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©ENEALOGY
COLLECTION
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
http://archive.org/details/proceedingsofmass1v9mass
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PROCEEDINGS
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
GtommitUz of Pufolfcattaru
CHARLES DEANE. CHARLES FOLSOM. SAMUEL A. GREEN.
PROCEEDINGS
asswjfttsttts Historical Steady
6e/r
/ I
1866-1867.
Pufrltsfjtti at tfje ©Jjarp of tij* Peafro&2 JFotrt.
BOSTON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY,
BY WIGGIN AND LUNT.
M.DCCC.LXVn.
CAMBRIDGE : PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON.
PKEFATORY NOTE.
1128340
This volume contains a selection from the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, beginning with the stated monthly meeting in January, 1866, and ending with the stated monthly meeting in March, 1867.
The original manuscripts used in the preparation of the Memoir of Mr. Quincy, and the engraved portrait, included in this volume, were generously furnished by his daughter, Eliza Susan Quincy. The engraving may be regarded as a good representation of the portrait of Mr. Quincy, painted by Wight, and presented to this Society by the "Class of 1829" of Harvard College; though the engraver was chiefly guided by excellent daguerrotypes from life, — the same from which the painter also had derived assistance.
A portrait of the distinguished Honorary Member of the Society, George Peabody, LL.D., is placed at the beginning of this volume, — the first volume pub- lished at the charge of the " Peabody Fund." The pro- ceedings of the meeting at which the letter of Mr.
M
VI PREFATORY NOTE.
Peabody was announced, presenting to the Society the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, (as a fund for print- ing the " Proceedings," and for preserving the Histori- cal Portraits belonging to the Society,) and the resolu- tions and remarks thereupon, may be seen on page 438, under the date of January, 1867. *
Boston, November 1, 1867.
C. D.,
For the Committee of Publication.
CONTENTS.
Pa«k
Prefatory Note v
Officers elected April, 1867 xi
Eesident Members xii
Honorary and Corresponding Members xiv
Members Deceased xvi
JANUARY MEETING, 1866. 1
Announcement by the President of the Death of Col. James
D. Graham and of Mr. Israel K. Tefft 3
Account of an Early Map of Boston 5
Letter of Rufus King to Governor Bowdoin 7
Letter of Rufus King to Elbridge Gerry ....... 9
Paper on the Origin, Organization, and Influence of the Towns
of New England, by Prof. Joel Parker 14
FEBRUARY MEETING. 66
Letters of the Marquis of Buckingham to Sir John Temple . 69
MARCH MEETING. 81
Memoir of Josiah Quincy, by James Walker, D.D 83
SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 3, 1866, in
Commemoration of Jar ed Sparks . 157
Remarks of the President 157
Resolutions submitted by the Standing Committee . . . 162
Remarks of Hon. John C. Gray 162
Prof. Theophilus Parsons 163
Hon. Charles G. Loring 168
Col. Thomas Aspinwall 1"4
[vii]
Vlll CONTENTS.
Page
ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL, 1866. 177
Report of the Standing Committee 179
Report of the Treasurer 180
Report of the Librarian 183
System of Classification of Pamphlets . : . . ... . 188
Report of the Cabinet-keeper 189
List of Officers elected 190
Letter of Hon. Hugh Blair Grigsby 191
MAY MEETING. 196
Paper on the Early Painters and Engravers of New England,
by William H. Whitmore 197
Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland . . 217
Yeas and Nays on Gen. Conway's Motion, 1782 218
JUNE MEETING. 226
Departure of the Recording Secretary for Europe .... 226
Appointment of Delegates to the Archaeological Congress . . 228 Announcement by the President of the Death of Lieut. -Gen.
Winfield Scott 229
Letter of Gen. Scott to the President, April 22, 1862 ... 233
Resolution on the Death of Gen. Scott 234
Remarks of Col. Thomas Aspinwall 234
Announcement by the President of the Death of Bishop Bur- gess, of Maine, and Resolution adopted by the Society . 242
JULY MEETING. 247
Letter of William C. Todd on Fort Venango 248
Letter of Mrs. Mary C. Sparks 250
Announcement by the President of the Death of Hon. Lewis
Cass 250
Paper on the Rank of Students in Harvard College, by Mr.
William G. Brooks 252
CONTENTS. IX
Page
AUGUST MEETING. 254
Letter from Lord St. Germans to the President 255
Rev. John Wheelwright's Fast-day Sermon, January, 1636 . 256 Announcement by the President of the death of Thomas H.
Webb, M.D., and of George R. Russell, LL.D. ... 274
Resolution adopted by the Society 275
Memoir of Joseph Willaro^, Esq., communicated by Rev.
Charles Brooks 275
History of Bacon's and Ingram's Rebellion 299
Letter of Charles Deane, Esq., to the President .... 343
SEPTEMBER MEETING. 347
Deposition relating to the Sword of Warren 348
Paper on the Device of the Seal of the United States, by Col.
William Barton 351
OCTOBER MEETING. 353
Letter of Benj. B. French, Esq., to the President 353
Announcement by the President of the Death of Rev. Francis
L. Hawks, D.D 355
NOVEMBER MEETING. 357
Remarks by Mr. Folsom on the old hymn, "Dies Iras" . . 358
Peabody Museum of American Archaeology 359
Remarks of Rev. James Walker, D.D 359
Rev. Edward E. Hale 360
Letter and Instrument of Gift of Mr. Peabody 364
DECEMBER MEETING. 368
Announcement by the President of the death of Rev. William
Jenks, D.D 369
Resolution adopted by the Society 372
Remarks of Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D 372
Letter of J. Hammond Trumbull, Esq., on the Indian name
"Shawmut" 376
Vindication of the memory of Gen. John Sullivan, by Thomas
C Amory, Esq 380
6
X CONTENTS.
Page
JANUARY MEETING, 1867. 436
Letter of George Peabody, Esq., accompanying his donation to
the Society 438
Kesolutions of the Society 438
Kemarks of Rev. George E. Ellis, D.D 439
Col. Thomas Aspinwall 444
Hon. James Savage . *: . . . . . 446
Hon. Richard Fro*thingham .... 446
Leverett Saltonstall, Esq 448
Adoption of the Resolutions 449
Circular from the Executive Committee of the Peabody Museum
of American Archaeology 449
Aboriginal Relics belonging to the Society to be deposited in
the Peabody Museum 451
Last Will of Capt. John Smith 451
Paper on George Herbert and John Cotton, by Rev. Robert C.
Waterston 457
FEBRUARY MEETING. 462
Library of Col. Peter Force 463
Major Andre's portrait of Miss Shippen 464
11 Monumental Memorials of the Appleton Family," by John
Appleton, M.D 466
MARCH MEETING. 467
Communication respecting the Seal of the Council for New
England, by Charles Deane, Esq 469
Donations by Rev. Charles Burroughs, D.D . 472
Letter of Gen. Washington to Jonathan Williams .... 473 Journal of the Expedition from New London to Woodstock,
1699 .473
Destruction of Deerfield, 1704 478
Accession of Queen Anne 483
Lines from Nicholas Noyes to Cotton Mather 484
News Letters written by John Campbell, 1703 485
Rescript from Queen Anne 501
Speeches at the Inauguration of President Leverett in 1708 . 502
Index 511
OFFICERS
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTOKICAL SOCIETY.
Elected April 11, 1867.
HON. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, LL.D Boston.
®lt:e-|)resikttt8.
COL. THOMAS ASPINWALL, A.M Boston.
HON. JOHN C. GRAY, LL.D Boston.
CHARLES DEANE, A.M Cambridge.
(ftomgponbiitij Hjemiarg. REY. CHANDLER ROBBINS, D.D Boston.
feasrtter. HON. RICHARD FROTHINGHAM, A.M Charlestown.
librarian:. THOMAS C. AMORY, A.M Boston.
(ftabhui-Jiwpa:. SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D Boston.
Hianbrng Committee.
REY. GEORGE E. ELLIS, D.D Charlestown.
HENRY W. TORREY, A.M Cambridge.
SAMUEL ELIOT, LL.D Boston.
WILLI AM C. ENDICOTT, A.B Salem.
WILLIAM G. BROOKS, Esq Boston.
[xi]
RESIDENT MEMBERS,
AT THE DATE OF THE PUBLICATION OF THIS VOLUME, IN THE ORDER OF
THEIR ELECTION.
Hon. James Savage, LL.D. Kev. Joseph B. Felt, LL.D. George Ticknor, LL.D. Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, LL.D. Hon. Charles Francis Adams, LL.D. Rev. George E. Ellis, D.D. Hon. John C. Gray, LL.D. Rev. Nathaniel L. Frothingham, D.D. Hon. George S. Hillard, LL.D. Hon. William Minot, A.M. Hon. Peleg W. Chandler, A.M. Rev. George W. Blagden, D.D. Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D.D. Hon. Solomon Lincoln, A.M. Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D. Francis Bowen, A.M. John Langdon Sibley, A.M. Hon. Richard Frothingham, A.M. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. Henry Wheatland, M.D. Hon. David Sears, A.M. Charles Deane, A.M. Francis Parkman, A.B. Ellis Ames, A.M. Hon. John H. Clifford, LL.D. Hon. William Brigham, A.M. Hon. Emory Washburn, LL.D. Rev. Samuel K. Lothrop, D.D. Rev. William Newell, D.D. [xii]
Hon. Lorenzo Sabine, A.M. Col. Thomas Aspinwall, A.M. Rev. John S. Barry, A.M. John A. Lowell, LL.D. John Lothrop Motley, LL.D. Hon. Charles H. Warren, A.M. Rev. James Walker, D.D. Rev. Edmund H. Sears, A.M. Oliver Wendell Holmes, M.D. Henry W. Longfellow, LL.D. Rev. Frederic H. Hedge, D.D. Jacob Bigelow, LL.D. Hon. George T. Davis, A.B. Hon. Stephen Salisbury, A.M. Henry Austin Whitney, A.M. Rev. William S. Bartlet, A.M. Josiah G. Holland, M.D. Rev. Charles Brooks, AM. Leverett Saltonstall, A.M. Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D.D. Samuel F. Haven, A.M. Hon. Richard H. Dana, jun., A.M. Hon. Levi Lincoln, LL.D. Joseph Palmer, M.D. Hon. George Tyler Bigelow, LL.D. Hon. Caleb Cushing, LL.D. Henry W. Torrey, A.M. Hon. Joel Parker, LL.D. Williams Latham, A.B.
RESIDENT MEMBERS.
Xlll
Hon. Charles Hudson, A.M. Rev. Robert C. Waterston, A.M. Hon. Theophilus Parsons, LL.D. Thomas C. Amory, A.M. Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas, LL.D. Samuel A. Green, M.D. Hon. James M. Robbing. Charles Eliot Norton, A.M. Hon. John J. Babson. Robert Bennett Forbes, Esq. Rev. Edward E. Hale, A.M. Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, D.D. Hon. Theron Metealf, LL.D. William G. Brooks, Esq. Hon. Horace Gray, jun., A.M. Charles Folsom, A.M. Amos A. Lawrence, A.M. Rev. Edwards A. Park, D.D. Charles Sprague, A.M. Rev. William A. Stearns, D.D.
Hon. Francis E. Parker, A.B.
William H. Whitmore, A.M.
George B. Emerson, LL.D.
James R. Lowell, A.M.
Rev. Nicholas Hoppin, D.D.
Nathaniel Thayer, Esq.
John G. Whittier, A.M.
Erastus B. Bigelow, A.M.
William C. Endicott, A.B.
Hon. Eben. Rockwood Hoar, LL.D.
Hon. Seth Ames, A.M.
Josiah P. Quincy, A.M.
Samuel Eliot, LL.D.
George Bemis, A.M.
John Foster Kirk, Esq.
Henry G. Denny, A.M.
Rev. Thomas Hill, D.D.
Charles C. Smith, Esq.
Hon. George S. Hale, A.B.
HONORARY AND CORRESPONDING MEMBERS,
ELECTED UNDER THE ORIGINAL ACT OF INCORPORATION, 1794, IN THE ORDER OF
THEIR ELECTION.
Hon. Gulian 0. Verplanck, LL.D.
Don Manuel Moreno, M.D.
Rev. John Hutchinson.
M. Ce\sar Moreau.
Erastus Smith, Esq.
Joshua Francis Fisher, A.M.
T. A. Moerenhout, Esq.
Usher Parsons, M.D.
Hon. George Folsom, A.M.
Rev. Luther Halsey, D.D.
Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D.
M. Henri Ternaux-Compans.
George Catlin, Esq.
John Winthrop, Esq.
Dom Joaquim Jose da Costa de
Macedo. Hon. David L. Swain, LL.D. Hon. James M. Wayne, LL.D. Rt. Rev. William B. Stevens, D.D. Henry Black, LL.D., C.B. Rev. Charles Burroughs, D.D. Richard Almack, F.S.A. Robert Lemon, F.S.A. John Romeyne Brodhead, A.M. Major E. B. Jarvis.
E. George Squier, Esq.
Miss Frances Manwaring Caulkins.
Thomas Donaldson, Esq.
Hon. George Bancroft, LL.D.
J. Hammond Trumbull, Esq.
Robert Bigsby, LL.D.
James Ricker, jun., Esq.
Henry Stevens, Esq.
Cyrus Eaton, A.M.
Hon. William Willis, A.M.
Frederick Griffin, Esq.
John Carter Brown, A.M.
Rev. William S. Southgate.
Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, A.M.
John Gilmary Shea, Esq.
James Lenox, Esq.
Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Oxford, D.D.
Winthrop Sargent, A.M.
Earl Stanhope, D.C.L.
Hon. William C. Rives, LL.D.
Hon. Peter Force.
Hon. John R. Bartlett, A.M.
G. P. Faribault, Esq.
William Paver, Esq.
HONORARY AND CORRESPONDING MEMBERS,
ELECTED SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE ACT OF 1857.
Honorary.
Frangois Pierre Guillaume Guizot,
LL.D. Hon. Edward Coles. Baron Charles Dupin. M. Francois A. A. Mignet. Count Adolphe de Circourt. Hon. Horace Binney, LL.D. The Very Kev. Henry Hart Milman,
D.D. William C. Bryant, LL.D. Count Agenor de Gasparin. Hon. Millard Fillmore, LL.D. George Grote, D.C.L. M. EdouardRene Lefebre Laboulaye. Major-General John A. Dix. Hon. William H. Seward, LL.D. George Peabody, LL.D. Leopold von Ranke. James Anthony Froude, M.A.
Corresponding. Rev. William B. Sprague, D.D. Rev. Samuel Osgood, D.D. William Durrant Cooper, F.S.A. E. B. O'Callaghan, M.D. Buckingham Smith, Esq. Benjamin F. French, Esq. Francis Lieber, LL.D. William H. Trescot, Esq. Dr. J. G. Kohl.
Hon. Albert G. Greene.
Hon. John P. Kennedy, LL.D.
Hon. George P. Marsh, LL.D.
Benjamin R. Winthrop, Esq.
J. Carson Brevoort, Esq.
The Ven. Lord Arthur Hervey.
Horatio Gates Somerby, Esq.
George H. Moore, Esq.
Hon. William R. Staples, A.M.
Hon. Hugh Blair Grigsby, LL.D.
W. Noel Sainsbury, Esq.
S. Austin Allibone, LL.D.
William Winthrop, Esq.
Henry T. Parker, A.M.
Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D.
Benson J. Lossing, Esq.
Lyman C. Draper, Esq.
George Washington Greene, A.M.
Rev. William G. Eliot, D.D.
Henry B. Dawson, Esq.
Prof. Goldwin Smith, LL.D.
John Forster, Esq.
George T. Curtis, A.B.
Evert A. Duyckinck, Esq.
James Parton, Esq.
William V. Wells, Esq.
Gen. John Meredith Read, jun.
Joseph Jackson Howard, LL.D.
Brantz Mayer, Esq.
John Bruce, Esq., F.S.A.
Rev. Theodore D wight Woolsey, D.D. [xv]
MEMBERS DECEASED.
Resident, Honorary, and Corresponding Members who have died since the publication of the last volume of Proceedings, June 1, 1866 ; or of whose death information has been received since that date : —
Thomas H. Webb, M.D. George R. Russell, LL.D. Rev. William Jenks, D.D.
Resident.
Lucius M. Sargent, A.M. Hon. Charles G. Loring, LL.D. Hon. John A. Andrew, LL.D.
Honorary and Corresponding.
Hon. Lewis Cass, LL.D. Theodore Dwight, A.M Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D.D. [xvi]
Hon. Elijah Hayward.
Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., D.C.L.
PROCEEDINGS
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
JANUARY MEETING, 1866.
A STATED monthly meeting of the Society was held this day, Thursday, Jan. 11, at eleven o'clock; the President, the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, in the chair.
The Librarian announced donations from the American Philosophical Society ; the Boston Society of Natural History ; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; the Library of Congress ; the New-England Historic- Genealogical Society; the New-England Loyal Publi- cation Society ; the New-Hampshire Historical Society ; the Publishers of the " Eight Way" ; Mr. F. W. Ballard ; Edward Breck, Esq. ; Henry B. Dawson, Esq. ; Mr. John W. Dean ; Evert A. Duyckinck, Esq. ; Mr. S. D. Hos- mer; Benj. P. Johnson, Esq.; Mr. James S. Loring; Rev. Elias Nason; Captain Charlemagne Tower; Wm. W. Wheildon, Esq. ; Hon. William Willis ; Mrs. Joseph E. Worcester ; and from Messrs. Bartlet, Green, Law-
2 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
rence, Metcalf, C. Eobbins, E. H. Sears, and Winthrop, of the Society.
The Corresponding Secretary read a letter of accept- ance from 'Evert A. Duyckinck, Esq., of New York, who had been elected a Corresponding Member. Mr. Duyck- inck, in the same communication, stated that he had sent to the Society a copy of the new edition of his " Cyclopaedia of American Literature."
Whereupon it was Voted, That the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. Duyckinck for this gift.
The President read a letter from Stephen H. Bullard, Esq., the Executor under the will of the late Miss Eliza- beth Belknap, stating that, at the request of her niece, Mrs. Jane Marcou, he had sent as a gift to the Society a portrait of her grandfather, the late Dr. Jeremy Belknap.
Mr. Folsom inquired if the portrait was supposed to have been painted during the lifetime of Dr. Belknap ; and called attention to the fact, that among the volumes introduced by the painter into the picture was the second volume of the "American Biography," which was not published until after Dr. Belknap's death. The name of the artist was also on the back of another book, thus, "Painted by H. Sargent, 1798."
Dr. Ellis said he well remembered the portrait, having often seen it hanging in one of the apartments in the house of the late John Belknap. He had always under- stood that the picture was in process of painting when Dr. Belknap died.
Mr. Sibley suggested that some light might be thrown upon the question as to the time when this portrait was painted, or whether it was an original picture, by ascer-
1866.] DEATH OF CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. 3
i
taining whence came the portrait of Dr. Belknap, now hanging in the Librarian's room, which strongly resem- bles this.
Mr. Savage said he well recollected the appearance of Dr. Belknap, and regarded this portrait as an ex- cellent likeness.
Mr. Folsom expressed the hope that the Society might revive its intention of publishing, from Dr. Belknap's manuscripts in the possession of the Society, a memorial volume of him ; and he took occasion to speak of Dr. Belknap as one of the best writers our country had produced.
Dr. Ellis hoped the Society would print a volume of Proceedings, prepared from its earliest records, embody- ing in it such historical memorials from the recollection of the older surviving members as can be collected, which together would serve to secure to us the early history of the Society.
In view of the preparation of such a volume, which for some time had been under contemplation, Dr. Ellis, on the motion of Dr. Bobbins, was added to the Com- mittee on the publication of the Proceedings, with special reference to this subject.
The thanks of the Society were voted to Mrs. Marcou, for the valuable present of the portrait of her grand- father, Dr. Belknap.
The President spoke of the death of three of the Corresponding Members of the Society as follows : —
Colonel James D. Graham, of the United-States Corps of Engineers, died suddenly in this city, on the 28th of December last. He had been one of our Corresponding Members for
4 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
twenty years, and during the last eighteen months had at- tended several of our meetings. He was a native of Virginia, but had remained loyal to the Union during the late rebellion ; and, though, too infirm to take the field, had rendered valuable services to the country in connection with the harbor im- provements of the Atlantic coast. For the last year and a half, he had been in charge of the work for the preservation of Boston Harbor, and in that relation had won the special con- fidence and respect of our city authorities. His services to the country, in running out the North-eastern boundary under the Ashburton and Webster Treaty, were of the highest value. Stationed for many years on the Lakes, he took a leading part in the transactions of the Chicago Historical Society ; and his acquirements and accomplishments had given him an enviable position among scientific men in all parts of the land.
In San Francisco, on the 18th of December, died the Hon. Matthew Hall McAllister, who had also been for many years on the roll of our Corresponding Members. He was a native of Georgia, and in 1827 was selected by President John Quincy Adams as the District Attorney of the United States for the State of Georgia, at a moment when the con- troversy between that State and the general Government, in regard to the Indian Lands, required a man of peculiar fear- lessness and firmness. Mr. McAllister was true to the Union then, as he was afterwards in the days of South Carolina Nullification. In 1855 he was sent to California as the judge of the United-States Circuit Court ; and he devoted himself, with untiring industry, to the arduous duties of this office. The failure of his health prevented his taking any part in the more recent affairs of the country, and he had been compelled to retire from all public service several years before his decease.
The death of still another of our Corresponding Members has been brought to my knowledge within a few days past. Mr. Israel K. Tefft, of Savannah, Georgia, died a few years
1866.] MAP OF BOSTON HARBOR. 5
since, while our relations to the Southern States were too much disturbed to allow of our hearing what was occurring within their borders from day to day. Mr. Tefft was well known as the owner of a very large and interesting collec- tion of historical autograph letters, which he had procured at great cost, and arranged with great care, and which has probably few equals in our country.*
In connection with the notice of the death of Mr. Tefft, the President read a letter from Mr. M. P. Ken- nard, of this city, stating that Mrs. Tefft was desirous of disposing of the large and valuable collection of auto- graphs left by her husband, either to the Massachusetts Historical Society or to the Boston Athenaeum ; that the collection numbers upwards of thirty-five thousand ; that Mrs. Tefft nominally valued them at from §15,000 to §20,000 ; that she was now, in her old age, left well- nigh penniless, from the effects of the war.
The President stated that he understood that the collection, if bought entire, could be purchased for §10,000.
Mr. Deane exhibited an early map of the harbor of Boston, in a mutilated condition. The date is wanting, but he thought it the original from which subsequent maps of the harbor had been made for a number of years. It was called " A New Suruey of the Harbour of Boston in S"ew England. — Done by order of the Prin-
* At a meeting of the Georgia Historical Society, held July 14th, 1862, resolutions of respect to the memory of I. K. Tefft, Esq., its first and only Corresponding Secretary, and one ofits earliest and most devoted friends and patrons, were presented and passed. It is stated that he died on the 30th of June, 1862. He was born in the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island, on the 12th of February, 1794. He lost his father at the age of four years. He received his academic education in Boston. In 1816 he went to Savannah; and in 1821 became editor and proprietor of the "Savannah Georgian" newspaper, jointly with Henry James Finn. He was elected Cashier of the Bank of the State of Georgia in 1848, and filled that position to the time of his decease. — Eds.
6 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
cipall Officers and Coniissioners of His Mafes Navy, and sold by George Grierson at the two bibles in Essex Street, Dublin." Mr. Deane conjectured its date to be somewhere from 1730 to 1740. He remarked that the earliest well-defined map of Boston Harbor, with the islands delineated, which had come under his obser- vation, was the one in a corner of the map of New England, in Neal's "History of New England," pub- lished in 1720.
Dr. Robbins exhibited, and presented to the Society, a broadside proclamation of President Washington, dated January 1st, 1795, appointing Thursday, February 19th, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, "for the manifold and signal mercies which distinguish pur lot as a nation," in " the suppression of the late insurrec- tion," &c.
Mrs. Worcester, of Cambridge, presented to the Society, through Mr. Folsom, a number of volumes of the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, to complete the series to the pre- sent time ; the former volumes having been given last year by her husband, our late esteemed member, Dr. Worcester.
Mr. Folsom also called the attention of members to* the large number of volumes upon the table, relating to the history of the late Rebellion, which had been selected for the Society by Dr. Green, and presented by our associate, Mr. Lawrence.
The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Lawrence, for this valuable addition to the Library of the Society ; and to Dr. Green, for his agency in procuring the books.
1866.] LETTERS OF RUFUS KING. 7
The thanks of the Society were also presented to Mrs. Worcester for the volumes presented by her.
The President communicated a number of Confederate bonds, which had been sent to him for the Society by Major-General Benham, of the United-States Army.
The President read a paper, which had been handed to him by Mr. Deane, purporting to be a list of the authors of the lives in Sanderson's " Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence." The list appears to have been published in the " Daily Cincinnati Gazette," of August 11th, 1827, which paper credits it to the " New-York Times."
The President read the following letters from the Hon. Rufus King, then a member of the Congress of the Confederation, from Massachusetts, — one addressed to " His Excellency Gov!" Bowdoin," and one to Elb ridge Gerry, Mr. King's colleague in the same Congress : —
Riifus King to Governor Bowdoin.
New York, May 18, 1786.
Sir, — The revival of the Newfoundland bill in the late session of Parliament, and the renewal of the Act vesting in the King in Council the regulation of the intercourse between the United States and his dominions, is satisfactory evidence to every impartial man, that Great Britain will not enter into a commercial treaty with this country ; and that, if the accomplishment, of that measure is the only object of the residence of a Minister at London, Mr. Adams may be recalled without farther delay or disappointment.
These Acts are for one year ; and if, during that term, the States of America continue as destitute of an union of measures as they have remained since the peace, they will probably be made perpetual. Un- less the fear of a rival in America induces the British Government to relax their Navigation Acts, no other motive will ; for in fact the effect of every project of a commercial treaty must be an alteration of the laws of navigation.
8 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
The present Ministry are unquestionably against a treaty : indeed, were they well disposed to treat, they would not dare do it without the approbation of Parliament. There the measure would find few or no advocates ; the nation is wedded to their ancient regulations ; and the prejudices of the kingdom are so much in favor of the navigation laws, that he must be a bold Minister who should propose an alteration.
It is said, however, and from probable authority, that the nation would have relaxed their laws in favor of the United Netherlands, could they thereby have prevented the defensive alliance between them and the King of France. But the party of the Prince of Orange, together with a corrupt attempt of the English Minister, failed ; and the alliance was concluded in November last.
It was thought that this alliance would have disposed the British Ministry to measures of friendship with our country; and that, appre- hensive that the United States might become a party in this combina- tion, they would not readily deny or refuse to evacuate the ports now possessed in America, in contravention of the treaty. In pursuance of this idea, and under instructions for that purpose, Mr. Adams made a demand for an evacuation and surrender; and, in February, Lord Carmarthen delivered to Mr. Adams the answer of the King, which declares His Majesty's firm determination to abide by, and carry into full and complete effect, every part of the definitive treaty of peace between His Majesty and the United States ; but remarks, that it cannot be expected that His Majesty will carry the same into effect, unless he discovers a disposition in the United States in like manner to abide by and execute the same ; that the fourth article of the treaty stipulates that no legal impediments shall be opposed to the recovery of the bond fide debts of British creditors, but that laws exist in many of the American States which are interpreted by their respective judicatories legal im- pediments to such recovery ; that so long as these impediments remain, in violation of the treaty on the part of the United States, they have no right to require a full compliance therewith on the part of His Majesty ; but that His Majesty will unequivocally execute the same as soon as he has ascertained that a similar disposition prevails in the United States.
An abstract of the laws of the several States which are said to be in violation of the treaty, was delivered by Lord Carmarthen to Mr. Adams, and by this Minister transmitted to Congress. No acts of any of the four New-England States are complained of, except the act of Massachusetts, passed in 1784, relative to interest. This, however, is
1866.] LETTERS OF RUFUS KING. 9
not truly stated ; and, as it exists, cannot be construed in contravention of the treaty.
It is a pleasing reflection, that nothing is charged against any of the States on the subject of the refugees. This silence tends to evince the truth of the construction which has been contended for by many persons in America, that the clauses in the treaty relative to a restitu- tion of their property and their residence within the States are merely recommendatory, and not absolute.
The foregoing communications are considered as of the first political importance. I have written in much haste ; but, judging the informa- tion necessary, I have thought it my duty to transmit it to you as first magistrate of our Commonwealth. My remarks are totally unneces- sary. One truth is most obvious, " that the happiness, prosperity, and safety of our country must depend upon the united systems and ex- ertions of the several States, and not on the separate arrangements of individual States, or the kindness, favor, or friendship of foreign nations."
Mr. Gorham informs me that he shall write to you in answer to your last. I will do myself the honor to inform your excellency by the next post of the condition of the negotiation for procuring peace from the States of Barbary.
With perfect respect, I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient and very humble servant, Rufus King.
His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.
Rufus King to Elbridge Gerry.
New York, June 4, 1786. My dear Friend, — I have long entertained doubts concerning the line of conduct which Congress ought to pursue relative to the territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio ; and am every day more confirmed in the opinion, that no paper engagements or stipulations can be formed which will insure a durable connection between the Atlantic States and those which will be erected to the westward of the Appala- chian or Alleghany Mountains, provided the Mississippi is immediately opened. The pursuits and interests of the people on the two sides will be so different, and probably so opposite, that an entire separation must eventually ensue. This consequence appears to me so obvious, that I very much doubt whether the United States would ever receive a penny of revenue from the inhabitants who may settle the Western territory.
2
10 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
Should there be an uninterrupted use of the Mississippi at this time by the citizens of the United States, I should consider every emigrant to that country from the Atlantic States as for ever lost to the confed- eracy, Perhaps I am in an error ; but, when men have no interest in an union inconvenient to them in many points, I can discover no prin- ciple which will attach them to such a connection. I know not what advantages the inhabitants of the Western territory would acquire by becoming members of our confederacy. They would want no protection ; their local situation would sufficiently secure them from all foreign hostility ; their exchange of merchandise or commerce would not be across the Appalachian Mountains, but wholly confined to the Missis- sippi.
If these conjectures are just, in true policy, ought the United States to be very assiduous to encourage their citizens to become settlers of the country beyond the Appalachian ? The object of Congress appears hitherto to have been a sale of this country for the sinking of the domestic debt : the immediate extinguishment of this debt is certainly a very important consideration, but it has its price.
Suppose that a treaty could be formed between Spain and the United States upon principles of exact reciprocity, so that the citizens of the latter might introduce into the European and African dominions of the former all sorts of goods and merchandise, upon the same terms on which the subjects of Spain could introduce the same articles ; and, on the other hand, that the subjects of Spain might import into any of the United States all sorts of goods and merchandise, upon the same terms as the citizens of the United States could introduce the same. Suppose farther, that the treaty should stipulate that all the masts, spars, timber, &c, &c, wanted for the national marine of Spain, should be purchased and paid for in the United States with specie, provided the quality of the materials equalled that of the same articles in other countries.
Suppose yet farther, that the Philippine Islands should be opened to the American ships and commerce, and of consequence the gold and silver of Acapulco put within their reach.
Add to the foregoing, an article in the treaty, not to relinquish the right to the free navigation of the Mississippi, but " stipulating that the United States should forbear to use the navigation of the Mississippi for twenty or tiventy-five years."
Would not such a treaty be of vast importance to the Atlantic States, particularly to the Eastern division of them? Would not the
1866.] LETTERS OF RUFUS KING. 11
fish, flour, and other products of the United States, acquire thereby a manifest superiority in Spain over similar commodities of any other country ? "Would not the conventional forbearance of the use of the Mississippi implicate most strongly the right of the United States, independent of the convention or treaty ? If these queries are answered in the affirmative, what objection is there on the part of the United States to conclude such a treaty ?
This question brings into view the plan of extinguishing the do- mestic debt by the sale of the Western territory, the system whereby it is proposed to govern the people who shall settle westward of the Alleghany Mountains and within the United States, and the ability of the United States at this time to contend with Spain in vindicating their right to the free use and navigation of the Mississippi.
I am very sensible that the popular opinion throughout the United States is in favor of the free navigation of the Mississippi, and that the reasons must be strong and important which can successfully oppose this opinion. I am also fully sensible, that the free navigation of that river will hereafter be of vast importance to the inhabitants within the territories of the United States. Yet admitting, what will not be de- nied, that Spain will on no condition agree that any people except those of their own nation shall navigate the Mississippi, are the United States in a condition to assert their right ? If you answer this question as I should {believing, as I do, that a war with Spain, France, or England would terminate in the loss of the fisheries, and the restriction of boundaries, perhaps by Kennebec on one part, and the Appalachian Mountains on the other), is there any substantial objection against an article in a treaty with Spain relative to the Mississippi, such as is alluded to ? If it is a consent to what we cannot alter, considering other benefits to be obtained, it must be wisdom thus to consent.
But how will this article affect the sale of the Western territory ? The answer which the delegates of Virginia (all of whom probably are deeply interested in the Ohio or Kentucky lands) would give, is, that the value of the country west of the Alleghany Mountains depends in a high degree upon the opening of the Mississippi. Admit the fact. It is denied that the United States can, under present circumstances, open that river to their citizens. If so, the value placed upon these lands, which depend upon the opening of the Mississippi, is an ideal value at this time. With men, therefore, who do not wish to involve the United States in a war against policy and sound reason, this objection is of little consideration. The lands perhaps will not produce
12 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [Jan.
so much under the present circumstances of the Mississippi as they would if that river was open ; but, to all persons desirous of becoming settlers, they will sell for a handsome price, and go a good way in ex- tinguishing the domestic debt.
But how 'will such an article affect the intercourse between the inhabitants of the Western territory and those of the Atlantic States ? In my judgment, very favorably. If the former are cut off for a time from any connections except with the old States across the mountains, I should not despair that a government might be instituted, so connect- ing them with the Atlantic States as would be highly beneficial to both, and promise a considerable duration.
But, my dear friend, after all, these are but speculative opinions ; and I am even doubtful of them when a variety of influential motives, which seem to promise well for my country, authorize my assent. I alluded to this subject in my last letter to you. I wish for your counsel. I wish the New-England States were here. I pray you to read these remarks with candor, and in confidence inform me of your opinion. If I had taken time and care to have expressed my sentiments on this subject, I would have requested you to have communicated this paper to your friend Governor Bowdoin, and prayed through you his advice.
I shall be brought to a decision on this question. Congress must determine. If Spain don't conclude a treaty with the United States, I think they will endeavor to guard against the evils they fear from us, by an intimate connection with Great Britain.
I am of a committee now in conference with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs on this subject. Spain wishes a treaty with the United States in preference to any other nation ; and there is no nation with whom the United States could form more beneficial treaties than with Spain and Portugal.
Spain will not give up the Mississippi. But I will not add. I write in great haste and in full confidence. If you are at Boston, and can consult Mr. Bowdoin, I should thank you to do it. I intended to have written to him relative to the Barbary treaties, but have not been able to find the time.
Adieu, yours affectionately, R. King.
Inform me of the receipt of this, and of my last.
Mr. Gerry.
1866.] DONATION OF THE SUFFOLK INSTITUTE. 13
Samuel Tymms, F.S.A., &c, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer to the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, pre- sented to the Society, through the President, and in the name of the Institute, four numbers of the second volume of the " East Anglian."
Mr. Hale inquired if any of the members present had ever met with a reference to Tobacco, in the writ- ings of Shakespeare. He said that he was about to state in print that no such reference could be found ; and he should feel very awkwardly if, the next day after the publication of such a statement, some Shakespeare critic should send him a passage containing the word. Ralph Lane introduced Tobacco into England, from Virginia, about the time that Shakespeare is supposed to have taken up his residence in London. If both Shakespeare and Raleigh were members of " The Mermaid Club," the great dramatist must have seen Raleigh smoking there ; and he thought it a curious fact, that while there was unmistakable reference to America in Shake- speare's writings, he could find no allusion to Tobacco.
Mr. Hale's remarks elicited considerable discussion among the members.
Colonel Aspinwall stated that Virginia tobacco was not an