LIFE. THE life of the subject of this memoir was splendid, but brief. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on the 31st of August, 1796. His father, Colonel Simon Larned, a man of few words, deep judgment, and rare wit and humor, was a meritorious officer in the Revolutionary contest, a colonel in the United States' army during the whole of the last war, and at one time represented his district in Congress. His mother possessed extraordinary intellectual powers, eloquence, unaffected piety, and a very ardent and energetic spirit of benevolence. "She was," (says one acquainted with her, and with this her son in his childhood,) "a woman of masculine mind, abounding with the sources of a rapid and exuberant eloquence. In conversation with her and into her conversation, she always pours the ardor of her natural feelings, I have often been surprised at the native energy and copiousness of her thoughts and language." Mr. Larned appears to have inherited much of her peculiar genius. It might be said, in the language, slightly altered, applied to the mother of Curran, "She had a deep, fresh, womanly, original mind, like the clear river that comes gushing and flashing and discoursing from the large lonely mountainfrom the outlaws' and fairies' home to the village. She had a waste of old traditions and passions lying grand and irregular in her soul, and a bright, warm love of her children came pouring upon them, and making them grow green at her feet." She guarded the mind of her son against the dangers which beset youthful genius, and sought to instil into his heart religious truth. The development of his talents in childhood was very remarkable, and his mother often noticed that in his sleep the motion of his lips and fingers showed that his mental faculties were earnestly engaged.* "A certain confident decision of mind and manner, (says one of his earliest associates,†) an originality and boldness of thought and expression; a surprising facility equally of acquiring and imparting knowledge, with something like pity for slower minds; a resolute confidence that nothing within the grasp of the human intellect was too high for him to reach, seemed natural to him wherever he was, or whatever his age." It is said that on one occasion, when at play with his bro * "I would however observe, that from the earliest period of his life, when his mother's fondness was watching over his sleeping hours, his fingers would be guiding his pen, and his tongue lisping words for spelling. In his wakeful hours he was ever performing acts of benevolence, which was very gratifying to his mother; and this disposition, my dear sir, lived with him while he lived. He has ever been an affectionate, obedient, and pleasant child, and ever evinced the greatest affection for his brothers, sisters, and all mankind."-His Mother's letter to Dr. Cornelius. + Rev. J. N. Danforth. ther, he laid a wager that he would make him weep by talking to him, and that by his pathos he soon melted him into tears. At Lenox Academy, where he became prepared for college, his abilities were strikingly exhibited; "it was all one with him whether he recited with one class, or two or three classes. In each he was equally at home, in each profiting beyond his equals."* He was at this time stimulated by the desire of obtaining early admission to college. The gentleman to whom we are indebted for interesting reminiscences of these early years of Larned, mentions that as the courts of law held their sessions in Lenox, some of the students of the academy were ambitious of trying their powers of argument and eloquence before a mock tribunal of their own, and that the subject of our biography, as an advocate in this forum, spoke with a fluency, sensibility, self-confidence, * "As we were walking home to Pittsfield one Saturday afternoon from Lenox, (the distance is six miles, and we often used to walk it,) we stopped to rest awhile, near a rock by the road-side, which rising a little from the earth, presented so level a surface, as to constitute a kind of platform. On this the young traveller mounted, and with the heavens for a sounding board, and myself for an audience, pronounced a speech of which I enjoyed the sole benefit, and which I, of course, praised to the heart's content of the orator. Little did I then think that these stirring energies of a boy's mind were one day to be sanctified to God in the highest sphere which is allotted to man-the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION-that the young and nascent genius which thus broke forth, as by a kind of sudden impulse, would in future years cast its enchantments around the minds of listening thousands. "I may add, how little did I suppose that he who was thus trying his powers of mind and voice as matter of amusement to himself and to me, would one day seriously encourage and exhort me to aspire to that ministry which was now to be his work, his joy, and his honor, whether living or dying."-Rev. J. N. Danforth. and originality, that gave promise, (had he been destined to the legal profession,) that few, if any, would have towered above him in efforts or fame. At the age of thirteen, he delivered an oration on the Fourth of July, before a large audience in his native town, (the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth being present,) which received great applause. Something of the enthusiastic favor shown towards the orator on this occasion may have been owing to his extreme youth, yet his performance, now before us, is a composition of uncommon merit for one of his age.* * This address, is stated in the Presbyterian Annual to have been delivered at the request of the students of Pittsfield Academy; but it was certainly heard by the citizens generally. The following is extracted from the concluding passage: "Peculiar blessings are bestowed on the rising generation. We enjoy the inestimable privilege of a Government founded on equitable principles, and in its nature republican. We have the experience of ages and of nations, who have gone before us, and pointed out the road to empire and to glory. How unpardonable then would it be in us, how deservedly should we merit eternal infamy, were we not to advantage ourselves by their examples, and imitate their virtues, while we contemn their vices. It is an old and established maxim, that 'Like causes produce like effects.' We here behold the rock which devoted the ancient republicans to destruction, and the causes which eventually consigned them to the grave of oblivion While we contemplate the striking picture of the baleful consequences of luxury, with its concomitant evils, shall we inconsiderately rush onward in the wild career of folly and extravagance, and meet the same melancholy fate? Ah, no! on our fathers depends our salvation. They are invested with the powers of government, and to them we are to look for rescue from the impending ruin. Direct us aright, and preserve our morals pure, and our virtue unsullied, that we may vie in eminence and glory with the nations of the world. If we peruse the history of ancient republics, we shall find their laws and precepts guarding against excessive wealth, as the parent of every species of vice and immorality. Beware of its baneful effects. They were careful early to impress on the minds of the youth a love of |