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munion table, folded in its place, and covered with dust, from which the elements had been distributed to the pious and believing, now no more; the crypt beneath the pulpit in which had been kept the rude 'communion service'-then the doors ajar, or slipped from their hinges -the seats once pressed by the young and the beautiful-the solemn galleries-the place for singers, the slender balustrade surmounting each pew, which left their tracery where the light fell through the small glass. I remember the sparrow and the swallow which found there a peaceful habitation-the whispered murmur of the pines, as the wind swept adown the ledge and stole through the lone church-and the bleat of the sheep sheltered beneath its eaves.

"Truly, I know not how human hands could have been raised against it. I know not what heart would not have been awed into remorse and grief, as the venerable rafters, so long audible to prayer and praise, were crushed to the earth. We have no ruins, and it may be never shall have, for the spirit of our people is opposed to associations of the kind-they reject the past, whether in experience, in sentiment, or architecture. A cobweb is monstrous to them—a cornice honored by dust and made sacred by the swallow, is an offence-the grey beautiful tintings of time are unseemly, and they long for the tidy, painted wall, and the brisk whitewash.

"Oh, had they but spared the 'old Meeting-House below the ledge!' Thither they might have brought their children and have told them tales of blood and peril—have taught them there the sublime lessons of human freedom, and the more sublime lessons of order and good citizenship. Reverently pacing those old aisles, how impressive might have become the teachings of wisdom! How the by-gone age had lived again! What though the bird sang above the sounding board, was it not a sweet harmony? What though the fox might pat upon the stairs and look forth from the windows; would it not send solemn and earnest thoughts home to the heart? What though the vestibule became a fold for the sheep-iş not Jesus called the lamb of God, and would not their meek innocent natures appeal for the like in our own? What though the green moss lay in tufts upon the roof, the grass nodded from the eaves, and the turf rolled itself like a fold about the tilted steps; yet most pleasantly had come down the sabbath sun, to light each with a smile, and old men too infirm for church-going, or it may be yearning too much over the past, would have loitered about the doorway, or leaning heavily upon their crutch, have walked along the aisles, with ears too deaf to be startled by the sepulchral echoes. Oh, what a plea might be heard for the old meeting-houses in which our fathers worshipped, in times when each went armed to the house of God, lest the savage should find them unprepared for defence, when worship was a great human need, to be sought through peril and death, and not as now a luxury, and an appendage to respectability.

"The site of the Old Meeting-House is now a smooth green turf, and only the grasshopper and the cricket pipe a Sabbath-day song to God."

JOURNAL OF COL. JOHN STORER, OF WELLS.

[Vide page 59.]

THIS document, cited on the page mentioned above, was published in the Portsmouth Journal for May 6, 1854. Its author, Col. Storer, was an officer in Gen. Pepperell's regiment at Louisburg, and his journal is a sketch of incidents in that expedition from March 8, to April 30, 1745, when the journal abruptly ends at the opening of the contest before the place. Many of the incidents relate to the previous stay of the forces at Canso. Several items referring particularly to the erection of the block house are here presented.

Friday morning, April 5 [1745].-I waited on ye General on board the Commodore, whom I found with the rest of our friends in good health. Ten o'clock the General with the field officers went on shore on Canso Island and took affairs under consideration, and dined on Canso Island in a house newly erected by Col. Moore. Also a plan drawn for erecting a block house in the place of the former block house on the hill on said Canso Island. A council of war on Canso Island.

Saturday, April 6.-A great number of men mustered on shore, I myself very ill with a cold.

Sabbath-day, April 7.-The army mustered on Canso Island, where two sermons were preached-one by Mr. Landon, in Jer. 23: 24; in the afternoon by the Rev. Mr. Sam'l Moody, from Psalms 110: 3; "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."

Monday, April 8.-A general muster on shore at Canso, and received a standard in the General's regiment. The army is cheerfully working and levelling the ground for the block house. Tuesday, April 9.-The army mustering on shore, exercising and working about the block house-being cold, wet weather.

Wednesday, April 10.-The General's regiment on Canso Island with several other regiments exercising, being snowy uncomfortable weather. Several companies working and laying the foundation for the block house being feet square, and two stories high, the square for the fort, the sides being feet.

Thursday, April 11.-The whole army on shore on Canso Island, being a general review, and several detachments made in the regiments. The General's regiment all worked on Canso Island four hours between the time of review; and at sunset-" Officers and soldiers, on board your respective transports."

*

Friday, April 12.-The stores were landed from on board Capt Morton, viz: eight field pieces, 9 pounders, with carriages and iron wheels, with other warlike stores; also the block house landed from Capt. Jacob Parker on said Canso Island, with a great number of men working.

Saturday, April 13.-Rained, thundered and lightened very much. Block house carried by men from the landing place up to the parade.

*

*

*

Sabbath-day, April 14th.-Capt. Cutter Commandant for Canso Island, with one company, and Capt. Marshal, a second company to keep possession of Canso Island; the eight great guns were hauled up to the fort, and the block house raised.

*

*

*

Tuesday, April 23.-A council of war held on Canso Island "in the block house chamber."

GLEANINGS FROM DR. AMMI RUHAMAH CUTTER'S
CORRESPONDENCE.*

[Vide page 73.]

Three Letters of Sir John Wentworth, 1754, then a Student in Harvard College.

To M' Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, in Portsmouth & Post 3 s.

Dear Sir

Cambridge February 28th 1754

I with pleasure received your kind favour by Mr Warner, who arrived here last Wednesday night. I do assure you Sir it is with the sincerest pleasure that I see a Prospect of renewing my literary correspondence with my agreeable friend Doctor Cutter, Qui semper mihi charissimus fuit & semper erit. The observation you make of the great Variety of pleasing scenes we pass thro' is unjust, as it is now entirely chang'd from what it y" was when your presence bless'd us, and if we had as pleasant living as ever yet without you it wou'd be imperfect to me. The College now is filled up (allmost) of Boys from 11 to 14 Years old and them seem to be quite void of ye Spirit & life which is a general concomitant of Youth, so you may Judge what kind of life I now live, who was won't to live in the gayest and most Jovial manner, when I was first admitted one of this Society which I then thought was a Compound of Mirth and Gaiety as it is now of Gravity. Should you go into a Company of Schollars now, you'd hear disputes of Original Sin, actual Transgression & such like instead of the sprightly turns of Wit & Gay repartees which the former Companys used to have, which makes me cry out (& with reason) with a certain Author Oh Alma mater, how hast thou degenerated from thy Pristine Glory! So that you might have spar'd the Complim of my Good nature as I cannot pleasure myself more than in writing you. Pray don't let that Opinion of my likeing Brevity prevail as I assure you the other is my Choice as you may see by ye length of this Epistle which I hope you'll excuse as it is a pleasure to S Your assur'd Friend

To Dr Cutter.

To Doctor Ammi R. Cutter In Portsm°. #fav' of M' Treadwell.

J. WENTWORTH.

Cambridge April 23rd 1754.

Dear Sir.-I some time since had a pleasing hope that our Correspondence was to be again renewed, which hope does now but faintly glimmer, tho' I do not yet despair, & hope you'll hinder me from Despairs by letting me hear from you when at leasure whch 'do now assure you wou'd be a great and sincere pleasure to me. I hear that we are like to have Treadwell as schoolmaster at Portsm° which I shou'd be very glad of as he is a young Gentleman that I have a great regard for & believe it will be for his advantage; Treadwell tells me

* Communicated by Ralph C. Cutter, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y.

there is as great Scarcity of Pedagogues with you ab' Portsm° which 'hope will be supplied by some of your & my Cantabridgian acquaintance; both for your sake & mine as we shall then have a set of Companions that we can make merry with. Cambridge is barren of news at Present, so I hasten to subscribe myself your sincere friend & hble J. WENTWORTH.

servt

To D' A. R. Cutter.

To Doctor Ammi Ruhamah Cutter In Portsmouth

Post

3-0

Dr. Cutter SI with great pleasure received your favour, which you intended by the young Colonel, who is since arriv'd here safe; I am greatly oblig'd to you for the Compliments you have so liberally bestowed upon me, and wou'd now in my Turn return them, but it is impossible to make any Upon Doctor Cutter, as let one say what they please they can't say more than the Truth of you, so hope all things consider'd you'll excuse the deficiency of this letter in Compliment. As to Cambridge it is as barren of News as Portsm° for their is none stirring here except that Commencement is to be new stile this year, at which time shall be glad to see you here to Celebrate my entrance upon the last year of my Pilgrimage among the Heathen. Shall be very glad to hear from you by eu'ry Opp'ty when you are at leisure your Compliance with whch & Acceptance of this will Greatly oblige your friend & most obed' hble serv1.

Cambridge Sunday noon, May 27th 1754.

J. WENTWORTH.

Papers Concerning the Settlement of Wolfboro', 1760–1771.

Province of New Hampshire.

}

Warrant for a Meeting, Sept. 3d, 1760.

To the Proprietors of the Tract of Land
called Wolfs Borough.-

Greeting: You are hereby Notified and required to assemble yourselves at the dwelling House of Mr. John Stavers, Innholder, in Portsmo., on Wednesday, the 3d Day of Sept. next, at Six of the Clock in the afternoon, then and there to receive the Report of the Committee employed to Lay out said Tract, if they are ready for the same-to Examine the Treasurer's amounts.-To raise such Sum or Sums of money as may be found necessary.-To determine some method relating delinquent Proprietors' Taxes. -To alter the Name of the said Tract Called Wolfs Borough, if you think proper, and to do and act any other matter or Thing relating to said Proprietry, as shall by you be thought Proper & needfull. Dated at Portsmouth the 5th Day of August, anno Domini, 1760. DAVID SEWALL, Prop. Clerk.

Not'd Ten the 6th of August, 1760.

3 Sept. Do. 4.-Proprietors met & voted that Dan'l Peirce Esqr. be moderator for this meeting. Voted this meeting adjourned to the 17th of this Instant September at place before mentioned 7 o'clock afternoon.

Form of a Contract to be made with any Settlers.

This Indenture made & Executed by & Between Paul March, John Wentworth Jun'r & Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, all of Portsmouth in the Province of New Hampr. Gentlemen as a Committee of the Proprietors of a Tract of Land in said Province

called Wolfborough for this Special Purpose Chosen and Appointed at a Meeting of the Proprietors Legally assembled Decem'r 8th, 1762, of the one Part & L. M. of Portsmouth afores'd Yeoman of the other Part Now this Indenture witnesses That the said Committee in Pursuance of their said Trust for promoting the Settlement of said Tract In Consideration of the Covinants herein expressed on the Part of said L. M. to be done and perform'd have and hereby Do give grant Bargain Sell Convey and Confirm unto him the said L. M. all the Right Title Interest Property & Demand the said Proprietors have unto - acres of Land within said Town ship being No. - in a Plan of said Township Returned by Walter Bryant Surveyor with the Privelidges and appurtenances thereof to have and to hold the said described Premises with the Priviledges thereof to him the said L. M. his Heirs & Assigns to his and their use Benefit and Behoof forever and the said Committee do covenant Grant and agree to and with the said L. M. that within the Term of Three Years they will pay or cause to be paid unto him the said L. M. or his Order the Sum of £ old Tenor money of the Province of New Hampr. or other money equal thereto. Whereupon the said L. M. Doth on his part Covenant Grant & agree to and wills the said Comee. their Exer. & adminr. that he will within Three years from the Date hereof clear up Five acres of Land fit for the Mowing & Plowing and Build a House 18 feet Square & will Reside & within said Tract of Land called Wolf borough for the Term of 15 Years to the true and Faithfull performance of which the said Partys have hereunto Interchangeably Set their Hands & Seals the

Minutes taken at a Meeting, Oct. 21st, 1765.

Day of, &c.

At a Meeting of the Proprietors of Wolfborough legally warned held at the house of Capt. Zechary Foss, Oct'r 21st 1765,

Voted that Daniel Peirce Esqr. be Moderator. Voted That the said Township of Wolfborough be laid out as soon as may be into twenty four Shares or Lots reserving the Land already laid out to Josiah Miles Elisha Briant & others, also One hundred Acres for a Mill privilege round the Falls in Smiths River or the most convenient Place for a Mill-that said Lotts shall be equal Quantity for Quality & when laid out drawn for at such time and place as ye proprietors see fitt.

Voted that Daniel Rindge & George Meserve & John Parker be a Committee to agree with Surveyors & others to lay out s'd Land in the best manner they can having Reference to the Number of public high Ways thro ye town. that the above Committee be impowered to agree with Paul March to do ye abovesaid Busyness for the Sum of Twenty five pounds Lawful Money.

that this Meeting be adjourned to Wednesday y 23d Ins. at ye house of Mr. Joseph Simes.

This Meeting further adjourned to Wednesday ye 6th Nov'r.

Paul March's Agreement to settle 10 Familys in Wolfborough, Octo'r 1765. Portsmouth, Nov. 11th, 1765. Whereas Capt. Josiah Miles has forfeited his agreement with the Proprietors of Wolf borough with Regard to Settleing said Township & has not complied with any part thereof, the same necessarily becoming void & of none effect, Therefore we the Subscribers being a Committee fully impowered to Contract with any persons to Settle Said Township do hereby agree with Paul March Esqr. that in consideration of his Settling ten Families this fall or Winter on that part of said Township adjoining to Tuftonboro' & which we have sat off for that purpose we will confirm to each Settler One hundred & fifty acres of Land and to s'd March the same Quantity of land-that is 150 Acres-for his trouble herein. It is to be understood that each Settler shall have by the first day of May next four acres of Land Cleared fenced & fit for tilling one half of which to be sowed or planted next Spring & by the first day of October next to have a good tenantable House built, at least twenty feet Squareor equal thereto & to be there inhabiting on the Spot & there to remain ten years making progressive improvements, or some one else in his or their stead.

Copy.

D. PEIRCE

DAN'L RINDGE

A. R. CUTTER
JNO. PARKER

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