Boston,* an eminent orator and patriot, who died on his return from England, in 1775, April 26, aged 31 years. Some short memorandums remain among Mr. Powell's manuscripts of journey, expenses, &c. The following extract gives an idea of the modes of travelling in 1770, a contrast to the railroad speed of 1869: "September 27, 1770.-Set out for Boston by land. My "sister Susan, and my wife's sister, Betsey Bromfield, in "my chaise, with my boy Boston to drive them. Mrs. "Powell and I in Dr. Russell's chaise, I hired for the jour"ney. We put up at Patten's in Kennebunk; a fine day. "Friday, September 28.-On our journey. Put up at "Dr. Cutter's at Portsmouth, sent my boy and horses to a "tavern. "Saturday, September 29.-A fine day. Set out on our "journey, went to Exeter and heard Mr. Whitfield preach, "and dined at Col. Gilman's, and then set out and got to "Brother Bromfield's at Newburyport, and put up to keep "Sabbath. "Sabbath Day, September 30.-A fine day. Mr. Whit"field died this morning at six o'clock, very sudden, at Mr. "Parsons'. He went to bed well, after supper, and "pleasant all the evening. We all went to see him, just at "night. He was to have preached to-day for Mr. Parsons. "We all hands heard Mr. Cary in the morning, and Mr. "Marsh in the afternoon. "Monday, October 1.-A fine day. I set out for Boston "with sister Susan, ‡ and put up at Porter's at Windham. *The late Josiah Quincy of Boston, President of Harvard, who died in 1864, aged 92 years, was their son. These chaises had a small seat for the driver, usually a boy, placed low down in front of the vehicle, very near the horse. Susan Powell married Symmes, and resided at Andover. "I left Mrs. Powell and her sister Betsy not well, at their "brother's, John Bromfield, with my boy and chaise. "Tuesday, October 2.-A raw, cold day. Sister Susan "and I got to Madam Foxcroft's* at Cambridge, by past "one o'clock to dinner. The General Court sitting, and "we got to Boston by dark. "Tuesday, October 9.-Mrs Powell and sister, and my "boy Boston, got to Boston well; their brother, John "Bromfield, came with them. "Thursday, October 11.-My boy Boston, the old horse, "and Dr. Russell's chaise, sailed for North Yarmouth in "Sweetser's. A fine wind.† 66 "Tuesday, October 30.-My poor boy Boston, died with a nervous fever, after a few days' sickness, aged 15 years, "a great loss-a fine boy. ‡ Monday, November 5.-I got home, found Boston dead "and buried, and Dinah sick. I left Mrs. Powell in "Boston, I am all alone. "November 28, 1770, Wednesday.-A right down winter "snowstorm all day, the first this fall, and after a fine "warm spell for 10 or 12 days. I this day, for the first "time, put up all my cattle in the barn, excepting my oxen "and milch cows we have tied up some nights past. "Thursday, December 6, 1770.-A pleasant day for the "season. Thanksgiving Day. Mr. Gilman don't shine on * Mrs. Foxcroft of Cambridge was the aunt of Mrs. Powell, sister of her mother, Mrs. E. Bromfield; they were danghters of J. Coney, a merchant of Boston. The house of Mr. Foxcroft is yet standing, a fine old mansion on the road to Mount Anburn, now, 1869, the property of the family of the late William Wells of Boston. These were merely occasional memorandums, many days often passed between the dates. The boy Boston was undoubtedly a slave, but seems to have been kindly and affectionately treated and remembered. "these occasions in his performances. I din'd at Mrs. "Richmond Loring's, with Mrs. Gilman and Madam "Loring. I am alone except my servants, Mrs. Powell in "Boston. Mr. Shaw and wife and family dined with my "people. "Friday, December 21.-A rainy day. Coz. Greely got "in from Boston, brought me letters &c., from Boston. "My wife there. I purpose to go up in a short time. "Sabbath Day, December 23.-A fine morning, but a "raw, cold day, and the roads slippery and full of ice. "Colonel Bayley, Captain Little, and Dr. Calef of "Ipswich at meeting. Got to town last evening. The new "preacher, Mr. Cheever, got to town last night to preach "at Harisickles. "Company dined with me, Mr. Gilman, Madam Loring, "Deacon Mitchell, and Mrs. Polly White, Justice Mitchell "and Lady, Uncle John Loring and Lady, Mr. Richmond "Loring and Lady. Captain Eben Gray got home last "night, been gone these six months or more. "Sabbath Day, December 30.-A very fine, pleasant day, "not cold. Mr. Gilman, I think, preached two serious, "good, and sensible sermons from John the 5th and 39th: "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have "eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.' (In "particular the last clause.) "On the whole we have had a very fine month of Decem"ber, not more than three or four cold winter days, and no "very bad storms yet. If we had a little more snow it. "would be better." These memorandums are written separately on small pages, and many are probably lost; few of any interest remain, except the following: "1782, December 3d.-Arrived in Boston and embarked "the French troops under the command of the Baron de "Viomenil from the southward, in four divisions. About "three or four thousand including officers. Very fine "troops. One division comes on Tuesday, 3d of Decem"ber, 2d division the 4th, the 3d and 4th the 5th and 6th "day. "December 4th.-A public dinner to the French officers, "about 50. "December 13.-The Governor and Council dined with "the French General de Viomenil, a large company. "December 23, 1782.-The French fleet, with the troops, "sailed from Boston, a large number of merchant vessels "sailed under the convoy." Honorable Jeremiah Powell, a member of the Honorable Council died on a visit to his estate at North Yarmouth, Maine, September, 1784, aged sixty-four years. * His widow, Mrs. Sarah Powell, survived many years, and died March, 1806, aged seventy-four. "Her mild and "amiable disposition endeared her to the whole circle of "her acquaintance. Her piety was unostentatious, and "the hopes and promises of the Gospel cheered her to the "last moment of her existence." *Notices in the Boston newspapers. |