The picturesque pocket companion, and visitor's guide, through Mount Auburn

[106] name of “Curtis,” and not far from this it is understood a memorial is about being erected over the remains of one, the late sudden termination of whose useful career demands from us something more than a passing notice.

James Freeman Curtis was born in Boston, the son of a merchant, well known as a member of the firm of Loring & Curtis, one of the oldest in the country. Educated in the Latin School of this city, at the beginning of the last war with England, in June, 1812, being fourteen years of age, he obtained his father's consent to enter the naval service of the United States, and made his first voyage as a Midshipman on board the frigate Chesapeake, which cruised many months under the command of Captain Samuel Evans. In June, 1813, the frigate sailed again from Boston under a new commander, the brave but unfortunate Lawrence, and was captured the same day by the Shannon. Mr. Curtis, in that bloody battle, in which the Captain, first Lieutenant, Master, Boatswain, Marine Officer, and an acting Lieutenant, comprising almost all the deck-officers, were killed or wounded, served as aid-de-camp to the Commander. He was carried to Halifax, and was one of the officers selected by the British as hostages for the lives of certain Englishmen imprisoned by our Government. Afterwards he served as Midshipman in the Constitution when, under Commodore Stewart, she captured in the same action the frigate Cyane and the Levant; he was sent home by the Commodore second in command of the Cyane, and arrived with the prize at New York. In 1815, after peace with England, he joined the fleet sent, under Decatur, to