The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-28

New Bern VS.. Wilmington in Ancient
Days.

Mrs. NJ. B. Clarke writing to the Louis
lilo Aoe saws: "When the first stamped
naner for the use of the province arrived in
the sloop Diligence at Wilmington, where
Tryon then resided, the people refused to
GLOW it to be landed; Col. John Ashe, the
Sneaker. with Col. Waddell, headed a body
If men who marched to the sloop and so ter
rifed the captain that no attempt was made
- land the paper. Next day they bearded
threatened to burn the house, and the Gov
ornor and stamp master in it, unless the lat
for would take a solemn oath not to attempt
70 execute the duties of his office. Con-
WINGED that they were In earnest, and con-
scious that he had not the power to coerce
them, the Governor was obliged to yield and
reluctantly gave up Houston, the stamp
master. to the people, who carried him to
the public market house and forced him to
take the oath, after which he was released.
.UThis was an act of the sons of the Old
North state says Wheeler, mot commit
ted on the harmless carriers of the freight,
or the crew of a vessel; not done under any
disguise or mask; but on the representative
Of royalty itself, occupying a palace, and in
omen day, by men of well known person and
reputation: much more decided in its char
acter. more daring in its action, more impor-
tant in it's results, han the famous tea
pdrty" of Boston, yet not one-half OF her
own sons have ever heard of it. Gov.
Trvon made every effort to cOnciliate the
people. and at a general muster OF the MI
litia of New Hanover county, had an Ok
roasted whole and several barrels Of beer
preached with which to entertain them after
the muster. But when invited to partake
OF these refreshments, the people spilled the
beer on the ground, upset the tables and
threw the OK untouched into the river. This
SO disguised and enraged TryOn that when,
shortly after the repeal Of the stamp act, the
people in their joy and good humor at their
he selected Newbern, instead of Whining
ton, as the site of the palace and the future
residence of the Governors. Church and
State being at that time combined IN the
province, as in England, the vestry OF the
Church held the position of county com
missioners, and controlled the school fund;
this fund in the county of Craven was I'M
scrupulously seized by Tryon and added to
the el5, 900 already secured; and sending to
England for the material and an architect, he
at once commenced building a palace which,
when completed, excelled any building in
America at that day.
1t faced the Trent river in the rear and
the town of Newbern in the front, being ap-
IIUdCLcu ny q SIOdu dNChuO IO~SLihS W ehS
Neuse river, so that it commanded 4 view of
both rivers from it's upper windows. On
either side were wings connected with the
main building by semi-circular corridors.
One of these wings was the private resi-
dence of the Governor, and the other, which
is still standing, contained the laundry and
servants apartments. From the main
building in the centre, which was a%ppropri-
ated to the legislative halls, committee
rooms, ETC., a terrace sloped to the Trent
river; and on the roof was an acquariam.
The mantles and mantle ornaments were
imported from Italy and Spain. The archi-
tect who planned and erected it was a Moor,
who from the island of Malta, had gone to
England and was thence sent to Gov. Tryon.
He took up his abode in Newbern after
building the palace, married and left de-
scendants, among whom are two OF New
bern most distinguished sons, DIR. Francis
l.. Hawks and his brother Bishop
Hawks.