was, probably, different in different places, according to the amount of foreign trade carried on. In October of this year, 1778, Capt. Jas. Watson sold 21 hogsheads of lime in Beverly from his sloop at £9 each, and one ditto at £12; but whether put up in the second-hand molasses casks as was the method at first, or in the 100-gallon casks of a later period, we cannot state. At the same meeting £50 were raised for paying a minister, and E. Snow, S. Brown, and O. Robbins were appointed a committee to hire some one. This being in the same depreciated currency, could not go far in the support of public worship; but it was necessary to do something, as all towns were then required, by law, to provide for instruction in the Christian religion, as well as in common school education.

In neither of these departments, however, did the town as yet and indeed for many years to come, feel able, amid the distresses occasioned by the war and unpropitious seasons, to make much provision for instruction. What schools there were, now as before the incorporation, were got up by private individuals at their own expense. Dr. Fales, from his first arrival, had taught more or less in the old fort or his own house. Other persons, mostly transient, taught in different neighborhoods for short periods. Among these was one who for many years continued to exercise in this and the neighboring region a considerable influence in education and literature. This was John Sullivan, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who, after an indefinite period spent in teaching and shoemaking between here and Pennsylvania, found his way to this place in a somewhat dilapidated condition, to which one of his habitual intervals of intemperance had reduced him. Landing from a coaster at Wessaweskeag in company with one other passenger of more respectable appearance, and calling at the house of Mr. Snow as the principal one in the place and usually resorted to by strangers, he saw his companion invited to a seat at dinner, whilst he, from his shabby costume, together with his queer and ambiguous countenance, was left behind to wait for the second table. After they had dined, he inquired of Mr. Snow if he knew of any one wishing to employ a shoemaker, but was answered in the negative. On asking if there were any other business in which he could get employment, he was told there was none, except that of a school-master, which was then greatly needed. Sullivan observed that he himself had sometimes been employed as a teacher. "If you can satisfy me of your qualifications," said Snow, "I can soon get you employment."

-1

Sullivan offered to submit to any examination.

"Well then,"

said Snow, "let me ask you one question. What is the ground of Justification?" "Satisfaction for the offence," said Sullivan. "Right! right!" said his host, "that is sufficient; go in and take some dinner." And, from that time, an intimate friendship grew up between the two so opposite in character, the one a sober Calvinist, the other a merry and drunken Catholic. The one, at intervals, furnished a home and employment; the other, scientific information and literary entertainment. Sullivan's fund of historical and other anecdote was inexhaustible; - he could argue without heat, joke without offence; and many were the bon-mots and repartees their intercourse gave rise to.

It is not known what success the following application, written in a fair and distinct hand, met with, nor, for want of a date, can we determine at what era it was made, though it was doubtless prior to the incorporation of any town upon this river; and, if "words of learned length and thundering sound" are the only requisites in a school-master, Mr. Ryan certainly ought to have been employed. Here it is: "To the Inhabitants of the Town of St. George's: Gentlemen, permit me to address you with a few lines at yr. publick Meeting, if we seriously reflect on the various Advantages resulting from Education we shall unanimously Conclude that the Knowledge of letters is one of the greatest Blessings that the Divine Majesty of Heaven has bestowed upon the Children of Men, learning furnishes us with uncommon preternatural Endowments of the mind and leads us to full observation of every decent Regulation of the Human life, it illuminates our natural faculties to Discern the Source or Origin of action, which Compels or Induces us to Act according to our Duty to God and Man, finally 'tis an Estate that no outward Violence or Arbitrary power can interrupt or take from us, in consequence of so many Advantages it is a duty incumbent on every Parent to Cultivate their Children in Literature and initiate them in the Knowledge of the secret* Writings, that they may have an early taste of the Beauty and Excellency of them. Therefore, Gentlemen, in hopes of yr. General Approbation, I am encouraged to offer my service in scholastic. Tuition, that I may have the honor To Instruct your Youth, should I be so happy as to Merit your future Esteem, it would give me the greatest pleasure, I would also most humbly apply to you for the Schoolmaster's Lot in your Town, which if

* Probably meaning sacred.

you Grant, will oblige me to make the most grateful Acknowledgements, I shall leave it to your Wise Determination, and Wish you success in all your Annual proceedings Whilst I remain your sincere friend and humble Servant.

"Michael Ryan.

The different and constantly decreasing value of the paper currency, together with the difficulty of raising men for the army, having induced the General Court this year to levy a tax in provisions and clothing, and also men for the army to the number of 2000 in the whole State, this town seems to have been called upon for "two men," only; as appears from the following entry in the town records. "July 23, 1778. At a meeting of the Selectmen ordered that the sum of £14 be paid out of the Treasury of said town to John Adams (a private detached to serve in the State to the first day of January next) and also the sum of £5, 5s. for Milage agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court." August 11th. At a meeting of the Selectmen ordered that the sum of £5, 5s. be paid to Samuel Tolman (a private detached or enlisted as a soldier in the service of this State till the first Day of January next) out of the Treasury of said Town, being for Milage and carrying Packs, agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court." Both of these were signed by the Selectmen. It does not appear whether any articles of clothing and provisions were furnished or not. The records of this year are much less correct and elegant than those of the preceding; some of them having been omitted at the time and entered after some years in a different place.

1779. The annual town meeting at J. Stackpole's house in March of this year, like that of the last, exhibits signs of dissatisfaction and division among the inhabitants; but whether arising from personal, interested, or political motives, it is now difficult to ascertain. After electing the usual officers, the meeting was adjourned to a subsequent day, at which time I. Tolman resigned his several offices of moderator, selectman, and treasurer, and N. Crocket that of selectman; when it was voted to reconsider the choice of P. Porterfield the third selectman also. An entire new board was then chosen, as seen in Table V; and I. Tolman, Samuel Brown, and Wm. Heard, a committee of safety. Wm. Thompson, John Dillaway, and J. Coombs were chosen surveyors of highways; and the selectmen, in April following, assigned them their several districts as follows; viz.: to Dillaway, "all

* Original in possession of Messrs. A. W. & E. Brown.

the roads from the town line at Warren eastward to the old saw-mill and from thence southward to the dwellinghouse of Oliver Robbins inclusive;" to Coombs, "all the roads to the southward of O. Robbins's house;" and to Thompson, “all the roads from the old saw-mill, northward to the town line at Camden." Dillaway was a cooper from Boston, employed by Wheaton in making lime hogsheads, and now married to the widow of J. Shibles, The committee appointed in 1777 to lay out the roads, reported that "we have laid out the the roads in the following manner, to wit: Beginning at the town line at Warren, (where the Cart Way, as it is now trod, is the middle of the road,) thence running Southeasterly and Easterly by marked Trees, Stumps, Stakes, &c., to the old Saw-mill; and from thence Northeasterly by marked Trees, Stakes, &c., to the town line at Camden. And also from the said old Saw Mill Southerly and Southeasterly by marked Trees, Stumps, Stakes, &c., to the Head of a Cove being part of the River or Pond at Wesaweskeeg. The Persons respectively through whose Lands the said Roads are drawn, we expect voluntarily give the same without any Expence or Charge to the town, Provided that others, through whose lands it may be necessary in future to carry Roads, shall do the like. The roads are four rods wide." Signed by "Mason Wheaton, John Mathews, Jonathan Crockit." The town voted to accept this report and establish the roads as described, except near the old saw-mill; where an alteration was voted, so as to "run over the bridge where it now is; unless some Person shall appear to make a foundation for a bridge at his own Expence in the other way." These were the first public roads established in the place; though there is no doubt but that they had been previously used, as such, by passengers on foot and horseback, and, in many parts at least, by sleds and carts; wagons, sleighs, and light carriages, not having been yet introduced. From the fact that no road was at this time laid out down the river to the present St. George, we infer that the settlers there, living. near the river, still made use of that as their highway, as was the general custom in earlier times.

The subject of schools was first brought before the town by an article inserted in the warrant for this meeting; but nothing was done except a vote to raise £100 in addition to the £100 voted the preceding year "for the maintenance and support of the Ministry, Schools, the Poor, and other necessary charges." No assessment of this sum, however, was made this year any more than of the last, probably on ac

count of the declining value of paper money and the disturbance occasioned by the military operations going on in this part of the country. The assessors' pay was this year fixed at 30s. per day; though it does not appear that they had any business to perform, as the records show no vote for raising anything for the repair of roads.

At a meeting, May 19th, on the article to see "if the town will choose a person to represent them in the Great and General Court," it was decided in the negative; and the question whether the town would unite with Waldoboro' and Warren (or either of them) in sending a representative, was also negatived. As representation under the old charter was considered a right belonging to the corporation as such, each town was obliged to pay its own representative; and the desire to avoid this expense without doubt influenced this vote, as it generally did in small and distant towns. On the question this year submitted to the people of this State," whether they choose to have a new constitution or form of government made at this time," the vote here stood, yeas, none; nays, ten. And on the question whether to impower the next year's representative to vote for calling a State convention to form a new constitution," that also was decided in the same manner and probably for the same reason the fear of increasing expenditures in the midst of the distresses of the

war.

A vote was passed for paying Samuel Tolman £45 for his service in the army; but the fourth article in the warrant “to see what the general mind of the town is, concerning the Money that was raised by Subscription, for hiring John Carlton and John Thompson to go into the Army, and to act further thereon," appears, so far as the records show, to have been passed over without notice. These were the two men apportioned to this town by a resolve of the General Court, June 8th; and their pay was probably made up by voluntary contributions.

Besides these two men, other recruits from here were obtained by voluntary enlistment, particularly for the naval service, as may be seen by the following hastily written letter from the gallant but somewhat rough and eccentric Commodore Tucker. "To Mr. Samuel Gragg at St. George. Boston, Feb. 27th, 1779. Mr. Gragg, Sir, I am very glad you have got some hands and should be very glad if you would make as great Dispatch as possible in getting what you can, and what Expences your are at make a Charge and the Navy Board will settlet with you as to Necessary expence you