USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I > Part 103
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The fact is that Barre was pre-eminently an Opposition speaker, and, as we have previously stated, possessed the power of making him- self feared, and was feared, by such Tories as Sir Gilbert Elliot-forcible and brilliant though the latter was as a Parliamentary speaker. Elliot felt, more than once, the sting of Barré's vitriolic discharges of undiluted sarcasm, just as Charles Townshend felt the force of his strong will and immediately paid him that respect which nothing but resolution and
* Sir GILBERT ELLIOT, the third Baronet of Minto, was born in 1722 and died in 1777. On the occasion of the London riots in 1771 (see page 597) he appeared in the House of Commons as the King's special ambassador, and, by an inflammatory speech in regard to the threatened liberties of the House, virtually overruled Lord North and carried a decision to which the latter was opposed. He supported the King in his policy towards America, and when, in 1775, a conciliatory motion was introduced in the House to allow the Colonies to tax themselves, Elliot, by bringing the Royal influence to bear, secured a large majority against the motion. His son, Sir Gilbert Elliot, later the first Earl of Minto (born in 1751 ; died 1814), became a Member of Parliament in 1776. He was in favor of the prosecution of the American War, and gave a general support to the Government. In 1782, however, he went over to the Opposition.
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firmness could wring from the talents of that brilliant but volatile poli- tician. The rank and influence of the disreputable Earl of Sandwich* could not protect him from Barré's attacks. As he sat in the gallery of the House of Commons he heard himself compared to Nero, and retired to fresh intrigues with new-born feelings of astonishment. And Lord North learned at first to dread the voice which in later years became the scourge of his own Government.
In a communication to The Gentleman's Magazine for August, 1817, a writer stated that he had known Colonel Barré for more than thirty years prior to his death, and that "no man, in his private character, could be more amiable, more gentle or inore friendly ; his integrity no inan will doubt." The writer of the sketch of Colonel Barré contained in the "Dictionary of National Biography" (III : 275) states : "As an Opposition orator Barré was almost without a rival. The terror of his invective paralyzed Charles Townshend and dismayed Wedderburn. Among the opponents of Lord North's Ministry none took a more promi- nent place than Barré. In defense he was less happy, and in society he was vulgar. It is perhaps worthy of notice that John Britton wrote in 1848 a volume to prove that Barré was the author of the 'Letters of Junius.' " Britton supposed that Lord Shelburne and John Dunning (later Lord Ashburton)-previously mentioned-assisted Barré in writ- ing these "Letters."
A story is told which describes Lord Beaconsfield as offering, in his last days, to a youthful friend this bit of counsel : "My young friend, I will give you a piece of advice-never ask who wrote the 'Letters of Junius,' or else people will think you a bore. It is one offense that society will not forgive." The identity of "Junius" and that of "The Man with the Iron Mask" were conclusively established a good many years ago; but for years to come, without doubt, arguments will be written to show that "Junius" was not Sir Philip Francis, t and that "The Man with the Iron Mask" was not Count Matthioli. The author- ship of the "Letters" is a problem which at one time literary students pursued with the same eagerness that bold explorers seek the North Pole. Over fifty persons have been namedt at different times as those to whom the authorship of the "Letters" has been attributed by different writers. Among those thus named have been : John Wilkes (see page 553), Edmund Burke, the Earl of Temple (see pages 529 and 534), Edward Gibbon, Alexander Wedderburn (previously mentioned) and, of course, Isaac Barré and Sir Philip Francis.
The series of letters signed "Junius" numbered sixty-nine, and was originally published in the London Public Advertiser between January 1, 1769, and January 31, 1772.§ The impulse of these "Letters" was not love of liberty, but detestation of the Ministry ; and as their tre- mendous personal assaults were delivered when the Ministry was inost powerful and most venal, the author ran the utmost personal risk. Not only because of his vigor and his invective, but of his wild daring, "Junius" was astonishing, and for personal reasons it was necessary to conceal himself so long that he has become the literary "Man with the
* Previously mentioned on pages 528 and 538, and well known, about 1765, by the sobriquet of "Jeremy Twitcher." He was, it may be stated, the inventor, or, rather, the introducer, of the modern sandwich. He passed whole days in gambling, "bidding the waiter bring him for refreshment a piece of ineat between two pieces of bread, which he ate without stopping from play."
t See note "||", page 489.
¿ See page 553, ante.
# See Larned's "History for Ready Reference," II : 933.
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Iron Mask." Discovery would have cost him at once his means of living and his future prospects, if he were the person (Sir Philip Francis) now practically conceded to liave been the writer, and he must have run the gantlet of a series of military duels. In fact, "Junius" must have paid for the discovery of his identity both with his liberty and his life. If the notorious Duke of Grafton* could have discovered him he would have silenced him quickly and permanently. But silencing is not answering, and by revealing his name "Junius" would merely have enabled the Duke to deal another deadly blow at liberty. The following paragraphs are from a speech delivered in the House of Commons in 1770 by Ed- inund Burke (see page 593), giving his "opinion" of "Junius."
"How comes this 'Junius' to have broke through the cobwebs of the law, and to range uncontrolled, umpunished, through the land? The myrmidons of the Court have been long, and are still, pursuing him in vain. They will not spend their time upon me or you. No ! they disdain such verinin when the mighty boar of the forest, that has broke through all their toils, is before them. But what will all their efforts avail ? No sooner has he wounded one, than he lays down another dead at his feet. For my part, when I saw his attack upon the King [December 19, 1769], I own my blood ran cold. I thought he had ventured too far and there was an end of his triumphs. Not that he had not asserted many truths. Yes, sir, there are in that composition inany bold truths, by which a wise prince might profit. It was the rancor and venom with which I was struck. In these respects The North Briton is as much inferior to him as in strength, wit and judgment. "But, while I expected in this daring flight his final ruin and fall, behold him rising still higher and coming down souse upon both Houses of Parliament. Yes, he did make you his quarry, and you still bleed from the wounds of his talons. You crouched, and you still crouch, beneath his rage. Nor has he dreaded the terrors of your brow, sir. He has attacked even you-he has-and I believe you have no reason to triumph in the encounter. In short, after carrying away our royal eagle in his pounces, and dashing him against a rock, he has laid you prostrate. King, Lords, Commons, are but the sport of his fury ! Were he a member of this House what might not be expected from his knowledge, his firmness and integrity? He would be easily known by his contempt of all danger, by his penetration, by his vigor. Nothing would escape his vigilance and activity. Bad Ministers could conceal nothing from his sagacity ; nor could promises or threats induce him to conceal anything from the public."
The following anecdote concerning Colonel Barré and Josiah Quincy, of Boston, was printed in Claypoole's Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, June 20, 1794.
"A few months before the commencement of the American War Mr. Quincy, being then at Batlı, in England, was viewing the magnificent new rooms in that city in com- pany with Colonel Barré. The Colonel, pointing to the pictures taken from the ruins found at Herculaneum, and addressing himself to Mr. Quincy, said : 'I hope you have not the books containing the drafts of those ruins with you.' Mr. Quincy observed that he believed there was one set in the Public Library at the College in Cambridge, Massachu- setts. 'Keep them there,' replied the Colonel, 'and they may be of some service, as a matter of curiosity for the speculative ; but, let them get abroad, and you are ruined ! They will infuse a taste for buildings and sculpture, and when people get a taste for the fine arts they are ruined ! 'Tis taste that ruins whole kingdoms ; 'tis taste that depopu- lates whole nations. I could not help weeping when I surveyed the ruins at Rome. All the ruins of the Roman grandeur are of works which were finished when Rome and the spirit of the Romans were no more-unless I except the Æmilian Baths. Mr. Quincy, let your countrymen beware of taste in their buildings, equipage and dress as a deadly poison !''
In addition to Wilkes-Barré the following places and localities in the United States were named for Col. Isaac Barré. (1) The town, or township, of Barré, in Worcester County, Massachusetts, twenty-two Iniles north-west of the city of Worcester. This township was originally known as Rutland, West District; but prior to 1770 its name was changed to "Hutchinson", in honor of the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson who was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1765 (see page 587), be- came acting Governor in 1769, and Governor in 1770. When, in 1774, on account of his Tory proclivities, Governor Hutchinson resigned his
* See page 542.
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office and went to England (see page 599), his name and memory were so execrated by the patriots of the township of Hutchinson that, in 1776, the General Assembly of Massachusetts changed the name of the town- ship to "Barré." (2) The city of Barré, Washington County, Vermont. In 1780 a tract of 19,900 acres of land in Vermont was chartered under the name of "Wildersburgh" to a number of proprietors. At a town-meet- ing of the inhabitants of this tract held in September, 1793, it was agreed that a house of worship should be erected, and it was voted that the man who would give the most towards building the same should have the right to namne the township. Ezekiel Dodge Wheeler bid £62, and was permitted to name the township "Barré"-for Barré, Massachusetts (mentioned above), whence somne of the settlers of the new township had emigrated. In 1886 the village of Barré, in the abovementioned town- ship of Barré, was incorporated. In 1894 the village and a portion of the township of Barré were erected into the city of Barré, and out of the remaining portion of the old township was constituted the new township of Barré. (3) Barré Township, in Orleans County, New York, named for Barré, Massachusetts. (4) Barré Center-a post-hamlet in the last- mentioned township.
END OF VOLUME I.
,
N.Y. Tribune June 26, 1920
The Fate of the Hardings
Sturdy, Pioneer Stock That Survived the Wyoming Massacre and Now Yields a Presidential Candidate
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: July 3 next will be the anniver- sary of the battle and massacre of Wyoming. On that date, 142 years ago, Colonel John Butler's Rangers, with his Tories and Sehecas, defeated and slaughtered the garrison of Forty Fort and drove the settlers from the Susque- hanna Valley. This fort had been built by the Connecticut pioneers near where Kingston and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., now stand.
Three days before, on June 30, 1778, -wall mower of cattlara man and have
1655, leaving a son, Abraham, who was born in that year.
A near relative of the first Abraham was Stephen Harding, of Braintree and Providence. He was born about 1624 and married Bridget Esten (or Es- tance), a sister or other near relative of Thomas Estance, of Swanzey, R. I. Thomas Estance was a Welshman and came to America from Hertfordshire, England. Stephen Harding was ad- mitted to membership in the Baptist Church at Swanzey. He was a black- smith. Later he removed to Provi- lary 20, 1698.
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NEW LOCAL HISTORY
Oscar Jewell Harvey's History of Wilkes-Barrre
The First Two Volumes of This Mony- ment .. [ Work Now Completed-The Task Has Occupied Several Years and the Work Will Take Front Rank .& a History of Unusual Ex- cellence and Complications.
The history of WIlkes-Barre, which em- braces the whole Wyoming Valley, has at last been written, and the last work con- cerning historic matters, that for years have been the subject of heated contro- versies, has been said. Bearing the sim- ple title "A History of Wilkes-Barre," Oscar Jewell Harvey, A. M., of this city, has -issued two volumes of a work that for all time will stand as authoritative, and in the coming years future historians who may be ambitions to again relate the history of Wilkes-Barre and the Wyom- Ing Valley will be compelled to go back to Mr. Harvey's monumental work for their information and inspiration, as in it they will find a rich mine of accurate and au- thentic historical material.
Nearly fifty years have passed away since a local history worthy of the name has been published, and for more than a
OSCAR J. HARVEY.
quarter of a century the histories of Miner, Chapman. Stone and Pierce have been out of print, and in recent years, by reason of the growing prominence of Wilkes-Barre, there has been an insistent demand for a history that would be worthy the name. How well this demand has been met one is able to judge from the two volumes just issued by Mr. Har- voy, which are in every way excellent, both in subject matter and treatment. Perhaps no person in the whole Wyom- -
Jewell Harvey. Horn af windy city of oneer stock, educated In the best schools of the State, a man of wide experience in public affairs, a graceful and painstak- Ing writer, a man of broad culture, Mr. Harvey was particularly and peculiarly fitted for the self- imposed task of writing a history of Wilkes-Barre that would be worthy the city of his birth. That he has succeeded oven beyond the most sanguine expectations of his friends there is not the least doubt, and Wilkes-Barre's history has been finally written. It is a bock
that every resident of Wilkes-Barre should be proud of, as throughout it is the product of the brain, the hand and the mechanical skill of Wilkes-Barreans.
Mr. Harvey spent many years in co :- lecting material for his work before he began to write, and even after he had put pen to paper and copy in the hands of the printer, he found that he had un- earthed such a wealth of material. such a plethora of original documents, maps, etc., hitherto unknown, that he was com- pelled to recast his plans and build larger, and Instead of completing the work in a single volume. as he had first hoped to do, he found it necessary to expand the work to three stately tomes, two of which are now completed, aggregating 1,230 pages.
The two volumes cover the period of history beginning with the very earliest traditions, poetry and legends of the val -- ley, down to General Sullivan's expedition against the Six Nations. Between these two periods many of the most momentous events of our local history occurred-the early Indian occupation of the valley, which to them was a veritable "land flow- ing with milk and honey." The loca-
tion of the several tribes and their villages and the cming and going of other tribes and clans. The coming of the white man, which was the beginning of the end of the occupancy of. the valley by the Indian. The story of the capture of little Frances Slocum. and her romantic history after her adoption by the Indians. The Battle of Wyoming and the subsequent massacre. The Sul- livan expedition, which swept the hostile Indians before it and drove out of the valley forever the painted warrior. All this is related with painstaking care and accuracy in the smallest detail, and with an intensity of interest that holds the at- tention. of the reader and brings vividly to his mind's eve the scenes and the vari- ous actors in the century-old drame that was enacted in the Wyoming Valley.
Mr. Harvey's work is more than a mere history, it is encyclopedic in its scope. The research exhibited in its pages has been exhaustive" Libraries, public and private, at home and abroad, have been called upon to give up their rich treasures of historic fact and incident relating to the Wyoming Valley, for In those early cluys Wilkes-Barre was the Wyoming Valley. The notes are especially full, rich and complete, and the author has mar- shaled his material, systematized it, and presented it In a masterly manner. Much of the material, especially the chapters re- lating to the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, has never before been printed in any previously published book dealing with the valley, and some of It, drawn from original and rollable sources, now ja printed for the first time, and will prove not only a valuable addition to Pennsyl- tania history, but to the general history er this country.
-
A History of Wilkes-Barre and Early Wyoming.
(From The Luzerne Institute, October, 1904.)
While a very considerable amount of in- teresting information concerning people and events in Wyoming Valley has been publish- ed from time to time in the past, there is still much original and authentic unpublished ma- terial remaining to be worked up into a nar- ration of the earliest known happenings in this very notable and historic region. More- over, what has already been told along the lines indicated may be told again with pleas- ure and profit to the lover of history, pro- vided it be treated in a simple and logical as well as an entertaining manner.
As to Wilkes-Barre-from its very begin- ring to the present time the hub or center of Wyoming life in all its aspects-its history has never hope fully prepared history of Wilkes-Barre, to- gether with some chapters of newly discover- ed early Wyoming history, is now in course of preparation; in fact, a large portion of the book is already in type, and the remainder of the work is being pushed to completion as fast as possible. It is expected that within the next few months the book-a large 8 vo. of more than 800 pages and 300 fine illustra- tions-will be ready for delivery to sub- scribers and others; and it is believed that every intelligent person living in the region of country depieted and written about will find in the book something of interest and value.
The author of this work is Oscar J. Harvey, of Wilkes-Barre, who has spent a number of years in its preparation, and has taken in- finite pains to present the results of his re- searches in an attractive and a compre- hensible manner, accompanied by evidences of authenticity. He is the author of several books and pamphlets of an historical charac- ter which have been highly commended.
5
JUL
HARVEY'S "HISTORY OF WILKES-BARRÉ AND WYOMING VALLEY."
SOME COMMENTS THEREON.
The REV. ETHELBERT D. WARFIELD, D. D., LL. D., President of Lafa- yette College, has written to the author : "I have found your pages full of interest, and I am sure the completed work will be of the greatest value to all who are interested in the history and traditions of Wilkes-Barre and its vicinity. The work is certainly encyclopædic in its scope, and I can well understand why it has occupied so long a time in its publication. I have been specially inter- ested in the specific narrative of the Indian War in connection with the French War. * * * I thank you very much for letting me have this 'private view,' and hope for your every success in the carrying out of your interesting and important undertaking."
EBEN GREENOUGH SCOTT, A. M., author of "A Commentary on the Intes- tate System of Pennsylvania," "Development of Constitutional Liberty in the English Colonies of America," " Reconstruction During the Civil War in the United States of America," etc., writes : "I have been absorbed in the pernsal of the pages of your History, and I lay them aside with the conviction that you are about to give us a work that will long stand alone upon a height hitherto unattained in the local history of our country. Henceforth there will be but one book pertaining to 'Wyoming,' and it will be yours ! There seems to be noth- ing more to unearth ; the research is immense, and must have been untiring ; text and notes are mines of lore ; the narrative is clear, continuous and attract- ive ; the interest is sustained throughout all the pages submitted to me, and the quoted selections are appropriate and well-timed.
"The characters that you portray of WILKES and Colonel BARRÉ are vividly set forth, and reveal a true conception of the relations which diverse elements of your subject bear towards each other. DURKEE, certainly, has been justified in his choice of the town's name. Above all, it is the conception of your work in hand, and the tone that pervades its setting forth, that must strike every one. Conscientious effort and mastery of the subject mark every line, and the confidence of the reader, soon caught, is retained to the end. The work is so much broader in scope than its title indicates, that I should recom- mend a change in this respect before giving it to the world."
The REV. HORACE EDWIN HAYDEN, A. M., author of " The Massacre of Wyoming," " Virginia Genealogies," etc., and Corresponding Secretary and Librarian of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, writes : "I have examined with unusual pleasure and pride Mr. Harvey's ' History of Wilkes- Barré and Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania.' Having been familiar with his methods and historical resources from the beginning of his great work, I fully expected it to be rich and exhaustive on the history of Wyoming Valley and Wilkes-Barré ; but it has far exceeded my highest anticipations. One cannot read his foot-notes without being impressed with his laborious carefulness and exactness in research, his happy use of detail in utilizing the immense amount of data acquired, his scholarly style, and his fine taste in illustration. He has already, in his 'History of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M.' and his ' Harvey Book,' fully earned his right to the title of an accurate recorder of history. The pres- ent work will be an indispensable addition to every private library in Wyoming Valley and every public library in the United States."
The REV. ALEXANDER J. KERR, D. D., pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barré, writes : "I have examined with care an advance copy of the two volumes, about to be issued, of the 'History of Wilkes-Barré ' -- "
which is also a history of Wyoming Valley-by Oscar J. Harvey, Esq. The high literary qualifications which Mr. Harvey possesses, the conscientiousness which impels him to ascertain the facts of any problem which he may be work- ing out, the years of preparation which he has spent on this work, and the friendships which have opened to him private collections of MSS., records and pictures hitherto sealed, combine to make this splendid work of history as nearly perfect, I doubt not, as man could make it. I was one of the first sub- scribers for the work, and shall be delighted when the third volume is com- pleted. I may add that the mechanical features of the books are notable- a handsome page, large, clear type, a wealth of illustrations, and substantial binding-and call out the highest praise."
The REV. L. L. SPRAGUE, D. D., President of Wyoming Seminary, Kings- ton, Pa., writes : "I have examined with more than usual interest an advance copy of 'A History of Wilkes-Barre' by Mr. Oscar J. Harvey. I have already subscribed for the work, and am awaiting with keen anticipation its completion. This history will be by far the most complete of Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley yet written. The author's fine scholarship and instinct for accuracy of details in all things, and his opportunities for securing adequate material for this history, will make the work more than usually valuable. Without doubt it will be the standard work concerning the subject to which it relates."
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