the life of horace greeley

Front matter

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Chapter I. The Scotch-irish Of New Hampshire

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Londonderry in Ireland—The Siege—Emigration to New England—Settlement of Londonderry, New Hampshire—The Scotch-Irish introduce the culture of the potato and the manufacture of linen—Character of the Scotch-Irish—Their simplicity—Love of fun—Stories of the early clergymen-—Traits in the Scotch-Irish character—Zeal of the Londonderrians in the Revolution—Horace Greeley’s alusion to his Scotch-Irish ancestry..........2..seeeeccsseecees Pe ree

OHAPTER I.

ANCESTORS.—PARENTAGE.—BIRTH.

Origin of the Family—Ol]d Captain Ezekiel Greeley—Zaccheus Greeley—Zaccheus the Second—Roughness and Tenacity of the Greeley race—Maternal Ancestors of Horace Greeley—John Woodburn—Character of Horace Greeléy’s Great-grandmother—His Grandmother—Romantic Incident—Horace Greeley is born “as black as a chimney”—Comes to his color—Succeeds to the name of Horace......

Chapter III. Early Childhood

The Village of Amherst—Character of the adjacent country—The Greeley farm— The Tribune in the room in which its Editor was born—Horace learns to read— Book, up-side down—Goes to school in Londonderry—A district school forty years ago—Horace as a young orator—Has a mania for spelling hard words— Gets great glory at the spelling school—Recollections of his surviving schoolfellows—His future eminence foretold—Delicacy of ear—Early choice of a trade— His courage and timidity—Goes to school in Bedford—A favorite among his schoolfellows—His early fondness for the village newspaper—Lies in ambush for the post-rider who brought it—Scours the country for books—Project of sending him to an academy—The old sea-captain—Horace as a farmer’s boy—Let us do our stint first—His way of fishing............. Bisiewsigs sietaislialetsiakarbeloie'eta «16 Ape cad: Gn xii CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. His Father Rjined—removal To Vermont

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New Hampshire before the era of manufactures—Causes of his father’s failure— Rum in the olden time—An execution in the house--Flight of the father—Horace and the Rum Jug—Compromise with the creditors—Removal to another farm— Final ruin—-Removal to Vermont—The winter journey—Poverty of the family— Scene at their new home—Cheerfulness in misfortune.....-+-+ee++eeerereeeeee

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Chapter V. At Westhaven, Vermont

Description of the country—Clearing up Land—All the family assist 4 la Swiss- Family-Robinson—Primitive costume of Horace—His early indifference to dress —His manner and attitude in school—A Peacemaker among the boys—Gets into ascrape, and out of it—Assists his schocl-fellows in their studies—An evening scene at home—Horace knows too much—Disconcerts his teachers by his questions—Leaves school—The pine-knots still blaze on the hearth—Reads incessantly—Becomes a great draught player—Bee-hunting—Reads at the Mansion House —Taken for an Idiot—And for a possible President—Reads Mrs, Hemans with rapture—A Wolf Story—A Pedestrian Journey—Horace and the horseman— Yoking the Oxen—Scene with an old Soaker—Rum in Westhaven—Horace’s First Pledge—Narrow escape from drowning—His religious doubts—Becomes a Universalist—Discovers the humbug of “ Democracy”—Impatient to begin his apprenticeship...... GAANS Aa des eGORees Rcinconye nc veer prvencweete tees

Chapter VI

The Village of East Poultney—Horace applies for the Place—-Scene in the Garden —He makes an Impression—A difliculty arises and is overcome—He enters the office—Rite of Initiation—Horace the Victor—His employer’s recollections of him —The Pack of Cards—Horace begins to paragraph—Joins the Debating Society— His manner of Debating—Horace and the Dandy—His noble conduct to his father—His first glimpse of Saratoga—His manners at the Table—Becomes the

Town-Encyclopedia—The Doctor’s Story—Recollections of one of his fellow apprentices—Horace’s favorite Poets—Politics of the time—The Anti-Mason Excitement—The Northern Spectator stops—The Apprentice is Free a

CONTENTS. ' xii

Chapter VII. He Wanders

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Horace waves Poultney—His first Overcoat—Home to his Father’s Log House— Ranges the country for work—The Sore Leg Cured—Gets Employment, but little Money—Astonishes the Draught-Pluyers—Goes to Erie, Pa.—Interview with an Editor—Becomes a Journeyman in the Office—Description of Erie—The Lake— His Generosity to his Father—His new clothes—No more work at Erie—Starts for RSW MORK vivsisce'sin soso Nisin Sebswinwe amieatels bio de/cinis.cias\0: see sinenive Ss eewiciianeseucen LOO

Chapter VIII. Arrival In New York

The journey—a night on the tow-path—He reaches the city—Inventory of his property—Looks for a boarding-house—Finds one—Expends half his capital upon clothes—Searches for employment—Berated by David Hale as a runaway apprentice—Continues the search—Goes to church—Hears of a vacancy—Oblains work—The boss takes him for a * fool,’ but changes his opinion—Nicknamed ‘the Ghost ’—Practical jokes—Horace metamorphosed—Dispute about commas —The shoemaker’s boarding-house—Grand banquet on Sundays................ 118

Chapter IX. From Offioe To Offioe

Leaves West’s—Works on the ‘Evening Post’—Story of Mr. Leggett—* Commercial Advertiser "—‘ Spirit of the Times ’"—Specimen of his writing at this period— Naturally fond of the drama—Timothy Wiggins—Works for Mr. Redfield—The EMERY main ome eo Sy mmnerenies Me nore A Mn alaablhie one S~laa pela vs 2s 133

Chapter X. The First Penny Paper—and Who Thought Of It

Importance of the cheap daily press—The originator of the idea—History of the idea—Dr. Sheppard’s Chatham-street cogitations—The Idea is conceived—It is born—Interview with Horace Greeley—The Doctor thinks he is ‘no common boy’ —The schemer baffled—Daily papers twenty-five years ago—Dr. Sheppard comes to a resolution—The firm of Greeley and Story—The Morning Post appears—And fails—The sphere of the cheap press—Fanny Fern and the pea-nut merchant.... 137

XIV CONTENTS.

Chapter XI

THE. FIRM OONTINUES.

PAGE Lottery printing—The Constitutionalist—Dudley S. Gregory—The lottery suicide— The firm prospers—Sudden death of Mr, Story—A new partner—Mr. Greeley as a master—A dinner story—Sylvester Graham—Horace Greeley at the Graham House—The New Yorker projected—James Gordon Bennett... ....seeesereeeees 146

Chapter XII. ~_ Editor Of The New Yorker

Character of the paper—Its early fortunes—Happiness of the Editor—Scene in the Office—Specimens of Horace Greeley’s Poetry—Subjects of his Essays—His Opinions then—His Marriage—The Silk-stocking Story—A day in Washington—His impressions of the Senate—Pecuniary difficulties—Cause of the New Yorker's ill-success as a Business—The missing letters—The Editor gets a nickname—The Agonies of a Debtor—Park Benjamin—Henry J. Raymond...........++++ oeieeeeneot

Chapter XIII. The Jeffersonian

Objects of tho Jeffersonian—Its character—A novel Glorious-Victory paragraph— The Graves and Cilley duel—The Editor overworked... ...... 20... cceseereceee 174

Chapter XIV. The Log Ocabin.—'tippeoanoe And Tyler Too.”

Wire-pulling—The delirium of 1840-The Log Cabin—Unprecedented hit—A glance at its pagés—Log Cabin jokes—Log Cabin song—-Horace Greeley and the cake-basket—Pecuniary difficulties continue—The Tribune announced....... 180

Chapter XV. Starts The Tribune

The Capital—The Daily Press of New York in 1841-~The Tribune appears—The Omens unpropitious—The first week—Conspiracy to put down the Tribune—The Fribune triumphs—Thomas McElrath—The Tribune alive—Industry of the Editors—Theirlindependence—Horace Greeley and John Tyler—The Tribune a BUESCed TOU ersats sth slortsicee sats SUIS ARIS ah elak ow weigher adhoc rahe ca 191

CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XVI

THE TRIBUNE AND FOURIEBISM. : PAGE What made Horace Greeley a Socialist—The hard winter of 1838—Albert Brisbane —The subject broached—Series of articles by Mr. Brisbane begun—Their effect— Cry of Mad Dog—Discussion between Horace Greeley and Henry J. Raymond— How it arose—Abstract of it in a conversational form....... Rio sietaip ia wie, s(eiaioielie W616 - 199

Chapter XVII

s THE TRIBUNE’S SEOOND YEAR. -

Increase of price—The Tribune offends the Sixth Ward fighting-men--The office Threatened—Noyel preparations for defense—Charles Dickens defended—The Editor travels—Visits Washington, and sketches the Senators—At Mount Vernon

-At Niagara—A hard hit at Major Noah...............+- SSgsnninedeen Seearrc 217

Chapter XVIII

THE TRIBUNE AND J. FENIMORE OOOPER.

The libel—Horace Greeley’s narrative of the trial—He reviews the opening speech of Mr. Cooper’s counsel—A striking illustration—He addresses the jury—Mr. Cooper sums up—Horace Greeley comments on the speech of the novelist--In doing so he perpetrates new libels—The verdict—Mr. Greeley’s remarks on the same—Strikes a bee-line for New York—A new suit—An imaginary case...;.... 224

Chapter XIX. The Tribune Oontinues

The Special Express system—Night adventures of Enoch Ward—Gig Express—Express from Halifax—Baulked by the snow-drifts—Party warfare then—Books published by Greeley and McElrath—Course of the Tribune—The Editor travels —Scenes in Washington—An incident of trayel—Clay and Frelinghuysen—The exertions of Horace Greeley—Results of the defeat—The Tribune and Slavery —Burning of the Tribune Building—The Editor’s reflections upon the fire......... 240

Chapter XX. Margaret Fuller

Her writings in the Tribune—She resides with Mr. Greeley—His narrative—Dietetic Sparring—Her manner of writing—Woman’s Rights—-Her generosity—Her independence—Her love of children—Margaret and Pickie—Her opinion of Mr. Greeloy—Death Of Pickic.,.-.++ cc secesee scene eect ee ee nerreneereaeeennesneaeanne es 253 xvl CONTENTS.

Chapter XXI. Editorial Repartees

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At war with all the world—The spirit of the Tribune—Retorts vituperative—The Tribune and Dr. Potts—Some prize tracts suggested—An atheist’s oath—A word for domestics—Irish Democracy—The modern drama—Hit at Dr. Hawks—Dissolution of the Union—Dr. Franklin’s story—A Picture for Polk—Charles Dickens and Copyright—Charge of malignant falsehood—Preaching and Practice—Col. Webb severely hit—Hostility to the Mexican war—Violence incited—A few sparks—The course of the Tribune—Wager with the Herald.......... siavesnwinis ‘+

Chapter XXII. 1848!

Revolution in Europe—The Tribune exults—The Slievegammon letters—Taylor and Fillmore—Course of the Tribune—Horace Greeley at Vauxhall Garden—His election to Congiess........ waLOTAsontN Gostic

OHAPTER XXIII.

THREE MONTHS IN OONGRESS.

His objects as a Member of Congress—His first acts—The Chaplain hypocrisy—The Land Reform Bill—Distributing the Documents—Offers a novel Resolution—The Mileage Exposé—Congressional delays—Explosion in the House—Mr. Turner’s oration—Mr. Greeley defends himself—The Walker Tariff—Congress in a pet— Speech at the Printer’s Festival—The house in good humor—Traveling dead-head—Personal explanations—A dry haul—The amendment game—Congressional dignity-—Battle of the Books—The Recruiting System—The last night of the

Session—The ‘usual gratuity,—The Inauguration Ball—Farewell to his constitu- ONE amet aaeees

Chapter XXIV. Assooiation In The Tribune Offior

Acceasions to the corps—The course of the Tribune—Iorace Greeley in Ohio—The Rochester knockings—The mediums at Mr. Greeley’s house—Jenny Lind goes to see them--Her behavior—Woman’s Rights Conyention—The Tribune Association—The hireling system.

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CONTENTS. XV1l

CHAPTER XXyV.

ON THE PLATFORM.—HINTS TOWARDS REFORMS.

PAGE The Lecture System—Comparative popularity of the leading Lecturers—Horace Greeley at the Tabernacle—His audience—His appearance—His manner of speaking—His occasional addresses—The ‘Hints’ published—Its one subject, the Emancipation of Labor—The Problems of the Time—The ‘ successful’ man—The duty of the State-—-The educated class—A narrative for workingmen--The catas-

Chapter XXVI. = Three Months In Europe

The Voyage out—First impression of England—Opening of the Exhibition—Characteristic observations—He attends a grand Banquet—He sees the Sights—He speaks at Exeter Hall—The Play at Devonshire House—Robert Owen’s birth-day —Horace Greeley before a Committee of the House of Commons—He throws light upon the subject—Vindicates tho American Press—Journey to Paris—The Sights of Paris—The Opera and Ballet=A false Prophet—His opinion of the French—Journey to Italy—Anecdote—A nap in the Diligence—Arrival at Rome —In the Galleries—Scene in the Coliseum—To England again—Triumph of the American Reaper—A week in Ireland and Scotland—His opinion of the English —Homeward Bound—His arrival—The Extra Tribune...........seeeeereeeees . 346

CHAPTER XXVIl.

REOENTLY.

‘ _ Deliverance from Party—A Private Platform—Last Interview with Henry Clay—

Horace Greeley a Farmer—He irrigates and drains—His Advice to a Young Man —The Daily Times—A costly Mistake—The Isms of the Tribune—The Tribune gets Glory—The Tribune in Parliament—Proposed Nomination for Governor— His Life written—A Judge’s Daughter for Sale......... Adoud oe natecacc desist elieg ore

{ OHAPTER XXVIIL.

DAY AND NIGHT IN THE TRIBUNE OFFIOE.

The streets before daybreak—Waking the newsboys—Morning scene in the prossroom—The Compositor’s room—The four Phalanxes—The Tribune Directory—A lull in the Tribune office—A glance at the. paper—The advertisements—Telegraphic marvels—Marine Intelligenee—New Publications—Letters from the peo-

XVill CONTENTS.

TAGE ple—Editorial articles—The editorial Rooms—The Sanctum Sanctorum—Solon Robinson—Bayard Taylor—William Henry Fry—George Ripley—Charles A. Dana—¥. J. Ottarson—George M. Snow—Enter Horace Greeley—His Preliminary botheration—The composing-room in the evening—The editors at work— Mr. Greeley’s manner of writing—Midnight—Three o’clock in the morning—The CALTON Fa saih sia wis state bio Siels nisiia 9 fea «a Bate win eit ae loin’ ol¥ bell «i bpettislofnie Seapejaion hele, ga Bdsietete

OHAPTER XXIX.

‘POSITION AND INFLUENOE OF HORAOE GREELEY.

At the head of his Profession—Extent of his Influence—Nature of his Influence— A Conservative-Radical—His Practical Suggestions—To Aspiring Young Men— Have a Home of your own—To Young Mechanics—Coming to the City—A Labor-Exchange—Pay as you go—To the Lovers of Knowledge—To Young Orators —The Colored People—To young Lawyers and Doctors—To an inquiring Staveholder—To Country Editors—In Peace, prepare for War—To Country Merchants —Tenement Houses...... sictstawisleltterthaeeispe Clue ajotararatclain ahbeia slain te Head a ae

CHAPTER XXX.

APPEARANOE—MANNERS—HABITS.

His person and countenance—Phrenological developments—His rustic manners— Town eccentricities—Horace Greeley in Broadway— Horatius’ at churech—Horace GYOCIOY Al HOMO. siconsicte'oe ov Wocesacies eeie mem ae ee sala citel sw venice me waete ete

CHAPTER XXXI.

”

THE LIFE OF HORACE GREELEY,

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Chapter I. The Scotch-irish Of New Hampshire

Londonderry in Ireland—The Siege—Emigration to New England—Setilement of - Londonderry, New Hampshire—The Scotch-Irish introduce the culture of the potato and the manufacture of linen—Character of the Scotch-Irish—Their simplicity—Love of fun—Stories of the early clergymen—Traits in the Scotch- Irish character—Zeal of the Londonderrians in the Revolution—Horace Greeley’s allusion to his Scotch-Irish ancestry.

New Hawesuire, the native State of Horace Greeley, was settled in part by colonists from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and in part by emigrants from the north of Ireland. The latter were called Scotch-Irish, for a reason which a glance at their history will show.

Ulster, the most northern of the four provinces of Ireland, has been, during the last two hundred and fifty years, superior to the rest in wealth and civilization. The cause of its superiority is known. About the year 1612, when James I. was king, there was a rebellion of the Catholics in the north of Ireland. Upon its suppression, Ulster, embracing the six northern counties, and containing half a million acres of land, fell to the king by the attainder of the rebels. Under royal encouragement and furtherance, a company was formed in London for the purpose of planting colonies in that fertile province, which lay waste from the ravages of the recent war. The land was divided into shares, the largest of which did not exceed two thousand acres. Oclonists were invited over from England and Scotland. The natives were expelled from their fastnesses in the hills, and forced to settle upon the plains. Some efforts, it appears, were made to teach them arts and agriculture. Robbery and assassination were punished. And, thus, by the infusion of new blood, and the partial improvement of the ancient race, Ulster, which had been the most savage and turbulent of the Irish provinces, became, and remains to this day, the best cultivated, the richest, and the most civilized.

- One of the six counties was Londonderry, the capital of which, called by the same name, had been sacked and razed during the rebellion. The city was now rebuilt by‘a company of adventurers _ from London, and the county was settled by a colony from Argyleshire in Scotland, who were thenceforth called Scotch-Irish. Of what stuff these Scottish colonists were made, their after-history amply and gloriously shows. The colony took root and flourished in Londonderry. . In 1689, the year of the immortal siege, the city was an important fortified town of twenty-seven thousand inhabitants, and the county was proportionally populous and productive. William of Orange had reached the British throne. James II. returning from France had landed in Ireland, and was making an effort to recover his lost inheritance. The Irish Catholics were still loyal to him, and hastened to rally round his banner. But Ulster was Protestant and Presbyterian; the city of Londonderry was Ulster’s stronghold, and it was the chief impediment in the way of James’ proposed descent upon Scotland. With what resolution and daring the people of Londonderry, during the ever-memorable siege of that city, fought and endured for Protestantism and freedom, the world well knows. For seven months they held out against a besieging army, so numerous that its slain numbered nine thousand. The besieged lost three thousand men. To such extremities were they reduced, that among the market quotations of the times, we find items like these:—a quarter of a dog, five shillings and six-pence ; a dog’s head, two and six-pence; horse-flesh, one and six-pence per pound; horse-blood, one shilling per quart; a cat, four and six-pence; a rat, one shilling; a mouse, six-pence. When all the food that remained in the city was nine half-starved horses and a pint of meal per man, the people were still resolute. At the ‘very last extremity, they were relieved by a provisioned fleet, and the army of James retired in despair.

On the settlement of the kingdom under William and Mary, the

EMIGRATION TO NEW ENGLAND. 2)

Presbyterians of Londonderry did not find themselves in the enjoyment of the freedom to which they conceived themselves entitled.. They were dissenters from the established church. Their pastors were not recognized by the law as clergymen, nor their places of worship as churches. Tithes were exacted for the support of the Episcopal clergy. They were not proprietors of the soil, but held their lands as tenants of the crown. They were hated alike, and equally, by the Irish Catholics and the English Episcopalians. When, therefore, in 1617, a son of one of the leading clergyman returned from New England with glowing accounts of that ‘plantation,’ a furor of emigration arose in the town and county of Londonderry, and portions of four Presbyterian congregations, with their four pastors, united in a scheme for a simultaneous removal across the seas. One of the clergymen was first despatched to Boston to make the needful inquiries and arrangements. He was the bearer of an address to ‘¢ His Excellency, the Right Honorable Colonel Samuel Smith, Governor of New England,” which assured his Excellency of “ our sincere and hearty inclination to transport ourselves to that very excellent and renowned plantation, upon our obtaining from his Excellency suitable encouragement.” To this address, the original of which still exists, two hundred and seven names were appended, and all but seven in the hand-writing of the individuals signing—a fact which proves the superiority of the emigrants to the majority of their countrymen, both in position and intelligence. One of the subscribers was a baronet, nine were clergymen, and three others were graduates of the University of Edinburgh.

On the fourth of August, 1718, the advance party of Scotch- Trish emigrants arrived in five ships at Boston. Some of them remained in that city and founded the church in Federal street, of which Dr. Channing was afterwards pastor. Others attempted to settle in Worcester; but as they were Irish and Presbyterians, such a storm of prejudice against them arose among the enlightened Congregationalists of that place, that they were obliged to flee be- ~ fore it, and seek refuge in the less populous places of Massachusetts. Sixteen families, after many months of tribulation and wandering, selected for their permanent abode a tract twelve miles square, called Nutfield, which now embraces the townships of London derry, Derry and Windham, in Rockingham county, New Hamp

shire. The land was a free gift from the king, in consideration ot the services rendered his throne by the people of Londonderry in the defence of their city. To each settler was assigned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, a house lot, and an out lot of sixty acres. The lands of the men who had personally served during the siege, were exempted from taxation, and were known down to the period of the revolution as the Zxempt Farms. The settlement of Londonderry attracted new emigrants, and it soon became one of the most prosperous and famous in the colony.

It was there that the potato was first cultivated, and there that linen was first made in New England. The English colonists at that day appear to have been unacquainted with, the culture of the potato, and the familiar story of the Andover farmer who mistook the balls which grow on the potato vine for the genuine frnit of the plant, is mentioned by a highly respectable historian of New Hampshire as “a well-authenticated fact.”

With regard to the linen manufacture, it may be mentioned as a proof of the thrift and skill of the Scotch-Ivish settlers, that, as early as the year 1748, the linens of Londonderry had so high a reputa= tion in the colonies, that it was found necessary to take measures to prevent the linens made in other towns from being fraudulently sold for those of Londonderry manufacture, A town meeting was held in that year for the purpose of appointing “fit and proper persons to survey and inspect linens and hollands made in the town for sale, so that the credit of our manufactory be kept up, and the purchaser — of our linens may not be imposed upon with foreign and outlandish linens in the name of ours.” Inspectors and sealers were accordingly appointed, who were to examine and stamp “‘all the hollands made and to be made in our town, whether brown, white, speckled, or checked, that are to be exposed for sale;” for which service they were empowered to demand from the owner of said linen “‘sixpence, old tenor, for each piece.” And this occurred within thirty years from the erection of the first log-hut in the township of Londonderry. However, the people had brought their spinning and weaying implements with them from Ireland, and their industry was not once interrupted by an attack of Indians.

These Scotch-Irish of Londonderry were a very peculiar people.

CHARACTER OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH, 23

They were Scotch-Irish in character and in name; of Irish vivacity, generosity, and daring; Scotch in frugality, industry, and resolution; a race in whose composition nature seems, for once, to have kindly blended the qualities that render men interesting with those that render them prosperous. Their habits and their minds were simple. They lived, for many years after the settlement began to thrive, upon the fish which they caught at the falls of Amoskeag, upon game, and upon such products of the soil as beans, potatoes, samp, and barley. It is only since the year 1800 that tea and coffee, those ridiculous and effeminating drinks, came into anything like general use among them. It was not till some time after the Revolution that a chaise was seen in Londonderry, and even then it excited great wonder, and was deemed an unjustifiable extravagance. Shoes, we are told, were little worn in the summer, except on Sundays and holidays; and then they were carried in the hand to within a short distance of the church, where they were put on! There was little buying and selling among them, but much borrowing and lending. “If a neighbor killed a calf,” says one writer, “no part of it was sold; but it was distributed among relatives and friends, the poor widow always having a piece; and the minister, if he did not get the shoulder, got a portion as good.” The women were robust, worked on the farms in the busy seasons, reaping, mowing, and even ploughing on occasion; and the hum of the spinningwheel was heard in every house, An athletic, active, indomitable, prolific, long-lived race. For a couple to have a dozen children, and for all the twelve to reach maturity, to marry, to have large families, and die at a good old age, seems to have been no uncommon case among the original Londonderrians.

Love of fun was one of their marked characteristics. One of their descendants, the Rev. J. H. Morrison, has written—“ A prominent trait in the character of the Scotch-Irish was their ready wit. No subject was kept sacred from it; the thoughtless, the grave, the ‘old, and the young, alike enjoyed it. Our fathers were serious, _ ‘thoughtful men, but they lost no occasion which might promise sport. Weddings, huskings, log-rollings and raisings—what a host of queer stories is connected with them! Our ancestors dearly loved fun. There was a grotesque humor, and yet a seriousness, pathos and strangeness about them, which in its way has, perhaps, never been equalled. It was the sternness of the Scotch Covenanter, softened by a century’s residence abroad, amid persecution and trial, wedded to the comic humor and pathos of the Irish, and then grown wild in the woods among their own New England mountains.”

There never existed a people at once so jovial and so religious. This volume could be filled with a collection of their religious repartees and pious jokes. It was Pat. Larkin, a Scotch-Irishman, near Londonderry, who, when he was accused of being a Catholic, because his parents were Catholics, replied: ‘‘ If a man happened te be born in a stable, would that make him a horse?” and he won his bride by that timely spark.

Quaint, bold, and witty were the old Scotch-Irish clergymen, the men of the siege, as mighty with carnal. weapons as with spiritual. There was no taint of the sanctimonious in their rough, honest, and healthy natures. During the old French war, it is related, a British officer, in a peculiarly “stunning” uniform, came one Sunday morning to the Londonderry Meeting House. Deeply conscious was this individual that he was exceedingly well dressed and he took pains to display his finery and his figure by standing in an attitude, during the delivery of the sermon, which had the effect of withdrawing the minds of the young ladies from the same. At length, the minister, who had both fought and preached in Londonderry ‘at home,’ and feared neither man, beast, devil, nor red-coat, addressed the officer thus: ‘‘ Ye are a braw lad; ye ha’e a braw suit of claithes, and we ha’e a’ seen them; ye may sit doun.” The officer subsided instantly, and old Dreadnought went on with his sermon as though nothing had happened. The same clergyman once began a sermon on the vain self-confidence of St. Peter, with the following energetic remarks: “ Just like Peter, aye, mair forrit than wise, ganging swaggering about wi’ a sword at his side; an’ a puir hant. he made of it when he came to the trial; for he only cut off a chiel’s lug, an’ he ought to ha’ split down his head.” On another occasion, he is said to haye opened on a well known text in this fashion: “‘TI can do all things;’ ay, can ye Paul? Tl bet yea dollar o’ that (placing a dollar on the desk). But stop! let’s see what else Paul says: ‘I can do all. things through Ohrist, which strengtheneth me; ay, sae can T, Paul. I draw my bet,” and he returned the dollar to his pocket, They

TRAITS IN THE SCOTCH CHARACTER. 25 prayed a joke sometimes, those Scotch-Irish clergymen. One pastor, dining with a new settler, who had no table, and served up his dinner in a basket, implored Heaven to bless the man “in his basket,

_ and in his store ;” which Heaven did, for the man afterwards grew rich. “‘ What is the difference,” asked a youth, “between the Congregationalists and Presbyterians?” ‘The difference is,” replied the pastor, with becoming gravity, “that the Congregationalist goes home between the services and eats a regular dinner; but the Presbyterian puts off his till after meeting.”

And how pious they were! For many years after the settlement, the omission of the daily act of devotion in a single household would have excited general alarm. It is related as a jfact, that the first pastor of Londonderry, being informed one evening. that an individual was becoming neglectful of family worship, immediately repaired to his dwelling. The family had retired; he called up the master of the house, inquired if the report were true, and asked him whether he had omitted family prayer that evening. The man confessed that he had; and the pastor, havmg admonished him of oh a refused to leave the house until the delinquent had called up his wife, and performed with her the omitted observance, The first settlers of some of the towns near Londonderry walked every Sunday eight, ten, twelve miles to church, taking their children with them, and crossing the Merrimac in a canoe or on a raft. The first public enterprises of every settlement were the building of a church, the construction of a block-house for defense against the Indians, and the establishnrent of a school. In the early times of course, every than went to church with his gun, and the minister preached peace and good-will with a loaded musket peering above the sides of the pulpit. 4

The Scotch-Irish were a singularly honest people. There is an entry in the town-record for 1784, of a complaint against John Morrison, that, having found an axe on the road, he did not leave it at the next tavern, ‘as the laws of the country doth require.’ John acknowledged the fact, but pleaded:in extenuation, that the axe was of so small value, that it would not have paid the cost of proclaiming. The session, however, censured him severely, and exhorted him to repent of the evil. The following is a curious extract from the records of a Scotch-Irish settlement for 1756: ‘ Voted, to

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~ give Mr. John Houston equal to forty pounds sterling, in old tenor, as the law shall find the rate in dollars or sterling money, for his yearly stipend, if he is our ordained minister. And what number. of Sabbath days, annually, we shall think ourselves not able to pay him, he shall have at his own use and disposal, deducted out of the aforesaid sum in proportion.” The early records of those settlements abound in evidence, that the people had an habitual and most scrupulous regard for the rights of one another. Kind, generous, and compassionate, too, they were. Far back in 1725, when the little colony was but seven years old, and the people were struggling with their first difficulties, we find the session ordering two collections in the church, one to assist James Clark to ransom his son from the Indians, which produced five pounds, and another for the relief of William Moore, whose two cows had been killed by the falling of a tree, which produced three pounds, seventeen shillings. These were great sums in those early days. We read, also, in the History of Londonderry, of MacGregor, its first pastor, becoming the champion and defender of a personal enemy . who was accused of arson, but whom the magnanimous pastor believed innocent. He volunteered his defense in court. The man was condemned and imprisoned, but MacGregor continued his exertions in behalf of the prisoner until his innocence was established and the judgment was reversed.

That they were a brave people need scarcely be asserted. Of that very MacGregor the story is told, that when he went out at the head of a committee, to remonstr&te with a belligerent party, who were unlawfully cutting hay from the out-lahds of Londonderry, and one of the hay-stealers, in the heat of dispute, shook his fist in the minister’s face, saying, ‘‘ Nothing saves you, sir, but your black coat,” MacGregor instantly exclaimed, “ Well, it shan’t save you, sir,” and pulling off his coat, was about to suit the action to the word, when the enemy beat a sudden retreat, and troubled the Londonderrians no more. The Scotch-Irish of New Hampshire were among the first to catch the spirit of the Revolution. They confronted British troops, and successfully too, before the battle of Lexington, Four English soldiers had deserted from their quarters in Boston, and taken refuge in Londonderry. A party of troops, dispatched for their arrest, discovered, secured, and conveyed them es : 2 HORACE GREELEY'S ALLUSION TO HIS* ANCESTRY. Q7 part of the way to Boston. <A band of young men assembled and pursued them ; and so overawed the British officer by the boldness of their demeanor, that he gave up his prisoners, who were escorted “back to Londonderry in triumph. There were remarkably few tories in Londonderry. The town was united almost as one man on the side of Independence, and sent, it is believed, more men to the war, and contributed more money to the cause, than any other town of equal resources in New England. Here are a few of the town-meeting “votes” of the first months of the war: “ Voted, to give our men that have gone to the Massachusetts government seven dollars a month, until it be known what Congress will do in that affair, and that the officers shall have as much pay as those in the bay government.”— Voted, that a committee of nine men be chosen to inquire into the conduct of those men that are thought not to be friends of their country.” —“ Voted, that the aforesaid committee have no pay.”— Voted, that twenty more men be raised immediately, to be ready upon the first emergency, as minute men.” — “ Voted, that twenty more men be enlisted in Capt. Aiken’s company, as minute men.”—*“ Voted, that the remainder of the stock of powder shall be divided out to every one that hath not already received of the same, as far as it will go; provided he produces a gun of his own, in good order, and is willing to go against the enemy, and promises not to waste any of the powder, only in self-defense ; and provided, also, that he show twenty good bullets to suit his gun, and six good flints.” In 1777 the town gave a bounty of thirty pounds for every man who enlisted for three years, All the records and traditions of the revolutionary period breathe unity and determination. Stark, the hero of Bennington, was a Londonderrian.