The opening of the next year--1830--found the young city in a highly
prosperous and thriving position. The security and permanence given to
enterprise by the charter had its effect on all departments of business.
Arrangements were made at the beginning of the season for the erection of
not less than five hundred substantial brick houses, and, according to the
report of a prominent resident of a sister city, there was not another
place in the United States which was improving and increasing in
population more rapidly than this. The number of inhabitants, as
ascertained by census, had reached 10,336, and was still rapidly
increasing. The friends of Louisville had every reason to congratulate
themselves upon her position. The pecuniary troubles which soon after
involved the place were not foreseen, and, with buoyant hopes and high
expectations, the citizens looked forward to a continuance of their
unexampled prosperity. How these hopes were wrecked and these expectations
reduced, the history of the next decade will show.
The first act to be noticed in connection with the city was an amendment
to the charter, which prevented the Council from borrowing or
appropriating money without the consent of a majority of their body. As
the project of a bridge over the Ohio was then talked of, and as the
Lexington and Ohio Railroad had been suggested, and the city in her
corporate capacity had been warmly urged to make large subscriptions of
stock to these enterprises, this provision was probably thought necessary
to prevent too great lavishness in expenditure.
The next event of the year was the organization of another Presbyterian
church under the Rev. Mr. Sawtell. It was commenced in April with 12
members who seceded from the First Presbyterian church. A building for
worship was erected on Third Street, between Green and Walnut, and the
church rapidly increased in numbers. It is at present in charge of Rev.
Dr. Humphrey.
The last circumstance to be noticed in this rapid sketch of the year 1830,
is the establishment of the Daily Journal by Prentice & Buxton, afterward
Prentice & Johnston, then Prentice & Weissinger, and finally Prentice &
Henderson. It was first published on an imperial sheet at $10 per annum.
Although commenced by an entire stranger, as Mr. Prentice then was, the
power of its articles and the exquisite vein of humor and irony displayed
in its columns, soon gave it such popularity, that, even before its union
with the Focus in 1832, it had risen to a firm and enviable position. In
December Mr. Edwin Bryant became an associate editor of the paper, but did
not remain in that position for more than six months. Soon after the
establishment of the Journal the newspaper war with the Advertiser, so
well remembered here and so widely known abroad as having given birth to a
fund of wit and of satire heretofore unparalleled in the annals of
newspapers, was commenced. Even the distant English journals had each
their column headed--"Prenticeana"--and the paper was sought after far
and near by every lover of fun or of humor in the land. It is to be
regretted that the shifting character of American politics has rendered so
many of the happiest of these allusions and witticisms obscure to the
unpolitical or to the distant reader; a collected volume of them would
else afford a delightful compendium for a leisure hour. To the older
resident of Louisville, it may be interesting to recall the commencement
of this long and hard-fought battle. Mr. Penn of the Advertiser, who had
deservedly maintained since 1819 the most prominent rank as an editor in
the West, was kind enough to furnish the Journal, at its commencement,
with all its exchanges. This favor is repeatedly acknowledged by the
Journal with great courtesy, but does not blind that paper to the fact
that it is about to be attacked by the opposite party. Whereupon, after
some time, the following article was published: "We assure the editor of
the Advertiser that we shall never under any circumstances covet a
personal controversy with him. We do not believe that his readers would be
willing to pay him $10 a year for dissertations upon our private
character, however bad it may be; and we are quite sure that ours would be
loth to pay that sum for daily disquisitions on him, whatever may be his
excellencies. We have due respect for the Jackson editors in the West, but
we trust to be believed when we say our respect is undebased by fear. We
prefer that they should accept our hand open and ungloved, but if they
would rather have it in the shape of a fist, it is still at their
service." The Advertiser, seeming to prefer it in the latter form,
hereupon commences anew its attack, when the war is opened in earnest by
the Journal, which, at the end of a somewhat long and rather tart
paragraph, let off in reply the following first _coup de canon_: "We
believe he (Mr. Penn) has not had an article since we came here that was
not made up of hints taken from the Journal. Well, we have one
consolation--'_he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord_.'" This is
followed up by a series of well directed blows, which are vigorously
replied to till the eleventh or twelfth "round," when one of the parties
left the field, still, however, refusing to consider himself vanquished.
With the year 1831 came another amendment to the charter, which provides
that the real estate in Louisville and the personal estate of all persons
dying therein shall be subject to escheat to the Commonwealth, vested in
the Mayor and Council, for the use of public schools. Also that all fines
inflicted in Jefferson county shall be vested in the same manner, the fund
arising therefrom to be expended in the purchase of a lot and erecting
buildings thereon for said schools. It also provides that Jailor's fees
for commitments for offenses in Louisville shall be paid out of the city
fund. These amendments to the charter are so numerous and of such frequent
recurrence that we shall hereafter be content with a mere allusion to
them.
It was also during this year that the present bank of Kentucky was built,
with a view to the uses of the bank of the United States. A Louisville
Lyceum was also established under the patronage of some of the most
distinguished citizens of Louisville. This literary association continued
in being for several years but finally was obliged, like all its fellows,
to sink beneath the careless inattention of a purely commercial community.
In 1832 a new calamity came upon the city. This was an unparalleled flood
in the Ohio. It commenced on the 10th of February and continued until the
21st of that month, having risen to the extraordinary height of 51 feet
above low-water mark. The destruction of property by this flood was
immense. Nearly all the frame buildings near the river were either floated
off or turned over and destroyed. An almost total cessation in business
was the necessary consequence; even farmers from the neighborhood were
unable to get to the markets, the flood having so affected the smaller
streams as to render them impassable. The description of the sufferings by
this flood is appalling. This calamity, however, great as it was, could
have but a temporary effect on the progress of the city, as will be seen
hereafter.
On the 27th of May the first Unitarian church was dedicated. It is
situated at the corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, and was under the
direction of the Rev. Geo. Chapman, of Mass. The building of the
Louisville Hotel, and the issue of the first Directory ever printed here,
were also events of this period. This Directory was published by R. W.
Otis, and contains, beside much other valuable matter, a brief sketch of
the history of the city, from the pen of Mr. Mann Butler, the accomplished
historian of Kentucky. From it we get the following commercial table of
Imports from Dec. 1st, 1831, to Aug. 4th, 1832, which will prove
interesting to the reader of statistics:
Bale Rope 26,830 coils.
Bagging 33,411 pieces.
China, &c. 1,170 p'ckgs.
Coffee 18,289 bags.
Cotton 4,913 bales.
Mackerel 12,037 bbls.
Salt, Kan. and Cone 16,729 "
Salt, Turk's Island 18,146 bags.
Tea 63,500 lbs.
Flour 48,470 bbls.
Hides 19,121
Iron 631 tons.
Lead 231 "
Molasses 6,309 bbls.
Nails 10,395 kegs.
Sugar, N. O. 7,717 hhds.
" Loaf 4,318 bbls.
Tin Plate 3,108 boxes.
The inspection of whiskey during this time amounted to 14,627 barrels.
This Directory also gives the following as the statistics of manufactures:
One steam woolen factory, employs 30 hands and consumes 25,000 pounds of
wool per annum.
One cotton factory, employs 80 hands and consumes 500 bales annually;
works 1,056 spindles.
Two potteries.
One steam grist mill.
Two foundries, employing together 155 hands and consuming 1,200 tons of
iron per annum.
Sixteen brick yards.
One steam planing mill, with two machines and two circular saws; planes,
tongues, grooves, &c., about 2,000 feet of boards to each machine per day.
Three breweries.
Two white lead factories consume 600 tons lead annually.
Four rope walks, which work up 600 tons of hemp per annum.
Passing on as rapidly as may be, we come first to the chartering of the
Bank of Louisville. The books were opened for subscription to this bank in
March, 1833, and closed on the third day, $1,500,000 having been
subscribed in that brief period. By the act of incorporation the capital
was fixed at $2,000,000, but the commissioners were allowed to close the
books at any time after $500,000 were subscribed. Each director was
required to take oath not to permit any violation of this charter.
The next event in order was another amendment to the city charter, which
provides that no street or alley can be laid out without consent of
Council--that a jury shall assess what damages shall be awarded, and what
paid by persons injured or benefitted by opening streets or alleys--that
it shall not be necessary for the Council to have alphabetical lists of
the voters made out, except for the tax collectors and judges of the
election--that those only shall be eligible to office who are
house-keepers or free-holders and have paid taxes the preceding year in
the city of Louisville--that the removal of a councilman from the ward in
which he was elected shall cause his office to be vacant, and that any
vacancy occurring either in this way or by resignation shall be sup-plied
by the Council out of the said ward.
A museum was opened here at this period by a number of gentlemen as
stockholders, under the direction of J. R. Lambdin; the collection of
objects of natural history, of curiosity, and of vertu was extremely good.
A Savings' Bank was also established during the year, under the direction
of Ed. Crow, President; and E. D. Hobbs, Treasurer.
The editor of a Frankfort paper, giving an account of his visit to
Louisville about this time, says: "Whoever visits this city leaves it with
the conviction that all the elements are at work, which must advance it to
a great commercial town, and urge it on till it has passed all the towns
of the Ohio in the race for supremacy." It is not to be wondered at that
the thriving appearance of the city at this time should have attracted the
attention and notice of strangers, and the more particularly as all the
neighboring towns and cities were now suffering from the visitations of
that dreaded and dreadful scourge, the Cholera, while Louisville hardly
knew of its presence. The causes of disease here had been in a great
measure removed, and notwithstanding the fears which the approach of the
plague had inspired in a city which had before suffered so severely from
contagion, the cholera passed lightly over it, not making sufficient
impression to produce any effect against its prosperity. This was the more
a cause of congratulation to the city as it afforded an opportunity to
prove the falsity of the reports prejudicial to its health, which were
still industriously circulated. But though exempt from this visitation,
the city did not pass another year without its share of calamity. The
government deposites which had heretofore been placed in the banks here
and used by them as banking capital, were now removed, and as a consequent
there arrived another disastrous period of pecuniary distress. This was so
severe as to call for a meeting of the citizens, which took place at the
court house in 1834, and the object of which was to memorialize the
government upon the subject of their troubles. Of this meeting, T.
Gwathmey was President, D. Smith and E. Crow, Vice Presidents, and C. M.
Thruston and F. A. Kaye, Secretaries. In the words of the memorial, "all
is gloom and despondence, all uncertainty and suspense, all apprehension
and foreboding. Prices here have fallen beyond any former example. Flour
has sunk from $4 to $3, or even $2 50 per barrel. Hemp, pork, and every
other commodity has decreased in an equal degree. Real property has fallen
in many instances 50 per cent. It is believed that there will not be
employment during the ensuing season for one-fourth of the mechanics and
working men of Louisville. Few contracts for building have been or are
likely to be made. In the opinion of the memorialists, the first remedy
for this state of things is the restoration of the deposites. They
therefore pray that the deposites be restored, and such measures taken in
relation to a National Bank as shall be most likely to afford relief to
the country." This crisis does not seem to have produced very disastrous
results here, but was probably more severe in anticipation than in
reality. It is even possible that, as political excitement ran very high,
and as this removal of the deposites was very obnoxious to one of the
political parties, that the evil was a foreboding induced by their own
fears, and of such a character as actually to produce a temporary
depression in business. And this opinion is supported by the fact that no
material change seems to have taken place in the onward progress of the
city. The policy and propriety of establishing water works had been for
some time under discussion, and in this year the city went so far as to
purchase a site for a reservoir on Main above Clay Street. This project
was very soon abandoned, but whether from the pressure of the times or
from the opposition of many of the citizens does not appear in any record
of the period. The incorporation and survey of two turnpike companies,
the Bardstown and Louisville, and Elizabethtown and Louisville, during the
same year, would however seem to incline us to believe that it was not
given up for the want of means. The state of affairs, even if as bad as
represented in the memorial, does not seem to have thrown a very deep or
settled gloom over the community; on the contrary an incident of the
period would seem to show a light-heartedness and freedom from care not
common in times of distress. This incident was the sudden appearance in
the streets of the city of a very singular procession, since known as the
_Comical Guards_. They were introduced as a burlesque of the militia
drills, then of biennial occurrence here. The procession was headed by an
enormous man, rivaling Daniel Lambert in his superabundance of flesh,
mounted on an equally overgrown ox, on whose hide was painted the
following descriptive motto, "_The Bull-works of our Country_." This
heroic captain also wore a sword of mighty proportions, on whose trenchant
blade was written in letters of scarlet the savage inscription, "_Blood or
Guts_!" This leader was followed by a band of equally singular character;
long men on short horses, little boys on enormous bony Rozinantes, picked
up from off the commons; men enclosed in hogsheads, with only head, feet
and arms visible; men encased even to helmet and visor in wicker-work
armour, and a thousand other knights of fanciful costume, and all marching
with heroic step to the martial clangor of tin pans, the braying of
milkhorns, the shrill sound of whistles, the piping of cat-calls, and the
ceaseless din of penny-trumpets and cornstalk fiddles. This procession
halted in its progress through the streets in front of the residences of
the officers of the militia, and after saluting them with a flourish of
music, made them a speech, and cheered them with a chorus of groans. After
marching bravely through the principal streets, this procession suddenly
disappeared from public view never again to greet the sunlight.
Toward the last of June, the news of the death of Lafayette reached the
city, and on the first of July a meeting was held, and resolutions passed
recommending the stores to be closed, and the day spent in exercises
suitable to the occasion. A procession, in which the trades and
professions were all represented, and which was the largest ever seen in
the city, was formed, and after passing through the principal streets,
stopped in the lot occupied by Mr. Jacob, where a eulogy was delivered by
Mr. M. R. Wigginton. All who had joined in the procession, wore crape on
the left arm for thirty days. The whole proceedings of the day were highly
creditable to the city, and highly worthy of the occasion. Another event
of the year was the establishment of a new paper called the Louisville
Notary and published weekly by D. C. Banks and A. E. Drapier. This paper
however never rose to any eminence in the city.
During 1833 and 1834 two new amendments had been made to the charter. One
of them authorizes some trifling change in the boundary of the city, and
the other allows the borrowing of money to erect Water-Works, and compels
the inspector of liquors to mark the degree of proof on the head of each
barrel. The next year--1835--also shows similar amendments: first,
requiring the valuation of property to be made on the 10th of January in
each year; second, authorizing the city marshall to collect his bills for
summoning juries; and third authorizing the city to subscribe for stock in
the Lexington and Ohio Railroad Company. This road was this year opened to
Frankfort. The building of the Galt House also dates from this period, as
does the first movement toward lighting the city with gas.
It will be recollected that in 1830 the population was given at 10,336, in
1835 it had reached by actual census 19,967, giving an increase of nearly
one hundred per cent, in less than five years! The Tax list for this year
will also show a similar increase:
Real estate and Improvements valued at $10,425,446
Personal Property 644,250
Tythables, white and black, 4,960 at $150 7,440
34 1st rate stores at $80 2,720
42 2d " " 60 2,520
57 3d " " 40 2,880
62 4th " " 20 1,240
68 Hacks, 132 Drays, 53 Waggons, $4; 124 Carts $2 1,260
50 Coffee-Houses at $50 2,500
10 Taverns at $50 500
60 Groceries and Spirits at $50 3,000
96 Spirits alone at 40 3,840
20 Groceries alone, and 20 Confectioners at 15 720
A table of the imports of the city has been so recently given, that it may
be more interesting to offer now a list of exports, for the six months
succeeding January 1st, 1835, which is as follows:
Tobacco 1,337 hhds.
" 114 boxes.
Bacon 2,813,560 lbs.
Tallow 149 bbls.
Whisky 14,643 bbls.
Flour 19,999 "
Lard 60,713 kegs.
Hemp 38 tons.
Bagging 65,348 p's.
Bale Rope 42,030 cls.
Pork 14,419 bbl.
Linseed Oil 72 bbl.
To this list may be added the amount of goods sold during the next
year--1836--by 47 of the largest wholesale dry good and grocery houses,
which is officially stated at $12,128,666 16. There were also built during
the summer of this latter year 110 stores and 114 dwelling houses, all of
the better class. Rents were steadily advancing on the stores, and "as for
dwellings it would be impossible to rent one, finished or unfinished. And
these improvements resulted from the natural advantages of the place, and
not from the completion of any of the works, to which the city had always
looked as the precursors of greatness." These statistics require no
additional demonstration to prove the progress of the town. The first
thing worthy of notice in this year was a ninth amendment to the charter,
which abolishes the Mayor's Court and establishes a Police Court in lieu
thereof. This court was to be a court of record; its judge to be appointed
as other judges, and to receive a salary of $1200. The prosecuting
attorney to be elected by the Council. The City Court, as far as it is a
Police Court, should always be open, and for the trial of pleas of the
Commonwealth, there were to be monthly terms of said court, to commence on
the first Monday in each month. It might summon grand juries. This act
also fixed the salary of the Mayor at $2,000, and compelled all insurance
offices to file with the Mayor a certified copy of their charters; it also
extended the city boundary 300 feet above Geiger's Ferry landing. Two more
newspapers were in this year added to the growing list of the city. The
first of these was the Louisville City Gazette, a daily, published by John
J. & Jas. B. Marshall; and the second, the Western Messenger, a monthly,
under the care of the Rev. J. F. Clark. This last was originally published
in Cincinnati, but was this year transferred to Louisville.
As will be remembered a motion had been made several years before this
time toward the erection of a bridge over the Ohio. This project had been
discussed from time to time ever since that period, and finally in this
year, the contracts were entered into and the corner stone of the bridge
was laid with all due ceremony, at the foot of Twelfth Street. The work
however never progressed beyond this, the contractor having failed to
perform his duty, beside which the next year brought with it by far the
most terrible calamity that had ever affected the city. The last few years
had been years of such unexampled prosperity; confidence had become so
thoroughly established, credit was so plenty, and luxury so courted, that,
when the unexpected reverse came, the blow was indeed terrible. On the
19th of April, the Banks of Louisville and of Kentucky suspended specie
payment, by a resolution of the citizens so authorizing them. Previous to
this, the Banks all over the country had stopped; another awful commercial
crisis had arrived, and one which Louisville felt far more severely than
she had felt the former. Instead of passing lightly over her, as before,
the full force of the blow was felt throughout the whole community. House
after house, which had easily rode out the former storm, now sunk beneath
the waves of adversity, until it seemed as if none would be left to tell
the sad story. A settled gloom hung over the whole mercantile community.
Main Street was like an avenue in some deserted city. Whole rows of houses
were tenantless, and expectation was upon the tiptoe every day to see who
would be the next to close. Each feared the other; all confidence was
gone; mercantile transactions were at an end; and everything, before so
radiant with the spring-time of hope and of promise, was changed to the
sad autumn hues of a fruitless year.
It was in the midst of this gloom and despondence which prevaded one part
of the community, that the ears of another part were astonished and
gladdened with a strain of melody, such as had not before stolen through
the glades and groves of this western land. A young girl, modest and
unpretending, unknown to all but her little circle, inspired by some
unseen power, tremblingly warbled forth a few verses of melody, but of
such enchanting power, beauty and harmony, that all the literary world
were confounded, and all eagerly inquired who it was that under the simple
signature of "AMELIA," and away off in the distant West had struck her
lyre "with an angel's art, and with the power of the fabled Orpheus," and
whose "strains had been caught up by melody-lovers throughout the Union,
and sung in every peopled valley, and echoed from every sunny hillside of
our vast domain."[14] Such genius could not long remain unknown; and soon
the name of its possessor was proclaimed through the columns of the
Louisville Journal, but the name gave no clue to the source whence this
mighty power had been derived. For the many, the ten days wonder soon
passed away. The genius of the writer was acknowledged and forgotten by
them. But the true lovers of her art followed her for many years with
looks of admiration, regard and affection; and still, though her harp has
long lain untouched, await with anxiety and hope for new strains from the
lyre they have loved so well.[15]
It is not for the historian to dwell at any length upon subjects kindred
to this, agreeable as the theme may be. We must then revert again to the
usual details of the year. The first of these was the reception here of
the distinguished Mr. Webster, who was met some twelve miles from the city
by a large number of citizens. On his arrival he was welcomed by the Mayor
and invited to meet the citizens at a barbacue near the city. The season
was one of great festivity, and nearly four thousand persons were present
at the barbacue. Mr. Webster addressed the citizens in his usual
felicitous manner.
An important event of the year was the addition of the town of Portland to
the limits of the city. The building of the First Presbyterian, and of St.
Paul's (Episcopal) Church, and of the bank of Louisville, as well as the
selection of this point as the site for the government hospital, and the
incorporation of the Louisville Manufacturing Company, are among the
events of this year. A paper called the Western Journal of Education, was
also issued from the Journal office, under the editorship of the Rev. B.
O. Peers, but was soon discontinued for want of sufficient patronage.
For some time previous to this period the removal of the medical
department of Transylvania University at Lexington to this city had
occupied much attention, and had created some bitterness of feeling
between the two cities. In this year this vexed question was finally
decided by the Legislature against the removal; no less to the
gratification of Lexington than to the serious annoyance of this city. The
examination of the subject however brought to light an old charter, passed
in 1833 and amended in 1835, which sufficed to enable a new school of
medicine to be established here. The city accordingly set apart four acres
of ground and the sum of $50,000 in money for its use, and so organized a
medical school here, of which Messrs. Caldwell, Cooke, Cobb, Flint,
Yandell, Miller and Locke were the professors. In February of the next
year, the corner stone of the building to be erected by the city for this
use was laid, and soon after Dr. Flint, with the money appropriated for
that purpose, visited Europe, and purchased a fine library and apparatus
for the Institution. Few, if any medical schools in the United States,
have ever risen as rapidly in public favor, or as speedily attained as
high position in public estimation as this. The first course of lectures
was delivered to 80 students, the second to 120, the third to 205, the
fifth to 262; and since that time the classes have reached 400 pupils. It
has attained the rank of the first school of medicine in the West, and is
second to few in the country. There is now another medical school in this
city, which will be noticed at the proper place.
The next year--1838--brings us to the opening of a railroad to Portland.
This road was intended to connect with the Lexington and Ohio railroad. It
was kept in employ but a very short time, the citizens on Main Street
below the depot at Sixth were violently opposed to the road, and used
every effort to impair its usefulness. After the establishment of the
Blind Asylum here, the profits of this road were transferred to that
institution; but it did not long enjoy the advantages so offered, for the
road was discontinued by an application to court from some of the
citizens, as offensive to some, and unprofitable to all.
A glance at the population of the city for this year will show, that in
spite of the commercial difficulties of the time, the city still grew with
astonishing rapidity. It had now reached a population of 27,000, showing a
gain of 7,033 in three years.
The only other event worthy of remembrance was the robbery of the Savings
Bank. This was effected in the daytime, by a man named Clarendon E. Dix,
who entered the bank about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Soon after this
time, Mr. Julien, the cashier of the bank, entered the establishment and
found Dix, who had still in his hand the large bank hammer, with which he
had killed the clerk whom he found there. Finding that he should be
vanquished in the struggle with Mr. Julien, Dix drew a pistol and shot
himself. He was believed to be insane.
The Literary Newsletter, a paper under the charge of Ed. Flagg, editor,
was issued from the Journal office in December of this year. Its existence
was limited to about thirty months. It was however eminently deserving of
a much greater success than attended its issue.
The Kentucky Historical Society was also incorporated at this time, under
the direction of Hon. J. Rowan, President; Hon. Geo. M. Bibb and Hon.
Henry Pirtle, Vice Presidents; D. C. Banks, Recording Secretary; and
Edward Jarvis, Corresponding Secretary and Librarian. Its library which
was amassed by the indefatigable zeal of Dr. Jarvis, is now incorporated
with the Louisville Library. The Society itself is not now in active
existence.
Early in 1839, there was established a Ladies' Provident Society, for the
benefit of the poor. This society was organized in the best possible
manner, and was of very great value to the city. A depot for the reception
of donations of food, clothing, &c., was established, where also work was
provided for such indigent females as failed to find employment elsewhere.
The city was divided into wards, to each of which two female and one male
visitor was apportioned, and the poor in each district were carefully and
judiciously attended to. No better scheme for ameliorating the distress
which is ever to be found in cities, could have been invented, and it is
greatly to be regretted that this noble monument of charity no longer
exists. The present form of provision for the destitute, though good, is
far less effective than was this; and it is believed that if the
Provident Society were now re-established, the increase both of wealth and
population in the city would prevent its second failure. The Scotch
Benevolent Society, which is an association of Scotchmen for the purpose
of relieving any necessitous persons of their own countrymen who may be in
Louisville, was also instituted at this time, and is still in active
operation.
The well remembered visit to this city of the beautiful and accomplished
America, descendant of Amerigo Vespucci, the voyager whose name is so
closely identified with the discovery of this continent, occurred during
this year. It will be recollected that she was an exile, and in distress;
and that she had visited this country with the hope of obtaining some aid
from the government, which she solicited in view of her ancestor's name
and services. A private subscription was commenced for her at the office
of the Journal, which, however, she declined, saying: "A national boon
will ever honor the memory and the descendant of Amerigo Vespucci, but
America, even as an exile in the United States, cannot accept an
individual favor, however courteous and delicate may be the manner in
which it is proffered."