Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-25
BOSTON CORRESPONDENCE.
BosroN. April %, 1854

Fall IN Ftomr-SpecwIators and Speenlatto1,S
The 18th Anniversary of the Battle OF
LeZIngton.
The -four SPECTATORS in this city, many Of
whom have amassed handsome fortunes since
the last harvest, crowed Justify few days
ago over q temporary advance in the price OF
breadstuffs in the English markets, caused by
the Queens declaration of war with Russia.
This temporary rise was to have been expect
ed. So was the news of a subsequent decline
Of some two shillings per barrel In flour, four
to six cents per bushel in wheat, and twelve
cents in corn. brought by the Asia at New
York, on Wednesday. Tie fact is, that even
general European war cannot keep bread
stuffs up to the present high mark, for several
reasons. One is, that the present supply, held
principally By spectators, is growing no
better very fast on account of age. The
owners must get rid of it on some terms or
other. They ask so much, that the mass Of
consumers Qhe poor are not able to purchase.
Here in New England, they will continue to
eat fish and potatoes, unless the Spectators
come down q very material figure in their
exorbitans demands. Again, it is notorious
that the warehouses of our -four spectators
are already full to OVERLOOKING. As the spring
advances, and the rivers and lakes are opened
for the transportation of breadstuffs from Can
ada, Northern New York and the Great West
their dilemma increases with the extraordina-
~ supply. They will soon have an elephant
on their hands to be cared for in the shape Of
sundry myriads Of barrels of stale -four, which
must be disposed of at some rate or other
The trouble is that the article is perishzbIe
If 1t were not, why then they might keep it
over until another season, to meet such an
increased demand as n general war in Europe
may reasonably be expected to produce. The
ra<Ta rnth nra or1
even higher than they have gone during the
past winter, especially if the next crop in the
United States is not increased very materially.
But what may be true of the next crop, is not
true Of the deter iorating stock now on hand
1t must be sold at much lower figure than is
now asked, or spoil on the hands of holders.
Bad flour is very little better for consumption
than bad butter.
Our last fall of snow has entirely disappeare] !.
/ noticed, however, the remains of drift
which was still foot in depth, while passing
through the neighbOring town Of SomerviIle,
IN chaise, over q hard road, nearly dry, this
morning. You copy letter from the Intelli-
gencer, l see, written by Mr. Webster at Wash
ington, April 49, 1S49, in which he speaks of
a snow storm delaying his departure for Nor
folk on that day, and adds as follows:
1.-The 18th of April, IT'S, was so hot day
that many British soldiers, ON their return
from Concord fight fell down on the march,
quite overcome, and others lolled the tongue
like over-heated cattle and dogs. Here we
are, on the same day, four degrees further
south, in the midst of a snow storm"
The good folks at Lexington celebrated their
anniversary last Wednesday, with the snow
laying on the ground six inches deep. All of
the old folks, most of them bearing the same
surnames with the patriots who faced Pitcairn
and his red coats on % Lexington Greenn in
-f75. 81 danced all night till broad daylight -
Some of the young 'uns also participated.
They have a splendid hotel at Lexington,
containing fine hall. Mine host and hostess
sustained their pattern reputation on the occa-
sion. Higginss, Lyons & Halls Quadrille
Band, from this city, appeared with their full
number. They performed Continental
Qua1rille," which seemed to revive the spirit
Of '76 in some of the old men who attended,
as well as in their grandchildren. About
hundred couple were present, including par
ties from this city, eleven miles distant. Be-
sides the ball the citizens fired hundred guns,
and had their church bells rung at sunrise,
noon, and sunset. The American ensign waved
from liberty pole on the old green where
the first blood of the Revolution flowed, from
the . Lexington House" and also on Consti-
tuition Hill, at East Lexington, two miles dis
tant. The newspapers have already recorded
the recent death of the last survivor of the
Lexington fight His name was Jonathan
Harrington, one of dozen of the same name
who were enrolled in the Lexington company.
The Governor, Legislature, Collector and Ma
val officer of the port, seven hundred of the
Massachusetts, State Volunteers, and about
five thousand others, crowded the beautiful
village to help bury the old veteran. He was
was hfer in the Lexington company in 70,
and was reused early on the morning of that
hot 18th of April, of which Mr.. Webster speaks
IN the above extract, by his mother When
she heard that Cages troops were coming on t
from Boston, she called to him" Jonatha an,
Jonathan Get up quick. The British are
coming Something must be done ?" iona.
than did get UP. and in FIVE minutes his fife
was executing q ankee Doodle up the com.
mon, with . single tenor drum aecompani
Inept %