USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > History of Gorham, Me. > Part 15
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In 1800 the general Government changed hands, going into the power of the Republicans, Thomas Jefferson being chosen President. Under the new administration efforts were made to cut down expenses as had been promised, among which were notably the Civil List, the Army and the Navy. While the Administration was extremely unpopular with the people of Gorham, as well as the entire State of Massachusetts, still the people, generally, approved of its course, and the country became very prosperous. Our commerce, owing to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, was in a very flourishing condi-
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tion ; our flag was seen on every sea and in almost every port of the world. In 1806 the General Court incorporated in Massachusetts the Cincinnati Society. This Society was founded in 1783 by officers of the Massachusetts line of the Continental Army to take care of their widows, orphans and indigent members. Lieut. Ebenezer Storer of this town was a member of this society.
On the occasion of the breaking out anew of hostilities between Great Britain and France, the United States Government took and maintained a position of neutrality. Both of these nations, however, charged the United States with partiality to the other, and abused our shipping and insulted our flag as much as they pleased. In December, 1806, Napoleon issued his Milan Decree, which was to the effect that every vessel which should at any time either submit to be searched by the English, pay them a tax or duty, or be found on a voyage to any of their ports, should be considered as denationalized, and therefore of course liable to capture and confiscation. This was followed by the British Orders in Council, which forbade the trade of all neutrals who were not friends of Great Britain. Between these fulminations there was small peace for any craft flying the American flag. But the thing that angered our people more than all else was the " Right of Search " insisted upon by Great Britain and empha- sized at this time by the King, by which our seamen were seized upon our own ships and transferred to the British Navy, under pre- tence of their being British subjects.
In December, 1807, Congress laid a general embargo on all the American shipping in the harbors and ports of our country, as this was believed to be the best way "to preserve our neutrality, the honor of our flag and the rights of our sailors inviolate." This embargo was very distasteful to the Federal party, as they thought that England should have the right to her own seamen. It was also claimed by them that it was ruinous to our national character, and especially to our commerce and shipping.
A committee, consisting of Hon. Stephen Longfellow, Capt. David Harding, Jr., Capt. Sylvanus Davis, Dr. Dudley Folsom and John Park Little, Esq., was chosen, at a town meeting held in Gorham Aug. 29, 1808, to prepare a petition to the President of the United States praying him to suspend the embargo. Which petition as afterwards presented was as follows :
" To the President of the United States : -
. The inhabitants of the town of Gorham, in legal town meeting assembled, beg leave respectfully to represent that they are fully
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
aware of the indispensable necessity of supporting at all times the laws enacted by the government of their choice; under this impres- sion they have refrained from expressing their most ardent desire to have the Embargo removed. Although they are an agricultural town, yet their proximity to Portland, the most considerable com- mercial town in the district, has for many years past, led them considerably into trade with the people there. Large quantities of Beef, Butter, Lumber, &c. have been annually transported from this place to that, by means of which the inhabitants of this town have made a comfortable living, and have accumulated property, but since the embargo has taken place and commerce has been stopped, they sensibly feel the intimate connection there is between agriculture and commerce ; indeed they find it will be almost impossible for the former to exist without the latter. Debts incurred by them previous to the embargo, which would have been discharged with ease if com- merce had flourished as formerly, they now find cannot be paid at all, because they cannot possibly obtain money enough to discharge their taxes, which are continually accumulating ; the surplus of their agricultural productions, and their lumber, are left to perish for want of a market ; they therefore pray that the Embargo (which they think is the sole cause of their distress) may be suspended, and that your Excellency would do everything in your power to effect so desirable an object."
This petition was approved, and the town voted that it should be forwarded at once to the President.
In spite of this, and other petitions from various towns, the embargo was continued until March 1, 1809, when it was modified so as to permit our vessels to trade with any nation, excepting France and Great Britain.
On the 30th day of January, 1809, Gorham held a town meeting " For the purpose of considering the present distressed situation of our National affairs." At this meeting a committee, consisting of Hon. Stephen Longfellow, Dr. Dudley Folsom, Rev. Reuben Nason, John Park Little, Esq. and Dea. Thomas Cross, was chosen to draw up a set of resolutions to be presented to the town in February. The adjourned meeting was held February 2, when the committee reported these resolutions : -
Resolved. That we deem it a right vested in us by the Constitu- tion of our country, peaceably to assemble together, and freely to express our sentiments of the measures of government, and when grievances are felt to seek proper redress.
Resolved. That we consider the present state of our country as calling loudly for the exercise of this right.
Resolved. That we consider the measures of the National Govern- ment, in relation to commerce, and particularly in the several Acts
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laying and enforcing an Embargo, oppressive, unconstitutional, and threatening the most dangerous consequences.
Resolved. That we consider the prosperity of every class of citi- zens, and especially in the northern States, as essentially dependent on commerce, and those acts of the Government are arbitrary and oppressive, by which our intercourse with foreign nations is totally suspended, and our domestic intercourse laid under such restrictions, as renders it in all cases hazardous, and in most instances impracti- cable to pursue it ; while we fully believe neither our relations with foreign powers, nor national honor, nor wise policy, have demanded such sacrifices.
Resolved. That we deem it unconstitutional for Congress, to whom is delegated only a power to regulate commerce, to destroy it, or prohibit it by law, for an unlimited term of time; that we consider the property of individuals by the laws aforesaid, to be exposed to unreasonable search, seizure and forfeiture, excessive bonds required, and undue penalties exacted, contrary to express provisions in the Constitution ; and that exorbitant power over the lives and fortunes of the people, vested in Revenue and Military officers, and the dicta- torial power with which the President is clothed, are not consistent with the Constitution, nor the principles of a free government.
Resolved. That we view with alarming apprehensions the contem- plated establishment of a large army in time of peace, to be placed at the uncontrolled disposal of the President, while in history we trace the downfall of the liberties of Greece, Rome, and almost every other free State to similar measures ; while in our own time we have seen how much one man, with a soldiery devoted to him, has done toward enslaving the world ; and while we consider the dreadful pur- poses, which disguised ambition, even in those who have made the highest pretensions to patriotism has conceived and effected, we cannot forbear to express our belief that this measure is portentous and hostile to the Constitution and liberties of our country.
Resolved. That we entertain a lively sense of the benefits which the faithful administration of the government by Washington and Adams, and their wise policy, were instrumental in procuring us; and that we consider the evils we now endure in a great measure occasioned by a dereliction of the policy adopted and pursued by them.
Resolved. That we highly approve the patriotic and spirited exer- tions of the minority in Congress, to preserve the Constitution and protect the interests of the nation.
Resolved. That we view with approbation the conduct of those officers in the Revenue Department, who choosing to sacrifice private emoluments rather than be instrumental in enforcing oppressive laws, have resigned their offices, and that we consider their conduct worthy of imitation.
Resolved. That, as we despair of obtaining redress from the National Government, a respectful petition be presented to the Legis- lature of this Commonwealth, praying that they will adopt such
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
measures as they in their wisdom shall think best, to remove present grievances, and prevent those evils which threaten our liberties and fortunes.
The town then voted unanimously to accept these resolves, and a committee of Correspondence and Safety was chosen. As recom- mended, a petition in line with the resolves was sent to the State Legislature. But Massachusetts, although strongly condemning the embargo and the state of affairs in the country, was herself powerless to do aught but protest, resolve and petition.
In 1811 there was a military company formed at Gorham village among the boys and young men of about eighteen years of age, which had a uniform and light muskets, together with a drum and fife. Charles Dyer was captain. The forming of this company by the boys, and the appearance of a comet about this time, was taken as a sure sign of coming war by some of the more superstitious of our people. However this may be, owing to the totally different views held by our Government and that of Great Britain - England main- taining that a man born under the British flag was always a British subject and that no act could absolve him from that allegiance - diplomacy seemed to be useless, and war the only resource.
April 4, 1812, Congress laid a general embargo for ninety days on all vessels in our harbors, and on the 18th of June, Congress "declared war to exist between Great Britain and the United States." Upon this a great outcry arose from the Federal party, condemning the Government as weak, inefficient and corrupt, and declaring that the country was plunged into disgrace and ruin. This party, which, having the Governor and the Legislature with it, was in power in Massachusetts, held a shameful and disgraceful attitude toward the General Government throughout the war. Both parties, however, rejoiced heartily over our successes at sea.
On June 26, 1812, Congress passed an Act authorizing the issue of letters of marque and reprisal. Shortly after, several privateers were fitted out from Portland and sailed under these letters issued by Isaac Ilsley, Collector of the Port. One of these vessels was the " Dart," commanded by Capt. John Curtis, father of Capt. John Curtis late of Gorham. It is said that the Dart was built, armed and fitted out for sea in five weeks from the time that war was declared. A few days after sailing she captured and sent into Portland the British brig " Dianna " with her cargo of two hundred and twelve puncheons of rum. This rum became the famous " Old Dart Rum," and traditions of its wonderful flavor and quality are current even to
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WAR OF 1812.
this day. On a succeeding cruise Capt. Curtis, after taking a prize, sailed in company with it for a few hours after the capture; a blow came on, they parted, the prize arrived safe in Portland, but the privateer probably went down, as she was never heard of afterwards. A cargo of coffee was brought into Portland, Nov. 5, 1813, by the privateer " Dash," Capt. Kelloran commanding. As the people of Portland were fearing an attack from the British, Seward and Samuel Porter, the owners of the coffee, sent it to Gorham for safe keeping, where it was divided into three lots and placed under the care of Nathaniel Gould, Nahum Chadbourn and Capt. David Harding. A few weeks after, it was returned to Portland, and on Jan. 22, 1814, it was consumed in a fire, which burned the warehouse on Union Wharf in which it was stored. As coffee was then worth a dollar a pound the loss was a heavy one. The second captain of the Dash was Capt. William Cammett, who married in 1816 Mary Ryan, 'daughter of John B. Ryan of Gorham. A prize was brought in by the " Teazer," a part of the cargo of which consisted of crockery- ware which was sold at auction. At this time good crockery had become scarce in the country, and coarse brown earthern cups and saucers were in use. Four crates of the cream colored ware from this prize were bought by Alexander McLellan, Esq., and taken to Gorham, where it sold at fancy prices - a cup and saucer for a shilling, plates at fifty cents each, etc.
The following anecdote will illustrate the uncertainties of privateer- ing. A cargo of pork, seized from an English vessel, was brought into Portland by an American privateer. Thomas Patrick of Gorham with a team of three yoke of oxen hauled twenty-six barrels of this pork from Portland to Portsmouth, N. H., where it was put on board another privateer as part of her supplies and sent to sea in her. Mr. Patrick, loading his team with a cannon, proceeded immediately on his way from Portsmouth to Boston, where he delivered the cannon to the authorities and returned home. Before he reached Gorham the Portsmouth privateer had been captured and the prize pork had again become British property.
Gorham, true to her principles, furnished but very few soldiers for active service in this war.
In the Fall of 1814, considerable alarm was manifested lest Port- land should be attacked by a fleet of British ships which were cruising about off the coast. Many Portland men removed their families to Gorham for safety; among whom were Capt. William Cross, Capt. Thomas McLellan, Capt. David Stackpole, Capt. Wil-
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
liam Kelloran, John Dix, Zachariah Nowell, Dana Quincy, and many others.
Gen. James Irish, who commanded the second Brigade, twelfth Division, of the State militia, was called into Portland by the Brig- ade Major, at the request of the Committee of Safety of that town. The. Major General refusing to issue any order to march troops into the town, Gen. Irish immediately assumed the responsibility, issued the necessary orders, and in thirty-six hours had his full brigade of twenty-five hundred men barracked in Portland, much to the relief of the citizens, who gathered in crowds to cheer the soldiers. Gen. Irish was afterwards arrested, and tried by Court Martial on the charge of insubordination in calling out his troops without due authority, but was honorably acquitted.
The soldiers of Gorham, who comprised a part of Col. Burbank's regiment in Gen. Irish's command, consisted of companies of Infantry commanded by Capt. Toppan Robie, Capt. Jacob P. Bettis, Capt. Barnabas Higgins and Capt. Robert Mclellan. Capt. Robie's company was known by the nickname of the "black " company, to distinguish them from Capt. Mclellan's company of Light Infantry, whose uniform was very gay and bright. When the troops were. ordered out, Capt. Mclellan was on a visit to Topshamn, and was unable to join the regiment until it had been two days at Portland ; so his company left Gorham under command of Lieut. Jacob S. Smith.
The Field and Staff of Col. Burbank's regiment contained the fol- lowing Gorham men :
John Tyng Smith, Major. Nahum Chadbourn, Quarter Master.
Joseph Hasty, Pay Master.
Dudley Folsom, Surgeon.
Samuel Mclellan, Sergeant Major.
David Cobb, Quarter Master Sergeant.
Thomas Paine, Jr., Fife Major.
Peter Sanborn, Drum Major.
Roll of the four Gorham companies belonging to this Regiment.
Robert Mclellan, Capt.
Jacob S. Smith, Lieut. Sergeants.
Greenleaf C. Watson, Ensign. Musicians.
Nathaniel Phinney. Samuel Edwards. Frederic Codman. Calvin Edwards.
Samuel Bartlett.
Samuel Woodward.
Privates.
Clark, John R. Elder, Simon. Fickett, Joseph.
Flood, Luther. Frost, Mason. Freeman, David.
Freeman, Nathan. Gammon, James. Hamblen, Joseph, 3d.
159
Hanscom, Lewis. Harding, David. Harmon, Benjamin. Higgins, Enoch F. Hunt, Joseph. Jordan, Allen. Lakeman, Solomon. Mclellan, David. McLellan, John.
McLellan, Thomas.
McQuillan, William.
Merrill, Nahum.
Paine, Thomas.
Paine, William, Jr.
Patrick, Charles, Jr.
Patrick, Stephen.
Sawyer, Isaac.
Skillings, Benjamin.
Jacob P. Bettis, Capt.
Levi Hall, Lieut.
Sergeants.
James Emery. Clark Swett. Ezekiel Ward. James Wescott.
Benjamin Irish.
Uriah Nason, Jr.
Josiah Waterhouse.
Privates.
Bolton, Thomas.
Kemp, David.
Buker, Livy.
Kemp, Jonathan.
Brackett, Daniel.
Libby, James.
Pennington, Daniel.
Clay, William.
Libby, Jethro, Jr.
Plummer, Christopher.
Cole, Joseph.
Libby, John, Jr.
Plummer, Isaac, Jr.
Crockett, John, Jr. Elder, Reuben, Jr.
Libby, Walter.
Sanborn, Joseph. Smith, Samuel. Swett, David.
Files, Nathaniel.
Mitchell, Matthew.
Thomes, William.
Files, Robert, Jr.
Mitchell, Zachariah.
Tyler, Daniel.
Flood, Joseph.
Millions, Ebenezer.
Tyler, James.
Fogg, David.
Morton, David, Jr.
Getchell, Samnel H.
Morton, John.
Warren, James, 3d. Webb, Seth. Williams, Daniel.
Williams, Joseph. Winship, Daniel. Young, Enos.
Toppan Robie, Capt.
Nathaniel Hatch, Lieut.
Sergeants.
Corporals.
Seward Merrill.
James Babb. Philip Larrabee.
Moses Rice.
Thomas Robie. Caleb Seaver.
Perez Burr.
Alexander Phinney.
Privates.
Alden, Gardner. Blanchard, William.
Davis, Luther.
Bragdon, Ephraim.
Edwards, William.
Brown, Levi. Brown, Samnel.
Eldredge, Ebenezer. Farnham, John.
Burnell, David.
Fogg, Daniel.
Harding, Joseph.
Cash, Jacob.
Fogg, George.
Coolbroth, Isaac.I
Freeman, Joshua.
Crockett, Nathaniel.
Frost, Daniel H.
Oliver Johnson, Ensign. Musicians.
Robert Walker. John Walker, Jr.
Roberts, Joseph, Jr.
Elder, Samuel, Jr.
McDonald, James.
Emery, Elijah.
McDonald, Joseph.
Murch, Mathias, Jr.
- Harding, James. _ Harding, William. Hicks, Ephraim. Irish, Jacob. Johnson, George.
Nason, Ephraim.
Nason, James.
Nason, Joseph.
Nason, Richard.
Staples, Samuel, Jr.
Stevens, John. Stone, Archelaus.
Tole, Stephen.
Waterhouse, William H.
Webster, Nathaniel.
Williams, Peter.
William Frost, Ensign. Musicians.
Josiah Jenkins. George Knight.
Darling, George L.
Gammon, Edmund. Gibb, Uriah. Hanscom, John. Hanson, Nathan. Harding, John, 3d.
Harding, Robert. Harding, Seth, Jr. Hunt, Daniel.
I Dennis Coolbroth was Isaac's substitute.
Corporals. William Bolton.
Libby, Sewall.
Nason, Samuel, Jr. Noble, Webber.
WAR OF 1812.
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Huston, Robert. Irish, Elisha.
McDugal, Thomas.
Rice, Nathaniel.
McLellan, James, Jr.
Roberts, Joshua.
McLellan, William, Jr.1
Roberts, Samuel.
McQuillan, John.
Scribner, Samuel G.
Libby, Elliot.
Mosher, Samuel F.
Staples, Ai.
Libby, Lemuel. Lincoln, Cotton.
March, Moses.
Rice, Lemuel.
Waterhouse, David.
Barnabas Higgins, Capt.
Ephraim Blake, Lieut. Sergeants.
Corporals.
Cyrus Hamblin, Ensign. Musicians.
Saul C. Higgins.
William Weeks.
John B. Rand.
Samuel Blake.
Andrew Crockett.
Timothy Bacon, Jr.
James Thombs.
Major Morton.
Privates.
Adams, Joseph.
Hamblin, Charles.
Plaisted, Joseph.
Babb, John.
Hamblin, Enoch.
Rand, Henry J.
Bacon, James.
Hamblin, Isaac.
Rolfe, Benjamin.
Bryant, Abel.
Hamblin, Nathaniel.
Smith, Caleb.
Cimbol, Daniel.
Hunt, James.
Smith, George T.
Clements, Ebenezer.
Knight, Colman W.
Snow, William, Jr.
Clements, John.
Lewis, Samuel H. B.
Stimpson, Amos. Stimson, John.
Cressey, Joseph, Jr.
Libby, Daniel, Jr.
Stone, Jonathan, Jr.
Files, Ebenezer S. T.
Libby, Solomon.
Sturgis, Ebenezer G.
Files, Ebenezer, Jr.
Lincoln, John.
Sturgis, Joseph.
Frost, Benjamin.
Mann, Edmund.
Thombs, Eli.
Frost, Dominicus.
McCorsen, Lemuel.
Thombs, George, Jr.
Gibbs, Heman.
Moody, John.
Treat, Richard.
Gilkey, Reuben.
Morton, Nathaniel.
Wescott, Reuben, Jr.
Gilkey, Samuel.
Paine, Richard.
Whitney, Edmund.
Green, Stuart.
Phinney, Colman.
Whitney, Eli.
Hall, Isaac.
Phinney, Nathaniel, Jr.
Whitney, Luther.
Hall, John.
Wood, William, Jr.
Following is the roll of men who served in Lieutenant Leighton's Troop of Cavalry belonging to Gen. Irish's Brigade :
Lieut. Nathaniel Leighton, Commandant. William Thomes, Cornet. (Gorham.)
Sergeants.
James Smith.
(Gorham.)
Corporals. John Phinney. (Gorham.)
Andrew Leighton.
Levi Wilson.
Abbott, Nathaniel.
Privates. Freeman, Daniel. (Standish.)
Baker, Solomon.
Fry, James.
Blake, Daniel.2 (Gorham.)
Leighton, George.
Brackett, Zachariah.
Libby, Joseph.
(Gorham.)
Chase, David.3 (Gorham.)
Pettingill, Benjamin.
Cochran, Timothy.
Stevens, Harry. (Gorham.)
Crockett, Samuel (Gorham.)
Webb, William.
Deering, Joshua L. Fields, John.
Wilson, Cyrus. Winslow, Adam.
Strout, George, Jr.
Paine, Samuel.
Penfield, Nathan C.
Towle, Abner.
Warren, David.
Lombard, Joseph, Jr. Lord, Nahum.
Rice, John.
Rice, Joseph.
Worcester, Thomas.
Cotton, Joseph.
Libby, Benjamin.
Rufus Rand. Andrew Plaisted.
I John Curtis was Wm. Mclellan's substitute.
2 Daniel Blake served as substitute for David Sturgis of Gorham. 3 David Chase
Thos. Johnson " =
Johnson, William. Libby, Darius.
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SEPARATION OF MAINE AND MASSACHUSETTS.
Other Gorham men who served at this same time, in the Cavalry of Dyer and Leighton, were :
Samuel Blake, William H. Smith, William Warren, Benjamin F. Johnson, David Sturgis, Adams Whitney, Benjamin Mosher, Samuel Miller and John Jay Libby.
The alarm luckily proved to be a false one, for the enemy, although keeping close to the coast for awhile and gathering supplies from some of the islands, did not land, and the Gorham soldiers, having marched to Portland on Sept. 7th, returned on the 21st, thus enabling most of them to make out the fourteen days service, which was necessary afterwards for the obtaining of land warrants.
The United States sloop of war Adams in September, 1814, was set on fire and destroyed at Hampden by her master, Capt. Morris, to prevent her falling into the hands of a powerful British fleet which was ascending the Penobscot River in search of her. A number of men living in the vicinity of Portland, among whom was Thomas Patrick of Gorham, were hired by Samuel Storer, Navy Agent at Portland, to haul to Portland the seventy tons of pig iron which had formed the vessel's ballast. Mr. Patrick records that he with his team of six oxen made the trip to and from Hampden in eighteen days, bringing seventy-three hundred and eighteen pounds of the iron.
At the time Portland was threatened by the British fleet, a barrel of tar had been hoisted to the top of a pole placed on the summit of Fort Hill, so that in case the enemy had made a sudden descent upon Portland, it could be lighted and by its flames arouse the surrounding country. When the news of the treaty of peace, signed at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, and ratified by Congress on Feb. 17 of the following year, reached Gorham it was decided to celebrate. Capt. William Cross procured a swivel, which was placed on the hill near the meeting house, and did its duty nobly. The tar beacon on Fort Hill was also burned, but being lighted too early in the evening, it lost much of its effect.
On New Year's day, 1785, appeared in Falmouth the first number of the first newspaper published in what is now the State of Maine. This paper, which was called the " Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser,' and was printed by Thomas B. Waite and Benjamin Titcomb, was founded for the purpose of aiding the erection of the Province of Maine into a State, separate and distinct from Massa- chusetts.
At the close of the Revolutionary war, the District of Maine comprised what were known as the "three eastern Counties" of Massachusetts, - York, Cumberland and Lincoln. These Counties,
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
being separated from the remainder of the State by New Hampshire, it was felt by some of the inhabitants that a separate government might possess many and great advantages. Just emerging from the long, hard struggle with the Mother-country, the State debt was large, and of necessity taxes must be very heavy for quite a number of years to come ; to the poor man this of course meant a good deal, particularly as thousands were already overwhelmed with debt. The seat of government was at a distance, and the expense of the journey such that, partly on account of this, in the year 1772 Gorham voted not to send a Representative to the General Court on account of poverty. For many years the towns were accustomed to pay the expenses of their Representatives. Another thing of which they complained was, that in order to get papers necessary for evidence they were compelled to go to Boston, where the records of the Supreme Court were kept; that it was a great expense to the poor, on whom it generally fell, to return executions so far; that no Supreme Court was held in Lincoln County, and only one a year in York and Cumberland. Many of the honorable, wealthy and influ- ential men also advocated the measure as being for the benefit and especial interest of the entire community.
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