Chapter 7

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Remarkable instances of longevity.

LONGEVITY. Mafeus, who wrote the history of the Indies, which has always been a model of veracity as well as elegant composition, mentions a native of Bengal, named Numas de Cugna, who died 1566, at the age of 370. He was a man of great simplicity and quite illiterate; but of so extensive a memory, that he was a kind of living chronicle, relating distinctly and exactly what had happened within his knowledge in the compass of his life, together with all the circumstances attending it. He had four new sets of teeth; and the color of his hair and beard had been very frequently changed from black to grey, and from grey to black. He asserted that in the course of his life, he had 700 wives, some of whom had died, and the others he had put away. The first century of his life passed in idolatry, from which he was converted to Mahometanism, which he continued to profess to his death.--The account is also confirmed by another Portuguese author, Ferdinand Lopez Casteguedo, who was historiographer royal.

_Salem Observer,_ Feb. 22, 1834.

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LONDON, May 28.

_Remarkable Instances of Longevity in Europe._

THOMAS PARRE, of Shropshire, died on the 16th of November, 1635, aged 152.

James Bowes, of Killinworth, in Shropshire, died the 15th of August, 1656, aged 152.

Anonymous, of Yorkshire, aged 140, and his son, aged 100, were both living, and attended to give evidence at York Assize, in 1664.

F. Sagar, of Lancashire, died in January, 1668, aged 112.

Henry Jenkins, of Yorkshire, died on the 8th of December, 1670, aged 169.

Robert Montgomery, of Yorkshire, was living in 1670, aged 126.

Countess of Desmond, Ireland, aged 140.

Mr. Ecleston, of Ireland, died 1691, aged 143.

Mr. Lawrence, of Scotland, living, aged 140.

Mary Gore, born at Collinworth, in Yorkshire, lived 100 years in Ireland, and died at Dublin in 1727, aged 125.

Mr. Ellis, of Surrey, died about 1748, aged 137.

Simon Sack, of Trionia, died on the 30th of May, 1761, aged 141.

Col. Thomas Winsloe, of Ireland, died on the 12th of August, 1766, aged 156.

Francis Consist, of Yorkshire, died in January, 1768, aged 150.

Francis Bons, of France, died on the 6th of February, 1769, aged 124.

Christopher Jacob Drakenberg, of Norway, a boatswain in the Danish navy, died on the 24th of June, 1770, aged 146.

Margaret Forster, of Cumberland, aged 136.

Gen. Oglethorpe died in August last, aged 103.

A goldsmith, of France, died in June, 1776, aged 140.

Mary Yates, of Shropshire, died in 1776, aged 128.

John Brookley, of Devonshire, living in 1777, aged 134.

Miss Ellis, daughter of Mr. Ellis, of Surrey, died in 1781, aged 104.

Mr. Froome, of Holms-Chapel, in Cheshire, died in May last, aged 125.

Mary M'Donald, county of Down, in Ireland, died on the 16th of June last, aged 118.

Mary Cameron, of Invernessshire, in Scotland, died in July last, aged 130.

Miss Ellis, of Richmond, in Surrey, living on the 16th of August last, aged 105.

Mr. Rowe, at Nutwell-House, in Scotland, died in August last, aged 106.

Donald McKeen, of Argyleshire, in Scotland, died in September last, aged 109.

John Button, of Liverpool, died on the 18th of November last, the oldest burgess of that borough upon record; he lived in six reigns, being born in the reign of James II.

Mr. Smith, a farmer, at Dolver, in Montgomeryshire, died in November last, aged 103: He was never known to drink any thing but buttermilk.

John Follart, woolcomber, at Norney, near the city of Exeter, living and in good health on the 30th of November last, aged 121; he works still at his business, and retains his faculties.

_Massachusetts Gazette,_ Sept. 1, 1786.

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PHILADELPHIA, August 19.

_Instances of Longevity in America._

In South-America there was said, in the year 1785, to be a negro woman living, aged about 175; she remembered her first master, who died in 1615, and that he gave her away with some other property towards sounding a school.

Some years ago there was living in Virginia, a native of Ireland, who at the age of 109, was able to work at the taylor's trade without spectacles; and what renders this case more remarkable, he was naturally very intemperate, and would get drunk as often as he could get liquor.

In the year 1776, died one Mr. Payne, in Fairfax, Virginia, upwards of 100 years of age.

Died, November, 1782, in this city, Mr. Edward Drinker, almost 102, being born December 24, 1680, in Philadelphia.

In the year 1782, there was living, near this city (and perhaps may be still living) a healthy negro woman, able to walk several miles in a day, and wash clothes, who was then, as near as she could tell, about 103.----She remembers her being brought to this city before any houses were built here.

Died last summer, in New-York, Mrs. Slock, aged 108 years and one half.

Last winter died at Jones's creek, a branch of Pee Dee, in North-Carolina, Mr. Mathew Bayley, aged 136: he was baptised when 134 years old; had good eye sight, strength of body and mind until his death.

There was a woman living last winter, in Uxbridge, state of Massachusetts, of the name of Aldrich, and likely to live many years, who has 12 children, all living, and has lived till 25 of the fifth generation are born, the eldest of which is more than eleven years of age.

Died on Tuesday the 1st inst. at Hudson, in New-York, Mrs. Christina de Lametter, in the 94th year of her age. She died merely of old age, without any kind of disease or fever; but descended very slowly and patiently to the bottom of the hill of life. She was a woman, who, through life, has been remarkable for her silent resignation to the divine will. What renders the last part of her life remarkable, is, that she lived 39 days without any sustenance whatever, except about two spoonfuls of wine with water daily; the vital motions and functions being so near a cessation, that the solids needed no reparation; yet she retained all her senses to the last moment.

In the year 1774, died at Danvers, in Massachusetts, Mr. ---- Nelson, aged 106 years.

_Massachusetts Gazette,_ Sept. 1, 1786.

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STOCKHOLM, Aug. 8.

A widow lately died near Landscrone, aged 118 years. She continued to get a livelihood by spinning till she was 116.

_Salem Mercury,_ Nov. 25, 1786.

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DINNER IN "OLD TIMES."

It was an old custom in New England to begin dinner with pudding instead of soup. Many persons of the last generation may remember, as the writer distinctly does, seeing old people who still adhered to this practice as late certainly as from 1850 to 1860. The writer was once at a dinner where all the family began with soup except the father, a gentleman of the old school, who had a piece cut from a fresh-baked plum-pudding. He remarked to the company that such had always been his practice; and so he excused himself for keeping to his own fashion of dining. The custom of eating pudding before meat is still very common in Yorkshire, England. The following extract from a Boston paper of 1819 shows that John Adams, in 1817, kept up the old style of dinner, which, as might perhaps be imagined, was not confined to the common people, so called.

In "old times" it was customary to say to children, "Those who eat the most pudding shall have the most meat."

_Extract from the "Narrative of a Journey of 5000 miles through the Eastern and Western States of America," in 1817.--By Henry B. Fearon, an Englishman._

PRESIDENT ADAMS.

The ex-president is a handsome old gentleman of eighty-four; his lady is seventy-six: she has the reputation of superior talents, and great literary acquirements. I was not perfectly a stranger here, as a few days previous to this I had received the honor of an hospitable reception at their mansion. Upon the present occasion the minister (the day being Sunday) was of the dinner party. As a table of a "_late king_" may amuse some of you, take the following particulars:--first course, a pudding made of Indian corn, molasses and butter;--second, veal, bacon, neck of mutton, potatoes, cabbages, carrots, and Indian beans; Madeira wine, of which each drank two glasses. We sat down to dinner at one o'clock; at two, nearly all went a second time to church. For tea, we had pound cake, sweet bread and butter, and bread made of Indian corn and rye, similar to our brown home-made. Tea was brought from the kitchen, and handed round by a neat white servant girl.

The establishment of this political patriarch consists of a house two stories high, containing, I believe, eight rooms; of two men and three maid servants; three horses and a plain carriage. How great is the contrast between this individual, a man of knowledge and information--without pomp, parade, vitious and expensive establishments, as compared with the costly trappings, the depraved characters, and the profligate expenditure of ---- House, and ----! What a lesson _in this_ does America teach! There are now in this land no less than three Cincinnati!

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Hogs in New York streets.

Yesterday forenoon, while in Broadway, we witnessed another instance of the impropriety of suffering Hogs to run at large in our streets. A highly respectable and most worthy young lady, was literally run down by a large Hog that was pursued by a dog. In her fall, her breast struck the curb stone, and she was considerably injured. After she had partially recovered, the gentleman at whose store she had made some purchases, kindly conveyed her to her father's house in a carriage. The reader may easily imagine the distressing effect produced on the mind of a fond parent, at the sight of a darling child, whose pale cheeks plainly indicated her situation. --> _What would not the citizens of Boston say of their Police, if Hogs were permitted to run loose in the streets_?

_Columbian Centinel,_ Boston [1817].

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English blunders about America in 1802.

_From the_ (Newyork) EVENING POST.

SPECIMENS _of the_ IGNORANCE _and_ BLUNDERS _of_ English Geographers, Tourists, _&c. &c. with respect to_ AMERICA.

THE Rev. R. Turner, who has published a book called Classical Geography, gives the following account of the cities of Philadelphia and Newyork. "Philadelphia, (says he) is the finest and _best situated_ city in America, containing _thirty thousand_ houses and one hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, who are mostly quakers!!!"--"Newyork contains three thousand houses and twelve thousand inhabitants!"

Another book, intitled Guthrie's improved Geography, after setting forth in the preface that their (the Editors) relation of America, will be found both satisfactory and complete, as they have not only carefully examined the works of the celebrated Morse, but likewise applied to several other authentic sources, which have enabled them to give the best information in the most satisfactory manner, states that "the city of Newyork contains five thousand inhabitants, chiefly of Dutch extraction." Here is pretty strong evidence of the diligence of these London bookmakers, as to applying to the most authentic sources of information, as they profess to have done. An imposition of this kind in any American publication, would afford a fine opportunity for an English Reviewer to rail against our national honesty.

The very last edition of Guthrie's original work, describing the river Hudson, states that this river is navigable to Albany, which is "_six hundred miles from Newyork_."

An English Tourist, whose name is not just now recollected, has published a volume of his travels through the United States, in which he speaks particularly of the orderly manner in which Elections are conducted in the city of Newyork. "On the appointed day, says he, all the citizens take care to be at home at a certain hour, at which time the inspectors of the election go through the city with ballot boxes in their hands, and call at every door for votes, whereupon the citizens step to their doors and deposit their ballots in these same small boxes, which are straightway carried to the City Hall; the votes are there examined, and thus the election is determined in a few hours, without uproar or inconvenience!!!"

An English Editor of a work, called the _German Museum_, in his translation of some memoirs of Major André, records, that this unfortunate officer was taken and hanged "_at the west point of America_."

A London paper some time ago made mention of certain improvements which were taking place in Newyork, with a view to promote the health of the city, and observed that our corporation were erecting a range of permanent wharves on one side of the city, which were to extend from Corlear's Hook to the Battery _along the Delaware River_!

Some notice shall be taken hereafter of the misrepresentations and falsehoods of Laincourt, Weld, Bulow, and a number of others, relative to the United States.

_An_ AMERICAN. _Worcester Spy._

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SECRET LOVE.

_From a very rare volume of old Poetry._

The fountaines smoake, and yet no flame they shewe; Starres shine all night though undeserned by daye; And trees do spring yet are not seen to growe; And shadowes move although they seem to staye; In winters woe is buried summers bliss, And love loves most, when love most secret is.

The stillest streame descries the greatest deepe; The clearest skye is subject to a shower; Conceit's most sweete, when as it seems to sleepe; And fairest dayes do in the morning lower: The silent groves, sweete nymphes theye cannot misse, For love loves most, when love most secret is.

The rarest jewels hidden virtue yield. The sweete of traffique is a secret game; The yeere once old doth show a barren field And plants seeme dead, and yet they spring again. Cupid is blind; the reason why, is this, Love loveth most, when love most secret is.

_Salem Register,_ 1827.

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_George the Fourth_.--The attributes of this potentate, who was the most popular monarch England has had for many years, are thus severely described, by Thomas Jefferson in his correspondence of 1789.

"He has not a single element of mathematics, of natural and moral philosophy, or of any other science on earth, nor has the society he kept been such as to supply the void of education. It has been that of the lowest, the most illiterate and profligate persons of the kingdom without choice of rank or mind & with whom the subjects of conversation are only horses, drinking matches, bawdy houses, and in terms the most vulgar. The young nobility, who begin by associating with him, soon leave him disgusted with the insupportable profligacy of his society; and Mr. Fox, who has been supposed his favorite, and not over nice in the choice of his company, would never keep his company habitually.

"He has not a single idea of justice, morality, religion or of the rights of men, or any anxiety for the opinion of the world. He carries that indifference to fame so far, that he would probably not be hurt were he to lose his throne, provided he could be assured of always having meat, drink, horses & women."

_Essex Register,_ Aug. 26, 1830.

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President Stiles of Yale College on the public revenue.

_Extract from President STILES's Election Sermon._

BUT I pass on to another subject in which the welfare of a community is deeply concerned, I mean the publick _revenues_. National character and national faith depend on these. Every people, every large community is able to furnish a revenue adequate to the exigences of government. But this is a most difficult subject; and what the happiest method of raising it, is uncertain. One thing is certain, that however in most kingdoms and empires the people are taxed at the will of the prince, yet in _America_, the people tax themselves, and _therefore cannot tax themselves beyond their abilities_. But whether the power of taxing be in an absolute monarchy, a power independent of the people, or in a body elected by the people, one great error has, I apprehend, entered into the system of Revenue and Finance in almost all nations, viz. restricting the collection to money. Two or three millions can more easily be raised in produce, than one million in money. This collected and deposited in stores and magazines, would, by bills drawn upon these stores, answer all the expenditures of war and peace. In one country it has been tried with success for ages; I mean in _China_, the wisest empire the sun hath ever shined upon. And here, if I recollect aright, not a tenth of the Imperial revenues hath been collected in money. In rice, wheat and millet only are collected 40 millions of sacks, of one hundred and twenty pounds each, equal to 80 million bushels; in raw and wrought silk one million pounds. The rest is taken in salt, wines, cotton, and other fruits of labour and industry, at a certain ratio per cent. and deposited in stores over all the empire. The perishable commodities are immediately sold, and the Mandarins and army are paid by bills on these magazines. In no part of the world are the inhabitants less oppressed than there.

_Massachusetts Gazette,_ Sept. 29, 1786.

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_Religiously Inclined_.--A gentleman perceiving a fellow leaning against the front of St. Paul's church yesterday, who was unable to stand without some such support, asked him if he was going to join the church. 'No,' replied Bottlenose, 'not edzactly to jine, but I'm only lean--leanin'--that way.'

_New Era_ [1837].

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Meaning of the word.

GENTLEMEN. How the signification of words alter in the course of a century. There was a time when all persons in England, below the rank of an _Esquire_, were divided into _Gentlemen_, Yeomen and _Rascals_. The former word is now used to signify the individuals of the first order--those whom you would take by the hand in the street, and sup with of an evening. The second term retains pretty nearly its original meaning. But to make an application of the latter appellative at this time, would operate as an invitation to be knocked down. 'Gentlemen,' is used in opposition among the old chronicles to 'simple man,' and neither in any very exalted sense. It is on record, that the French Princess, De La Roche Sur Yon, receiving a sharp reply from a Knight, to whom she gave the epithet of '_Gentilhomme_,' was told by the King, to whom she complained, that she deserved all she got, for so offending, herself, in the first instance. The lower people in England were commonly '_the Rascality_'--equivalent to the '_Canaille_' of the French, or our own significant _Rabble_ of the present day.

In what sense do they use the word 'Gentlemen' in Congress--Eh?--_Charleston Gaz._

_Salem Observer,_ April 3, 1820.

_Professional_ ANECDOTE _of Dr._ FRANKLIN.

WHEN he came to Philadelphia, in 1723, he was first employed by one Keimer, an eccentric genius, as a pressman, for he was then printing an elegy of his own composition, on the death of Aisquila Rose--and as he had but one small font of types, and used no copy, but composed the elegy in the press, he could not employ him in the composition. Keimer was a visionary, whose mind was frequently elevated above the little concerns of life, and consequently very subject to make mistakes, which he seldom took the pains to correct. Franklin had frequently reasoned with him upon the importance of accuracy in his profession, but in vain. His fertile head however soon furnished him with an opportunity to second his arguments by proof.--They soon after undertook an impression of a primer that had been lately published in New-England.--Franklin overlooked the piece; and when his master had set the following couplet--

When the last trumpet soundeth, We shall not all die, But we shall all be _changed_ In the twinkling of an eye,

He privately removed the letter _c_, and it was printed off--

When the last trumpet soundeth, We shall not all die, But we shall all be _hanged_ In the twinkling of an eye.

_Herald of Freedom,_ June 23, 1790.

_SURNAMES._

In the Cambridge Chronicle of Saturday, August 1, 1772, is an advertisement said to have been taken from the Canterbury Journal, which beggars the list of surnames lately enumerated:

"Mary Scaredevil, widow of the late William Scaredevil, of Maidstone, does, by the assistance of the Almighty, intend to carry on the business of Whitesmith, and hopes for the favors and recommendations of the gentlemen and ladies whom the late William Scaredevil had the pleasure to serve, which will be gratefully acknowledged by their most humble servant,

MARY SCAREDEVIL."

_Salem Gazette,_ Nov., 1805.

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Launching of the "Grand Turk."

Thursday last being a very pleasant day, great numbers of people assembled to see the launching of the large and beautiful ship from Mr. DERBY'S wharf. They were, however, disappointed in the pleasure they expected, by her stopping when she had run about half her length: and all the efforts which could be made were ineffectual in getting her off at that time: the next day, however, with the aid of proper apparatus, and the assistance of the people assembled, she was again put in motion, and gained the water.--The name of _The Grand Turk_ is revived in this ship, heretofore borne by a ship belonging to Mr. DERBY, remarkably successful as a privateer in the late war, and which was some time since sold in India.

The ingenious Mr. ENOS BRIGGS, from the North River, was the master-builder of the new ship Grand Turk.

A CARD.

_Mr._ E.H. DERBY _requests his fellow-townsmen and others, to accept his sincere thanks for their ready and unwearied exertions to enable him to complete the launching of his Ship._ MAY 21.

Mr. CUSHING,

The following lines were addressed to the Ship GRAND TURK, while launching. They are at your service.

Your's, Z.

_The swelling waves roll joyfully along, To greet thee, welcome to the azure main; The gaping multitude in anxious throng, Their ardent--vacant--tumult--scarce restrain._

_Slow o'er the lubrick ways--immense--you move, High o'er the stern your flowing honours stand, In distant climes, on unknown seas to prove The matchless glory of your native land._