The Olden Time Series: Vol. 2: The Days of the Spinning-Wheel in New England | Page 8

here are extravagantly fond of dress; a stranger would take Montreal to be a city inhabited by none but the rich and idle: they are all finely powdered, walk with their hats under their arms, and wear long coats, adorned with tinsel lace, and buttoned down to the extremity. Since I came here, I have not seen one man dressed like a tradesman. The ladies in general are handsome, extremely gay, and well bred."
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In 1767 the best soap and "dipt" and "mould" candles were sold at the post-office in Boston, according to an advertisement in the "Gazette" of October 26. The candles were made of tallow, and gave but little light, requiring almost constant snuffing. Other kinds of candles were not in general use in New England in the last century. Sperm oil and sperm or wax candles could be used only by the wealthy. Many families, for economy, made their own candles. This practice was common in New England down to within fifty years.
It will be recollected that Dr. Franklin's father was a tallow-chandler in Boston, and that the Doctor himself worked at the business when a boy. Elizabeth Franklin, whose name appears in the following advertisement, was probably a relative of the family.
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SOLD BY Elizabeth Franklin, At the Post-Office,
THE best true Crown Soap, Alicant best hard Soap, by the Doz. or single Pound, dipt and mould Candles at the lowest Price.
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Every week the burials and baptisms in Boston were thus inserted in the papers. The following is from the "Gazette" of Nov. 23, 1767:--
Buried in the Town of Boston since our last, Five Whites. Three Blacks. Baptiz'd in the several Churches, Four.
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This custom was continued many years. We take the following from the "Massachusetts Centinel," April 2, 1788:--
BURIED in town last week 11--BAPTISED 14.
Published by BENJAMIN RUSSELL, near the State-House, Boston.
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General Wolfe's Manifesto from the "Boston Gazette," Dec. 10, 1759.
As the Manifesto lately published was only a Translation from a French Manuscript, we are requested to publish the following, which is
General WOLFE's Manifesto, as written by Himself.
THE formidable Sea and Land Armament which the People of Canada now behold in the Heart of their Country is intended by the King my Master to check the insolence of France;--To revenge the Insults offered to the British Colonies, and totally deprive the French of their most valuable Settlements in North-America.
For these Purposes only is the Formidable Army under my Command intended.
The King of Great-Britain wages no War with the Industrious Peasant, the sacred Orders of Religion, or the defenceless Women and Children: To these in their distressful Circumstances His Royal Clemency offers Protection. The People may remain unmolested on their Lands, inhabit their Houses, and enjoy their Religion in Security. For these inestimable Blessings, I expect the Canadians will take no Part in the Great Contest between the two Crowns; But if by a vain Obstinacy, and misguided Valour, they presume to appear in Arms, they must expect the most fatal Consequences; their Habitations destroyed, their sacred Temples exposed to the Fury of an exasperated Soldiery; their Harvest utterly ruined, and the only Passage of Relief stopped up by a most formidable Fleet.--In this unhappy Situation, and closely attacked by another great Army, what can the wretched Natives expect from Opposition!
THE unparelelled Barbarities exerted by the French against our Settlements in America, might justify the bitterest Revenge in the Army under my Command; but Britons breathe higher Sentiments of Humanity, and listen to the merciful Dictates of the Christian Religion. Yet should you suffer yourselves to be deluded by an imaginary Prospect of our want of Success; should you refuse those Terms, and persist in Opposition; Then surely will the Law of Nations justify the Waste of War, so necessary to crush an ungenerous Enemy: and Then, the miserable Canadians must in the Winter have the Mortification of seeing those very Families, they have been exerting a fruitless and indiscreet Bravery for, perish by the most dismal Want and Famine.
In this great Dilemma let the Wisdom of the People of Canada shew itself!
BRITAIN stretches out a powerful, yet a merciful Hand, Faithful to her Engagements, and ready to secure them in their most valuable Rights and Possessions.
FRANCE, unable to support Canada, deserts her Cause at this important Crisis, and during the whole War has assisted her with Troops, who have been maintained only by making the Natives feel all the Weight of grievous and lawless Oppression.
JAMES WOLFE.
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Boston, November 2, 1761.
Last Evening, just at Eight o'Clock, this Town was alarmed with the Shock of an EARTHQUAKE.
Gazette.
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On the 15th of August, 1763, the "Boston Post-Boy" gives the following account of the celebration of a