The Portland daily press., 1883-02-09
Prospectus.

TO the citizens, and absent sons and daughters
Of ortldnd, and of the other four toacns
achich formerly constituted old Falmouth:
The coming six months will complete the
sixtieth year since 1 first became an inhabitant
of Portland; since then l have had an uninter-
r4pted knowledge of her people ana of events
occurring on hers and the suburban territory.
Ny first employment in the town
shop-boy ia a business place, where daily con
gregaied large number of the merchants
shiLmasters, officers Of the two banks, officers
of the customs, and most of the business men
of the town, then containing less than 5000 in
habitants This store was virtually the Mer-
chants Exchange where, sometime during the
day, nearly every prominent and elderly man
of the town called to hear and tell Of the &C
currences of the last twenty-four hours, and to
rehszrss oft-told tales, without restraint This
was seven years after the war of 1925, and
only 4S years after the burning of the town By
Mowatt. There were then many men aud wo-
men hardly past their prime who had VIII
nsssed the bombardment, aud who had been
driven from their homes thereby. Indeed,
lected the French and Indian wars, notably
the siege and surrender Of Quebec to Gen.
Wolfe Ga years previous.
My own natural interest in local history was
much increased by the stories of personal expe-
rience during these stirring periods, which
were readily drawn from these elderly people
by hint that they would be Interesting. l
soon began to make notes and gather data, and
when l arrived at an age that would warrant
it, drew by questions from these men much
that think is worth preserving.
OF the occurrences during the war of 1872
very little has been written by our local hisJo-
rians. Especially interesting is the history OF
the numerous privateers fitted out here, and of
the daring acts of those who sailed them.
All of those people who had a personal
knowledge Of the Revolutionary struggle have
passed away, as also have nearly all who had a
like knowledge of the "non intercourse Of
1906, embargo of 1907, and the following war
with Great Britain. or all of these events I
have gathered from my seniors and other
sources much unpublished history. 1t seems
reasonable that some of this is worthy of pres
ervation.
In complying with the many requests to give
these annals in book form, the main object
will be to collect new matter, and to fill in new
touches in pictures already outlined by others.
An effort will be made to connect incidents
with localities SO that on the turn of a corner
we may be reminded of some early historical
event, noted family or parsonage To dc this
it will be necessary TO wander from street to
suburb; from assembly room to cemetery.
This publishing cannot be done unless patron
age is extended to the publication by subscrip-
lions for copies of the work.
If sufficient encouragement is given, pro-
pose to publish as early as possible an illustra-
ted volume of local history of perhaps 500
pages, which will in some measure be a con-
tinuance Of those valuable journals of Smith
and Deane. The number and style of the IL
Illustrations will depend upon the amount of
patronage received.
Allwithin reach will have an opportunity to
subscribe for the work, bat to ascertain the
amount of interest which may be reasonably
expected in the enterprise, preliminary sub
scription book will be left at the store of Will
liam Senter & Co., watchmakers, 81 Exchange
street. where orders will be received Those
favoriug the publication are requested to cal
and enter their names VIM. GooLD.
lTabruarp Qtb