The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-05

that awful AMIR IL commonly known q tho Salem
witchcrat, It was mot local moral disease but ex-
listed all around Salem, which was the most import
ant place, then ss now, in the county Witches were
uncommony abundant in And0ver, TOps6eld, Ips-
witch, Bedford, Salisbury and other places. Cotton
Mather, who had as sharp nose for q witch as Sa-
lem for bad lawyer declares that at Andover, was
discovered the most h0rrd crew Of witches that
there now only that the witches are young women,
and not old hays, and grace the town. instead Of
disgracing it. They arc Of the true Lancashire
breed. The whole OF the proceedings of tho autho-
rites in the witchcraft business such would
have disgraced synod Of devils 1t is something
Of different kind that the first United States vessel
that was engaged in the India trade was from
Salem
is here that is located Wenham Pond in the town Of
the same name which has given its name to Anne
rican ice in England. In 1850 the ice returned as
cut for merchandise in Essex county, was OF the
value of S55 000 Of which $50 900 worth were from
Wenham Pond the rest being from Lynnfeld and
Andover. The same year the amount given as cut
in Middlesex county was OF the value OF sl5800O
and $4,000 worth from Plymouth. All these re-
turns were far below the truth.
Essex was at one time the most important poll
teal locality in Massachusetts, the seat of pure
adulterated federalism. The famous " Essex Junto'
took its name from this county where the wealth.
the talents, the social position, and the energy Of
the leading federaliss, made them the directors OF
their party Some Of the greatest federalists here
lived, and others were here born, but removed to
Boston. Timothy Pickering-a revolutionary sol
der, member OF both branches of Congress- and the
occupant Of three Cabinet offices-the stifest OF
Hamiltonian federalists-was an Essex county man.
George Cabot, great federalst, was from Beverley,
but removed to Boston. Leverett Saltonstall be-
longed to of the historical families Of the county
which was founded by an English knight in 1880,
and has since bqeu Of consideration. II said
of the Satonstas, by that learned writer Mr.. Drake
That they opposed the prosecutions in New Eng
land, in its early settlement; denounced, with
becoming language, the proceedings against the
Quakers, and set worthy example in the wtchcraft
delusion." Some of their number were tories in the
Revolution. Leverett Saltonstall was leading fed
erat though buta young man IN the latter years OF
that partys existence After the extinction Of the
federal party Essex ceased TO be OF so much moment
in politics. and Worcester rcigned in her stead. The
county is not far from being equally divided be-
tween the wings and their opponents.
There has always been sort OF eccentricity about
this county and 1t often acts IN extremes. The
witchcraft deusion is case in point. The murders
that have been here perpetrated, OF such char
actcr as would have charmed De Quincey's connois-
seur in that branch OF the "fne arts" old Toadin-
the-hole, who spoke with such praise Of dog that
murdered rival with pleasing circumstances q
good TASTE" The assassination of Captain White,
at Salem in 1880, was the result of PLAN or rather
series of plans, into which many crimes entsTed and
never punished. Although three persons-one by
suicide, and the others by the hands of the cxecu-
tioner-were sacrificed to the names of the old man,
yet the opinion is even now common that the most
complete the tale Of terror the panest principlerof
law and justice, set aside to reach those crirai
nails who were arrested. The Parkman murder Yves
not so bad as that besides which, it took two coun.
ties Middlesex and Suffolk, to furnish the parties to
that tragedy. Perhaps the only Massachusetts, muir
der, in all its details, that will compare toerably
with the Salem crime, was that OF Mr.. Spo0ner, by
his wife and her paramorer, which was perpetrated
in Worcester County some seventy-five years ago.
have often thought that Mr.. Hawthornes last great
work The House Of the Seven Gables" was intend.
ed to be sort Of picture Of the darker side Of Essex
life as there is scarcely an incident mentioned in it
to convey the idea that Essex bad locality morally
speakng-far from it-but that there is certain
yivdness about some Of the crimes that have been
there committed which is apt to sagger ones faith
IN the inmate goodness OF the human heart and which
give to them character all their own.
Essex county has produced many eminent men,
besides those above named. Judge Story was born
here, and here laid the foundation of his fame. FL
bridge Gerry was native OF Marblehead, which was
also Judge StOrys birth place. Mr. Hawthorne, the
greatest Of our authors, is native Of Salem. Gen.
Cushing was born at Salisbury, and Mr. Rantoul was
! Beverly man. Mr.. Choate is from Essex, and Mr..
Phillips, Of the most distinguished Of the free
soil leaders, belongs here, and exerts great infiu-
ence in the social and Political world. William Grey,
the great Boston merchant, and who founded one Of
The best of the present Boston families, went from
long time one of our Senators, Salem merchant.
Jacob Perkins, the steam gun man, belonged to New
buryport. Jacob Little, the eminent banker OF your
city, is native of the same town. Benjamin Crown
ngshield who Of the Secretaries Of the Navy,
under Mr.. Monroe, belonged to noted Essex family.
The Webster family belonged here originally and
Daniel Webster, though not son, is grand
G E county q Nas s Msme fn IN ss
asst century; the leading members having re-
ceived grants of land in that colony for SER
vices rendered in the colonial wars Mr. Whittier,
sweet as the lady called Milton lives at
Practical Navigator" and translator of The Me-
canique Celeste" (they say he was the only man
who could read La Place,) was born at Salem.
Lord Timothy Dexter, that most eccentric of Essex
Yankees amused the people of Newburypot for 0
long series Of years 1t is said that he got the title
in consequence Of Offering to pave the principal
street Of the town. if the people would call him Lord
The town refused the offer Of stones, but gave him
the title. William Lloyd Garrison, who has made
such figure in the world, was born at Newburyport
in 1905. Andrew Dunlop, who was General jack
sons Attorney General for the Massachusetts, district
and who, next to Mr. Henshaw and Colonel Greene,
was the most distinguished of the founders OF the
new democratic party in this State was Essex born
Francis c. and John G. Gray sons of William, were
Salem men, and both are OF marked talent The
first was private secretary to Mr: John Q. Adams,
when he went Minister to Russia, in 1909. John
Lowell, the Boston rebel" came from Newbury-
port. EDWARD G. Prescott brother Of the historian,
belonged to Salem. He was a man Of great ability.
might extend this list largely, but / have said
enough to show that among the productions of the
county, men occupy very conspicuous place. As
for the womcn-thcy should be seen to be appreci-
ated. CHARLES LE CHAUvE
Domestic Miscellany.
murder was committed at La Sale, H., on the
27th ut by party of men engaged on the bridge OF
the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Some dis
pute arose among them, when one Of their number,
by the name of Michael Consdine, shot down and
IN killed shots DISCHARGED into