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hardship, and those hearts, throbbing with kindly emotions, should be held for this long period of time by their fellow-citizens, without the imputation of a crime, in a captivity unparalleled even in the annals of the French Bastile, or Algerine slavery, . always viewed by us with sentiments of inexpressible horror, is more than my nature is able to endure. To be immured in a dungeon, standing on the very soil of liberty, and in the midst of men boasting its high privileges, is, in my mind, with which the ideas and the value of freedom are closely interwoven, infinitely worse than to be enslaved in a foreign land, by enemies and barbarians, from whom nothing better could be expected. But as an officer of the county, I have a duty to perform. I must either be governed by the law, and suffer you still to remain, the devoted victims of unavoidable misfortune and honest poverty, shut out from the genial light of heaven and the vital air, God's equal gift to all; to endure, perhaps perish under the privations incident to your situation, and the stern ravages of approaching winter; forlorn and destitute, with no friend to comfort, no society to cheer, no companion to console you-or, I must be directed by the powerful impulse of humanity, pay the debt myself, and bid you leave this dreary and gloomy abode.

"My unfortunate fellow-citizens: My duty to myself will not suffer longer to remain here an old companion in arms, who fought for the liberty of which he is deprived, for no crime but that of being

poor. My duty to my country, whose honor is deeply implicated by your sufferings and it is one of my first wishes that it should be untarnishedand my duty to my God, who has put into my power to relieve, irresistibly urge me to the latter course. This, I am sensible, takes from me a large sum of money; however the liberal and generous people, among whom it is my happy lot to reside, may participate; if not, none but my children will have any right to reproach me; and I am confident they will do no more than say their father was generous to a fault. In this view, go; receive the uncontaminated air which is diffused abroad for the comfort of man; go to your families and friends, if you have any. Be correct in your habits. Be industrious-and if your tottering and emaciated frames are so far exhausted as to prevent your getting a comfortable support, apply to the good people for relief-and may the best of heaven's blessings accompany you the remainder of your days."

This act was one of the noblest ever performed in this selfish world of ours, and we venture to say has scarcely ever had its equal among the acts of the public men of the country.

In almost every town in New-Hampshire, there are persons who well remember old Governor Pierce, and remember him with the liveliest affection too. His grave is in a pleasant spot, and is surmounted by a plain monument, which is in good taste, for Gov. Pierce was of all men plain and unaffected.

علا 2

CHAPTER II.

Birth of Franklin Pierce-Preparation for College-Anecdote-His religious friend, Zenas Caldwell-Solving a Problem-Military and Civil Law in Conflict-Takes his Degree-Studies Law-Elected to House of Representatives-Made Speaker.

WE now come, after a very hasty and brief sketch of his father's family, to the present General FRANKLIN PIERCE. He was born at Hillsborough, the 23d day of November, 1804. Being a child of strong promise, at an early age Gov. Pierce sent him out of town to obtain his education. An elder brother, then in the army, had the sagacity to perceive the powers of his mind, and was exceedingly anxious that he should receive a thorough education. For several years he attended school in the neighboring towns of Hancock and Francestown. While a resident of the latter town, he lived with the mother of the late lamented Judge Woodbury, who was a lady of superior mind and attractions. Over Frank she had a most beneficial influence, as he very often acknowledged. He left Francestown for Exeter Academy, where he completed his preparatory studies, and entered Bowdoin College at the precocious age of sixteen, in the year 1820. During his first two years in College, Frank Pierce was not distinguished for his devotion to his studies. He was not

dissipated, but having naturally a full flow of spirits, he was a little wild. But among all his classmates, he was extremely popular. Possessing frank manners and a generous disposition, it could not well be otherwise. Some of the members of his class have since become highly distinguished. A few of the names we will mention: Calvin E. Stowe (since Rev. Dr. Stowe), was its brightest scholar. Among his intimate collegiate friends, were the Hon. James Bell, John P. Hale, the Free Soil Senator, and who, up to 1845, was one of his warmest friends, Jonathan Cilley, and that most beautiful of all American prose writers, Nathaniel Hawthorne. We have said that Frank Pierce was not, during his first two years, a brilliant scholar, owing to his fondness for society and his high spirits. While pursuing the study of Algebra, he one morning, in hastily running over his lesson for the day, came to an abstruse problem, which could not be solved without time and patience. Unfortunately he was not just then in possession of those valuable articles, and being in the room of his classmate, Stowe, and casting a glance at his slate, he saw the problem worked out most charmingly! It was the work only of a few minutes, and the copy on his own slate was complete. It was barely completed before the hour of recitation arrived. The tutor commenced with Pierce, half expecting that he would have failed in solving the problem, when, to his surprise, he saw the proper result upon the slate of the young colle

gian. He took the slate, looked at it, and said in his wonderment:

"Well, Pierce! where did you get this?"

Now Frank Pierce could no more tell a lie than he could be guilty of any other wicked and mean action, and supposing that the tutor was soberly asking him a question he wished answered, he replied:

"Where did I get it? Why, from Stowe's slate, to be sure!" The reply came with such a perfect sang froid, that the class burst into merry laughter, while the tutor, if he was displeased with Pierce's want of study, became thoroughly convinced of his honesty of character. And this has ever been one

of the finest traits in his character. He has never so much as tergiversated. He can never lie-is never inconsistent.

He soon became acquainted in college with his class-mate, Zenas Caldwell, of Maine, brother of the late Prof. Meritt Caldwell, of Dickinson College. Zenas Caldwell died the year after leaving college, and was a most devoted Christian of the Methodist persuasion. He soon conceived a strong affection for Frank Pierce, notwithstanding his levity and youthfulness. It seems as though he must have had a presentiment that Pierce was destined to a life of extended influence and power, for he was exceedingly anxious to win him over to the paths of piety. It was in vain that Pierce tried to shake him off; he clung to him as a brother, not boldly and offen

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