The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-12-08
From the Watchman.
Matthew Lyon.

intcrestig documents relating to his career,
and has accompanied them with certain
"reminiscences of his own. Some of the
facts which he communicates deserves to
be put on record.
The printing.paper which Lyon made
at Fairhaven was made from Eastwood.
This is an important fact in the history Of
Of manufacturers, showing that Lyon an
ticipated, by more than half a century,
the attempts which have been made TO
provide substitute for rags in the manu-
facture Of paper.
About ITO, challenge to duel pas.
sed between Lyon and Peter French of
Hampton, n. Y, adjoining Poultney. The
appointed place of meeting was French's
meadow. now in plain sight of Poultnoy
village. The parties did not meet, and
accused the other of not being present at
the appointed hour. l have no doubt
this quarrel grew out of certain proceed
ings connected with Lyons first canvass
fop,Congress. He was accused of import
ing voters from Hampton. and sundry
afidavits, pro and con, were published in
the Bennington Gazette. They led to
a suit for libel, brought by Lyon against
one of the affidavts, and doubtless led
also to his abortive attempt at duel.
Among the documents sent to me are
some verses written in regard to Lyons
imprisonment at Vergonnes, and a letter
from Lyon to Maj. Samuel Beach. Both
of them are given below. The verses are
of the least possible merit as verses, but
they are valuable as afording circumstan.
tial evidence that Lyon amply attoned
for his mistake at Jericho by services on
several well-fought fields. Writers of
doggercl must be tolerated, for they some-
times unwittingly write history. Lyons
letter is not only interesting per Sc, but
as showing that there is no difference worth
mentioning between the rules of distribu.
ting government Offices in 1778 and
1858.
Let me take this opportunity to re.
quest all persons who may have in their
possession any documents, in prese or
rhyme, relating to Matthew Lyon, or who
can communicate any information re.
specting him, to send the same to mo. 1t
is too late, ,indeedto incorporate them with
what has already been sent to press. but
it is not too late to compile and put them
on record, so as to make them available
to some future biographer or historian.
PLINY II. WHITE.
SENTIMENTS OF MATTHEW LYON. 177s
AT VFRGENS JAIL.
BY z. PORTER.
When the Morning first bush'd Long in the
! haste to Ny dayly employment
drudge all The day whilst the high Born can
Feast
tis they that can afford the enjoyment
Our Rulers can fen,t on six dollars pr day
the poor Must be tax't their extor.ion to pay
and if Should unto them any Thing say
they would trump up a Bill Of Sedition.
Being fired with urage few TO the Field
and Joined with My Musket the army
determined to perish before would yield
The Wrongs Of Ny Country alarm'd me
at the walls ofquebec Bed in the War
both york town and Monmouth they left me 4 scar
and now My Rulers say your unfnre
For in jail must lie for Sedtion.
Oft Time have Thought with sigh in my heart
What fool Is poor man for fighting
lftyrants willquarrel shall wee take their part
in war Blood and carnage delightiug
We soon May disown before ii he long
hat while we were fighting we fought for rong
II knaves wal Cypress US and make themselves
By the hep of a BIZ OF sedition.
Covehtry, w., Nor. ION.
Letter from Matthe,o Lyon TO Maj.
Samuel Beach, of Whiting ".
PHILADELPHIA, June 10Th, 1898.
DEAR SIR philadelphia is full of Of
fee hunters many of them little better than
Starving and hanging on their friends
You think justly about coming to Phila-
dolphia, and | need not tell you than it j:
not the Meritorlous Soldier or Officer who
have With their blood and in Jeopardy O
their lives sealed the Independence of theil
Country that are NOW regarded & perfer
red, it is those who bend the knee tC
Presidential infallibility & supinely pro
fess d promise acquiesence in the polite
al raveings of the reigning party of th'
Day that are to receive the Honors
Emouments of Government, but not til
after Probationary Dance of Attendanc,
, sufficient to try their patience & theil
Temper.
Unless you think 1 am very mucl
changed you must be sensible of my vii
lingness to serve you if in my power
but my Opposition to the Measures of th
Executive & the Adulation paid to thu
President renders me a very unlikely
, person to obtain favor from that Quarte
, there are many in the same predicamen
with myself, some of them refuse to rec
omend at all 4 Others their recomenda