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Dogs and horses belonging to those accustomed to being inebriated will come to the succor of their masters. The writer remembers a spirited horse that no blows would drive to a quick pace when he felt his master reeling on his back. It was said that Dexter's dog would never leave his master's feet when he was at all intoxicated. What a satire on the presumption of man, who arrogates to himself to be lord of creation!

The person who had the most influence over Dexter of all who were near him was a female African, whose name was LUCY LANCASTER. She was the daughter of an old African brought to this country when young. He always stated that he was the son of a prince, and had been taken in his first battle. He was always believed by his master in his assertions, and these were strengthed by the attentions paid him by those who came with him, young and old. On the day of negro election, as it was at that time called, in Massachusetts-meaning nothing more than this, that by long usage, the slaves, who were always treated well in that state, were permit ted to have a parade and jollification on Boston common, on the day of the assembling of the general court; Cæsar, Lucy's father, was a generalissimo, and had from his rank twelve footmen to run by his side while he paraded on horseback. His horse was always one of great speed and elegance; for he seemed to have a presumptive right to borrow the best horse in the town. The daughter of the prince Cæsar was Patagonian in size, and quite heroic in character. She was shrewd, well informed, and brave as ever man or woman could be. She allowed no negro to enter her dwelling.Her acquaintances were of the first gentry. If a person was named for the most unhesitating confidence it was lawyer Parson, as she was called by the boys-a name they courteously bestowed upon her, because they tho't her mind was of a kindred order to that of the "giant of the law." She endeared herself to many for great services during an alarming period of sickness, in 1796, when the yellow fever raged in the town. Night and day she spared no pains, but fearlessly, resolutely, and skillfully attended her sick friends. She had a constitution in that day, nothing could break down, and her judgment was of a superior order; as far above other common minds as her strength was above that of ordinary females. Dexter, finding that she lived in the upper classes of society, sent for her in some case of sickness, and, much to his credit, she ever afterwards kept the hold she had at that time gained as Dexter's nurse. She was the confident and confessor of the whole family, and, by her prudent management, often settled quarrels or prevented them. It was in vain for any member of the family to oppose corporenl or mental power against her, and after a while they made no resistance to her mandates. If Dexter loaded a gun to shoot some one, Luce was sent for; if the son had a crazy fit, she must be there; if the daughter made an escape, as she sometimes would do, Luce hunted her up, and brought her back. She entered the house when she pleased, and staid as long as she pleased. The servants obeyed her as mistress of the whole household. This sagacious women always gave Dexter more credit for mind than any one else ever did. She thought that he was a very honest man and would not take any advantage of his workmen, but would see them paid strictly according to contract. She thought that his eccentricities arose in a measure from the flow of his animal spirits. He

VOL. I. NO. 11.

(32)

May, 1849.

could not be still, and having nothing of importance to occupy his mind, he fluttered from folly to folly without thinking of what he was about. She understood his character perfectly, and when he was in one of those restless fits, she would, if possible, keep him from liquor, and advise him to make an alteration in the garden, out houses or fences; and as soon as his workmen were busy, he was happy until the matter was finished, and this cure often was effectual for some time. As Dexter became more weak and irascible, the more she was wanted, and the more good she did. There can be no doubt but that his freaks would have been oftener and more injurious if he had dispensed with her services. She often quenched the fire as it was kindling, and shot the folly ere it flew. Dexter never understood the sound maxim of prudence, "WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, DON'T YOU, DO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT." There is some excuse for the man; he had no taste for reading any thing, and probably did not pay much attention to any thing he might have attempted to read; he was excluded from all society; the common walks were not paths for him, and in the higher circles he could not travel. The pride of walking in his garden, watching his flowers and trees, was something, and the contemplation of his images still more. He said of himself that he could no more be still than a devil's needle, and sometimes used to say if there was a transmigration of souls he should next appear in one, and with this train of thought in his mind he would suffer no one to kill this insect. Thus his mind roved from whim to whim, which might have been kept steady as it was in early life, if he had not been free from all anxiety for a support. This solicitude to obtain a subsistence is the balance-wheel in minds much stronger than that of our subject.

Dexter continued his course of life, without any essential change of habits, until October 26, 1806, when he quietly expired at his palace.

"In Nonday place, Sir Richard Monday died."

His life was a much longer one than could have been reasonably expected of a man given to such indulgences. One thing seemed to protect his days; he drank nothing but the purest and best of liquors. Most inebriates grow gross in their tastes, and at last prefer that liquor which comes the nearest to the highest proof alcohol to any other.

In his last days, he was sensible of the follies of his life, and was desirous of atoning for his errors as far as he could, by making a just disposition of the property he was about to leave. He took the best of advice and followed it. It is a singular fact, that while most wise men's wills are injudicious in some features, no one ever found fault with Dexter's. Not only his offspring, but his collateral relations, were provided for in a proper tribution of his goods and estate.

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His remains were not allowed to repose in the tomb he made for himself; the Board of Health would not permit his wishes to be carried into effect, and in this they were prudent. The grave of such a man, in such a public place, would have been a nuisance indeed. He sleeps quietly in the Hill cemetery, in Newburyport, the most numerous congregation of the dead within the precincts of the corporation. A simple stone marks the grave of the once ambitious fortunate, whose living dreams were full of posthumous glories. The Dexter house has lately been repaired, but the garden is not kept in such order as it was in the days of the second occupant after the decease of the owner. Mr. Caldwell had a taste for gardening,

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the United States, and let him know our deplorable situation, that the bad men among our white brothers may be stopped from selling whiskey to the Indians. Could you my brothers, see the evil of this barberous practice you would pity the poor Indians!

"Brothers: When a white man trading in our country meets an Indian, he asks him the first time, "Take a drink;" he says, "No." He asks the second time, "Take a drink, good whiskey;" he says "No." He asks the third time, "Take a drink, no hurt you;" he takes a little; then he wants more and then more. Then the trader tells him he must buy. He then offers his gun; the white man takes it. Next his skins; white man takes them. He at last offers his shirt; white man takes it.

"When he gets sober, he begins to inquire-"Where is my gun?" He is told, "You sold it for whisky. "Where are my skins?" "You sold

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th m for whisky." "Where is my shirt?" You sold it for whisky!". Now, my white brothers, imagine to yourself the deplorable situation of that man, who has a wife and children at home dependant on him and in a starving condition, when he himself is without a shirt!"

The speech, of which the above is the substance, was with other documents transmitted by the Quakers to Mr. Jefferson, when he was in office as President of the United States. By him it was transmitted to the Governor of Ohio, with a pressing request [see journals H. R. 1808-9] that it should be laid before the Legislature of the State at its next session. He did so. The Legislature with great promptitude acted on the subject, and passed the excellent law which is now in force on that subject.

What an example has been set by this Indian Chief, worthy the imitation of any great man!

of trusting to others.

It would be greatly for the advantage of men of business, if they made it a rule never to trust any thing of consequence to another, which they can by any means do themselves. Let another have my interest ever so much at heart, I am sure I have it more myself: and no substitute one can employ, can understand one's business so well as the principal, which gives him a great advantage for doing things in the best way, as he can change his measures according to circumstances, which another has not authority to do. As for dependents of all kinds, it is to be remembered always, that their master's interests possess at most only the second place in their minds. Self-love will ever be the ruling principle, and no fidelity whatever will prevent a person from bestowing a good deal of thought upon his own concerns, which must break in, less or more, upon his diligence in consulting the interest of his constituent. How men of business can venture, as they do, to trust the great concerns some of them have, for one half of every week in the year, which, of course, is half the year, to servants, and expect others to take care of their business, when they will not be at the trouble of minding it themselves, is to me inconceivable.-Nor does the detection, from time to time, of the frauds of such people, seem at all to deter our men of business from trusting to them.Burgh's Human Nature.

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