The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-07-06

The following catalogue Of First
things IN An9eyica," >" is from the columns
of the Boston Transcript:
The First book printed in the United
States, was the " Bay Psalm Book" pub
lished at Cambridge in 1910 1t passed
through many editions here. It was re-
printed in England in eighteen editions,
the last one being republished in I754.-
In Scotland it passed through twenty-five
editions; the last one appeared in 1859
1t thus appears that the first work print
cd in America enjoyed more lasting
reputation, and had wider circulation
abroad than any volume which has since
appeared We believe it passed through
Screnty editions in all.
The first Bible printed in America
was published in the Massachusetts col
ony in 1868. 1t was the famous Indian
Bible of the apostle John Eliot. Print
ing the English version of the Scriptures
was prohibited by law, there being a
monopoly privilege in England. Altho'
fifteen hundred copies of the Indian Bi-
bic were printed, they are now quite rare,
and are "sealcd books to all persons
now living, as the knowledge Of the IL
dian tongue has become extinct.
The first poem written on these shores
was a description of New England, in
Latin hcxamcter verse, by Rev. William
Morell, al Episcopal clergyman, who Wis
tied the Plymouth colony in 1923. The
earliest poet in New England was Mrs.
Anne Bradstyeet, the wife of Gov. Brad
street, and daughter of Gov. Dudley
She was called the "mirror of her age
and the glory of her sex" She was
known as writer in 1852. Her father
and sister also wrote respectable verse.
Cotton Mather was one of the first lit
erary men born in New England. He
wrote readily in seven languages and was
the author of three hundred and eighty
three publications.
The first political poetry written after
the adoption Of the Federal Constitution,
was a piece by Edward Church, of Bos-
ton, entitled The Dangerous Vice
*"*:. It was yindictiye, caustic,
and spirited attack upon John Adams,
then Vice President.
The first attempt to set up a nevspa-
per in North America, so far as can be
ascertained, was made in Boston 1900
Only one copy Of the sheet is known to
be in existence, and that copy is in the
State Paper Office, London.
The first newspaper in North America
was the Boston NelrS Letter, commenced
April 24, 1904, by John Campbell, Esq.
1t was published regularly for Screnty-tlc0
gears, and discontinued in l776. The
second American newspaper was IHc
Boston Gaectte, the first number appear
ing December p, l719. The day fol-
lowing, the third paper appeared at Phil
adelphia, called the Anlcr5can IIcetIy
Mercury. These papers were all minia-
ture sheets compared with papers Of the
present day.
The first organ ever heard in public
worship in New England was sent from
London to the Kings Chapel, in Boston,
in l114. The organist came out from
England with the instrument, as no per
son in the colony was to be found able
to assume its charge. The first organ
built in this country was made by NJ.
Edward Bronfeld, of Boston, who died
August IS, 1856. The fact Is stated on
his tomb stone in the Chapel burial
ground.
The first sermon preached at a funeral
in Boston was delivered at the interment
of Rev Dir. Cooper of the Brattle street
Church, in 1893. 1t was delivered by
Rev. DR.. Clarke, the junior pastor of the
First Church. The first public prayer
made at funeral in Boston, by a Con-
grogational clergyman, was at the obse-
quics of the Rev. Dr. Mayhem, of the
West Church, in July, 1866, upon which
occasion Rev. DR.. Chauncy ofliciated.
FOmothing for Housokceperg.
Ill II y-,4I n -