USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The Boston news-letter, and city record > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
Reverend friend, I heard you say, In conversation the other day, My spouse a leather bell had got, The merry jest I question not. I've often heard the pleasant sound With love and reverence profound. This lovely bell, as many say, Can truth and untruth equal play. I heard a worthy man protest, If you inclined to make a jest, God, friend, or foe, you would not spare, Nor heed what company was there. Now if this awful charge be true, Then who should fear to jest with you. A lady once, with good intent,
A handsome curb did you present :
If you'd receiv'd it with good will,
No woman's tongue you'd wish to still.
A leather bell we have 'tis true,
But in possession kept by you.
Erect yourself before a glass, You'll see it in an ivory case, With coral cov'ring spreading o'er ;
I wish that wisdom kept that door.
A finer bell was never hung,
Than in the lovely poet's tongue.
I pray excuse the homely jest,
'Tis a confession to my priest.
For the Boston News Letter and City Record.
Mr. EDITOR, -- Reading your last Record, I observed a letter headed, ' Fall of Constantinople in 1453.' The head of the article informed the reader that the contents of the letter was similar to the transactions of the present time. It brought to my mind an article I had read in the (Philadel- phia Reformer, of the Prophecies .of Argothangelos, and.as your motto is ' to observe and preserve,' it is at your service.
PROPHECIES.
" Letters from Bucharest say that the Prophecies of Argothangelos, the first publication of which was three centuries ago, and which were re-print- ed at Bucharest in 1812, by order of Russia, announced that Constantino- ple will be taken in 1827. The deaths of all the Emperors, down to Alexan- der, is exactly predicted in the most positive manner by this prophet, as well as the expedition of the French to Moscow .- U. S. Gazette."
[The truth or falsehood of the prophecy respecting Constantinople will soon be known. ]-Reformer.
ANNAPOLIS.
No city in the Union presents a more beautiful appearance in approach- ing it by water, The venerable col- lege of St. John, where so many emi- nent men have acquired the elements of their distinction -- the fortifications on either side of the river, the old spreading trees and extensive and well cultivated gardens attached to almost every dwelling-the capacious man- sion provided by the state for the ac- commodation of her Chief Magistrates
HITTAJEWON NOT2OS SHT
mail or edv-vagy divider quots oft Som .sobie mindy hagyuz ybal's moil beil I 9de
6
vhsl saboy adt of bs mùi bing
lo sliter oil vais Told iM .voft
nilord aadloj
om
9 of bo
1
vfinantogyo" nn tp ofta 19
1.00
Tybal
vd-nsuite zouil guivre lot
seolyd mitt of the Une
mtoibisd &
1
1
263
AND CITY RECORD, MAY 20, 1826.
--- the State House with its lofty and well proportioned cupola and steeple, and ' Strawberry Hill,' the prominent and beautiful residence of the Treasur- er of the State, seen even from the Chesapeake, overlooking the city, re- lieving the prospect, and ornamenting the picturesque scenery on the banks of the Severn :- all these objects pro- duce striking and agreeable impres- sions, and would themselves render a visit to Annapolis very gratifying ; to say nothing of the benefit of escaping occasionally from the smoky and heat- ed atmosphere of a populous town, to inhale the refreshing air from the bo- som of the noblest Bay in the world. Balt. Pat.
SURVEY AT NAD
We have been politely allowed to examine a superb Chart of this Island, and the waters in its vicinity, taken under the authority of Government, from actual survey, by Col. J. Ander- son, U. S. Topographical Engineer.
This chart is 9 by 64 feet, compris- ing a distance of 27 by 19 miles. It includes the shoals on the South and East, part of Martha's Vineyard with the interjacent islands, and extends nearly to the main land on the North. It evinces a degree of skill and assidu ity, highly honourable to the gentle- man by whom the work was undertak- en ; and we hope that at no distant period, this hydrographical drawing may be correctly copied, and an en- graving, of respectable dimensions, published -- that our merchants and navigators may possess a work so long and so much desired. It would, however, be still more valuable, were the survey continued through the Vineyard Sound, embracing the Island of Martha's Vineyard, and a portion of the exterior waters. And while Col. A. is on this duty, it is to be wish- ed that the enterprise may be pursued and completed, by the additions to which we have referred.
But the most important object origi- milly connected with this survey, was that of ascertaining the practicability of erecting a Pier or Breakwater near
the mouth of our outer harbour ; of which, no one, we think, after inspect- ing this chart, and looking into the de- tails which Col. A. is able to furnish, can entertain the smallest doubt. The next step, after estimating its cost, will be to fix upon the point of location. From the immense benefits that must accrue through the accomplishment of this project, not only to the shipping of the Northern States, but to that of New York, and, we may safely say, to that of our common country, we are confident our general government will not suffer it to fail or to languish for want of adequate encouragement.
We should have mentioned that the drawing itself was finished by the pen of Mr P. Anderson, and, as a first at- tempt, reflects great credit upon his graphic taste and ingennity.
Nant. Inquirer.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Monday, May 15 .-- Present, the whole Board, except Aldermen Welsh and Robbins.
Petition of Henry Williams was read, to permit persons by ticket, to see his anatomical preparations, the day before the sale of them by public auction.
A petition of Benj. Adams, to have Doane street widened, was read and referred to a committee.
Wm. A. Rees appeared before the board, who kept a bowling alley with- in his premises, No. 122 Aun Street, as a licensed victualler, said Rees has violated the law, and his license was revoked.
A communication from the health commissioner, concerning West India produce, imported into the city coast- wise, was committed to the committee on quarantine.
The petition of Esther Newhall and others, overseers of the Salem month- ly Meeting, a society of Christians cal- led Quakers, who reside in Boston, Salem, Lynn, and their immediate vi- cinity, stating that they are seized in
3
9TH YTIO CKA
30 :uodrod
sidw . Iquois bas einquy banontwojong ilorw
Teliet
ban v Pris vistua
wuolugnc
spod ovnd
1 drogie a sairexo
pili no bruid mism su
-oliving sit of uldminonod vi It moil
DA
.091
Leid ni
www partoit ell.bas , wal ods bateloiv .ladlovor
# bus boiron Holanomib oldalongent lo gnivory
Muow il " .barigeb dauer oa ban guol owow ,aldkolay otom lite od Fordwod busleTodt poismidoro , bauo& banyoniy
saiolow yoizolze od lo
of bahirmos zow Leriw
0 zaouiblis borilamos hns
yailldes1150g
10
264
THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,
fee simple of all that tract of land in Congress street, in Boston, on which the Quaker meeting-house lately stood, a part of which has been used for a burying ground, and praying that the remains of the dead should be decent- ly removed and re-interred in the said society's burying ground in Lynn, was read, and the prayer thereof granted, under the direction of the superintend- ant of burying grounds.
Ordered, that the several commit- tees on paving be instructed so to contract for paving, as to establish a uniform price throughout the city.
The committee to whom was refer- red the petition of Jonathan Hunewell and others, relative to the city's un- dertaking to build a bridge to South Boston, as authorized by the Legisla- ture, reported against the city's under- taking to build said bridge. Read and accepted ; sent down for concurrence.
Wednesday, May 17 .- Present, the whole Board.
Agreeably to notice, the Board, in company with the Selectmen of Rox- bury, went and viewed the lines and boundary stones between that town and this city.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
Monday, May 15 .- Present, the President and 43 members. Absent, Messrs. Faxon and Thaxter.
The report of the committee on the petition for a new street in the rear of Bull Pasture, on the Neck, was refer- red to the Committee on Neck Lands.
A communication from the owners of stores in North Market street, re- questing an abatement of interest on their purchase money and taxes, was referred to the Committee on Faneuil Hall Market.
An order authorising the Treasurer to borrow $30,000 for the use of the city was read and passed to a second reading.
The report of a committee on the subject of building tombs under a new church to be built at South Boston, being against the application, was ac- cepted unanimously.
The communication of Joseph Lew- is, declining the office of director of
the House of Industry, came down from the Board of Aldermen, accepted. and H. D. Gray, substituted for Mi Lewis, which was concurred in unani- mously.
An order allowing indemnification to owners of real estate on Pinckney and Belknap streets was read and pas- sed to a second reading.
The report of a committee on the application of the inhabitants on the Mill Dam for an abatement of taxes, &c. giving a statement of facts, but ex- pressing no opinion upon the subject, was recommitted for the purpose of getting an opinion from the committee.
The annual report of the City Au- ditor was referred to the Committee of Finance with such as the Board of Aldermen may join, to report a state- ment of city property, &c. and the amount of tax to be laid the present financial year.
The report of the Committee on the subject of widening Merchants' Row, recommending a concurrence with the Board of Aldermen in their approval of the project, was read. By this report it appeared that in addition to the land to be given in, $4150 was subscribed by individuals, and the whole cost would probably be not more than $34000. Considerable debate arose, and many of the members were in favour of appropriating not more than $25000, whilst all seemed to be in favour of the plan of widening the street. Mr Curtis moved an amend- ment of the report, providing the ex- pense should not exceed $20,000. This was opposed, and he finally with- drew it, and substituted an amendment, approving the project in case $15,000 should be subscribed by individuals in addition to the land to be given in. This motion was lost, and on the question for concurrence, the yeas were 18, nays 19. The question of concurrence was of course negatived. A motion was then made to reconsid- er the vote non-concurring, which was carried, and the matter stands as having a first reading, to be read a second time at the next meeting.
Adjourned to Monday next at 4 o'clock, P. M.
ausibres L 1 WD no asiliamoo a to
ng bir
bnd
boisirtani bd
poling
ohnijag odr but
blod of yridit is
toje cy mbiod
zaned.A wodniom et- bar tusbissi'T
no james'I Und
(00109 A
-tumblvibui vd bodimedde su
hi movig od my busfaili of gotit izol 2697 nofrom
ult to azu Gdi aal 000,082 wood of
giblidd lo Josjdua
slind ud of domuils
30 20100nih lo ppillo odi gniniloeb si
Unound no soulmmo?
265
AND CITY RECORD, MAY 27, 182G.
HISTORICAL.
For the Boston News Letter and City Record.
LEXINGTON,
AND THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL, "75.
It is the fortune of America, unlike all other nations, ancient or modern, to have been ushered into political ex- istence and to have expanded into a great and opulent nation, during the lives of some of the principal actors in her first contests for independence. Her biographer or historian need re- sort neither to fable or doubtful tradi- tion, in collating her earliest history. The living witnesses of the first germs of the revolution, covered with grey hairs and cicatrised with honourable wounds, are still numerous among us ; the scenes of their struggles are around us in every direction within ken of the shortest vision ; every hill top in our r. ighbourhood retains the moul- dering but still visible vestiges of their offensive or defensive hostility; but the plain of Lexington, the bloody arena of the first martyrdom of our hardy yeomen,-and the 19th of April 1775, the memorable epoch of that event, --- will be preeminently held in recollec- tion while the republic shall endure.
"Tie that shall outlive this day, and see old age, Will yearly on this vigil feast his friends.
Old men forget ;- yet all shall be forgot, . But he'll remember with advantages, What feats he did that day."
' It is not the military affray, but the EVENT, which constitutes it a sig- nal epoch in the annals of England and of America, and on that account ever to be remembered and revered by every legitimate ' Son of Liberty.' It should be noticed not for the mag- nitude of what was that day perform- ed, but as a CRISIS in the minds of men. The ' Battle of Lexington,' proclaimed to the world two impor- tant truths, the one that the spirit of America had determined to resist unto blood the mighty power of Britain- and the other the folly, or madness of attempting to fight against that popu- lar spirit which inspired the yeomanry 23*
of the county of Middlesex. The af- fray near the meeting house in Lexing- ton was nothing in a military, but eve- ry thing in a political and national point of view. When therefore on that day, the Provincials, as they were called, actually killed or wounded 273 of the British, while our own loss was only 50 killed and 34 wounded, Brit- ain found out that the Americans would fight, and the Tories saw that British troops would run when closely pursued by the sharp shooters of New England. If the battle, as a battle was trifling, the EVENT was great. It roused the spirit of the 'Sons of Lib- erty' here, and struck a damp on the vengeful spirit of our enemies, at home and abroad, while it, at length, induc- ed George III. to exert all the force of his kingdom to crush what he called rebellion, and the consequence of his madness has produced the glorious ef- fects which the world sees, and we happily feel, and so do the South Americans .? #
Lexington is a post town, in Middle- sex county, Mass. 10 miles N. W. from Boston ; 8 miles E. of Concord. It is bounded on the S. E. by West Cam- bridge and Waltham ; on the E. by a narrow strip of Charlestown ; on the S. by Waltham ; on the W. by Lincoln ; on the N.W. by Bedford ; and on the N. E. by Burlington and Woburn ; containing 10,300 acres. Lexington was formerly a part of Cambridge, and called ' The Farms.' Its primitive settlers subdivided the several sections for distinction-sake by the whimsical names of 'Kite-End,' ' Scotland,' ' Dog-lane,' &c. &c.
Asearly as the year 16-14, when the limits of Cambridge were circum- scribed to what was intended for a walled and fortified town, the inhabi- tants complained of ' straitness for want of land. especially meadow, and de- sired leave of the Council to look out either for enlargement or removal.' The result was that the General Court was ' pleased to grant them a tre: of land at Shawshin, and another parcel adjoining Concord lines, for the en-
* Rep.
VAD GILA BECOUD
910W yodt an ali
5 di Yorlarmoid 1014
-luom godt anintet ho a Jud gnijob
Es yhoold odli
o oldmoment offl Anillopor ni bioit
oinbas linde oildugut odft olid a noil
1/45
Jud vwills vratilima orli fon ai ff >
basleast to afgana ort or isogo Ian
wycin gdi tot ton bolton ad Bloods il
ta abuim adi ni aring wac tud Tid unnivel To sland > sit am owi blow adli of bominboom
Tigud Intodel) odranch sow
-- uiuiui lo sowog vidyim odi bonld
mads brolin
-no odr sol onil baratto ) grigiojbo
bulles
Ditiming aft
-mubylo mnow sgbindian ) 30 en I odr o mol bobrojni enw tn -ifmilni odr sieros bol
-ou bno probcore vlologged
brotha8
2,01 uninitigs
266
THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER,
largement of their boundaries.' This | last 'parcel' constitutes principally the present town of Lexington .* Some of the inhabitants of Cambridge had, it is true, taken possession, like the mod- ern ' Squatters' of Maine, of tracts of land on this spot, and erected build- ings, some years previous. The meadows were first improved, and hence, probably, the great road bor- dered and still continues on the verge of these then favoured spots on the S. WV. side of the Great Meadows. It is however true, that the roads at that time could not have been carried over the hills, without great inconve- nience and labour, and the Concord turnpike at the present moment is pre- cipitous and difficult of ascent.
In Dec. 1691, after much opposi- tion from Cambridge, the General Court erected ' the Farms' into a sep- arate parish. In 1712 various remain- ing inconveniences inclined the inhab- itants to petition for a separation from Cambridge, and in 1713 they were in- corporated into a town by the name of Lexington, including at that time a part of Lincoln and Bedford.
One of the propositions made by Cambridge to the inhabitants of this town, in 1713, and to which they agreed, as a condition of separation, was the following, viz. " The farmers, upon their being dismissed from that town, shall annually pay to our town treasurer such a proportion of our part of the charge of the great bridge over Charles river in Cambridge, as shall fall to them according to their annual proportion with us in the province tax.' Lexington hath long since commuted this incumbrance on some conditions
The appearance of the town on en- tering it upon the great road from Bos- ton, is that of high hills to the right and left, inclosing a gap or interval, which at a distance seems the only natural entrance to Lexington from West Cambridge, and through which
runs in a S.E. direction a small stream turning several grist mills during about half the year. After passing what is called Mount Gilboa, this interval soon spreads into an extensive meadow about one and a half miles in length, and diverging in breadth between the ' Scotland' or Middlesex turnpike road, from half a mile to a mile in breadth, bordered on each side by well cultivated farms. Other branches of these meadows spread through the town in various directions. The anti- quarian might conjecture that this opening between Mount Gilboa and Mount Ephraim, so called, was occa- sioned by the bursting of an extensive lake or pond which may have cover- ed the meadows some fathoms deep in ages past ; the corrosion and colour of the rocks on each side give plausibility to such opinions. But we wish mere- ly to sketch the town as it is, or as it has been during its improvement by the white man, and leave conjecture to the reader. Besides Middlesex turnpike, which is in the N E. section of the town, and continues to Cam- bridge there is one road which takes a great portion of the travel from Ver- mont and New Hampshire, and anoth- er which takes the travel from the western Counties of Massachusetts, and northern part of N. York. These form a junction at the meeting house, and form one of the greatest travelled roads in the vicinity of Boston.
The roads from Lexington to West Cambridge till the year 1785 or '90, were execrable ; but are now among the best in Massachusetts.
The Concord turnpike, commenc- ing at Cambridge, is continued over high land through the S. and S. W. parts of Lexington to Concord.
The population of the town in 1810 was 1052 ; in 1820 it was 1200.
LAND AND PRODUCE. There is in this town a great variety of soil. Some parts are very good, and others light and barren. A large glade of rich land commences in the N. W. corner of the town, continues through the S. and E. part, and terminates on Wa- tertown hill.
* In 1642, the proprietors of land in this town were Herbert Pelham, Richard Champney, Edward Goffe, John Bridge, Edward Collins, John Russell. Golden Moore, Edward Winship, Richard Park, John Betts, and Thomas Danforth.
TO12W3M NOT2QU ANT
toda yuryof allits Jeisy lojavos y
Jirai sılı to wobyśmy avienoską na
adil,notzase to mount lo enist 3 1sup22 019
"BHi nyewsad dil 68
int no bael
ni olim n os eline s
55707
flow rd obie do. D
15
Tastid 9vnd allid gilt novo 02 ori bas anodel bas osnsia
lo Husmhib ban zuofgis
2919 11003
CH
mid teit is wkibulant of bun ulooni Ilo fing vil whata anoifizogniq ods lo onO C doidw of bits .
moisieque lo noifibnos n 28,099198 iwollot dx eaw nhón cục
12g // el nojenize.f
bind Jnom orli lo Ayuda sur lo 12 zs ,ogbrīdis
nommos odigoiny bao
artoisibnoo omnoz no donsidowsui aidi
woll moil buon lig nill nogu ii gottes Jouis will of zilld daid lo and zi ,gos
mail entro- ban bog ey of
201898 0 e te doidw
wwod altrofibral
do L
od zinilt
267
AND CITY RECORD, MAY 27, 1826.
The rock which abounds is pudding- stone, mixed in a small degree with mica and otherstone. Several ledges, however, are of white granite, or Chelmsford stone. The higher -parts of the town are excellent for grazing, and the interval for cultivation and orcharding ; the numerous and exten- sive peat meadows supply a great quantity of coarse grass of inferior quality and supply water for irrigating many intervals. The soil in many of these intervals, washed down from the bills with which the town abounds, is rich and deep black loam; and the whole surface of the town, except the meadows, can, with the increased means of procuring manure, and im- proved mode of husbandry, be made productive
Before the erection of Charlestown bridge the products of the town were somewhat different from those of the present period, resembling the staple productions and present domestic economy of towns 40 or 50 miles from the metropolis. At that time the bad roads and an additional number of miles' travel through Brighton, Brook- line and Roxbury, rendered the daily transportation of produce to Boston both expensive and tedious. The rev- olation in the mode of farming has been as complete, at least in Lexing- ton, as that revolution in government which was here cemented with the blood of her sons. Dairies were nu- merous, previous to the above period, for cheese and butter ; grain was rais- ed in considerable quantities ; and cat- tle and pork were staples. But at present, horticulture is one of the principal occupations of the inhabi- tants ; milk is extensively sent to Boston customers ; no less than seven vehicles loaded with this article run daily over one or the other of the bridges from this town. The road to West Cambridge is down hill, and the re- mainder of the present course is a level plain presenting no impediments to Boston market except during a part of the spring months when the frost is melting. Fruits of all kinds, cider, cranberries, pork, veal, butter, poultry,
=
butcher's meat, vegetables, and con- siderable quantities of hay, and grain in the meal, are also sent to Boston and Salem. The planting of new or- chards to supply the place of those that have gone, or are going to decay, is too much neglected ; the fallacious proverb being too often repeated ' that if they plant an orchard they shall not live to drink of its produce.' Many of the inhabitants of this mountainons town have lived, however, to see two or three generations of apple trees ; forgetting besides, in their . old saw,' while toiling otherwise to increase the worth of their property, that every young apple tree, bearing, or not bear- ing, raises the value of their estates in an infinite degree. The swamps or meadows were formerly esteemed for their quick growth of wood and heavy crops of meadow hay, which, though sour and unnutritious, served for young cattle ; but the scarcity of wood has led to the use of turf or peat as fuel, and the consequence has been that the meadows, which were valued at 12 or 15 dollars formerly, are now consider- ed as worth 100 or 150 dollars per acre.
Walnut or hickory, and oak, are the principal growth of the upland, and maple, beech, and birch, of the swamps ; pitch and white pine pervade some spots, and sumach, red cedar, chesnut, and almost every other wood common- ly found in New England are mixed in the pastures and wood lots. The present facility of transporting wood to Boston for sale, and the increase of the inhabitants, have fortunately led to the use of peat, an inexhaustible source of which is contained in the heart of the town.
RIVERS, PONDS, AND HILLS. There are few large streams in Lexington, though it has abundance of brooks and swamps. The town too has many hills, yet few of them are remark- able for appearance.
In the East village about two miles from the Meeting house is a beautiful hill or mountain, named on the 4th of July, 1824,'Mount Independence.' On the same day, a piece of ordnance was
ABY TE TAM CHOOSE YTIS OMIA
6
Hip wait To sn
visti PR Lavistai sit bas
nhmun
Fou Heds
sbom bowvig -9viloubort
oco
lo edmun Ianoiribbs as bir aby
vlisb od bojabnor vindz6fl ban sail AVOT UNIT erolbor bne sviensges stod end yehoint To obom adr ni noijule
Tad lo boold ein znw niny ; nohud bus sesoils tol -la brin ; eviltrop sidmobianos ni ho
odr ni Bonintuos ai doid
ois to one al bianlusintod 3092919 0) Jnok ylevizasszo ai Mim ; einej hoy sloine eidli ihiw boboot coloides
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.