USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 45
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Inclosed you have a letter from Capt. IIart to Major Wyllys, which in his absence, I was di- rected to open. It is now reduced to a certainty that an Indian war is inevitable.
I would wish to observe, that some of the in- habitants of this State have contracted with some persons at Detroit to furnish large supplies of bacon and flour; and that in a few days, [not less than seventeen thousand weight will be transported for that place, as much of it is al- ready purchased and packed. In the present situation of affairs the suffering provision to go to that country, appears impolitic, but neither the civil or military are authorized to prevent a traffic of this kind.
Your ob't servant, JNO. ARMSTRONG.
PHILADELPHIA, March 16th, 1786. SIR :
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters. Mr. Nicholson's intelligence 1 observe bodes no good, and we may expect some disturbance with the Indians unless the commissioners at the Miami exert their persuasive talents to prevent it. I am ve- ry anxious to hear the result of that treaty .- As to the circumstance of citizens and soldiers intermixing in the garrison, it is in my opinion unmilitary, nevertheless I would have you not to proceed so hastily in removing them. The good will of the inhabitants is an object worthy your attention to gain. Many abuses I make no doubt, have been committed respecting the public property, previous to the corps taking charge of them, but must observe that, report should be made to Major Wyllys, the senior of- ficer, who will certainly pay attention thereto. We are now recruiting, and I expect to leave this city about the middle of next month for
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the westward. I shall again proceed to New York in the course of a few days, and hope to be able to bring along with me what I am sure must be very acceptable to both officers and men, viz : a little ready money. The hooks and lines I shall purchase and bring with me. I thank you for the different intelligences you have transmitted me respecting the Indians. I wish you to have my bedding aired as I am fearful many articles will spoil , being so long from the sun. Be pleased to present my compliments to all acquaintance.
I am sir, with esteem,
your very humble servant. JOS. HARMÅR.
LT. JNO. ARMSTRONG.
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
We are indebted to a friend for a duodecimo volume of 112 pages containing a "brief ac- count of the society of the Friendly sons of St. Patrick, with biographical notices of some of the members and extracts from the minutes." Prepared and published by order of the Hiber- nian Society.
This is one of those volumes that occasionally spring up in our way, to shew how much, patri- otism and public good owe to social intercourse .- 'The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, was organized in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1771, for social and convivial objects, of natives, or descendants of natives of Ireland .-- 'The liberty of electing 10 honorary members, without the qualification of Irish descent, was reserved. In the list of members are found the names of many distinguished men of that period. The author of the volume gives a brief biogra- phical sketch of the members ordinary, and it would seem that nearly every one was subse. quently found playing an important part in the revolutionary war, which commenced a few years after the organization of the society. In the course of the revolutionary war, many dis- tinguished officers were admitted to member- ship on the ground of the Irish blood in their veins. Gen. Washington was proposed, but when they would have selected him, it was found that he was not of Irish descent, by ei- ther father or mother. Here was a dilemma, which it took an Irishman to escape from. In- stead of hunting up distant possibilities of rela- tionship, a member proposed, and it was unani- monsly agreed to adopt Gen. Washington as a son of St. Patrick. Paternity was never more honored or enviable.
General Washington replied to the letter of the President; George Campbell, Esq., father of our esteemed townsman of that name; that he accepted with singular pleasure the ensign of so worthy a fraternity as that of the sons of St. Pat- rick in this city-a society distinguished for the firm adherence of its members to the glorious canse in which we are embarked. And the coun- try's father accepted of a splendid dinner on the oc- casion, and gave a dinner in return at the city tivern.
Very many of the society were officers and members of the first 'Troop, at its formation, and there seems to be a hint, that that "ancient and honorable corps" owes its existence to the sons
of St. Patrick; or at least, that the credit of its origin is to be divided between that society and the fine old "Hunting Club."
We cannot forbear to notice one anecdote set forth. In 1780. General Washington was con- pelled to appeal to individuals for aid in order to . avoid the establishment of a bank, for the sup -; ply of the army with provisions. 0-The sum of £300,000 was needed, and of this the members of the society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick subscribed as follows:
Robert Morris, £10,000; Blair McClenachan, £10,000; Wm. Bingham, £2,000; J. M. Nes- bit & Co., £5,000; Richard Peters, £5,000; Samuel Meredith, £5.000; James Mease, £5,- 000; Thos. Barclay, £5,000; Hugh Shell, £5,- 000; John Dunlap,£5,000; John Nixon, .€5,000; Geo. Campbell, £2,000; John Mease, £4,000; Bunner, Murray, & Co, £6,000; John Patton £2,000; Benj. Fuller, £2,000; Georga Meade' & Co, £2,000; Jno. Donaldson, £2,000; Henry Hill. 5,000; Kean & Nichols, £4,000; James Caldwell, £2,000; Samuel Caldwell, £1,000; John Shee, £1,000; Sharp Delany. £1,000; Tench Francis, £5,000.
Old Times.
At a late Temperance Celebration in Boston, the Rev, Mr. Skinner gave the following state- ment of the cost of an ordination in Woburn, Mass. We remember some of these festivities, when a meeting house was raised to the top of the flute, violin, and instruments of many strings, and occasionally a sackbut :
"To Mr. Jonathan Poole, Esq., for subsisting the Ministers, messengers and gentlemen, at the time of Mr. Jackson's ordination over the Con- gregational Church, 1729 :
£. s. d.
To 433 dinners, at 2s. 6d a dinner, 54 2 6
To suppers and breakfasts, 179, 8 18 0
To keeping 32 horses 4 days, 3 00
To 6} barrels cider, 4 11 0
To 2 gallons of brandy and 2 gallons of rum, 1 160
To 25 gallons of wine, 9 10 0
To loaf sugar, lime juice and pipes, 1 15 0
£83 12 6
MARRIAGES.
ON Monday 17th inst., by Elder Jaines Challen, Mr. WILLIAM HUDSON to Miss MARGARET A. HARTON.
18th, by Rev. Dr. Brooke, Dr. J. F. WHITE to Miss HARRIET WADE.
Same date, by Rev. J. H. Perkins, Mr. P. ANDREW to Miss M. E. OBERDORF.
20th, by Rev. G. W. Maley, Mr. JACOB S. FOUNTAIN to Miss ETHELINDA B. COOK, all of this City.
DEATHS.
Tuesday 181h, CAROLINE WALKER, daughter of Wright jr., and Matilda W. Smith, in the fifth year of her age.
Same date, ALICE E., daughter of James and M. L .. HALL, in the fifth year of her age.
20th, WM. BAXTER, aged 67, of Consumption.
21st, Miss MARY A. CORRY, eldest daughter of Mrs. Elanor Corry.
22nd, N. L. COLE, umbrella dealer.
Same day, Z. THAYER, tobacconist.
23rd, ALBERT HOPPER, one of our oldest settlers
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, APRIL, 1845.
Our Early Settlers.
How would it impress the stranger, who without any distinct knowledge of its early history, beholds Cincinnati, a flourishing city of eleven thousand buildings, and seventy-five thousand inhabitants, to learn that all this is the creation of little more than half a century. and how would that impression be rendered more vivid, if he were told as he might be with truth, that the individuals are still living in the neighborhood, who killed Buffalo and Bear for the supply of the first body of settlers who landed here and who ranged and hunted through Cincinnati when thero was not even a cow path in the forest. Still more that persons are liv- ing, engaged in chopping wood and tilling the soil who did these things, and one of them Major Fowler of whom I have spoken hereto- fore, is as able to pick a squirrel off a tree at a hundred yards now as he did when the whole country north of the Ohio was an unbroken forest.
Among the individuals. that I am raking up from the dead, as it were, I have just made the acquaintance of Mı. E. E. Williams, the par- ticulars of whose long and eventful life I shall compile from his own lips for the Advertiser. Mr. W. is 75 years of age, and as is the case al- so with Major Fowler who is 81, can even yet walk some of our city dandies to death. His mind is equally vigorous with his body. Mr. W. is one of three, if not more, still living, who participated with Daniel Boone, Kenton and others in the border warfare which Kentucky waged with the relentless savage. Of course, he was comparatively a boy at the time, but in those days as soon as a youth could steady a ri- fle to his shoulder, he was expected to perform a man's duty.
Mr. Williams was originally the owner of all that valuable property at the corner of Main and Front streets, facing 100 feet on front and 200 on Main street, extending from Worthington Shillito & Co's. grocery store south to Front, and thence Place Traber & Co's. store, west to Main street, and became so under these eir- cumstanees. The lot in question was taken up by Henry Lindsey, who after holding it a year or more. disposed of it to a young man for a job of work, whose name Mr. Williams has forgot .- The second owner, having a desire to revisit his former home in New Jersey, and being un- willing to trust himself through the wilderness without a horse, begged Mr. Williams with whom he was acquainted, the latter then resi- ding at the point of the junction of the Lickingl do the same on Third between' Elm and Race
and the Ohio, to take his lot in payment for a horse, saddle and bridle of his, valued at sixty- five dollars. After much importunity and prin- eipally with the view of accommodating a neigh- bor, Mr. Williams consented, and after holding the property a few days disposed of it again for another horse and equipments, by which he sup- posed he made ten dollars, perhaps. This lot not long afterwards fell into the hands of Col. Gibson, who offered it for one hundred dollars 10 Major Bush of Boone county in 1793. So slight was the advance for years to property in Cincinnati. This lot, probably at this time thie most valuable in the city, estimating the rent at 6 per cent. of its value, is now worth 337,400 dollars. Where else in the world is the proper - ty which in 54 years has risen from four dollars to such a value ?
Building in Cincinnati for 1815.
Notwithstanding an erection of 1228 buildings, principally dwelling houses for the past year, the wants of our enlarging population are such that there is just as much difficulty as ever to procure dwelling places for incomers. Not mere- ly are houses taken as fast as they are built, but many are actually engaged for rent, as soon as the digging of a cellar affords evidence that a new dwelling is about to be built. By present indications, I should judge the number of build- ings to be put up in 1845 in Cincinnati and its northern suburb, will not fall short of 1500.
One of the most striking features of city im- provement, is the uncommon number of public buildings, contemplated or contracted for, and to be put up during this year, some of which have been already commenced, and a few fin- ished or nearly so.
I will begin with edifices for religious perpo- ses. A Roman Catholic chapel has been put up on Vine, immediately north of Liberty street, and another will be commenced in the neighbor- hood of Pace's saw mill, in the Third ward, sy soon as the precise location can be determined ou. Four Presbyterian houses of worship are contracted for, as follows : one on the scite of the present Tabernacle, on Betts street; one for Dr. Beecher's congregation on Seventh, east of John street; one for the Central Presbyterian Church, on Fifth between Plum and Western Row. and one for the Third Presbyterian Church, at the corner of John and Fourth streets.
The Anti-Slavery Baptists, under the care of Dr. Brisbanc, are erecting an edifice on College street, and the Christian Disciples are about to
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streets. Our Methodist friends whose zeal in the cause of church extension transcends that of all other denominations, have already com- pleted and dedicated for worship the Maley Chapel just outside of our corporation line, to the north-west, and are commencing two new Chapels, one on Catharine west of Fulton street, and another in the south-west region of Cincin- nati.
So much for houses of worship. Of other pub- lic buildings erecting, there are the Odd fellows and Masonic Halls, on the opposite corner of Wal- nut and Third streets. The friends of Temper- ance are about to put up a spacious hall for their meetings, at the corner of Race and Sev- eth streets, and the Cincinnati College lately de- stroyed by fire will be re-built in a style wor- thy of its importance with as little delay as pos sible. It is expected to cost 35,000 dollars .-- Several of these churches, and all those other buildings will form distinguished ornaments to our city. The College and some of these Halls being designed to exhibit fronts of Dayton mar- ble.
Here are fifteen public buildings therefore in progress, to be commenced, and with the excep. tion of the College, calculated to be finished in the current year. This is equal to the aggre- gate of public buildings here for 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, to say nothing of the more substantial character, and the greater mag- nitude of the edifices.
While on this subject, some late changes in ownership of existing buildings may be noticed as subjects of public interest. The True Wes- lyan Chapel on Ninth street has been bought by the English Lutherean congregation in charge of Rev. Mr. Reck, and the Third Presbyterian Church will soon be occupied as well as owned by a German Protestant Society.
The spacious and massy Cathedral on Plum street will be rendored fit for occupation, I un- derstand, in the course of the present year, al- though some time must elapse yet before the tower will be completed so as to finish the edifice.
Relics of the Past. Capt. Armstrong to Gen. St. Clair and Lady. FORT HAMILTON, March 17, 1792. DEAR GENERAL:
from Jefferson. As Captain Strong is a punctu - al officer, some accident must have happened to his express-my young men discovered fresh tracks of horses in several places on the road as many as five in a body, the enemy must there- fore be watching the trace, and perhaps concer- ting a plan of attack on our advanced posts. A small party leave this Garrison every morning before day, and reconnoitres the neighboring woods. They have not as yet discovered any signs of Indians. This Garrison is now in a perfect state of defence, and for its greater safe- ty, I have commenced sinking a well.
I beg leave also to observe that due atten- tion is paid to the exercise and discipline of the men, &c. * * .
I hope, madam, this letter, although out of the line of etiquette will not give offence.
Unacquainted with the etiquette of address- ing a lady, I have hopes, the language of my profession will not be offensive to the compan- ion of a brother officer. Be pleased therefore, madam, to accept the thanks of my family, alias the mess, for your polite attention in send- ing us garden seeds, &c., and should we be hon- ored by a visit from the donor, the flowers shall be taught to smile at her approach, and droop as she retires. We beg you to accept in return a few venison hams, which will be delivered you by Mr. Hartshorne, they will require a little more pickle and some nitre
JNO. ARMSTRONG.
JNO. ARMSTRONG, Esq.
Capt. Com'dt. Fort Hamilton, SIR :
The public service requires that a second flat or boat, for the transportation of horses be built with the utmost despatch at this post, to facilitate the passage of the river. You will therefore be pleased to take the necessary meas- ures with your usual promptitude, and believe me with respect and attachment, sir,
Your most ob't. humble servant,
J. WILKINSON,
Lt. Col. Com'dt. 2d U. S. Reg't., Com- manding Ft. Washington and dependeacies. FORT HAMILTON, Feb. 5th, 1792.
JNO. ARMSTRONG, Esq.
Capt. Com'dt. Fort Hamilton.
Col. Wilkinson left this place DEAR SIR : Please forward the enclosed express, and if Mr. Elliott gives you notice, that his boats are ascending tho Miami, you will detach a Sergeant and 12 men to meet them at Dunlap's station, and escort them to the post under your command. Every thing is safe here, and Char- ley may kiss my foot. I built upon a square of at 10 o'clock yesterday with about two hundred men, with the intention of establishing an in- termediate post between this and Fort Jefferson now under the command of Captain Strong .- On the 15th my runners returned from the place appointed for the exchange of letters, and hav- ing waited two hours after the appointed time of meeting, returned without any information | 120 feet, a foursided polygon with regular Bas-
211
tions-the Bastions will be completed in two hours. the work substantial and rather hand- some. The area covered yesterday morning by immense oaks, poplara and beeches, is now clear for parade. Adieu.
I am your most obedient servant,
J. WILKINSON, Lt. Col. Com'dt.
CAMP, March 19th, 1792.
Poetry.
CHERISH THY FRIENDS.
BY L. J. CIST.
Oh I cherish, in thine heart of hearts, The friends thou'st loved and tried ;
Those who have stood from childhood up Still faithful at thy side :
Thy chosen 'brothers of the soul' -- The trusted and the true ;
Cherish them ! if thou many hast -- Yet more, hast thou but few!
CHERISH THY FRIENDS !-- Oh! never let A light and hasty word, --
An idle jest, misunderstood .-- Some phrase, perchance half heard, -- Or fancied slight, offence ne'er dreamed, Thy kindly feelings change;
And never let the evil tongued Thy friend from thee estrange!
Ah many a careless look is made To hear a wrong intent 1
And many a thoughtless word construed To mean what ne'er it meant !
And there are ever those, are quick
Occasion fair, to take,
By mischiet bearing words, the links Of Friendship's chain to break.
CHERISH THY FRIENDS ! If e'en, perchance By passion led astray,
Thy friend shall give thee just offence, Still cast him not away ! Deal kindly with him !-- So shall yet His soul to thee return;
And friendship's flame rekindled, long As with new light shall burn.
To err is but the mortal lo', To pardon the Divine !
Can'st thou forgive not ?- then is naught Of the true God-like thine ! And thou-if thou art conscious. just Offence thou'st given a friend,
Let no false pride prevent thy soul From making just amend !
This world is but a weary world, And friends at best hut few;
But what were earth had we hot some -- The trusted and the true!
Oh! thou who hast a friend approved, Till life's last sands shall roll,
Grapple thou, "as with hooks of steel," That friend unto thy goul l
A Game of Chess with Napoleon.
. * When I was a petty clerk at Roths. childs, the narrowness of my finances allowed me to indulge in no amusement but chess, and as a constanthabitue of the Cafe de la Regence, I had attained a certain degree of ferce, that is to say, a first rate player could only give me the advantages of a couple of pieces. It is neces- sary I should premise all this, before I come to my encounter with the emperor. I gave, then, all my leisure time to chess; but to conceal the poverty of my appointments, maintained the mest rigid secrecy at the Regence, as to who or what I was, and was universally supposed to be living on my means-a mere Paris flaneur. Do not lose sight of this fact. Well, I boro my condition cheerfully, practised the most ri- gid economy as to ways and means, and sat early and late at my desk, during business hours ; existing on the present, living on the fu- ture; watching the opportunity to better my hard fate, by seizing that critical moment (should it present itself,) which they say For- tune offers once, at least, in the life of every man.
On the 5th of March, in the year 1815, we were at our posts in the evening, making up the monthly mail for Constantinople. It was late-between eight and nine o'clock. I was rocking on my hard wooden stool as usual, scribbling away for dear life, in company with some nine or ten other clerks, all of superior grade in the office, when the door flew open, and our chief, Rothschild, stood before us, with a face as pale as a pretty woman's when the doctor says her aged husband will recover!
Every sound was hushed, every stool ceased to rock, every pen was stopped scratching .- Something important had evidently happened- some dire event sbig with the fate of Cato and of Rome." Mexico was engulfed by an earth- quake, or Peru was washed to powder by a tor- nado. Rothschild spoke, and his voice quiver- ed. "Gentlemen," said he, "though I opened not the black book, I could not prevent others, many hours, from unfolding its leaves. France is no longer France! The whirlwind has smit- ten her! The thunder cloud has burst upon our happy shores! I may be announcing to you the ruin of the house of Rothschild and Brothers!"
Ruin and Rothschild! The association of terms appeared too ridiculous. We thought the governor mad !
"Gentleman." resumed the mighty Israelite. "hear me out, and appreciate the magnitude of the communication. Napoleon Bonaparte has left Elba, has landed in France, the army join him, and his eagles are flying to Paris with lightning speed. I come now from the Tuil- leries. Louis XVIII., by the grace of God, will be off for Flanders in a few days as fast as his fat will let him. The ministers are drawing up a bombastic proclamation to issue to-morrow to the people, but I foresee their downfall is aasur- ed. The folly of the Bourbons again breaks the peace of Europe, and France is about to plunge anew into a thirty years' war!"
"Hurrah!" shouted two or three clerks, staunch Bonapartists.
"Forgive, me, my dear sir," cried one of them to Rothschild, "fergive the interuption, but this cannot touch the house. Be yourself. This aların is surely premature .- Hurrah ! the empe- ror must have money, He will want a loan," ---
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"We shall have the crown jewels, worth four- teen millions of gold, in pledge; and the fat .citizens of Paris, who swear by the house of Rothschild, will furnish the cash! Hurrah, then! Vive l'Empereur !- A basles Bourbons ! Vive Napoleon !"
"Sir," replied Rothschild, sternly; "sir, you are a fool! and you talk like the fool you are! The emperor must have money instantly, too true! But Louis is cven now packing up the crown jewels, in case he is obliged to fly to Ghent; trust the old fox for fhat, and all his private treasures to boot. The emperor can of- fer no guarantee capable of being quickly re- alised. He will tender me his note of hand- bah ! and the Congress of Vienna still sitting! and the armies of the allies not disbanded ! and the Russians in Germany, and the Cossacks of the Don in sunny Europe, like vultures, eager to whet their filthy beaks in the dearest blood of France! Sir, you talk like a child! Do you forget our cash operation of last week? Do you remember that in our vaults lie five millions of gold Napoleons! and doubtless, Talleyrand and Fouche will try to make their peace with Bonaparte, by advising that this sum should be seized as a forced loan. Five millions !"
"The allied armies will dissolve like snow beneath the sun of June!" retorted the Bona- partist clerk.
"Never !" cried D --- , emphatically ; "Na- poleon has laid too many obligations upou Rus- sia and Austria. They groan beneath the weight of his favors. Benefit a scoundrel, and be sure he flies at your throat when he can !"
"Yes," continued Rothschild. "five millions in gold, one hundred millions of francs! My brain reels-the house must go! Nothing but a miracle can save us. . Five millions."
"But, asked the imperialist clerk, "can we not hide the gold ?- can we not send it away !"
"And what can we do with it?" impetuous- ly interrupted Rothschild. "Where can we hide it, that its place of concealment will not be known? The barriers are closed sir, and no person may leave Paris. The moment Napo- leon sets foot in the Tuilleries, I shall be sum- moned thither. and this gold will be demanded as a loan. . A loan indeed ?"
"But perhaps, Lafitte-
"Lafitte the devil, sir! To Lafitte's house I · shall be politely invited to send the money .- I must give up this vast sum, or perhaps be tried by a court martial and shot for petty trea- son! Think you Bonaparte comes this time to play anything but the game of life and death? Do we not know the man? Remember the ac- tive part I have taken in arranging the affairs of these Bourbons, and think not my exertions in their cause can ever be overlooked, except by themselves. A hundred millions! Oh, brother my dear brother! of all men on earth, you alone could save me by your counsel ; and I am in Paris, and you are in London !"
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