The Press., 1905-11-29


 tains charge of the primary.
 Born. In Stafford Springs, Nov. 29th, a son to w. H. Cooley.
 In Stafford, Nov. 18th, daughter to James M. Wardwell; 26th, a son to John Spelicy.
 (Continued from last weekly
 EARLY HISTORY OF THE STAFFORD MIN RRAL SPRING BY REV. 0 HAMMOND OF
 MONsoN.
 MT. Adams left Middletown for Stafford on Monday, June 10th, and on Wednesday started for his home. He "oated at Brimfield" and "dined at Cheney's in Western. '' While at Cheney's five chaises of his Boston acquaintances went by, all bound for the Springs.
 It appears from this days entry that he left before the annual rush of visitors came, as is the case of the watering places of modern times Mr. Adams .says Che came off just when the company began to collect. This week and the next would have brought together a curious coll ction of characters from all parts of New England, and some perhaps from the southern provinces, and some from the West Indies ''
 We must infer from this statement that the repute of Stafford Springs, a century ago. was very extensive. It appears that for some years, at least. there was an annual rush of visitors in the summer months, as at the watering places of modern times. As there were no accommodations near the springs, the visitors must have found accommodations among the town residents. We know that these general accommodations were not long continued, and the patronage afterwards became limited chiefly to invalids, until the Springs House was built, near the beginning of the present century.
 The entry of June 18th contains a clue to the chief cause of MT. Adams ill health, for which the Stafford springs was an inadequate remedy. The condition of public affairs and his relation thereto must have caused great depression of mind and body. Before his journey to Connecticut all alienation had occurred between John Hancock and Samuel Adams, which foreboded disaster to the friends of liberty. When he reached Wor- cester, on his return, the newspapers confirmed previous rumors of public favor and conciliation with the pol icy of Governor Hutchinson. He heard the day before "of the harmony between the governor and the house. '' That very day he read addresses from conventions of clergymen in the north part of Hampshire county, expressed Gin very high terms of respect for Governor Hutchinson.
 In view of these discouraging as- poets of the times, MT. Adams thus writes:
 eff this wretched journal should ever be read by my own family they will know that tEere is upon the scene of action with MT. Hutchinson one determined enemy to his princi- pies and political system; one who thinks his character and conduct have been the cause of perpetual discontent and contention, and this contention loo and carnage.
 "With great anxiety and hazard, with constant application to business, with loss of health, reputation, profit, and as fair prospects of advancement as others have eagerly embraced, I have for ten years together opposed this system and it's advocates. But it has prevailed, in some measure, and the people are now worshipping its authors, and despising and abuisng it's opposers. '
 Referring to the trouble between Sam Adams and Hancock, and the prospect that the latter would unite with Hutchinson, he said-"The con- fidence that seems to be restored great ly surprises me. Will it be lasting I believe there is no man in so curious a situation as l am-I am, for aught can see, left quite alone in the world.
 Such were the thoughts of John Adams, returning from his trip to Stafford Springs, four years before the battle of Bunker Hill. He was not long left alone. Sam Adams nev- CT forsook him. Hancock was concil- iated and again acted cordially with the patriots, and the great drama of the revolution soon began. ITO be continued next week.