New-York tribune., 1877-05-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

memorials Of an agreeable circle Of family relations but
as Illustrations OF the choicest society OF Boston anu
Philadelphia at an early period OF our national history
Mr. Brcck was born In in 177l about four years
beforc the battle Of Bunker H of which, rs he tells u.s.
he WAS an unconscious spectator being carried IN the
arms Of his who stood an cmnence 10 looN On
the engagement The siege OF Boston was dsthc' " MS
memory and one event especially during Its investment
by Washington made deep impression on MS hind' anu
tins was tho bursting OF bonbehen IN the courtyard
which cracked beautiful mirror by the concuSsloh'
giving his father bgOad hint that II was time 10 pun up
stakes and provide the safety OF ms tam'iy' MI
Breck relates that took place before the
close OF the war showing that the galanry ereVou
tionary aIots was as remarkable in private as IN bhc
eft was in the OF this year u779 thmk that
most melancholy event terminated the life OF my mater
nal uncle Benjamin Andrews, esq. That gentleman was
well educated active useful, beloved In short, very
distinguished citizen. Mr.. Benjamin HichbOTn, his fTend
and a LAWYER subsequently OF emiueuce, with my
uncle assisting prepare FOR Journey that was 10
commence the next day. While Mr. Andrews was writ
ing, Iiichbom trying pair OF pistols and putting
them I'm order for the journey He had snapped them
against the chimneyhack he said, and suppoShg then
TO be unoadcd was in the OF handing Of them to
my uncle whom il went Of hit him with the wad IN the
temple and killed him On thespot My iather had oheo
somewhere the country that day, and had not re-
turned when the OF the event came to our house.
winch was about early candle-ight went to the DC
ecased's house witnessed the confusion and deep re-
grct that peryadcd Ny aunt tnelo0kinG, we'll
bred woman fond Of dress and fashionable dissipation
She had five children and an indulgent husband
Suddenly she saw herself widow overwhelmed with
Consideration and disInay This affair has always APP
peared mysterious ard made noise at the time;
and very strange may HcLbOrn proposed rs
remedy atoneLeut the only measure that could be
adduced as a motive for the commission of murder L
have guilty. said he, OF this unlntenuonal man
slaughter; Nr. Andrews my friend; by my nstru-
mentality his children are left fGthericss will be
nj a /
make il 20 marry the widow lie did marry her, and
during a long lie lie to her and her children KIND
and generous friend. father, and husband
The progress the brought many OF the colorts
into intimate relations with the French military ana
naval officers previous which there had been little or
no communication with France They were acquainted
with Frcuchmen only through the preiud'cd accounts o
Their English enemies. Every vulgar story told ny John
Bull about the French living on frogs and salads was
swallowed whole by Brother jonathan, without the
slightest doubt or hesitation. Upon the arrival OF the
squadron in Boston, the honest townsmen were aston
ished 10 find hearty, gOOdloOkng men among the
officers and sailors In spite o. their good looks now
ever the French believed TO be invetcrate frog
eaters and said had been discovered hunting for
their avOre food in the Frog Pond on the celebrated
Boston Common An amusing instance Of the credulty
Of Che solid Boston is thus related by Mr. Breck
With this last notion in his head Mr. Nathaniel Tracy
who lived in beautiful villa at Cambridge, made great
feast FOR the admiral and his officers. Everything was
and give variety 10 the entertainment. Ny father was
one of tc guests and often after that two largo
tureens soup placed at the ends Of tho table
The admiral sat the right Of Tracy, and Monsieur
dc rEtombe on the left LEtombe was Consul Of France
resident at Boston Tracy filed plate With soup, which
went 10 the admiral, and the next handedto the
Consul As soon as LEtombc put Lis spoon into his
plate he Gsed up large frog just and perfect
Asif he bad hOpped from tie pond into the urccn NOT
knowing what il he seized il by ono Of its
ind L. 1Ill
psny, discovered that It fullgrOwn frog As soon
as he had thoroughly inspected it, and made himself sure
Of the matter, he exclaimed 'Ah! mon Dieul M gre
noule" thcn turning TO the gentleman next TO hin,
gave him the frog. lie received IT, and passed round
the fable Thus the poor crdpaud made the from
hand 10 hand until IL reached the admiral. The cOw-
pany convusod with laughter examined the souplaeS
rs the servants brought them, aud in each was to be
found a frog. The uproar universal Meantime
Tracy kept his adle going, wondering what his out
IandiSh guests meant by such extTayaeant mcrrmcnt
whats the matterP asked he and raising his head,
surveyed the frogs dangling by eg in all directions
'Why don't they eat thcnP he exclaimed. If they
knew the cOnfoundcd trouble had % catch them IN
order them dish OF their own country they
would with at least it 10 joking mat
ter Thus poor Tracy deceived by vulgar prejudice
end common report He meant TO regale his dstiu-
gushed guests with refined hospitality, and had caused
all the swamps of Cambridge to be searched in order to
furnish them generous supply Of what he believed
be in France standing national dish"
glimpse OF the political lie in Boston after the
luton presents very atterng view OF the pristine
virtues OF the oice-seekers Of that day. eve had
medley OF eccentric tradesmen in Boston in 1888, who
were compound Of simplicity in and acute
ceverness in conversation shrewd, perhaps somewhat
cunning; often witty; always smart and intelligent.
Such COpley, my tailor; Billings Of the same trade
but above ALL Balch, halter. His shop the prn
cpa lounge even Of the peopleiu thetown Governor
Hancock when the gOut permitted rcsorted TO this grand
rendezvous and there exchanged jokes with Bach and
his company sometimes happened discussed grave
political subjects and, t0At badRant settled leading
principles OF his administration. Sucb as late as 1888
was the unsophstcaed state of society. But we must
not believe that intrigue banshed from this artless
association; the contrary, every little boon III the
Governor gift bestowed upon him who could work
the wires with nimblest fingers Perhaps, after all 1t IL
impossible TO resist voice of friendship when solicit
ing for favor although 1t may be- unqualified. Certain
Il Is that Hancock often yielded from feeling rather than
from judgment One natteTcd and another chronicled
Ghe news Of the day. third bespoke the good viii Of the
people for his patron, and fourth supplied little pecu
MARY wants that not infrequenuy occurred. These
friends we're generally provided for and notwitAstand
3ng they sometimes thought TO be unsuitable for
the posts assigned to them yet Governor Hancocks well
deserved popularity enQpd every crOaker The record
OF Journey from Boston, with his father
and family calls forth characteristic croak with regard
70 the degeneracy OF social customs in modern times.
"a coach nd-four with two positions and Cutrdcr In
handsome livery stood at the door, and in ten minutes
sfter my arrival all the road toward Boston,
intending TO sleep at tavern twelve miles east Of Wor
eester Gentlemen Of fortune travelled in better
style than they do now They did get along fast
but they went securely, moro agTccaby, and more
comfortably. Steamboats, have ruined the inns. and In
annihating space have nearly broken up all private
ftfr- ~ fc in