The Portland daily press., 1888-03-08
THE YEARS 'ie AND ~.
a Newspaper of the Time OF Napo-
leon, John Adams, william King
and william Widgery.
[Monson slate.l


While in the law Office of Hon. G. A. Ever
EFT in Dover few days ago we discovered a
volume of the Boston Weekly Messenger"
published by Nathan Hale. This file is
from Oct. II, 1916 to Apr. IL, 1917, and IS OF
very great historical interest. 1t reports a
cattle show at Brighton, Mass, when It ex-
ultantly says there were nearly one hun
dred animals exhibited. John Brooks was
Governor of the Commonwealth. His pro-
clamation for public thanksgiving is very
lenghthy and contains quite theological
sermon.
1t mas report of the doings Of the Bruins
wick Convention Of Delegates from the va
rious towns in the District Of Maine,' who
assembled together to consider the question
Of separation from Massachusetts. Mr..
Widgery Of Portland being tne eldest mem a
Der Of the largest town took the chair. and,
after calling the meeting to order, the
several delegates laid their credentials on
the table,
Hon. VIM. King was chosen President.
An official vote which had previously been
taken by the people of the District was
counted and tbe required fye-uinths being
II, ,4S1, it was lost by a Legislative deheien-
cy' of 554 votes, as only 1l,927 voted Tor u.
There was more or less wrangllng In
the convention and during the years lol6-lI
there appears in the Messenger, consider
able discussion about the question OF separa-
Reports of the religious meetings in the
'Old South Meeting House" often appear
In the issue of Oct, 14th, 1876, Is descrlp-
tion of the "Sage Of Monticello. IL Is
very interesting account aof ex-President
Jefferson and his famous home, who was
then alive and had retired to his Virginia
mansion.
There is also review Of the theological
discussions between "Nr. English and
Messrs Claiming, Cary and Everett" The
Messenger was published subsequently, 20
the Battle of Waterloo and while Bonaparte
was prisoner at st. Helena.
In one issue Is the following; we nave
seen a letter from respectable gentleman IN
Amsterdam, dated Oct. 9th 1916, which saws
THE famous Marshal Soult took MS passage
n few days since in the ship R0ll0, Capt.
Childs, for Baltimore. He had sbeen incog-
nito here some days previous. Madame, the
Duchess, and her son, have been left behind
but will soon follow
Among the most valuable reading in these
papers are several letters from one who had
visited Bonaparte while he was there In ex-
lie They graphically describe the inear-
eerated chieftain and his gloomy surround
ings.
Among the literary notices are the an
nouncements that "Walter Scott is about to
publish history of Scotland" and that there
will soon be issued, "A history Of the late
war in Spain and Portugal, In TWO volumes,
by Robert Southey."
new volume of poems by Lord Byron is
also noticed. In one issuel appears letter
from ex-President John Adams who was then
living addressed to Mr.. Niles, OF Baltimore,
editor of the Baltimore register, who wrote
him requesting him to write history OF the
revolutionary period, and Of the adoption OF
the constitution. Mr.. Adams declines in
what the editor Of the Messenger considers
"a characteristics reply" Among other
| in Congress, from 1774 to 1T77 inclusive OF
| both years, not one sentence remains, except
| a few periods Of Doctor Witherspoon, printed
| in his works $50 "Ihave neither clerk
secretary or amanuensis to leap in; and my
eyes are too blind n ana mass my 9ands 700 s
| serious question whether l oUght to bury my
| papers or burn them. You would not publish
| them, IL you should, they would ruin the salt
| Of your Register. In plain English and in a
| few words Mr.. Niles / consider the true his
| tory Of the American Revolution and the es.
/ tablishment Of our present constitution as
| lost forever. And nothing but misrepresen-
| tations or partial accounts OF 1t will ever DC
| recovered. / am sir, with thanks for your
| communication, your very humble servant.
In areport Of congressional debate ap-
/ pears some remarks of John Randolph com
| plimentary of Col. Pickering. lie pald MN
/ a glowing tribute and referred pathetlcally tC
| his poverty and ended it all WITH ruo al
| Adams whom he hated, as follows; :,
| sIf the gentleman would take 1t l would
give him what little have, to have inscribed
| on my tomb, as he may on his-"Here lies
/ the man who enjoyed the confidence OF wash
| ington and the enmity Of his successor"
| IN the current literary news of the day the
sayings and doings Of Madame de Stael are
occasionally reported.
There were even In that early day some
who viewed political matters from afar, IRON
a pure and high standpoint. The editor al
one time remarks: There are people wnc
wish that all party controversy should SUB
side, and If possible all party distinctions ot
done away. Such men say, very Justly, Lnal
the two great political parties and contend
that there is no reason why they should con
tinue to betarrayed in hostility to one an
! other"