Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-17
First Things.


Benjamin Franklin gave this advice, which
we have followed with the results given be-
low: Il would advise YOU TO read with Il pen
in YOUR hand, and enter i'll a little book short
hints of what you find that is curious or may
DC useful"
The first carriage said TO be built in Anne
rica was made in Dorchester, Massachusetts,,
by a man named White. for Il private gem
tleman in Boston 1t was copied from an
English chariot, though made much lighter
and was IL credit to its maker. 1t was, how
ever. found that from the difficulty of pro-
curing material, and high wages, 1t was ex-
pedient and cheaper TO order them from Eng
land and France.
The first stage-coach to Boston from New
York started the 9th of June, lII2, from
the Fresh Water" 1t was to leave each
terminus once fortnight The fare was ID,
New York currency, per mile. 1t reached
Hartford Conn in two days, and Boston in
two more. The proprietors promised aweek-
~ stage IF encouraged"
The first grand jury in America met at
Boston September lst, 1875, and presented
one hundred offences.
The first insurance Office in New England
was established ut Boston in l124.
The earliest institution for Savings of any
kind was established in Berne, Switzerland,
in 49,
The first attempt to establish post office
system in the American colonies was made
in 1893 by one Thomas Neale, to whom a
royal patent for this purpose had been lssu-
ed but his arrangements were very limited
and imperfect The utmost contemplated by
Neal was post Office in each county, and
his actual operations came far short Ot this.
Henry Cruger was the first American who
sat in the British House of Commons. In
HI he was elected one of the two represen-
tatives of Liverpool in Parliament his col
league being Edmund Burke. He defended
America during the Revolutionary war, and
upon his return to New York after the peace,
was elected to the State Senate, while he
was still member of the British House
Of Commons, his term Of service not having
expired.
The first Methodist Chapel erected in the
world was built in Bristol, England, i'll May,
1879,
The first Mint in the United States was
put in operation in 1913, and from that time
until 1851 the whole amount of gold coined
was valued at S4Sl 10, 0IS.10: value of sill
yer coinage Sl07 .527 81 50; value of copper
coins 81 ,G62, S23 80; making the valuation of
the whole coinage SjS9,6l2Sl9.7S. The
whole number of pieces coined in this time
was 6223 ,640. 100.
The first iron rails for q road bed were
laid down ut Whtclaven, England, in 1888.
This cast iron road was called plate way,
from the platc-likc form in which the rails
were cast.
The first actual model of a steam carriage
of which We have any written account was
constructed by Frenchman named Cugnot
who exhibited it before the Marshal de SAKE
carriage was made in 1884 by William Muir
doch, the friend and assistant of Watt.
The first Normal School on this side Of
the Atlantic was established at Lexington in
1899.
The first degree of Doctor of Divinity con-
tcrred at Harvard was conferred up Rev. In
crease Mather, in 1922. then President of the
University.
The first agricultural association which
was formed in this country was known as
The Philadelphia Society for promoting
Agriculture" established in 1885. Premi-
ums were awarded for the improvement of
certain articles of domestic manufacture and
Mr. Matthewson of Rhode Island, received
Il gold medal for the best sample and great
est quantity Of cheese exhibited,
The first cattle show held in this country
was held in Pittsticld Massachusetts,, in Octo-
Der. 1910. and from this era sprang the sys-
ten of agricultural societies and shows. ~
they exist at present. in most parts OF the
United States .-BDsi0n Transcript.