USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Portsmouth > The glory of America : a century sermon delivered at the South Church, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, IV January, MDCCCI ; together with a number of historical notes, and an appendix, containing an account of the newspapers printed in the state > Part 2
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According to our original design, we shall now offer some miscellaneous reflections, which will, occasionally, be interspersed with a few historical
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facts, apropos to a retrospective view of the times, which are past .
To the goodness of our God are we indebted for the establishment, continuance, and prosperi- ty of our civil, literary, and religious institutions. Without a regular form of government, the situa- tion of the tawny tribes, beyond the western mountains, would be infinitely preferable to that of man, polished and refined from the barbarisms of the savage state. There is an Arabic* prov- erb, which teaches us that a man, without learning, is like a body without a soul, The very life of a republican government depends upon a general dissemination of knowledge. In such governments, the voice of the people is the law of the land. It is, therefore, evident, that, unless their minds be enlightened, their judg- ment will be erroneous, and the consequence fa- tal. The welfare of a nation, under such a form of government, is better secured by schools, a- cademies, and colleges, than by a Grecian pha- Janx. Religion, however, should ever be the wheel within the wheel of government. General in- formation is necessary, that the path of duty may easily be descried ; but, a reverence for religion,
· * Sh chts bla adb kgså bla rwhh.
Preserved in Erpeniss' Arabic grammar.
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or a general prevalence of moral and religious habits, is, at least, of equal importance, that it may be faithfully followed. A republican con- stitution, aided by these indispensable supports, may bid defiance to the blasts of demagogues and the fiery indignation of the powers of darkness. Although the world is exceedingly corrupr, and ignorance greatly abounds, we may safely assert, that the prosperity of our country has depended, in no small degree, upon the prevalence of know- ledge and of moral and religious habits. It is a matter of fact, as we conceive, that, in those parts of our country, where the people have been the most attentive to the education of youth, and the warmest patrons of religious institutions, there we, in general, find, not only the most pro- found regard for the rights of man and the laws of heaven, but the greatest prevalence of peace and plenty, harmony and love.
It deserves the highest strains of pious gratula- tion, that the sun of righteousness, having risen upon this western world, continues to shed his heavenly beams on every class of men.
As we can never do too much to promote, so we can never be too thankful that our country is so generally favored with a diffusion of useful sci- ence. In more than twenty different places, with
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in the United States, colleges* have been estab- lished. Many of them are handsomely endued and are continually pouring, into the bosom of our country, characters, who would be an honor, to any seat of science, or nation in the world.
· Bowdoin college, at Brunswic, in Maine, was incorporated a few years ago. Its funds consist mostly in wild lands, which were given by the honorable James Bowdoin, esquire. One handsome brick building, designed for the residence of the students, at the first opera- tion of this literary institution, but eventually for its president, has recently been erected. It is not, however, as yet completed. A late traveller.
Dartmouth college, at Hanover, in the western part of Newhamp. shire, received its royal charter, through the address of the late pres. dent Wheelock, in 1769.
A college, at Burlington, in Vermont, was incorporated in 1791. It remains in statu quo.
Various obstacles having obstructed the efforts, heretofore made, for the establishment of a college, in this state, its legislature has lately passed anact incorporating a university, at Middlebury . It is already endu- ed with a handsome library and apparatus. The number of iss students from this and the neighboring states, as also from Canada, is continu- ally increasing. It bids fair to be eminently useful to Vermont and the interests of science. See a late Vergennes Gazette.
Harvard college, at Cambridge, in Massachusetts, was founded in $638. It is the most antient college and the best endued of any in America.
Williamstown college, at Williamstown, in the western part of this state, was incorporated, in 1793.
Rhodeisland college, at Providence, in Rhodeisland, received its charter from the legislative assembly, in 1764. It was at first estab- lished, at Warren, and was removed to its present situation, in 1770.
Yale college, in Connecticut, was founded at Killingworth, in 1700. It continued there till 1707. From this period, it was siationed at Saybrook till 1716, when it was permanently fixed, at Newhaven.
Columbia college, in the city and state of Newyork, was founded, in 1754.
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Schools and academies so universally abound, that, it may be said, in no part of the world is the ed- ucation of both sexes, of every description, upon a better footing, than in America.
Our national government with these inestima. ble advantages is admirably calculated to promote the lasting welfare and happiness of every order. If we abuse it, or if we by discontented, under it, we shall be as blameworthy, as were the chil- dren of Israel, when murmuring under a govern- ment immediately from heaven.
Union college, at Skenectady, in this state, was incorporated, in 1794.
Nassauhall, or the college at Princeton, in Newjersey, obrained its charter of incorporation, from George the second, in 1748. See the , laws of the institution.
The university of Pennsylvania, and the college and academy of Philadelphia are in the city of Philadelphia, the metropolis of the United States. An act, for uniting these two seminaries, has lately been passed by the legislature.
Dickinson college, at Carlisle, 120 miles to the westward of Phi- ladelphia, was founded in 1783.
Franklin college, a German institution, was founded, at Lancaster, In the same state as the above, in 1787.
The university of Maryland consists of Washington college at Chestertown, founded in 1782, and St. John's college, at Annapolis, founded in 1784.
The Roman Catholics have a college, at Georgetown, on the Pa- tomak, iu Maryland.
Cokesbury college, an institution for the Methodists, at Abington, in the same state, was founded in 1785.
William and Mary colleze, at Williamsburg, in Virginia, was founded in the time of king Willian and queen Mary.
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It was principally for the tranquil enjoyment of pure and undefiled religion that our ancestors hazırded their lives and every earthly comfort. To this end, they fixed themselves down, a little band of brothers, amid unnumbered tribes of sav- ages and the howling monsters of the desert. Far from adopting the papistic maxim, that igno- rance is the mother of devotion, they made early provision for the establishment of schools and col- leges. Through the goodness of that God, who promised Abraham that his children, should be as the stars of heaven, in number, this little family of christian patriarchs and heroes is become a nation and has the means to cope with any power on
Hampden Sydney college is in Prince Edward county of the same Statc.
The legislature of Virginia made handsome provision for a college in Kentucky before its separation from hat staic.
Funds are collecting for the establishment of another college in it.
The university of Northcarolina was instituted by the general as. sembly, in 1779.
Greenville college, in Green county ; Blount college at Knoxville, and Washington college, in Washington county, are established, by law, in the state of Tennessee.
Three colleges have lately been incorporated in Southcarolina. One is at Charleston, one at Winnsborough in the district of Camden, and the other at Cambridge, in the district of Ninetysix. The last is at present no more than a grammar school.
A college, with ample enduements, is instituted at Louisville in Georgia.
A great part of the above, for which no authority is quoted, is drawn from Doctor Morse's Geography.
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earth. Here, they ingrafted the olive branch of the gospel of peace. Under its benignant influence, this desert has been made to rejoice and blossom like the rose. Here, the rights of conscience remain inviolate. Here, the holy bible is open wide for the direction and the comfort of every friend of God and man.
The century, which is just closed, and particu- Jarly the latter part of it, has been distinguished by many -important discoveries* in various
Les excellens livres sont les lunes, ou les satellites, qui eclairent notre planete ; car on sait bien qu' il n'y a qu'un soleil. C' eft le livre des ccritures sacrees.
Dissertation sur la literature orientale.
* American mechanical inventions.
In 1730, a reflecting quadrant was contrived by Thomas Godfrey, of Philadelphia. It may be said of him as it was of Virgil, at a cer- tain period of his life. Alter tulit honores. It is commonly known by the name of Hadley's quadrant.
In 1750, the late Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. discovered the use of electrical rods.
In 1775, David Bushnel of Saybrook, in Connecticut, became the author of an invention for submarine navigation. The design of the machine, which was put in operation by the aid of the screw, was 10 blow up the British ships, which lay in the Delaware. The floating kegs'were another ingenious contrivance of the same man. Sce a hu- morous account of their effects, in a poem, by the late Francis Hop- kinson, esquire.
Major Samuel Sewall, of York, in Maine, is the inventor of the machine for sinking the wooden piers of all the large bridges, in Ame- sica, and a number, in Europe.
Joseph Pope, of Boston, is the inventor of the orrery, at Harvard college.
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arts, many improvements in almost every science, and many great and deeply interesting c- vents. To particularize, we should scarcely know where to begin, or where to end. Here, then, let those, who delight to blazon the histo- ric page, bend their genius to deck with every flower, Parnassian fields can boast, the he- roes, statesmen, literati, discoveries, improve- ments, and multifarious events, which render the cighteenth century illustrious, in the annals of this western world.
The late David Rittenhouse, LL. D. is the inventor of the one. sy, at Princeton college.
The reverend Perez Fobes, of Raynham, is the inventor of the ofrery, at Rhodeisland college. These are each a work sui generis.
The reverend John Prince, LL. D. of Salem, is the author of a very great improvement in the airpump. Sce memoirs of the A- merican academy.
A pollos Kinsley, of Bridgewater, is the inventor of a patent machine for making bricks of an excellent quality and with great expedition.
Major Isaac Lazell, of the same town, is the inventor of a useful patent machine for raising and removing rocks.
Dean Howard is the inventor of a patent boot and shoe lathe, cal. culated to facilitate the operation of boot and shoe making. See Newengland Palladium.
Captain Michael Wigglesworth, of Newburyport, is the inventor of a patent improvement in the ropemaking business.
Jacob Perkins, of the same place, is the inventor of a patent ma- chine for making nails with cold iron. Upon his plan they are cut our of plates of iron, whose width determines their length. They are cut with astonishing expedition, but every nail must be handled sepa- rately, in order to form the head, which requires considerable time.
The reverend Jonathan Newell, of Stow, in Massachusetts, is the
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It is now, my christian friends, one hundred and eighty years, since the first permanent settle- ment of Newengland. How astonishingly rapid, beyond all calculation and conjecture, has been the growth of the United States ! Who, among the first settlers of Plymouth, could have believ- ed, if they had been told, thar, before their grand- children should be laid in their graves, the inhab- inventor of a patent nail machine, which goes beyond any thing of the kind heretofore discovered. It not only cuts, but heads the mail, at the same operation, The machine is moved by water. A lad of fifteen years of age may tend is with ease, It completes sixty five nails in a minute. With a full head of water, it has completed cighiy. in the same time. Its principles will serve for nails of any size. M S letter from the reverend Nathaniel Hill Fletcher of Kennebunk. Sears, of Dennis, in Massachusetts, has a patent for bis improvements in the construction of saltworks,
The late Hattel Killey, junior, of the same town, obtained a patent for a further improvement.
Benjamin Drarborn, of Taunton, is the inventor of a patent im- provement in the steelyard.
Stephen Parsons, of Parsonsfield, in Maine, is the inventor of a pa- tent machine, for making window sashes. It is said that a man with this machine will complete, in a day, two hundred squares, which is eight days' work,
Maik Jambard Brunel, of the city of Newyork, is the inventor of a penna duplex, or a machine for writing with two pens at the same time. It is so contrived, that, when one of the pens is put into one inkstand, the other is carried to another. When one moves, the oth- er moves, correspondently. Its principal use is in copying drawings. The inventor has obrained a second patent in Europe.
Benjamin Wyncoop, of Philadelphia, is the inventor of a paten! machine for expelling foul air from the holds of ships at sea. Two of his ventilators, which are sufficient for anv ship, do not occupy the space of four four barrels. See the Medical Repository, where several attestations to their great utility are given by some, who have experienced their good effects.
The reverend Ezra Weld, of Braintree, near Boston, has a patent for a washing machine, of his contrivance, which greatly facilitates and expedites the severe labor of washing clothes. It is a great improve- ent upon all other machines, of the kind, and is coming into general use, in many parts of the country, The foregoing notes are from va- sious sources of information.
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itants of these colonies would amount to millions ? Ix is a matter of fact, that there were two* grand- children of one, who came in the first ship, in 1620, living, so late as the year 1774. Our nunt- ber was, at that time, supposed to be about three millions. In 1790, notwithstanding the ravages of the revolutionary war, our number had increas- ed to nearly 3 950,000. In a few months, when the census, which is already begun, will again be completed, we shall probably find that the inhabi- tants of these United States amount to nearly five millions.
To give a minute account of the rise of this wes- tern empire, and of its various sources of in- creasing wealth and glory, is inconsistent with the limits of the present discourse. We must, there- fore, refer to the several|| historics of the differ-
*Captain Samuel Alden, of Duxborough, father of colonel Icla- bod Alden, who was killed, at Cherryvalley, was a grandson of John Alden, who was one of the signers of the covenant, at Capecod harbur, and, for many years, an assistant in the Oldcolony government. He Hived, for sometime, after the year [ 774 A sister of Samuel Alden was also alive, at this time, in the county of Barnstable. See a note to the reverend Charles Turner's sermon, on the anniversary of ile landing of the fathers at Plymouth.
The following are some of the most modern productions of this kind, which, at present, occur. History of Maine, by the honorable James Sullivan, esquire. History of Newhampshire, to the In. Jeremy Be knap, D D. History of Vermont, Ly Samuel Williams L.L. D. History of Massachusetts, by the lave governor Thomas Hutchinson, and the honorable George Richards Minor, esquire. History of Connecticut, by the reverend Benjamin Trumbull, D. I. History of Newyork. down to 1-92, by William Smith, A. M. Notes on Virginia, by Thomas J-Herson, LL. D. vicepresident of the United States. History of South. Carol na, by David Ramsay, M D.
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ent parts of the union. It is particularly worthy of remark, that the early history of no country is so well known, as that of the American.
The subsequent facts relative to the state of Newhampshire, have a claim to our notice, on this occasion.
The first settlements, in this state, were as car- ly, as 1633. One hundred years ago, it contained only seven incorporated towns. Fifty years ago, the number was increased to thirtyseven. At the present period, so rapid has been the popula- tion of this state, particularly, since the reyolu- tion, the number of incorporared towns has a- mounted to two hundred and seven.[]
The number of clergymen, of all denominations, in Newhampshire, is nearly one hundred and fifty. History of Newengland, by Hannah Adams. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. American Geography, by the rev- erend Jedediah Moife, D. D.
It is said, that a gentleman of respectability, in Rhodeisland, has, for a number of years, been collecting materials for a history of that state.
The reverend Samuel Miller, one of the Ministers of the united presbyterian churches, in the city of Newyork, is preparing a history of the state of Newyork, from its first seulement to the present period.
It is ardently to be desired, that an example, so laudable, may be followed, till the world shall be favored with an accurate history of every state in the union.
[ The number of incorporated tewas in each county, is ss fol- lows. In
Rockingham 45
Strafford 28
Hillsborongh 40
Cheshire 35
Grafion 59
Total 207
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Of these, according to the best information, there are fifteen of the baptist, seven of the presbyte- rian, three of the episcopalian, one of the Sandi- manian, and the residue of the congregational or- der.
The increasing attention paid to | literature, in this state, affords a happy presage. Our col- lege, although it be but thirty years since it was founded, through the zeal of the late pious and benevolent Wheelock, amid the trees of the for- est, is already high in reputation among the sem- inaries of the United States. The situation and resources of this alma mater are such, that it will undoubtedly continue to flourish, so long as a taste for useful science shall characterize this wes- tern world.
Executive officers of Dartmouth college.
John Wheelock, LL. D. president and professor of history.
Bezaleel Woodward, A. M. professor of mathematics and philo- sophy, and treasurer.
John Smith, A. M. professor of the learned languages and libra.
Nathan Smith, A. M. professor of medicine, and lecturer on ant- tomy and chirurgery, theory and practice of physic.
Lyman Spalding, M. B. lecturer on chymistry and materia me. dica. 1
Stephen Bemis, A. B. tutor.
About 800 have been gratusted at this college. Its library con- tains upwards of 2000 volumes. The libraries of its several literary societies consist of aboot 700 volumes, the chief of which are some of the most useful modern productions,
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Many things further might be said relative to the flattering prospects of Newhampshire. We will, however, only observe, that the flourishing condition of our agricultural and mechanical in- terests, and the attention, paid to the establish- ment of bridges and * turnpikes, in the interi.
Academies in Newhampshire.
Phillips' Academy. at Exeter, is better endured, than any other in America. It was founded by the late honorable John Phillips LL. D. in 1780. Instructors. Beniamin Abbot. A. M. preceptor. Semue! Dann Parker, A. B. and Gates Burnap, A. B assistants.
Moor's school, or the Hanover academy, Founded, in 1751. 28 Lebanon, in Connecticut, by the late reverend Eleacar Wheelock, and removed to us present situation, in 1770.
Newipswich academy, founded in 1789.
Anfean academy, at Amherst, founded in 1790.
Atkinson academy, founded in 1792.
Charleston academy, founded in 1791.
Chesterfield academy, founded in
Haverhill academy, founded in 1793.
Gilmantown academy. founded in 1791. Sshsbury academy, lately founded.
Several others are said to be iu contemplation.
* Acts, for the establishment of four turnpike roads in the state of Newhampshire, have been passed by the general court.
The 6 st, for a turnpike road from Pascataqua bridge, in Durham, to Metrimac river, in Concord, was passed, 16 June, 1796.
The second, for a Turnpike road from the lottery bridge, in Claremont, to the plain, in Amherst, near the courthouse, was pass - ed, 26 December, 1799.
The third, for a turnpike road from Bellows' falls, in Walpole, on Connecticut river, through Keene. towards Boston, to the Mass ... chusetts line, was passed, 27 December, 1799.
The fourth, for a turnpike road from the east bink of Connecti. ent river, in Lebanon, nearly opposite to the mouth of White river, eastwardly, to the west bank of Merrimac tiver, in Salisbury, or Bus. eswen, was passed, 8 December, 1850.
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or parts of this state, are a handsome evidence of the prosperity, wealth, and laudable enterprize of its industrious inhabitants. .
It would be a pleasing task, on entering the nineteenth century, to take a retrospective view of this town from its first settlement to the pres- cnt period. Our data, however, are inadequate to the attempt. Such an undertaking naturally devolves upon age and experience. A few re- fections must therefore suffice.
On the banks of the Pascataqua we are favor- ed with one of the most pleasant situations in America.
With the exception of one melancholy season, no town in the union, of its size, has had a great- er share of the inestimable blessing of health.
It is remarkable, that no fire has ever laid- waste a street, and rarely a single house, within the limits of Portsmouth.
We have one of the best harbors in the United States. Our mercantile and commercial interests are in a very prosperous condition. We know of no town, where greater encouragement is given to the mechanic.
. Among the most distinguished improvements,
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which have here mirked the close of the eight - eenth century, we may mention the new market ; the number of elegant houses lately erected ; the aqneduct ; the convenient pavements, on one side of most of our streets; and the beautiful rows of the Lombardy poplar, which begin to appear.
" The following historical notes have been collected from various respectable sources.
According to the enumeration, made pursuant to an act of congress passed 9 July, 1793, there were in the town of Portsmouth six bun- died and twennsix de Hling houses. Of these eightysix and one story, five hundred and twenty four are two simies, and sixteen are three sto- ries high. Since the enumeration, five houses of three stories, and sev- eral, of other duinensions, have been erecied in the town.
We have thirtyone sweets, thirtyeight lanes, ten alleys, four roads, and three public squares.
The number of inhabitants, in 15"s, amounted to four thousand five hundred and ninety. In 1790, the number was four thousand sev. en hundred and twenty. It is supposed that, in the last ten years, there has been an increase of about a thousand.
In 1798, this town was visited with an alarming epidemic, the yet. low fever, and dysentery. One hundred and seven died between 20 July and 6 October. It appears, that fit five died with the fever and fifa two with the dysentery and other disorders butmostly with the dy- senter. Amongthe ffi wo were twentynine young children. Forty- one persons whohad the fever, recovered Inis was ty of remarkshet the fever was cu fined in people, who either lived, or had been employed in the north part of the town, and the dysentery, to those of the southern part
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A la use of an. John Langdon father of the senator at congress of the manue, at sagamme's creek was burnt about sixty years ago. In 1715, the house of the honorable Richard Waldron, esquire, at the plains, was dem lahed with fire and most of the probate court records together with antry other name of which belonged to the exe- arrive of the the province of Newton, thus A house belonging to Nathanael Rogers, exquis, in Please use sand occupied by James Nevin, requir , which sand on the spot where nos stands the house of the honorable John Langdon, was bernt about the year 1;60. Ma- ny vous before this, a house, which belonged to the reverend Math. . Rogers, and stood on the same ground was consumed with fire and
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It would not be malapropos to suggest a few ideas clative to the welfare, which we have ex- perienced, as a christian society. This, however, we will leave to a future consideration .*
Before we proceed to our generalinference, we would beg leave to enquire, have not the various literary societies, established in many partsof the U- nited States, had an ample sharcin adding toour res- pectability, in the view of the world? Havenorthe societies, which have been instituted and patron- ized for the purpose of ameliorating the distress- ed condition of slaves, in the southern states, and those for the benevolent purpose of restoring life to the apparently dead, and for administering com- fort to mariners, cast upon desolate islands, been not only the happy instrument of gaining the
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