He was a true American—­proud of his country’s past, hopeful for her future, and desiring nothing better than to live and die in the land of his birth.  He sent his children abroad that they might see the Old World, and profit by the lessons learned there, but he strove earnestly to keep them true to their country.  To his son, who was traveling in France in 1829, he wrote: 

“Bring home no foreign fancies which are inapplicable to our state of society.  It is very common for our young men to come home and appear quite ridiculous in attempting to introduce their foreign fashions.  It should be always kept in mind that the state of society is widely different here from that in Europe; and our comfort and character require it should long remain so.  Those who strive to introduce many of the European habits and fashions, by displacing our own, do a serious injury to the republic, and deserve censure.  An idle person, with good powers of mind, becomes torpid and inactive after a few years of indulgence, and is incapable of making any high effort.  Highly important it is, then, to avoid this enemy of mental and moral improvement.  I have no wish that you pursue trade; I would rather see you on a farm, or studying any profession.

“It should always be your aim so to conduct yourself that those whom you value most in the world would approve your conduct, if your actions were laid bare to their inspection; and thus you will be pretty sure that He who sees the motive of all our actions will accept the good designed, though it fall short in its accomplishment.  You are young, and are placed in a situation of great peril, and are, perhaps, sometimes tempted to do things which you would not do if you knew yourself under the eye of your guardian.  The blandishments of a beautiful city may lead you to forget that you are always surrounded, supported, and seen by that best Guardian.”

He was an eminently just man, and he carried this trait into the little details of his domestic life.  His household adored him; and his friends were bound to him by ties unusually strong.  He was firm and positive in his own opinions; but he was tolerant of those who differed from him.  He was a man of quick, nervous temperament, but he possessed a powerful self-control.  He was a sincere and earnest Christian, and while attaching himself to the sect of his choice, his sympathies and aid went out to the whole Christian Church.

Denominational differences had no place in his heart.  He stood on the broad platform of the “faith of Christ crucified.”

During the last years of his life, Mr. Lawrence was a constant invalid.  To a man of his temperament this was a great trial, but he bore it unflinchingly, exhibiting, in the long years of feeble health which preceded his death, a cheerfulness and patience which plainly showed the aid of the Arm on which he leaned for support.  For sixteen years he did not take a meal with his family.  His food and drink, of