OF

A LIFETIME,

OR

MEN AND THINGS I HAVE SEEN:

IN A SERIES OF

FAMILIAR LETTERS TO A FRIEND,

HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, ANECDOTICAL, AND

DESCRIPTIVE.

BY S G GOODRICH.

VOL. II.

NEW YORK AND AUBURN:

MILLER, ORTON AND MULLIGA N.

NEW YORK, 25 PARK Row:-AUBURN, 107 GENESEE-ST.

M DCCC LVJI.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856,

BY S. G. GOODRICH,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern

District of New York.

R. C. VALENTINE, STEREOTYPER AND ELECTROTYPIST, If Dutch-st., cor. Fulton,

NEW YORK.

C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER,
No. 15 Vandewater Street, N. Y.

The Hartford Convention-Its origin-Testimony of Noah Webster-

Oath of Roger M. Sherman-Gathering of the Convention-Doings

of democracy thereupon-Physiognomy of the Convention-Sketches

of some of the members-Colonel Jessup-Democracy in the streets

-Report of the Convention-Reception of the doings of the Conven-

tion by Madison and his party-Its effect and example-Compar-

ison of the Hartford Convention with the nullifiers-The Union for-

ever

LETTER XXXII

The Count Value-Lessons in French, and a translation of René-Se-

vere retribution for imprudence-The end of the pocket-book factory

--Napoleon returns to Paris and upsets my affairs-Divers experiences

and reflections upon dancing-Visit to New York-Oliver Wolcott and

Archibald Gracie-Ballston and Saratoga-Dr. Payson and the three

rowdies-Illness and death of my uncle-Partnership with George

Sheldon-His illness and death......

LETTER XXXIII.

61

The famine of 1816 and 1817-Panic in New England-Migrations to

Ohio-T'other side of Ohio-Toleration-Downfall of federalisın-Ol-

iver Wolcott and the democracy-Connecticut upset-The new Con-

stitution-Gov. Smith and Gov. Wolcott-Litchfield-Uriah Tracey-

Frederick Wolcott-Tapping Reeve-Col. Talmadge―James Gould-

J. W. Huntington-The Litchfield centennial celebration....... 78

LETTER XXXIV.

Stephen R. Bradley-My pursuit of the vocation of bookseller and pub-

lisher-Scott's poems-General enthusiasm-Byron's poems-Their

reception-The Waverley novels-Their amazing popularity-I pub-

lish an edition of them-Literary club at Hartford-J. M. Wain-

wright, Isaac Toucey, William L. Stone, &c.-The Round Table-Ori-

ginal American works-State of opinion as to American literature—

Publication of Trumbull's poems-Books for education-Rev. C. A.

Goodrich-Dr. Comstock-Woodbridge's Geography......

LETTER XXXV.

........

9099

Sketches of the "Hartford Wits"-Dr. Hopkins-Trumbull, author of

McFingal - David Humphries - Dr. Strong - Theodore Dwight-

Thomas H. Gallaudet-Daniel Wadsworth-Dr. Coggswell - Mrs.

Sigourney..

114

LETTER XXXVI.

Dr. Percival-His early life-His father's attempt to cure his shyness—

College life-His early love-His medical experience-His poetical ca-

reer-An awkward position-The saddle on his own back-Cooper

and Percival at the City Hotel-Publication of his poems at New

York-The edition in England-Other literary avocations-His sta-

tion at West Point-His great learning-Assistant of Dr. Webster in

his Dictionary-State geologist in Connecticut-In Wisconsin-His

death-Estimate of his character....

LETTER XXXVII.

121

A few wayside notes-The poet Brainard-His first introduction-Rip-

ley's tavern-Aunt Lucy-The little back-parlor-Brainard's office—

Anecdote-The devil's dun-The lines on Niagara-Other poems-

One that is on the Sea-The sea-bird's song-Publication of Brainard's

poems-General remarks-His death..

LETTER XXXVIII.

141

My first voyage across the Atlantic-England-London-My tour on

the continent-Return to England-Visit to Barley-wood-Hannah

More-Inquiries as to books for education-Ireland-Dublin-The

Giant's Causeway-Scotland-Scenery of the Lady of the Lake-Glas-

gow-Edinburgh

161

LETTER XXXIX.

Edinburgh-The Court of Sessions-Cranstoun, Cockburn, Moncrief—

Lockhart-Jeffrey-Sir Walter Scott

170

LETTER XL.

Preparations for a ride-Mr. Jeffrey in a rough-and-tumble-A glance

at Edinburgh from Braid's Hill-A shower-The maids of the mist—

Durable impressions.

177