ADDRESS.

MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN,

I should not presume, after the eloquent eulogies so recently pronounced over the remains of an illustrious member of this Society, and especially after the excellent commemorative address to which we have just now listened, to attempt the presentation of any of my own studies of the life of such an exalted prince of literature, had I not heretofore experienced some proof of your indulgence, and had not the name of EDWARD EVERETT in itself a spell of potent energy to summon forth associations far above the speaker's thoughts, and shed a lustre even upon the humblest words recalling him to memory.

For to what department of learning or of liberal culture can I turn, to what kind of scholarship can I allude, to what form of eloquence can I advert, to what model of classic dignity, of consistent statesmanship, or of generous humanity, can I point, in which the very name of EVERETT does not antedate my tardy tongue, and speak itself to you most eloquently on my behalf? But it were quite impossible in a brief address to analyze completely the character and por

tray the life of a man of such "regal power of intellect," such versatility of talent, such vast erudition, such a marvellous range of accomplishment; since there is scarcely any archive of history, or cabinet of art, or tribune of oratory, or hall of legislation, which he did not enter as a master: and the brilliancy of his intellectual powers and possessions was equalled only by the spotless purity and the benignant splendor of his private life.

Setting aside his political and legislative career, I shall attempt only to present to you some details of his academic and literary history, and thus endeavor to unfold to some extent the "hiding of his power."

He was the third son of the Rev. Oliver and Lucy Hill Everett, who was of the fifth generation from Mr. Richard Everett, one of the original founders of Dedham; and was born on the eleventh day of April, 1794, in the venerable gable-roofed mansion now occupied by John Richardson, Esq., and standing, with six large sycamore-trees in front, at what is called the Five Corners," in the northern part of Dorchester. He was baptized two days afterwards by the Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, of whom he soon became a special favorite. His father, a man of extraordinary mental vigor, had two years previously retired from the pastorate of Summer-street Church; and was subsequently appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Norfolk, which

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