* * * * *
Boston, _November 2, 1761_.
_Last Evening, just at Eight o'Clock, this Town was alarmed
with the Shock of an_ EARTHQUAKE.
_Gazette._
* * * * *
On the 15th of August, 1763, the "Boston Post-Boy" gives the following
account of the celebration of a royal birthday:--
_BOSTON, August 15._
On Friday being the Birth-Day of the _Prince of Wales_, and
the Anniversary of the Accession of the House of _Hanover_,
and also of the Surrender of the _Havanna_, which was the
immediate Means of bringing about the Peace; at One o'Clock
the Guns at the Castle and Town Batteries were Fired; and in
the Evening his Excellency the Governor gave a Ball at
Concert Hall. There were present about 240 Gentlemen and
Ladies; the Ball was opened by General _Shirley_ and the
Governor's Lady about 8 o'Clock; the Country Dances began
about nine, and about ten a Supper Room was opened, where
was a very handsome Collation. The Ladies made a brilliant
Appearance, and the Company expressed the highest Pleasure
and Satisfaction on the Occasion, and broke up about two in
the Morning. The whole was conducted with the greatest
Order, Elegance and Decorum.
* * * * *
The great military "occasion" of those days was the annual parade of the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. In June, 1763, that Company
celebrated its one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary. In the "Boston
Post-Boy" of June 13 we have this account:--
Monday last, agreeable to ancient Custom, the Artillery
Company of the Province, appeared under Arms, being the
Anniversary of the Election of Officers for the Company: A
Sermon was preached by the Rev'd Mr. _Balch_ of _Dedham_, at
the Old Brick Meeting-House, where his Excellency the
Governor, the Members of his Majesty's Council and House of
Representatives, with a Number of other Gentlemen, attended;
after which they proceeded to Faneuil-Hall, where an elegant
Dinner was provided; and in the Afternoon the following
Gentlemen were chosen for the ensuing Year, viz.
_Thomas Marshall_, Esq; Captain,
Mr. _Josiah Waters_, Lieutenant,
Mr. _Jeremiah Belknap_, Ensign.
In the Evening a plentiful Repast was given by the Officers
newly elected, at Faneuil-Hall; where many loyal Healths
were drank.
* * * * *
After the great fire in Boston in March, 1760, this item appeared in the
"Gazette" of May 19:--
We hear that _Charles Ward Apthorp_, Esq; of _N.-York_,
Merchant, upon hearing of the Calamity which had befallen
this Town by the late dreadful Fire, generously ordered his
Agent here to pay to the Gentlemen appointed to receive the
Donations of charitable dispos'd Persons the Sum of _One
Hundred_ Pounds, L.M. for the Relief of the Sufferers.
Mr. Apthorp, of New York, made this generous donation--a large sum for
that time--for the relief of the sufferers of his native place.
* * * * *
On the 30th of March, 1761, the "Boston Gazette" prints the following
among its items of news:--
_The following Proverbs we hope will not be disregarded,
tho' taken from a Book in the Hands of almost every
Freeholder in this Province; for they are true English
Proverbs_----
_LOOK before you leap--Wise Men think twice before they act
once--Avoidance is better than late Repentance--Put your
Hand in the Lion's Mouth, then get it out if you can--Haste
makes Waste--Fast bind fast find--A Wedge once enter'd, the
Log flies--You may add, when you cannot take away--Cut your
Coat according to your Cloth--A rash Beginning makes a
foolish Ending--Better late than never--He that acts for
others, should act with Caution--Once well done is twice
done--A wise Man foreseeth the Storm and secureth
himself----Of all Murderers, Self-Murderers are the most
stupid--A Snake in the Grass may bite before it is seen._
A Word to the Wise is sufficient. AMEN.
* * * * *
BOSTON IN OLDEN TIMES.--The "Boston Transcript," in a notice of the
newspapers published in Boston in 1767, of which there were ten, says:
The printer in those days was a man of "all work." If a negro or horse
was up for sale, the printer was the seller. The advertisements in these
old papers are curiosities in their line. The following notices appeared
in the advertising columns of the "Boston Evening Gazette," in 1741:--
"To be sold by the Printer of this Paper, the very best
negro woman in this town, who has had the small pox and the
measles; is as hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and
will work like a beaver."
"To be sold by the Printer of this Paper, a negro man about
thirty years old, who can do both town and country business
very well, but will suit the country best, where they have
not so many dram-shops as we have in Boston. He has worked
at the printing business fifteen or sixteen years; can
handle axe, saw, spade, hoe, or other instrument of
husbandry, as well as most men, and values himself, and is
valued by others, for his skill in cookery."
* * * * *
This item, from a paper of 1767, seems to show that the Government was
not then obliged to have a "bill" to uphold silver, for it was evidently
in the ascendency; but there was no Western territory at that time, or
rather, it had not been discovered.
Gold as well as Silver will be taken for the Tickets, and
the Prizes paid off in like Manner. Prizes not demanded
within Twelve Months after Drawing, will not be paid, but
will be deem'd as generously given for the Purpose
aforesaid, and applied accordingly.
Tickets to be had of the respective Managers, and of Edes
and Gill.
* * * * *
Fashionable weddings in the days of the spinning-wheel were not so fully
described as they are at the present day. Nothing used to be said about
the "magnificent dresses," "best man," "ushers," "contracting parties,"
"elegant presents," etc., etc.; there was a simple announcement of the
fact. Here are specimens of marriage announcements,--persons belonging
to the first families in Boston.
"Boston Gazette," Feb. 5, 1759.
Last Thursday Morning, was married at King's-Chappel, Dr.
THOMAS BULFINCH, Son of the late Dr. BULFINCH of this Town,
to Mrs. SUSAN APTHORPE, Daughter of the late CHARLES
APTHORPE, Esq; The Rev'd Mr. APTHORPE perform'd the
Ceremony, before a very great Number of Spectators.
* * * * *
"Columbian Centinel," March 26, 1788.
----Mr. THOMAS H. PERKINS, merchant, to Miss SALLY ELLIOT,
only daughter of Mr. SIMON ELLIOT.
* * * * *
"Gazette," Jan. 26, 1767.
BOSTON, January 26, 1767.
Tuesday the Honorable JOHN TEMPLE, Esq; Surveyor-General of
North-America, was married to Miss BOWDOIN, Daughter of the
Honorable JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq; of this Town.
* * * * *
Specimen of a house in "Corn-Hill," from the "Post-Boy," May 7, 1763.
[Illustration]