Part 14

This volume is the _eightieth_ of the Massachusetts Register, and its value as a work of reference will, we think, be appreciated by the public for as many years to come. Such a work is much needed by all classes of business men throughout the state. It comprises statistics of civil officers; professional men; societies and associations, literary, scientific, religious, and benevolent; commerce; mercantile affairs; naval and military officers; courts and justices; institutions of learning, and also those for benevolent purposes; corporations of all kinds. It is literally _multum in parvo_. Mr. Loring, who has much of a historical taste, deserves great praise for his endeavors to render it accurate and useful; and it should have an extensive circulation in the state.

The publishers of the Register have been as follows:

In 1767, Mein and Fleming, at the London Bookstore, north side of King street, now State street; in 1774, Mills and Hicks, School street, next door to Brackett's Tavern, sign of Cromwell's Head; in 1779, Thomas and John Fleet, sign of the Bible and Heart, corner of Cornhill and Water street; in 1801, John West and Manning and Loring, until 1813, when its publishers were West, Richardson, and Lord, and the present publisher, who has been a proprietor for forty-six years past.

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_A Statistical View of the Population of Massachusetts, from 1765 to 1840. By Jesse Chickering._ Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown. 1846. pp. 160.

"The object of this essay is to exhibit the increase of the population of Massachusetts, and the changes which have taken place in the number and proportion of the inhabitants in the several parts of the Commonwealth, during the period of seventy-five years from 1765 to 1840." "The censuses consulted in the preparation of this work are the Colonial census, ordered in 1764 and finished in 1765, and the six censuses of the United States, taken at intervals of ten years, from 1790 to 1840." The number of inhabitants in Massachusetts in 1765, from various calculations is estimated at 244,149, exclusive of 1,569 Indians. In 1790, according to the United States census published in 1791, the population was 378,787, which is adopted as the true number; in 1800 it was 422,845; in 1810, 472,040; in 1820, 523,287; in 1830, 610,408; and in 1840, 737,700.

The U. S. censuses of 1790, 1800, and 1820 were taken August 1st; and those of 1810, 1830, and 1840 were taken July 1st; so that the intervals between the second and third, and the fourth and fifth were two months _less_ than ten years, while that between the third and fourth was two months _more_ than ten years. These differences in the length of the intervals affect the numerical results, but so slightly, as not to be materially important in the comparative results, especially for so long a period as from 1790 to 1840. The least increase discovered in any period is in that embracing the time from 1810 to 1820; probably owing in some degree to the war then existing with Great Britain and the emigration of many citizens to the West. In the period from 1765 to 1790, the increase was greater than it has ever been.

The increase of Boston, in proportion to its inhabitants, from 1765 to 1790 was very much less than that of the country towns, while from 1790 to 1840 it was very much greater, thus showing the modern tendency to centralization. Besides the great amount of statistical matter of which the above is an exceedingly brief epitome, it contains a table showing the average number of inhabitants in each year, according to the U. S. censuses, together with the increase, on the supposition of a uniform rate of increase in each year, the same being carried on to 1850, at the rate of increase from 1830 to 1840. Much other valuable matter is contained in this publication; manifestly of great labor and of apparent accuracy. Such a work as this of Dr. Chickering was much needed to rectify the many errors which had arisen in the taking and computing the censuses. We only add, that could such a statistical view be taken of every state in the Union, many important facts would be discovered and many data be obtained, from which inferences might perhaps be drawn greatly interesting and useful.

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_A Discourse delivered before The Maine Historical Society at its Annual Meeting. September 6, 1846. By George Folsom. "But I doubt not * * * it will prove a very flourishing place, and be replenished with many faire Towns and Cities, it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant."_--F. Gorges. Description of the Province of Maine. Portland: Published for the Society. 1847.

The subject of this discourse is the early discovery and settlement of Maine, and the character of those who were most active in the work of colonization. It clearly indicates the author to be a man of historical research not only in regard to the state of Maine, but also in respect to New England and the early settlers generally. It is well worth the careful perusal, both of those who are fond of historic lore, and those who are searching for truth; as it contains facts which are important and are not generally known.

Mr. Folsom concludes his discourse of 75 pages as follows: "In my humble opinion, Maine owes some public acknowledgment to the memory of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, for having laid the foundation of its existence as a separate and independent community. Bradford and Winthrop are names that will never die amongst their successors at Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay; Pennsylvania will never forget her obligations to the illustrious Friend of humanity who peopled her wilderness; nor will Georgia suffer the memory of the enlightened Oglethorpe to perish; Maryland has stamped the name of Baltimore upon her brilliant commercial metropolis, and North Carolina has her 'city of Raleigh,' although the projected colony of Sir Walter proved a splendid failure. And shall Maine do nothing to mark her sense of the merits of the liberal patron and successful abettor of the first settlements within her limits; who expended a large fortune upon his projects of discovery and colonization; who, when the country was abandoned and denounced by others as too cold and dreary for human habitation, actually hired men to pass the winter here to prove the contrary; and who died without reaping any substantial return for all his labors and outlays, leaving only a legacy of lawsuits to his descendants? It is time that justice was done to his memory. From the small beginning he made, this community has become a widely extended, populous, and wealthy state--rich in her resources, and not less distinguished for the active enterprise and laborious industry of her population. She can well afford to honor the memory of the man who foresaw all this, and devoted the energies of a long life to its consummation."

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_The Sin and Danger of Self-Love, described in a Sermon preached at Plymouth, in New England, 1621, by Robert Cushman. With a Memoir of the Author._ Boston: Published by Charles Ewer, and for sale by Crocker & Brewster, Samuel G. Drake, Little & Brown, James Munroe & Company, Benjamin Perkins, and James Loring. Dec. 22, 1846.

The text from which this sermon was written is, 1 Cor. x.:24. _Let no man seek his own: but every man another's wealth._ It is divided into two parts: 1. A _Dehortation_, consisting of the first clause. 2. An _Exhortation_, comprising the latter clause. The design of the discourse was to keep up the noble flow of public spirit in the emigrants, which perhaps then began to abate, through their accumulating hardships and sufferings, but which was necessary for their preservation and security. The author exhorts his hearers to assist each other in their labors and toils, to distribute their property among those that were needy, and so far as consistent to seek their neighbors' happiness and prosperity. "The discourse is a precious relic of ancient times. The sound sense, good advice, and pious spirit, which it manifests, will, it may be hoped, now, and in all future time, meet with approval and beneficial acceptance in our community." It is written in the quaint old-fashioned style of our Forefathers, and we noticed that the last head of remarks, which contains but one sentence, is just a page in length. The discourse is preceded by a Biographical Sketch of Mr. Cushman, by the late Hon. John Davis of Boston, together with a letter from him to Charles Ewer, Esq., and a brief Address by Mr. Cushman to "his Loving Friends the Adventurers for New England, together with all Well-Willers and Well-Wishers thereunto," dated "Plymouth in New England, December 12, 1621." These several articles form a pamphlet of 32 pages, well printed, which, on account of its Christian and patriotic principles, should be generally diffused. For this improved edition, we are indebted to the liberality of the publisher.

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_Deficiencies in our History. An Address, delivered before the Vermont Historical and Antiquarian Society, at Montpelier, October 16, 1846, with an Appendix containing the Charter, Constitution, and By-Laws of the Society, the Vermont Declaration of Independence, January 15, 1777, the Proceedings of the Convention, 4th of June, 1777, and the Song of the Vermonters, in 1779. By James Davie Butler, Professor in Norwich University_. Montpelier: Eastman and Danforth. 1846.

The design of this address seems to be, to illustrate the importance of preserving the fragmentary and unpublished history of Vermont, a state which for interest in its early history is surpassed by no other in the Union. Notwithstanding this, however, it has been greatly neglected. Prof. Butler urges strongly upon the members of the Society to exert themselves to repair the losses, and give to the world an honorable account of the Green Mountain State. While others have given partial and one-sided details of her history, no true son has arisen to vindicate her honor. Says Mr. Butler, "Let us leave our history to be written by foreigners, and it will be the play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet omitted.--The Genius of history says to us, all and each, that thou doest do quickly; like the sibyl to the ancient king, she year by year brings with her fewer and fewer antique records, but unlike the sibyl demands for them an even increasing price.--The records of our fathers have in part perished with them,--some of them live in the memories of patriarchs, who still stand among us with eyes undimmed and natural force not abated, as if on purpose that such as hold the pen of the ready writer may still embalm their sayings.--Let us redeem the time, since if our old men pass away unquestioned, no buried Pompeii can be raised from the grave to enlighten our wilful ignorance." The discourse is interspersed throughout with historical gems, and in connection with the additional documents forms a valuable production.

Professor Butler has kindly furnished us with a genealogical account of the Butler Family, which will be inserted in the next No. of the Register.

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_The Patrician: Edited by John Burke, Esq., Author of the Peerage, Landed Gentry, &c._ May, 1846. London: E. Churton, 26 Holles Street. pp. 94.

The dedication of the work is as follows:

To the Right Honorable Lord Leigh, of Stoneleigh, the first volume of the Patrician is respectfully inscribed.

The number before us is the _first_ of the first volume. Ten have already been issued. It is a work devoted to History, Genealogy, Heraldry, Topography, Antiquities, and General Literature. Each number contains a long list of births, marriages, and deaths. The editor must be a man of varied learning, and particularly acquainted with the subjects of which he treats. The work is not adapted to the public generally, and must, therefore, be limited in circulation. As an English production it may be interesting to the higher classes or nobility of England; but it cannot attract the attention of Americans.

+------------------------------------------------------------------- | | PROSPECTUS | | OF THE | | NEW ENGLAND | | HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. | | REV. WILLIAM COGSWELL, D. D., EDITOR. | | | The NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC, GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY proposes to | publish by subscription a Quarterly Journal, to be entitled, | "THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER." The | period has arrived in this country, when an awakened and | a growing interest begins to be felt in the pursuit, and | especially in the results, of Historical and Genealogical | Researches; and when the practical value, both to individuals | and to society, of the knowledge which is obtained by | investigations of this kind, from the scattered and perishable | records of local, domestic, and traditionary history, begins | to be appreciated by increasing numbers. The existence and | active exertions of Historical, Antiquarian, and Statistical | Societies, which have sprung up within a few years past in most | of the older states of the Union, are a sufficient evidence of | this fact. | | The formation of the NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC, GENEALOGICAL | SOCIETY, which has received a Charter from the Massachusetts | Legislature, and which, as its name imports, proposes to | direct its attention to the illustration of History in one | of its most elemental and original departments, has been | received with a degree of encouragement and favor, which | leaves no room to doubt that a deep interest is felt by many | in the community, in subjects of this nature; and that the | materials exist, in various stages of preparation, as the | fruit of personal exertions, for enriching the collections of | a general Depository; and thereby leading to a more extensive | diffusion of the facts and documents, out of which this | branch of Literature in our country has yet to be principally | created. The Periodical to be issued by this Society, will be | one important means of accomplishing the end in view. It will | comprehend such materials as the following; namely, | | 1. Biographical Memoirs, Sketches, and Notices of Persons who | came to North America, especially to New England, before Anno | Domini 1700; showing from what places in Europe they came, | their families there, and their descendants in this country; | | 2. Full and minute Genealogical Memoirs and Tables, showing | the lineage and descent of Families, from the earliest dates | to which they can be authentically traced, down to the present | time, with their branches and connections; | | 3. Tables of Longevity, Statistical and Biographical, Accounts | of Attorneys, Physicians, Ministers and Churches of all | denominations, of Graduates at Colleges, Governors, Senators | and Representatives in Congress, Military Officers, Merchants, | and other persons of distinction; and occasionally entire | Tracts, which have become rare and of permanent Historical | value; | | 4. Lists of Names, found in ancient documents, such especially | as were engaged in any honorable public service; also the | documents themselves, when they may contain any important facts | illustrative of the lives and actions of individuals; | | 5. Descriptions of the Costumes, Dwellings, and Utensils of | various kinds, belonging to the earliest times to which the | Ancestry of Families may be traced; to be accompanied, when | practicable, with drawings or engravings; | | 6. Ancient Inscriptions and Epitaphs, with descriptions of | Cemeteries, Monuments, Tombs, Tablets; also, extracts from the | Town and Parish Records of New England; | | 7. Descriptions of Armorial Bearings, and of other Heraldic | devices, occasionally emblazoned, with sufficient explanations | of the principles and terms of Heraldry. | | The Publication will embrace many other materials of a | Miscellaneous and Statistical character, more or less connected | with its main design; which, it is believed, will contribute to | render it interesting to intelligent persons of every class in | the community. | | Each Number will be embellished with a Portrait of some | distinguished individual. There will also occasionally be other | engravings in the work. | | | CONDITIONS. | | The Work will be issued Quarterly, each Number containing at | least ninety-six pages, octavo, upon good paper, and with fair | type; making annually a volume of about four hundred pages; the | Numbers to be issued in January, April, July, and October. | | The price to Subscribers will be TWO DOLLARS a year, payable on | issuing the first Number. Any person obtaining subscriptions | and becoming responsible, for six copies of the work, shall be | entitled to the seventh copy gratis. | | Subscription Papers to be returned to the address of SAMUEL G. | DRAKE, Publisher, 56 Cornhill, Boston. | | | NOTICE. | | All communications, which are designed for insertion in the | Register, or which respect the editorial department, should be | addressed to the Editor, at Boston. | | All orders for the Register, and all communications respecting | the pecuniary concerns of it, should be directed to Samuel G. | Drake, 56 Cornhill, Boston. | | * * * * * | | ☞In the Press, and will soon be published, the History of | Shrewsbury, by A. H. Ward, Esq., in which will appear a | Genealogical Table or Family Register, containing a History of | the inhabitants from the settlement of Shrewsbury, in 1717, to | 1829, and of some of them to a later period; so far as regards | their marriages, children, ages, and deaths; and also their | ancestors, so far as can be obtained. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcriber's Notes:

Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.

Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

Enclosed italics markup in _underscores_.