The Monitor., 1891-05-08
THREE NOTABLE Desks.


tion whatever y ith the old meeting house,
which ia itself is great curiosity also,
having been the building where the great
Roger Williams once preached; they are
merely placed there among other histor-
icai collections of the institute.
These three special relics. the three
desks, stonsly appeal to the Imagination.
They originally belonged to three former
prominent citizens Of Salem, all eminent
men, but men of widely differing talent
and occupation.
The first desk that generally claims the
visitors attention is the Oldest of the three;
it was used for many years by that we'll
knowu-merchant OF the latter part of the
last century and the beginning OF the pres
ent, who was familiarly spoken of as BILLY
Gray"
Bill Gray owned at one time sixty
sail of sqnare-rigged vessels, and was then
supposed to be tho largest ship-owner in
America. He was born in Lynn, In 1850,
and early in life went into the employ of
Richard Derby, another noted merchant of
Salem; IT as his son Elias Haskell Derby,
also noted merchant, who was styled
Father of the American Commerce to
India. -
Dir. Gray at the height of his prosperity,
| must have been one of the wealthiest men
in the country. When he left Salem, in
| 1863, he was repuied to be worth at least
=
large sum Tor those days, when the million
aires of our country could be counted On the
| fiGgers of Que hand. Elias Haskett Derby
had died in 1893, leaving about one million
OF dollars which was said to be the largest
fortune left by an American merchant.
AstoF and Girard were no doubt, wealthy
at that time, but they were not reckoned
among the richest; they were still engaged
in making their money.
After Sir. Gray had accumulated this
fortune he found. as has sometimes been
stated, that there was not water enough in
Salem hafbor for the successful proseeu-
tion Of his bt siuess, aud he decided to ,e-
move TO Boston. Inreality, il vas political
feud which induced him TO leave Salem;
certain it is that other merchants Of tt at
day found sufficient water in Salem harbor
TO float their vessels, and to-day, although
the government has done nothing for
Salem barbur, there is still sufficient
depth of water for much larger vessels
than Mr.. Gray ever owned
Mr.. Giay had changed his political con-
nections from the Federal to the Demo-
Cratic party at time nheu the party feel
| ing ran high, higher than has ever been
known III late years; Mr. Gray fancied
himself Injured by the leading Federalists,
and removed from the town. Shortly
after this the Democratic party came iuto
power, aud MIR. Cray was elected Lieu
tsnsnt Governor of the State. He
pursued his business in Boston for num-
Der Of years, but rot with the same success
as in Salem. once heard an anecdote of
this princely merchant which was charac-
terisiic of the man. On one occasion
iaboripg man in his employ, having been
censured by his employer Cor soma neglect
of duty, was SO offended that he took up
his hat and left, and upon going rapidly
up the wharf, turned about and sung out
In loud voice:
.Oid Billy Gray! who cares for you!
you were only drummer in the Revolu-
tion.n
"Yes. yes." called Mr.. Gray; 81 know
that But didn't drum welis'
The old pine desk seems hardly fitting
to the notions of our extravagant time; but
it answered its purpose as well as if it had
been mahogany or rosewood. 1t was
made more than hundred years ago.
one can hardly view it without thinking
of the great changes that have taken place
ia the methods of doing business
"sinee this old desk was new
The second desk is one once used by the
distinguished Nathaniel Bowdlcb, who
was BORA in Silsm in 1913. and died in
Boston in 1888. At the age of tea he was
taken from school aud placed with Page
& Ropes, ship chambers in Salem, and at
twenty-one went to sea and soon became
master and supercafgo, and in 1900 issued
his Practical Navigator, which has always
been considered one of the most valuable
books on the subject of navigation, super
ceding the works of Moore aud other Eag-
iish authorities.
Upon this little desk. with its lid covered
with green baize, he wrote the first entire
translation af La Places celebrated He
ocaique Celeste. He began his task in the
year 1915: and continued it during the rest
of his lie, in such hours as he could spare
| from his business. finding his recitation in
the task. This work of La Place was the
product Of such great learning that but
few in America were able to understand it,
until It was translated and e.ueidated by
Dr. Bowditch.
DR.. Bow ditch was member of the
Royal Society OF London, aud was also a
member Of manv scientific aud philosophic.
al soci, ties in Europe aud Amelica-he
| was president of the American Academy
/ OF Arts aud Sciences.
/ Y.a.as haa,, uasl nf ~ D.u3ftch ,hst ha