Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-05-18
NO. 20.

Aurora against Washington, a day or two
after he retired from the presidency in the
spring Of l101. ! well remember that the
butchers Of Spring Garden, who had been
soldiers under Washington. were 50 in.
censed that they marched in a body To at
tack the Aurora Office They threw its tvpes
into the street and nearly destroyed the in
side Of the rooms
Political excitement ran high at that
time, did it not Z" | asked
Never more violent since" he replied.
why, for a while il separated families
and religious denominations in social inter
course. The pulpits became political ros-
trums. ! remember that in May, l10S ON
a day Of fasting and prayer, the ministers,
by their violent denunciatioms from the
pulpit of Jacobins, secret societies and
philosophers, almost created "A riot The
excitable population Of Philadelphia were
specially invited TO violence against the Re
publicans or Democrats who were thus de
nounced. Fearing violence Bache. with
armed fri nds, so protected the Aurora Of.
fice that no damage was done. Mr. Bache
was personally assaulted on the street, but
was not much injured but the same year
he fell "A vitcm TO the terrible srourge of
yellow fever, which smote the city fearful
ly."
"Nou mentioned Mr.. Freneau. the poet Of
the Revolution. Did you know him person.
all y inquired
Very well, though not intimately" " he
answered, for he left Philadelphia while
was yet an apprentice sixteen or seventeen
years old He was small in stature, slightly
built, but robust in appearance, having fol
lowed the sea for many years. He was Of
Huguenot descent, and about forty years
old when first saw him. His eyes were
dark and brilliant his hair was a rich dark
brown his smile was exceedingly captivat-
ing his voice was sweet his whole face
beamed with intelligence, and his isdeportment
Indicated "A true gentleman. Mr. jefferson
first employed him as transating clerk of
the State Department, but he was soon en-.
gagged in editing a newspaper which was
the organ Of the Republican party. 1t was
more violent in its attacks upon Hamilton
and Washlngtons public policy than Baches
paper was atterward. Long years subse-
quently Freneau acknowledged that many
of the most violent articles were written by
Jefferson himself But jefferson must not
be blamed said Colonel Carr, "for at that
time he was really monomaniac on the
subject of mscalled French Democracy.
He had lately come from France, and was
thoroughly mbued with the spirit of the
radical French revolutionists. Freneau,
you know, celebrated in stirring verse the
American victories during the war of 1872
10. Poor Freneau He perished in cold
storm near Freehold New Jersey, in De
cember 1882, when in the eightieth year Of
his age"
Did you know personally Charles Thorn
son, the permanent secretary of the Cont
mental Congress = | inquired
81 knew him quite intimately for several
years, replied Colonel Carr II first be-
came partially acquainted with him about
the year 1900. He was then busy in max
ing his translation of the Septuagut or Old
Testament Scriptures, from the original
Greek into English He also translated the
New Testament ! had the reputation then
of being the most careful proof reader in
Philadelphia, and when Mr. Thomson began
TO have his great work put in type he employ
ed me to read the last revised proofs The
whole Bible translated by Mr.. Thomson was
published by the Widow Aitkin, in four
volumes, in lSOS, at about the time when
left printing and took charge Of the Botanic
Garden"
What was the personal appearance of
Mr. Thomson - | inquired.
He was past seventy years Of age when
| first became acquainted with him. He
was rather tall, quite spare in flesh his
blue eyes were truly sparkling, and his
straight white hair hung in graceful curls
at the ends below his ears. His whole ap-
pearance was venerable yet his form was
erect, his step elastic, and his voice was
strong, clear and musical. He lived, as
you know, until 1924 when he was in the
ninety fifth year of his age
| gathered much more from the lips of
the venerable printer aud soldier during
our memorable interview that was exceed
ingly interesting. He was about to commu-
nicate some of his "reminiscences of the war
of lSl2-l5, when he was called away by
the arrival of visitors at the gate. and we
babe him farewell
Colonel Carr remained very active almost
| to the last. A month before nv visit lie
went among the Union camps, near Arling
ton Heights, Virginia, where he Travelled
seventeen miles one day and attended "A
theatre at Washington City that evening
| II could have danced cOtilon after that
he said. In 1868 he participated in the cen
tennial celebration of the birth Of William
Bradford, the first printer in Pennsylvania
and New York, held 10y the New York His
torical society and ON the 22d of Febru-
airy, 1864, when he was past eighty six
| years of age, he read Washingtun's Farewell
address before the veterans of the war of
! lSl2 at Philadelphia. He died on the 10Th
of April, 1866
BENSON j. LOSING, LID.