and twenty acres of ground adjoining, and take a new mortgage of the same, herself? As a mere matter of speculation, I should think this an advisable step. This estate is now valuable, and must every year be becoming more so. It includes by far the most important water lots in the town; and, as yet, my mother has not disposed of one foot bordering on the water. It also includes a new wharf and two stores, with 3 excellent lime-kilns, all of which have lately cost more than $5000. I do not mention the house as an inducement, but $800 were, the last summer, expended in repairing it. I ought to add that the wharf, stores, and lime-kilns, now rent for $400 per annum. The amount for which the estate is now mortgaged is exactly $2000, and no more. I have observed that, for those who have money, it would be a good speculation to employ it in this way. But Mrs. Swan would doubtless be interested by purer and higher motives. Could she see things as they are, she would be disposed to recollect that Gen. Knox was her valued and esteemed friend, and could she see my mother at this moment, she would discard all prejudice and resentment, and see in her only the intimate companion of former days, the widow of her former friend, and now an afflicted, infirm woman, who in all probability has but a short time to remain in this world. It is even so, my kind friend, and I repeat with anguish of heart it is the conviction of her children and indeed of all who behold her. At such a moment as this, it is our first wish that her mind should be at peace, and that she should be undisturbed by business or cares of any kind; but it seems to be our hard fate that the very reverse of all this should be the case. There is scarce a possibility that my mother's heirs would have it in their power to redeem this property, and she, foreseeing this, would much rather it should be in possession of Mrs. Swan than of a stranger, under the idea, as I frankly tell you, that it might eventually prove a benefit to one of her children. James is attached to this spot, and if he ever obtains a respectable station in life, it will be as a country gentleman and in no other way. Should Mrs. Swan, however, refuse to listen to this proposition, it only remains to endeavor to find her satisfactory security in some other form; and another difficulty here presents itself. Mr. Thatcher has just set off for Washington on pressing business; and he appears to be the only individual on whose judgment and fidelity my mother can rely to act as her agent in the business. He will probably return in the course of a month, and Mrs. S. may rest assured that should the above proposal not meet her approba

tion, she shall then be satisfied in some other way. I felt strongly tempted to address myself directly to Mrs. Swan, but the fear of giving offence deterred me. The signs of heart and feeling which, when last in Boston, I observed in her, induced me to think that she will regret to see the family mansion of my dear Father pass into the hands of strangers. Have the goodness to present my warmest regards to Mrs. Sullivan, and believe me, dear Sir, sincerely yours,

"Caroline F. K. Swan." To Mrs. Sage, she also writes, April 2, 1823, among other matters, "There seems at present to be an opening for our having an establishment which we might call our own. The feeble state of my mother's health renders her wholly unable to sustain the cares of a family, and she has determined not to burthen herself with one any longer. Indeed, her only chance for a restoration to tolerable convalescence, must be derived from the use of air and exercise, and some little change of scene. To this end she has come to the resolution of passing the greatest part of the next summer in journeying; and she has offered your uncle the use of her house and all that it contains, rent free, during her life. Whenever she is here, she will pay her board, &c. This certainly is a liberal offer, and much to our advantage. It is time your uncle had a home; and it is truly highly important that he should feel himself of some consequence in the world. Your Mother and your Aunts will understand me, and it is to secure their interest in his behalf that I trouble you with this statement. This scheme cannot go into effect without some assistance from your Grandmama. Indeed it rests with her altogether. If this tide in his affairs is neglected, I see no chance of his ever having a home, and consequently there is no hope of his ever becoming what his mother and all his friends doubtless would rejoice to see him. You will find uncle James not a little rusticated by his long sojourn in the widerness. I trust your society will polish him, and send him back quite. a pattern for the Thomaston gents." These and other affecting appeals to her mother-in-law seem to have had no effect, as in another letter to Mr. Sullivan, dated the 15th of Sept., 1823, she says "my mother's situation is indeed a painful The incumbrance upon her property still remains, and the time for redemption will expire on the first of December. There appear to be difficulties as respects raising the money, which could hardly have been anticipated. The property under mortgage has lately been appraised by three impartial men at $9500, and this estimate is by most persons consider

one.

But

ed much too low. The sum required is only $2000. Is it utterly impossible to prevail with Mrs. Swan to assume this mortgage? Considering the improbability of its ever being finally redeemed, my sister and the other members of the family would much rather it should be in the possession of Mrs. S. than of a stranger. By so doing she would provide a home for her unfortunate son, which would be the most likely means of preserving him from error, and even should he persist in his present course his mother and family will at least be spared the pain of witnessing it. But, my dear Sir, if Mrs. S. remains deaf to our solicitations, will you not assist my mother with your advice and prevent the necessity of having recourse to so ruinous and desperate a measure as raising the money by means of the Brokers?"

From these interesting letters of this unfortunate daughter of Gen. Knox, I would gladly make further extracts; but want of space compels me to forbear. Grenville Mellen, so frequently mentioned and eulogized, was the eldest son of Chief Justice Mellen of Portla', born at Biddeford, June 19, 1799. He graduated at Harvard ... 1818, commenced the practice of law in Portland, removed to Thomaston in Dec. 1822, supplying the place made vacant by the removal of Mr. Wilkinson, and with a fair prospect of success. But, after remaining about a year, he left for North Yarmouth, where he resided about five years, and married Mary Southgate of Portland. Having, in Oct. 1828, buried his wife, and, in the following spring, his only child, he became depressed in spirits and removed to Boston, continuing to write, as he had done from his college days, poems and other articles for the U. S. Literary Gazette and the various periodicals of the day. From Boston he removed to New York, where his delicate health still further declined, and where, after an attempt to regain it by a voyage to Cuba, he died of consumption, Sept. 5, 1841, -having established a name and a fame among the poets and prose writers of our country.

CHAPTER XVII.

ADVANCING STEPS; FIRST

TEMPERANCE

SOCIETY, FIRST

PRINTING OFFICE, FIRST BANK, &C.

Ar a meeting April 7, 1823, the selectmen were appointed a committee to remonstrate against the division of Lincoln and the formation of a new county, west of the Kennebec, with Bath for its shire town. The project failed, and was allowed to rest until consummated by the erection of the counties of Sagadahoc and Androscoggin in 1854.

In consequence of a new law requiring real estate to be taxed for the building and repair of school-houses only in the districts where the same is situated, it became necessary to define the several school districts of the town by territorial limits, instead of by families and dwellinghouses. This subject was referred to the selectmen, together with J. Gleason and W. Heard, whose report with certain amendments was accepted, May 5th; at which time it was voted "that the Selectmen be authorized to agree with Esq. Gleason to furnish a plan of the town." Such plan, however, the compiler of this work has never been able to find.

A committee, consisting of Dr. Daniel Rose of Boothbay, Hon. Benj. Ames of Bath, and Hon. Thos. Bond of Hallowell, having been appointed to purchase a suitable site for a State Prison, which the legislature, on report of a previous viewing committee, had determined to locate in this town, and which was to be constructed under superintendence of Dr. Rose,―met, Feb. 18, 1823, and, after inspecting the several localities of the place, decided, May 7th, in favor of Limestone Hill. The site, consisting of ten acres of land, including the quarry of limestone so long used by the first proprietor and his successors, Wheaton, Knox, and others, and extending from Main street to George's river, was purchased of ExGov. King, at a cost of $3000, and the building, as far as its eaves, contracted for at $12,000. The contractors (from Quincy or Boston) had, by the middle of July, no less than fifty men employed on the ground, with two lighters transporting the granite from St. George; and, after Gov. Parris and one of the council had inspected the work, Oct. 15th, they finished their job and left by Nov. 24th. Other contracts were made; among which Jos. Berry was to cover the top of the hospital with rock for $500, which, with the house for the warden, was finished within the year. In June, 1824, all being in readiness, and Dr. Rose having been appointed war

den, convicts began to arrive, fourteen having been brought by water from Charlestown, Mass., July 14th, making, with those previously received, a total of 35,-mostly employed in the lime quarry. In 1828, the western wing was enlarged by the construction of 20 additional cells. The original plan of the prison, by which the convicts were nightly let down through an opening in the stone floor to cells ill-ventilated, damp, and cold, not proving satisfactory, a great improvement on the side of humanity was made in repairing and remodelling it, in 1843, by constructing three tiers of cells, one above another, substantially built of stone, entered by iron doors of open grates, secured by an iron bar running the whole length of each tier and simultaneously bolted. This alteration was planned and executed chiefly, we believe, by agency of Dr. B. F. Buxton of Warren, at that time one of the inspectors, at a cost of $13,177,- -the sanction and appropriations for which were greatly aided by Hons. A. H. Hodgman and B. Fales of the House together with J. L. Patterson of the Senate. The limestone got out by the convicts not meeting with sufficient demand, the hewing of granite, brought up the river from a quarry which the State purchased in St. George, was to a considerable extent substituted later; but the shoe and carriage makers' shops having eventually been found the most profitable, at present employ the greatest portion of the inmates. A large part of the prison having been destroyed by fire, Dec. 22, 1850, the warden took immediate measures for repair; and being visited, Jan. 2, 1851, by Gov. Hubbard and council, his doings were approved and $5,500 appropriated to conclude the work. A main building of stone was erected, and nearly completed in May, 1851. The stone wall around the whole yard, in progress some years, was finished in 1854. In 1855, a guard-house was built on the south-east corner of the wall and a story added to the wheelwright's shop-$3000 having been appropriated. In 1858, the number of prisoners had so much increased (numbering 128) that there was a great want of room; and, though $13,000 were appropriated in March of that year, nothing was done, in consequence of the sum being supposed insufficient for the plan proposed by the architect employed to make examination. Warden Rose's successors have been Joel Miller of St. George in 1828, John O'Brien of Thomaston in 1836, Benjamin Carr of Palermo in 1839, Wm. Bennett of Ellsworth in 1850, Thomas W. Hix of Rockland in 1855, Wm. Bennett again in 1856, Thomas W. Hix again in 1857, and Richard Tinker of Ellsworth in 1861. The last