The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-03-25

4 CHAPTER or FIRST THNGs.-The
first poll tax was levied in Massachu-
sets IN l646.
The first excise in Now England was
levied in Plymouth in 1916.
The first Episcopal ordination held
in America was by Bishop Seabuy, at
Middletown, Conn. August 3d, 17S5,
when the Rev Ashbel Baldwin. the
Rev Philo shelton, aud one other,
were ordained deacons.
The first machine ever used for cut
ting nails is said to have been invent
ed by Benjamin Cochrano, n shopmate
of Eli Whitney This inventor died at
Batavia, n u, in 1910, at good old
age His machine cut out the nail
without a head Previous to the date
of this invention (1790). nails had been
punched ont of plates by hand in Con
necticut; these also had no head.
The first Methodist who ever stepped
his foot in the streets of this Puritan
city was Charles Wesley, a brother Of
John Wesley the greatest hymn writer
in the world He sailed from Liver
pool for Charleston, S c., and the ship
being disabled she put in here in 1774
and remained two weeks. During that
time he preached several times, and
created considerable sensation
The first book in the English Ian
guagc ON the subject of dyeing, as far
rs has yet been been discovered, was
printed in London in the year 1905
and contains instructions as TO the
proper use of indigo, woad, madden
Brazil wood, gall nuts, &c. These in
instructions seem to have been found
ed ON tile practice of the Overs of
Flanders, In which country the art
was making some progress, although
black was the color in most general
use. The first camp meeting held in
America was in Kentucky Two prach-
ers-one a Presbyterian and the other
Methodist met in village, on the
Sabbath, whore there was but one
church. The Presbyterian oficiatod
in the forenoon and the Methodist in
the afternoon The interest upon the
subject was so great that they contin-
ued the meetings for IA day or two at
the house The attendance soon be-
camc SO large that they adjourned to
the woods, and continued the meeting
for n week. And this is the origin of
the modern camp meeting.
Congregational singing was intro
duced into England about the time
when Queen Elizabeth assembled the
throne 155S)
The first book printed in England is
said to have emanated FROM Oxford in
1868, under the title of "ENposico
Sancti Jeronimi in Simbolo Apostolic
rum It's claims to be regarded in
this light have, however, been much
discussed Others are Of opinion that
the first work printed in England was
The Game and Playe Of Cheese, Trans
lated out of the French, and Imprint
ed by William Caxton Fynysshed
the last day Of Marche A. d. 1474 "
1t is certainly the first book to which
Caxton has affixed date, and is con
sequently highly priced by book collec-
tors.
The first railroad III the world was
commenced at and ran from Darling
ton to Stockton, England. and the first
locomotive engine ever run on rail-
road now stands as an object of curl
osity at the Darlington depot 1t is
different in its construction from those
in present use, having two walking
beams and upright cylinders 1t is
kept in fine order and stands ON II
large elevated platform, built purpose
" for its accommodation. The date
Of the year, 1925, is engraved on the
slab upon which it stands. Stran-
gers come from distance to see it,
and photographers lend their aid to
those not otherwise able to command
the eiubt