LETTER XIV.

Dedham-Hon. Mr. Ames-Medfield: attacked by the Indians-Medway—Bellingham-Mendon-Peculiar kind of sheep-Uxbridge-Douglas-Forests-Thompson-The Quinibaug and country on its borders-Pomfret-Ashford-Mansfield-Coventry-Bolton-Willington-Gap in the Bolton Hills.

Dear Sir,

WE continued at Charlestown a week, and spent our time very pleasantly among the interesting objects there, and in the vicinity. On Tuesday, October 13th, we commenced our journey homeward; and passing through Boston, Roxbury, Dedham, Medfield, and Medway, reached Mendon in the evening: thirtyeight miles.

Dedham is a neat town, situated pleasantly on a plain, the South side of Charles River, eleven miles South-West of the Capital. It is compactly built; the houses are generally good, and several of them are handsome.

Dedham is the shire town of the County of Norfolk; and contains three Congregational and one Episcopal churches, a courthouse, and a gaol. Its aspect is that of sprightliness and prosperity. Several productive intervals, forming the margin of Charles river, add not a little to its beauty.

In Dedham lived the Hon. Fisher Ames, several years a member of the American Congress. This gentleman was born here, April 9th, 1758, of respectable parents; and was educated at Harvard College, where he took the degree of A. B. in 1774. He then commenced the study of the law; and, soon after he began the practice, was regarded as an advocate of distinguished talents. In 1788, he was chosen a member of the Convention, summoned for the purpose of ratifying the Federal Constitution, and a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature the same year. The following year he was elected a Representative from the District of Suffolk to the National Legislature; and was regularly re-elected during the Presidency of General Washington. In all these situations, particularly the

last, he distinguished himself by sound wisdom, most impressive eloquence, immovable integrity, and exalted patriotism. After his speech on the necessity of making appropriations for carrying into effect the treaty with Great Britain, delivered April 28th, 1796, one of his antagonists objected to taking the vote, which was to decide the question, at that time; because the House was borne away by the power of his eloquence. From this period he generally declined public business on account of the imperfect state of his health; yet he several times accepted a seat at the Council Board. This, however, was evidently done to serve his country; not to gratify himself. He loved retirement; and delighted in his family. For public life, at the same time, he had little relish; and although for political science he felt an attachment, which approximated to enthusiasm, yet he regarded active politics with disgust. The state of his health, also, continued to be such while he lived, as in a great measure to forbid his entering anew into the field of political controversy. During his retirement, however, he never forgot the interests, or the dangers, of his country. Feeble as he was, he published within a few years before his death a series of political essays, which were then highly esteemed as specimens of original thought, and superiour wisdom. Few men have so much good sense, as Mr. Ames possessed; and none, with whom I have conversed, a mind so ready to furnish, at every call, the facts, which should be remembered; the truths, which should be declared; the arguments, which should be urged; language, in which they might be clearly and forcibly expressed; and images, with which they might be beautifully adorned. His imagination was perhaps too brilliant, and too rich. It could hardly be said, that any of the pictures, which it drew, were ill-drawn, or out of place; yet it might, I think, be truly said, that the gallery was crowded. The excess was not, however, the consequence, either of a defective taste, or a solicitude to shine; but the produce of a fancy ever creative, always exuberant, and exerting its powers more easily in this manner, than in any other. To speak and write, as he actually spoke and wrote, was only to permit the thoughts and images, which first offered themselves, to flow from his lips or his pen.

Mr. Ames was distinguished by a remarkable, and very amiable, simplicity of character. In circles, where any man would have thought it an honour to shine, and where he always shone with superiour lustre, he appeared entirely to forget himself, and to direct all his observations to the entertainment of the company; and the elucidation of the subject. Wherever he conversed, it was impossible to fail of receiving both instruction and delight. But the instruction flowed not from the pride of talents, or the ambition of being brilliant. Whatever was the field of thought, he expanded it; whatever was the theme of discussion, he gave it new splendour: but the manner, in which he did both, shewed irresistibly, that they were the most obvious, and the least laborious, employments of such an understanding, and such a fancy.

His moral character was still more estimable. His integrity appeared to be direct without effort, and even without deliberation; it appeared to be straight, because it had never been warped; to dictate what was right, because it had not yet learned to do what was wrong. His sense of rectitude, both public and personal, was not only exact, but delicate, and exquisite. His patriotism was glowing.

As a public man, Mr. Ames was a distinguished object, both of envy and praise. But eminent as he was among those who were eminent, I should more strongly covet his private character. In the several relations of life, which most endear, refine, and exalt, human nature, he appeared with singular advantage.

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Of the inspiration of the Scriptures he was firmly satisfied. It ought to be observed, that although he had read extensively the ablest works on the external evidences of Revelation, yet the divine origin of the Scriptures was most deeply impressed on his mind by their contents. "No man," said he, ever did, or ever will, become truly eloquent, without being a constant reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and simplicity of its language." To a mind, like his, it was impossible, that the dictates of a book, thus regarded, should be indifferent. Accordingly, he professed publicly, the religion, which it enjoins, and adorned his profession with a life irreproachable. Through the great and the

gay world he passed without a stain. On its follies he looked with pity; on its splendours, with self-possession. No opinion. no practice, was adopted by him, because it was fashionable. In the devotions of his closet, and in the duties of Christian benevolence, he found a satisfaction, which grandeur rarely knows, and applause can never confer. Humble, sincere, and submissive, he often shed, in intimate religious conversation, the tear of contrition, and lamented his want of fervour in his addresses to God. When his end was approaching, with a consciousness that it was near, he said, "I have peace of mind. It may arise from stupidity; but I believe it is founded on a belief of the Gospel. My hope is in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ." The Divinity of the Saviour he admitted without a question, and, it would seem, from a minute investigation of the subject.

The Infidel, and the worldly Christian, if I may be permitted to use this phraseology, will regard the last part of his character with feelings of contemptuous superiority. You, I am persuaded, will rejoice to learn, that he was thus divinely wise; and will contemplate, with exquisite satisfaction, his glorious destiny, which, commencing in this manner here, will hereafter become brighter and brighter forever.

Mr. Ames was married, in the year 1792, to Frances, the third daughter of the Hon. John Worthington, formerly mentioned in my account of Springfield. By this lady he had six sons, and one daughter; all of them still living.

A volume of his works was published at Boston in the year

1809.

Dedham is divided into three parishes; and contained, in 1790, 255 houses, and 1,659 inhabitants; in 1800, 1,973 inhabitants; and, in 1810, 2,172.

In the first parish there died, in forty years, viz. between 1756 and 1796, 529 persons.

Of these 529 persons

Of the whole number, therefore, there lived above

80, almost 1 in 10

70, almost 1 in 4.

From Dedham to Medfield the country is chiefly a forest; dull in its appearance, and in some places rough and stony. The soil is poor; and the road indifferent.

Medfield is a small, but pleasant township, bounded on the West by Charles River, and on the East by Dedham. The surface is formed of easy, graceful hills, and open vallies. On the borders of the river is a chain of handsome intervals; and at a small distance from the road, is built the town, a decent village.

Medway was formerly a part of Medfield; but was incorporated as a township in 1713; and now contains two parishes. Its appearance is not unlike that of Medfield, except that we saw nothing, which could be called a village. The inhabitants of both these townships appear to be in good circumstances.

In the early part of Philip's war the savages, after they had destroyed Lancaster, attacked this town also. On the night preceding the 21st of February 1765, they formed an ambush in the forests, which surrounded it; and at day-break fell unexpectedly upon several of the houses. The inhabitants immediately fled toward the garrisons for shelter, i. e. houses encircled by palisadoes. Several of them were killed in their flight; one, a very aged man, was taken prisoner, and burnt alive. About eighteen persons were slain; a considerable number of cattle destroyed; and from forty to fifty buildings consumed. Fortunately the inhabitants had a field piece in the town, at the second or third discharge of which, the Indians fled. Hubbard informs us, that they left on the bridge a written note, declaring their determination to carry on the war for twenty years to come; and subjoining, that "they had nothing to lose; whereas the English had corn, barns, and houses." This assault was, I think, made upon what is now called the town of Medfield.

Medfield contained, in 1790, 731; in 1800, 745: and, in 1810, 786 inhabitants. Medway contained, in 1790, 1,035; in 1800. 1,050; and, in 1810, 1.213 inhabitants.

VOL. III.

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