The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-09-20

To the Editor Of the Press:
In your paper of Tuesday, under the caption
'tHistory and HASTE" find myself arraigned
on three counts by III. S. B., the initials of one
of the committee of arrangements for field
day excursion of the M. FL. Society.
Not receiving notice of the first postpone
ment left home at the appointed time, and
remained in town until the second appointed
time, to learn that the excursion had been
postponed for week, although the weather
was not bad for ride by land OF water to
Damariscotta. also had unpleasant recollec-
tions Of being stopped at Hodsdon's Mills on
the second day after leaving home for Pema-
quid, by the perverseness OF steamboat cap
tain and did not reach there.
When l found that was likely to become
the Moses to lead small party to Pemaquid, I
concluded that / might be asked questions
which I was not prepared to answer. In the
spare hour before leaving hunted up the fifth
volume of the M. III. Society's collections,
knowing that it contained two articles on
Pemaquid, the principal one entitled "An-
Gent Pemaquid, an historical review, prepared
at the request of the Maine Historical Society
by j. Wingate Thornton of Boston, April
1851"
Mr. Thornton has always been considered
good historical authority in New England He
was native OF Maine and an enthusiastic
student of her history, He was the Gamaliel
at whose feet it was thought necessary to sit,
to learn the history of our State. supposed
that / was safe in following him.
The first count of the indictment is in these
words.
Your correspondent, w. g., seems to have
made hasty preparation for his visit to Pema-
duid. For example he says in his communi-
cation in the PRESS of Sept. 18th.
ssWeymouth mentioned the little river Pema
ouid' in 1905. 1t was Pemaquid from which
he sailed for England direct, with five of the ma
tives whom he had kidnapped"
This is true except that Weymouth never
mentioned anything of the kind and it was not
from Pemaqnid that she sailed for England di-
rect"
In his paper on Pemaquid Mr.. Thornton says
page 156, Weymouth aoto IN 1905 especially
noted that the little river Of Pemoquid interested
some of the best minds in England. Wey-
mouth seems to have sailed for England from
Pemaquid direct"
This suppose will be q sufficient answer
from me- If "H. S. B." and Mr.. Thornton
differ it is not my fault. Mr.. Thornton being
Dead of course he cannot reply. The second
count is as follows:
| Again, w. G I, says:
According to Sullivan, in 1880, there was no
less than 81 families, besides the fishermen settled
| here''
| BY here, as the context shows, he means
Pemaquid Now Sullivan does not say this.
Mr.. Thornton, page 1877 says
within three years after Shurts arrived, his
| plantation extended to Pemaquid, and in the
year 1880, no less than eighty-four families, be-
| sides the fishermen were settled at this place,
| and vicinity" A foot note says Sullivan"
MY answer is that myself or the printer ne
| glected TO copy the last two words.
| Count third is in these words:
If W. G. had not been in such haste to reach
Pemaquid he might have spent few days
| prohtabiy in home study, like some of his
brethren of the Historical Society.
| To this plead that I could not 60 the fol-
lowing week; if went at all it must be then
and after the second postponement 1 oonclud-
ed, with my friend Nr. Hight, also member,
that we would go to Damariscotta, and on the
following morning, if the weather was reason
| ably good, we would go to Pemaquid, having
| been assured by II. s. b. that excavations
would be made. The weather proved favora-
| bic, aud we went on, but found no excavations
Are members expected TO wait for tele.
gram from the committee that they have taken
snuff before venturing to sneeze? learn that
| ID. 5. b. started for Pemaquid the same morn
| ing. My own conclusion is that the excursion
should have been made in the first days OF the
| month, while the days were longer, and the
mornings and evenings not so cold.
Is this sufficient answer, and shall | be
discharged? w. G.
Windham. Sept. Goth.