Marriage of Linton — Demoralization of the Whig Party — A Card — A Vote for a Dead Candidate — Address at Emory College — Reminiscences of Childhood — A Sad Year — The Galphin Claim — Mr. Stephens's Speech on the Bill to prevent Frauds — Severe Accident to Mi*. Stephens — Sickness — Two Humble Friends 266

Chapter XXVII

New Tactics of the Agitators — The Personal Liberty Bills — The Pledges of 1850 to be broken— Speech of February 17th— The Nebraska Bill— The Kansas War — Death of Mrs. Ray — A Georgia Corn-Shucking — A Visit from "Uncle Ben'' — Speech of December 14th — Christmas-Eve — The Know-Nothing Party 275

Chapter XXVIII. Page

A Complimentary Dinner — Reply to Mr. Campbell — Letter on Know-Notliingism — Becomes a Candidate for Re-election — Speech at Augusta— Linton's Nomination— The Campaign — Mr. Stephens elected — Dead-Lock in the House — Advice to the President 287

Chapter XXIX

Debate with Mr. ZollicofFer — Election of Mr. Banks — A Plausible Scamp and a Domestic Tragedy — The Minority Report on the Kansas Election — Anecdote of Mr. Hale — Speech on the Kansas Election — News from Kansas — Speech on the Admission of Kansas — Death of John Stephens — Correspondence with Mr. Johnston — Negligence of Southern Representatives — -Challenges Mr. B. H. Hill 302

Chapter XXX

Adroit Strategy of the Republicans — Their Rapid Growth — The Dred Scott Case — Speech on the President's Message — Death of Mrs. Linton Stephens — Sad and Solemn Thoughts — Remarks upon Pickpockets — Mr. Douglas . . 317

Chapter XXXI

Kansas again — Walker the Filibuster — Interview with the President — "A Battle-Royal" — Defection of Southern Know-Nothings — A Hard Struggle — Intense Anxiety — Kansas Bill passes both Houses — Speech on the Admission of Minnesota — A Bird of Ill-omen — British War-Steamer Styx — A Reception at Athens — The Orator in a Panic — A Summer Tour— No Desire for the Presidential Nomination — Visit to President Buchanan .... 328

Chapter XXXII

A Mysterious Confidence — Overwork — A Young Protegee — Ophthalmic Surgery— The Blind Dog's Guide — Busts of Mr. Stephens — The Mariner in Port — Linton on the Bench — Home Troubles — Farewell Dinner offered him by Congress — Public Dinner at Augusta — A Farewell Speech — Warning to President Buchanan — A True Prophecy — Canine Psychology — Address at the University of Georgia — Law Business — A Rule adopted — Plans for the Future 340

Chapter XXXIII

The Family at Liberty Hall — A Cautious Passenger — Favors the Nomination of Mr. Douglas — Charleston Convention — Baltimore Convention, and the Split in the Democratic Party — Four Candidates in the Field — Mr. Stephens's Views and Apprehensions — Letter of Advice — The Plan of Safety — Duty of the Party — Sickness— Signs of Approaching Rabies — " He is Insane !" — Election of Mr. Lincoln and the Feeling at the South — Speech at Milledgeville — Impression produced — Anecdote — Letters from Northern Men — Correspondence with Mr. Lincoln 351

Chapter XXXIV. Paoe

Feeling at the South — Secession of South Carolina — Conventions called by the other States — Views of Mr. Stephens — Real Causes of Complaint — Secession Rightful, but not Expedient — Will abide by his State — Thoughts and Memories— A Storm and a Speech — Break-up of the Cabinet — Fort Pulaski secured — Convention at Milledgeville — Speech — Ordinance of Secession passed — A Forged Speech — Sent to Montgomerj' — Formation of the Provisional Government— Elected Vice-President — Inaugurated — The Constitution — Toombs and Cobb — Relations with Mr. Davis — Anticipations 374

Chapter XXXV

Peace Congress — Commissioners appointed to the United States Government — How Mr. Davis was nominated — Character of the Confederate Congress — The South and the West — Hopes and Fears — Action of the Federal Government — Secretary Seward's " Faith" — A Declaration of War — Speech at Savannah — Capture of Fort Sumter — Call for Seventy-five Thousand Men — Secession of Virginia — Sent as Commissioner to Richmond — The 19th of April in Baltimore— Excitement throughout the South — Convention between Virginia and the Confederate States — Financial Policy of Mr. Stef)hens — Death of Mr. Douglas — Linton joins the Army — Mr. Stephens in Richmond . . . 388

Chapter XXXVI

Discouragements — Policy of Conscription — Richmond Hospitals — Military Operations— Conversations — How Mr. Davis was nominated — Prospects — Prospects of European Recognition — Resistance to Martial Law — State of Things North and South — Letter to James M. Calhoun — Speech at Crawfordville — Financial Policy — Education of Young Men — Relations with Mr. Davis — Views on Men and Matters 408

Chapter XXXVII

The Conscript Law — Sir Bingo Binks — Lord Lyons and Seward — Canine Nomenclature— Linton's Resolutions — Generals Lee and Johnston — Death of Rio — A Tribute to an Old Friend — Religion — Confederate Bonds — Military Operations — Exchange of Prisoners — Proposed Mission to Washington — Speeches — Home News 429

Chapter Xxxviii

Sudden Illness — Hospitality of Liberty Hall — An Emergency — Speech before the Legislature — "Habeas Corpus" and " Peace" Resolutions — Weather Notes — Reminiscences of Governor Troup — A Night Adventure and an Escape — A Cynic Philosopher — Notes of Travel — Wounded Soldiers — Sherman approaching— The Chicago Convention— Letter to Georgia Gentlemen — General Sherman's Device and its Failure — Plans of Adjustment — Thinks of Resigning— Judge Taney's Decision 452

Chapter XXXIX. Page

DifBculty with the Senate — Address before them — Change of Policy recommended— Sympathy for Prisoners — Resolutions — The Hampton Roads Conference— Exchange of Prisoners — Declines to speak at Richmond — Returns to Crawfordville — Letter about the Conference — Sherman's Advance — Lee's Surrender — Arrest of Mr. Stephens — Imprisonment in Fort Warren — Linton joins him — Prison Journal — Release — Life at Liberty Hall — Declines to be a Candidate for the United States Seuatorship — Urgency of his Friends — His Election — Not allowed to take his Seat — Address to Georgia Legislature — Summoned before "Reconstruction Committee" — Philadelphia Convention — His Opinions of Seward, Stanton, and Grant — Undertakes a History of the War — Sufferings from Renal Calculus ........ 477

Chapter XL

Publication of First Volume of his History of the War — An Accident — Attacks • upon him — The Southern Bevieio — Replies — Elected Professor in University of Georgia — Declines — Opinion of the Linton Correspondence — Attacked with Inflammatory Rheumatism— Proposes final Retirement from Public Life — A Severe Trial — History finished — Another begun — Law Students — Connection with the Western Atlantic Railway — Judge Stephens arrested but no Bill found — Letter to his Students — Opinion of President Grant — The Atlanta Sun . . 494

CHAPTER XL I.

Situation of Aifairs in the South — The " New Departure" — Mr. Greeley — Pluck, the Dog — Life at Liberty Hall — Death of Judge Linton Stephens — A Crushing Sorrow — Contest for Election to the Senate ...... 508

CHAPTER XLIL

Candidate for Congress — Civil Rights Bill — Speech of January 5th — Serious Illness — The Salary Act — Re-elected — Controversy with the Hon. B. H. Hill — Withdraws from the Atlanta Sun with heavy loss — Action on the Louisiana Report — Fourth of July at Atlanta — Liberty Hall again — Sunday-School Celebration at Crawfordville — Re-election — Appearance in the House — Attack of Pneumonia — Report of his Death — Views on the Electoral Commission— Mr. Stephens in Congress — Speech at the uncovering of Carpenter's Picture — Letters — Social Habits 519

APPENDICES.

Appendix A 543

Appendix B 564

Appendix C 581

Appendix D . 694

Appendix E 608

LIFE OF ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

Chapter I

The Stephens Ftimily — The Fugitive Jacobite — An Idyll on the Juniata — Eemoval to Georgia — ^Andrew B. Stephens — Purchase of the Homestead — The Grier Family — Marriage of Andrew B. Stephens — Birth of Alexander— Second Marriage of Andrew B. Stephens — Birth of Linton Stephens — Marriages

Among the Jacobites v/ho quitted England, some from apprehension and some from disgust, upon the disastrous ending of the ill-advised attempt known as "the Forty-five/' M^as one Alexander Stephens, the grandfather of him whose biography we have in hand. With some small means, and with aims as definite as are usually held by adventurous exiles who leave their native country to seek homes and fortunes in other lands, he reached Pennsylvania, and at first sought shelter with the Shawnee Indians, at a spot not far from where the tow^n of Chambersburgh now stands.

A young man of spirit and energy, just grown to manhood, who had been in one war and crossed an ocean to better his fortunes, was not likely to remain long with a savage tribe, however friendly their treatment, and whatever peril might attend his departure. His movements have not been precisely chronicled ; but we know that M'hen the French and Indian War broke out, he enlisted under Washington, and was present at Braddock's defeat. What befell him immediately after this is not known ; but his subsequent wanderings brought him to the ferry at the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. The Juniata is somewhat of a classic and poetic stream, or at least used to be,

2 17

18 LIFE OF ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS.

forty years ago, when a song commemorative of the charms of "The Blue Juniata" was much affected by sentimental songsters. Alexander Stephens was not accounted a poet in his day, so far as we have heard, yet he bore an important part in a small poem whose scene was laid on the banks of this river. The owner of the ferry was a wealthy gentleman by the name of Baskins, and among other children he had a daughter, with whom the young Jacobite made acquaintance. Whether her personal attractions borrowed or needed any aid from the romantic scenery amid which she dwelt, or the goodly estate which she had the prospect of inheriting, and whether his own were enhanced by the dangers he had seen and escaped, we cannot now say. But these two young persons, in the course of time, found each other's society so agreeable, that they resolved to enjoy it for life. Mr. Baskins, having made other arrangements for his daughter better suited to his taste, refused his consent to their union, and threatened to disinherit. But the young lady was not to be moved by such considerations ; so against her father's will she married her young adventurer and united her fortunes with his. Her father's house was now no longer a home for her; and although the coui)le sued for pardon, Mr. Baskins was inexorable. In the course of time the War of Independence broke out, and Alexander, who had not seen enough of such things, took a part in this. He served through the war, and at its close retired, with the rank of captain, to the house he had made for himself on the Juniata. Finding it still impossible to conciliate his obdurate father-inlaw, and the latter dying some time after, leaving a will in which his threats of disinheriting were carried out, Mr. Stephens determined to remove.

By this time he had quite a family of children : three sons — James, Nehemiah, and Andrew B. — and five daughters, — Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, and Jane. He first went to Elbert County, in the State of Georgia; but did not long remain there,* soon removing again to the adjoining county of Wilkes, where he took up his abode on rented land, on the banks of Kettle Creek.

James, the eldest son, on reaching his majority, went back to the old neighborhood in Pennsylvania, where his descendants still live. Nehemiah went to Tennessee. Andrew B., alone of the sons, stayed with his parents, as did Jane, the other daughters marrying in time — Mary, a Jones ; Catherine, a Coulter ; Sarah, a Hudgins ; and Elizabeth, a Kellogg.

CajDtain Alexander Stephens, it seemed, had been too much among wars to be well fitted for the arts of peace. He continued to live on rented land ; and now that James and Nehemiah were gone, his only reliance for help from his children was on his youngest son. Andrew B., in mere boyhood, had shown much taste and aptitude for farming ; and he worked on the farm at Kettle Creek, and went to school in the neighborhood at times when his services could be spared. He made such progress in his studies that his father strained a point and sent him to the school in Washington (then the county seat) kept by the Rev. Hope Hull, afterwards one of the leading ministers of the Methodist Church. This was a famous school at that day. Andrew B. Stephens stood high in the master's estimation, as we may judge from the following incident. When he was fourteen years old, a committee of gentlemen residing in a remote part of the county, on the south side of Little River, being desirous of having a school on a better foundation than such as they were accustomed to, waited upon Mr. Hull, and desired him to name one of his pupils who was fit for their purpose. Mr. Hull at once named Andrew B. Stephens, who, though surprised at the decision, as were the other pupils and the committee, accepted the call, opened his school, and began teaching to the entire satisfaction of his patrons.

The young schoolmaster made good use of his first earnings. At the end of the first year he bought a hundred acres of land, paying part of the purchase-money in cash, and giving his bond for the rest. To this place his father and sister Jane removed, and the former spent the remainder of his days there. His mother had died on the farm on Kettle Creek. This hundredacre tract was the nucleus of that homestead which, except for a few years after the death of Andrew B., has ever since been in the possession of the family. Andrew B., however, did not yet reside with his father and sister. He continued to teach school until he was of age and married, except for two years, when he was employed as a clerk in a country store. When he married, he went to live on this farm.

His wife's maiden name was Margaret Grier. The Griers had emigrated from the north of Ireland, and they too had settled in Pennsylvania. We can trace tiie Griers no farther back than two brothers, Robert and Thomas. From one of these the late Justice Grier, of the Supreme Court of the United States, was descended. From the other sprang a branch of the family which removed to Georgia about 1769. Aaron Grier'was one of these, and it was his daughter Margaret whom Andrew B. Stephens married. After his marriage, his father lived with him at the homestead until his death in the year 1813. His daughter Jane had died before ; so that Andrew B. and his family were left the only occupants of the farm. Jane did not die on the place, but was buried there in the old family burying-ground, where her father was laid by her side.

To Andrew B. and Margaret, his wife, were born three children : Mary, Aaron Grier, and Alexander. Their mother was of a frail constitution, though her fresh and rosy complexion seemed the sign of robust health. Mild, industrious, charitable, intelligent, she was, in the true, old-fashioned sense of the word, a " helpmeet" for her husband. Mary, the eldest daughter, married very young, and died soon after. Aaron Grier lived to manhood, and married Sarah A. Slaytou, of Wilkes County. He was a man of very retiring disposition, great good sense, and exemplary character. He died in 1843, leaving his widow with one child, a son, who did not long survive. The widow yet lives, and has never married a2;ain. Reference will asrain be made to this excellent man when we shall have reached the period in this biography contemporary with his death.

Alexander, the youngest child, and the subject of this biography, was born on February 11th, 1812. His mother survived hira but a short time, dying on the 12th of the following May, and her grave was the first made in what was then the new burying-ground at the homestead.

After the death of his wife Margaret, Andrew B. Stephens was again married, to Matilda Lindsay, the daughter of Colonel John Lindsay, distinguished in the Revolutionary War. From this marriage sprang four sons — John L., Andrew Baskins, Benjamin F., and Linton — and a daughter, — Catherine B. ; of whom only John L., Catherine, and Linton lived to majority. John L. married Elizabeth Booker, of Wilkes. He died in 1856, leaving a widow, two daughters, and four sons. Catherine, the daughter, married Thomas Greer, of Talbot County, and died in 1857.

Linton Stephens married, in 1852, Emmeline Bell, widow of George Bell, of Hancock County, and only daughter of the late Hon. James Thomas, former judge of the northern circuit. This lady died in 1857, leaving three daughters ; and ten years afterwards, in 1867, Linton Stephens married again, his wife being Miss Mary W. Salter, of Boston. He died July 14th, 1872, leaving one son and two daughters by his second marriage.

CHAPTER 11.

The "Giles and Finkle" Correspondence — Early Kecollections — Schoolmaster Day — Georgia " Old-Field Schools" — A Mutiny — Barring out — The Inquisitive Owl — Schoolmaster Duffie and his Advice.

Allusion has already been made in the Preface to the Giles and Finkle correspondence, and how " Mr. Giles/' perceiving with how much greater freedom Mr. Stephens expressed himself with regard to his personal affairs when writing in the character of a third person, requested " Mr. Finkle" to give him some of the incidents of the boyhood of " Boss," as that personage chose to designate his friend and patron. On the 5th of April, 1863, the following reply was received :

" Dear Jeems, — Boss and I were at the Homestead when your letter came yesterday. Boss has been down there all this week. He stays there now the most of his time when at home. Just before Tim [a colored boy then belonging to Mr. Stephens, since dead] brought the letter, we were out in the field before the house, where the hands were planting corn, and Boss was showing how to cover it.

" While he was thus engaged, a Mr. Thomas Akins, from Greene County, came to see him on some business connected with a son he had in the army. So Boss stopped, and after talking about the business until they got through, Mr, Akins said, 'I was never in this part of the country before. These hills are all new to me.'

" Boss replied, ' They are not new to me. My earliest recollections and associations are connected with these scenes, though they are wonderfully changed since then. I recollect when this field was cleared. It was a square ten-acre field, just forty rods square. The first crop was grown on it in 1818, the dry year. The land was rich then. It was always called ' the new ground,' as long as I lived here. Right over yonder, on that hill, I was born, and riglit along here I was ploughing when I was sent for to go to the house. Father was worse. It was the day before he died ; Saturday, May the sixth, 1826. Just up there I took out my horse, little dreaming it was for the last time. The land looked very different then from what it does now.' 22

" Mr. a. — ' It must be interesting to you to visit these fields, crowded as they are with so many recollections.'

" Boss. — ' Oh, yes. I take more interest in reclaiming these old wornout fields than in anything else. It is almost a hopeless undertaking j but it affords me a strange pleasure. I spend all my spare time here. I can every day bring to memory some old forgotten incident which awakens whole trains of thought that filled my mind in childhood. These I like to dwell upon : they seem to give strength and durability to the continuity of my existence. In .the midst of them I see less change in myself than in nature around me. That very rock yonder, the other day, brought back to my mind vividly one of the earliest experiences I ever had on the subject of religion. You see that big gray rock there : it is split from top to bottom. Well, when this land was cleared, that split or crack in the rock attracted my attention. I could not conceive what had caused it. I asked my father what did it. He said he did not know, but it was supposed by learned men that it was done when Christ was crucified : that the Scriptures said the rocks were rent ; and he said that large rocks of this kind all over the country were cracked as this one was. This led on to a full account by him of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and the nature of Redemption, — the first, I think, that I ever had, as I can recollect none earlier. Strange to say, I had entirely forgotten this, until a few days ago, while I was having these ditches made, being tired I sat down to rest upon that rock, and looking upon the split in it, this early incident of my life came to my mind, with all its train of impressions, thoughts, and reflections. So with almost everything about here, every day I am here I find something recalling memories, — some of them back to within three years after my birth. Nearer than that to the beginning of my existence I have not yet been able to start a trace. Some things, it is true, float through my mind as shadows or dreams, to which I can fix no date. Among others, I remember my Aunt Betsey Grier coming to see us, her crying, and taking us children into the garden to the grave of our mother.' "