The Republican journal., 1888-06-14
Maine Matters.
A BIT OF MAINE HISTORY

MalIle history cOuiu nOL Dc WTlltCn Judu one
treating of the British occupation Of eastern
Maine. in lSl4-15, when Captain Barrie and his
men sailed up the PenobscOt and ravaged Ban
cor and Gen. GOrselyn took possession of Cas-
tine with his troops. One of the strange re-
suits of this occupation is told bv Joseph Will
hanson, Esq. the well known Belfast historian,
in the current number of the Bangor Historical
Magazine. All our American ports were then
closed to commerce with England, and the
English Admiral had issued proclamation de-
claring the country east of the Penobscot a con-
quered province and forbidding communica-
ton with any port but Castne. Thus Castine
became place of very great Importance. 1t
was practically British port of entry and the
only place in the United States which could
trade with England and her colonies. A large
culiar fact which Mr.. Williamson brings out is
that Dalhousie University. one of the most
prominent educational institutions in Canada,
was founded with the money derived from the
customs duties collected by the British in Gas.
tine IN this period. Nearly $4,000 was set
aside for this purpose.
\ very large income also accrued to the
American government from this traffic. The
American custom house was established at
IIampden, up the river. Business was SO brisk
that duties amounting to 100000 were receive
ed at Iampden during period of five weeks,
and twenty to forty teams found constant en-
poyment in transporting goods across the
country. AS American paper money was not
current. traders from Boston and elsewhere
would pick up eastern bills and require their
exchange for gold and silver. 1t soon followed
that every bank in Maine became compelled to
suspend specie payments. A committee OF the
General Court, appointed to investigate the
condition Of those institutions, reported in De-
cember, 1914, that their bills. to the amount of
threc-fourthS of million Of dollars, had been
retired from circulation by reason of trade
with the British. AT about that time, however,
the Secretary of the Treasury held that as the
military possession of a part of our territory by
AN enemy could not he judicially recognized.
tastne still remained amenable to United
States laws. and therefore. no vessel from there
would he permitted to engage in cOasting BUSH
ness without Il United States license or to pass
into another collection district unprovded with
regular custom house documents This deci-
sion. although terminating the somewhat equiv
ocal practices at l1ampden, did not interfere
with smuggling. Many devices We're used to
elude the vigilance of the revenue officers.
Wagons with double bottoms. affording place
for secreting silks and laces were successfully
used until detected. 1t is related that Moses
Adams. Esq. sheriff OF Hancock county, resiu-
ing in Ellsworth, on his way to Boston, chanc-
ed to stop for the night at Wiscasset A pecul-
arity about his wagon attracted attention, and
Two bottoms were discovered, between which
was concealed quantity Of valuable English
merchandise. which was seized and condemned.
Occupying high official position, and being
prominent member of the federal or anti war
party. the affair created great sensation in
his Province. and even reached the Boston
newspapers.
a graphic writer about these stirring times
sayS:"lt was not unusual to see portly gen.
tlemcn drive up to ii tavern door at dusk and
take quarters for the night. \ rigid examine
ton would have led to the discovery that the
plump saddle on his horses back was stuffed
with sewing silk, that silks and satins were hid
den between the two backs and fronts of his
IN. hiS hat con nal eI
Il pound or more OF needles, and that his trunk
contained nothing beyond Il lot of old newspa-
per>. The lean. lank, shad-like guest who APP
peared in the early morning would hardly be
recognized as the portly gentleman of the night
preceding, and the increase in the weight of
his trunk was truly miraculous. 1t was sig
yuar fact that travellers of this character in
variably took the back route from the Penob-
scot for the West. All the revenue officers
We're stationed on the shore route.''
And all the while gay troop of British Of
iccrs Were tidlling, and dancing and flirting
with the buNom Maine girls. in the transform
ed town of Ca>tine. which had suddenly be-
come miniature metropolis.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.
Following is the programme of the State
conference of Congregational churches to be
held 1T kockland, June 10, 20 and 81:
Tuesday. June 10. II Il. m. Organization
and reports from delegates to corresponding
bodies. 30 n. m: Neurology. p. m. Re-
port of corresponding secretary followed by
discussion. 3.3O p. IN. Conference sermon by
Rev. George Lewis, of South Berwick. 40
p. IN. Salutation from fraternal delegates. 3
y. HI. Address, Foreign Missions, by Rev. Z.
{. Cree@an. ID. d., of New York.
Wednesday, June 20. "a. m. Prayer meet
ing. $50 Il. IN. Devotional service. 8 a.
IN. Anniversary Maine Missionary Society.
Sermon by President Hyde. Report of
treasurer and secretary. 2 y. m. Educa-
in al n Sti tut lin
College. Hallowell Classical School. $50 p. m.
Maine Branch College and Educational Society.
4 p. m. Discussion, GLOW Shall We Increase
Our Church BenevolenccsT Opened by Rev.
I. &. McCully. of Calais. 7.3O p. m. New
West educational committee. Miss Hunt. SD
p. m. "Attractions of the Ministry, and how
10 make them effective upon our Young men,"
DR.. Field, of Bangor.
Thursday, June 81. 6 Il. m. Prayer meet
Ing. $50 Il. m. Devotional exercise. Il. IN.
pie; how shall it be made more effective by the
Pastor, how 10y the People:' Rev. q. NJ.
Rowe, Prentiss Caring, Esq. 1890 a. IN.
American Missionary Association. Secretary
Ryder. ll.30 a. IN. Maine Congregational
Charitable Society. .. p. m. Reports of COM
munion service. $50 p. m. Sunday School
work in Maine. Rev. b. z. Snow. p. m.
Discussion. Every church Missionary
church. Opened by Rev. f. p. Wilson. Adj
Women's meetings will be held as follows:
Wednesday, p. IN. Women's Maine Mis-
sionary Auxiliary. 3. p. IN. Women's Aid, \.
NJ. a.
Thur>,lay,2 p. m. Maine Branch, W. Il. +. M.
THANKS TO THE WOODBURY. AND DALLAS.
AT a recent meeting of the Governor and
Council the following resolutions were present.
ed by Councillor Warren, of Castine, and pass
ed:
Resolved. That vote of thanks be and here
by is extended to the officers and crews of the
L. :. Steamers Levi Woodbury. and a. J. Dali
las for meritorious conduct in saving life and
property during the winter of 1855.
Resolved, That copy of the above resOlu-
ton he forwarded by the Secretary of State to
the Captains of said Revenue Steamers.
The cruising season Of the Woodbury. and
Dallas begins Nov. LIST and ends April LIST.
Their work extends from St. Croix river to
Cape Elizabeth, Me-, covering the most danger
GUS coast in the United States. From the mid
die of January to March these cutters have lit
orally steamed through ice from one inch to
seventeen inches thick The sudden closing of
the harbors in the island districts found the
people in that vicinity totally unprepared for
such IL serious winter, and, but for the assist
ance rendered by these steamers, must have
suffered terribly for provisions, for until the
ice was broken by the Woodbury. many people
hauled their supplies 30 or 40 miles to keep
from starving. About the only ports open to
navigation were Castine, ROckland and Port