dywine, in Chester County, on the service of their country, the patriotic young women, to prevent the evil that would follow the neglect of putting in the fall crop in season, have joined the ploughs, and are preparing the fallows for the seed; and should their fathers, brothers, and lovers be detained abroad in defence of the liberties of these States, they are determined to put in the crops themselves-a very laudable example, and highly worthy of imitation."New England Courant, September 5, 1776. United States upon the acquisition of Cuba, in which he alleged that when the proper time came Cuba would gravitate toward the United States; and that in the meanwhile the policy of the United States was a masterly inactivity. I have lately heard that the phrase was used in the British House of Commons during the first French Revolution. The idea seems to be found in a sentence in one of the Hebrew prophets'His strength is to sit still.'” This note was copied into the "Boston Transcript," November 17, 1859, and elicited the following reply from "C. B.," of Roxbury, printed Transcript" of November 18: in the 66 neither. in his Vindicia Gallicæ.' Speaking, on page "It was first used by Sir James Mackintosh, 6 COLUMBUS.-How can Mr. Irving talk of "the glorious results having established the correct"An extract in your last evening's paper from ness of the opinion of Columbus?" Was his "Notes and Queries" presents afresh the question opinion correct? He expected to find India seven or eight hundred leagues west of the Can-has been attributed to Mr. Burke, to John Ranof the authorship of this expressive phrase, which aries. Is that correct? He believed Hispaniola dolph, and to John C. Calhoun. It belongs to to be Japan, and Cuba to be China. Is that correct? In point of fact he did not sail to discover new lands at all, but a new route to old lands. While the Portuguese were pottering along the coast of Africa, to get to India by sail-14, Loud's edition, 1837, of the organization of ing round its extremity, he wished and projected tive action of the nobles and of the clergy, and the States General of France, he states the posito forestall them, and to arrive there by a shorter then says: "The Commons, faithful to their sysand easier route, by sailing directly to the west. Dr. Robertson in noticing the accidental disco- tem, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity, very of Brazil, a few years later, by the Poru- tions of the nobles, while it left no pretext to which tacitly reproached the arrogant assumpguese fleet, fitted out to profit by the discovery calumniate their own conduct, gave time for the of the passage to India by the Cape of Good increase of the popular favor, and distressed the Hope, says: "Columbus' discovery of the new world was the effort of an active genius, guided court by the delay of financial aid.'” by experience, and acting upon a regular plan, executed with no less courage than perseverance. But from this adventure of the Portuguese, it appears that chance might have accomplished CHADS' FORD.-This crossing-place of the that great design which it is now the pride of small river Brandywine is situated some nine or human reason to have formed and perfected." ten miles above the mouth of that stream, which (History of America, book ii.) Now, human flows into the river Christina, immediately bereason never did any such thing. Human rea-low the city of Wilmington, and near the juncson was totally wrong: the "design it formed,' but never "perfected," was that the East Indies were where the West are; or rather that Asia stood where the country now called America in fact stands. In seeking this illusion, Columbus stumbled upon a magnificent reality. But he no more projected the discovery of the New World, as such, than did Pedro de Cabral that of Brazil, when, on his way to India, he stretched to the westward to avoid the calms on the coast of Guinea.-London Magazine, March, 1828. "MASTERLY INACTIVITY."-" Uneda," a correspondent of the London "Notes and Queries," in that work, September 17, 1859 (2d series, viii., 225), has the following note: "This expression was used by the late John O. Calhoun, in a debate in the Senate of the The "Vindicia Gallica" was first printed in 1791. BOSTON. tion of the said Christina with the Delaware. The Ford has been a place of historical interest since the 11th of September, 1777, when General Washington, with the troops under his command, took post there to interrupt the British forces under Sir William Howe, then on their march from the Head of Elk toward Philadelphia. The Battle-ground of the Brandywine is annually much frequented by those who are curious in revolutionary antiquities. [By the way, of the many descriptions extant of that conflict I consider the one given by Mr. Hamilton, in his "History of the Republic," as the most compendious, clear, and accurate.] And inasmuch as the Central Railroad between Philadelphia and Baltimore, now in process of construction, is already in operation from Philadelphia to Chads' Ford, thus affording every con venience to visitors, it is presumed that a few brief notes in reference to a place thus likely to become still more conspicuous, may not perhaps prove unacceptable in the "Historical Magazine." The Ford derives its name from the early proprietor of the land on the left bank, or northeastern side of the stream, where the highway crosses it. In 1702 he acquired a title to a large tract of land there, viz., in the township of Birmingham, and his name was then written Ffrancis Chadsey. By our colonial records also we learn that Ffrancis Chadsey" was chosen a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1707; but it appears by his will, dated 1712, and proven 1717, that his signature had been then abbreviated to Francis Chads; and in other documents of that period it is written "Francis Chadsey, otherwise Chads." The estate descended to his son, John Chads, who married Elizabeth, daughther of Isaac Richardson of Whiteland, but died childless in 1760; and at the decease of his widow, the property passed into collateral branches of the family. The writer of these notes well recollects the venerable widow of John, when, seventy years since, she resided in the old stone house, yet standing, a short distance north of the present Chads' Ford village. Thus has the original name of Chadsey's Ford been curtailed to Chads's Ford (often, by modern writers, to Chad's, or Chadd's Ford); and even the family that bore the name has been extinct for almost a century. Yet so long as the disastrous day at the Brandywine shall be conspicuous in the annals of our country's trials, the descendants of the patriots who there met the ruthless invaders can surely never cease to regard that famous crossing with a thrilling interest. W. D. WESTCHESTER, PA., 1859. Richard's Almanac originated with Franklin, although he nowhere lays claim to their originality. I have in my possession a copy of " A Čollection of English Proverbs," by F. Ray, second edition, Cambridge [England], 1678, in which many of these maxims are to be found. Below are some from each in parallel columns. S. A. G. GROTON, MASS. From Ray's Proverbs. From Poor Richard's Almanac. Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. Marry your sons when you wealthy, and wise. Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. Marry your son when you will, your daughters when you will, but your daughter when can. Old maids lead apes in hell. Full of courtesie, full of craft. you can. Old maids lead apes there, where the old bachelors are turned to apes. Full of courtesie, full of craft. Snowy winter, a plentiful harvest. A mouse in time may bite in two a cable. God healeth, and the physi cian hath the thanks. Love and a cough cannot be hid. AMERICAN WORKS IN GERMANY.--It may be of interest to the readers of the "Historical Magazine" to know that there is published at Leipzig, in Germany, by Alphons Dürr, a series of works (in English) entitled "Standard American Authors." It comprises some of the works of Bird, Bryant, Cooke, Cooper, Curtis, Emerson, Franklin, Harland, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Marvel (Mitchell), Motley, Poe, Prescott, Sedgwick, ister, physician, and lawyer. Sparks, and Wormeley. The last volume-the 39th of the series--was "The Courtship of Miles Standish, and other Poems," by Henry W. Longfellow. GROTON, MASS. S. A. G. Forewarn'd, forearm'd. Hide nothing from thy min A good lawyer and evil neighbour. Love and lordship like no fellowship. best of books; So God sends meat (they say) the devil cooks. Kings and bears often weary their keepers. By diligence and patience the mouse bit in two the cable. God heals, and the doctor takes the fee. Love, cough, and a smoke can't well be hid. Forewarn'd, forearm'd. Don't misinform your doctor nor your lawyer. A good lawyer, a bad neighbor. Love and lordship hate companions. Neither women nor linen by Fine linen, girls, and gold so POOR RICHARD'S PROVERBS.-It is generally candlelight, supposed that most of the proverbs in Poor bright, Choose not to take by candle light. From Ray's Proverbs. From Poor Richard's Almanac. Don't throw stones at your his own must take heed how neighbors', if your own windows a. e glass. he throws stones at his house. Better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt. Fresh fish and new come guests smell by that they are three days old. Many littles make a mickle. One bird i' th' hand is worth two in the bush. Better have an egg to-day than a hen to-morrow. Rather go to bed supperless than run in debt for a break- Fish and visitors smell in three days. Every little makes a mickle. A bird in the hand is worth two. Deerfield, &c., notifies his Customers that the first six months of his present year's service ends with the Eighth Day of May instant. He desires them to remember that on the account there will be dne to him from each ONE DOLLAR and ONE QUARTER or Seven Shillings and Six Pence, and he very earnestly prays that every one would remember the day and be punctual, that so he may be able to continue the same. "Said Wilde also takes the present opportunity to entreat those who are in arrears for last year kindly to consider that it would be a great favour if each individual would pay him immeAn egg to-day is better than diately their respective balances, for hereby he would be furnished with 150 dollars, a considerable part of which is due to the printers, who have cause of uneasiness that they have not before now received what is severally due to them. a hen to-morrow. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS ONE OF THE EARLIEST BOOKS PRINTED IN OHIO.-Dr. Daniel Drake, writing in 1815, says: "Ten years ago there had not been printed in Cincinnati a single volume; but since the year 1811 twelve different books, besides many pamphlets, have been executed. These books, it is true, are of moderate size, but they were bound, and averaged more than two hundred pages each." What a pity that Dr. Drake did not give the titles of these twelve books! One of them, probably, is now before me; it is "Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress," printed in Cincinnati in 1813. Another one was probably the "Picture of Cincinnati," 1815, from which the above extract is taken. WEST. THE FIRST PAPER PUBLISHED IN MISSISSIPPI. -Some northern papers having stated that Capt. Jas. K. Cook edited the first paper published in Natchez, Miss., the "Hempstead Courier" contradicts the same, and remarks as follows: "The father of the editor of this paper was the pioneer of the press in the Territory of Mississippi, as well as in Natchez. In 1798, Col. Andrew Marschalk, then in command of a company of United States troops occupying what was commonly known as Walnut Hill, two miles above Vicksburg, established the first newspaper probably ever published in the southwest portion of the Union; certainly the first ever published in that territory. In 1800 he moved to Natchez, and established The Natchez Gazette,' and continued it to about 1832 or 1833. This same Capt. James K. Cook was an apprentice to Col. M., until some rich relative left him a fortune, which he soon managed to get through with.” "Said Wilde now determines to ride through Boston, Lancaster, &c., as usual, beginning next week." "Nathan Bushnell, Jun. (Constitutional Post) proposes to carry letters, &c., to the camp at RoxBURY and CAMBRIDGE, and as often as practicable to Boston, leaving the printing office in New London at 7 o'clock, Thursday evening, Norwich at 9 o'clock Friday mornings; and to leave the camps 9 o'clock Monday mornings, return the same road, and arrive at New London on Wednesday evenings." DRESS IN 1775.-Elbridge Gerry, in a newspaper dated June 8, 1775, advertises the loss of “an outside garment commonly called a French great coat, with a crimson velvet cape;" and in the same paper for June 3, 1779, another person advertises the loss of "a chocolate coloured French great coat, with a crimson velvet cape but little the worse for wear." AMERICAN PROVERBS AND SIMILES.-Mr. J. R.Lowell, the editor of the "Atlantic Monthly," in the November number of that journal, has a discriminating notice of the new edition of Mr. Bartlett's "Dictionary of Americanisms," with some interesting additions to the subject, particularly with reference to a portion of it which has hardly been entered upon as yet by bookmakers-at least in any satisfactory manner-that of national similes. SALLY LUNN.-Mr. Bartlett, in his new "Dictionary of Americanisms," has this "name for a sort of tea cake." It is by no means an Americanism. Hone, in his "Every-day Book" (vol. ii. p. 1561, quoted in Mr. Timbs' "Things not generally known"), records: "The bun called the Sally Lunn, originated with a young woman of that name at Bath, about thirty years ago [the end of the last century]. She cried them in a basket, with a white cloth over it, morning and evening. Dalmer, a respectable baker and musician, noticed her, bought her business, and made a song and set it to music in behalf of Sally Lunn. This composition became the street favorite; barrows were made to distribute the nice cakes. Dalmer profited thereby, and retired; and to this day, the Sally-Lunn cake claims preeminence in all the cities of England." ECCLESIASTICAL BLESSING OF BELLS.-Southey in "The Doctor" has, it will be remembered, much interesting matter on the antiquity and use of this custom. The following paragraph from the "New York Tribune" of Nov. 8, 1859, may be worthy of record as a note of this usage in America: "On Sunday evening, Archbishop Hughes performed the interesting ceremony of blessing the bells at the Church of St. Francis Seraph, in Thirty-first street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The edifice, which is situated in the midst of a large Catholic German population, was completely filled on the occasion. The bells, which were placed on stands outside the altar railing, were tastefully ornamented with artificial flowers. They weigh, respectively, 787 pounds and 409 pounds, and were cast in the foundery of Meneeley, West Troy, N. Y., and cost $480. At 4 o'clock the Archbishop entered the church, preceded by a procession of boys and girls, headed by the Rev. Father Rudolph, and bearing banners, the girls dressed in white, and wearing wreaths, the organ pealing forth the Veni Creator. Having been robed in his pontificals, his grace, seated on a chair placed at the foot of the altar steps and facing the congregation, commenced the ceremony. After a prayer, partly read and partly sung, he, assisted by his Secretary, the Rev. Mr. McNerny, washed the bells with holy water. Additional prayer service being gone through, the Archbishop next anointed the bells with the 'Oil of Infirm,' and Holy Chrism, in the course of which he solemnly blessed and consecrated them, and dedicated them to Saints Francis and Anthony, closing the ceremonies with the Episcopal benediction." BENEDIOT ARNOLD'S MOTHER.-The New Haven "Journal and Courier" says: A friend has showed us a number of interesting old letters and documents which belonged to the estate of the late Pierpont Edwards, of this city, and are now in the possession of his family. Among them is the following letter from the mother of Benedict Arnold to her son, written one hundred and six years ago, during, apparently, the prevalence of the yellow fever at Norwich. The letter shows a faithful mother's love, and proves that Arnold was not without good religious teachings in his youth. The letter is probably the oldest manuscript letter in the city. We give it as it is written. It is directed on the outside as follows: "To Mr. benedict Arnold att Canterbury." "NORWICH, August 13th, 1753. "My dear child through ye goodness of god wee are starring and sumthing comfortable att present but deths are multiplied all round us and more daly expected and how soon our time will come wee know not pray my dear whatever you neglect dont neglect your presios soal which once lost can never be regained-your uncel Zion Arnold is dead he left time ye 5 of this instant. "give sarvis to Mr. Cogshall and ladey and dear mrs Hannah from your afectionate mother "HANNAH ARNOLD. "Capt bill has lost all his sons John post has lost his wife John Lathrop and his son barnibus are boath dead." A FAMILY OF GOVERNORS.-The "Saturday Evening Express," in an interesting historical sketch of the Boylston Market, mentions the following noteworthy incident: "Levi Lincoln, who signed the charter of the Boylston Market Association, as governor of the Commonwealth, was the father of the last governor, Levi Lincoln, and was lieutenant governor when Governor Sullivan died, thereby becoming governor. Governor Levi Lincoln, the elder, died at Worcester, April 14, 1820, aged 71. His widow, Martha, died at the same place, April, 1828, and was followed to the grave by two sons, both of them governors—Levi, Governor of Massachusetts, and Enoch, Governor of Maine. There is probably no instance on record where a mother, and she the widow of a governor, has been followed to the grave by two sons, themselves then governors of two States in our Union." QUERIES. INDIAN MOUNDS, ULSTER CO.-In 1676 a patent was granted to William Ashfordby for a tract of land in Marbletown, part of which, comprising THE INDIAN PRINTER.-In 1682, when Rev. John Eliot, the "Indian Apostle," was writing to Robert Boyle, of London, in regard to the second edition of his Indian Bible, he says: "I desire to see it done before I die, and I am so deep in years that I cannot expect to live long; besides, we have but one man, viz., the Indian printer, that is able to compose the sheets and correct the press with understanding." I would be glad of some information in regard to this Indian printer. Where can such be obtained? Has there been a recent edition of Thomas' History of Printing published? stronger publick attention to vine planting in Virginia, written in 1772," by the same hand, in which the writer indulges freely in bacchanalian verse, he refers to an address to the friends of vine planting, and other papers, published in the Virginia Gazette, February 25 and July 29, 1773. He says that he had "quitted a life of studious indolence to cultivate a vineyard;" and alludes to Mrs. Davis, an instructor of youth, and others, who treated his efforts as visionary. His treattions. Mr. Estave is mentioned as a vine planter, ise abounds with appropriate classical quotawho appears to have received aid from the government, and addresses complimentary verses to him. From one of his "little poems" I quote a specimen, because of the historical names of Virginia which he introduces: "Evoë, benign Lycæus! Evoë, divine Naysæus ! Let the Nelsons, patriot brothers, Wythe and Blair drink without measure," etc. Daniel Custis, Esq., deceased, is mentioned as the proprietor of several statues, among which were those of Venus, Adonis, and Bacchus. After his death, one Batt, a plumber, melted down the two former, but left that of Bacchus uninjured, on which he writes: "Mark you, plumber, (what a scandal)— S. J. AMERICAN MEDAL.-Joseph Wright, by profession a painter, belonging to Philadelphia, many years since, exercised his ingenuity in making a die, from which he struck one copy of Washington's head, which is now in possession of the Honorable Ebenezer Hazard, Esquire. It is a unique, and is peculiarly valuable, being considered the best medallic profile likeness of the illustrious Washington which has ever been taken. The artist, in attempting to make a second impression, unfortunately broke his die.Alden's Epitaph, 1814. Can any of your readers inform us where the above medal is to be found? J. C. BOSTON, 1859. |