The Republican journal., 1875-10-28
From the Argus Oct. 18th.
l'ha Burning of Portland.


one hundred wears ago to-day the town OF
Falmouth was burned by Mowatts fleet. Some
time since Hon. Wm. Goold of Windham read
before the Maine Historical Society paper CIV
ing the full particulars of the affair. We repro
duce this morning portion Of the report.
Early in the war the people of the county OF
Cumberland, and more particularly Falmouth,
being very patriotic, expressed their indigna-
ton at the acts of Parliament. Soon after the
passage Of the odious stamp act, vessel ar
rived at Falmouth from Halifax with the hated
stamps, and they We're deposited in the custom
house. The people Immediately assembled and
marched TO the custom house, demanded and
received the stamps. then fixed them to the top
OF Il pole carried them in Il procession through
the streets, to Il tire prepared for the purpose,
and burned them. In lII4, in town meeting,
the citizens resolved they would use no more
tea until the repeal of the duty. On the day of
the closing of the port OF Boston, June IA, 1,74,
the bell of the meeting house i'll Falmouth was
mutlled and tolIed from sunrise until nine O'Clock
III the evening. September 2lst, l.l4, Il eonven-
ton composed of delegates from nine old towns
III the county met and spirited resolutions We're
adopted. Capt Samuel COuson WAS violently
opposed to the popular sentiment of the colo
nirS, and made himself obnoxious to the peo-
pie. Ii was Il ship builder and i'll May, | 10,
had Il ship load of stores, NC. come from Eng
land. rht people refused to let him land them,
and he went to Boston and procured the assist
ance of Capt. Mowatt in the sloop-of-war Cam
cCan, under whose protection he landed his MT
tclial>. About thiS time came the news of the
battle of Lexington, and company of sixty
men was raised and sent to Cambridge,
Tuesday, the 9th day OF May, Col. Samuel
Thompson of Brunswick, with about fifty sol
der>, calne in boats and landed secretly in a
grove on the Neck. About one O'Clock p. M,
apt MoWAt, his surgeon, and the Key. Mr.
Ni>Wal Of st. raufs church, We're walking for
pleasure in the vicinity, when they We're seized
and made prisoners. A. soon AS Lieut.. HogE,
then i'll command of the Canceau, heard Of the
capture Of Capt. Mowatt, he sent letter on
shore. thr atCned to lire the town unless the
men Were released. After much parlying tn
prisoners We're released on parole to appear
next day on shore. They did not, however, at
which there was much indignation.
On the Sth Of June, the Senegal, l6 guns, ar
rived from Boston and anchored ear the
islands. Capt. CouI>on came with Il ship
which he intended to load with mast>, but the
people refused to let him have them, and they
We're tloated into 4 cove on the Cape side near
Naughan's bridge, where they remained sixty
wears. All that We're left Of them in 1880 were
built into SaWycr's wharf at the foot of High
street ana thcY are now covered by CONNER
ca street.
on the 18Th Of October, l,75, a squadron of
four armed vessels AND store vessel arrived
rhored near The islands. The next day the YES
>els anchored in line in front Of the town.
The tanccm of l6 guns. the i1ag-Ship, was
anchored oil the foot Of India street. Next
above was schooner Of II guns. Then the
Ship Cat Of 20 guns, opposite Union wharf, and
bomb >loop above all. The store schooner
tool, 4 station below the armed vessels.
Late in the afternoon Capt Mowatt sent an
officer on shore with letter, i'll which he said
the town had been guilty of the most unpardon-
able rebellion, and from having it in orders to
execute Il lust punishment on the town of Fal-
mouth, he gave two hours for the removalof the
"human specie out Of the town, at the period
of which Il red pennaIt would be hoisted at the
Observation-Disclosures head with gun.
THE officer with the letter landed at the foot
of King street amid Il prOdlglouS assembly OF
people and was conveyed with uncommon par
lle 10 the town house, and silence being com,
mandcd, il letter was delivered, and read by
Mr.. Bradbury, q lawyer but not without such
visible emotion rs occa>loned Il tremor i'll his
voice. After repeating the contents or import
of the letter. he says: 1t Is impossible to de
scribe the amazcment which prevailed on the
reading of the alarming uocaration a fright
fui CONSERVATION ran through the assembly; 4
profound Silence en,ued for several moments
Then committee OF three was chosen, one OF
whom WAS Dr. Coffin, brother of the wife OF
CAPT. toulSon, to wait on the commodore"
Resides DR.. Cuilin mentioned by Mr. Bailey
Gen. rIchc and Bobert Pagan We're on the
committee. i il worthy Of remark that this
committee ware all EpiScopalianS, and mem.
bers of 81 PAuls parish The committee i'm
mcdatclF went on board the tanccan. In an
~Wer 10 their rc,nrn~trlncc, capt, Mowatt in.
formed them that his orders from the admiral
dd not authorize Linn to give any warming to
TIE inhabitants. but they required him to come
''OI unsjtc the toWu with III! possible expedition
Tnut r. IN iuJp luFsmpNthl and there burn.
sink iui destroy" and thai Ne had taken ii
4.,,iil