USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 3 > Part 16
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died or remov. ed.
age.
1775 1790 in
Taxes to £. 1000
Remarks.
war.
1727 Barnstead 1722|Barrington
Q.
1775 |Joseph Prince 1771|David Tenney 1784 |Benjamin Balch 1778|Nathaniel Porter 1642 Daniel Maud 1657 John Reyner
r. 1769
1778
1655
273 1666 1998 574
3. Indian name Pigwacket. 29 14 13 2| Indian names Winichalanat, and Cocheco ; by the first 4 13 7 settlers called Northam.
1671 John Reyner, jun. John Pike 1711 Nicholas Sever 1717 Jonathan Cushing
1710
1715
1769
79
1767 | Jeremy Belknap 1787 Robert Gray
r. 1786
Durham
1718 Hugh Adams 1741 Nicholas Gilman 1748 |John Adams 1780 Curtis Cce
1750
74
1214|1247
20 10 16
2 formerly part of Dover, called Oyster river.
1784 Ir. 1778
-
1 16
2
1766 Eaton
253!
d.
807|
S. 4 18 00
6
4 14
6
8
Conway DOVER
1669
252 1655 2470
Ilost
232
HISTORY OF
COUNTY OF STRAFFORD.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topograhicul
incor- forat. ed.
names.
set- tled.
rames.
remov- age. 1775 1790 in cd.
war.
G. 8. d.
83|
154
1 12 5 formerly Leavit's town.
77.5 2613!
7 15
4
5!
1766 Lee
954 1029
8. 2
formerly part of Dover and Durham.
3
51
2
5
1755 Madbury B.
William Hooper Nicholas Folsom 1778 Nehemiah Ordway 1778 Samuel Perley 1779 Jeremy Shaw
r. 1779
272
565
5
4 10 10
1775 Nathaniel Porter
7. 1777
286
554
3 18 9
100
4451
3 1
2
26
652 339
1 12 3 10 10 called at first Moultonto:o' addi- 6 first called Now Garden. [tion.
17601 1764 :. 1775
51 |1548 2857 29
.9 11
-
Ilost
Taxes to £. 1000
Remarks.
Effingham 1727|Gilmantown
B.
1774 Isaac Smith 1786 Walter Powers. Samuel Hutchins
D d
Locations S. Stark A. Stark H. Stark
1768 Meredith B.
259
881
6
7
1778 |Middletown.
233
617
. 3 8
6
1777 Moultonborough
1762 New Durham N. Durham Gore 1777 New Hampton 1785 Offipee 1722 Rochester
11757 Amos Maine (1760| Samuel. Hill. 1766 Avery Hall |1776 Joseph Haven
6771
5
8
9
formerly part of Dover. first called New. Salem.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
233
1.
2
1 592
dicd or
-
COUNTY OF STRAFFORD.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical.
incor- horat- ed ..
names.
set- tled.
names.
Idied or remov. lage. 1775 1790 77 ed.
lost
Taxes to £. 1000
-
Remarks.
war.
-
1770 |Sanborn Town 1771 Joseph Woodman
450 1587
16 11 14
1763 Sandwich & B. 1764 addition. S 1754 |Somersworth 1766 Tamworth (Tuftonboro' 1774|Wakefield Wolfborough
- Jewel
243
905
7 13 11
[1730|James Pike
1792]
S9
965 151
943 266 109 646 447
8 14 10 2 3 18 7
formerly part of Dover.
1785 Asa Piper
320 211
2
4 16 3 14
2 3 formerly East-Town and Watertown.
N. B. The land comprehended in Middletown, New Durham, N. Durham Gore, and part of Gilmantown, Wakefield and Wolfborough is the tract which was called Kingswood, and which Governor Belcher was prohibited from granting before the settlement of the boundary lines.
234
HISTORY OF
If. s. d. 5
COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
thistorical and topographical
incor- porat- ed.
names.
set - tled
names.
remov- age 1775 1790 ed.
lost in
Taxes to £1000.
Remarks.
1762 AMHERST
1741 Daniel Wilkins 1779 Jeremiah Barnard 1786 John Bruce
1784
73 1428 2369
S. s. d. 16 4
4 originally granted by Massachu- setts, and called Souhegan- wcst.
2d Parish 3d Parish
1779 Andover
1785 Josiah Badcock
159
528
3 6
8
175℃ Bedford P.
1757 John Houston
r. 1778
495 585
89 8 1108
7 11 4
Bradford Campbell's gore
120
12 10
1774 Deering 1751 Derryfield
285
362
2 10
--- Gore
497
917
5 17
5
1740 Dunstablo
1789 Walter Harris 1739 Josiah Swan
705
632
5. 3
2
·
r.
83
169
1
3
1783 Duxbury Fishersfield
1772 Frances Town
11790 Moses Bradford
130
331
2
5
2
6 "First called Dantzick, joined with Sutton in the enumer- 1 ation of 1775.
235
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
1760 Boscawen
Phineas Stevens
1768 Nathaniel Merrill Samuel Wood
r. 1774
217
1 8
6
928
4 13
4
30
1765 Dunbarton
Josiah Goodhue 1767 Joseph Kidder
200! 9821
3 13 7
1777 Antrim
6 15 9
died or
1
COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Profurtion of
Historical and topographical
incor- horat. cd.
names.
set - tled.
names.
dicd or remov- lagt. ed.
1775 1790
losi. in war.
Taxes to G. 1000
Remarks.
1761 Goffs Town
1771 Joseph Currier
r. 1774
831 1275
12
8. 7 17
d. 7
1781 Cornelius Waters
1791 Reed Page
1769 Jacob Rice
. 1782
367 1127
798
4
9
1743; Daniel Emerson 1757 Stephen Scales 1773 Elijah Fletcher
r. 1770
108311715
12 19
1789|Jacob Cramim
Kysarge-gore 1749 Litchfield
1765 Samuel Cotton John Rond
r. 1781
2S4
105 357
3
4
1764 Lyndeborough 1762| Mason
1768 Sewall Goodridge
713 1280
S 11
1 62
1772 |Jonathan Searle 1790 Ebcfezer Hill
501
922
6 2
.
606
819
5 12
5
569 1202
7 5
9
7
960|1241 1 3411
2 11
6 first called Heidleburg
236
HISTORY OF
(These three townships with 6 I Antrim, were reckoned to- 3| | gether in the enumeration of 4| |1775 and 367 was the total. 2|Indian name Aisitioit. 7|First granted by Massachusetts. .
1779 |Hancock Henniker 1772 |Hillsborongh 1746 |Holles 1765 Hopkinton
2 11
6 8
1773 Jonathan Barnes
12551441
9
10
6
B. William Eliot 1746 Merrimack 1772 Jacob Burnap 1763|New-Boston P. 1768/Solomon Moore 1762|New-Ipswich | 1760|Stephen Farrar 1778|New Lon.SonB. jJob Seamans
1786
634
:
9 14
1
COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topicgraphical
incor- porat- ed.
names.
set- lled.
names.
remov- age. 1775 1790 ed.
lost 292 war.
Taxes to 6. 1000
Remarks.
1746 Nottingham-west
.P.
1737|Nathaniel Merrill 1772 John Suickland
r. 1782 r. 1773
546
861
7 7
Peterboroughslip 1760 Raby*
1773 Jonathan Searle
r. 1790
498 1372
10
4
9
1 4 10
1784 Sutton
B.
1782 Samuel Ambrose 1771 Samuel Webster
1778
35
491; 747
4 18
7 joined with Fishersfield in the enumeration of 1775. 7 First called Almsbury.
1774.Warner 17 64 |Weare
B. Q.
1789 Amos Wood
837|1924|
12 17 .7
1762 \Vilton
1763 Jonathan Livermore 1778 Abel Fiske
r. 1777
623|1105
$1
7 19
9
-
Land between Pe- terborough and ILyndeborough.
-1
LITERARY ACADEMIES.
Date of Institution.
Towns.
Value of Funds.
Names of Preceptors.
Boarding per week.
Tuition per week.
1789 1790
New-Ipswich Amberet
L. 1000
John Hubbard
Õs.
-
1s.
L. 800
Daniel Staniford
5 s.
Is.
237
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
* joined with Mason in the enumeration of 1775.
1768 Salisbury Society land
177
319 520
2 10 10 first called Perry's town,
1768 Temple
1779 Noah Miles
1772 William Kelley
262
863
4 18
38
5
9
S. s. d. 7 10 3
649|1064
1760 Peterborough P.
1759 John Morrison 1779 |David Annan
107
338
1 18 10 1 19
4.
Frited or
COUNTY OF CHESHIRE.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topografihical
incor- forat- cd.
names.
set- tled.
names.
remov- age. 1775 1790 ed.
lost in war.
Taxes to 6. 1000
Remarks.
1766 Acworth 1763|Alstead
1789 Thomas Archibald 1781 |Jacob Mann 1789 |Levi Lankton
r. 1788
317 |1111
£. s. d. 3 15 TO 6 18 5
1753 |CHARLESTOWN
11772 Abraham Wood
874 1905
11 16 7
1772 George Wheaton
1773
22
523 1435
9
3
ir.
r. 1775
309
143
982 537
10
5 17
1788 Jacob Haven 1772|Joseph Farrar
r. 1776
305
901
1
4 13 7| 5 8 6
1777 Edward Sprague
1771 |Benjamin Brigham
1763|Bunker Gay
522
178
298
1 15 7 7 12 5
1738 Jacob Bacon
r. 1747
756 1314
1
9 19 offirstgranted by Massachusetts and called Upper Ashuciot.
238
HISTORY OF
1773 |Fitzwilliam* 1753 |Hinsdale 1763 Gilsum 1773|Jaffrey 1753 KEENE
1782 |Laban Ainsworth
351 1235
*joined with Swansey in the enumeration of 1775. 3 1 9 icined with Chesterfield in do.
1038
5 17 10|
1763 Cornish 1763 |Croydon 1771 |Dublin
E.
1774 |Augustine Hibbard Ranna Cossit 1768 James Welman
r. 1785
594 1093
8 11 8 firstgranted by Massachusetts and called Number four.
1752|Chesterfield 1764|Claremont
Samuel Mead John Dennis |1760 Bulkicy Olcott
died or
704
COUNTY OF CHESHIRE.
Towns.
Ministers,
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical -
mcer- horat- ed.
names.
set- tled.
names.
Idied or remove lage. 1775 1790 in led.
Ilost
Taxes to G. 1000
Remarks.
1
war.
£. s. d. |
1753 Ezra Carpenter 1761 Clement Sumner 1778 Aaron Hall
r.
r. 1772
128 322
7,86
4 17
2
Eleazer Beckwith
207 74
333
1
16
10
John Ramele 1781 Jacob Foster
r. 1791
186
721
5
4
3
-- Carpenter
r.
308 1024
210
1 13 10
8 7 4
1768 Rindge
1765 Seth Deane 1782 Seth Payson
r. 1780
542 1143
16
7 14
7
-
224
701
03
8
1 first called Limerick.
Dalling
Ir. 1788
215 448
220
1 10
S
Timothy Harrington 11753 Ezra Carpenter
[r.
647 1157
8 13 10 grantedby Massachusettsand called Lower Ashuelot.
289
-
1787 Langdon :
1787 Elias Fisher
3
1 10
1761 Lempster 1776 Marlborough 1761 Marlow B. 1761 N. Grantham
1778 Joseph Cumming
r. 1780
157
780
4 18
1
5 17
1761 |Newport 1774 | Packersfield 1761 Plainfield . 1769 |Protectworth 1752 Richmond B. B.
Maturin Bellow -Aldrich
864 1380
1774 Stoddard 1769 Surry Sullivan 1753 Swansey
3 12
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
1 11
244 414
313
1 18
COUNTY, OF CHESHIRE.
-
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical
incor- forat- cd.
names.
se- tle
names.
remov- |age. 1775 1790 ed.
lost in. war.
Taxes to £1000
Remarks.
1769 Edward Goddard
1764 Unity Walpole
- - Leavitt
r.
658 1245
9 4 11
1776 Washington
1779 |George Lesslie
163|
545 267
3
3
first called Cumbden
1784 \Vendwell B. 1752 |Westmoreland
Nehemiah Woodward
65
758 2018
10
4 11
B.
B.
1753 Winchester
1764 WVilliam Goddard Ebenezer Bailey Joseph Ashley 1764 | Micah Lawrence 1788 Ezra Conant
7238 1209
a
8 4
LITERARY
ACADEMY.
Instituted.
Town -
Value of funds.
i Preceptor. 1
Boarding fer weck. 1 Tuition.
1791
Charlestown
1
Lemuel Hedge
1
4s. for Children. 6s. for Adults,
[ 2 dollars per: quarter ..
=
C. s. d. -
.
146
538
2 18 19
17521
1767 Thomas Fessenden
1 9 8| first called Saville.
1
3
-
240
. HISTORY OF
died or
r.
COUNTY OF GRAFTON.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical .
incor- herat- cd.
names.
set - tled.
names.
died or remov. ed.
lage.
1775 1790
lost in war.
Taxes to C. 1000
Remark8.
1782| Alexandria
Enoch Whipple
137
298 248 490 281 141
1 17
2
1766 Burton
10
3
1773 |Cambridge
---- Church
190
395
3
6 10
1761|Campton 1761 Canaan
B.
1780 Thomas Baldwin
ir. 1799
67
483
2 6
8
1
1770|Cockburne
1790 Thomas Page
118
373
2 11
6
4
29
10
3
1764 Coventry
8
15
6
1784 Dalton
50
14
10
3
first called Apthorpe.
1772 Dartmouth
4
10
3
176i|Dorchester
175
1 2
5
1773 |Dummer
1761 Enfeld
50
7 24
4 8
1774 Errol
10
3
1763|Fairfield
10
3| first called Peeling.
241
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
E e
A
17 67 |Chatham
14
26
10
3
1766|Cockermouth 1770 Colburne
Loctaions above Conway in- corporated.
1769 Bath
2 11 11
Bridgewater
13
6
4. s.
d.
2
1 3
1790 Bartlett
144
58
10
3
joined with Lime in the enu- meration of 1775. first called Relhan.
242
COUNTY OF GRAFTON.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical
incor- forat - ed.
names.
Bet - tled.
names.
remov- age. 1775 1790 in ed.
tost
Taxes to G. 1000
Remarks.
1764 Franconia 1778 Grafton B. 1768 Gunthwaite 1761 |Hanover
Oliver Williams
1790
$6
403 147
2
3
now called New Concord.
3
1769 Dartm. College 1763 |HAVERHILL 1761 Holdernesse E.
1765 Peter Powers
r. 1784
365
552
1
4 10
4 called Lower Cohos.
Robert Fowle Jeremiah Ward
172
329
2 5 10
1774 |Kilkenny
10
3
1763 Lancaster
61
161
18
1
called Upper Cchos.
1774 Landaff
B.
Stephen Royce 1772 Josiah Potter
40
292
1 12
4.
1761|Lebanon
347|1180
6
B.
Jedidiah Hibbard 1773 William Conant
252
816
7
$ 15
9
1764 Lincoln
22
10
3
1784 |Littleton
9€
1
part of Apthorpe.
1761 Lyman
202
1
5
9
1774 Millsfield
1778|New Chester
196 312
2.
8
1779|Northumberland
57.
171
10
called Upper Cobos.
£.
d.
29
72
8. 12 10
called Morristown.
2
47| 434 1380
6
1
HISTORY OF
.
176| |Lime
B.
Eden Boroughs Samuel Collins John Smith
Idied or 1
7
COUNTY OF GRAFTON.
Towns.
Ministers.
Numbers.
Proportion of
Historical and topographical
incor- forat- ed.
names.
set- tled.
names.
Idicd or remor- age. ed.
1775 1790
Taxes to 6. 1000
war.
Remarks.
1769|Orange 1761 Orford
$ 1771 Obadiah Noble 2 1787 John Sawyer
222
131 540
3
3 5
1774 Percy
John Richards
168
426
2 16
1764 Piermont 1763 PLYMOUTH 1767 Rumney
1765 Nathan Ward
382 257
625 411
2 16
B.
1769 Shelburne 1770 (addition)
35
10
3
4]
146
10
3
0
3
2 8 10
117
38: 206
10
3
>
8
5
24. 1
1
8
94
f. Ss3told
-
1
.
. d. 18
S.l 3 first called Cardigan.
4S
10
3
5 6
Thomas Niles Cotton Haynes
r.
S Experience Esterbrook Noah Worcester.
1775 Stratford 1773 Success 1781 Thornton 1769 Trecothick 1763 Warren* 1766\\Ventworth Locations 17.
* joined with the Pier- mont in the enumer- ation of 1775. joined with Orford in ditto.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
243
-
lost.
1 r. 1777
.
244
HISTORY OF
The principal denominations of chriftians in this State are five, viz. Congregationalifts, Prefbyterians, Epifcopalians, Baptifts and Quakers. The diftin- guifhing characteriftics of thefe are fo well known that a particular defcription is needlefs ;* the com- parative numbers of each may be feen by an infpec- tion of the preceding table ; in which the Prefby- terians are marked by the letter P. the Epifcopali- ans by E. the Baptifts by B. the Quakers by Q. Thofe without any mark are Congregationalifts ; which is the moft numerous denomination in this as well as in the neighbouring States of Maffachu- fetts and Connecticut.
In the town of Portfmouth there is a fociety of Sandemanians and another of Univerfalifts ; which are not noted in the table.
The people in general throughout the State are profeffors of the chriftian religion in fome form or other. There is, however, a fort of wife men, who pretend to reject it; but they have not yet been able to fubftitute a better in its place.
It has been a common practice, in all the grants of townfhips, which have been made either by the Crown or the Mafonian proprietors, to referve one fhare, equal to that of any other grantee, for the firft fettled minifter, as his own right; befides a parfon- age lot. This has proved a great encouragement to the fettlement of minifters in the new towns ; and it has been generally obferved that thofe towns are the moft thriving, in which early care has been taken to fettle a prudent minifter, and aflift him in clearing and cultivating his land.
In fome of the new towns, where the people are not able to fupport minifters, it has been ufual for the clergymen of the elder towns to make itinerant
For an account of these distinctions seo a " view of religions" by H. ADAMS, lately reprinted in Boston.
1
245
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
excurfions, of feveral weeks, to preach and baptize ; whilft their places at home have been filled, by the neighbouring minifters in rotation. Such itinera- tions are always acceptable, to the fcattered people in the wildernefs, and ferve to keep up a fenfe of re- ligion in their families. By the conftitution of the State every denomination of chriftians is equally under the protection of the law, and it is exprefsly provided, that ' no fubordination of any one fect 'or denomination to another, fhall ever be eftab- ' lifhed by law.'
It is alfo claimed and allowed as a right of the people, to elect and fupport their own teachers ; and that ' no perfon of any one particular religious fect ' or denomination fhall ever be compelled to pay " toward the fupport of the teachers of any other fect ' or denomination.' There is therefore as entire re- ligious liberty in New-Hampfhire, as any people can rationally defire.
I
246
HISTORY OF
CHAP. XVIII.
Conclusion. Hints of Advice on several important Subjects.
CITIZENS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
AVING fpent above twenty years of my life with you, and paffed through various fcenes of peace and war within that time ; being perfonal- ly acquainted with many of you, both in your pub- lic and private characters ; and having an carneft defire to promote your true intereft, I truft you will not think me altogether unqualified to give you a few hints by way of advice. You are certainly a rifing State ; your numbers are rapidly increafing ; and your importance in the political fcale will be augmented, in proportion to your improving the natural advantages which your fituation affords you, and to your cultivating the intellectual and moral powers of yourfelves and your children.
The firft article on which I would open my mind to you is that of education. Nature has been as bountiful to you as to any other people, in giving your children genius and capacity ; it is then your duty and your intereft to cultivate their capacities and render them ferviceable to themfelves and the community. It was the faying of a great orator and ftatefman of antiquity,* that ' the lofs which the ' Commonwealth fuftains, by a want of education, ' is like the lofs which the year would fuffer by the ' deftruction of the fpring.' If the bud be blafted the tree will yield no fruit. If the fpringing corn be cut down, there will be no harveft. So if the youth be ruined through a fault in their education,
PERICLES of Athens.
-
I
247
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
the community fuftains a lofs which cannot be re- repaired ; ' for it is too late to correct them when ' they are fpoiled.' Notwithftanding the care of your Legiflators in enacting laws, and enforcing them by fevere penalties ; notwithftanding the wife and liberal provifion which is made by fome towns, and fome private gentlemen in the State ; yet there is ftill in many places 'a great and criminal neglect 'of education.' You are indeed in a very confider- able degree better, in this refpect, than in the time of the late war ; but yet much remains to be done. Great care ought to be taken, not only to provide a fupport for inftructors of children and youth ; but to be attentive in the choice of inftructors ; to fee that they be men of good underitanding, learning and morals ; that they teach by their example as well as by their precepts ; that they govern them- felves, and teach their pupils the art of felf-govern- ment.
Another fource of improvement which I beg leave to recommend, is the eftablifhment of focial libraries. This is the cafieft, the cheapeft and moft effectual mode of diffufing knowledge among the people. For the fum of fix or cight dollars at once, and a fmall annual payment befide, a man may be fupplied with the means of literary improvement, during his life, and his children may inherit the bleffing. A few neighbours joined together in fet- ting up a library, and placing it under the care of fome fuitable perfon, with a very few regulations, to prevent careleffnefs and wafte, may render the moft effential fervice to themfelves and to the com- munity. Books may be much better preferved in this way, than if they belonged to individuals ; and there is an advantage in the focial intercourfe of perfons who have read the fame books, by their con- yerfing on the fubjects which have occurred in their
F
248
HISTORY OF
reading and communicating their obfervations one to another.
From this mutual intercourfe another advantage may arife ; for the perfons who are thus affociated may not only acquire but originate knowledge. By fludying nature and the fciences, by practifing arts, agriculture and manufactures, at the fame time that they improve their minds in reading, they may be led to difcoveries and improvements, original and beneficial ; and being already formed into fociety, they may diffufe their knowledge, ripen their plans, correct their miftakes, and promote the caufe of fci- ence and humanity in a very confiderable degree.
- The book of nature is always open to our view, and we may ftudy it at our leifure ;
''Tis elder Scripture, writ by God's own band.' The earth, the air, the fea, the rivers, the moun- tains, the rocks, the caverns, the animal and vege- table tribes are fraught with inftruction. Nature is not half explored ; and in what is partly known there are many myfteries, which time, obfervation® and experience muft unfold. Every focial library thould be furnifhed with books of natural philofo- phy, botany, zoology, chymiftry, hufbandry, geog- raphy and aftronomy ; that inquiring minds may be directed in their inquiries ; that they may fee what is known and what ftill remains to be difcov- ered ; and that they may employ their leifure and their various opportunities in endeavouring to add to the ftock of fcience, and thus enrich the world with their obfervations and improvements.
Permit me alfo to give you fome hints in rural @conomy. Your lands often fuffer for want of ma- nure, when you have vaft quantities provided by the bountiful hand of nature. The mixing of foils, and the draining of bogs might yield immenfe profit. The labour, though formidable at firft view, yet, be-
249
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
ing refolutely entered upon and purfued, will be as fatisfactory, as the effects will be lafting and bene- ficial. You have in many places great quantities of marle which will enrich your land for ages ; your fwamp mud, carried up to the higher and lighter ground, and mixed with the dung of cattle, would increafe your quantity of manure in a moft furprif- ing degree. Many of you I prefume have yet to learn, that a great part of the nutriment of vegeta- ble fubftances, is derived from the air, and that the foil itfelf is enriched by that means. When you lay down your worn out lands, if you fow them with clover or other graffes, they will be fooner recruit= ed than if you leave them to bear only the weeds; which may accidentally fpring up ; and if you plough in the green crop, you will promote their fertility, in a much greater degree.
The tow which is made by the dreffing of flax, and which children are indulged in burning for their diverfion, would furnifh the paper-mills with ufeful materials ; and the fkins of fheep and lambs which are often thrown away, would contrib- ute to the manufacture of wool-cards and the bind- ing of books. By an attention to fuch comparative- ly fmall matters, great faving's might be made, and various kinds of artificers might be fupplied with the means of carrying on their refpective occupa- tions.
Suffer me to add a few words on the ufe of fpi- ritous liquor, that bane of fociety, that deftroyer of health, morals and property. Nature indeed has furnifhed her vegetable productions with fpirit ; but fhe has fo combined it with other fubftances, that unlefs her work be tortured by fire, the fpirit is not feparated, and cannot prove pernicious. Why fhould this force be put on nature, to make her yield a noxious draught, when all her original pre-
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parations are falutary ? The juice of the apple, the fermentation of barley, and the decoction of ipruce are amply fufficient for the refreshment of man, let his labor be ever fo fevere, and his perfpi- ration ever fo expenfive. Our forefathers for many years after the fettlement of the country, knew not the ufe of diftilled fpirits. Malt was imported from England, and wine from the weftern or Canary iflands, with which they were refrefhed, before their own fields and orchards yielded them a fup- ply. An expedition was once undertaken againft a nation of Indians,* when there was but one pint of ftrong water (as it was then called) in the whole army, and that was referved for the fick ; yet no complaint was made for want of refrefhment. Could we but return to the primitive manners of our anceftors in this refpect, we fhould be free from many of the diforders, both of body and mind which are now experienced. The difufe of ardent Spirits would alfo tend to abolifh the infamous traf- fic in flaves, by whofe labour this baneful material is procured.
Divine Providence feems to be preparing the way for the deftruction of that deteftable commerce. The infurrections of the blacks in the Weft-Indies have already fpread defolation over the moft fertile plantations, and greatly raifed the price of thofe. commodities which we have been ufed to import from thence. If we could check the confumption of diftilled fpirits, and enter with vigour into the manufacture of maple fugars, of which our forefts would afford an ample fupply, the demand for Weft-India productions might be diminithed ; the plantations in the iflands would not need frefh re- cruits from Africa ; the planters would treat with humanity their remaining blacks, and render them.
* The Pequods, in 1637
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fufficiently prolific to fupply them with a fucceffion of labourers ; the market for flaves would become lefs inviting ; and the navigation, which is now employed in the moft pernicious fpecies of com- merce which ever difgraced humanity, would be turned into fome other channel.
Were I to form a picture of happy fociety, it would be a town confifting of a due mixture of hills, valleys and ftreams of water : The land well fenced and cultivated ; the roads and bridges in good repair ; a decent inn for the refrefhment of travellers, and for public entertainments : The in- habitants moftly hufbandmen; their wives and daughters domeftic manufacturers ; a fuitable pro- portion of handicraft workmen, and two or three traders ; a phyfician and lawyer, each of whom fhould have a farm for his fupport. A .clergyman of any denomination, which fhould be agreeable to the majority, a man of good underftanding, of a candid difpofition and exemplary morals ; not a metaphyfical, nor a polemic, but a ferious and prac- tical preacher. A fchool mafter who fhould under- ftand his bufinefs . and teach his pupils to govern themfelves. A focial library, annually increafing, and under good regulation. A club of fenfible men, feeking mutual improvement. A decent mufical fociety. No intriguing politician, horfe jockey, gambler or fot ; but all fuch characters treated with contempt. Such a fituation may be confidered as the moft favourable to focial happinefs of any which this world can afford.
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