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80

.A66 1822

MAINE DISTRICT.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty fourth day of April, A.D. 1822, in the forty sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, JOSEPH GRIFFIN, of the Maine District has deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit;-" Lectures, delivered at Bowdoin College, and occasional sermons, by Jesse Appleton D. D. late president of Bowdoin College."-In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned." And also to an act, entitled "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical, and other prints."

JOHN MUSSEY, Jun. Clerk of the District Court, Maine.

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MEMOIR

OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER

OF

PRESIDENT APPLETON.

*

IN a sketch of the character of President Appleton, prefixed to his Addresses, there is a reference to the sermon, delivered at his interment, which "had already been published at the request of the Trustees and Overseers of Bowdoin College, and would shortly issue from the press in connexion with his theological works." It has not been thought best to insert in this volume the whole of that discourse. Extracts will be given

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from it, with some alterations and additions.

Jesse Appleton was born November 17, 1772, at New Ipswich, New Hampshire. The genealogy of his father's family has been traced to John Appleton Esq. of Waldingfield in Suffolk (Eng.) who died in 1436. Samuel, a descendant from John, of the eighth generation, came to America in 1635. A grandson of Major Isaac Appleton, grandson to Samuel, was Francis, the father of the subject of this memoir. He was esteemed a truly excellent man, pious from early childhood, of vigorous intellect, and of a remarkably calm, sober disposition. He died in January 1816, aged 83. A brother of Francis was a clergyman, of some distinction, in Brookfield, Mass.

* Rev. Benjamin Tappan of Augusta, author of this Memoir.

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It does not appear, that the early years of President Appleton were distinguished by any striking indications of intellectual excellence. He was much beloved, as an "amiable, pleasant" youth; but the impression was not received by those around him, that he possessed extraordinary powers, or was destined to future eminence.

He became a member of Dartmouth College in 1788. While at that Institution, he was "diligent in his studies, amiable in his manners, and blameless in his deportment." The year before he entered College, the attention of the students had been directed, in an unusual degree, to their spiritual interests; and the effects were still apparent in the solemnity and zeal, evinced at their religious meetings. The mind of Appleton, already by parental counsels and example, imbued with a respect for christianity was now more deeply affected by its truths and obligations. At what time he was made a subject of renewing grace, is a question,respecting which it is believed, he was not himself decided. He was not, indeed, accustomed, at any period of life, to be very confident of his own piety. The only evidence, on which he thought it safe to rely, was derived from "the perception in himself of those qualities, which the Gospel requires:" and when he compared his own attainments with the high demands of the Gospel, he could not readily convince himself, that he had "passed from death unto life."

On leaving College, he spent two years in the instruction of youth at Dover and Amherst. His situation, during this period, was not peculiarly favorable to spiritual improvement; and, though he was deservedly much esteemed by his pupils and associates, yet there was a want of constant devotion to God and religion, on which he afterwards reflected with deep regret.

Having completed a preparatory course of theological study under the direction of the late venerable Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield, he began to preach in the summer of 1795; and such was the opinion, then entertained of his talents and piety, that some clergymen in Massachusetts, who did not consider him, as according fully in sentiment with themselves, strongly recommended him to certain vacant parishes, as a candidate for settlement. After preaching about two years as a candidate, he was

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