"Now we come close up to the Coliseum! The gray Coliseum, lifting its stony circles against the eternal, rounds of Time!" er that he stooped as if he had discovered something in a crevice of the rock, drew a pair of nippers from his pocket as if he was a sort of traveling dentist, "But Time," cried Mollie, "has set and, inserting it in the open lips of the his teeth in it!" "How old!" said Murietta. "No," said the countess, "it does not look old! It is not old. It has outlived the Cæsars, the Charlemagnes, and will probably outlive the kaisers of Germany. But the Coliseum does not look old! It has stood as a stone-quarry for a whole city for centuries, and all the fine palaces of Rome have been built from it, and yet it does not seem to have suffered any material damage." "Damage - no!" rejoined Mollie, munching away at her nuts, "not a bit! It still looks as though it might furnish material for two or three Chicagoes, and yet hold its place as the biggest thing out of doors." The carriages stopped for a time, and sitting there together they contemplated the colossal structure. "Look up there! Holy spoons! what can that man be doing up there with a broom?" cried little Johnny, as he pointed to the topmost rim of the Coliseum. The party looked as the boy pointed with his hand; and lo! there stood an Italian leaning on his broom in the most graceful pose, as if he was standing on a cross-walk calmly awaiting the approach of some good-natured countryman whom his quiet eye had selected from the crowd as a probable contrib utor. Then the man with the broom swept right and left, walked on along his lofty precipice, poised his broom in the air on his forefinger, and danced as he did so, and sung a snatch of an opera. Aft crevice, he seized and drew forth and flourished in the air a blade of grass so large that it seemed to be distinctly visible to him as he held it up before him, and contemplated it with an air of triumph without the aid of glasses. "And look there!" cried Johnny again, as they drove still nearer to the Coliseum. "Look up and down the broken wall and on the borders there. Do you see those people clinging here and there, and pulling little weeds and grasses from out the crevices of the rocks?" Sure enough, there they hung and clung, some by ropes, and some by help of the broken and decayed parts of the wall that gave them a foot-hold, while they jerked at the grass and weeds as if they had been of a species of two-legged goat. "And what does it all mean?" asked the general curiously. "It means," answered the countess, "that the government of Italy is spending the genius of her gifted sons, and the revenues of her coffers, in a glorious attempt to pursue the work of renovation." The general looked puzzled. "Ah! you are surprised," continued the countess, sarcastically. "But let me give you the reasons of these Italians, and recount some of their labors in that line." The general settled back and prepared to listen, while the party drove slowly and pleasantly on between the avenues of overarching trees and shade. CENTENNIAL GLEANINGS. T is a century since The Essex ish Cortes under Charles V. and the The Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Advertiser flourished and recorded the stirring events then transpiring on the soil of New England. The art of newspaper-making was then in a crude condition. American journalism was certainly in its cradle. The Fournal and Packet was a representative colonial newspaper, but it was only a four-page quarto with four columns, narrow measure, to the page. The number which I have before me, and which I find in a repository of literary treasures collected and owned by Honorable D. W. Cheesman, formerly Treasurer of the United States Branch Mint at San Francisco, and Sub-Treasurer of the United States, is dated Wednesday, January 11, 1775. It is in an excellent state of preservation, the letter-press clear and distinct, notwithstanding the partial fading of the ink and the rusty color of the paper from age. The latest news from London contained in this number of the Journal and Packet was sixty-seven days old, bearing date "November 5, 1774." The New York news summary was at least thirteen days old before the readers of the Journal and Packet had an opportunity of perusing it, being dated "December 29, 1774." Editorial writing was evidently not a necessary accomplishment in the art of newspaper making. That seems to have been the growth of a more recent civilization. This, the fifty-sixth number of the Fournal, only contains one editorial article, occupying about one-third of a column. It is headed "The following is a short extract from the History of Spain," and draws a comparison between the Span A little over a column is devoted to "Nimrod's" correspondence with the Pennsylvania Packet—a contempora ry newspaper-on the subject of the freedom of the press. In those days episcopacy had not been established in the American colonies. Colonial candidates for ordination had to make the voyage to England for that purpose. Government had formed a plan for the establishment of the institution in the American colonies, and private gentlemen had contributed a considerable sum toward its execution, but owing to the apathy of the British premier, Lord North, no steps whatever had been taken in the matter. This apathy of Lord North concerning the establishment of episcopacy in America was one of the many grievances of which the disaffected colonists complained. "A Friend of the Government," resident in London, addresses an open letter to Lord North, under date "October 27, 1774," in which he satirically says: "The author of an intended speech (Lord North] is in high esteem and reputation with all the Amerprivate family where his name is not mentioned with icans of whatever sect or profession. There is not a singular pleasure and respect. What is to be done? As this gentleman hath no more credit in court, and his advancement is at a stand, what think you, my lord, of making him Metropolitan of America! This is certainly a most fortunate event, and should not be lost for want of improvement. His majesty will get rid of a P- [premier] who may be disagreeable to him, and the Americans will receive episcopacy from a principle of gratitude to a gentleman who hath, with much candor, ingenuity, and learning, defended their cause." The London news is principally concerning the conduct of the British Government on American affairs. The pre mier, of course, comes in for his share of notice. One paragraph says: "Lord North went down to Kew on Saturday last, being worn out with the chagrin of office, and made the offer of a formal resignation of his places, which his majesty refused to accept, at so critical a period, commanding his lordship to continue the business of office till it was more convenient for the affairs of the state to admit of it." Another paragraph gives another reason for the course pursued by Lord North: "It is said that a misunderstanding happened between the king and Lord North, respecting the dissolving of Parliament, in consequence of which the premier had intimated a resolution to resign." Political preferment was granted a century ago for flimsier reasons than it is in these days of political degeneracy: "Mr. Thomas Oliver, of Boston, was appointed lieutenant-governor of that province, in consequence of Richard Oliver [presumably a near relative] giving the casting-vote last year against Mr. Wilkes being lord-mayor.". Shipping arms and ammunition to the American colonies from Great Britain had been proscribed by royal edict, with what effect the following paragraph shows: "The proclamation against sending guns and ammunition out of this kingdom will be of very little use or effect, because the Americans will certainly procure whatever quantity they want of them from Holland, France, and Spain; and if orders were given to stop and seize such ships as were laden with the above commodities by those nations, it would bring on an immediate war with them, an event which the present ministry dare not hazard with any foreign power, though they assume courage sufficient to send fleets and armies to cut the throats of our American brethren." The reason given for the proscription of the exportation of arms to the New England colonies is thus explained: "Saturday's proclamation, prohibiting the exportation o fgunpowder, it is said was occasioned by intelligence received from Sheffield and Birmingham, of amazing quantities of fire-arms, etc., being nearly ready to be sent to America, in consequence of an order received from thence some time since." The extensive preparations by the home government for the suppression of the rebellion are thus tersely stated: VOL. 15.-30. "There are twenty-one men-of-war and frigates now building at the different dockyards of this kingdom. At Deptford, three seventy-gun ships and two frigates; at Woolwich, two of sixty and one of fiftyfour; at Sheerness, two frigates; at Portsmouth, six ditto; in all, twenty-one, besides two beginning at Plymouth." King George and Lord North were sanguine of success. The annexed paragraph is calculated to excite a smile, in view of subsequent events: "Government is determined to enforce her power; nor will she withdraw her troops from America till they are drove into the sea, or the laws of despotism are submitted to and established." The news of the burning of the city of Boston had only just been received in London at the time the summary for the Essex Journal and Merimack Packet was being made up-November 5th: "By the last letters from America we have the melancholy account of the burning of the town of Boston, and that the fire had been occasioned by a general skirmish between the army and the inhabit. ants, in consequence of the general's issuing presswarrants to man those ships which are short of complement, through a violent epidemical distemper. The general is now encamped on Boston Common, and the country-folk are hourly expected in to give them a general attack." There were plenty of English sympathizers with the colonists in their struggle for their rights; but the following paragraph is rather severe on the "canny Scot:" "We are informed that two English captains in the navy refused the command of the Scarborough for the service against Boston, saying they understood they were only to be employed against the natural foes of the country, and not against the natural friends. However, a hungry Swiss-Scotchman took the ship with much avidity. They are the men for any king that will pay them." The trials of Boston were great in the latter part of 1774 and the beginning of 1775. But the sister colonies of Massachusetts responded promptly to the appeal made to them for assistance, and, on Thursday, January 5th, 1775, a vote "expressive of the gratitude of the town for the benevolent assistance received from the other colonies under" its "calamities, and the kind recommendation "The people here have, I think, openly declared themselves against government, and in such a manner as surely must be pronounced rebellion. . . . There has been a most extraordinary movement here, a few days ago. The public authority of the colony have dismantled the king's fort, and moved all the cannon and stores to Providence, in order, as it is said, to assist the Bostonians against the king's troops." of the late respectable Continental Con- An extract from the journals of the Philadelphia Assembly for the session held on "Thursday, December 19th, 1774," furnished to the New York Gazette by Charles Moore, the clerk of the Assembly, and republished by the Essex Journal, represents "that the Hon. Edward Biddle, Speaker, John Dickinson, Thomas Moffin, Joseph Galloway, Charles Humphreys, John Morton, and John Ross, Esqrs.," were appointed deputies, "on the part of the province, to attend the General Continental Congress, proposed to be held at the city of Philadelphia on the 10th day of May next." The deputation received imperative instructions that at least four of its number should be present at that Congress, in case the then existing grievances of the colonies were not in the meantime redressed. Sam uel Roberts, who had officiated as a deputy from the province in the preceding Congress, was omitted from the foregoing appointments, because he had since been made mayor of the city of Philadelphia. An extract from a letter from Newport, dated December 14th, 1774, and published in the New York summary of the Journal and Packet, says: Strange to say, the news from Boston in this issue of the Essex Journal and Merimack Packet is unimportant — not a word about the condition of affairs in it. And the items relating to Newburyport, the place of publication, are uninteresting, referring principally to marriages, births, and deaths in the com At a meeting of the deputies appointed by the several counties in the province of Maryland, held at the city of Annapolis, by adjournment, on the 8th day of December, 1774, and continued until the 12th day of the same month, eighty-five members being present, it was represented to the convention that, owing to the scarcity of cash, several merchants had sold their goods at less than prime cost. The following resolution regulating the future dealings of traders in the province was adopted: "Resolved unanimously, That no merchant ought to sell his goods at wholesale for more than 112 per cent.; at retail for cash, for more than 130 per cent.; prime cost; and that no merchant, or other person, ought to engross any goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever. And in case any question should arise respecting the prime cost of goods, every merchant on credit, for more than 150 per cent. advance on the or factor, possessing or owning such goods, ought to ascertain the same on oath, if requested to do so by the committee." Resolutions were also adopted pledging the support of the province to Massachusetts, provided its grievances were not redressed, and providing for the organization of a militia, in which "all gentlemen, freeholders, and freemen," between the ages of fifteen and fifty, were required to serve. It was also determined to raise the sum of £10,000 by subscription, "for the purchase of arms and ammunition." The following is a curiosity in the way ism he gave freely of his wealth and of an advertisement: "Just published in Boston, and to be sold by the PRINTERS hereof (price, half a pistareen), the Wonder of Wonders! or, the wonderful appearance of an ANGEL, DEVIL, and GHOST, to a gentleman in the town of Boston, in the nights of the 14th, 15th, and 16th of October last: to whom, in some measure, may be attributed the distresses that have of to one of his neighbors the morning after the last visitation, who wrote down the narrative from the gentleman's own mouth; and it is now made public at his desire, as a solemn warning to all those who, late fallen upon that unhappy metropolis. Related for the sake of aggrandizing themselves and their families, would entail the most abject wretchedness upon millions of their fellow-creatures. Adorned with four plates, viz.: 1. The DEVIL. 2. An ANGEL, with a sword in one hand, a pair of scales in the other. 3. BELZEBUB, holding in his right hand a folio. book, and in his left a halter. 4. A GHOST, having on a white gown, his hair much disheveled." Of the brilliant galaxy of eminent men which the revolution of a century ago brought to the surface, there was none -not excepting the illustrious Washington-whose name is deserving of a more conspicuous place in the list of patriots than that of Robert Morris. To his financial genius the infant republic was indebted for salvation from hopeless insolvency during one of the most critical periods it has ever witnessed. Robert Morris, first Superintendent of Finance of the United States, did for his generation and country a century ago what Jay Cooke did at a later date. But Morris' melancholy fate was sadder than Cooke's. Morris, like Cooke, was a wealthy banker, who finally drank deep and long the dregs of poverty. In the fullness of his patriot credit to help along the feeble new-born republic. When independence was assured and peace restored, Robert Morris was a poor man. In 1798 we find him in the debtor's prison in Philadelphia, forgotten and neglected by the country he had saved from the ruin in which he himself was involved. There he subsequently died. From within those prison walls Robert Morris wrote the following touching letter to his warm friend John Nicholson, which is now published for the first time: "MY DEAR SIR: -Your letter is gone to the sheriff, but I fear his timidity will overcome his feelings of humanity, friendship, etc. In that case Mrs. Morris desires me to let her and Maria join me here. Their distress (alone and deserted as they are, for none dare go near them), preys on them, although they have borne up against it surprisingly. I do not like the idea of their residing in this place, but I will consent rather than leave them alone, a prey to agoniz.. ing reflections. I wish Mrs. Nicholson was freed of all fever. Your friend, "JOHN NICHOLSON, ESQ. "11th of October, 1798." "ROBERT MORRIS. The ingratitude of republics is proverbial, and there is no more striking illustration of it than in the case of the patriot Robert Morris. Had the law of imprisonment for debt been still in existence, Jay Cooke, of course, would now be pining away in the recesses of a debtor's prison-cell in the same way, notwithstanding the service he did the country in its direst extremity in working off its promises to pay when its credit was gone and its treasury empty. |