Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-09
"LIvTNo woRrHrEs

Having noticed an interesting article in a
late number of your valuable paper. Gunner
ating several "aged men Of note in Boston,
who are still living, l beg permission to add
the name Of another Bostonian, now residing
in Vermont, that Of Hon WILLIAM JvRvIs,
who was eighity-nine years old on the fourth
of February. lie was the son Of DR.. Charles
Jarvis, an eminent physician and an eloquent
patriot, and was born in Boston, on state
Street in l77O one month and one day be-
fore the first blood was shed by the British
in what was termed the Boston Massacre
He recollects hearing the Declaration Of
independence read from the steps Of the old
State House by Sheriff Henderson. and listen
ing TO the Declaration of Peace read by the
same person, from the same spot. His remin-
iscences Of Boston in those carly days, seem
marvellous to those Of the past generation.
His school days in Boston are vividly engrav-
ed on his mind. His education was COM
pleted at the Bordentown Academy, y. j.,
and at Philadelphia He served a mercantile
apprenticeship in Norfolk County, Virginia,
as clerk and book-keeper At twenty-one he
returned to Boston. and commenced business
as a merchant on Long Wharf in a store in
the same block with Mr.. Samuel Brock. The
building being much out Of repair, they pre-
vailed upon DR.. Eckly, the ownor,to give them
a specified sum for the erection Of new one.
This was well and conveniently built. Mr..
Brcck removing soon after TO Philadelphia,
the ievered Thomas II. Perkins succeeded
him. with whom Mr.. Jarvis lived on terms
, Of tie most intimate and friendly intercourse
) for five years. At the end Of that period, a
d friend of his in New York. for whom he had
4 endorsed largely, failed and Mr. Jarvis was
. Ighit Trfr n
dear to him in Boston. and 60 to sea, first as
( supercargo, and then as captain, being also
s part owner of the vessel
He underwent almost incredible hardships
. and dangers at sea; but with the utmost
iortitude and perseverance,, DE oyercame them
all, and made a succession Of profitable voy-
ages, in which he displayed great mercantile
tact, asacity and promptuess in the purchase
, and disposal Of his cargoos. Five years Of
, unremitting toll at sea, were crowned with
. compensation for an these cxertions; the
acquisition Of sufficient money to pay off all
4 his liabilities incurred by his friends failure,
D and TO free himself from debt He had just
: succeeded in accomplishing this noble object,
e had sold his ship in Cadiz, and returned TO
d Boston once more an independent man, when
he heard that he had been appointed Consul
?. and Charge de Affaires to Lisbon, by Mr..
a Jefferson.
d, After his arrival in Lisbon Mr.. Jarvis found
tha' 'he htl'lsn IiesS gang were going "oo"'
1t ,ne sLee''' ana constantly 'npfoS''ns ao'e-
bodied American seaman, under the prctenso
OF lner ocing Englsh sailors ihal hau come
- on shore This was great grievance to the
American captains and sailors. If the former
attempted to redress their wrongs by apply
ing To the Portuguese authorities, the hnglish
u Admiral would very coolly say that the for-
r. tngncse oihcers dld not understand English
9 but 'hat the sailors spoke, and were hnSilsh.
s. The portuguese yielded to the statements OF
$. the Admiral ana the result was tha' inc
n American captains were compe"eu 10 endure
1t theSe ihposluohs' Mt' JARVIS WIN MS ac-
d customeu energy OIL acton Immediately wrote
y To the Minister OF Foreign Aiihrs' Don John
d Alme'da de Castro and IN the most respect
,s fol manner stated how great an annoyance
IL and INJURY TINS practice was 20 ms country men,
81 and oesought him TO protect their rights ne
a. soon received very obhglng assurance that
as the case should be attended to- when promise
p was strictly kept Upon investigation, MI
I, Jarvis, statements we're found to be correct,
30 and an order was issued iorbIddins the press
gang TO 60 about the streets OF Lisbon on any
70 preteuce whatever. inis courageous effort
ie redress the wrongs OF ms countrymen' con-
lr ierred upon them great benefit
DUST before Mr. Jarvis went to Portugal. a
$ law had been passed imposing duty OF SS
:, per barrel ON Hour which IN reality amounted
to prohibition. This law was to take eiiect
!, IN ninety days Lisbon BAD heretofore aford-
4. ed very advantageous market Tor the sur
. Plus honF ana corn OF the un,ied states ana
q the passage OF TINS act would consequently
lnhict great INJURY upon our commerce.
MI JARVIS iet IL 10 oe ms duty 70 make sTen-
- uous eNel tonS 10 nave 'his law repeated, not
W'ths'analns the encouragement oil an the
old ioLcisn merchants who assured nun II
= would be utterly useless to attemptt' WIN
n muen care IN observance OF the exact rortu
n guese forms N addressing person OF hlgh
dishneuon, he wrote Memorial to the MIN
s. listers OF Foreign Affairs stating IN clear
and iorciblo manner, that the commerce and
!, revenue of the kingdom would be greatly BEN
5, ehtted by the admission Of -four. That a
io moderate duty OF one crusade Ia silver com
a. equal to sixty cents Of our currency per bar
t. rel, would bring great many crusades into
81. 4 f.tl