Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-07-23
HON. WILLIAM JARVIS.
The following notice of the Hon. William Jar
Wis, is part of that which was published some
weeks since in the Christian Register:

Wis, is part of that which was published some
weeks since in the Christian Register:
"LIvING WORTHLESS"
Having noticed an interesting article in late
number of your valuable paper, enumerating
several Gagged men OF not" in Boston, who are
still living, beg permission to add the name
of another Bostouan, now residing in Vermont,
that of HoH. WILLIAM JARVIS, who was
eighty-nine years old ON the fourth of February.
lie was the son of DR.. Charles Jarvis, an emi-
nent physician AID an eloquent patriot, and was
born i'll Boston, on State Street, in l710, one
month and one day before the first blood was
shed by the British in what was termed the
Boston Massacre" lie recolects hearing the
Declaration Of Independence read from the
old State House by Sheriff Henderson, and list
ening to the Declaration of Peace read BY the
same person from the sane spot. His rcmin-
iscencles OF boston in those early days, seem
marvellous to those vi the l...-. --.......i,...
His school days in Boston are vividly engraved
on his mind. His education was completed at
the Bordentown Academy, n. j., and Philadel-
phia. lie served a mercantile apprenticeship in
Norfolk County, Virginia, as Il clerk and book
keeper. At twenty-one he returned to Boston,
and commenced business as merchant on Long
Wharf. in a store in the same block with Mr.
of repair, they prevailed upon DIR. Eckly, the
owner, to give them specified sum for the cree
ton of new one. This was well and convc-
nicntly built. Mr. Breck removing soon after
to Philadelphia, the revered Thomas ii. Perkins
succeeded him, with whom Mr. Jarvis lived on
terms of the most intimate and friendly inter-
course for five years. AT the end of that period,
q friend of his in New York. for whom he had
endorsed largely, failed, and MIR Jarvis was
obliged to leave the friends and relatives SO dear
to him in Boston, and 90 to sea, first as super
cargo, and then as captain, being also part owner
of the vessel
He underwent almost incredible hardships
and dangers at sea; but with the utmost iortitude
and perseverance, he oycrcamc them all, and
made a succession OF profitable voyages, IN
which he displayed great mercantile tact, sagac-
ity and promptness in the purchase and disposal
of his cargoes. Five years of unremitting toll
at sea, were crowned with compensation for all
these exertions; the acquisition of sufficient
money to pay off all his liabilities incurred by
his friends failure, and to free himself from
debt He had Just succeeded in accomplishing
this noble object, had sold his ship in Cadiz,
and returned to Bostsn once more an indepen-
dent man, when he heard that he had been ap
pointed Consul and Charge de Ahaires to Lisbon,
by Mr. Jefferson.
After his arrival in Lisbon, Mr. Jarvis found
that the British Press gang were going about
the streets, and constantly impressing able bod
led American seamen, under the pretense of
their being English sailors that had come on
shore. This was a great grievance to the
American captains and sailors. If the former
attempted to redress their wrongs by applying
to the Portuguese authorities, the English Ad-
miral would very cody say that the Portuguese
officers did not understand English; but that the
sailors spoke, and We're English. The Portu-
guese yielded to the statements of the Admiral,
and the result was that the American captains
were compelled to endure these impositions.
Mr. Jarvis with his accustomed energy of action,
Immediately wrote to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Don John d'Almeida de Castro, and in
the most respectful manner stated how great an
annoyance and injury this practice was to his
countrymen, and besought him to protect their
rights. He soon received very obliging as
surance that the case should be attended to,
which promise was strictly kept Upon inyes-
tigation, Mr. Jarvis statements were found to
correct, and an order was issued forbidding the
press gang to go about the streets of Lisbon on
any pretense whatever. This courageous effort
in the commencement of his public duties, to
redress the wrongs of his countrymen, conferred
upon them great benefit.
Just before Mr. Jarvis went to Portugal, a law
had been passed imposing duty of SO per
barrel on -four, which in reality ammounted to a
prohibition. This law was to take effect in
ninety days. Lisbon had heretofore afforded
avery advantageous market for the surplus -four
and corn of the United States, and the passage
of this act would, consequently, inhict great
injury upon our commerce. Mr. Jarvis felt it
to be his duty to make strenuous exertions to
have this law repealed, notwithstanding the dis
oouragement of all the old foreign merchants,
who assured him it would be utterly useless to
attempt it. With much care in observance of
the exact Portuguese forms in addressing a
person of high distinction, he wrote Memorial
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stating, in a
clear forcible manner, that the commerce and
revenue of the kingdom would be greately ben
eRtted by the admission of flour. That mod
crate duty of one crusade Ia silver coin equal to
sixty cents of our currency per barrel, would
bring great many crusades into the country,
and would also insure a plentiful supply of
breadstuffs, &c., &c. Mr. Jarvis waited some
time but received no reply. In the meantime