The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-28
RnSTnN. Dacamher 8. 14f


| in Boston, this morning, | could hardly
| think that was in Richmond at the foot of
Shoekoe Hill, so precisely unlike Fourteenth
street did dirty cobble-paved lane known
! as Sheep street zig-zag along the opposite
.lope. | thought Of Hester Prynne and
the DAYS when she carried the Scarlet letter
up the hill and down again. You know that
Hester ,Prynne7T WAS once postmistress, or
some; other. kind of mistress, ,;of this godly
town, as I am here informed, and carried
the letters (Which were. then, as now, read)
around herself to the pilgrim fathers-the
pilgrim mothers Of that primitive age not
being permitted to receive letters.
Many of the houses in Boston seem to be
in the family way, forcibly reminding me
of the row on Governor street in Richmond
opposite the Executive mansion-Iow 30
happily occupied blythe so-called Governor,
Harry Happy Wells, who, understand
from the landlord at the fremont, was orr
ginally from Boston, and 6 good way from
it at that. ..-.-r 7Jafsst
The present Mayor of Boston is. very
nice gentleman, but not at all southern in
his sentiments. He told me that he liked
8oston, and that the people there generally
preferred it above all other cities. 1t is
common saying there, See Boston-and if
you don't like it, then diel" The Mayor
,,ook me in one-horse shay, which he bor-
rowed from celebrated stethoscopic doctor
named Holmes, and showed me around to
see many points of interest. He carried
me to Copp's Hill Cemetery, where I learned
many Of Fox's martyrs are buried. These
good men and women of old were rolled in
cotton smeared with turpentine, and then
burned by one Mather. A brother Of this
terrible persecutor 30 increased the num-
Der Of victims that he was generally known
80 Increase Mather. They were go hard
hearted that both were turned into stone
and placed on the summito Of the hill. The
view of Boston from this height, surround
ed as it is by classic associations, is exceed
ingly fine. Afar off to the eastward the
Mayor showed me q gloomy-looking fort
loomingup out OF the dark, blue waters of the
bay, called Fort Warren, where he says Ste
phen, who is generally regarded as the first
martyr, was for long time confined. He
SAYS that one-legged man named Ewell-
which the Mayor pronounced 'E-well-was
brought there for punishment. But as the
Bostonians cannot tolerate any one, even a
criminal, who is not of good standing, it is
SalQ IQdG uC WGS SOOn sCuI d0Alk, dltCA
having been deprived by the chief butler
of the establishment of his watch and
pair Of silver spectacles.
: Nothing can be nobler IN appearance,
even in the frost of New England morn
ing, than the State House. 1t rises like
grand tulip from thetop of o series of ter
races. Roaming through thecYarious apart
ments, l, wag shown many relics of the past,
some of which were quite interesting. l
saw suspended over the doorway of one
room the original drum on the head OF
which the court-martial during the Revo-
luton eat; also the fint-lock musket which
fred the northern heart at Concord. The
State coat of arms over the Governors seat
is very striking, especially the sword.
When I read the Latin motto, which the
Mayor seemed surprised that /, not being a
| Bostonian, could do, exclaimed " Let us
have peace! !n-And the Mayor, who is evil
IDENTITY q kind-hearted man, responded
"Grant it !"
At.the base of the Capitol Hill is pond
in which I was told a sad calamity hap
pened good many years ago. A religious
denomination known as the Salalem Broth
| Witches were nearly all drowned there by
an accident the particulars Of which could
not learn. The people in the vicinity be-
lieve that the bodies Of those unfortunates
were converted into frogs, which at the an
nual return of spring sit in solemn con-
clave around the pond to bemoan their un-
happy fate.
we drove to the Hancock mansion, which
the worthy Mayor (who, by the way, bears
a strong resemblance to the Hon. Joseph
Mayo, late mayor of Richmond y told me,
with tears in his eyes, WAS occupied by
General Jubal A. Early during his military
occupation of Boston, while he held Massa-
chusetts under his boot as District No. l.
The Mayor says that EARLY got sick of so
disgusting business and left for Canada.
We extended our explorations to Dorches-
ter Heights, from which splendid pano-
ramic view may he had. enjoyed it much.
These heights are famous as being the scene
of the military operations of George Wash
incton and his insurgent followers from II
am ashamed to say my native State, Vir-
ginia. Here these misguided people laid
siege to the loyal and goodly city below.
The rebel works may still beseen.
Bunker Hill is surmounted by far no
bier monument than Crawford's brazen
affair in the Capitol Square at Richmond !;
but could not find what it was intended to
commemorate. / understood that the man
who built Fort Warren was buried there.
I only saw it at q distance, however, not
being permitted to enter the enclosure nor
to 90 inside the hall where the sacred Cra-
die of Liberty is still preserved, on account
of the iron clad oath, which am unable to
swallow at this time, owing to the condition
of my throat. I much regretted this; but
was allowed to see the place where Daniel
Webster killed DR.. Parkman:: I was told
that after Webster was disqualified for hold
ing Office on account OF this unpleasantness
he was succeeded by one of the most emi-
n,ut savans Of Boston-the Hon. Charles
Summer. l saw him once in one Of their
numerous public libraries. He was not
accompanied by his wife, he is atall man !;
stoops slightly (but not to conquer); ls fond
of Boston and its environs, but avoids the
rural retreats, having no fancy for, brooks.
In the Atheneum they showed me the
red flannel breeches drawers, as at first
took them to be, and inch-sole brogues in
which Miles standish, in partnership
with Praise-God- -Bsrs-B Bones, carried on
their lively traffic. Near the Revere House
still stands the auction-house of Standish Il
Bones, where those austere worthless con-
Quoted With great success the negro auction