Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-19
Letter from Bath, Me.

city place of considerable resort at this sea-
| son OF the year. The stalnch steamer Ocean,
night boat, running from Boston twice
| during the week, furnishes ample accommo-
datlon 70 those who, for want OF time or
(what is perhaps not less considered by the
travelling community the want of funds,
choose the night in preference to the day
route. And certainly, to the citizen who for
many weeks or months has gaZed upon moth
ing but brick walls, or TO the professional
man whose overtasked brain calls for rest
and relaxation, there can be iri-mpre charm
itg "trip than the one your correspondent
took a few nights since from Boston 10 this
down east country.
Bath presents a somewhat singular ap>
pearance to the eye of stranger. Ills built
on ledge, and in every direction the bare
rocks protrude their grim, unslghtly visages
upon your view. Many of the buildings look
old and worn OUT. Almost the first object
that you see when the city comes in sight,
are two venerable churches literally sci on
IL hll,' which in former days presented
quite all attractive appearance. The socie-
| lies, however, which once worshipped in
| them, have long since abandoned them hay
ing built new houses of worship in more de-
slraDe locations. The old churches are left
standing, aud time has wrought its work of
desolaton Oh the ancient temples. The
destructive sea hreezes have blown away the
adornments Of the painters brush, while the
still ruder boys have made sad havoc with the
almost countless windows which our worthy
Puritan Fathers deemed so necessary an APP
| pendage 10 their houses of worship. The
same air OF dreaIy decay hangs around many
an old famIllar spot, which once wore the
appearance of elegance and taste. And yet
Bath is thriving clty-in some parts grow
lug up with great rapidly. At this very
moment there are OIL the stocks Nv elve large
ships, averaging thousand tons each. Que
of these ships, 10 he placed this fall on the
line of The New York and Liverpool packets,
is fifteen hundred tons. So long as the busi-
ness ofnnvIgatlon continues 10 be good, noh-
! ing can retard the prosperity OF the place
As another indication of the prosperity Of
this city, | may remark that there are four
churches in process OF erection. A new Gus
tom house is TO be built soon, and the com-
pleIon OF these will, no doubt, add much to
the appearance Of the place. The public
house, The Sagadahock, will compare favor
ably with any house on the river, and the
traveller will find it a pleasant and quiet
home.
Zens of this State, and i'll the estimation of
many persons, her most vigorous and intel
! lectuaily powerful son, has recently died in
this ciIv. refer 10 Hon. William King, the
first Governor of Aiaue Few men have
done more Than Gov. King to lay the found
ations for the future prosperity Of his naive
Stale. lie was man OF massive inIellecI
and far reaching dlscernment. Near the
commencement Of this century he removed
to Bath, aud accumulated III short time
large fortune in commercial business. He
suffered, however, in common with all the
merchants in This secIiouot the country from
the last war with great B'llan.
For several years he represented the own
in the Massachusetts legislature, where he
was regarded lis a man of great energy and
decision of character. He was an ardent
friend OF religious liberty; aud it was owing
very much to his influence that the Religious
/ Freedom Act was passed, allowing each
man 10 contribute to the support OF whatever
religious sentiments he chose 10 embrace.-
| He was the prime mover also in obtaining
! the passage Of what was called the Better
nIent Act,' The importance and value of
which we who live in these times, can hard
| " estimate. The design Of this act, was, in
the settlement OF conflicting land claims, TO
secure 10 the original settler the full value of
/ all the improvements he had made. Gov.
King, who perhaps better than any man in
| Name understood the condition of those who
occupied the public lands in the State, and
the invalldiy of many of The claims which
were set up TO the possession of these lands
was anxious to secure to these settlers The
full worth Of nil their improvements, and
through his efforts the Act to which we have
referred was passed.
He was also Commits sioner of the Spanish
claims, the Commissioner Tor The planning
and erection of the State House at Augusta,
and for many years Collector for The port of
! Bath. He died at the advanced age of near
! iy IS years. The funeral services are said
to have been of tho most imposing character.
! The principal streets of the city were clothed
| in the badges Of mourning, and the bells of
all the churches were tollcd He was fol-
lowed to the grave by the Governor and
Council of the State, the officers of Bowdon
| College, and the City Government. Masonic
honors were rendered at the grave, and the
whole concluded by the firing of military
salute.
A few mornings since, attended the auc-
ton sale of a pnriinn of the Library of Gov.
| King, which was made up in part Of rare
| editions of the English clessics-which as
relies of by-gone days, were valuable, but
which were disposed of at probably fifth of
their original cost. The old deserted man.
SION, once the scene of refined taste and a
most generous hospitality, is now sad and
lonely place. We wandered over the house
and admired the marks of its former spen-
dor, and read in its present dilapidated ap-
pearance, an impressive lesson of the vanity