The Portland daily press., 1869-05-29

built. Its outlines are quite perfect to-day
and the bastions are really but little wasted
on the outer sides. Indeed, it is only afew
years since the bomb proofs were tolerahly
preserved and one of them is now partially
saved. Here was sharply contested field in
10. The British under Gen. Mclean were
besieged by Gen. Lowell for 21 days, but final
ly Lowell had to raise the siege and withdraw
with the remnant of his fleet and army. 1t
was most disastrous and almost utterly dis
graceful affair on the part of the Americans.
have been furnished with two manuscript
journals, covering the whole period of the
Revolution. The British fleet was command
ed by Capt. Henry Mowatt, t,who seems to have
been the chief Naval officer on "The Amer
lean Station" l have also in my possession
the "Proclamations" and the orders and COR
respondence of many Of the officers Of both
fo-ces and in all my journeyugs on historic
ground have never been more interested.
One ofthe local historians here says Sir John
Moore fought here as a Lieutenant, and upon
stone in the old cemetery found this in
scription.
"In memory of Chas, Stewart, the earliest
occupant of this mansion for the dead, ma
tive of Scotland and list Lieutenant of his b.
M. 74th Regiment of Foot, or Argyle High
landers, who died in this town while it was
in the possession of the enemy, March 1882
In 1903 the Notifications of the harbor and
town were repaired, and this for time prom
ised to be battle ground of the approaching
"Last War; but the British force which
came up the bay in 1912 was so strong that
Lieut. Lewis, commanding Fort George, blew
it up and the little commander retreated,
leaving the town in possession of Gen. Sher-
brooke, who turned it over to Gen. Gordon.
The British had 5000 troops here at one time
and used all the public buildings for barracks
and many of the private residences, and it
was gay season which the soldiery enjoyed,
not the least Of whose enterprises was the
establishment of theatre. At last, in 1915,
they left, and the inhabitants returned and
had season of tumultuous rejoicing. This
completes the salient points of the military
history OF this old settlement, the most not
able of the times which can be remembered
in the "Colony." 1t is true that the estate
Guard" reinvested these old Notifications
with something of interest during the REBEL
ion, but that can hardly belong to my theme,
and proceed to tell you about
THE RELICS.
Six years ago on the site of the old "Lower
Fort" there was picked up by boatman an
old copper plate s by 10 inches, good deal
decayed. The person finding it did not see the
marks upon it and cut of portion to put in
to row lock, giving the other part to Mr..
Witherlee, one of the citizens here, ard to
whom I am especially indebted for informa-
ton. This gentleman at once saw that it
was a rich souvenir of the olden time and
got the missing piece and put them together
by rivets and plates. 1t proved to have been
| put upon Catholic cross or some other mon
ument which one of Castine's teachers erect
ed. The inscription is curious and Mr.. With
erlee has earned the especial thanks of anti
quarians in his TRANSLATION, which is as fol-
| lows:
'1648, June s, I, Brother Leo Parisinus
Missionary, Placed this foundation in Honor
of Our Lady of the Holy Hope"
Tventy-nine years ago there were found a
large number of old coins short distance
from the village; specimens of which are now
in the possession of DIR. Stevens of this
place. They are principally French, but
have some Portuguese and Belgic ones, all
silver but one, and none of date later than
1902. There were 100 in all, and among
them large lot of Pine Tree shillings, which
at once stocked the antiquarian societies OF
the whole country. This treasure is suppos-
ed to have been left by Castine on the occa-
sion of one Of his temporary flights. "lIill
ing" was not known till many years later
than the date of any of these coins and ev.
cry one of them is irregular in shape, the
edges having been Clipped away to make the
weight right. These shillings have curious
history. All bear date 1862. Massachusetts
made this coin in defiance of her prerogative
it seems, and by proclamation the coinage
was forbidden after 1862. which is the date o
these. But it is feared that it was continue,
for years, although the date was carefully
looked to. Massachusetts, always was
radical.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
This institution began in September, 1867
and consequently the term just closed gradu-
ated the first class, the course comprising two
years study. need not elaborate the matter
of this system, but speak of it incidentally
as it appeared from the exercises witnessed
Of course every body knows that this Eastern
Normal School is the second one established
In the State, and was awarded" to Castint
in consideration of its providing suitable
building. 1t is for both sexes and it is condi
toned that the applicants be sixteen and
seventeen years old, respectively, and agree
to teach two years in the State. The tuition
is free and Sc are most ofthe text books, ,and
the board costs So so. The State has done Q
liberal and noble act in establishing these
schools and we can most cordially commend
its choice in endowing this one In Castine
A more desirable place could not have beer
found, for the people cherish it with undivi
ded care and even tenderness. There were
only 13 pupils the first term, while the tern
just closed comprised 81. Eight of the
13 graduated Wednesday and received diplo-
mas. The examination and graduation ex
ercises were very largely attended, many per-
sons being present from distant points, among
whom were Governor Chamberlain, Messrs
Randall, Reed and Prescott, of the Council
Mr.. johnson, the Superintendent of Schools,
DR.. Harris of Bowdoin College, and several
| other notables.
| When l say the exhibition was most crafty
ing, mean it in the fullest and best sense. :
Mr.. G. I. Fletcher, the Principal, is young
man of great energy and fine executive abili-
ty, and has deserved the praise accorded on all
hands. He is ably assisted by Miss Helen B.
Coffin, recently of the Board of instruction at
Pennington, a teacher of tact and experience,
Miss Julia e. Sweet, q graduate of the Boston
Normal School, and Miss Anna P. Cate and
Miss Lucy " Little, of Castine. Mr.. Harden
of Augusta teaches Penmanship, Mr.. Dresser
of Castine has charge of the Musical depart
ment, DIR. Stevens of Castine is the lecturer on
| Physiology, and DR.. True has the care of the
Geology and Natural History
Wednesday forenoon 1 was present at the
whole exercises, and can particularly COM
mend the Theory and Practice of Teaching"
and the "Object Lessons" No other system
of training ever did or ever can produce such
results. The whole class in all cases consti-
tutes board of criticism, and not a mistake or
stammer goes unheeded. Object lessons