The Portland daily press., 1892-12-28
PAUL REVERE.
Rev. DIR. Blanchard's Fourth Lecture at
Congress Square.


Rev. DR.. Blanchard delivered his
fourth lecture in the winters course on
American History, last evening, in the
vestry of Congress Square church. The
subject was paul Revere, the Courier
of the Revolution"
In opening, DR.. .Blanchard gave an ac-
count of six important rides made by
Revere in the service of his country.
The first was the one to New York and
Philadelphia to convey intelligence to
the patriots in those places of the de-
struction of the tea in Boston harbor.
The second was the one conveying the
request of Boston, after the passage of
the Port Bill by the English Parliament.
that the other colonies would stand by
Massachusetts,. The third was the ride
on which Revere carried the Suffolk
Resolves to Philadelphia to be read in
Congress. He started on September 9th,
1774 and reached the city on the 18th, be-
ing thus six daos on. his way. Read in
Congress they brought forth great APP
plause. John Adams said: 'sThe esteem,
the affection, the admiration for the peo-
pie of Boston and Massachusetts, which
were expressed, and the fixed determin-
alton that they should be supported, were
enough to melt heart of stone. saw
tears gush into the eyes of the old, the
grave, the pacific Quakers of Pennsyl-
vania.''
These journeys were full of peril. Tor
les abounded all along the road. Cour-
age, fortitude, wisdom, patriotism were
needed. These all had Paul Revere.
The fourth was the ride to Portsmouth
to tell Sullivan and his fellow patriots of
the law forbidding America to import
grnpowder and military stores. Dr..
Blanchard explained the great import
ance of this service by Paul Revere, the
courier of the Revolution. His informa-
ton led to Sullivan's attack on Fort
William and Mary, the capture of the
small garrison, the seizure of one hun
bred barrels of gunpowder This pow
der was stored afterwards under the
pulpit of the Westinghouse in Durham.
1t was carried to Bunker Hill, and
reached that famous battlefield just as
the need for more powder was sorely felt
1t thus helped to make Bunker Hill glo-
rious.
The fifth ride was to Lexington on
Sunday, April 10th, and was OF the
greatest Importance for it gave inform
alton to Warren which prepared the way
for the famous 10th of April, ITO. The
sixth was the ride:immortalized by Long
fellows poem. Dr.. Blanchard read this
at the close of the lecture.
Having thus shown the service of the
courier. Paul Revere, the story of his
ancesty, youth and manhood was given.
He inherited noble traits from his
Huguenot forefather; he was thought
full in boyhood; he was inventive, versa
tile, Jealous for liberty, humble, be-
loved, revered in manhood. AS gold
smith, engraver on copper, maker OF
patriotic caricatures. printer of colonial
money, dentist, caster of cannons and
bells, he was servant of the revolution
with every implement of mechanic art
which he commanded. Mention was
also made of his connection with phllan-
thropic and Masonic societies. His
life should be studied by ever mechanic
in America His thoroughness, his
honesty. his love of liberty and of coun-
ty should he known and emulated by
every man using mechanic tools. He
makes the title "workingman'' honor
able, American mechanics should be
proud of, should revere Paul Revere.
Before beginning his lecture, DR..
Blanchard called attention to the life of
Paul Revere, by Elbridge II. Goss, Esq,
of Melrose, Mass, and exhibited bill OF
Paul Revere against the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts containing his sigma
ture twice. The document was loaned
by Mr.. S. T. Mayberry of Cape Elizabeth
whose collection of famous autographs
is of very great value.
The next lecture will be delivered
January 10th. The subject will be 1.-The
Story of a Town in Maine"