loss we deplore, let us rather express our gratitude that we have so long enjoyed so great a blessing, and let each individual who knew, and loved or admired him, do what he can to render permanent the beneficent influence of his example.

His judicial character is, of course, the most interesting to the public; and, as a judge, his character was very peculiar and strongly marked. He was eminently a man of genius, of strong, vivid, and rapid perceptions, and the frankness of his character always prompted the immediate impression of his convictions. Such a disposition and habit must, of course, and not unfrequently, induce mistakes. But here intervened a redeeming principle, resulting from one of the most peculiar characteristics of his happily composed nature. For a man of strong and ardent genius, and profound learning, and these, too, rendered conspicuous by great reputation and high office, Judge Livingston was, in one respect, almost a miracle. He seemed to be without vanity. He did not listen, or affect to listen, to arguments in opposition to his declared opinions, merely from official decorum ; but his mind was literally and truly open to conviction. Others may have committed fewer errors, but who has left fewer unrepaired?

The kindness and suavity of his character were strongly displayed in the discharge of his official duties. At every moment of his life, he was an amiable and a finished gentleman. He never manifested any thing of the petulance or insolence of station. He never seemed to be of opinion, that there was a dignity in the administration of justice which reached even to its inferiour ministers, and, without ever forgetting the propriety of his station, he treated the gentlemen of the bar as his friends and brethren, over whom he was called, as it were, to preside for some temporary purpose.

To say that he was just and impartial, would be low and inadequate praise. He was prompt, laborious, and indefatigable. His own ease and pleasure always gave way at the call of duty-he never delayed or slighted any thing-he often laboured most without the stimulus of fame-he was, perhaps, rather too averse to the pa

rade of display and publication. Causes were not unfrequently heard at his own house, and many of his most elaborate opinions, the result of laborious and profound investigation, were communicated only to the counsel interested.

In his intellectual habits he was cautious, but not timid. He looked rather to practical results than abstract principles. Nevertheless, his feelings and opinions were decidedly of a liberal cast. He desired to extend and improve legal science, and did not consider all knowledge and all wisdom to be bound up within the compass of English jurisprudence.

Our sketch must be rapid. Judge Livingston was eminently gifted with a fine public and social spirit. This temper was displayed in his zealous promotion of all liberal pursuits and institutions. He was a generous patron of literature. The same spirit diffused itself through his whole character. A strong impulse and glow of benevolence characterised all his intercourse with society. His manners were, to an unusual degree, attentive, kind, and affectionate; to his friends, and indeed to all who deserved and required it, his aid was prompt, decided, and efficient. In one word, his heart was full of warm, kindly feelings, which flowed out upon all around him.

It will be gratifying to all the friends of Christianity to know that the luminous mind of Judge Livingston assented to its evidences; and that he made a public profession of his faith.

Any sketch of the character of Judge Livingston, which did not mention his domestic qualities, would be unpardonably imperfect.

In all the relations of domestic life-and it is there that a man's true character is best known, and its influence felt he was far above the reach of common place commendation. None but those who saw him in retirement, and knew him intimately, can appreciate his character in this respect. He was ever most affectionate, attentive, and considerate, exacting little for himself, and always consulting the interests and feeling of his, family.

The main object of his life, at least that which seemed to interest him most, was to transfuse his own knowledge and character into the minds of his children. Every hour that could be spared from his public duties, and more than could well be spared from the time necessary for his relaxation and the care of his health, was devoted to their education. He was their constant instructer. Of such a man it is common place to say, that to his family, his loss is irreparable. He has done all that the most devoted affection, and the most assiduous attention to their welfare, could do for them here, and has gone to his reward. If his example and precepts have their just influence, they will, in some good degree, continue to them his presence, and supply his loss.

VI. SAMUEL WELCH.

[New-Hampshire Patriot. Concord.]

DIED, at Bow, N. H. on the 5th of April, 1823, the venerable SAMUEL WELCH, the oldest person in NewHampshire, at the age of one hundred and twelve years and seven months! He was born at Kingston, N. H. Sept. 1, 1710, O. S. His grandfather, Philip Welch, was a native of England, and one of the first settlers at Ipswich, Mass. His father, Samuel Welch, settled early at Kingston, and lived to between 80 and 90 years of age. His mother lived nearly a century; a sister till about 100, and a brother till more than 90 years of age. Mr. Welch spent the early part of his life on the paternal farm; afterwards removed to Pembroke, purchased a small tract of land, and settled upon it. About fifty years since, he removed to Bow, where he steadily cultivated his little farm, till the winter of age was gathering around him, and the infirmities of a second childhood warned him of his approaching dissolution. It was not, however, till a hundred summers had passed that he was compelled to abstain from labour. Mr. Welch had through life been a man of industry, and a lover of retirement. The dangers of Indian warfare had never disturbed him, though the savages for many years lurked in the vicinity. No accident or evil appears to have

befallen him; his long life has been an even tenor of quiet industry and comfort, unmarked by those vicissitudes which distinguish the history of many of our aged people. The grand secret of his extraordinary health seems to have been his uniform temperance, which, with a single exception, secured to him through life a sound constitution, and an entire exemption from dis

ease.

Till within a very short time his mental powers were little impaired, and he could converse with freedom and propriety. With the years long passed he was most familiar, and would relate, with ease, circumstances that occurred half a century ago; while with recent events and the present race of men, he was little acquainted. For the last few years he has had many visiters-the young and thoughtless, to behold the patriarch of a century and an eighth--the old, to commune with a man, to whom they too appeared as youths.

His appearance was truly venerable. Time had made deep inroads upon his frame; his locks had been touched by the silvery wand; his eye, originally dark and brilliant, gave evidence of decaying lustre; while his countenance, wrinkled with years, and his frame, tottering and feeble, could not but deeply impress the beholdHe spoke of life as one weary of its burthens, and wishing to be away." His death has corresponded with his life-it was calm and tranquil. And we trust he has gone to taste the rewards of a life spent in quiet virtue and unambitious goodness.

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Mr. Welch was the oldest native citizen in NewHampshire. Three, however, have died here at a greater age, viz. Mr. Lovewell, of Dunstable, (father to Col. Zaccheus Lovewell mentioned in Belknap's N. H. vol. ii. p. 233,) aged 120; William Perkins, of New Market, who died in 1732, aged 116; and Robert Macklin of Wakefield, who died in 1789, aged 115. It may be mentioned, in favour of the general salubrity of our climate, that, within a century, about 100 persons have lived in New-Hampshire to the age of a century and upwards. We doubt whether any other state in the Union can present so many instances of longevity.

VII. JACOB PERKINS.

[Commercial Gazette. Boston.]

INTELLIGENCE is now so generally diffused, and enterprise so much applauded, that no man can be great in arts, or letters, without a corresponding celebrity. If the mild virtues of life do not always find a conspicuous page in the history of the day, or if talents do not always insure bread, yet high efforts, and their success or their failure, have no scarcity of heralds to convey them to the world. Newspapers and magazines lend their countless wings to spread abroad feats, incidents, explanations and reasonings, for the information of the community. The elevation of the plane of human knowledge is so great, by the increase and diffusion of the arts and sciences, in fact it is nearly to the extent of ordinary capacities,-that the heights are inaccessible to all but a favoured few, of rare opportunities, and those gifted by God, beyond the common measure of his inspiration. The diary of genius, accurately kept, on the painful journey to distinction, wealth and honour, would be as instructing as amusing; but those fortunate men, who have obtained their object, are generally unwilling to make a particular recital of their struggles. The opulent man, who has been the builder of his own fame, has seldom any pleasure in describing the straightened circumstances of his early life; the proud man disdains to remember that he ever wanted the sympathies of his inferiors; and the generous man, perhaps, wishes to forget that he once wanted, but never received them, or not at a time when kindly attentions might have dissipated the clouds of despondency, and brought on a day of hope and enjoyment. We have, it is true, a few pieces of auto-biography, which are read with delight by all classes, without inquiring their length or brevity. The minute details of Cumberland and Marmontel, and the short annals of Gifford and Franklin, struggling in early life, have been read with delight, and will be forever. Most distinguished men are too busy, if they were willing, to write about themselves, and the world must be content with such sketches as their friends can furnish.

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