an old town by the sea-第7章

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　Portsmouth　＇Newcastle　was　then　a　part　of　the　town＇。　Whereupon　the　people　going　out　found　the　gate　wrung　off　the　hinges；　and　stones　flying　and　falling　thick　about　them；　and　striking　of　them　seemingly　with　a　great　force；　but　really　affecting　'em　no　more　than　if　a　soft　touch　were　given　them。　The　glass　windows　were　broken　by　the　stones　that　came　not　from　without；　but　from　within；　and　other　instruments　were　in　a　like　manner　hurled　about。　Nine　of　the　stones　they　took　up；　whereof　some　were　as　hot　as　if　they　came　out　of　the　fire；　and　marking　them　they　laid　them　on　the　table；　but　in　a　little　while　they　found　some　of　them　again　flying　about。　The　spit　was　carried　up　the　chimney；　and　coming　down　with　the　point　forward；　stuck　in　the　back　log；　from　whence　one　of　the　company　removing　it；　it　was　by　an　invisible　hand　thrown　out　at　the　window。　This　disturbance　continued　from　day　to　day；　and　sometimes　a　dismal　hollow　whistling　would　be　heard；　and　sometimes　the　trotting　and　snorting　of　a　horse；　but　nothing　to　be　seen。　The　man　went　up　the　Great　Bay　in　a　boat　on　to　a　farm　which　he　had　there；　but　the　stones　found　him　out；　and　carrying　from　the　house　to　the　boat　a　stirrup　iron　the　iron　came　jingling　after　him　through　the　woods　as　far　as　his　house；　and　at　last　went　away　and　was　heard　no　more。　The　anchor　leaped　overboard　several　times　and　stopt　the　boat。　A　cheese　was　taken　out　of　the　press；　and　crumbled　all　over　the　floor；　a　piece　of　iron　stuck　into　the　wall；　and　a　kettle　hung　thereon。　Several　cocks　of　hay；　mow'd　near　the　house；　were　taken　up　and　hung　upon　the　trees；　and　others　made　into　small　whisps；　and　scattered　about　the　house。　A　man　was　much　hurt　by　some　of　the　stones。　He　was　a　Quaker；　and　suspected　that　a　woman；　who　charged　him　with　injustice　in　detaining　some　land　from　here；　did；　by　witchcraft；　occasion　these　preternatural　occurrences。　However；　at　last　they　came　to　an　end。〃

Now　I　have　done　with　thee；　O　credulous　and　sour　Cotton　Mather！　so　get　thee　back　again　to　thy　tomb　in　the　old　burying…ground　on　Copp's　Hill；　where；　unless　thy　nature　is　radically　changed；　thou　makest　it　uncomfortable　for　those　about　thee。

Nearly　a　hundred　years　afterwards；　Portsmouth　had　another　witcha　tangible　witch　in　this　instanceone　Molly　Bridget；　who　cast　her　malign　spell　on　the　eleemosynary　pigs　at　the　Almshouse；　where　she　chanced　to　reside　at　the　moment。　The　pigs　were　manifestly　bewitched；　and　Mr。　Clement　March；　the　superintendent　of　the　institution；　saw　only　one　remedy　at　hand；　and　that　was　to　cut　off　and　burn　the　tips　of　their　tales。　But　when　the　tips　were　cut　off　they　disappeared；　and　it　was　in　consequence　quite　impracticable　to　burn　them。　Mr。　March；　who　was　a　gentleman　of　expedients；　ordered　that　all　the　chips　and　underbrush　in　the　yard　should　be　made　into　heaps　and　consumed；　hoping　thus　to　catch　and　do　away　with　the　mysterious　and　provoking　extremities。　The　fires　were　no　sooner　lighted　than　Molly　Bridget　rushed　from　room　to　room　in　a　state　of　frenzy。　With　the　dying　flames　her　own　vitality　subsided；　and　she　was　dead　before　the　ash…piles　were　cool。　I　say　it　seriously　when　I　say　that　these　are　facts　of　which　there　is　authentic　proof。

If　the　woman　had　recovered；　she　would　have　fared　badly；　even　at　that　late　period；　had　she　been　in　Salem；　but　the　death…penalty　has　never　been　hastily　inflicted　in　Portsmouth。　The　first　execution　that　ever　took　place　there　was　that　of　Sarah　Simpson　and　Penelope　Kenny；　for　the　murder　of　an　infant　in　1739。　The　sheriff　was　Thomas　Packer；　the　same　official　who；　twenty…nine　years　later；　won　unenviable　notoriety　at　the　hanging　of　Ruth　Blay。　The　circumstances　are　set　forth　by　the　late　Albert　Laighton　in　a　spirited　ballad；　which　is　too　long　to　quote　in　full。　The　following　stanzas；　however；　give　the　pith　of　the　story

　　　　〃And　a　voice　among　them　shouted；　　　　　　　　　〃Pause　before　the　deed　is　done；　　　　　We　have　asked　reprieve　and　pardon　　　　　　　　　For　the　poor　misguided　one。'

　　　　〃But　these　words　of　Sheriff　Packer　　　　　　　　　Rang　above　the　swelling　noise：　　　　　'Must　I　wait　and　lose　my　dinner？　　　　　　　　　Draw　away　the　cart；　my　boys！'

　　　　〃Nearer　came　the　sound　and　louder；　　　　　　　　　Till　a　steed　with　panting　breath；　　　　　From　its　sides　the　white　foam　dripping；　　　　　　　　　Halted　at　the　scene　of　death；

　　　　〃And　a　messenger　alighted；　　　　　　　　　Crying　to　the　crowd；　'Make　way！　　　　　This　I　bear　to　Sheriff　Packer；　　　　　　　　　'Tis　a　pardon　for　Ruth　Blay！'〃

But　of　course　he　arrived　too　latethe　Law　led　Mercy　about　twenty　minutes。　The　crowd　dispersed；　horror…stricken；　but　it　assembled　again　that　night　before　the　sheriff's　domicile　and　expressed　its　indignation　in　groans。　His　effigy；　hanged　on　a　miniature　gallows；　was　afterwards　paraded　through　the　streets。

　　　　〃Be　the　name　of　Thomas　Packer　　　　　　　　　A　reproach　forevermore！〃

Laighton's　ballad　reminds　me　of　that　Portsmouth　has　been　prolific　in　poets；　one　of　whom；　at　least；　has　left　a　mouthful　of　perennial　rhyme　for　oratorsJonathan　Sewell　with　his

　　　　〃No　pent…up　Utica　contracts　your　powers；　　　　　But　the　whole　boundless　continent　is　yours。〃

I　have　somewhere　seen　a　volume　with　the　alliterative　title　of　〃Poets　of　Portsmouth；〃　in　which　are　embalmed　no　fewer　than　sixty　immortals！

But　to　drop　into　prose　again；　and　have　done　with　this　iliad　of　odds　and　ends。　Portsmouth　has　the　honor；　I　believe；　of　establishing　the　first　recorded　pauper　workhousethough　not　in　connection　with　her　poets；　as　might　naturally　be　supposed。　The　building　was　completed　and　tenanted　in　1716。　Seven　years　later；　an　act　was　passed　in　England　authorizing　the　establishment　of　parish　workhouses　there。　The　first　and　only　keeper　of　the　Portsmouth　almshouse　up　to　1750　was　a　womanRebecca　Austin。

Speaking　of　first　things；　we　are　told　by　Mr。　Nathaniel　Adams；　in　his　〃Annals　of　Portsmouth；〃　that　on　the　20th　of　April；　1761；　Mr。　John　Stavers　began　running　a　stage　from　that　town　to　Boston。　The　carriage　was　a　two…horse　curricle；　wide　enough　to　accommodate　three　passengers。　The　fare　was　thirteen　shillings　and　sixpence　sterling　per　head。　The　curricle　was　presently　superseded　by　a　series　of　fat　yellow　coaches；　one　of　whichnearly　a　century　later；　and　long　after　that　pleasant　mode　of　travel　had　fallen　obsoletewas　the　cause　of　much　mental　tribulation　（1。　Some　idle　reader　here　and　there　may　possibly　recall　the　burning　of　the　old　stage…coach　in　The　Story　of　a　Bad　Boy。）　to　the　writer　of　this　chronicle。

The　mail　and　the　newspaper　are　closely　associated　factors　in　civilization；　so　I　mention　them　together；　though　in　this　case　the　newspaper　antedated　the　mail…coach　about　five　years。　On　October　7；　1756；　the　first　number　of　〃The　New　Hampshire　Gazette　and　Historical　Chronicle〃　was　issued　in　Portsmouth　from　the　press　of　Daniel　Fowle；　who　in　the　previous　July　had　removed　from　Boston；　where　he　had　undergone　a　brief　but　uncongenial　imprisonment　on　suspicion　of　having　printed　a　pamphlet　entitled　〃The　Monster　of　Monsters；　by　Tom　Thumb；　Esq。；〃　an　essay　that　contained　some　uncomplimentary　reflections　on　several　official　personages。The　〃Gazette〃　was　the　pioneer　journal　of　the　province。　It　was　followed　at　the　close　of　the　same　year　by　〃The　Mercury　and　Weekly　Advertiser；〃　published　by　a　former　apprentice　of　Fowle；　a　certain　Thomas　Furber；　backed　by　a　number　of　restless　Whigs；　who　considered　the　〃Gazette〃　not　sufficiently　outspoken　in　the　cause　of　liberty。　Mr。　Fowle；　however；　contrived　to　hold　his　own　until　the　day　of　his　death。　Fowle　had　for　pressman　a　faithful　negro　named　Primus；　a　full…blooded　African。　Whether　Primus　was　a　freeman　or　a　slave　I　am　unable　to　state。　He　lived　to　a　great　age；　and　was　a　prominent　figure　among　the　people　of　his　own　color。

Negro　slavery　was　common　in　New　England　at　that　period。　In　1767；　Portsmouth　numbered　in　its　population　a　hundred　and　eighty…eight　slaves；　male　and　female。　Their　bondage；　happily；　was　nearly　always　of　a　light　sort；　if　any　bondage　can　be　light。　They　were　allowed　to　have　a　kind　of　government　of　their　own；　indeed；　were　encouraged　to　do　so；　and　no　unreasonable　restrictions　were　placed　on　their　social　enjoyment。　They　annually　elected　a　king　and　counselors；　and　celebrated　the　event　with　a　procession。　The　aristocratic　feeling　was　highly　developed　in　them。　The　rank　of　the　master　was　the　slave's　rank。　There　was　a　great　deal　of　ebony　standing　around　on　its　dignity　in　those　days。　For　example；　Governor　Langdon's　manservant；　Cyrus　Bruce；　was　a　person　who　insisted　on　his　distinction；　and　it　was　recognized。　His　massive　gold　chain　and　seals；　his　cherry…colored　small…clothes　and　silk　stockings；　his　ruffles　and　silver　shoe…buckles；　were　a　tradition　long　after　Cyrus　himself　was　pulverized。

In　cases　of　minor　misdemeanor　among　them；　the　negros　themselves　were　permitted　to　be　judge　and　jury。　Their　administration　of　justice　was　often　characteristically　naive。　Mr。　Brewster　gives　an　amusing　sketch　of　one　of　their　sessions。　King　Nero　is　on　the　bench；　and　one　Catowe　are　nothing　if　not　classicalis　the　prosecuting　attorney。　　The　name　of　the　prisoner　and　the　nature　of　his　offense　are　not　disclosed　to　posterity。　In　the　midst　of　the　proceedings　the　hour　of　noon　is　clanged　from　the　neighboring　belfry　of　the　Old　North　Church。　〃The　evidence　was　not　gone　through　with；　but　the　servants　could　stay　no　longer　from　their　home　duties。　They　all　wanted　to　see　the　whipping；　but　could　not　conveniently　be　present　again　after　dinner。　Cato　ventured　to　address　the　King：　Please　you　Honor；　best　let　the　fellow　have　his　whipping　now；　and　finish　the　trial　after　dinner。　The　request　seemed　to　be　the　general　wish　of　the　company：　so　Nero　ordered　ten　lashes；　for　justice　so　far　as　the　trial　went；　and　ten　more　at　the　close　of　the　trial；　should　he　be　found　guilty！〃

Slavery　in　New　Hampshire　was　never　legally　abolished；　unless　Abraham　Lincoln　did　it。　The　State　itself　has　not　ever　pronounced　any　emancipation　edict。　During　the　Revolutionary　War　the　slaves　were　generally　emancipated　by　their　masters。　That　many　of　the　negros；　who　had　grown　gray　in　service；　refused　their　freedom；　and　elected　to　spend　the　rest　of　their　lives　as　pensioners　in　the　families　of　their　late　owners；　is　a　circumstance　that　illustrates　the　kindly　ties　which　held　between　slave　and　master　in　the　old　colonial　days　in　New　England。

The　institution　was　accidental　and　superficial；　and　never　had　any　real　root　in　the　Granite　State。　If　the　Puritans　could　have　found　in　the　Scriptures　any　direct　sanction　of　slavery；　perhaps　it　would　have　continued　awhile　longer；　for　the　Puritan　carried　his　religion　into　the　business　affairs　of　life；　he　was　not　even　able　to　keep　it　out　of　his　bills　of　lading。　I　cannot　close　this　rambling　chapter　more　appropriately　and　solemnly　than　by　quoting　from　one　of　those　same　pious　bills　of　landing。　It　is　dated　June；　1726；　and　reads：　〃Shipped　by　the　grace　of　God　in　good　order　and　well　conditioned；　by　Wm。　Pepperills　on　there　own　acct。　and　risque；　in　and　upon　the　good　Briga　called　the　William；　whereof　is　master　under　God　for　this　present　voyage　George　King；　now　riding　at　anchor　in　the　river　Piscataqua　and　by　God's　grace　bound　to　Barbadoes。〃　Here　follows　a　catalogue　of　the　miscellaneous　cargo；　rounded　off　with：　〃And　so　God　send　the　good　Briga　to　her　desired　port　in　safety。　Amen。〃

VI。　SOME　OLD　PORTSMOUTH　PROFILES

I　DOUBT　if　any　New　England　town　ever　turned　out　so　many　eccentric　characters　as　Portsmouth。　From　1640　down　to　ab