The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-11-28

mesOtlan.-NO.2
BRISTOL description of the pace--superiority of
American Vessels over English Ships-an incident
about the military enthusiasm of the Americans-a
history of the American Patriot, Aitkcn-description
of Ancient Buildngs-srange tradition concerning an
ancient tower, &c.
MEssRs. EDIToRs Bristol is one Of the
Oldest places in England, and has figured some
in the Worlds History. The appearance Of
the city is very ancient most Of the streets
are narrow, and the houses are built in all
manner of shapes. The idea of grading the
streets never seemed to have entered the heads
Of its citizens up to this period. On both
sides ofmany Streets with private residences,
are stone wallis from ten to twenty feet high,
giving these streets a gloomy, solitary APP
pearance. On entering door way, inside of
these walls you will find some OF the best
dwelling houses, with the prettiest gardens,
to be found in the city. What should pos
sess so many of the people to live so secluded
a life l cannot tell it is one of the singular
traits of the English people.
In taking q walk to see the Shipping in this
Port, it is enough to make any American feel
proud of his country. There are here now
seven or eight vessels from and belonging to
the United States that look neater and bet
ter modelled than the best English Ships in
Port When Ipoint out this fact to the Eng
fish sometimes, the only answer get u.s. eyes
it is so, but you must not look at Bristol for
sample of English Shipping" I really
cannot see the force of their argument
A few days ago was in the commercial
rooms in this city talking to merchant a.
bout the war in India f; he spoke Of the diff
Guilty of getting men to enlist under existing
circumstances. told him if the United
States should ever get involved in war, and
the case should actually need it, that there
would be 100000 men under arms in month.
eyes," he says, $50 have heard, and in fact
I see by the American papers that they say
they can raise us $4,000 men for India, if we
want them, but hope our government will
have nothing to do with them. The fact is,
think we should have more trouble to get
that country from them, if that number was
there than we shall to subdue the natives" l
thought there was more truth than poetry in
his remarks.
During the American Revolution, there
came to England man by the name of James
or John Aitken. His greatest motive in
coming here seemed to be to take the life of
George the III, for his oppression of the peo-
pie in the Colonies. He first went to France,
and there sought an interview with Benjamin
Franklin, who was there representing our
country. TO him he disclosed his intentions,
which from the manner his plan was laid, and
his we'll known genius, there is no doubt but
what he would have been successful, had not
that gentlemen, after some conversation, per-
suaded him out of the notion, telling him
that it was not the King, but the Parliament
that was to blame. Aitken then told him he
should go to England and destroy such of
the public Stores as he could. He did come
to England and destroyed tremendous a.
mount Of property in all parts of this coun-
rry In one of the Histories of Bristol find
the following condensed sketch Of him:
In front of the top story of large block
of warehouses on Quay Street, in this city, is
stone mask, upon which is sculptured the
figure of no less parsonage than the noted
Incendiary, James Aitken, alias John Aitken,
popularity known by the appellation of sack,
the Painter" who caused the destruction of
these warehouses, by fire, in the year 1777.
Aitken was a native of one of the British
Colonies of North America, which now form
collectively the United State, then in open
rebellion against the Mother Country, and
professed himself to be an American Patriot.
In December l776, he set fire to the Rope
house, attached to tho Royal Dock-yard at
Portsmouth, and escaped undiscovered. In
the month of January, 1777, this miscreant
caused such alarm by his incendiary attempt
in this city that the inhabitants of the sever
al parishes formed themselves into patrols
and perambulated the streets duringthe whole
night, until thesdread universally excited by
the presence of this most dangerous indivdu-
al and truly unpleasant visitor had subsidized.
He likewise made an attempt to fire the ship
ping then in Port. The Ship Farne, then
loading for Jamaica, was discovered to be on
fire, but was soon extinguished. In further
search several tin cannisters filled with COM
bustibles was discovered in four other Vessels
which escaped confagration. A. reward of
Of $4,000 was offered for his arrest. He was
eventually captured on charge of burglary,
and subsequently convicted and executed, at
Portsmouth, on the 10th of March, 1777, for
setting fire to the Rope house at that place.
Truly the American Revolution turned out
some remarkable men!
There are some old ancient buildings in
this city. The Bristol Cathedral is very old,
one half of it was destroyed by the army un-
der Oliver Cromwell. Radcliffe Church is
another fine building, 800 years old; near this
last church is still standing and used for the
same purpose the first Shot Tower ever built,
the man that built it was the inventor of
round shot, and always said the invention
came to his mind through a dream. am
inclined to believe him, for he certainly did
not show an extraordinary share of common
sense in spending the large fortune he acquired
in his business after he retired from bust
ness, he undertook to build himself large
and costly house on ledge Of rocks, in that
part OF the city called the Hotwell in build
ing this house he actually made some rooms
ont of the solid rock, and so costly were his
operations that he spent all his money before