* * * * *
Newport, R.I., has the reputation of having been engaged in the
slave-trade before the Revolution; and the following item, in the
"Boston Gazette," June 30, 1762, noticing without comment the arrival of
a Guinea trader there, would seem to show it to have been not an
uncommon occurrence.
We hear from Newport, Rhode Island, That Capt. Carpenter was
arrived there from the Coast of Guinea, having had 104 Days
Passage, ten Days whereof they were without Meat, but had a
Sufficiency of Rice and Corn. They lost but six Slaves out
of 69 they bro't out with them.
* * * * *
On the 5th of November "the gunpowder treason and plot" was formerly
pretty generally remembered,--by the boys, at least, who made bonfires
and burned tar-barrels. We believe the custom has fallen into disuse
except in Salem and Marblehead, where there seems to be a little
"Colonialism" left. As recently as 1885 the writer saw a bonfire in
honor of the occasion on a hill near the latter place. In 1762 there
must have been quite a demonstration, if we can judge anything by a
vote of the town of Boston. Englishmen visiting us have sometimes
expressed astonishment at learning that this curious custom should still
be kept up here, while it had been abolished at home.
Upon a motion made, _Voted_, That the Town will take all
proper Measures, by keeping in their Children and Servants,
& other Ways, to prevent the Disturbances which have
sometimes happened on or about the 5th Day of November.
Attest,
William Cooper, _Town-Clerk_.
_Tuesday last (5th November) being the Anniversary of the
happy Deliverance of the British Nation from the Popish
Powder Plot, at Noon the Guns at Castle William and at the
Batteries in this Town were fired: At One all the nine Men
of War then in this Harbour also fired._
From the _Essex Gazette_, Nov. 12, 1771.
The accommodation offered for travel between Boston and New York before
the Revolution must have been slim enough, judging from an advertisement
in the "Boston Gazette" in 1761. Passengers then went by vessel from
Providence; that is, "Gentlemen Passengers." Whether ladies were
accommodated or not, does not appear; but perhaps they were in the habit
of going by stage, taking a week or so to accomplish the journey, or,
more than likely, few ever travelled at all in those times. In our day,
when every one is on the move, it is hard to realize this state of
things.
* * * * *
_Notice is Given, That SAMUEL and WILLIAM CHACE, of_
Providence, _have a suitable Vessel that goes steadily
between there and_ New-York. _So that all Gentlemen
Passengers and others that incline to take the Rout from_
Boston _to_ New-York, _or from_ New-York _to_ Boston, _may
be well accommodated._
Providence, Aug. 29, 1761.
"In 1756," Watson says, "the first stage was started between
Philadelphia and New York by Mr. Butler; three days through in summer
time, five and six in winter. In 1765 a second stage was started, to go
through positively in three days. This was a covered Jersey
wagon,--fare, twopence per mile. In 1766 another stage, called the
'Flying Machine,' was started, to go through in two days,--threepence
per mile."
* * * * *
A brief account of Montreal in the "Boston Gazette," March 30, 1761.
NEW-YORK, March 23.
Extract of a Letter from Montreal.
----"The Case of the poor Canadians is really deplorable,
occasioned by the bankruptcy of the crown of France. Many of
them who had, with great danger and labour, acquired estates
worth 20,000 l. sterl. by the fur-trade, or otherwise, can
now scarce procure a dinner. All their remittances from
their mother country, consisted in bills on the French King,
which are not now worth one farthing, as no body whatever
will accept of them in payment. It is computed there is
above the value of 3,000,000 l. sterling of these useless
paper scraps, circulated through the colony, which, as a
reward to the wretched inhabitants for all their hardships
and fatigues, must now supply the place of affluence and
independence. Most, if not all of them, are perfectly
reconciled to the British government, as they can now with
security enjoy any little property they have; whereas
formerly, Governor Vaudreuil made no ceremony of seizing the
produce of their lands, their merchandize and manufactures
of every kind, and after conveying them to the King's store
houses, paid to the proprietors any price he pleased. If the
owners thereafter had occasion for any of their own
commodities, they could not procure them under twenty times
the price they had received.
"Montreal in general is a well built town, but incapable of
any defence. The churches are elegant, and the houses of
some of their principal men are really magnificent; though
few in number. The Hotel Dieu is by far the finest hospital
I ever saw, every thing in it is extremely neat and
convenient.
"The people here are extravagantly fond of dress; a stranger
would take Montreal to be a city inhabited by none but the
rich and idle: they are all finely powdered, walk with their
hats under their arms, and wear long coats, adorned with
tinsel lace, and buttoned down to the extremity. Since I
came here, I have not seen one man dressed like a tradesman.
The ladies in general are handsome, extremely gay, and well
bred."
* * * * *
In 1767 the best soap and "dipt" and "mould" candles were sold at the
post-office in Boston, according to an advertisement in the "Gazette" of
October 26. The candles were made of tallow, and gave but little light,
requiring almost constant snuffing. Other kinds of candles were not in
general use in New England in the last century. Sperm oil and sperm or
wax candles could be used only by the wealthy. Many families, for
economy, made their own candles. This practice was common in New England
down to within fifty years.
It will be recollected that Dr. Franklin's father was a tallow-chandler
in Boston, and that the Doctor himself worked at the business when a
boy. Elizabeth Franklin, whose name appears in the following
advertisement, was probably a relative of the family.
* * * * *
SOLD BY
_Elizabeth Franklin,_
At the Post-Office,
THE best true Crown Soap, Alicant best hard Soap, by the
Doz. or single Pound, dipt and mould Candles at the lowest
Price.
* * * * *
Every week the burials and baptisms in Boston were thus inserted in the
papers. The following is from the "Gazette" of Nov. 23, 1767:--
Buried in the Town of Boston since our last, Five Whites.
Three Blacks. Baptiz'd in the several Churches, Four.
* * * * *
This custom was continued many years. We take the following from the
"Massachusetts Centinel," April 2, 1788:--
BURIED _in town last week_ 11--BAPTISED 14.
Published by BENJAMIN RUSSELL, near the State-House, Boston.
* * * * *
General Wolfe's Manifesto from the "Boston Gazette," Dec. 10, 1759.
_As the Manifesto lately published was only a Translation
from a French Manuscript, we are requested to publish the
following, which is_
_General_ WOLFE's Manifesto,
_as written by Himself._
THE formidable Sea and Land Armament which the People of
_Canada_ now behold in the Heart of their Country is
intended by the King my Master to check the insolence of
_France_;--To revenge the Insults offered to the _British_
Colonies, and totally deprive the _French_ of their most
valuable Settlements in _North-America_.
For these Purposes only is the Formidable Army under my
Command intended.
The King of _Great-Britain_ wages no War with the
Industrious Peasant, the sacred Orders of Religion, or the
defenceless Women and Children: To these in their
distressful Circumstances His Royal Clemency offers
Protection. The People may remain unmolested on their Lands,
inhabit their Houses, and enjoy their Religion in Security.
For these inestimable Blessings, I expect the _Canadians_
will take no Part in the Great Contest between the two
Crowns; But if by a vain Obstinacy, and misguided Valour,
they presume to appear in Arms, they must expect the most
fatal Consequences; their Habitations destroyed, their
sacred Temples exposed to the Fury of an exasperated
Soldiery; their Harvest utterly ruined, and the only Passage
of Relief stopped up by a most formidable Fleet.--In this
unhappy Situation, and closely attacked by another great
Army, what can the wretched Natives expect from Opposition!
THE unparelelled Barbarities exerted by the _French_ against
our Settlements in _America_, might justify the bitterest
Revenge in the Army under my Command; but _Britons_ breathe
higher Sentiments of Humanity, and listen to the merciful
Dictates of the Christian Religion. Yet should you suffer
yourselves to be deluded by an imaginary Prospect of our
want of Success; should you refuse those Terms, and persist
in Opposition; Then surely will the Law of Nations justify
the Waste of War, so necessary to crush an ungenerous Enemy:
and Then, the miserable _Canadians_ must in the Winter have
the Mortification of seeing those very Families, they have
been exerting a fruitless and indiscreet Bravery for, perish
by the most dismal Want and Famine.
In this great Dilemma let the Wisdom of the People of
_Canada_ shew itself!
_BRITAIN_ stretches out a powerful, yet a merciful Hand,
Faithful to her Engagements, and ready to secure them in
their most valuable Rights and Possessions.
_FRANCE_, unable to support _Canada_, deserts her Cause at
this important Crisis, and during the whole War has assisted
her with Troops, who have been maintained _only_ by making
the Natives feel all the Weight of grievous and lawless
Oppression.