The annals of Albany, Vol. VIII, Part 25

Author: Munsell, Joel, 1808-1880
Publication date: 1850-1859
Publisher: Albany : J. Munsell
Number of Pages: 412


USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VIII > Part 25


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11. George Anderson died, aged 38.


13. Caroline, wife of Geo. Kreuder, died. Sarah, wife of Peter H. Diamond, died, in New York ...... Mrs. Anna Bleecker Truax, widow of Harmanus Lansing, died, in Watervliet .... Henry G. Bendall died, aged 21. 14. Sarah L. Keith, wife of L. Stuart Rose, died, aged 24. ..... Andrew Murdock, Sen., died, at Schaghticoke.


15. William Parmelee, mayor of the city, died, of a cancerous affection in the throat, aged 49. He was a native of Lansingburgh; graduated at Yale college in 1827, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme court in 1830, when he commenced the practice of law in this city. In 1836 he was appointed city attorney, and in


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1839 a judge of the county court, from which bench, in 1840, he was appointed recorder; he remained in that office till 1846, when he was elected mayor. In 1847 he was elected judge of the county, and held the office till 1852. In 1855 he was re-elected mayor, which office he held at the time of his death. ... Wm. H. Mosher died, aged 27.


17. Elizabeth Wilson died, aged 18.


18. Mary, wife of Wm. Castle, died, aged 43. .. Sarah Hepinstall, wife of John Holmes, formerly of Al- bany, died at Brampton, C. W., aged 53 ...... Jane Mc- Chesney, wife of William Loomis, formerly of Albany, died at Enfield, Conn., aged 42.


19. A very large attendance of citizens followed the remains of Mayor Parmelee to the grave, notwithstand- ing the snow storm which rendered the streets very dif- ficult to pedestrians ...... A fire was discovered in the Geological hall, in time to prevent its conflagration.


20. A fire destroyed the tannery at the lower end of Broadway ; loss $16,000-insured .. .. Jeremiah Whalen died, aged 89.


21. Harriet Hagen died, aged 42. .Elizabeth Mc- Guire died, aged 26.


22. The Albany Morning Express, which had been published about ten years, was discontinued ...... Mrs. Sarah Creswell died, aged 81; an ancient corset maker, who had stayed the bodies of the ladies of Albany for at least two generations. She came to the city about 1823, from New York, and located at No. 3 North Pearl street.


24. The Albany Daily Statesman was first published, to advocate the doctrines of the American party.


26. Michael Moakler died, aged 56 ...... Margaret Carey died, aged 70.


29. A fire slightly damaged the pottery corner of Hawk and Hudson streets.


30. Benjamin F. Harwood, clerk of the Court of ap- peals, died, aged 38. ..... Harriet E., wife of James Mahony, died, aged 22.


31. Sallie A., wife of Geo. K. Greene, died


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2


APRIL.


1. James McDonald died, aged 43. . . .. G. W. Carter died, aged 21.


2. Miss Nancy Henry dicd.


3. The democrats called a meeting at the Capitol which was largely attended. The sudden lighting up of large bonfires alarmed the bell ringers, and there was a tremendous peal from all the bells, and a general turnout of the fire companies. . .... Gorham A. Worth died in New York, aged 73. He was formerly cashier of the Mecha- nics' and Farmers' bank, and wrote some reminiscences of Albany.


4. The ice moved down the river, leaving the whole channel free as far as could be seen ...... Charles R. Wooley died at Frankfort, Ky., aged 26.


8. Hon. Isaac Wells, member of assembly from Jeffer- son county, died of varioloid, aged 65. Two other legis- lators who were confined with the same disease at the same time, recovered ...... An election of city officers resulted in the choice of Dr. J. V. P. Quackenbush, by 20 votes over Eli Perry. William Paddock was elected re- corder. Samuel K. Hardy, died, aged 56.


9. The legislature adjourned, leaving the greater part of the business of the session unfinished ...... A fire at 2 o'clock in the morning, damaged the stove foundry of Quackenboss & Wasson, in Montgomery street Mrs. Elizabeth Christy died.


10. The first steam boat up from New York was the South America, which arrived this morning ...... A dwell- ing house in South Pearl street was damaged by fire. .. . . Eli, son of Hiram Perry, died, aged 22 .. .. Mrs. Anne Cullen died, aged 77.


11. Joseph Fry died, aged 82. He was a native of East Greenwich, R. I., where he was born in the year 1774; was bred to the printing business in Providence ; came to Albany in 1796, and in 1798 was engaged with Henry C. Southwick in the publication of the Albany Chronicle. In 1813 he published the first Albany Di- rectory ; but he was principally engaged in the tobacco


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business in which he acquired a competence. He made a profession of religion under the ministry of Hooper Cum - mings, to whom he was sincerely devoted, during all the trials of that remarkable man; and was also distinguished for inflexible integrity in all the relations of life.


12. Jacob Bradwell died, aged 54. . Mrs. Hannah Herner died, aged 84.


13. Charles Boyd, aged 21, died at Princeton theolo- gical seminary, where he was about to graduate.


14. Indignation meeting at the Capitol, on account of alleged frauds in the recent charter election, by which the returns showed a small majority in favor of D.r. Quackenbush over Eli Perry, for mayor .. The Com- mon council met in the evening, and declared the returns of the 7th and 8th wards to be fraudulent, and declared Eli Perry elected to the office of mayor, by a vote of 11 to 9. . ... Thomas Ogden died, aged 52. . . Abram Truax Bahannan died, aged 38.


15. Mrs. Catharine Annesley, widow of the late John Crawford, died, aged 98.


17. Alarm of fire; a stable in South Pearl street slightly damaged.


20. A heavy storm of snow all day.


22. Sarah, wife of Daniel Winne, died, aged 24.


23. Frederick J. Barnard died, aged 25.


24. Maria, wife of William H. Andrews, and daughter of Levi Phillips, died at Buffalo .. .. Hannah, wife of James H. Warner, died, aged 37 Hannalı Coats died, aged 22.


25. Mary A. Bartley died, aged 22.


27. An alarm of fire in the evening proceeded from a fire in West Troy ...... Catharine Matilda, wife of T. V. L. Wheeler, died in New York, aged 33; daughter of the late Benj. Van Benthuysen.


28. At a meeting of the Common council, C. W: God- dard was elected mayor to fill the unexpired term of Wm. Parmelee, deceased ...... The fire companies made an experiment with Grenoble hose, before the City hall.


29. Jonathan Brooks, Jr., died, aged 45. '


30. Charles S. Vernam, died, aged 34.


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MAY.


1. Mary Crocker, wife of Thomas L. Greene, died, aged 39.


2. Mrs. Catharine Shepherd, died, aged 91. She was a native of East Hartford, Ct., and came to Albany in 1796. She was the eldest of five sisters, all of whom resided in Albany, and of whom the venerable Mrs. Guest is the only survivor. Mrs. Shepherd retained her men- tal faculties to an unusual degree, and her society was sought and enjoyed equally by the old and the young .- Journal.


4. Elisabeth, wife of Henry T. Couldwell, died, aged 58 ...... Alexander Holmes died, aged 48.


6. At a meeting of the new board of Common council, Dr. J. V. P. Quackenbush was elected mayor. by the de- mocratic majority, although Eli Perry had been declared mayor by the retiring board, and duly sworn into office. The city, for the first time had two mayors.


8. The boilers of the steam tug Washington Hunt ex- ploded severely scalding four persons. . .. ... Mrs. Innocent, wife of Halsey Woodruff, died, aged 65. .. . . The body of Adam Beam, who had been missing for a month, was found floating in the river.


9. S. Cornelia, wife of J. W. Randolph, died, aged 26.


10. Annie Knower died at Knowersville, aged 34.


12. Mrs. Lois Marvin, widow of David E. Gregory, died, aged 73.


15. Explosion of a fifty horse power steam boiler at Cyrus Edson's distillery, at the lower end of Broadway, by which Mr. Edson and two others were instantly killed, and several wounded. Mr. Edson was 36 years of age. . Julia, wife of Hiram Holiday, died, aged 52.


16. Robert Brew died, aged 68.


18. The funeral of Cyrus Edson attended by a very large concourse of citizens.


19. Rebecca Hartshorne died, aged 84.


20. Mary, wife of John McIntyre, died, aged 58.


21. Elizabeth, wife of Charles Buss, died, aged 35.


22. John B. James died at Chicago, aged 40. . . Sarah Harkison died, aged 35


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23. Thomas D. Gaynor died, aged 64. ..... Catharine E., wife of Thomas Hillson, died, aged 44.


25. Mrs. Julia McGregor died, aged 58 ...... Olinda, wife of Daniel Atwood, died, aged 43.


28. Jane, wife of Thomas Campbell, died, aged 46.


30. Harriet E. Deuel, wife of J. R. Herrick, died, aged 31 ...... Mrs. Nicholas Coyle died, aged 33.


JUNE.


1. The ceremony of laying the corner stone of St. Jo- seph's church took place with great pomp, attracting an immense crowd of spectators. .. Patrick McKeever died, aged 78.


3. Stephen Watson died at Brattleboro, Vt., aged 68.


5. Benj. F. Craft died, aged 56.


9. Eve, wife of Zera Wilber, died, aged 80.


10. John W. R. Marvin died in Brooklyn, aged 31. . James McGuire died.


11. Jonathan White died, aged 81.


15. Mary, widow of James LaGrange, died, aged 85. . Mary, wife of Denison Worthington, formerly of this city, died at Summit, Wisconsin, aged 39.


16. Workmen began the demolition of the City hotel. Mrs. Catharine A., wife of Capt. Peter A. Bradt, died, aged 44.


17. Mary Augusta, wife of S. F. Parsons, died, aged 28.


19. The Yates mansion on Broad street, sold to T. W. Olcott, for the use of the principal of the Female aca- demy. $16,000 paid for it. .Delia M., wife of Luton Shaw, died, aged 38.


20. Mrs. Susan D. C. Aiken, late of Albany, died in Syria, aged 21.


23. Theodore Fondey died, aged 28 ...... Alexander Campbell died on his passage home from South America.


24. A fire in Lumber street destroyed a rope walk and two tenements; several persons injured ...... Dennis Allen died, aged 65.


25. The capital stock of the Albany Bridge company, [ Annals, ?iii.] 30


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$500,000, was subscribed in a few hours. . Daniel H. Craig died, aged 57.


& 26. William V. Pruyn died of wounds received at the burning of the rope walk in Lumber street, aged 45.


27. Jane Knight died, aged 49.


28. Catharine, wife of A. S. Beers, died, aged 52.


JULY.


: 2. The 25th regiment having erected a flag staff on the Steam boat square, Gen. Frisby raised the national colors, and a salute of thirteen guns was fired on the oc- casion.


= 3. Dr. C. C. Griffin died suddenly at Toledo, Ohio.


6. A disturbance took place among the members of the German Lutheran church in State street, which amounted to a riot; the majority of the members having become dissatisfied with the pastor, and considerably tinctured with heresy.


7. The Common council changed the name of Patroon street to Clinton avenue.


8. A fire destroyed the carriage manufactory of Lloyd & Jones, on Hamilton street ...... Francis McCan, living in the lower part of the city, murdered his wife, cleaving her head open with an axe.


9. The murderer McCan was arrested in Greenbush.


10. A fire destroyed the house 128 State street, the inmates barely escaping with their lives. .. . Cornelius Brooks died, aged 42.


12. John I. Boyd died, aged 76. He was formerly of the house of Peter & John I. Boyd, doing business in South Market street, and retiring some years ago with a competency.


14. Archibald Campbell died, aged 77. He was born in Glenlyon, Perthshire, in the Highlands of Scotland, in 1779. He came to this country in 1798 and was a short time engaged in the printing establishment of Barber & Southwick, in this city, but most of his active life was spent in the state department. He entered the secretary of state's office as a clerk in 1805, under Thos. Tillotson


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and served in that capacity until 1812, when, without solicitation, he was appointed deputy secretary, by Eli- sha Jenkins, and continued to hold this office, with the exception of a brief interval of two years, until 1853, when his increasing ill health compelled him to resign. Mr. C. remained in the state department through va- rious political changes, under the following secretaries, viz : Thomas Tillotson, Elisha Jenkins, Daniel Hale, Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer, Peter B. Porter, Robert L. Tillotson, Charles D. Cooper, John Van Ness Yates, Azariah C. Flagg, John A. Dix, John C. Spencer, Samuel Young, Nathaniel S. Benton, Christopher Morgan, and Henry S. Randall. He was thoroughly acquainted with the business of his office, and devoted to its duties, and uniformly enjoyed the entire confidence of the heads of the department, and of the other branches of the state administration, and of the public, during the long period of his service. The purity of character which distin- guished his private life, as well as the unwearied courtesy and fidelity which marked the discharge of his public duties, secured him the sincerest respect of all who knew him. It may be mentioned, only as an illustration of the esteem which he commanded from all who had most intimate knowledge of him, that he enjoyed in a remark- able degree, the confidence of Gov. Tompkins, during his connection with the state government. Mr. Camp- bell was one of the founders of the St. Andrew's society of this city, and for many years its president. He and our lamented fellow.citizen John I. Boyd, who died a few days before him, and Archibald Mcintyre and Wm. McHarg, were the only survivors of the founders. The two last now only remain ...... Mrs. Cornelia, wife of Abram Wilkinson, died, aged 29.


15. A steam boat arrived from New York for the north ferry, the steam boat which ran there a few years ago having been abandoned for a horse boat. The immense numbers of cattle brought from the west by rail road were proposed to be ferried over here, to avoid the nui- sance of driving them through the city, which had become a serious evil.


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18. Joseph C. Born died, aged 41 ...... Jane K., wife of Albert T. Dark, died, aged 25.


19. Robert Evans died, aged 60.


21. James Waddell died, aged 54.


24. Rachel, widow of John McGill, died, aged 75.


29. Mariah, wife of Thomas Lees, died, aged 40 ....


J. Richmond Gladding died, aged 19 .. .. Bridget, wife of Richard Burke, died, aged 34.


30. A fire in the evening destroyed a shed corner of Hamilton and Philip streets .... . Sally A., wife of Robert F. Rose, died, aged 43.


31. Polly Mann died, aged 83.


AUGUST.


2. Nathan B. Stiles, formerly of Albany, died at Phila- delphia, aged 25.


5. Sophia, wife of Jared Holt, died, aged 50.


Mary A., wife of John P. Cox, died, aged 36.


6. Isaac Arnold died, aged 90. .. Mrs. Margaret Allison died, aged 56.


8. Margaret, wife of John Dillon, died, aged 36.


10. Eliza, wife of Daniel Miller, died, aged 41 .. .... An aged woman named Lawless, returning from church, fell dead in the street from the rupture of a blood vessel. . Margaret Craig died, aged 46.


13. Mrs. Rena Davis died, aged 62.


14. Convention of the old line whigs, which ratified the nomination of Millard Fillmore for president, and in the evening there was a great meeting at the Capitol, and a large procession with transparencies and Roman can- dles ...... George Riley died, aged 50.


16. Mary Hagerdorn died, aged 64.


17. George Osborn died, aged 71. ..... Thomas Green died at sea, on board the bark Stella and was buried on the Peruvian coast.


18. Alida, widow of Alexander Cameron, died, aged 66.


20. Great rain storm ... The American association for the advancement of science met at the Capitol ...... Nancy A., wife of Joseph La Fleur, died, aged 25.


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21. Great freshet, caused by the rain of the previous . 36 hours; the bridge over the Normanskill on the Beth- lehem turnpike, was carried away, and several mills dam- aged ...... The bridge commissioners decided to locate the bridge over the Hudson at the foot of Exchange street ...... Elizabeth, wife of Robert Jennings, died, aged 45.


24. Robert M. K. Strong, late of Albany died in New York, aged 44. Among the members of the bar who had turned from its active scenes to seek repose in re- tirement, and who have been called to leave to life itself the farewell they had uttered to their profession, few have been more missed or more sincerely mourned than the late Robert M. K. Strong. Having acquired a libe- ral education at Union college in this state, he com- menced his legal studies under the care of the late Samuel Stevens of Albany, and completed them in the of- fice of the late Daniel B. Talmadge, in this city. Begin- ning his professional career without family influence, and pursuing it unaided by adventitious circumstances he achieved in an eminent degree, and while yet a young man, the reward of integrity, industry and ability. From inclination and aptitude, Mr. Strong participated in the important labors and consultations of the office, rather than in the more conspicuous duties of court. While he sought no opportunity for public notoriety, he attained the confidence of clients and the esteem of his profes- sional brethren. Retiring in 1854, from the commercial law firm of Martin, Strong & Smiths, in which he was long a partner, he undertook, in the following year a voy- age to Europe, but returned a confirmed invalid. Years of arduous application had been intermitted in vain, or too late. Disease, which shattered a constitution, not of the firmest, disordered for a time a mind distinguished for its healthful balance. Under such circumstances, death came at last in the form of relief. As his friends could not hope to welcome him back to life, they could hardly mourn his release from the dark valley whose shadows to him were deepened by a mental cloud. He died in the prime of life-his age little exceeding forty-


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leaving to an interesting family the bereaved enjoyment of accumulations which he had designed to share with .


them in his coveted retirement: .


" When hearts whose truth was proven Like his are laid in earth, There should a wreath be woven To tell the world their worth."


He was a man of directness, sincerity and heart. These qualities gave a manly gentleness to his manner, and endeared him to many, whose recollections will sup- ply omissions in this imperfect tribute to his memory .- N. Y. Eve. Post.


25. Mrs. Jane M. Shires died, aged 68 ...... Amanda M., wife of Moses Murdock, died, aged 26.


27. The State geological hall was inaugurated by the American scientific association. Addresses were deli- vered by Prof. Louis Agassiz, and other distinguished men.


28. The largest assemblage of ladies and gentlemen ever seen in Albany, congregated under the immense canvas erected in the Academy park, to participate in the ceremonies attending the dedication of the Dudley observatory. The scene presented was brilliant, and well calculated to inspire an orator. The stand was filled with the magnates of the state, and the distinguished men from abroad .. They were so numerous that we have no room to name them. The first orator was Ex- Gov. Hunt, who paid a high eulogy to the late Charles E. Dudley. He was followed by Prof. Goold, the young astronomer, who is to have charge of the Dudley obser- vatory, who gave a history of the rise and progress of the observatory. He mentioned particularly the inde- fatigable services of Dr. Armsby, which called from the audience loud applause. When he finished, Prof. Bache paid a very neat and appropriate compliment to the great orator of the day. Previous to Judge Harris introducing Mr. Everett, he read a letter from Mrs. Dudley, tender- ing $50,000 for the support and maintenance of the Dud- ley observatory. Prof. Agassiz pushed forward to the front of the platform, and asked that the audience would


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every one rise in honor of the lady who had made this . great contribution to American science. The vast crowd rose, and three enthusiastic cheers were given. Mrs. Dudley, who was present, was so overcome by the com- pliment, that she shed tears of joy. The great Massa- chusetts orator then came forward and was warmly welcomed. He held the attention of the immense crowd for nearly two hours. It was a brilliant effort of his pro- lific genius, worthy of his dazzling name. The whole affair passed off creditably to all concerned. The con- vention adjourned, to meet next year at Montreal. Votes of thanks were passed to the trustees of the different institutions in town for their kind attention, to which were added complimentary remarks. The citizens of Albany, particularly the ladies, were highly complimented for their kindness and hospitality. Appropriate eulogies were passed on the late Dr. Beck, when the association adjourned. .. Jane, wife of Abraham Sickels died, aged 74.


29.' Catharine Nehmire died, aged 27 ...... A man named William Grant dropped dead in the street, from enlargement of the heart.


30. A fire destroyed the oil cloth factory of Claassen & Barclay, in Lydius street, about 4 o'clock in the morning. Loss estimated at $50,000 ...... J. Bamberg's store robbed of laces and silks to the amount of $3,000. The scaffolding used for enlarging the First presby- terian church fell a little after 7 o'clock in the morning,


and injured several of the workmen.


. .


.Two thieves


arrested for stealing jewelry from the stores of James Mix and others ..... Mrs. Levi Parker died, aged 56 ... Ann, wife of John Burns, died, aged 65 ...... Susannah, widow of the late Wm. Cagger, died, aged 83. ..... Bas- sill Watson died at Buffalo aged 37; formerly of Albany.


31. Edmund Cooper died, aged 54.


SEPTEMBER.


1. The steam boat Knickerbocker, at one time the most splendid boat on the river, but now used principally for


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the transportation of cattle to New York, sank on her downward trip at an early hour in the morning, at the Highlands, having on board a considerable number of passengers and nearly 700 sheep. The passengers were saved, but their baggage was lost, and the live stock and freight also ...... William Cooper, late of Albany, died at Philadelphia, aged 56; and was interred here on the 5th.


3. George W. Beers died, aged 28.


4. Sarah L., wife of Daniel True, died, aged 38.


5. Sally Ann, wife of B. C. Brainerd, died, aged 46.


8. The Albany Evening Union, a democratic paper was published by J. McFarland-a penny paper .... · Ellen, wife of John Tobin, died, aged 26 ..... Kate O'Sullivan drowned at Schenectady, aged 21.


10. Caroline, widow of David Armour died, aged 90.


11. Mariah, wife of Barent Van Zandt, died, aged 49. .Jeremiah Schuyler, formerly of Albany, died at Chicago, aged 31.


15. James P. Gould died, aged 66. He was a Christ- ian philosopher. His mental endowment was far above mediocrity. He was a living compendium of civil and ecclesiastical history. No man in Albany, knew more of Albany, he having been for many years chief engineer of the fire department and assessor. He knew the number, dimensions, and valuation, of almost all the real estate. He was accurate, precise, methodical, honest. He was interesting and instructive in conversation. He was cheerful without levity. He was ardent and abiding in his attachments. He was faithful and true as husband, father, and friend. He was courteous, meek, unostenta- tious, sympathetic, and inflexible where principle was involved. His religious exercises were fervent, reverent and impressive, and suffered nothing by inspection or re- view. His views of God and his Providence were emi- nently exalted, philosophical, and scriptural. He was frugal and benevolent. He was honored. No man in Albany could hold an office for which he would consent to be a candidate, civil or ecclesiastical. His elections


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were by overwhelming majorities, or unanimous consent. Hundreds who saw him during his last illness, could adopt the language of Young: "The chamber where the good man meets his fate," &c. I was his physician. He was my friend. I never knew a man whom I loved more. He said he only wished to live to my account, lest dying I might suffer professionally. This was the strongest expression of friendship that I ever heard of. His dis- ease was protracted and painful. A post-mortem exam- ination, by the ablest physicians and surgeons of the Medical college, demonstrated an absolutely incurable disease of one kidney and the liver. He lived and died as none but great and good men ever can. He detested eulogy and parade. He will read this obituary in the last great day, and I shall have thousands to witness that the half has not been told. His death-bed biography was a " sinner saved by grace." CHARLES DEVOL.


17. A match was played between the Albany and the Poughkeepsie cricket clubs, in which Albany was victor- ious.


18. The Westerlo mansion on Pearl street, sold by auction, brought $17,000 ...... Mrs. Anna Morris died. .John Hastings died, aged 90.


19. Margaret, wife of Hugh Gillespie, died, aged 74.


20. Catherine, widow of Wm. H. Whitney, formerly of Albany, died in New York, aged 62.


21. Jacob E. Fuller died, aged 33 ... .Mrs. Ann Vickers died, aged 82.




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