The Davenport gazette., 1851-05-15
THE HISTORY OF FANEUIL HALL.

stso ssso1ANotos W0us c0OOuS tu0 utJ00tS.-
The Inhabitants were served at their doors.
AZ early 1884, Gov. Winthrop, 10 his jour.
nal, speaks Of a market which was kept ia
Boston, ION Thursday the filih day Of the
week." This weekly market, on the 9Th
day, is mentioned by Douglass, - Of 1899,
vol. l., page 434. This refers only to
gathering ofsellers and buyers at one spot,
and not to any "visibIe temple, /" for storage
and shelter. Citizens differed 40 to The
best method Of getting their prouons, some
preferred the old mode, as il was supposed
to save time, others we're in favor of having
common point with q covered buildiog.
Parties we're formed, the citizens waxed
wroth, and quarreled about their meat like
dogs. Those who were 10 favor ofmsrket
houses prevailed. Three were erected,
one Ut the old North Square, ono where
Faneuil Hall now stands, and one near
Liberty Tree. People wero no longer
supplied at their houses.
Tho popular sentiment prevented The
reconstruction Of the centre market house,
till in l740, July IA, town meeting was
held to consider I petition for the object,
from Thomas Palmer and three hundred
and forty others. At this meeting il was
stated that Peter Faneuil had offered, at
bis own cost, to build q market house on
the towns land, in Dock Square, for the
use Of the town, il the citizens would legal
" empower him to do so; place the same
under proper regulations, and msintain il
for that use.
Mr.. Faneui's proposal was received
with the most ample demonstrations Of
grateful respect. There were two ques-
tions before the meeing-first, shall vote
Of thanks be passed to Peter Fanenil for
his liberal offer! Secondly, shall we give
up the itinerant system, and have mar
ket house, on any conditions?
Upon the first question there was but
one mind, on the second, there were two.
A vote ofthanks to Mr.. Faneuil was instnnt-
ly passed, without dissentient. But the
second question was the vexed question
revived, and excited tho passions Of the
people. Of727 persons present, 367 only
voted in favor Of granting the petition ef
Palmer and others, giving q majority Of
seven only.
Accordingly, the work was commenced,
and it was completed September 10th, l742
"on which day" says DR.. Snow, "Mr. Sam
uel Ruggles, who was employed 10 build
ling The market house, waited on the select
msu, by order ofPeter Faneuil, Esq, and
delivered them the key Of said house.
Peter Was magnificent fellow. An an
tiquarian friend, to whom this fancy has
lineally descended through line Of high
" respectable antiquarian ancestors, in
forms me that bis father handed down to
him tradition, which is certaialy plausi-
BILE. 1t runs thus: while the market house
was in progress-probsbly on papsr--it
was suggested to Peter, that with very lit
tie additional expense splendid town
hall might be constructed over it. Peters
heart was quite ns roomy as the market
house and town hall together, and he cheer
| fully embraced the suggestion. The trn-
dition goes little furiher-when the cost
was summed up, Peter scotded--a li.t'e.--
Very likely. Mr.. Peter Faneuil was not
an exception TO the common rule.
The portrait Of Faneuil. at present in
the hall, was painted by Henry Sergeant,
from the portrait presented to the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, BY Miss Jones,
grand child Of Peters sister, Mary Ann.
The original building was but half the
width Of the present, and but two stories
high. The hall could contain but one
thousand persons. In the memorable fire
Of Tuesday, January 18th, 1851, Faneuil
Hall. was destroyed, and nothing left stand
| ing but the walls. On the Esd Of the fol-
lowing, March, the town voted 10 rebuild,
and the State authorized lottery to meet
the expense There were several classes.
A ticket oflh seventh class, bearing date
March, 1857, has the spacious Autograph
OF John Hancock at the bottom.
The building retained its primitive pro-
portions, till 1906, whom the occasions Of
the public requiring it's enlargement, its
width was increased from forty to eighty
feet, and third story added.
Small as the original structure may ap-
pear, when compared with the present, i
was magnificent donation for the times.
Il may we'll be considered q munificent
gift, from single individual, in l742,
when we consider that its repairs in l76i,
were accomplished BY the aid Of the Com.
monweaith, and the creation Of lottery,
which continued to curse the community
Tor several years.
Ro,hschiidi 10 forced to con-
tent himself with the Same sky as the poor
newspaper writer, and the great banker
cannot order private sunset, or add one
ray to the emsgnificence Of the night. The
same air sweIls all lungs. The same kind
Of blood Ellis all veins. Each one possesses,
really, only bis own thoughts and senses
Soul and body--thesc are all the property
a man owns.
An EvEReREEN.-A man who does not
learn BY experience.