material prosperity of New England, but to her high commercial re putation both at home and abroad. They extended the bounds of het foreign trade, devised and supported her manufacturing establishments, planned and built her railroads, created or endowed her institutions of charity and education. A few of them obtained eminence as legislators and statesmen, though political pursuits never formed more than a brief episode in their active career. Generally they preferred to serve great public ends in a private station, where their influence was not less extensively felt because it was never obtrusively manifested. The biographies of a few among them have been recently published, and have been received by the community with an interest proportioned to the importance of their labors and the worth of their example. A brief sketch of the life of Mr. Dwight, compiled from scanty but trustworthy materials, may now be added to the

number of these records.

EDMUND DWIGHT was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, November 28th, 1780. His father, Jonathan Dwight, was a second cousin of the celebrated theologian and poet, Timothy Dwight, who was, for nearly a quarter of a century, the President of Yale College. The mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Ashley, died while Edmund was yet a child, and his father married a second, and subsequently a third wife. There were six children in the family, two daughters and four sons, of whom Mr. Henry Dwight, of Geneva, New York, is now the sole survivor. These children were chiefly educated at home, in such schools as Springfield, then a small place, afforded. The father, who was in prosperous circumstances, kept a store and also cultivated a piece of land; and his sons, as was usual with country lads in New England, when they were not occupied in school, often assisted in performing the ordinary labor upon the farm. Edmund, who was active and athletic, found his share of this work by no means unpleasing, and often afterward referred to it with pleasHe was trained to careful and thrifty habits, after the pains-taking way of New England agriculturists in the last century; and the homely maxims, which he then learned, were remembered and cited by him with point and humor in his subsequent career. Thus he or heedless worker of the necessity of "sweeping after the cart." He was wont to boast, also, that he was the best foot-ball player in the village.

ure.

would remind a negligent

After completing his preparatory education at school, he entered Yale College, at about the same time that his distinguished relative became president of that institution; and he was graduated there in good standing in 1799. His early destination was for the

bar, though the choice was

probably made more in compliance with

the wishes of his friends, than from his own predilections, which certainly inclined rather to an active than a studious life. He entered the lawoffice of Fisher Ames at Dedham, and probably lived for a time in Mr. Ames' family; at any rate, he formed and always retained the strongest admiration and affection for Mr. Ames, who was very kind to him, introducing him to his friends, and thereby to the best society in Boston. The conversation of Mr. George Cabot, Chief Justice Parsons, and other members of that brilliant circle of which Mr. Ames was the centre, made a deep impression upon him, and in later life, he spoke of it as the most fascinating and effective which he had ever heard. These gentlemen were the leaders and champions of the old Federalist party, which was still predominant in New England, though it was fast losing its ascendency in the country at large. There was something chivalrous in their attachment to it long after their sagacity perceived that its prosperity was waning, and that defense of its principles was no longer an introduction to popularity and power. Veneration for the character of Washington was a part of their political creed, almost of their religious belief. The earnestness with which these opinions were held, the high-toned conservatism which characterized them, and the eloquence and wit with which they were defended, naturally had a strong effect upon the mind of a young man, who, at the same time, was grateful for the notice which was taken of him and for many marks of personal kindness. Mr. Dwight was too resolutely self-reliant in his turn of mind to follow implicitly, and through life, the opinions of others, however high the authority whence they emanated; but it is probable that his views of society and politics, and even his estimate of many distinguished individuals at that epoch, were a good deal colored by the conversation which he heard in the law-office at Dedham, and in that circle of society of which Mr. Ames was one of the brightest orna

ments.

After completing his law studies, Mr. Dwight became desirous of visiting Europe, a project which was then far less common than it has Jecome, through the growth of opulence and the increased facilities of travel, in our own day. To obtain the means of carrying this plan into effect, he proposed that his father should give him immediately what would be his ultimate share of the inheritance, saying that he would not ask for any thing further, but would depend in future entirely on himself. Such a proposal was in perfect accordance with his character; at once resolute in executing any purpose which he had deliberately conceived, and confiding in his own strength for meeting any future exigences which such conduct might bring upon him.

His father having acceded to this proposition, he crossed the Atlantic in 1802, and remained abroad about two years. It was a busy time in the affairs of Europe, and especially in the politics of England, to which country Mr. Dwight's visit was chiefly directed. The peace of Amiens, which might rather be called a truce, as it was made without good faith on either side and lasted only a little over a year, had just been declared; and a vehement party struggle attended both its cominencement and its close. The Whigs, though their party comprised much of the best talent and the highest rank in the kingdom, were in a hopeless minority; but the Tories were shorn of their strength through their dissensions with each other. William Pitt had retired from office, that he might not have any hand in the conclusion of a peace which he deplored, at the same time that he recognized its necessity; but when the renewal of the war became imminent, he was haughtily indignant that his substitute, Mr. Addington, should be unwilling to restore to him the reins of power. In order to drive out the administration, he entered into a coalition with his old opponents, the whigs; and though the king resolutely supported his prime minister, an opposition made up of the combined forces of Pitt, Fox, Sheridan, and Grenville was too much for the nerves of Mr. Addington, who, after a memorable struggle, and while a majority were yet at his command, gave way to his imperious opponent, and shortly afterward humbly consented to take office as his subordinate. Mr. Dwight was present as a spectator in the gallery of the House of Commons during the vehement debates which preceded the dissolution of the Addington ministry. The eloquence of the chief debaters made a strong impression upon him, especially that of Pitt, who, he thought, had finer natural qualifications for oratory than any speaker he had ever heard. A rich and powerful voice, and great copiousness of speech, added much effect to his loftiness of tone and weight of argument. He spoke like one who held in his hand the destinies of three kingdoms and the fortunes of a great war. The politics of America at this period hinged in a great degree upon those of Europe, and perhaps the predilections of Mr. Dwight as a Federalist enhanced his administration of the great English states

man.

Sometime in 1804, Mr. Dwight returned to Massachusetts, and immediately engaged in commercial business with his father and brothers in Springfield. Though his mind was cultivated by study, travel, and acquaintance with the world, he had not the distinctive tastes of a scholar, and was entirely free from the love of display which draws so many young men into the liberal professions. His choice of an

occupation was probably determined by his strong love of independence, his disposition to form extensive and far-reaching plans, and his wish to exert the influence which the possession of great wealth invariably bestows. Under a quiet demeanor and very courteous manners, he concealed an iron will and great steadfastness of purpose. These qualities had ample scope in his occupation, and contributed to its large success. The business in Springfield had its head quarters in a large store on the corner opposite his father's house; but it was rapidly extended, and soon included several branches in the neighboring towns. Being united with banking and other matters, it gave full employment to the several members of the firm, and exerted much influence on the commercial prosperity of the town and the neighboring country. It was attended of course, with the usual vicissitudes of trade; but Mr. Dwight's excellent judgment and cool but persevering character saved him from any marked reverses. His mind was fertile in schemes and resources, though it was somewhat impatient of details, which he willingly intrusted to others He belonged to the second class of persons characterized by Lord Bacon, when he says that "expert men can execute and judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots, and the marshaling of affairs come best from those that are learned."

Mr. Dwight's business led him frequently to Boston, and here he became acquainted with and married Miss Eliot, in April, 1809. She was the daughter of Samuel Eliot, then an eminent and successful merchant, whose munificence in founding during his lifetime that professorship in Harvard College which now bears his name, was allowed to become known only after his death. The marriage was an eminently fortunate one, contributing largely to the happiness of both parties to it for more than thirty-five years, Mrs. Dwight's decease taking place but a short time before that of her husband. Her sweetness of disposition and firmness of Christian principle diffused sunshine not only in her own household, but throughout the sphere in which she moved. Her goodness was spontaneous; it cost her no effort to be patient, loving, and charitable, but her excellent understar.ding and severe habit of self-control were needed to preserve these gentler virtues from passing by excess into their neighboring faults. She had much to bear; ill health, in a form attended by great suffering, cast a shadow over many of her years. But the gloom never touched her character or chilled her feelings; on the contrary, her sympathies were never more quick and active, or her charities more unceasing, than when pain seemed to require her attention to be centred on herself. She found her medicine in doing good; she

could derive an enjoyment from entering into the feelings of others, and especially from sympathizing with the happiness which she had helped to create, which brightened her darkest hours of personal suffering. As a wife and a mother, her virtues were best known and appreciated, of course, by those of her own household and her own blood; but there was an atmosphere of goodness about her, which not even a comparative stranger could approach without acknowledg ing its genial and sunny effects. Out of her own family, she preferred that her kindness should be felt, not known. Her charities were constant, but secret, like the rivulet whose sunken course is betrayed only by the brighter green along its banks. Yet to those who knew her intimately, it seemed that even her beneficence could be better spared than the influence of her visible example; and that her peculiar province was to render goodness attractive by the charm of her manner and the silent teachings of her character.

The first ten years of Mr. Dwight's married life were spent in Springfield, in the active pursuits of his business, diversified only by an occasional visit to Saratoga or Washington. He took considerable interest in politics, though in his characteristic way, preferring to accomplish certain results, rather than to allow his own action in the matter to become known. From the strength of his character and his resoluteness of purpose, he had very considerable influence over others when he chose to exert it. They were content to follow his advice, because it was so quietly given, and because he claimed no merit to himself when the end was attained through the means which he had pointed out. His convictions were strong, and his use of means varied and unwearying, when he had a point which he thought worth carrying. Before he left Springfield, it was understood that he might have been chosen to Congress from that district. But the office had few attractions for him; he was no public speaker, and he probably thought at that time that he could ill afford to leave his business. By not becoming a candidate himself, moreover, he could exert more influence over the action of those who were chosen.

Mr. Dwight removed his family to Boston about 1819, and soon afterward, formed a partnership there with Mr. James K. Mills, which continued till his death. The firm thus established soon became deeply interested in the manufacturing enterprises on a large scale which were then just obtaining a foothold in New England. There was something peculiarly attractive in such undertakings to a person of Mr. Dwight's temperament and opinions. It gratified both his pride and his benevolence, to be largely instrumental in building up villages and towns in districts which before were but sparsely popu