The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-11
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From the'N6rA .a0lericqn Rerieu.

Front fheN0rth american Reriew.
Our PILGxlM Fathers. The houses of
the first settlers Of Boston, were generally.
as might havebeen expected from the cir
cumstances of the country, extremely SIM
pie and tunadorned. Wooden chimneys
were common for many years, and a wain-
scot OF -ciapboards in the house of the Dep
uty Governor was considered highly CEN
surabie pleeeof extravaganza. The house
OF the Late Moodye," of Salem, a per-
son OF high consideration, seems to have
closely resambled one of our smallest
dwellings, being nine feet high, with a
chimney in the centre. The furniture Of
the carly colonists was of a rather differ
ent quality. Much Of it was brought from
England and was of considerable value.
forming strong contrast in this respect to
the humble sheds in which it was often de-
posted. In an inventory of the effects of
Mrs. Martha Coytemore, Governor Win
throp's fourth wife, dated in 1647, we find
silk curtains, brass andirons, cheny plates
and saucas, and Turkey carpets.
There seems to lave 1ccc5n no want Of
Injuries for the table. The country fur
nishes fish and game in abundance, and
though, says the Governor, in a letter da-
ted November the twenty-ninth, 1880, g we
have not beef and mutton, yet, God be
praised, we want them not, our Indian corr
answers for all" an opinion in which, not
outstanding our regard for that highly
useful vegetable, we find it difficult to fol
low him. Groceries were soon brought
over in abundance from England, though
it viii be recollected that our two mos
valued articles of that description, tea and
coffee, were not them used in Europe. We
are told, that at a military muster of twelve
hundred men in l64l, there was not a man
drunk, though wine and strong beer abound
ed i'll Boston; and we find that in 1890, the
Governor began to discourage the practice
of drinking toastS at table. Had he sue
cecded in aboliShing it, what racking Of
invention and rnmInaging of memory toI
! extemporaneous sentiments might have
been spared the present generation.
The attempts of our ancestors to restrain
luxury in dress were altogether unavailing.
1t is stated, September the eighteenth
| 1884, that many laws were made against
tobacco, and immodest fashions, and costly
apparel; but though such laws were fire.
quently made, we do not recollect that
Governor Winthrop mentions an instance
in which they were enforced. Our ances-
tors endeavored to regulate the spirit Of
gain as well as of expense, and with the
same eventual success. The prices of Ia
Dor and commodities were fixed repeatedly
by positive laws, but experience soon prov
ed the utter futility of the project, though
not until these laws had been executed il
a few instances, especially in the case o.
Captain Robert Keaine, who was compell'
ed to pay eighty pounds for taking profit
of sixpence and eightpence in the shilling
and in some small instances two for. one
The first colonists of Massachusetts were
unquestionably, on the whole, highly res
, pectable community. They were among
, the best specimens Of what was then ant
is now the best class of society in Grea
Britain, its well educated commoners mel
superior perhaps to any of their successor
in deep and extensive learning, and secon
/ to none for fervent piety, for stern integri
= ty, and disinterested patriotism. But tina
s all the early settlers of New England, wer
g of this description, is a supposition which
!. though it sometimes seems to have bee
g taken for granted, is manifestly absurd
:, There were several of the same stamp wit
:. those who find place in every new coul
i try, needy and desperate adventurers, WI
ii hoped to find in a remote settlement, Il
s. subsistence which they were unwilling
procure Ivy honest exertion in their natl
10 land