117. To Hon. W. P. Fessenden-In Paris-Second Attack of Paralysis- Memoirs of Public Men, numerous in England, needed in America 372 118. To H. W. Starr, Esq.-Treatment in Paris-Effect of Mr. Sumner's Speech on our Bonds in London-Health prostrated in the Full 119. To Mr. Lyman Cook-Switzerland-Resignation of Office of Senator 374 120. To Hon. W. P. Fessenden-Reflections on laying down Office-Cor- rupt Senatorial Elections-Extract from Mr. Fessenden's Last Let- . 123. To Mr. Lyman Cook-Berlin-Leipsic-Admiration for the German People-German Books for the Public Library . 124. To the same-Lake Geneva-The Mountains-Meditations in Review 125. To Hon. F. A. Pike-Six Months in Switzerland-Glory in Sumner's Pluck on San Domingo Annexation, "and wish I were able to fight 128. To Hon. Charles Mason-Nothing more to do with Public Life 129. To Mr. H. K. Edson-Prussians the Greatest People in the World Return Home-Letters of Hon. E. Price and Hon. Samuel Merrill, Governor- Silver Wedding-Last Months-Death-Funeral-Tributes to his Memory CALIFORNIA THE LIFE OF JAMES W. GRIMES. CHAPTER I. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION. 1816-1836. In the early part of the seventeenth century a colony of people from Argyleshire, Scotland, emigrated to the north of Ireland, and settled in the Province of Ulster, encouraged by grants of land from James I., made for the purpose of strengthening his throne and the Protestant interest in Ireland. From being the most wild and disorderly province of Ireland, Ulster soon became the best cultivated and most civilized. In process of time the appellation "Scotch-Irish" was fixed upon the descendants of this people, though they always insisted upon their pure Scotch blood. Emigrants from this body of people came to America, and commenced the settlement of Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1719, and others of them, about the same time, settled in and near Boston, Massachusetts. Of this sturdy and vigorous stock, JAMES WILSON GRIMES was born in the town of Deering, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on the 20th of October, 1816. His parents-John Grimes, born August 11, 1772, and Elizabeth Wilson, born March 19, 1773—were natives of the same town. He was named for a brother of his mother. Her parents, Captain David Wilson and Sarah Cochran, were born in Londonderry 2 10 VIMU LIFE OF JAMES W. GRIMES. in 1743. On his father's side, his grandfather, Francis Grimes, was born, in 1747, upon Noddle's Island, now East Boston; and his grandmother, Elizabeth Wilson, a sister of his mother's father, in Londonderry, in 1736. The first permanent settlement of the town of Deering was made in 1765, and these persons were among the early settlers. The town was incorporated in 1774, and named, with Francestown, which adjoins it on the south, for Frances Deering, wife of John Wentworth, the last royal governor of the Province of New Hampshire. In response to a resolution of the Continental Congress of March 14, 1776, the male inhabitants of Deering Colony over twentyone years of age, with two exceptions, signed the following declaration, April 12, 1776: "To show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the United Colonists, we, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies." Among the thirty-three subscribers to this declaration were Francis Grimes and David Wilson. Born of such an ancestry, among a people inheriting these traditions, he breathed the free air of the hills in a community of intelligent, self-reliant, and independent farmers. He was the youngest of eight children, of whom one died in infancy; the others survived him, except a sister, Susan, who became the wife of Mr. Alden Walker, and died October 31, 1846. She was the mother of Captain John G. Walker, United States Navy. Being thirteen years older than her brother, she assisted very much in the care of his childhood. Through life he cherished a grateful recollection of her kindness, and regarded her children with peculiar tenderness and affection. His father, whom he resembled in temperament and appearance, was a substantial farmer, a man of unpretending goodness, warmly attached to his family, hospitable and kind to all, of thrifty habits, and highly esteemed among his neighbors and in the sur rounding region for sterling integrity and worth. His mother was a woman of energy and determination, and gave herself to the duties of home with careful industry and devotion. The happy parents lived together more than half a century, the mother dying in 1850, and the father the next year. His father's farm was situated in the northern part of Deering, about two and a half miles from the village of Hillsborough Bridge, upon the broad expanse of a hill-top that affords an extensive outlook over the valley of the Contoocook, and far away to distant hills that ennoble the landscape on every side. In 1806, the house which his grandfather built in the early settlement of the town gave place to a large, two-story double house, erected by his father. Here was his birthplace. A short distance down the road was a district schoolhouse, where the child mingled with his mates in study and play. The town of Deering had ten school-districts, each with a schoolhouse, and possessed a social library. From early childhood he was fond of reading, and eagerly devoured books. He commenced the study of Latin and Greek with Rev. Eber Child, pastor of the church in Deering, and boarded in his family a few months. Mr. Child was highly esteemed in the region as a scholar. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1821, and of the Theological Seminary at Andover in 1826. His widow gives the following reminiscences of her husband's pupil : Mr. Grimes was but a lad when I knew him over forty years ago, but I can think of no young man out of my own family of whom I have such vivid recollections. I remember the tones of his voice and his smiling countenance. He always laughed with his eyes. He had a happy disposition and an uncommon flow of spirits. I have no recollection of ever seeing him angry or put out at anything. If for nothing else, I should love his memory because he was so kind to my children. He would often undress our youngest child, and put him in his cradle to hear him sing his lullaby. After the child's death, he went to his scrap-book, and cut out some beautiful lines written over the grave of a child. I think he did not like his studies, still he always got his lessons. My husband thought a great deal of James, and was proud to hear of his success in life. When my husband died (December, 1847), I was left in a land of strangers, with my family of little ones, to get through the world as best I could. My husband left a small farm of unimproved land in Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, but mortgaged for all it was worth at the time of his death. I managed to clear the incumbrance, and went on it to make a home. I needed money, and wrote Mr. Grimes, asking the loan of a hundred dollars, to which he readily responded. In his letters to me he never alluded to self in any shape, only the state of his health and his family, but always remembered his old friends and relations with unabated interest and affection. In one he said, "Could you see my gray hair and wrinkled face, you would not recall the gay, rollicking boy I used to be." In the dark hours of the nation's peril, when I read in a description of the Senate, "There is Senator Grimes-he is always found in the right place," I thought, "James has not altered any-the boy is father to the man." When the disappointment of "Impeachment" flashed over the land, I told a neighbor I was confident there was one who decided according to the evidence; that I knew Mr. Grimes and his father before him, and he had not swerved from what he thought was right and duty. The lad completed his preparation for college at Hampton Academy, under the instruction of Rev. Roswell Harris. In one of his compositions, while a member of the academy, he describes the beauty of Hampton Beach, and the picturesque and sublime scenery of Boar's Head. At this period many portions of the country were visited with seasons of special religious awakening. The year 1831 was memorable in this respect. Several eminent clergymen of the vicinity visited Hampton, and preached to the students. The following letter, the earliest that has been preserved, gives an account of the interest that prevailed, and records the impressions and convictions of ingenuous youth: 1.-To his Parents, and Sister, Mrs. Susan G. Walker. HAMPTON, October, 1831. It is certainly with feelings of quite a different nature I address you now, from those with which I have hitherto addressed you. On Monday Dr. Dana addressed the students, and it was an |