The Boston news-letter, and city record, Part 3

Author: Bowen, Abel, 1790-1850
Publication date: 1825
Publisher: [Boston] : Abel Bowen
Number of Pages: 850

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Yet, after all, our ancestors did not first land there. It is a great pity to be sure they did not, because, had they imagined of how much conse- quence this circumstance was to be in after ages, they might have landed there as well as any where else-but in fact history informs us, that they landed a number of times on the Cape and travelled into the interior previous to the 22d-and if there is any merit due to posterity on account of their happening to land at any particular place, of a truth it belongs to the Wel- fleet, Eastham or Orleans folks. But far be it from meto divest the old rock

of any of its sanctity. It is a very peaceable, quiet, well behaved rock- upon which romantic people indulge in pleasant fancies, and sometimes cut strange capers upon it -- moreover the people below Plymouth are quite wil- ling it should be believed, that this same rock is the very rock of all rocks, and the writer hercof certainly has gratified himself with long reveries concerning our future greatness and all that sort of thing, when he has looked on the top of said rock as it peeps out of the ground close by the fish house.

A DESCENDANT FROM THE PILGRIMS. Sandy Neck, March 7th. 2

WOOLLEN FACTORY IN '77.

The following extract from a Rhode Island paper of 1777, we re-publish for the gratification of the curious, presenting it, as nearly as convenient, in its original form. When compar- ed with the extent of our woollen man- ufactories of the present day, it affords a proud and pleasing contrast :

Nat. Rep. Newport, October 8.

We are assured that one gentleman only, at Barnstable, about 50 Miles from Boston, who has, not long since, set up the woollen Manufacture, re- ceives, from the Spinners 500 Skeins of Yarn one Day with another, and that he has lately purchased 6,000 1b. of Wool for his Winter's Stock .- By a moderate Calculation, he can't clear less than 3,000 dollars per Year by this Manufacture, which is the most profitable of any Business now carried on in America, according to the Stock improved in it ; for the full Knowl- edge and Proof of which, we are obliged to our consummately politic LORDS and MASTERS, (as they would be called) the M-stry of G-t B-t-n.

CENSUS OF 1825.

Population of New York 167059

Providence 15941

Albany 15974

Schenectady 12876

Troy 7859

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AND CITY RECORD, DEC. 31, 1825.

BOSTON: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1825.

FEDERAL STREET THEATRE.

The season of performance at this theatre commenced on the 19th of Sep- tember. Very considerable improve- ments had been made in the accom- modations and the appearance of the house, and the usual good companies were attracted to it, and enjoyed their evening's entertainment without fear of molestation. Several actors of emi- nence performed a few nights each, who added, by the brilliancy of their acting, to the lustre of the stars which constitute the fixed company. A pow- erful excitement, however, began to be produced without doors from the expectation of a visit from the celebra- ted Edmund Kean.

This actor bad appeared in Boston in the winter of 1821, and was at that time received with unbounded admi- ration. The tickets were bought up, at unheard-of prices, and, being sold at public auction, the surplus above the regular price was devoted to charita- ble 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 compli- ment upon Boston, of being " the Literary Emporium of the Western world ;" and Noah himself said, that " the Bostonians, when they do under- take a handsome thing, put competi- tion at defiance."

Kean left Boston in high credit ; but, (whether it was from jealousy against him for having conferred so great an honour upon Boston, or for other causes, we know not,) he met rather a 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 cu-

riosity on so tender a point of honour, he took a surreptitious glance at the contents of the house, a few moments before the time of raising the curtain, and on ascertaining that the numbers assembled were few, he refused to play, left the theatre, and repaired to the circus at Washington Gardens, where he found an audience far supe- rior to that which he had seen in wait- ing 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 situa- ted as was Kean. He returned to New York, and very speedily embark- ed for England, uttering, with impre- cations, 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, until within the year past, when, hav- ing been subjected to prosecution 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 theatres, and, fleeing from his enraged countrymen, betook himself, not to the mountains or the solitary cave to repine over his faults in seclusion from the society which he had polluted, but across the ocean, again to seek the favour and counte- nance of the American people, whom in his days of glory he had derided.

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 ap- pear on the American boards. Na- tional pride seemed to point to his re- jection as the only course that could be pursued ; he was cast out in Eng- land for a fault which must adhere to him wherever he goes, and for us to say, by a public acceptance of him, that the moral character of our stage is inferior to that of the British, and that we are willing it should be considered so. was thought by many to be deroga-

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THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,

tory to the nation and inconsistent with truth This was the only point that presented itself for decision in New York. The people of that city could feel no concern in the conduct of Kean at Boston in 1821 ; his offence here might be apologized for here : but it was hoped, that there was purity of virtue enough in that city to make a distinction between the moral and pro fessional claims of any actor, and to perceive that it was a very different thing to offer an asylum to a rejected man, where he might pass the remain- der of his days in quiet harmless ob- scurity. from offering him a hearty wel- come,and making him an object of ad- miration to their wives and daughters, in a place which confessedly takes precedence of all others,in influencing the moral and social character of our fashionable circles. Considerable dis- appointment was therefore expressed in Boston, when it became known that, after a vain effort to silence Kean, for one night, it was concluded that he must play in New York, and that it was not indecorous for either sex or any age to witness his performance.

We have entered into the preceding detail for the sake of making the facts a matter of record, as part of the his- tory of our theatre, and to bring the subject into distinct view in it various bearings, before giving an account of Kean's reception here on Wednesday evening of last week. The circum- stances, which we have alluded to, pro- duced three parties in this city. There were some who considered his offence in leaving Boston abruptly, unpardon- able, and sufficient 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 this fault might be overlooked without a surrender of theatrical dignity or the honour of the audience, but, taking it in connection with his conduct in England, which had rendered him a by-word among the lowest class of attendants at the play, they determined to oppose his

appearing. The managers had a crit- ical duty to perform in deciding which of these parties constituted the strong- est side. They, however, ventured to make the trial, and Kean was announc- ed on Monday the 19th, to appear in the character of Richard III. on the succeeding Wednesday 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 Wednes- day morning in most of the newspa- pers. This article was not calculated for the meridian of Boston : it served only to increase the disgust which ex- isted towards him in some. and to ex- asperate 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 thea- tre until Mr. Finn, one of the Mana- gers, 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 un- derstood to excite the mingled shouts of Kean's friends and his opponents, Hear him, hear him,-Away with him -we want no apology, &c. &c. Mr. Kean however came forward, and with his hat under his arm presented himself to the audience, bowed most submissively and remained some mo- ments in the posture of supplication : his countenance exhibited the pale- ness of shame, fear and despair. There was a desire expressed by some of the audience that he should be heard, but the opposition was so loud, that wheth- er they were more numerous or not they carried their point, and Kean, after remaining upon the stage a min- ute or two, withdrew amid a shower of nuts, almonds, cake and other inof- fensive missiles. Another of the managers, Mr. Kilner, next came for- ward, and expressed for Mr. Kean his humble desire from his heart and soul to be permitted to make an apology. He retired and shortly returned, fol-

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AND CITY RECORD, DEC. 31, 1825.

lowed by Kean in the same supplicat- ing attitude as before. But the pres- ence of the manager did not obtain for Mr K. his wish, nor protect him . from the provoking taunts of the au- dience, and a continued discharge of the aforenamed artillery. They stood a while, till Mr.K. 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 placard, on one side of which he exhibited the informa- tion "Mr. Kean declines playing," and from the other side he asked the ques- tion " Shall the play go on without him ?" All was now uproar and con- fusion; 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 extinguished.

While this pantomime was per- forming within the theatre, a numerous concourse of people was gathered in the streets around and near the house, anxious to know how affairs proceed- ed within: most of them drawn thither from curiosity, and some no doubt bent on mischief. By the time the playing ceased, they had worked their way towards the doors of the house, and were making a rush to enter, without the leave of door keepers or of the constables on duty. The lawful ten- ants 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 gen- tleman actually thought himself acting in self-defence, when he cut away the lines of one of the windows and sent the sashes 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 rash- ness. Considerable damage was done to the inside of the theatre : the chandeliers were wantonly broken,

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 injuries to various parts of the building. The scenery was preserved from injury by the aid of gentlemen who assisted to protect the house. More or less uproar pre- vailed in the house and vicinity until 11 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. It was at first reported that the damage done to the house was so serious as probably to prevent the performances being renewed for some weeks. The requisite repairs, however, were soon made, and the theatre opened again on Monday evening last, with the tragedy of George Barnwell.

Those who rejoice in the result of this experiment upon popular feelings, for such it certainly was,) so far as regards the expulsion of Mr. Kean, equally regret the occurrences which took place after he had retired from the theatre. Those, who calmly con- sider the circumstances, we are confi- dent, will be far from agreeing with those who join in the outcry that Bos- ton has disgraced its name by these proceedings. It can be no credit to any persons that the prosperity of this city, and the eminent rank which it holds in the esteem of the world for its enterprize, in all that is virtuous and honourable, should cause it to be view- ed with envy or ill will.

ESPRIT DU CORPS.

The prosperity of Boston should be the desire of every citizen-the pros- perity of a city is that of its inhabi- tants, collectively and individually. It therefore, becomes the duty of eve- ry citizen, for his own benefit, to en- deavour to promote the welfare and prosperity of the city in which he resides and transacts his business .- Statesm.

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LIBERTY TREE, 1774,

CORNER OF ESSEX AND ORANGE STREETS.

The world should never forget the spot where once stood Liberty Tree, so famous in your annals .- La Fayette in Boston.

AND CITY RECORD, DEC. $1, 1825.

LIBERTY TREES.

IT was a thing very common among the ancient heathen to dedicate trees as well as other objects to their gods, goddesses, and demigods. Thus the oak we believe was sacred to Jove, the ivy to Bacchus, the olive to Minerva, &c. We can remember something too in History respecting the Reformation Oak in connection with the name of JackCade. When people first thought of making Liberty a goddess and con- secrating trees to her, we cannot say. But about the time when the troubles between the American colonies and the mother country commenced, there appears to have been laid in England an unpopular excise upon cider, and the sufferers under the act assembled near Honiton in Devonshire, and ap- propriated an apple tree as an altar at which they might sacrifice the image of the minister with whom the act originated. It was in imitation of this exhibition that, we suppose, our revolu- tionary Liberty Trees took their rise. The most famous were the ones at Boston, Providence, Newport, and New York.

It fell to the native Elm to be selec- ted for this purpose in America. That which was set apart in Boston was a wide-spreading and beautiful tree, which stood in front of the house which now makes the corner of Essex and Washington streets, opposite Boylston Market. This spot from a very early period was distinguished as the centre of business at the south part of the town. The building was erected in 1666, and the frame of it yet remains, though its antiquity is hardly discerni- ble through the changes which repeat- ed repars have made in its appear- ance. Printing was carried on there, in 1728. John Elliot and after him his son John were noted there in their profession. Several other large elms grew in the vicinity, and our aged in- habitants remember the place by the name of the neighbourhood of the Elm trees.

It was on the 14th of August, 1765, that this tree was devoted by the "Sons of Liberty," to expose on it the effi-

gies of the men who had rendered themselves odious by their agency in procuring or favouring the passage of the Stamp Act : And on the 11th of Sept. following they fixed a copper plate, 2 ft. and a half, by 3 ft. and a half in dimensions upon it, bearing the in- scription, in gold letters, The Tree of Liberty, Aug. 14, 1765. Ever after, most of the popular meetings of the " sons of liberty" were held in the square round this tree (called Hano- ver square, probably in honor of the Royal family) until they were obliged to leave the town in the time of the siege.

The British made it an object of ridicule. The soldiers made poor Ditson, whom they tarred and feather- ed, parade in front of this tree before they would let him go, and one of their greatest exploits during the siege was the felling this famous eye-sore. This was effected about the last week in August, 1775. One Job Williams was the leader of the party that accom- plished the feat, leaving nothing but the stump above ground ; the root they could not touch. One of their comrades lost his life by accident on the occasion. This tree had been planted 119 years, viz. (say the Pem- berton MSS.) 'in 1646, and bore the first fruits of liberty in America.'

We are informed by an old and repu- table inhabitant who was present at the time, that the tree, when cut, made fourteen cords of wood. For a long time after the revolution the place was designated by the name of " Liberty Stump," and is now marked by a post bearing a sign with the representation of the Tree, to inform the public that a house of entertainment is kept in the ancient dwelling by Mr. J. Clark.

It has been suggested by a writer in the Providence Journal, that that town is entitled to the claim of having first solemnly dedicated a Tree to Lib- erty, and also of having been the thea- tre of the first exhibition of a popular oration on the subject of liberty. The dedication of the Providence Liberty- tree, however, took place nearly three years after that of the Boston tree. It

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THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,

was on Monday, July 25, 1768. An account of this transaction appeared in the first number of Samuel Hall's Essex Gazette, published at Salem, Aug. 2d of that year.

This tree is said to have been re- markable for its size, and stood near the site of the present residence of the widow of Col. Jere. Olney, in Olney's lanc, which was then occupied as a tavern. The tree was a point of ref- erence in Providence, and whenever strangers inquired for the best place to put up, they were directed to the Elm Tree.

At the hour appointed for dedica- ting this tree, (5 P. M.) there was a great concourse of the people of Prov- idence and the neighbouring towns- many going a considerable distance out of the province of Mass. to assist on the occasion. An animated dis- course was delivered from the summer house in the tree, by a son of liberty, Silas Downer, Esq. member of the bar, whose name is intimately connec- ted with the anecdotal history of that period. The people in the summer- house laying their hands on the tree, he pronounced these words aloud :-- " We do in the name and behalf of all the true sons of liberty in America, Great Britain, Ireland, CORSICA, or wheresoever they may be dispersed throughout the world, dedicate this tree to Liberty. May all our counsels and deliberations under its venerable branches be guided by wisdom and di- rected for the support and mainte- nance of that liberty, which our fore- fathers sought out and found under the trees and in the wilderness ; may it long flourish, and may the sons of liberty often repair hither to confirm and strengthen each other. When they look toward this sacred Elm may they be penetrated with a sense of their duty to themselves and their pos- terity, and may they like the house of David grow stronger, while their en- emics like the house of Saul shall grow weaker and meaker. AMEN.

The idea that this speech of Mr. Downer was the first of the kind, is equally incorrect. If we make no ac-

count of the oration of James Otis, at the re-opening of Faneuil Hall, March 14, 1763, which the enemies of liber- ty thought a high liberty speech, we must give precedence on this point to the speech delivered at Portsmouth, N. H. Nov. 1, 1765, at the funeral of Liberty. (See Adams' Annals of Portsmouth, p. 213.)

To be continued.

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTU- RAL . COLLEGE.

At a meeting of the friends of the proposed Massachusetts Agricultural College, to be located in the neigh- bourhood of Boston, at the Atheneum in Boston, Nov. 8, 1825, the Rev. Charles Lowell, D. D. was chosen Chairman, and the Rev. Warren Fay, Secretary.

After some discussion it was deem- ed expedient, that some person be ap- pointed to receive the monies, which might be procured as funds for the proposed Agricultural . College, and who should act as Treasurer. Isaac Warren, Esq. was chosen permanent Treasurer.

Voted,that a Committee of six be ap- pointed to solicit donations and sub- scriptions in aid of the aforesaid college.

Voted, that Lewis Tappan, Francis J. Oliver, and Jona. Phillips, Esqrs. Dr. Benja. Shurtleff, Benja. Guild, and and Hall J.Kelly, Esqrs. be this Com- mittee.

Voted, that the Treasurer be autho- rized to call another meeting, whenev- er it may be deemed necessary.

Voted,that this meeting be dissolved. WARREN FAY, Secretary.

BOSTON FOREIGN TRADE.

Amount of duties which accrued to government in the first quarter of the four last years.

1st qr. of 1822 $550,771 40

1823 598,788 66

" 1824 - 627,674 10

?? . " 1825 - 1,058,087 04

This gives an INCREASE

during the first quarter of 1825, over that of 1824, of the sum of $430,412 94

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AND CITY RECORD, DEC. 31, 1825.

NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES.

The death of the lamented Mac- donough has reduced the number of Captains in our Navy, to thirty five. The oldest in the service is Commo- dore Rodgers, who was commissioned on the 5th of March, 1799. The whole number of Master Command- ants is thirty six, Lieutenants two hundred and twenty, Surgeons forty- two, Surgeons mates twenty-nine, Pur- sers forty, Chaplains ten, Midship- men three hundred and forty-seven, Boatswains sixteen, Gunners sixteen, Carpenters ten, Sail-makers ten. The whole number of " Seventy fours" is seven, Frigates of the first class carry- ing forty four guns, six ; of the second class, four ; corvettes, two ; sloops of war, six : one brig, eight schooners, one . steam galliot, one store ship armed, five gun boats, five row gallies. On the stocks, five line of battle ships, and four frigates of the first class. Salem Ob.

U. S. ARMORIES.

The whole number of muskets man- ufactured during the year at the two armories is 29,501 .- 14,600 at Spring- field, 14,900 at Harper's Ferry, 1 at the arsenal at Baton Rouge. Number of Rifles 1,000, all at Harper's Ferry.

U. S. LEAD MINES.

The total quantity of lead received from mines belonging to the U. S. is 192,113 pounds-108,855 from Fe- ver River, 83,259 from Missouri. The business is yet in an incipient state, and the produce of the next year it is estimated will yield the U. S. about 350,000 pounds. The mines are leased at the low rate of ten per cent. on the lead produced.

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The Boston news-letter, and city record, Part 3

Author: Bowen, Abel, 1790-1850 Publication date: 1825 Publisher: [Boston] : Abel Bowen Number of Pages: 850

Author: Bowen, Abel, 1790-1850
Publication date: 1825
Publisher: [Boston] : Abel Bowen
Number of Pages: 850