"All men inquire, but few can tell
How thou in Science doth excel!"

TIMOTHY DEXTER. The subject of the present sketch, according
to his own account, was born in Malden, Massachusetts. "I
was born," says he (in his celebrated work, "A Pickle for
the knowing ones"), "1747, Jan. 22; on this day in the
morning, a great snow storm in the signs of the seventh
house; whilst Mars came forward Jupiter stood by to hold the
candle. I was to be a great man."

Lord Dexter, after having served an apprenticeship to a
Leather dresser, commenced business in Newburyport, where he
married a widow who owned a house and a small piece of land,
part of which, soon after the nuptials, were converted into
a shop and tanyard.

By application to his business his property increased, and
the purchase of a large tract of land near Penobscot,
together with an interest which he bought in the Ohio
Company's purchase, afforded him so much profit, as to
induce him to buy up Publick Securities at forty cents on
the pound, which securities soon after became worth twenty
shillings on the pound.

His Lordship at one time shipped a large quantity of
_warming pans_ to the _West Indies_ where they were sold at
a great advance on prime cost, and used for molasses
ladles. At another time, he purchased a large quantity of
_whalebone_ for _ship's stays_; the article rose in value