The Olden Time Series, Vol. 6: Literary Curiosities | Page 3

or a
riddle; Some long for missionary news, And some, of worldly, carnal
views, Would rather hear a fiddle.
The critic, too, of classic skill, Must dip in gall his gander quill, And
scrall against the paper: Of all the literary fools Bred in our colleges
and schools, He cuts the greatest caper.
Another cries, I want to see A jumbled-up variety, Variety in all
things,-- A miscellaneous, hodge-pod print, Composed (I only give the
hint) Of multifarious small things.
I want some marriage news, says miss: It constitutes my highest bliss
To hear of weddings plenty; For in a time of general rain None suffer
from a drought, 'tis plain,-- At least, not one in twenty.
I want to hear of deaths, says one, Of people totally undone By losses,
fire, or fever: Another answers full as wise, I'd rather have a fall and
rise Of raccoon skins and beaver.
Some signify a secret wish For now and then a favorite dish Of politics
to suit them. But here we rest at perfect ease, For should they swear the
moon was cheese, We never should dispute them.
Or grave or humorous, wild or tame, Lofty or low, 'tis all the same, Too
haughty or too humble; And every editorial wight Has nought to do but
what is right, And let the grumblers grumble.

From a Salem paper of 1828; author not stated.
* * * * *
"All are needed by each one, Nothing is fair and good alone."
EMERSON.
In "old times" almost all the young ladies upon their marriage were
"amiable" and "agreeable"; at least they are so represented in most of
the announcements. The "maiden aunt" could not speak plainer in
writing for the "Boston Sunday Gazette." We copy some specimens
from Boston and Salem papers.
On Thursday last, in the Forenoon, was married Mr. BENJAMIN
DAVIS of this Town, Merchant, to Mrs. ANSTESS GREENLEAF,
second Daughter of STEPHEN GREENLEAF Esq; High Sheriff of the
County of Suffolk.
The same Evening Mr. OLIVER WENDELL, of this Town, Merchant,
was also Married to Mrs. MARY JACKSON, only Daughter of the late
Mr. EDWARD JACKSON; both young Ladies of great Merit.
Sept. 13, 1762.
* * * * *
On Thursday Evening last Mr. Phillip Dumaresq, Merchant, was
Married to Mrs. Rebecca Gardiner, third Daughter of Sylvester
Gardiner, Esq; of this Town, an agreeable young Lady.
Dec. 19, 1763.
* * * * *
MARRIED]--Mr. SAMUEL SMITH, to Mrs. ABIGAIL PITTENGILL,
an agreeable young widow.
Dec. 22, 1790.

* * * * *
Thursday evening last, JOHN WHITNEY, Esq. merchant, of the state
of Georgia, to the amiable Mrs. BRIDGET SEYMORE, of Wesport.
June 2, 1792.
* * * * *
--At Plainfield, Mr. Hezekiah Spalding, a batchelor of large fortune,
aged 68, to the amiable Miss Mary Williams, aged 22!
1790.
* * * * *
MARRIED]--At Cambridge, Dr. J. JENNISON, to the amiable Miss
BELCHER, daughter of his late Excellency Governour Belcher, of
Nova Scotia, and grand daughter of his Excellency Jonathan Belcher,
Esq. deceased, formerly Governour of the then provinces of
Massachusetts Bay and New-Hampshire.
Aug. 31, 1790.
* * * * *
--At Newbury-Port, Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG, of Boston, to the amiable
Miss JUDITH WILLIAMS, of that town.
June 7, 1788.
* * * * *
NEWPORT, Nov. 24.
The 16th Instant, Mr. WILLIAM CHECKLEY, Son of the Rev. Mr.
SAMUEL CHECKLEY of Boston, was married to Miss POLLY
CRANSTON, a young Lady of genteel Acquirements, and of a most
amiable Disposition.

Dec. 19, 1766.
* * * * *
BOSTON, January 12 [1767].
Last Thursday Evening DUNCAN STEWART, Esq; Collector of His
Majesty's Customs for the Port of New-London, was married to Miss
NANCY ERVING, youngest Daughter of the Hon. JOHN ERVING,
Esq; of this Town; a most amiable and agreeable young Lady.
* * * * *
Thursday last was married, at Newport, JOHN COFFIN JONES, Esq.
of Boston, merchant, to the truly amiable and accomplished Miss
ABIGAIL GRANT, daughter of the late ALEXANDER GRANT, Esq.
a Lady of real merit, and highly qualified to render the connubial state
desirable and supremely happy.
May 22, 1786.
* * * * *
--By the Rev. Dr. STILLMAN, Mr. CALEB LORING, distiller, to the
agreeable Miss POLLY SELSBRY.
May 25, 1792.
* * * * *
MARRIED]--At Billerica, Mr. JAMES BREED, to the amiable Miss
ELIZABETH PARKER.--At Newtown, Mr. JOHN WALTER, A.B., to
the agreeable Miss POLLY BULLARD.
March 24, 1792.
* * * * *
Married,

At Topsfield, by the Rev. Mr. Huntington, Mr. JOSEPH AVERELL, to
the accomplished Miss EUNICE LAMSON.
Salem Register, 1801.
* * * * *
Editors were formerly very fond of curious matter for their lists of
marriages and deaths. In the "Massachusetts Centinel" for 1789 the
marriage of Pork and Hogg