Biographical Sketch of Lord Timothy Dexter.

Timothy Dexter was born in Malden, near Boston, in the year 1743 He was bred to the leather dressing, then, and since, a lucrative profession. The business for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, was nearly all concentrated in the town of Charlestown. Sheep-skins, goa: and deerskins, were dressed so elastic and soft as to make a delicate wear. About the time of Dexter's apprenticeship the secret of dressing skins after the fashion of leather brought from the Levant, called morrocco leather, became known to some of the craft in Charlestown, and for years they had a monopoly of the business. A great demand for the article for ladies' shoes gave the initiated constant employment. On arriving at the age of twenty-one, Dexter commenced business for himself, and by industry, frugality and perseverance, soon became thrifty and above board; and although Charlestown was laid in ashes at the commencement of the revolutionary struggle, he pursued in the neighborhood his calling to a profitable account, and in a few years after the peace, could command several thousands of dollars in specie. He had married a widow whose former husband had been in the occupation and had left his family in good eircumstances. She was industrious also, and saving, and made no inconsiderable profit on a small stock of goods she kept for sale in the huckster line, Thus they went on good, quiet, tidy, honest folks, blessed with children to labor for, as well as for themselves. The times from the peace of 1783, until after the adoption of the federal constitution in 1789, were dark and difficult, and many were sadly oppressed. The old continental money was depreciated to almost nothing, and the securities issued by the state of Massachusetts, which had for a while kept public confidence in that quarter alive, had now sunk to about two shillings and sixpence on the VOL. 1. NO.5. (13) NOVEMBER. 1818.