USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 44
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candidates, which divided the representation between the two parties .*
The representative election called out the parties again to test each other's strength. The number of rateable polls being 12,602, the city was thereby entitled to 56 seats, in the House. The Council limited the number to 30. The elec- tion took place on the 10th of May. Five different tickets were proposed with equal zeal; a union administration, a federal, a free bridge, a miominal republican, (bearing some names opposed to the national administration,) and another ad- ministration ticket. Out of all the candidates, only eight were chosen, of whom all were on the union ticket, five being on the exclusive federal ticket, and the three others being known as republicans, friendly to the administration. The whole num- ber of ballots on this occasion was 3619. Another trial took place on the 18th. The union, free-bridge, federal, and Jack- son tickets were again brought forward. The number of vo- ters was 3496. Neither of the eighty-and-odd candidates re- ceived the majority necessary to a choice. The result of this election evinced that a union of political parties cannot be ex- pected in Boston, with any reference to the old nomenclature. " If it be effected at all, it must be done by the best, the most honourable, the most respectable and high-minded men of both parties, uniting for the purpose of promoting objects of great national importance ; to place in office, without regard to party, men of the greatest talents and the purest minds, above the influence of a petty ambition or a mean and unwor- thy regard to private interest."
The federal party seemed to have abandoned the idea of union, and when a representative to Congress was to be cho- sen, in place of Mr. Webster, elected U. S. Senator, they called an exclusive meeting and nominated Benjamin Gorham, Esq. (formerly the representative of the district,) and on their nomination he consented to stand as a candidate. The re- publican party, friendly to the administration, nominated George Blake, Esq. The friends of Gen. Jackson nominated Mr. David Henshaw, who was also supposed to be specially favourable to the mercantile as opposed to the manufacturing interests. The return of votes gave the whole number 2936, of which 120 were scattering. Of the remainder, Mr. H. had 449, Mr. B. 708, and Mr. Gorham, having 1659, was elected by a majority of 382. Thus unexpectedly terminat- od the contest at one trial, July 23, 1827.
* It happened that five of the candidates received the number necessary to a choice, and the pre- siding officer declared the four, whom he preferred, to be elected. His right to exercise the power 'Was sanctioned by the Court.
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$ 15. IN the two years past, the theatre has furnished some items for historical record. The season of performance at the Federal-street house commenced on the 19th of Sep- tember, 1825. Several players of eminence had performed a few nights each ; quietness and good order bad generally, as usnal, prevailed, till the beginning of winter, when a powerful excitement was produced in the public mind, by the expecta- tion of a visit from the celebrated Edmund Kean. This actor had appeared in Boston in the winter of 1821, and was at that time received with unbounded admiration. The tickets were bought up, at unheard-of prices, and, being sold at public auction, the surplus above the regular price was devoted to charitable purposes. The sum realized and appropriated in this way, was no less than $2,660 25, by the sales of eight nights. It was on this occasion that Kean pronounced that high compliment upon Boston, of being " the Literary Emporium of the Western World ; " and Noah himself said, that " the Bostonians, when they do undertake a handsome thing, put competition at defiance." Kean left Boston in high credit ; but, (whether it was from jealousy against him for having con- ferred so great an honor upon Boston, or for other causes, we know not,) he met a rather cooler reception in New-York. He returned to Boston, we think in May, and here too, to his own chagrin, he found the fever had subsided. There was no contention for tickets; and the display of beauty and fashion was not so splendid as before. On one of the nights for which his name had been announced, to satisfy his curiosity on so tender a point of honour, he took a surreptitions glance at the contents of the house, a few moments before the time of rais- ing the curtain, and on ascertaining that the numbers assem- bled were few, he refused to play ; left the theatre, and re- paired to the circus at Washington Gardens, where he found an audience far more numerous than that which he had seen in waiting to witness his own performance. In high dudgeon he quit the town, sans ceremonie, next morning. 'The managers, and others interested in the theatre, considered this conduct as an unpardonable offence, in a man situated as was Kean. He returned to New York, and very speedily embarked for Eng- land, uttering, with imprecations, his contempt for America and every body and every thing connected with it. After his return to England, Kean was engaged in the various theatres, for a considerable time, when, having been subjected to pro- secution for an atrocious offence against morals and domestic happiness, and having the brand of infamy stampt upon him by a legal decision, he was discarded at the respectable the- ätres, and betook himself across the ocean, again to seek the favour and countenance of the American people, whom, in his days of glory he had derided.
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Mr. Kean's intention to come to this country was known here some time before his arrival, and the feeling was pretty generally expressed that he ought not to be encouraged to appear on the American boards. It was hoped here that he would be repulsed in New York. Considerable disappoint- ment was therefore manifested in Boston, when it became known that after a vain effort to silence Kean for one night in that city, (and Bostonians had the name of making even that effort,) it was concluded he must play, and that it was not in- decorous for either sex or any age to witness his appearance.
The circumstances, which we have alluded to, produced three parties in this city. There were some who considered his offence of leaving Boston abruptly, unpardonable and suf- ficient of itself to justify his unqualified rejection ; others con- sidered that a suitable apology might be made, and they were determined to hear him, if he should come forward with any thing like humility : another party allowed that his fault might be overlooked without a surrender of theatrical dignity or the honor of the audience, but, taking it in connection with his conduct in England, which had rendered hint a by-word among the lowest class of attendants at the play, they determined to oppose his appearing. The managers had a critical duty to perform, in deciding which of these parties constituted the strongest side. They, however, ventured to make the trial, and Kean was announced on Monday, December 19th, to ap- pear in the character of Richard III. on the succeeding Wed- nesday evening. He arrived in town on Tuesday evening, and immediately sent something which was called an apology to the several editors, and it appeared on Wednesday morning in most of the newspapers. This article was not calculated for the meridian of Boston ; it served only to increase the disgust which existed towards him in some, and to exasperate others. The tickets were all sold, (there was a current report that numbers were given to the friends of Kean, which, whether true or false, had an ill effect,) and at an early hour the house was filled to crowding. A tumultuous uproar pervaded the theatre until Mr. Finn, one of the Managers, came forward and intimated, by signs and words, that Mr. Kean wished to make a humble apology in person to the audience. This intimation, though not heard, was sufficiently understood to excite the mingled shouts of Kean's friends and his opponents,-hear him, hear him,-away with him, -- we want no apology, &c. Mr. Kean, however, came forward, and with his hat under his arm, presented himself to the audience, bowed most submis- sively, and remained some moments in the posture of supplica- tion ; his countenance exhibited the paleness of shame, fear and despair. There was a desire expressed by some of the
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audience that he should be heard, but the opposition was so loud, that, whether they were the more numerous or not, they carried their point, and Kean, after remaining upon the stage a minute or two, withdrew amid a shower of nuts, almonds, cake and other inoffensive missiles. Another of the managers, Mr. Kilner, next came forward, and expressed for Mr. Kean a humble desire from his heart and soul to be permitted to make an apology. He retired and shortly returned, followed by Kean in the same supplicating attitude as before. But the presence of the manager did not obtain for Mr. Kean his wish, nor protect him from the provoking taunts of the audience ; they stood awhile, till Mr. Kean observed among the missiles some. small brass or gilt balls, which seemed to alarm his fears, and then both withdrew, and Mr. Kilner came forward with a plac- ard, on one side of which he exhibited the information, " Mr. Kean declines playing," and from the other side he asked the question, " Shall the play go on without him ? " All was now uproar and confusion ; the attempt was made to proceed with the play, but in vain ; after getting through two scenes, the curtain was dropped and the lamps upon the stage extin- guished ..
While this pantomime was performing within the theatre, a numerous concourse of people was gathered in the streets around and near the house, anxious to know how affairs proceeded within ; most of them drawn thither from curiosity, and some no doubt bent on mischief. By the time the play- ing ceased, they had worked their way towards the doors of the house and were making a rush to enter, without the leave of the door keepers or of the constables upon duty. The lawful tenants of the house at the same moment thought of making their escape. These counter currents produced an unavoidable collision. Some blows were given, but which of the parties struck first is not yet decided. The windows were assailed with stones from without, and the mob, for such it must be called, were assailed with window sashes from within ; one . gentleman actually thought himself acting in self-defence, when he cut away the lines of one of the windows and sent the sash- es into the street, and would have hurled one of the weights, had not a more composed bystander seized his arm and warned him of his rashness. Considerable damage was done to the inside of the theatre ; the chandeliers were wantonly brok- en, some of the iron railings were torn from their positions, the seats of some of the boxes and in the pit were torn up, some of the box doors removed from their hinges, (it is said this was in some cases done by those within the house,) and other in- juries to various parts of the building. The scenery was pre- served from injury by the aid of gentlemen who assisted to pro-
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tect the house. More or less uproar prevailed in the house and vicinity until I1 o'clock ; the riot act was partly read, some police officers of high authority were present, but no decided effort was made to check the rioters by the arm of the law. Mr. Kean left the city the next day in great trepidation.
Those who rejoiced in the result of this experiment on pop- ular feelings, so far as regarded the expulsion of Mr. Kean, equally regretted the occurrences which took place after he had left the theatre ; and those who calmly considered the cir- cumstances were far from joining in the outcry that the naine and fame of Boston were disgraced by these proceedings. The Board of Aldermen immediately took occasion from this transaction to pass an order " that all theatrical exhibitions or public shows, which hereafter may be licensed by the board, shall be liable to be revoked or suspended, notwithstanding the terms of such license, whenever in the opinion of the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being, the same shall be necessary to preserve order and decorum, and to prevent the interrup- tion of peace and quiet ; " and the following remarks in the Mayor's inaugural address are supposed to have had reference to the same. " If a case has occurred, or should hereafter occur, in which any persons should, in defiance of the moral sense and general feeling of the public, adopt any measures, which would, naturally, and almost unavoidably lead to disor- der and disturbance, they could not reasonably invoke the aid of the authorities of the city government, so long as the invited evil was confined to themselves only ; but it is a question of very serious moment with the inhabitants of a city so distin- guished for its religious and moral character, whether further checks ought not to be provided to prevent that, which has been merely tolerated, from becoming the source of distur- bances, of danger and of disgrace to the citizens, and their government." It was at first reported that the damage done to the house was so serious as probably to prevent the perform- ances being renewed for some weeks. The requisite repairs, however, were soon made, and the theatre opened again on the Monday evening following, with the tragedy of George Barnwell. Nothing afterwards occurred to render the season remarkable, except pretty constant complaints of dissatisfac- tion, for reasons not very definite, and the performances closed on the 24th May, 1826.
During the suminer recess many important alterations and additions were made on the building. An entire new front was erected containing an elegant saloon, intended to be a withdrawing-room for ladies and gentlemen, and handsomely furnished with sofas, settees, mirrors, &c. Coffee, fruits, con- fectionary, and other refreshments, with the exception of wine
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"and spirits, were to be kept in the saloon. Two spacious bars were also added to the lobbies for the accommodation of gen- tlemen frequenting the boxes. The saloon and rooms adjoin- ing were made warm by means of a furnace. The interior of the house was newly painted and decorated by Mr. Sera, an eminent artist, and a variety of other improvements were made to contribute essentially to the comfort and convenience of the patrons of the Drama. The season commenced on the 25th of September ; a large share of good performers was engaged to take the principal parts. Mr. Macready, a celebrated tra- gedian, excited so much interest that tickets were sold by auc- tion, at prices above the regular charges, on common nights, about 160 dollars premium, and on the night of his benefit, $392 50 cts. It had been the custom, for several years, to give a play on the evening of thanksgiving, but to close the doors on Christmas evenings. This season, the tragedy of Ceorge Barnwell, and the afterpiece of Cherry and Fair Star, were presented on the 25th of December. The pro- cceding was approved of, as " act of liberal setiment," on the part of the managers and performers, most of whom were sup- posed to be attached to the episcopal persuasion. .
§ 16. No sufficient effort, it seems, could be made on the part of the proprietors of the Federal-street house, to convince all concerned, that a new theatre was not demanded by the public voice. It was agreed in some minds that something must be done to raise the character of the Boston Stage. The project for a new Theatre was openly started in February; propo- sals were advertised for a plan, on the first of March ; the work immediately commenced, and the corner stone of the TREMONT THEATRE was laid on the morning of the 4th of July, 1827. The building rose with a rapidity almost unexampled ; the exterior was nearly completed, and the interior was ready for the reception of company on the evening of Monday, Sept. 24, and was opened under the management of Mr. William Pelby. The entertainments selected, were the comedy of " Wives as they Were, and Maids as they Are," concluding with the farce of " The Lady and the Devil." After a brilliant overture com- posed and arranged by Mr. Ostinelli, the curtain was drawn up, and displayed a most splendid scene, when Mr. Blake came forward and delivered the Prize Address, which is to receive the premium of one hundred dollars, when its author shail be discovered.
The general form of this edifice is that of a parallelogram, fronting upon Common-street, the extent of which front is 79 feet, depth 135 feet. About 75 feet in the rear, the stage part of the building is widened about 12 feet, making a jog upon each side. The front is of Quincy and Hallowell granite ; the
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side walls are of brick, and 18 inches in thickness. The front is in imitation of the Ionic order, with four pilasters and two antae, one on each angle supporting an entablature and pedi- ment, and elevated on a basement of 17 feet. The height of the pilasters is 25 feet 4 inches, including their bases and caps ; their width 3 feet 3 inches, projecting one foot from the wall. The height of the pediment is about 18 feet from the level cornice to the ridge. There are three wide arched doors in the basement, and two windows, one at each corner, to light the ticket-offices. On entering the arched doors in front, there opens a wide hall, from which a flight of steps ascends to the dress circle boxes, and here are the lobbies for the prom- enade, and separate drawing rooms, communicating with the saloon in the centre.
§ 17. THE ecclesiastical affairs of the city have assumed an interesting aspect since the summer of 1825. A revival of religion, and more serious attention to the concerns of a future state, has been manifest in the trinitarian churches, and those of the unitarian order have evinced more engagedness in the use of the means heretofore resigned to their opponents. An ap- peal has been made to liberal christians for the cause of christi- anity in India ; a mission has been instituted by them among the destitute poor in the city, and a meeting frequently held for the accommodation of such, at a hall on Portland and Friend-streets, by the Rev. Joseph Tuckerman, D. D. Sab- bath evening lectures were for a season held alternately at the New Brick and Federal-street Churches, and were very well attended. Several new Meeting-houses, for the various de- nominations, have been erected or are in progress, and some changes have taken place in the ministry, which we shall pro- ceed to notice after giving an account of the African Methodist Society, which was inadvertently omitted in the former part of our history .*
§ 18. THE African Methodist Episcopal Society is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Samuel Snowden, an ordained elder of the Methodist connexion, a man of color, born at the South, but having spent most of the last twenty years in the New-England States. He became a preacher in 1815, and removed to Boston in 1818, soon after this church was gather- ed. Its number at the first organization was twenty-three ; it reported to the last annual conference, (in June, 182-) eighty- four members, all colored persons. Previous to the year 1824,
* The people of colour, attached to the Independent African Methodist Connexion, have established a society here, under the Rev. James Lee, and have a chapel in a state of forwardness, in Centre street, at the West part of the city.
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they met at a private house in May-street. In that year " by the combined liberality of the citizens and christians of dif- ferent denominations," they were provided with a chapel, which was " dedicated to the worship of the Most High God," on Sunday, the 24th of October. This building is of brick, 40 feet by 25 : the lower story accommodates a family and a primary school for colored children ; the meetings of the Soci- ety are held in the upper room, which is usually filled with hearers.
§ 19. The charge of the Roman Catholic Church has de- volved upon the Rt. Rev. Bishop Benedict Fenwick, who was ordained to the office, at Baltimore, on the Ist of Nov. 1825, and arrived in this city on the 30th. The removal of the Rev. Mr. Taylor, who for two years had, as Vicar-general, had the sole management of the affairs of the church, appears not to have been desired by his parishioners, to whom he had endear- ed himself by his pious and zealous assiduities. It is believed, however, that they have found in his successor, a pastor wor- thy to feed " the peculiar flock, that grew up by the nursing care of the late good Dr. Matignon and his coadjutor Bishop Cheverus."* The house has this year (1827) been consider- ably enlarged. A proposition to erect a new house is in agita- tion.
§ 20. THE vacancy in the pulpit of the Second Bapitst Church, occasioned by the death of the Rev. Thomas Bald- win, D. D. has been supplied by the ordination of the Rev. James D. Knowles. This took place on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1825. The sermon was preached by Rev. Irah Chase, prin- cipal of the Theological Institution at Newton ; the right hand of fellowship given by the Rev. Mr. Wayland, of the first Baptist church ; Rev. Mr. Grafton, of Newton, Dr. Gano, of Providence, Dr. Bolles, of Salem, and Mr. Jacobs, of Cam- bridge, also officiated on the occasion.
§ 21. On the next day, Thursday, Dec. 29th, the Meeting- house at the corner of Summer and Sea-streets, was dedica- ted. Elder Simon Clough, of New-York, preached the ser- mon. We understand, (says the Christian Register,) the new society of Christians have purchased the edifice of Mr. Jacob 'Tidd, for the sum of 10,000 dollars, giving Mr. Tidd a lease of the basement story. The tenets of this society have been re- cently developed very fully in a letter from Elder Clough to an English gentleman ; from which it appears they are Unitari- ans, practising baptism by immersion and denying the doc- trine of universal salvation. Their pulpit is not as yet perma- nently supplied.
* Sec Knapp's Boston Gazette, Sept. 26, 1825.
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HANOVER CHURCH.
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§ 22. On the first of March, 1826, the Hanover Church dedicated their house of worship ; on which occasion the Rev. Moses Stuart, professor at Andover, delivered a sermon from Matt. xviii. 20. The general style of this building, externally, is after the primitive Gothic. The interior is on a plan some- what new. The floor of the house is on an inclined plane, making 18 inches slope. There are 166 pews, besides seats for the singers ; the pulpit, which is uncommonly low, stands. partly in an alcove, and projects about three feet in front of the lateral wall. The cost of the land and building amounted to 42,000 dollars. The property in the same is held by the Church, exclusively of the proprietors of pews, who purchase the rights of the pews with the distinct understanding, that the choice of pastor and other ecclesiastical affairs belong solely to the body of church-members in full communion. Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D. of Litchfield, Conn. was installed as first pastor of this church, on March 22d. Rev. Dr. Codman made the introductory prayer ; Dr. Humphrey, President of Amherst College, preached ; Dr. Payson, of Portland, Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge, Mr. Wisner, of Boston, Rev. Justin Edwards, of Andover, (since D. D.) and Dr. Jenks, of Boston, bore the other parts in the services of the day. On the suc- ceeding week, March 29, the sale of pews took place, and the sum of 23,674 dollars was obtained for 82 pews. The re- mainder have since been sold or let, and the house has been constantly crouded with attendants.
§ 23. The Rev. Dr. Jenks' Society, (sce p. 347) laid the corner stone of their house in Green-street, on Saturday, April 8, 1821. Dr. Jenks was assisted in the religious servi- ces of the occasion by Rev. Mr. Wisner. The inscription engraven on the plate deposited reads thus :
" For the Worship of the Almighty Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ; and for the accommodation of a Congrega- tional Church of Christ, organized Dec. 30th, 1823, and of the Religious Society connected with it, incorporated June 15th, 1825, this edifice is erected ; the corner stone being laid April 8th, 1826 ; the building committee consisting of 'T. Til- den, G. Carpenter, E. B. Nichols, D. Colby, and R. Bond, architect. 'Arise, O Lord, into thy Rest ; Thou and the ark of thy strength.'"
In the progress of the building a serious accident occurred. While the roof was raising, (June 13,) the fastenings gave way, the roof fell and knocked down part of the front wall and staging. Two persons lost their lives, and several others were severely wounded. The building was completed and dedica- ted on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 1826, and Dr. Jenks' installation took place at the same time. " The introductory prayer was
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