USA > New Hampshire > Sketches of the history of New-Hampshire, from its settlement in 1623, to 1833: comprising notices of the memorable events and interesting incidents of a period of two hundred and ten years > Part 20
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A powerful British expedition destined to attack New-
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Orleans, arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi near the close of the year. In their approach to the city, they were niet and defeated by Gen. Jackson, on the 8th of January, 1815, with the loss of 2000 men ; while on the part of the Americans, who occupied a fortified position, only six or seven were killed ! A disparity, of which the annals of war scarce furnish another instance. So dreadful a slaughter seemed to exemplify the proud taunt of Alaric, "The thicker the hay, the more easily is it mowed."
The news of this decisive victory was almost immediately followed by the arrival of a British vessel at New-York, bringing intelligence still more welcome-that of PEACE .--- Expresses were instantly sent off in all directions, and the intelligence flew with electric rapidity into every nook and corner of the country-exciting an almost delirious joy .- Wherever it arrived at a large town or village in the night, the ringing of the bells summoned the inhabitants from their mid- night slumbers to receive the informatiou ; and the morning sun shed its beams on multitudes of animated and smiling countenances. All parties of men joined in mutual congratu- lations. The soldier gladly exchanged the toils of the camp for the repose of home, and the mariner lost no time in again spreading his canvass to the wind, and stretching his way on the Ocean. Commerce assumed an unwonted activity, and in a short space poured into our harbors the riches of almost every clime.
During the three or four preceding years, the northern States had witnessed the rise and spread of a new and singular disease, the Spotted Fever. In many instances it was quite mortal, sweeping away forty or fifty of the inhabitants of a common-sized country town in a few weeks. The first indi- cation of an attack was not unfrequently a sudden pain in some of the extremities, quickly spreading over the system, and often terminating fatally in less than twenty-four hours. If contagious at all, the epidemie was contagious in an extremely slight degree-raging in some towns, while others, with which they had unrestrained communication, were exempt from any unusual sickness. In consequence of its ravages, many of the congregations of the State were clad in the habiliments of mourning.
A large and splendid map of New-Hampshire was published at this time by Philip Carrigain, Esq. under the patronage of the Legislature. The most eminent artists united in the opin- ion, that no map of any of the States had then been executed, comparable with it in simplicity of arrangement and taste of
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execution. To each town, and to each of the incorporated literary institutions, the government furnished a copy ; and many of the citizens suspended it in their dwellings.
Soon after the Autumnal Equinox, occurred one of the most violent storms of wind and rain, ever known in the country, surpassing in violence the tempest of 1804, of 1751, and even the great Tempest of 1635, when some of the In- dians at Narraganset were compelled to climb trees to find a refuge from the waters. Its greatest fury was on the coast from Portsmouth to New-London. Within these limits, build- ings were demolished ; the wood and timber on thousands of acres blown down ; several churches wholly or partially de- stroyed ; and on many windows distant some miles from the sea, was deposited a thin covering of salt, produced by the spray forced by the blast from the surface of the ocean, and driven over the land in the form of mist. At Providence, on account of the narrowing of the river, the tide rose to a ter- rific height, forcing vessels into the streets, and threatening destruction both to the houses and their inmates. Women and children were in many instances rescued from the cham- ber windows by boats. Flocks of gulls, a bird which never leaves the vicinity of the sea, except by violent stress of weather, were seen 30 and 40 miles inland ; but as soon as the blast subsided they took wing, in a direction toward their own element.
At the Election of 1816, the Federalists supported as their candidate for the office of Governor, the Hon. James Sheafe of Portsmouth ; the Republicans however effected the elec- tion of Win. Plumer, by a majority of about 2000 votes, and secured majorities in both branches of the General Court .- Gov. Gilman, who had declined to be a candidate for re-elec- tion, took his final leave of public life, and passed the residue of his years in retirement at his seat in Exeter. The Repub- lican Legislature of this year repealed the Judiciary Act of the Federal Legislature of 1813, thereby abolishing " Tlie Supreme Judicial Court," and restoring the former " Superior Court of Judicature." Another important measure of the session related to Dartmouth College. Difficulties of long standing had existed between President John Wheelock and the Board of Trustees. He had referred the case by a memo- rial to the Legislature of the preceding year, who had ap- pointed a Committee to repair to Hanover and investigate the affairs of the College. Without waiting for a legislative de- cision, the Trustees at the next Commencement removed President Wheelock, and appointed the Rev. Francis Brown
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to preside over the Institution. An act was now passed to " Amend the Charter, and enlarge and improve the Corpora- tion of Dartmouth College." It increased the number of Trustees, created a Board of Overseers to be appointed by the Governor and Council, possessing a supervisory power over the doings of the Trustees, and changed the style of the Institution from College to University. As this Act in effect deprived the old Trustees of the control of the College, and transferred it to men, who, as it was supposed, would favor a new order of things; a majority of the former body resisted it as unconstitutional. The University Trustees and Overseers were unable to form a quorum of their respective Boards at their first meeting at Commencement, as the former Trustees refused to act with them, or to recognize their authority. A Legislative Act having reduced the number necessary to con- stitute a quorum, the new Trustees afterwards met at Con- cord, removed President Brown and Professors Adams and Shurtleff from Office, reinstated Mr. Wheelock in the Presi- dency, and appointed Professors in the room of those whom they had removed. Persons were authorized by them to take possession of the College edifices, library, and apparatus .- The newly appointed University officers began a course of Collegiate instruction ; but as the old officers continued on their part the usual course, in apartments procured for the purpose, and as almost all the students adhered to their cause, the University had little more than a nominal existence.
The advantages of a connected view of a controversy which enlisted on one side or the other, the feelings of almost every citizen, will more than balance the inconvenience of anticipating dates. The old Trustees appealed for redress to the Superior Court of the State, whose decision, made in 1817, was against them : on which they carried the matter before the Supreme Court of the United States. During its pendency, a variety of transactions, tending to increase the popular excitement, occurred at Hanover. Two rival societies, The Social Friends, and The United Fraternity, had long exist- ed among the students, and had accumulated libraries of two thousand volumes each. These valuable libraries the Uni- versity officers wished of course to retain in the College edi- fice ; while the members of the societies, who were generally attached to the College and opposed to the University, deem- ing themselves justly entitled to the superintendence as well as the use of the property, determined to remove it to a place within their own control. On an evening in November, some of the University officers, with several attendants, attempted,
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according to their own statement, to secure the doors of the library rooms for the purpose of preventing the removal .- No sooner had they entered the library of the Social Friends, than the cry, " Turn out, Social Friends, your library is bro- ken open !" resounded through the village, and quickly brought together a large number of the College students. Indignant at the entrance, which they viewed as an assault on their prop- erty, they compelled the officers to retire into another apart- ment, and detained them there till the removal of the books was accomplished.
In 1819, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed the decision of the Superior Court of New-Hampshire, and declared the act of the Legislature intended to new-model the College, unconstitutional and void. This decision, being final, annihilated the University, and restored the College to its former standing. It suffered materially in the course of the controversy, by the loss of two or three years' use of the funds, edifices, and library. President Wheelock died before the decision was made. The people of the State were divi- ded for and against the College, partly by the influence of po- litical feelings, partly on the ground of religious sentiments, and partly by personal and local attachments; the whole af- fair excited much unfriendly feeling, and was attended with a variety of unpleasant circumstances.
To return to 1816 :- this year is the era of the formation in the city of New-York, of the American Bible Society : an In- stitution which has received from New-Hampshire a liberal support. In connection with its numerous Auxiliaries scat- tered over the country, it has gratuitously distributed, in the United States and in foreign countries, some hundreds of thousands of Bibles and Testaments, in seven or eight lan- guages. Its Anniversaries bring together great assemblies of Christians, of almost all the different denominations ; not for disputation or mutual proscription, but to join in peaceful and affectionate co-operation in giving a wider diffusion to the word of God. A glorious triumph of the gospel over hu- man prejudice and passion !
Enquiries in relation to the lawfulness of war, and the prac- ticability of its abolition among Christian nations, engaged at this time a share of attention, both in America and Europe .- Prior to this date, a society had been formed in Massachusetts for the diffusion of pacific principles, which published a Pe- riodical called "The Friend of Peace." Some few of the citizens of New-Hampshire became interested in the subject. One of the earliest and most efficient writers on the side of
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Peace, was the Rev. Noah Worcester, a native of this State, who was for many years the Minister of Thornton, and after- wards removed to Massachusetts. His " Solemn Review of the custom of War," passed through many editions, and made to some extent an impression on the public mind, both in this country and in Britain. From these incipient efforts have sprung the American Peace Society, and some others of a similar character in Europe. Their object is to convince so- ciety, that war is not a necessary evil; that a custom which in past ages has squandered the treasures, corrupted the mor- als, and destroyed the happiness of nations-has butchered millions of victims-and has often arrayed under opposing standards, for the purpose of shedding each other's blood, professed followers of the same Saviour-may, and ought to be abolished, as repugnant to the gospel. Their progress in disseminating these principles, has been moderate, but suffi- cient to encourage further effort; from the great body of Christians, the subject has not yet received that attention which its importance demands. Is war in any case consist- ent with the precepts of Christianity ?- if sometimes consist- ent, when ?- are questions worthy the serious consideration of every man who aims to regulate his life, not merely by the customs of the world, but according to the revealed will of God.
A belief had long and extensively existed of the practica- bility of a canal from the Merrimac to the Connecticut, by way of Sunapee Lake. It was to leave the Merrimac at the junction of the Contoocook, to proceed thence to the lake, and onward to the Connecticut by the Sugar river valley .- On a survey of the route, and of the shores of the Sunapee, by Commissioners appointed by Massachusetts and New- Hampshire, the lake was found to be elevated more than eight hundred feet above the two rivers ; and the canal to be of course impracticable, except at an expense far surpassing all the probable benefits.
It would be improper to close the account of 1816 without a notice of the remarkable prevalence of cold, through the summer and autumn. The year is well reniembered as the cold season, and is often designated in familiar conversation as the poverty year. The mean annual temperature, as observed at Epping, was 43º. Snow fell in the southern part of the State on the 9th of June ; and August was the only month of the year exempt from frost. Early autumnal frosts almost de- stroyed the crop of maize. At Lyman, the ice formed in a well, sunk in elevated ground at some distance from Connec-
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ticut river, was not dissolved till the latterpart of July. Not a few came to the conclusion that it was vain to think of rais- ing their bread on the cold hills of New-Hampshire, and that they must hasten to the remote WEST; where they fondly hoped to find an almost perpetual sunshine and unfailing plenty .- Never was the passion for emigration, then familiarly ealled the " Ohio Fever," at a greater height. But though the unu- sual aspeet of the season deprived the State of a portion of its inhabitants, by inducing removals, it had a moral influence, highly salutary. It reminded man of his dependence on his Creator, and awakened in many a breast serious reflection .- In many of the towns, an improved state of religious society, became strikingly evident.
The Rev. Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College, who died early in 1817, merits the respectful remembrance of the citi- zens of New-Hampshire for his vivid deseriptions of her scenery, and his valuable notices of the history, laws, and manners of her people. He ranks among the greatest and best men our country has produced ; and his eloquenee, moral dignity, and admirable discipline, imparted a lustre to the great literary Institution, in which he held the Academieal Chair. Courted in early life by prospects and even offers of the highest eivic distinetion, he preferred the labors of the christian ministry in a country parish. But a light so brilliant could not long be hid ; on the oeeurrenee of a vacancy in the Presideney of Yale College, every eye was turned on him as the fittest candidate for the vaeant chair. More than any other man, he contributed to check the alarming progress of infidelity near the elose of the last century. Of his "Trave's in New-England and New-York," in four large Octavos, no inconsiderable part is filled with interesting details relative to this State.
To the Federal candidate, Rufus King of New-York, the · returns of the votes for a successor to Mr. Madison in the Presideney of the United States, gave but a small number .- Mr. Monroe received a great majority, including those of New-Hampshire, and was inaugurated on the fourth of March. In the following summer he made a tour of observation in the northern States, and was received by both political parties with cordiality and respect. He came from Boston to Ports- mouth, and went thenee into Maine. On his return he passed through Dover, Concord, and Hanover into Vermont, and was every where received with processions, addresses, entertain- ments, and other marks of popular respect. One objeet of the tour was to allay the irritations, subsisting between the
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great political parties, and in this he succeeded to a consider- able extent. His visit brought them in contact under circum- stances favorable to the excitement of. kindly feelings ; there was a mitigation of party spirit ; in many places an "era of good feelings" commenced and continued for several years .- At Hanover occurred a little incident, which imparted to his visit in that village no small degree of interest. Mrs. Wheel- ock, the widow of the late President Wheelock, was one of a circle of ladies and gentlemen, met to enjoy an interview with the President. Forty years before, when a resident of New-Jersey, she had nursed Mr. Monroe, then a Lieutenant in the American army, in a severe illness occasioned by a wound he had received in the battle of Trenton. Though he had not seen her since, the President recognized her-and manifested much gratification at so unexpected an opportunity of express- ing his gratitude to his former benefactress.
The State House or Capitol at Concord, a beautiful edifice of hammered granite, containing ample accommodations for the Executive and Legislative departments of the government, was constructed this year at an expense of more than eighty thousand dollars. Much of the labor was performed by the convicts in the State Prison. The Portsmouth Athenaeum was incorporated the same year ; an Institution possessing a valuable Library, and Cabinets of Mineralogy and of Natural History.
Gov. Plumer having declined another re-election, the Hon. Samuel Bell of Chester was chosen Governor, in 1819, by a large majority over the Federal Candidate, William Hale of Dover. The number of votes cast was comparatively small, indicating the existence at this period of an apathy in regard to the elections, quite unlike the state of things in former years. There was a feeling in the political parties like that of competitors who have wrestled together, till both are be- come weary of the struggle. A few years' rest recruited their strength for the renewal of the combat. Soon after Gov. Bell's accession to the Chair, the Legislature passed, not without powerful opposition, the well known Act commonly called the Toleration law. Before this time, the law required each citizen to pay his proportion toward the support of the settled Minister of the town or parish in which he resided, unless he produced a certificate from some society of another denomination, stating that he attended their worship, and contributed to the support of their religious order. The new Act provides, that no person shall be compelled to join or support any congregation, church, or religious Society, with-
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out his express consent ; and that any person, choosing to separate himself from such Society, shall, on, leaving a written notice with the Clerk, be exempted from any future expenses that may be incurred by the Society. To the great interests of religion and morality, the practical operation of this Act, casting the maintainance of the Christian Ministry entirely on its voluntary supporters, has not been adverse. The institutions of religion liave been as well attended, and probably as well supported since this enactment, as at any former period. Of neat and elegant edifices for public wor- ship, "with spires pointing to Heaven," proclaiming to the traveller that the surrounding population acknowledge the God of Heaven, a greater number have been erected than in any other period of the same duration.
In the latter part of 1820 a revival of religion began in Connecticut, which in the course of a year extended its influence to half the towns in that State, and to many others in various parts of New-England. Some of the towns in New-Hampshire exhibited an unusual interest in the means of religious knowledge, and the churches were materially enlarged.
The census taken at this time gave the State a population of 244,000, surpassing that of 1810 by 30,000. The whole population of the United States fell not much short of ten millions. By a vote almost unanimous, the Presidential election near the close of the year again resulted in favor of Mr. Munroe-only one electoral vote, and that a New- Hampshire vote, being given to John Q. Adams.
A whirlwind, by far the most violent ever known in this quarter, entered this State from Vermont on the 9th of Sept. 1821, and passed through Cornish, Croydon, and Wendell, to Sunapee Lake, gathering fury in its progress. A family in Wendell, living eighty rods from the lake, were struck with alarm by its terrific approach, and saw the air filled with birds and branches of trees, careering in wild disorder. The next moment their buildings were entirely demolished; a child sleeping on a feather bed was carried into the lake and drown- ed; and the bed was afterwards found in Andover, having been hurled through the air almost twenty miles. With fear- ful impetuosity the whirlwind passed over the Lake in the form of an inverted pyramid; drawing up vast quantities of water ; and crossed the towns of New-London, Sutton, and Warner, to Salisbury ; demolishing buildings, killing and wounding several persons, forcing trees, logs, and even rocks into the air, and making the heaviest objects the plaything of
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the raging element. In width it did not exceed a quarter of a mile. It is remarkable that on the same day, and almost at the same hour, another whirlwind of almost equal violence, and parallel in its course, passed from Warwick, Mass. through Orange to Athol, where its fury was broken by striking against the side of Tully mountain. These whirl- winds both took a direction from west to east, at the distance of sixty miles from each other ; so tremendous was their pow- er, that garments, beds, articles of furniture, branches of trees and fragments of buildings were hurled in the air to the dis- tance of ten, and even twenty miles.
A law was enacted this year imposing on the Banks an annual tax of one half of one per cent on the amount of their capital, for the purpose of creating a Literary Fund. The tax produced at first about five thousand dollars annually, and in a few years, the avails of it amounted by the accumu- lation of principal and interest, to more than fifty thousand dollars. Originally it was intended to constitnte an endow- ment for another College, to be located near the centre of the State, and placed under the direction of the State govern- ment: but after some years other views prevailed, and the legislature thought proper to distribute the fund among the several towns, to be applied at their discretion to purposes of education. The gradual increase of banking capital has swelled the amount of this tax to more than ten thousand dollars annually, which sum is in like manner distributed to the towns for the same purpose.
Gen. Stark of Manchester, the last survivor of the Ameri- can General Officers in the Revolutionary War, in which as well as in the preceding French war he rendered important services to his country, died in May, 1822-having passed many of his last years in agricultural pursuits on the bank of the Merrimac, and attained to the great age of ninety three. He was born at Londonderry, and was a descendant of one of the Scottish familes who settled in that town. When al- most eighty years old, he received from Jefferson an affection- ate letter, in which he complimented him on his former victory at Bennington, as having given the first favorable turn to that important campaign. A few years afterwards, he was solicited by some gentlemen of Vermont to attend a celebration of our national Independence at Bennington, the theatre of his triumph, with the offer of the expenses of his journey being defrayed by those who sought the gratification of seeing him. On account of the infirmities of age, and also on the ground
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that those who invited him would find him 'not worth seeing,' he declined the invitation.
A bridge over the Pascataqua from Portsmouth to Kittery in Maine, had long been an object of much interest ; but on account of the rapidity and great depth of the river, varying from 43 to 53 feet at low water, for the space of almost sixty rods, the enterprise, however desirable, had been considered as impracticable. It was at this time effected by some public spirited citizens in the short period of six months, at an expense of about $32,000. The bridge has two sections of 480 and 1750 feet in length ; difficulties, such as had not been before encountered in this country, were overcome in the progress of its erection. It greatly facilitates the communication of Portsmouth and all the region south of it, with the State of Maine. The preceding year had witnessed the erection of a bridge of equal length, connecting Portsmouth with New- Castle.
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