A BOSTON MERCHANT OP OB, INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OP JAMES GIBSON, A GENTLEMAN VOLUNTEER AT THE EXPEDITION TO LOUiEBCRG J WITH A ■f JOURNAL OF THAT SIEGE, NEVER BEFORE PUB- LISHED IN Tins COUNTRY. BY ONE OP HIS DESCENDANTS. BOSTON : REDDING AND COMPANY. 1847. / Entered according lo act of Congress, in the year 1847, by Reddiwo & Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Dis- trict Court of the District of Massachusetts. > Boston : Printed by 8. N. Dickinson k Co. 62 Washington Street. % DEDICATION TO THB COKGREOATIONS WORSHIPPING IN “king’s chapel” and THB “ OLD SOUTH,” ALSO TO THE YOUNG LADIES THB “beacon hill SEMINARY,” AND THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON GEN- ERALLY, IS THIS LITTLE WORK RESPECTFULLY OF INSCRIBED. INTRODUCTION. 1. Usually when a book is dedi- cated, it is done “ by permission but in the present case, the author justifies himself in doing on his own respon- sibility that which no one would feel authorized to permit or prohibit 2. It will doubtless be enough for the worshipers at King’s Chapel to know that the hero of our story, in concert with his friend Gov. Shirley^ who laid the corner-stone of that edi- fice, was quite as much attached to the church as he was to the crown ^ that tliis brought him and his amiable and intelligent lady into active mem- 6 bership with the only “ Established Church” then existing in the town of Boston ; and that his widow sleeps in the “ old church-yard ” contiguous to the chapel. 3. It is a melancholy fact to the writer, that, while he succeeds in find- ing the graves of his progenitors, he can find so little of their history. It is from our grandmother, the only child of Gibson, that we- have the manner of his death. She lived to a great age. The writer has in his pos- session a letter that she wrote in her eightieth year, in which she says that there is a family in Boston by the name of Perkins, who knows all about her claims in England, refer- ring to property which Parliament awarded to her father for services per- formed at the capture of Louisburg, 7 This letter was dated in 1816. It does not mention the given name of Perkins. Tradition in our family as- signs them to the congregation wor- shipping in the “ Old South Church.” That there was a family in Boston who tenderly cherished the orphan of “ Bea- con Hill mansion house,”* ever after she went into the family of Rev. Mr. Niles of Braintree, we have still further evidence. If the descendants of such a family could be found, perhaps the writer, who is on a kind of pilgrim- age upon the back track of his ances- tors, might meet with some facts which may be quite gratifying to his antiquarian curiosity — which he * Near the site of this mansion house the Rev. Hubbard Winslow has located the “Beacon Hill Seminary,” for young ladies. 8 deems laudable, since he is almost without a relative in New England, belonging either to paternal or mater- nal side, and the only male descend- ant of Gibson’s orphan daughter that he knows to be living in the United States. 4. It may appear somewhat singu- lar, that the writer should have so lit- tle information respecting his imme- diate ancestors, living only one or two generations back ; but the orphan daughter of Gibson dying while he was but a boy, and his mother also when he was quite young, and hav- ing no accessible relatives who can afford him any aid in this behalf, he is indulging the hope, that, by the cir- culation of this little book, he will fall in with some point of interest yet undiscovered. 5. If he should not be able to re- cover any farther information in this country, he does not doubt that the ‘ generous citizens of Boston will be gratified to purchase this book in such ^ numbers as to enable him to seek among the descendants of the “ an- cient and honorable family of Gib- sons ” of the old world the more com- plete story of his ancestors. After looking through the most s important libraries in New England, the writer became satisfied that he had probably the only copy of this “Journal of the Siege” in America, which is the identical one that Mr. Gibson gave to his daughter on his return from England. Presuming that the Massachusetts Plistorical Society might deem the “Journal” worthy of their consideration, it was submitted 2 10 to the Hon. F. C. Gray, Chairman of the Publishing Committee, who re- turned it with a note from which we make the following extract : Dear Sir, — The siege of Louis- burg is an object of so much impor- tance in our provincial history, that an authentic journal kept by an officer engaged in that expedition cannot be without interest to our antiqua- rians,” &c. BOSTON MERCHANT OP 1745 . James Gibson was born in London about the year 1700, and belonged, so says the inscription on his coat of arms, “ to the ancient and honorable family of Gibson, of Cumberland, Essex, and London,” and relative of Edward Gibson, the eminent anti- quarian, and Bishop of London. When a young man, he held a commission in the royal army, wtiich was ordered to the island of Barba- does. Here he remained some tiiiii, and married a young and wealthy widow, in the month of October, 1730. The original of the following certificate is now in the hands of the writer : — “ These are to certify to whom it may concern, that Mr. James 12 Gibson and Mrs. Thomazine Barton, widow, of this parish, were joined to- gether in the holy state of matrimony, according to the canons of the Church of England, on the 30th day of Octo- ber, 1730, by me, Thomas Warren, Curate.” “Barbadoes, Parish of St. Michael ” Through this connection, James Gibson became possessor of a large plantation in the island of Jamaica. After a few years, he retired from his situation in the army, and remained in the West Indies. Having often heard of the new colonies, and becoming acquainted wiih merchants who visited the islands for the purpose of trading, he was in- duced to come to New England with his lady; and, being pleased with the thriving appearance of the northern colonies, he brought his wealth and family to Boston, and became an ex- tensive trader between that place and 13 the islands of Barbadoes and Ja- maica. Mr. Gibson was also a stockholder in the enterprise of building Long Wharf, and inhabited one of the finest buildings then to be seen on Beacon Hill.* He had but one child, a daugh- ter. In the year 1744, war was declared between France and Great Britain. George H. was upon the throne, and Sir William Shirley, then governor of Massachusetts. The news reached Cape Breton, by a fast-sailing packet, three weeks be- fore it was received in Boston ; and this afforded the French a fine oppor- tunity of making incursions into the * It will be seen hy referring to the Probate records, at Boston, that the administrator had two different times of rendering an invoice of Gib- son’s estate. In one of them the building referred to is called “ the mansion house on Beacon Hill, Boston.” Among other articles, “ a brass sword and belt, and a silver snuff-box,” arc mentioned. 14 neighboring province of Nova Scotia. In this manner, Canso, a small fishing town, was taken by surprise ; and the inhabitants, and a large number of vessels were captured, and taken to Louisburg, as prisoners of war. These early attacks awakened the English colonies to their danger; and it soon became apparent, that Nova Scotia, and perhaps all the English | settlements in North America, de- I pended on the conquest of Louisburg, j the strong fortress and capital of Cape | Breton. i Some of the colonists, however, in * defending the town of Anapolis, in a second incursion from the French, obtained some prisoners, whom they j exchanged for the inhabitants of Can- ' so, taken in the spring, and who i brought an accurate account of the strength of the fortifications of Louis- t burg, to Boston. : From this account. Sir William Shirley, governor of Massachusetts, conceived the idea of taking the city by surprise, before any farther aid could be obtained from France. In this he was encouraged, particularly by those who were engaged in the cod fisheries of Massachusetts and New Hampshire; as this branch of trade must be utterly suspended, while Louisburg remained in the hands of the French. To obtain the opinion of the Gene- ral Court, Sir William, early in Janu- ary, requested its members to bind themselves, under oath of secresy, to receive from him an important com- munication. This was complied with, and he proposed his plan of attacking Louisburg, and asked their consent. This was kept a secret for a number of days from the public. At last it was discovered by an honest deacon, whose whole soul was so filled with the plan of the expedition, that he in- advertently made mention of it at'his family devotions, by praying for its 16 success. The boldness of the propo- sal astonished every one. It was re- ferred to a commiltee, who reported against it. This report, after some debate, was accepted by a considera- ble majority, and it was supposed that the subject was put to rest. The governor, however, was not thus to be defeated : he was a man of persever- ance as well as decision. James Gibson he knew to be a man of weighty character, as well as weighty purse. “ After a few days,” says Mr. Gib- son, “ I saw the governor walking slowly down King Street, with his head bent down, as if in deep study. He entered my counting-room, and abruptly said, ‘Gibson, do you feel like giving up the expedition to Louis- burg V ‘ I wish the vote might be reconsidered,’ was my reply ; ‘ for un- less the colonies make a bold strike, we may all suffer the same fate of Canso and Anapolis.’ “ ‘ You are the very man I need,’ said the governor, springing from his chair. ‘ I have been thinking, if a pe- tition were drawn up and signed by the merchants of Boston, asking a reconsideration of the whole matter, the result would be successful.’ ” Before he left. Sir William had the pleasure of seeing the petition drawn up and signed by one bold man, and before night it was ready for presenta- tion. The next day it was read in the General Court, and another commit- tee voted a reconsideration. This report was argued two whole days ; during which time, its advocates pre- sented the prospect of success, and the advantages Massachusetts would re- ceive from it, the importance of im- mediate action, and the certainty that they would be amply remunerated by Parliament, when it was known to his Majesty what proof of loyalty his American subjects had given. On the other side, it was argued with much greater plausibility, that the scheme was chimerical, that inex- perienced militia could never reduce ^ so impregnable a fortress, that by rea- son of fogs and ice the island could not be approached at that season of the year, that they should incur the displeasure of Parliament by such a rash undertaking, that the province i was exhausted by previous cam- paigns, and if this were unsuccessful, It would prove its utter ruin. The I question was taken on the 26 lh of ' January, and the expedition was voted by a majority of a single vote ; sever- al members who were known to be opposed, being absent. No sooner, i however, was this done than a degree of unanimity upon the subject gene- rally prevailed; and those who had previously opposed it, like true patriots, I came forward, and gave their aid in \ carrying it into effect. Never were a people more enthusiastic, or enter- I 19 tained stronger hopes of success, than the people of Massachusetts at that time. Letters were immediately sent to Pennsylvania and other colonies, requesting their assistance. Governor Shirley soon made proc- lamation for raising the necessary forces ; and measures were taken for equipping the small fleet, then owned by the province, for the purpose of conveying the troops. The governor also sent to the commander of the British fleet at the West Indies, re- questing aid. The island of Cape Breton, on which Louisburg is situated, consti- tutes at present a part of the Province of Nova Scotia. It is of triangular form, and eighty leagues in circum- ference. Its western and northern shores are steep, rocky, and inaccessi- ble ; while its south-eastern is indented with beautiful bays and harbors, safe for ships of the largest size. Its soil is barren, and a large portion of the year the island is either enveloped in fog, or locked up with snow and ice. Its entire population, at the present time, does not exceed 30,000, most of whom are engaged in the fisheries, and in the coal and lumber trades. Louisburg has frequently been call- ed the “ Dunkirk of America.” For a description of it, I use the words of Dr. Belknan: — ‘‘It was two miles and a half in circumference, fortified in every accessible point, with a ram- part of stone, from thirty to thirty-six feet high, and a ditch eighty feet wide. A space of two hundred yards was left without a rampart, on the side next the sea, and enclosed by a sim- ple dike and pickets. The sea was so narrow at this place, that it made only a narrow channel, inaccessible, from its numerous reefs, to any ship- \^ing whatever. On an island, at the entrance of the harbor, which was only four hundred yards wide, was a battery of thirty cannon ; and at the bottom of the harbor, directly opposite to the entrance, was the ground, or royal battery, of twenty-eight, forty- two, and eighteen pound cannon. On a high cliff, opposite the island battery, stood the lighthouse ; and at the north-east part of the harbor was a magazine for naval stores. “ The town was regularly laid out in squares. The streets were broad, and the houses mostly built of wood and stone. The entrance to the town was at the west gate, over a draw- bridge, which was protected by a cir- cular battery of cannon. “ These works had been twenty-five years in building, and, though not finished, had cost France not less than thirty millions of livres. It was in peace a safe retreat for the French ships bound homeward from the East and West Indies; and in war, a source of distress to the northern English colonies; its situation being extremely favorable for privateers to seize their 22 fishing vessels, and inten’upt their coasting and foreign trade ; for which reasons, the reduction of it is said to have been as desirable an object as that of Carthage ever was to the Ro- mans.” I Such was the place that the people of New England proposed to take by surprise in 1745. It was, perhaps, as impregnable as nature and art could make it, and was probably considered as safe by France then, as Gibraltar is by the English at the present day. Its reduction was suggested and ac- complished by a train of circumstan- ces as remarkable as the event was glorious. It was very properly said by a writer of the day, that “if, in this expedition, any one circumstance had taken a wrong turn on the French side, it must have miscarried.” In all this preparation, James Gib- son was not an idle spectator. See- ing the difficulty of raising volunteers from the poor and hard-working men 23 of the colony, he also became a volun- teer. Already possessing the com- mission of captain of the royal army, he actually hired a company of three hundred men, whose wages he paid regularly from his own property. Thus four thousand men were raised in the several colonies. The time was appointed for the fleet to sail. The greatest difficulty to be surmounted was the appointment of a commander- in-chief. This was attended with some difficulty, as they were raw sol- diers, taken from all the New England provinces, and feeling in some degree a jealousy of each other. The choice at length fell upon William Pepperell, of Kittery, then a colonel of the militia, and a merchant of good reputation, known extensively both in Massachu- setts and New Hampshire. Before accepting the appointment, Pepperell consulted the famous George Whitfield, who was then travelling through New England, upon its expe- cliency. Whitfield told him he did not think the situation very promising ; that the eyes of all would be upon him ; that, if it should not succeed, the widows and orphans of the slain would reproach him ; and if it should succeed, many would regard him with envy, and endeavor to eclipse his glory — that he ought therefore to go, with a single eye, and then he would find his strength proportioned to his necessity.’’ After some time he gave a motto for the flag, which was “ Nil desperandum, Christo duce,” thereby giving the expedition an air of a crusade. It is said that a large number of the followers of Whitfield enlisted ; and as a proof of the reli- gious feeling by which they were ac- tuated, one of them, a clergvman, car- ried upon his shoulder a hatchet for the purpose of destroying the images in the French churches. Few men could leave their families under more trying circumstances than 25 James Gibson. Without a single relative in North America, nearer than the West Indies, his wife was to endure alone the suspense of this hazardous and doubtful expedition, and remain behind with her little daughter in Boston. But, in the midst of present trial or future solicitude, the firm hearts of the colonists did not quail. Under these circumstances, on the 25th of March, Mr. Gibson took leave of his family, of his tender and confiding wife and child, and joined the troops which on that day left Boston for the island of Nan- tucket, the rallying point of the expe- dition. The fleet sailed from Nantucket with 4,300 men, 4,000 being furnished by the colonies, and 300 by Mr. Gib- son. After a prosperous voyage, it appeared in view of the little town of Canso. As it was yet in the early spring, the ice rendered the bay im- passable, and they were thus pre- 3 26 vented from landing at the intended point. In this hour of perplexity, Commodore Warren, the commander of the British troops at the West In- dies, unexpectedly amved with a man-of-war, to their assistance. This aid inspired the array with new cour- age, and elated them with a prospect of success. On the 29th of April, the ice having broken up, the fleet sailed for Louisburg, a distance of about sixty miles, where they arrived the next morning. This was the first notice to the in- habitants of Louisburg of the intend- ed invasion. An alarm was instantly given, and our fleet was ushered into the bay by a ringing of bells and discharge of cannon. A detachment of 150 men were sent to oppose their landing, but were soon repulsed by the New Englanders, who without further mo- lestation landed their troops and mili- 27 tary stores, about four miles below the city. On the following night, two mer- chants from the Colonies — James Gibson and Captain Vaughan, with 400 men, marched through the woods and round the hills, to the northeast- ern part of the harbor, and burned many large warehouses containing a quantity of wine and brandy, making a fine beacon light. This siege continued forty-eight days, and was carried on by undis- ciplined colonists against a well- trained army, and a fortification stronger than almost any in the world. Of the events of this siege, in which our army gained a glorious triumph, Mr. Gibson kept a regular Journal, which was published after- ward at London, and a copy pre- sented to King George. A notice of this Journal appeared in a contem- porary number of the “ Gentleman’s 28 Magazine a periodical which has been continued for upward of 200 years. This Journal has never been re- printed in America. After search- ing through the principal libraries of New England, we are certain that few persons have ever seen it in this country. We have learned of late that soci- eties are seeking to obtain more ex- tended information respecting this expedition, and therefore give this Journal entire to our readers. * The “ Gentleman’s Magazine ” is regarded as the greatest periodical in the English lan- guage. Copies of it, for nearly two hundred years, are to be seen in the Boston Athenaeum. Several notices of Gibson and his Journal are to be found in this work. The one alluded to above is in tbe 15th volume, page 649. By calling on S. G. Drake, Esq., the indefati- gable proprietor of the Antiquarian Bookstore on Cornhill, the reader can see the original copy of the following Journal. A JOURNAL OF TDB LATE SIEGE, BT TUB TROOPS FROM NORTH AMERICA. AOAIKST THE FRENCH AT CAPE BRETON, THE CITY OP LOUISBURO, AND THE TERRITORIES THEREUNTO BELONGING. SURRENDERED TO THE ENGLISH, ON THE ITtH OP JUNE, 1745, AFTER A SIEGE OF FORTY-EIGHT DAYS. BY JAMES GIBSON, OBNTLEMAX VOLUNTEER AT TUE ABOVE SIEGE. LONDON : PRINTED FOR J. NEWBURT, AT THE BIBLE AND SUN, IN ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-TARD. M D CC XLV. I A DEDICATION To the Commissioned Officers of tlie Troops at late Sie^e against the City of Louisburg, and the Territories thereunto belujiging in North America. My Dear Brethren and Fellow Soldiers, Pursuant to your request, I here present you with a Journal which I kept whilst the siege was laid against the city above mentioned. If it should contribute in the least to your plea- sure in the recollection of that signal victory which you obtained, by the blessing of God, through your great courage and good conduct, over your enemies at Cape Breton, or be of service to you in any other respect whatever, I shall not think my labor ill bestowed. Gentlemen, as you voluntarily left your families, your fortunes, your oc- cupations, and whatever else you held most dear, to enter the field in the service of your country against the strong holds of a potent enemy : against a well-walled and well-gar- risoned city; against strong batteries, in short, and large cannons, I heartily congratulate you on your good suc- cess, and doubt not but your heroic achievements will be transmitted down with honor to latest posterity. soldiers, who lelt their families and their respective ! callings for no other consideration than fourteen shillings sterling per month, besides the prospect of a little plunder, as occasion offered, of which they were disappointed, — I hope they will be taken care of, and meet with a reward in some measure propor- tioned to their service and their merit; since their disappointment was wholly owing (as you are sensible) to our generous treatment of the enemy, even when we had secured our con- quest; for, by the terms of capilula- 33 tion, the French were not only al- lowed to carry off all their effects without the least molestation, but were transported at our expense to Old France, insomuch that the sol- diers, as I before hinted, had no op- portunity of making any advantage of their good success, which other- wise they might have considerably improved. The place, gentlemen, which we have thus happily made our own, may with propriety be called the key of Canada and North America. The island is near a hundred miles long ; and has several fine harbors in it, very commodious for the fishery, whereof that at Louisburg is the principal. The city is not only well walled, but, as it has several wide trenches and flankers, it may properly be said to be completely garrisoned. There is likewise a very grand battery, directly opposite to the mouth of the harbor, the ordnance whereof consists of 34 above thirty pieces of cannon, all forty, two pounders. The Island Battery, moreover, which is planted at the mouth of the harbor, is of equal strength and force. . Opposite to the Island Battery there is also a very fine and commodious light-house, as well as a noble harbor for the largest ships. Near the shore and grand banks, which are about twentv leagues’ dis- tance, there are fish m abundance. As to the climate, it is exceeding fine for curing fish, and rendering them fit for a foreign market. Here are mack- | erel and herrings in plenty, both fat | and large, for baits. The land here produces very good I wheat, rye, and barley ; and the mead- ows, the best of grass. Besides these ! commodities, here are fine beach wood and flake for the mutual bene- fit of the industrious fisherman and the farmer. This port commands not only Cape 35 Sable Shore, Canco, and Newfound- land, but the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and, by consequence, Canada. It is a safeguard likewise to the whole fishery, as well as to foreign vessels. I have been informed by a French gentleman, that the settlement of the island of Gaspey cost his Most Chris- tian Majesty nine million and a half of money ; and, since the war com- menced, the repairs that have been made to all the several batteries have been attended with great expense. As to my own particular part, no sooner was the expedition proposed at Boston in New England by the gov- ernment, but I instantly promoted the same ; and through my meaiis some hundreds entered into the service. And as I had the honor to bear his Majesty’s commission in the royal regiment of foot guards in Barba- does, by virtue of that commission I voluntarily engaged in this expedi- tion, without the least pay or allow- 36 ance for my service or provision during the whole siege. And no sooner was it over, but I assisted in the transportation of the French in- habitants to Old France; having passed my word to proceed in a transport both to France and Eng- land. Give me leave here to remind you of my readiness to serve this ex- pedition in all respects. You remem- ber, I doubt not, the tedious marches which I made after the enemy, and the imminent danger I was in at the north-east harbor, which is about ten miles from the grand battery, where, with four men only, I was loading a schooner with plunder. Whilst we were busy in the house where our cargo lay, no less than a hundred and forty French and Indians, with a shout, fired a volley against it; where- upon two of the men jumped out of the window, and were shot dead, even after they had cried out quarter. After this, though the French and In- 37 dians entered the house, the two other men and myself so happily concealed ourselves as that we were not dis- covered. Some short time after, they withdrew, and we made our escape to the grand battery, though with great fatigue ; for we were forced to take to a thick wood, and run through great swamps, not daring to appear in the road, for fear of surprise. At last, God be thanked, we arrived safe at the grand battery, and received the re- peated congratulations of our friends on account of our happy deliverance, which was looked upon as almost miraculous. I hope, gentlemen, I shall not be thought vain in making mention of one other dangerous exploit, in which likewise I came off with success. At about two o’clock in the morn- ing, with the assistance of but five f men, I carried a fire-ship under the guns of the city batteries to the King’s Gate, where I set fire to the 38 train ; and so quick was the effect of it, that I lost my breath till I got upon deck. After this, we went in our boat under the guns of the circular battery, before we could go over to the west side of the harbor, for fear of being discovered by the fire. The French, indeed, fired several times at us ; but we happily received no dam- age. We arrived safe soon after, at the grand battery ; and no sooner had the fire took the powder, but it tore up the decks of the ship, and threw such a quantity of stones into the city, that they not only broke down a large spire of the King’s Gate, but the end of a large stone house, and burnt three small vessels, &c., besides. As the morning was very dark, the inhabitants were strangely surprised at such an unexpected act of hostility. I have nothing further to add, but that I have prefixed to this Journal a Plan of the city, the garrisons, the harbor, and light-house, &c., which I hope 39 will meet with a favorable reception from you, and be thought at the same lime an acceptable service to the pub- lic. As to what batteries shall here- after be thought necessary to be built, or what repairs ought immediately to be made to those that are still stand- ing, I hope a true and faithful account thereof will speedily be delivered in to those whom it may more immedi- ately concern, and that proper persons who are well wishers to their king and country may be appointed, as soon as conveniently may be, to put the same in execution. I am, with all due re- spect, gentlemen. Your humble servant, James Gibson. Dated. July 3 , 1745 , in Louishurg Uarhor^ onltoard the Speedwell, bound for France with French inhab- itants. P. S. I shall here take the liberty to transcribe a letter verbatim, which I received from Major William Hunt. 40 Royal Grand BcUtery of King George the Second^ at Cape Breton, in North America, July 4th, 1 745 . Capt. James Gibson, — I do, in behalf of myself and others, the commissioned officers, return you hearty thanks for the copy of your Journal during the siege against the city of Louisbourg, at Cape Breton ; and as you are going to France with the French inhabitants, and so for Eng- land, we wish you success, and that you may, for your charge and cour- age, have great encouragement, as you did so voluntarily proceed in the above expedition at your own ex- pense. I am, sir. Your most humble servant, William Hunt, Major, \ A JOURNAL or TDI SIEGE OF THE CITY OF LOUISBURG. Tuesday, April 30th, 1745. This day our men of war, priva- teers and transports, arrived safe at Caboruch Bay in Cape Breton, from Canco, where w^e lay from the second day of this instant April, to the 28th, at which time we anchored within five miles of the city of Louisburg. No sooner were our whale boats got out in order to land our troops, but Capt. Morepang came down from the city with fourscore and seven men to prevent their attempt. Our privateers, however, lying at anchor 4 near the shore, fired smartly at them ; and in the mean time we landed some hundred of men, who went in pursuit of the enemy. We killed six of them, and took five prisoners, and, in short, totally beat them off. Nay, more, we prevented them from get- ting into the city, and obliged them to fly for shelter into the woods. Wednesday^ May 1. Our troops marched towards the grand battery, and set fire to ten houses, the inhabi- tants being fled into the city. The flames so surprised the soldiers in the aforesaid battery, that both they and their captain (one Carey by name) made the best of their way by water into the city; whereupon several of our companies took possession of the place, and at daybreak hoisted up King George’s flag. Thursday^ 2. The French, perceiv- ing the English flag hoisted up, fired shot and bombs from the island bat- tery, and all the other batteries in the' 43 city, against the grand battery inces- santly, day and night, but to no pur- pose, for they all went over us. Wherever they saw two or three men ^ together, they would send a bomb or a parcel of shot after them. The guns which we found in the grand battery were plugged, and their car- riage wheels, women prisoners. Scatteree is about twenty miles from the grand battery. Last night we (for I was amongst 62 them) lodged in the woods. The French and Indians drew off. Our batteries fired smartly against the city. Thursday^ 30. This day our scout above mentioned of 400 men returned to the grand battery, well and in high spirits, &c. Friday^ 31. Rain and fog. Not a gun was fired this day on one side or the other. Saturday^ June 1. This day our batteries played smartly against the city with their bombs and cannon. The island battery did not fire a gun for several days together, and the city but a few. Sunday^ 2. Last night we raised a great part of a new battery at the light-house. Two hundred men were at work upon it. The French at the island battery, when they saw it in the morning, were not only surprised, but so incensed at the progress our men had made, that they fired as fast as pos- sible with their bombs and cannon 63 upon them, and obliged them to draw off. One flanker of this battery fronts the sea, and the other is directly op- posite to the island battery ; so that we can sweep the platform of the island battery, and command all the shipping that goes in or comes out. The French laid a boom from the east battery to that of the west, in or- der to prevent any of our fireships from annoying the city, or any of our boats from landing. We had a sermon on the following words : ‘ Pre- pare to meet thy God, O Zion ! ’ Monday^ 3. This day a vessel ar- rived from Boston with a large mor- tar piece, which was landed, and drawn to the light-house battery. "We had advice from the captain that 1,000 men were voluntarily raised to reinforce our troops here ; and that we might expect them very soon. We had farther advice that the French fleet of men-of-war were stopt at Brest by our English men-of-war. We 64 had moreover 600 barrels of powder arrived from Boston, besides stores for the army. This supply of ammu- nition came very opportunely; for we had not powder sufficient for any more than four rounds at the grand battery. This put new life and spirils into all of us. Tuesday^ 4. This day we fired our cannon and bombs against the city. Both of our mortars proved so defec- tive, that it was not thought safe to make use of them any more. Where- upon a privateer-snow was sent im- mediately to Annapolis for a fresh supply. We heard such a great num- ber of guns fired at sea, that we con- cluded there was a smart engage-, ment between our men-of-war and the French. Wednesday^ 5. Last night was taken and brought in a French ship of fourteen carriage guns, and above 300 ton, laden with beef, pork, butter, cheese, pease, beans, brandy, salt, and Go other stores for the fishery. This was the ship, it seems, which we heard in the engagement yesterday. The fas- cine battery played smartly with their bombs and cannon, and to very good effect. In the morning, the French drank to us from the city wall, we being so near that we could speak to each other. Thursday^ 6. This day the French prisoners that were taken in the Vig- ilant, and some others who were made captives by land, were carried on board Captain Gayton, and seve- ral other transports, and the prizes bound for Boston, being in number upwards of 1,000 men. Friday^ 7. This day the prizes and prisoners set sail for Boston, un- der the convoy of Capt. Gayton and Snelling. Our battery fired smartly. Saturday^ 8. This day we sent a flag of truee to the governor of the city of Louisburg, with a letter from the captain who was taken in the 6 Vigilant man-of-war, wherein he gave advice that both he and his men were treated in a handsome manner by the English, and desired to know the rea- son why the English did not meet with the like civil treatment and good quarters at the north-east-harbor and island battery, when requested. Sunday^ 9. Two Switzers last night deserted the French guards in the city, and came to our grand bat- tery, who informed us that there was no meat to be had in all the city ; and that the French subsisted wholly on salt fish, bread and peas. They as- sured us likewise, that there were but about 100 barrels of powder left for all their batteries. To this they added, that the first gun that we drilled and fired from the grand battery killed fourteen of their men. This day our men-of-war went in chase of a large ship, which proved to be a man-of- war, to join our fleet from England. Two valuable prizes were taken and 67 sent to Boston. A large sloop of 110 tons, from Canada, laden with pro- visions and bound for Louisburg, was chased by one of our privateers, and .ran on shore at the back of the light- house; about fifty men made their escape. We got the vessel oft' with- out any damage. Monday^ 10. This day our new battery at the light-house played with three pieces of cannon against the island battery. Our south planker swept the west platform, so that they could not load their cannon. The French would have jumped out of the ambuseers into the sea; but when they found we had but three guns mounted, they fired bombs and shot as fast as possibly they dared to load, from the north flanker. It was all to no purpose, however; for we beat down part of their garrison house. Tuesday^ 11. This day a scout of 230 men (amongst whom I was one) marched out of the grand battery to 68 Scatteree ; we being informed by some prisoners, that several hundreds of French and Indians were coming down upon our camps. Two of our transports landed some ordnance and provisions at the light-house. Though the French at the island battery fired bombs and shot in the morning as fast as possibly they could, yet they did no manner of damage. Last night two boats came safe into the harbor with powder and ball. We had 200 men at work a-nights at the light-house battery. All our batteries fired smartly against the city, and with good effect. As their shot and bombs fell short, we imagined that their powder was near spent. Wednesday^ 12. For three nights past, our boats brought in provisions and stores from Caboruch Bay, by the island battery, without the least interruption. This day our scout of 230 men returned from their march, and found the enemy were moved off. Yesterday two men-of-war from England joined our fleet. The city threw sixty-two bombs against us from three o’clock in the afternoon to eight the next morning, and a great num- ber of shot besides, which did no great damage. However, our bombs and shot beat down several chimneys and roofs of houses, &c. Thursday^ 13. Yesterday the city fired seventeen bombs and shot against a small battery which we had erected about a mile from the grand battery. Five of them were forty-two pounders. Last night we carried a schooner out of the harbor. Though the island battery fired twenty odd bombs and shot likewise against our light-house battery, yet they did no damage. Our bombs and shot, on the other hand, did considera- ble execution. The ships of war which lay at anchor before the har- bor, are these that follow, viz. Com- modore Warren in the Superb, the Hector, the Altham, the Launces- 70 ton, the Princess Mary, the Mer- maid, the Chester, the Canterbury, the Sunderland, the Lark. The Vig- ilant, a man-of-war of sixty-four guns, taken from the French. Besides these, several twenty-gun ships from New England ; also snows, brigantines, and sloops of force, in all above twenty; and moreover 85 transports. Twenty French prizes were taken to this day. A large privateer brigantine of eighteen carriage guns, and 120 tons, was fitted out, and was to sail the day we landed; but the French immedi- ately scuttled and sunk her in the harbor. Yesterday we got up a fine sloop which the French had sunk, laden with plank and timber, intended for a new platform, the foundation where- of was laid at the west part of the grand battery, and was to be finished this year; but we have saved them that charge and trouble. Friday^ 14. Last night the large mortar from Boston was conveyed to the light-house battery, which played against the island battery seven pieces of ordnance, and one mortar, which beat down not only the end of the garrison, but all the chimneys and part of the roof ; as also the north ambuseers, and dismounted several guns. When the French saw a bomb coming, they would jump out of the ambuseers into the sea. As the city was highly disgusted at this battery, they fired forty-six bombs and as many shot. On the other hand, our several batteries played all day long, and fired 160 bombs besides shot. Lad- ders are at this time fitting in order to scale the walls of the city. A great number of shalloways likewise are now fitting in order to land men from the fleet, or take up men in case a man-of-war should be sunk as she came into the harbor. Saturday^ 15. This day our whole fleet of men-of-war, privateers and 72 transports, made a gallant appear- ance before the harbor. A flag of truce came from the city, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, to our camps, and offered to deliver up the city on the terms we proposed on our demand of the city, and the territories thereunto belonging, in the name and on the behalf of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second. The considera- tion of so important an affair was postponed till eight o’clock the next morning, at which time the flag of truce agreed to attend. Whereupon all our batteries ceased firing till far- ther orders. Sunday, 16. The French flag ol truce came out of the city to our camps, at 8 o’clock this morning ; and it was then finally agreed and de- termined, by capitulation, that the French should have all their personal effects, and likewise be transported to France at the expense of the English. The said articles being thus settled 73 and adjusted, we have now liberty to march into the city with our land army. The men-of*war likewise, the privateers and transports, may now without interruption anchor in the harbor, &c., &c. Monday^ 17. This day the French flag was struck, and the English one hoisted up in its place at the island battery. We took possession early in the morning. We hoisted like- wise the English flag at the grand battery, and our other new batteries ; then fired our cannons, and gave three huzzas. At two o’clock in the after- noon, Commodore Warren, with all the men-of-war, as also the prize man-of-war of sixty-four guns; our twenty-gun ships; likewise our snows, brigantines, privateers and transports, came all into Louisburg harbor, which made a beautiful appearance. When all were safely moored, they proceed- ed to fire on such a victorious and! joyful occasion. About four o’clock. 7 74 in the afternoon, our land army marched to the south gate of the city, and entered the same, and so proceeded to the parade near the cit- adel ; the French troops at the same time being all drawn up in a very regular order. Our army received the usual salutes from them, every part being performed with all the de- cency and decorum imaginable. And as the French were allowed to carry off their effects, so our guards took all the care they possibly could to pre- vent the common soldiers from pilfer- ing and stealing, or otherwise giv- ing them the least molestation. The guard and watch of the city, the gar- risons, &c., were delivered to our troops. Tuesday^ 18. Last night a ship came against the mouth of our har- bor, and lay there becalmed. In the morning a man-of-war towed out, and fired two shot at her. She an- swered with one, and then struck. ^ 75 Whereupon she was towed into the harbor by our boats. She proved to be a storeship of twenty guns, about 300 tons, from France, and very valu- able. Wednesday^ 19. This day, upon the nearest computation that could be made, it was agreed on both sides, that since the English had laid siege to the city, &c , that nine thousand shot and six hundred bombs had been dis- charged by the English against the French. Thursday^ 20. The guns being moved from one of our small batteries to the grand battery, the ambuseers were levelled. Friday^ 21. The guns being moved from the fascine battery into the city, the ambuseers were levelled. Saturday^ 22. More guns moved to the city. The guns likewise at the light-house were dismounted. Sunday^ 23. A sermon preached at the grand battery from the following 76 words in the third chapter of Revela- tions : “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,” &c. Monday^ 24. Very foggy. We heard several guns at sea. It proved to be Captain Rouse from Annapolis, with three mortars, shells, and shot. Tuesday^ 25. A great number of men were employed to get up the ves- sels which were sunk in the harbor by the French the very first day we landed. We are in hopes they will prove valuable. Wednesday^ 26. Last night we got off two French vessels that had been hauled ashore. When our men got up, the vessels sunk. Thursday^ 27. This evening sev- eral shallops came in from the island Scatteree with French inhabitants, and surrendered themselves on the terms mentioned in the capitulation with the French in the city. Friday y 28. From this day to July the 4th, we were preparing vessels for the transportation of the French in Louisburg to Rochport in France. July 4. This day eleven transports set sail, together with the Launceston man-of-war, a forty-gun ship. Captain Man, who was our convoy comman- der. There were several occurrences which were very remarkable during the siege. In the first place, all the houses in the city (one only excepted) had some shot through them, more or less ; some had their roofs beat down with bombs. As for the famous cita- del and hospital, they were almost demolished by bombs and shot. The next thing remarkable was, that from the first day we began the siege to that of our marching into the city, it was such fine weather, that we did not lose one single day in the prosecution of our design. And moreover, that, from the 17th of June to the 4lh of Julv. 78 (which was the day we sailed for France, with the French inhabitants,) it either rained or the weather was very foggy. Upon which a French- man made the following remark, that the Virgin Mary was peculiarly kind to the English, in sending them fair weather during the whole siege, and then in changing it to rain and fog as soon as it was over. — I shall conclude my Journal of the late expe- dition, and siege against the city of Louisburg, and the territories there- unto belonging, with the following addition. After we had marched into the city, I waited on a gentleman who was inviolably attached to the King of France in Queen Anne’s War. This gentleman had taken the New England Country Galley; he had assisted likewise in the taking of seventy sail of vessels more on the coast of New England ; and now in the above-mentioned siege, he came out of Louisburg with fourscore and 79 seven men, in order to prevent oiir troops from landing, but was happily beat off. This gentleman, I say, told me, that he had not had his clothes off his back, either by night or day, from the first commencement of the siege. He added, moreover, that in all the histories he had ever read, he never met with an instance of so bold and presumptuous an attempt ; that it was almost impracticable, as any one would think, for 3,000 or 4,000 raw, undisciplined men to lay siege to such a strong, well-fortified city, such garrisons, batteries, &c. ; “ for should any one have asked me,” said he, “what number of men would have been sufficient to have carried on that very enterprise, I should have answered no less than 30,000.” To this he subjoined that he never heard of, or ever saw such courage and intrepidity in such a handful of men, who regarded neither shot nor bombs : but what was still more sur- 80 prising than all the rest, he said, was this, namely, to see batteries raised in a night’s time ; and more particularly the fascine battery, which was not five and twenty roods from the city wall ; and to see guns, that were forty- two pounders, dragged by the Eng- lish from their grand battery, notwith- standing it was two miles distant at least, and the road too very rough. May courage, resolution, life, and vig- or, be for ever conspicuous in all our English officers and soldiers ! for vic- tory, under God, depends principally on their care and conduct : and may the example of the above-named French captain animate us to be bold and daring in a just cause! In a w’ord, may it induce us faithfully to discharge the great, the important trust reposed in us, by virtue of the commissions which we bear under our most gracious Sovereign Lord King George ! Should this be the happy effect of that gentleman’s example, then we may daily expect to make large addi- tions to his majesty’s dominions ; then we may hope, with just grounds, to defeat the common disturber of our peace and tranquillity; to humble his pride, and make him tributary to us; then, in short, we may reasonably ex- pect to see halcyon days throughout his majesty’s extensive dominions, and secure our most excellent consti- tution both in church and state. In order to give our readers a tran- sient idea of the ill-treatment we met with at Rochefort in France, I shall here take the liberty, not only to tran- scribe a letter which I wrote on that subject to an intimate friend, but the petition which twelve of us, in behalf of ourselves and fellow-sufferers, signed, and sent in the most submis- sive manner to Commodore MacLe- marrongh, who, like an inhuman sav- age, turned a deaf ear to our com- plaints, and rather added to our mise- ries than any ways relieved us. 82 [ The Copy of the Letter,] Honored Sir, — Pursuant to your request, I here give you a true and impartial account of the cruel and barbarous treatment which we met with from the French at Rochfort in France. On the fourth of July last, fourteen cartels, with the Launceston man-of- war, set sail from Louisburg at Cape Breton, for France, with French in- habitants. No sooner were we ar- rived in the roadstead of Rochfort, but Commodore McLemarrough, in a ship of seventy-four guns, obliged us to come to, under his stern, in thir- teen fathom of water. We obeyed, and showed our passports, which when he had read, he insisted that every master should deliver into his hands his particular journal. Some looking on it as an unreasonable de- mand, with resolution opposed it, but 83 were confined in irons on his ship for j their refusal. Soon after, he sent for I me on board ; and I attended accord- ingly. Being admitted into the cabin, he ordered me to sit down at his green table, and give an account of my own proceedings in writing; which orders I readily complied with. Having finished my declaration, I de- livered it into his hands; and upon the receipt of it, he told me in direct terms, that the cartels could expect no favor at Rochport; and that, as for my own particular part, since he was credibly informed by several of the passengers, that I had been a very busy, active fellow’ against the inter- est of his most Christian Majesty at I Louisburg, in case he could find out , any article whatever that was in the least contradictory to the declaration I I had delivered, that he would send I me to the tower. Whereupon he im- I mediately sent on board for my trunk, and insisted on giving him the 84 key. I did, and he took out all my papers, and read them over in the first place. After that, he broke open the letters which I had directed for London. Those, indeed, he sealed up again, and, having put them into the trunk, dismissed me. His next orders were, that the cartels should not presume to go on board their convoy, the Launceston, on any pre- tence whatever, without his permis- sion. He charged us likewise not to go on shore, and gave strict orders to the garrison to watch us night and day ; and, in case any of us attempted to set foot on shore, the guards were directed to shoot us without asking any questions about the matter. His severity, in short, extended so far as not to permit a boat to bring us the least supply of any nature or kind whatsoever; insomuch that we were obliged to live wholly on salt pro- visions, and drink water that was ro- py, and very offensive to the smell, 85 for above six weeks successively. When this cruel conimodore set sail with his fleet, with about two hund- red sail of merchantmen and seven men-of-war for Hispaniola, another commodore supplied his place. On Sunday eve he sent out a yawl, with orders for all the cartels to unbend their sails. We did as directed, and on Monday morning his men came in their long-boat, and carried all our sails on shore into the garrison ; which surprised us to the last degree, as we had been detained so long, and lived in expectation of our passports every day. At this unhappy juncture, Capt. Robert Man, who was commander of the Launceston, was taken violently ill of a fever; and notwithstanding intercession was made that he might be removed on shore, as the noise on board affected his head too much, yet the favor was inhumanly denied him; and every officer in the ship besides. As to the poor English prisoners. 86 they were used in a most barbarous manner; for their principal food was horse-beans, and about an inch of beef once in about twenty-four hours. Besides, they were so close impris- oned, that some of them fainted away for want of air ; and had it not been for the private charitable relief which they received from a good old Protes- tant lady, several of them must have been actually starved. Nay, more- over, when any of them were sick, she would visit them, and bring them prayer-books, and other books of de- votion, which she concealed in a chest under ground ; and then would exhort them to put their trust and confidence in God, who in his own due time would deliver them out of the hands of their arbitrary and blood-thirsty en- emies. And if any died, she would send coffins privately by night for the removal of their bodies, and bury them at her own expense. One of these poor wretches was in such a 87 weak and sickly condition, that, being thirsty, and inclining his head to drink out of a stone font, he had not strength to raise it again, and by that means was unhappily strangled. All, in short, that lived to come on board, were so weak that they could scarce crawl upon the deck. As our treat- ment from the French was in every respect so cruel and inhuman, a peti- tion or remonstrance to Commodore MacLemarrough was drawn up, and signed on the 25th of August, 1745, by twelve of us; the purport whereof was as follows : That the petitioners were taken up at the city of Louisburg, in his Britannic Majesty’s service on the 20th of June then last past, in order to transport the French inhabitants of that city to Rochfort. That the petitioners were well as- sured by General Pepperill and Com- modore Warren, as also by the com- 90 to shoot every Englishman that at- tempted to go on shore, without ask- ing any questions whatsoever. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, James Gibson. The news of this victory arrived at Boston on the third of July. The effects it produced are well described in a letter from Dr. Chaney to Gen. Pepperell. He says : “ The people of Boston before sun-rise were as thick in the streets as on election day, and a pleasing joy visibly sat on every countenance.” — “ We had last night the finest illumination I ever wit- nessed. There was not a house in town, in by-way, lane, or alley, but joy might be seen in its windows. The night w'as also made joyful by bonfires, fireworks, and other tokens of rejoicing. Besides this, an enter- 91 tainment was given to the people. The 18th of July was observed through the Commonwealth as a day of thanksgiving for this event ; and it was universally observed in a manner becoming a people who saw in it the hand of an over-ruling Providence.” Dr. Prince preached a sermon on that occasion at the “ Old South Church,” which exhibits more freely than any other the religious feeling of those engaged in it. “ When they embarked,” he* tells us, “their lan- guage to their friends whom they were about leaving was : ‘ Pray for .us, and we will fight for you I ’ ” After narrating the most remarka- ble events in the enterprise, he con- cludes in this somewhat extravagant language: “Let us not only rejoice in our own salvation, but let our joy rise higher, that hereby a great sup- port of anti-christian power is taken away, and the visible kingdom of Christ enlarged. Methinks when the 92 southern gales of Louisburg were opened, and our army with their ban- ners were marching in — the gates were lifted up, and the King of glory went in with them.” On returning to Boston, James Gibson was joyfully received by his little family, and the citizens gene- rally, to whom he had rendered so important services. At the close of the siege, the treasury of the prov- ince of Massachusetts was completely exhausted. England^ on hearing of the service rendered by the colonies, sent on a ship laden with specie to reimburse the expenses of the siege. The rate of indemnities was thus ex- pressed in a resolution passed in Par- liament, April 1, 1748: — Resolved, 1st, That it is just and reasonable that the several provinces and colonies of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, be reimbursed the ex- 93 penses they have been at, in taking and securing to the crown of Great Britain, the island of Cape Breton and its dependencies; therefore, re- solved to grant for ;this purpose, — 2d, To the Province of Massachu- setts Bay, £183,649. 2s. l\d. 3d, To that of New Hampshire, £16,355. 135. 4(i. 4th, To that of Connecticut, £28,- 863. 195. \d. 5th, To that of Rhode Island, £6,332. 125. IQd. 6ih, To James Gibson, Esq., on ditto account, £547. 155. The amount due Massachusetts and New Hampshire was all paid at one time, in silver and copper, there being sent over 215 chests of silver and 100 of copper. This was a great relief to the treasuries of the colonies. But the amount allowed by Parlia- ment to James Gibson was not paid with the other reimbursements, and 94 we have no evidence that it has eve; been paid to this day. The inhabitants of the colonies ex- pected, that, for their distinguishec services, the officers in this siege would be noticed and rewarded b} the crown. But in all this they were disappointed ; the order of knighthood conferred on Gen. Pepperell was all the mark of distinction received from the English government. The amount sent over to the colo- nies fell far below the actual expense, which is said to have amounted tc £500,000 sterling. The English re- ceived three times this amount from the French taken at Louisburg. When Mr. Gibson was in London, on his return from France, he left a bill of the amount which he had actu- ally given from his own purse for the expedition, which amounted to £547. 155 . In volume 18 and on page 223 of the Gentleman’s Magazine, we find 95 in a report of the proceedings of Par- liament the following statement : — “ To show the sense of the House of Commons in it, he gives the ex- penses of taking Louisbiirg, and ex- plains the article of £547 voted to James Gibson, Esq., who sought no reward for his services but a small office vacant in one of our planta- tions. But it was given to a domes- tic of the king, under whom Mr. Gibson might have enjoyed it; but he refused the favor of serving under His Grace’s serving-man.” After his return to Boston, Mr. Gib- son again resumed his business, in which he continued several years. During this time, he occasionally went to the West Indies. A man in the Island of Jamaica had been the occasion of heavy losses in property to Mr. Gibson. He there- fore was obliged to leave his family in Boston, and go out to settle his af- fairs in the West Indies. With this 96 man Mr. G. had some collision ; but on the day he was to have returned to America, he came forward, and, acknowledging he had done him much injustice, promised a satisfac- tory adjustment, and with artful dis- simulation invited him to dine with him. The invitation was accepted by the forgiving Gibson. He went to dinner, and immediately after set sail for the north, when in three hours he was suddenly taken ill, and, in great ^gony, died. Suspicions were in- stantly entertained that he was poi- soned at the dinner. The stroke was too severe for his afflicted widow, who soon died of grief, leaving her young and lovely (laughter alone without a relation in Massachusetts. The event of her death was recorded in the records of King’s Chapel in Boston, where she had long been a member, as occur- ring on the 13th of November, 1752. A portrait of Mr, Gibson is still in 97 the possession of his descendants, set in a curiously carved and gilded frame of expensive workmanship. Also, his coat of arms, presented to J. Gib- son as a memento of respect and af- fection by Bishop Gibson, with the autograph of the Bishop on the re- verse of the picture. The device em- braces a view of land and sky, with three storks rising on the wing, and a crest from a ducal coronet. By the death of her parents, Mary Gibson was left at the age of fourteen an orphan, without any protection but such as the law provides in such cases. A man by the name of Butler was appointed her guardian, upon whom the settlement of the property de- volved. This person placed Mary under the care of the Rev. Mr. Niles of Brain- tree, with whom he made an agree- ment that she should receive a good 9 98 education, and left funds in his hands for this purpose* It was most providential for Mary, that she was thus placed under the guidance of so excellent a man. Having thus disposed of the young orphan, Butler returned to manage the property, of which she was the only heir, in a manner suited to his corrupt and fraudulent designs. The laws of probate in the infant colonies being slightly managed at that time, Butler rendered the estate of Gibson insolvent! While a member of Mr. Niles’s family, Mary imbibed those religious principles which ever after influenced her life. She was early united to a gentleman by the name of Hayden, and became a member of the church at Braintree. She lost her husband, however, a short time after her marriage. She was subsequently united to Nehemiah Blanchard, and became 99 the mother of three daughters. Her husband made great exertions to ob- tain a portion of the property so frau- dulently disposed of by her guardian Butler. This man seemed to be followed by the judgment of God, and when thrown into jail for some crime, sent for Mary, now Mrs. Blanchard, and, while suffering much mental remorse, confessed he had robbed her ; at the same lime delivering to her certain papers, relating to her father’s prop- erty, some of which was in lands ly- ing in a place then called Stroud- water, near Portland, Maine, and other lands in Maine. These papers are still extant. Mr. Blanchard made a journey to the province of Maine, for the pur- pose of ascertaining the value of a tract of land owned by Mr. Gibson. But while attempting to cross the Kennebec River on the ice, in the spring time of the year, he fell into an 100 air-hole in ihe river, and was drowned. His valise was found on the ice, near the spot where he disappeared. Mrs. Blanchard, disheartened at the loss of her husband in this unhappy manner, and so unfortunate in obtain- ing any portion of her father’s estate, desisted from any further attempt to recover it; trusting herself in the kind care of the widow’s God, never after- ward attempting to make use of the papers in her possession. A third time was she united in marriage, to Dr. Carter, and removed to Charlestown, to lay in the grave her third husband! She spent most of the remainder of her life with her daughter; and after having endured the trying fortunes of a varied life, with a firm and un- changing reliance in the wise and good Director of the Universe, she died universally esteemed, in the eighty-eighth year of her age, in Ban- gor, New York. 101 The son-in-law of ibis lady, who is now living and eighty-four years of age, affirms that, in the year 1790, he found on the leaf of an old magazine, which was sent to the widow Mrs. Blanchard, an advertisement, author- ized by the British Parliament, stat- ing that, if there were any heirs of James Gibson, Esq., in the United States, the British government had money for them, awaiting their plea- sure. The gentleman above alluded to, residing in the State of Vermont, eommenced preparations for going to England, and endeavoring to recover the debt so rightfully due to James Gibson. But for want of means at the time, he gave it up, and it has been suffered to lie dormant ever since.^ * This gentleman, son-in-law to the only heir of Jnmes Gibson, says that there resided a family in Boston by the name of Perkins, members of the Old South Church in that city, who knew more than any one in America of the history of 102 James Gibson. With the hope of finding a more complete account of his life than that now in our possession, we have endeavored to find the descendants of such a family •, but all these efforts have hitherto been fruitless. Should the peru« sal of this little sketch be the occasion of re- covering any information that would add a sin- gle historical fact to the incidents here narrated, the descendants would be greatly obliged. Any such CQmmunication addressed through the Bos- ton Post Office, would reach them directed to L. D. J. Memoria Technica; Or, the Art of Abbreviating those Studies which give the greate:»t labor to the Memory; including Num- bers, Historical Dates, Geography, Astronomy, Gravi- ties, &c. ; also. Rules for Memorizing Technicalities, Nomenclatures, I'roner Names, Prose, Poetry, and Topics in general. Embracing all the available I{ule.s found in Mnemonics or Mnemotechny, of Ancient and Modern Times. To which is added a Perpetual Almanac for Two lliousand Years of Past Time and Time to Come. Adapted to the use of Schools — to be used as an aid to the studies of History, Geogra- phy, &c.&c By Lorenzo D. Johnson. Second edi- tion, revised and improved. Price, fifty cents. In presenting to the public the “Memoria Techmca,” which, in some respects, may be said to contain a new theory of instruction, the publishers beg leave to direct attention to some of its peculiarities. It is the first w’ork of the kind which has ever been prepared for the use of Schools; although it is true that Whelpley and Worcester, in preparing their Coin- pends of Universal History, (for tlie nant of something better,) introduced an abstract of Gray’s System of Mnemonics, which, like Gouraud's, relates only to the memory of Jigurts. Heretofore, the professors of Mnemonics, instead of directing their efforts to promote general education, tiave reserved to themselves the privilege of explaining the bases of their systems by public lectures, and to se- lect classes at charges t^uite exorbitant. This work is }0 arrangeil and simplified, that every school teacher may him.‘*elf become ‘‘ Professor ” of all the Mnemonics lliat can be made available to the puj ils under bis care The Figure Alphabet is also so constructed that no one can tlioroughly learn it without becoming familiar with 2 the analyses of sounds and articulations, as taught by the most distinguished Professors. This work is not intended to take the place of any school book now in use, nor is the system calculated to supei'scde any study now pursued in schools, but intro- duced as an auxilary to them all. As a demonstratii n of the wonderful aid to the mem- ory which may be derived from a knowledge of this system, it is only nece>sary to give the result in the case of a boy, now fourteen years of age, • who has been em- ployed most of his days in a Cotton Factory,) as a specimen of what others who .study the system may ac- complish. This lad has freouently, in public assemblies, and will at any time, on ueing called upon, answer more than six thousand questions Avhere the answere arc contained in figures, embracing topics in History, tjieography, Astronomy, the dates of Discoyeries and Improvements, and in lliography. In Botany, he will give the clofs and order of any one of 160 p>antf, according to Linnesus, and the sentu nient assigned to it in the language of Flowers. Memory He will commit as many names of a mis- cellaneous audience as any one may please to call off to him, and will rehearse them in the order in which they were given, or at random, when the nurn&er of the name is given. The w'ork contains a vast amount of important infor- mation ; which, aside from its value as a system of iu- .struction, renders it, as has been justly said by many who have examined it, well worth ttie price of the work os a mere book of reference. GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, PuausnitRS, 69 Washington street. The Memoria Teclinica is already introduced, as a text-book, into several of the Boston Schools.