A municipal history of the town and city of Boston, during two centuries

Preface

THE municipal affairs of the inhabitants of Boston were conducted under the form of town government, established by the early settlers of New England, from 1630 to 1822, when, on their petition, they were incorporated into a city by the Legislature of Massachusetts. Through eight succeeding years, three successive administrations presided over the new form of government thus established. The author of this history held the office of Mayor during almost six of these years, at a period when the principles, by which legislative and executive measures ought to be guided, were diligently sought and carefully applied, according to the powers conferred by the city charter. The people of Boston had surrendered, with reluctance, the management of their municipal concerns, which they had maintained in popular assemblies for nearly two centuries ; and the jealousy with which they watched the measures of the new authorities, rendered a frequent and full development of motives and consequences expedient and important.

At the close of his administration, it therefore appeared to the author, that a municipal history of the town, and an accurate account of the transactions in the first years of the city government, would be useful and interesting to ie PREFACE. the public in future times, and was due to the wisdom, fidelity, and disinterested services of his associates.

These views were intimated in an address to the Board of Aldermen, on taking final leave of the office of Mayor, on the third of January, 1829; and on the sixth, on his petition, the succeeding City Council having granted liberty of access to the City Records, this History was commenced. The completion of it was unavoidably postponed by the acceptance of the Presidency of Harvard University, an appointment made and confirmed by the Corporation and Overseers of that Seminary, on the fifteenth and twenty-ninth of the same month, and by the official duties assumed and discharged until August, 1845.

After the lapse of twenty years, at the urgency of friends who had a right to influence, the work was resumed ; and, being finished, is now, at the close of the author’s eightieth year, offered to his fellow-citizens, with his best wishes for their long enjoyment of an efficient municipal government, and for the uninterrupted prosperity of the city of Boston.

JOSIAH QUINCY.

Boston, February 4, 1852.

Chapter I. Town Government. 1630-1783

Constitution of Towns — Settlement and Organization of Boston — General Proceedings — Instructions to Selectmen and the Watch — Establishment of an Almshouse — Of Schools — Erection of Faneuil Hall — Manifestations of the Spirit of Liberty by the Inhabitants of Boston — Attempt to change the Form of Town Government — Population under the Colonial Government

CHAP PER “PI.

TOWN GOVERNMENT. 1783-1821.

State of the Public Schools — Measures in regard to them — Successive Attempts to change the Government of the Town — Plan of a City Government adopted . 2 : : ;

CHAPTLiR IIT.

TOWN GOVERNMENT. 1821 - 1822.

The Almshouse removed from Beacon Street to Leverett Street — Overseers of the Poor remonstrate on its Condition — Proceedings of the Legislature of Massachusetts on the Subject of Pauperism — Erection of a House of Industry authorized by the Inhabitants of Boston — Noble Conduct of Samuel Brown — His Character — House of Industry erected — Act of Incorporation of the City obtained and accepted — John Phillips chosen Mayor Ue ak EE ARN Ae Sata El ae

CHAPTER IV.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1822-1823.

Joun Puiiures, Mayor.

Inauguration — Address of the Selectmen, on surrendering the Government and Muniments of the Town of Boston — Reply of the Mayor — Measures adopted to carry into effect the City Charter — Donation of Mr.

Whe

PAGE

Vi CONTENTS.

PAGE

Sears — Proceedings relative to the House of Industry — Result of the First Year’s Administration of the City Government — Tribute to Mr. Phillips . 4 3 : ; bigs ae : : - ;

Jos1AH Quincy, Mayor.

Organization of the City Government — Mayor’s Address — Importance of the Official Responsibility of that Officer — Difficulties relative to the Office of Surveyors of Highways — Embarrassments from the Board of Health — Duty of Cleansing the Streets devolved on the Mayor -and Aldermen, and how executed — Board of Health discontinued, and their Duties transferred to other Officers

JostaHw Quincy, Mayor.

Inconvenient State of Faneuil Hall Market — Difficulties attending its Extension — Measures taken for surmounting them — Invitation to the Proprietors of the Land in the Vicinity to become Associates in the Improvement — Not accepted by them — The Project approved by the Citizens in a General Meeting — Authority obtained from the Legislature — Purchase of the Estates commenced ;

CHAPTER VII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1823-1824.

JostaH Quincy, Mayor.

Proceedings relative to the House of Industry — Opposition of the Overseers of the Poor to the Removal of the Inmates of the Almshouse — A House of Correction erected at South Boston — Attempts to Conciliate the Overseers of the Poor — Its Effects — Liberty to use the Cellars of a Church for Burial denied — Department of Police . :

CHAPTER VIII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1823-1824.

JostaH Quincy, Mayor.

Measures for the Suppression of Idleness, Vice, and Crime — A House of Correction — Its Effects — Building provided for Juvenile Offenders — Its Results — Petition for General Meetings in Wards — Loans proposed for City Improvements — Theatrical Licenses — Ropewalk Lands — Islands in the Harbor — Common Sewers : ,

CONTENTS.

Vii CHAPTER IX.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1824-1825.

Josran Quincy, Mayor.

PAGK

Proceedings of the City Council of the past Year Recapitulated — Importance of the Responsibility of the Mayor — Estates purchased for the Enlargement of Faneuil Hall Market— Plan of the New Market — North Block of Stores built and sold — First Plan enlarged — Southern Block of Stores built and sold — Corner Stone of Market House laid

CHAPTER, X.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1824-1825.

JosAH Quincy, Mayor.

Proceedings relative to the House of Industry — Opposition of the Overseers of the Poor to the Measures of the City Council — Sale of the Almshouse in Leverett Street — The Paupers transferred to the House of Industry — The question of applying to the Legislature for a Modifica- ‘tion of the Powers claimed by the Overseers of the Poor, submitted to a

General Meeting of the Citizens — Its Result — Death of Alderman’

Hooper — Claims of Political Parties for the use of Faneuil Hall — Difficulties relative to the Board of Health — Change in that Department — Visit and Reception of General Lafayette #1 pet gu hie

CHAPTER XI.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1824-25.

JostaH Quincy, Mayor.

State of the Fire Department — Claims of the Engine Companies — The Result — They surrender their Engines and resign — Other Engine Companies formed — A new-Organization of the Fire Department recommended — Measures taken to carry it into effect — Office of Auditor of Accounts established as tai Sa ;

CHAPTER XII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1825.

Jostan Quincy, Mayor.

The Citizens accept the Report of their General Committee on the inex-

. 188 pediency of modifying the powers of the Overseers of the Poor — Over- | seers decline taking care of the Poor at the House of Industry — Their vais CONTENTS.

PAGE Rights and Duties submitted to Legal Counsel— Their Report, and consequent Proceedings of the City Council — Measures to introduce a Supply of Fresh Water — Proceedings relative to Faneuil Hall Market — Census of the City — Time of Organizing the City Government changed Pn eer P09 ; : ‘ nant | a : Ga

CHAPTER XIII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1825.

JostaH Quincy, Mayor.

An Act authorizing a New Organization of the Fire Department applied for and obtained from the State Legislature — Sanction of the Act by the Citizens — Measures pursued to carry it into effect — Sites for Engine Houses selected — Reservoirs constructed — Lafayette revisits the City — Measures adopted on the Occasion by the City Council. : aaBi

CHAPTER XIV.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1826.

Jos1aAH Quincy, Mayor.

Prosperity of the City — Measures for introducing Water — Views of the Mayor on the Subject — Proceedings of the City Council — Powers of the Mayor in the Suppression of Riots — Petitions for a General Contribution for Relief by Sufferers from Fire —'The Result — Progress of Faneuil Hall Market — Final. Settlement of the whole Improvement — Organization of the new Fire Department — Celebration of the Fourth of July, 1826 — Death of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson — Tribute to their Memories . : ; : : ; ; : A : OF,

CHAPTER XV.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1827.

Jostan Quincy, Mayor.

General Relations of the City — Views concerning the City Debt — The Location of a City Hall — The Responsibility for the Correctness of the Voting Lists — General State of the Schools — Proceedings of the City Council in relation to them — School Committee object to their Interference, and claim Independence — Opening of the Hancock School — High School for Girls established as an Experiment — Its Result — The School discontinued, and the Privileges of Females in the Common

Schools extended — The Relation of the Mayor to the School Committee : ; ; : ee

CONTENTS. _ ix

CHAPTER XVI.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1828.

JosraH Quincy, Mayor.

PAGE General Relations of the City in respect of Debt — Health — Protection against Fire —Its Duty in respect of Education — Effect on its Prosperity by the Principle of Arbitrary Valuation without Relief — Principles of Proceeding relative to the Voting Lists — Indemnity of City Officers for Acts of Official Duty — Sale of Spirituous Liquors prohibited on the Common — Inexpediency of Selling the Flats to the Eastward of the New Market-House, and the Result of the Measures taken on that Subject . . are ee pats : : z ; ; . 229

CHAPTER XVII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1828.

Jos1aAH Quinoy, Mayor.

The Annexation of South Boston to the Ancient City, and the Difficulties attending it — Project of Semi-Annual Sales of Domestic Manufactures in the City— The Hall over the New Market appropriated for the Object — Question concerning the Eligibility of Members of the City Council to City Offices — State and Progress of the Fire Department — Resignation of the Chief Engineer — His gratuitous Services — Vote of Thanks to him by the City Council — Prosperous State of City Af fairs — The Mayor declines being a Candidate for Reélection — Harrison Gray Otis chosen Mayor , : ; : : i : é 246

CHAPTER XVIII.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1828.

Jos1aH Quincy, Mayor.

Address of the Mayor on taking final Leave of the Office — His Acknowledgments to the Members of the Board of Aldermen, Common Council, and his Fellow-Citizens — Measures and Results of the past Administration: for Protection of the City against Fire; and of the Islands against Storms; for the Health of the Inhabitants; for Public Education; in Favor of Public Morals; for increasing the Financial Resources of the City and reducing its Debt — Principles on which his Conduct in Office had been guided — Tribute to his Successor . . : ; é . 259

CHAPTER XIX.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1829.

Harrison Gray Oris, Mayor.

Circumstances recalling the Mayor from Private Life — Tribute to his Predecessors — Views concerning the City Debt — On the Supply of Pure

‘ CONTENTS.

PAGE

Water — The Importance of Railroads — Political Relations of the State and Union — Flats to the Eastward of the New Market — Attempts to authorize Inspectors to place Names on the Voting Lists — Tribute to the Directors of the House of Industry — Chief Engineer of the Fire Department appointed — Resignation of all the Assistant Engineers — Petitions to extend Wharves to the Channel — Relief to Sufferers by Fire in Georgia — Petitions for a General Meeting of Citizens on Railroads, and for a Grant of Land for their Accommodation

CHAPTER XX.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1830.

Harrison Gray Ors, Mayor.

Prosperous State of the City — Embarrassment of the Manufacturing Interests, and its Causes — Completion of the City Wharf — State of the City Debt — Sale of Public Lands — Condition of the Flats to the West of the Neck — State of the Court-Houses — Protection of our Outer Harbor — Centennial Celebration resolved upon — Grant of the City Hall for Sales of Domestic Manufactures rescinded — Sale of Spirituous Liquors on the Common prohibited — Old State House to be called

“The City Hall” — Centennial Celebration of the Settlement of Boston 298 . CHAPTER XXI.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1830.

Harrison Gray Oris, Mayor.

Address of the Mayor to the Members of the City Council, on the Removal of the Municipal Government to the Old State House, on the Mosting of the seventeenth of September, 1830 : . 809 CHAP TE hak 2.

CITY GOVERNMENT. 1830.

Harrison Gray Oris, Mayor.

Address to the Citizens of Boston, on the seventeenth of September, 1830, the Close of the Second Century from the first Settlement of the City. By Josiah Quincy, President of Harvard University ; . 318 C HA Pin ieee hae CITY GOVERNMENT. 1890.

Harrison Gray Oris, Mayor.

An Ode, pronounced before the Inhabitants of Boston, on the seventeenth of September, 1830, at the Centennial Celebration of the Settlement of the City. By Charles Sprague » 858.

. 280

CONTENTS. a