west side of Main Street. He did not succeed in this; but he bore his poverty with a hero's resolution to conquer it; and conquer he did.

When first a candidate for Governor in 1816, Medford gave two hundred and thirty-eight votes for him, and twentyeight for Mr. Dexter. More than twenty-eight votes against him were never given in Medford during the seven years he was Governor.

The uniformity of his example in attending public worship had a powerful influence on the people of Medford. He was never absent, morning or afternoon, when he could be present; and his attention to the preacher was profound. He often made an abstract of the sermon. His favorite moral writer was Paley; and he used to speak of his Hora Pauline as an "unanswerable book." When the controversy between the Calvinists and Unitarians arose in 1820, he took side with the latter, but never liked the extremes of either sect. For many years he had wished to make a public profession of his faith in Christianity; but had been deterred by the minister's custom of calling upon each candidate to express belief in certain doctrines, some of which doctrines he did not believe. In 1817, he had come to the conclusion that he would announce to Dr. Osgood his convictions, and request him to suppress the objectionable sentence, and thus admit him. The sentence was this: "Sensible of the depravity of the human heart, your own proneness to sin and inability to that which is good, you promise," &c. He did not believe in man's inability to that which is good, and therefore he wished this omitted. Dr. Osgood knew so well his force of mind and purity of life that he yielded to his wishes; and on the 22d of March, 1818, the Governor of the Commonwealth declared in public his belief in the divine origin of Christianity, and took his seat at the table of the Lord. We who were present, and witnessed that act of dedication, can never forget the solemnity of the scene. There was so much of Socrates and Solon about him, that Christianity did not seem strange to him. He lived as he professed. It seemed to be his youthful resolution to make his life worthy the contemplation of his most elevated moments in old age. Some years after, he was chosen deacon of the church, but declined on account of age.

We may record here an illustration of the truthfulness and depth of his family affections; an illustration which the

writer of this witnessed. He said once to his first cousin, Mrs. Jonathan Brooks, "I wish to make a bargain with you. I will promise to be with you when you are sick, and I wish you to promise to be with me when I am sick." She did so promise; and, after several sicknesses, she performed the last sad duty of closing his eyes in death. A very dangerous illness of Mrs. Brooks occurred, while he, as Governor, was engaged at Boston by the sitting of the Legislature. In the coldest part of the winter, he rode out each day in his chaise to see her. As she became more ill, his attendance increased, and his solicitude was that of a brother. One evening he arrived at eight o'clock; and, having found her more ill than ever, he jumped into his chaise, drove quickly to his house, and brought back a bottle of particular old wine. He asked to go to the kitchen fire; her son conducted him there; and, having opened the wine, he placed himself before the fire, and there made a porringer full of wine-whey. When it was done, he waited to have it cool. He would not accept of any help. He took out a few spoonfuls, and said, "Give your mother that." Her son took it to her with a prayer on his lips. In ten minutes after she had taken it, she whispered to him, "I shall recover." With a heart almost bursting, he rushed to the Governor to announce the tidings. A tear started in his eye: and he said, "Thank God, we shall have her again." I felt at that moment as if I should fall down, and worship him as the saviour of my mother.

When Gen. Lafayette came to Massachusetts in 1824, he took an early opportunity to dine with his friend and fellowofficer, then living in dignified retirement at Medford. Respect for the illustrious stranger, and love for their patriotic townsman, induced the inhabitants to make ample preparations for receiving the guest. On Saturday, Aug. 28, 1824, the General entered Medford, at half-past two o'clock, P. M., from West Cambridge, attended by a few select friends. The notice of his coming was short; nevertheless, the ladies, with their characteristic enchantment, made flowers from the gardens, and evergreens from the fields, fly at their bidding, and arrange themselves into wreaths of beauty and crowns of honor, while the young men spanned the streets with arches, and filled the air with flags. When he crossed the Wear Bridge, the bells began to ring, and the cannon to thunder. The houses were filled with eager and happy gazers, waving handkerchiefs in the joy of recognition. The children of the

town, in uniform, were stationed in order to salute him, and the huzzas of the crowded streets testified to the triumph and gladness of the occasion. Opposite the front door of the meeting-house of the first parish, a graceful arch spanned the street, having this inscription, "Welcome to our hills and BROOKS." And there, under a canopy of trees, garlands, and flowers, the Selectmen of the town met the General and his cortege; and they thus addressed him, by Turell Tufts, Esq., their Chairman:

"General Lafayette,

The Selectmen of Medford, as representatives of the town, deem it a grateful and honorable part of their duty to bid you welcome.

"They are proud, sir, that Medford is the birthplace of one of your companions in arms; a man who, by his bravery in the field, his patriotism and civic virtues, contributed to acquire as much of glory to our country as honor to himself.

"We rejoice, sir, that you both live to meet again and to enjoy together the consolations fairly derived from your virtuous and heroic deeds.

"The minds of our countrymen traced your course with anxious solicitude through the French Revolution, from your first success in the cause of liberty until the spirit of oppression confined you in a dungeon; and their hearts were gladdened when, by the influence of our great and good WASHINGTON, their friend was at last set free. In the rich harvest you are now gathering of the expressions of interest and gratitude of this numerous people, whose freedom and happiness your exertions so essentially contributed to establish, we hope you will find some compensation for all your toils, sacrifices, and sufferings; and we feel much complacency, that in this respect you have gained so complete a triumph over the monarchs of the world.

"Again, sir, we bid you a most cordial welcome; and hope the testimonials of approbation you are receiving from every heart and every tongue will for ever remain an instructive lesson to mankind, that patriots who endure faithfully to the end shall not lose their reward."

To this, the General replied, in substance, as follows: —

"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,-I am most happy, in visiting the town of my old brother-soldier and friend, General Brooks, to be received with so kind a welcome. You speak of some compensation.' Compensation! Sir, the smallest part of the delight which I have experienced would more than repay me for all sufferings past or to come.

"I beg you to accept my grateful acknowledgments for this cheering welcome."

The procession soon arrived at General Brooks's house, escorted by the Medford Light Infantry; and, after the introduction of a few friends, dinner was announced.

The dinner was a private one, in the Governor's house, and about twenty only were present. There was a witty discussion at table about the origin of the word hurrah. General Lafayette said, "I know not whence it came; but, in Massachusetts, I have learned where it has got to." Of all the persons at that table, the writer of this alone survives.

The closing sickness of the patriot was neither long nor full of pain. He bore it with calm acquiescence; and spoke of it with gratitude, as affording him an opportunity for reviewing his career, and for striking the balance in life's great ledger. He said to his cousin: "My case is beyond physicians. I have received my orders: I am ready to march." The lamp of religion was within him trimmed and burning, and he believed that his life was hid with Christ in God. Never has there died among us a man so widely known, so highly honored, so truly beloved, or so deeply lamented.

His printed compositions were few. The first public oration delivered by him was printed with this title, "An Oration delivered to the Society of the Cincinnati, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: July 4, 1787. By John Brooks, Esq." This is just such an oration as a sensible and patriotic officer, fresh from the fields of conquest, would deliver to his fellow-officers on the Fourth of July.

When President Monroe visited Boston in 1817, he said he had "read the inaugural speech of Governor Brooks with entire approbation;" and then added, "I am willing to take the principles of that speech as the basis of my administration."

After the death of the Governor, which occurred March 1, 1825, the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he was then President, took notice of the event in the most appropriate manner. The next day, March 2, the Councillors of that Society passed the following: —

"Resolved, That the Councillors regard with deep sensibility the loss by death of the late President of the Society, the Hon. John Brooks, and that they feel assured they shall express the sentiments of the Society, as they do their own, in stating that the Society has derived honor from having had at their head a man

beloved in private life, justly respected in his profession, and distinguished in his state and country for the faithful and honorable. performance of high military and civil duties.

"Resolved, That the Councillors ask permission to attend the obsequies of their late President, both for themselves and the other members of the Society.

"Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to wait on the family, and express to them the sentiments of the Councillors on the bereavement."

The granite pyramid which stands in the old buryingground has the following inscription:

"Sacred to the memory of John Brooks, who was born in Medford, in the month of May, 1752, and educated at the town-school. He took up arms for his country on the 19th of April, 1775. He commanded the regiment which first entered the enemies' lines at Saratoga, and served with honor to the end of the war. He was appointed Marshal of the District of Massachusetts by President Washington; and, after filling several important civil and military offices, he was, in the year 1816, chosen Governor of the Commonwealth, and discharged the duties of that station for seven successive years to general acceptance. He was a kind and skilful physician; a brave and prudent officer; a wise, firm, and impartial magistrate; a true patriot, a good citizen, and a faithful friend. In his manners, he was a gentleman; in morals, pure; and in profession and practice, a consistent Christian. He departed this life in peace, on the 1st of March, 1825, aged seventy-three. This monument to his honored memory was erected by several of his fellowcitizens and friends, in the year 1838."

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

MEDFORD takes a rich share in the political honors of the country. At an early date, it expressed its determination to preserve inviolate the rights and privileges secured to the colony by the charter of 1629. When the four colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven united, May 19, 1643, under the name of "The United Colonies of New England," their politics and patriotism