Chronicles of Baltimore - Part 14



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1832. The centennial anniversary of the birth of Gen. George Washington 
was celebrated in this city on the 22d of February with more than ordinary 
delight to the citizens. Every avenue leading to Monument Square was 
crowded with thousands of anxious spectators in the early part of the day, 
and every window was filled with elegantly attired females, each 
indicating by her looks the deep interest she felt in this public 
manifestation of a whole nation's attachment to the memory of the purest 
patriot that ever adorned the pages of history. The procession moved from 
the square at the time appointed, and passed in front of the residence of 
the venerable Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was unable to attend. 
They arrived at the Front Street Theatre or Circus, where Wm. H. Collins, 
Esq., read Washington's Farewell Address, preceded by a few appropriate 
remarks; aider which J. H. B. Latrobe, Esq., addressed the assembly "in a 
strain of chaste and fascinating eloquence which rivetted the attention 
and excited the admiration of all present." The Mayor and Council of 
Frederick and other invited guests were entertained by the Mayor and 
Corporation of Baltimore at Barnum's City Hotel.

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The health officer, who visits all vessels arriving at the port of 
Baltimore, reports the arrival of 1,429 foreigners in 1827; 1,843 in 1828; 
1,581 in 1829; 4,100 in 1830; 4,381 in 1831; 7,946 in 1832. These numbers 
do not, probably, include the whole, because the health officer not being 
required to visit vessels arriving during the winter months, makes no 
report of passengers who reach this port during that season.

The Jackson General Convention met at the Athenæum, May the 21st, and the 
next day nominated as the Democratic candidate for Vice-President, Martin 
Van Buren, of New York. At this convention the two-third rule was adopted, 
which has since been adhered to. The Jackson Convention also met a part of 
the time in "Warfield's Church," in St. Paul's street, near Saratoga, 
which deistical church-building was afterward incorporated with Mr. N. C. 
Brooks' Baltimore Female College. During the proceedings of the convention 
an alarm was given, and one or two men jumping out of the window were 
somewhat injured.

On the 23d of May the Young Men's Convention, then in session at 
Washington, appointed a committee of one from each State to wait on 
Charles Carroll of Carrollton to testify the sense of grateful respect 
entertained by the country for the last of the illustrious band of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. In conformity with their 
appointment, nearly all the members of the committee assembled in 
Baltimore, and, accompanied by several members of the convention, 
proceeded in a body to his residence, and were introduced to him 
separately by Mr. Brantz Mayer; after which Mr. Mayer, chairman of the 
committee, addressed him in a few appropriate, remarks. After Mr. Mayer 
had concluded, Mr. Carroll declared himself highly gratified by the 
expression of the feelings of the young men of the United States, and 
hoped they might enjoy uninterruptedly through life, and transmit 
unimpaired to their posterity, the noble institutions of this happy land.

On the 15th of July a furious fire broke out in the extensive lumber-yard 
of Wm. Carson & Co., on Buchanan's wharf, and soon reached the great range 
of warehouses on Smith's wharf. The whole stock of lumber, except a small 
portion thrown in the dock, was consumed, and five warehouses, with the 
chief part of their contents. The warehouses were occupied by Messrs. 
Whites, Buck & Hedrick, Manning & Hope, Mr, Hugh Boyle, and Mr. Lester. 
Two persons were killed and four others very badly wounded by the falling 
walls.

During the year Baltimore passed through her season of trial by a 
visitation of that awful disease "cholera." The Mayor and the officers of 
health made all preparations for it which the nature of circumstances and 
the means placed in their hands would permit. However, it raged during the 
summer season, and during the month of September the number of deaths in 
Baltimore by cholera was   At the Alms House its ravages were terrible. On 
the

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breaking out of the disease the inmates were about 500, of which number 
the deaths were 125. When the dreadful scourge which had depopulated our 
cities visited Philadelphia, the civil authorities of that city expressed 
a wish to have the assistance of the Sisters of Charity. The wish was made 
known to this community by the Right Rev. Dr. Kenrick, and by return of 
mail thirteen heroines were landed in Philadelphia, ready to rush with joy 
to the assistance of those from whom the rest of the world seemed to fly 
with horror. In Baltimore the same request was made, and was met with 
equal heroism. It was here that was immolated the first victim of charity, 
in the person of Sister Mary Frances, the daughter of the late Benedict 
Boatman of Charles County, Maryland, once admired in the extensive circle 
in which she moved. On the morning of the day on which she died, she 
fainted from weakness occasioned by the premonitory symptoms of cholera. 
While preparing to take the remedies which had been prescribed for her, a 
patient--a colored woman--was brought into the hospital. The case seemed 
desperate and to require immediate assistance, and the heroic Sister 
forgot herself to give relief to the patient. But her delicate frame was 
too weak, and the disease too strong, and in a few hours the cherished, 
accomplished, and pious Mary Frances was a lifeless corpse. The death of 
this Sister did not deter the others. There was no panic or alarm, not 
even concern, but with a devotedness which can scarcely be conceived or 
credited, her place was sought with emulation, and the catastrophe only 
increased their courage. The next victim was Sister Mary George, the 
daughter of Jacob Smith, a wealthy farmer in Adams Co., Pennsylvania. She 
dedicated herself at an early age to the service of her neighbors, and was 
soon called to receive the crown which her devoted charity deserved. She 
died in Baltimore of the epidemic, in the 19th year of her age. Several 
other members of this heroic band were attacked either in the cholera 
hospitals or in the county and city alms house, where the epidemic was 
most fatal. They cannot be better pictured than in the words of the 
honorable Mayor of the city of Baltimore in a letter he wrote to the 
citizens on this occasion. "To behold," says he, "life thus immolated in 
so sacred a cause, produces rather a sensation of awe than of sorrow, a 
sentiment of resignation to the Almighty fiat rather than a useless regret 
at the afflicting event." Their remains were attended to the grave by the 
Mayor and the members of the Board of Health, and other officers of the 
corporation. During the prevalence of the disease Archbishop Whitfield 
tendered his spacious mansion on the corner of Charles and Mulberry 
streets, to be used as a hospital for the sick.

The following letter was sent by the Mayor of Baltimore to Rev. A. J. 
Elder:

"Mayor's Office, Baltimore, Nov. 3d, 1832.

"Rev. A. J. Elder: Dear Sir:--The duties assigned me as

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Mayor of Baltimore being concluded this day, I cannot retire to the 
quietude of private life without acknowledging the obligation which the 
Board of Health and myself are under to you, Sir, for your persevering 
attention to our afflicted fellow-citizens, and through you to those 
invaluable Sisters of Charity, whose benevolent conduct has been of such 
essential utility in alleviating the horrors incident to the fatal 
epidemic, which, a short period since, raged in our city. But their 
attention to the sick was not the only service rendered by the Sisters of 
Charity. They voluntarily furnished clothing at their own expense to the 
destitute orphans of those who fell victims to the cholera, thus 
exhibiting the purest system of unostentatious charity that could have 
been devised. At the hospitals their labor and attention became so 
important, and their exertions so incessant, that even they were often 
physically exhausted and required the helping hand of others. At this time 
the Sisters of Charity at the Orphan Asylum and the Infirmary freely 
tendered their sisterly assistance to smooth the path of anxiety and care 
of those especially devoted to the hospitals. But it surely is a solemn 
consideration that the Sisters of Charity will retire with two less of 
their number than when they commenced their labor of love in Baltimore. 
The rapacious and desolating scourge, with indiscriminate violence, seized 
Sisters Mary Frances and Mary George, and transferred their administering 
spirits to regions of peace and tranquillity. We humbly bow in submission 
to the Divine dispensation, confiding in the Evangelist who saith, 
'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.' The Board of Health and myself 
have deemed it an imperious duty, in behalf of the citizens of Baltimore, 
to express our warmest gratitude and deepest sense of obligation for those 
services which were given without compensation--thereby leaving us doubly 
your debtors. Be pleased therefore, my dear Sir, to tender the sincere and 
grateful thanks of the Board of Health and myself, to Sisters Barbara, 
Clare, Loecadia, Julia, and Euprozene, at hospital No. 2; to Sisters Mary 
Paul, Dometella, Mary Jane, and Mary James, at hospital No. 3; to Sisters 
Ambrosia, Superior of the Infirmary, and also to Henrietta, Dorothea, 
Hillaria, Octavia, Delphine, and Chrysostom, of that institution; to 
Sisters Felicity, Superior of the Orphan Asylum, and also to Camilia, 
Bernerdine, Marcellina, Brozilia, and Alphonso, of that institution. And 
although they will receive no pecuniary remuneration from us, yet I humbly 
hope their reward is registered in heaven. I remain, dear Sir, yours and 
the Sisters of Charity's obliged friend and humble servant,

William Stewart,
"Mayor of the City of Baltimore."

At a meeting of the citizens of Baltimore, without distinction of parties, 
held at the Exchange on Thursday, the 27th of December, in pursuance of 
the call of the Mayor to take into consideration the ordinance and 
proceedings of the convention lately held

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in South Carolina, on the subject of nullification: the meeting was 
organized at the suggestion of the Hon. Judge R. B. Magruder, by the 
appointment of the Hon. Jesse Hunt, Mayor of the city of Baltimore, as 
president. On motion of the Hon. P. Laurenson, William Patterson and 
Robert Oliver were appointed vice-presidents. On motion of Gen. Geo. H. 
Steuart, E. L. Finley and J. S. Nicholas were appointed secretaries. The 
president then announced the object for which the meeting was called, and 
that he was ready to receive the suggestions of any of the citizens 
present. The Hon. Isaac McKim then read and submitted a series of 
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, and from which we extract the 
following: "That the proceedings of the State convention of South 
Carolina, and the political principles avowed in the extraordinary and 
unprecedented document, styled an ordinance, are disapproved by this 
meeting as tending to disturb the harmony of government, menacing the 
integrity of the Union, violating good faith, and impairing, if not 
destroying, the general prosperity. That we highly and entirely approve 
the opinions and sentiments avowed in the proclamation of the President of 
the United States. In this important public act we recognize the wisdom of 
the statesman, the firmness and inflexible integrity of the patriot, and 
the deep feeling of solicitude becoming a father of his country, in the 
existing crisis of difficulty and danger--with him we proclaim, the Union 
must be preserved."

The first train of cars from the "Point of Rocks" arrived in Baltimore on 
the 20th of April, laden with between 300 and 400 barrels of flour.

There were building in the ship-yards of Baltimore in August, eight ships, 
six schooners, and one steamboat.

Charles Carroll, surnamed of Carrollton, and the son of Charles Carroll 
and Elizabeth Brook, was born on the twentieth of September, 1737, at 
Annapolis, in the State of Maryland. In 1745, then eight years of age, he 
was sent to France to be educated. At the age of twenty he commenced the 
study of law in London. He returned to Maryland in 1764, just in time to 
enter heart and soul into the strife which his countrymen were waging 
against tyranny. He had struggled against the stamp tax; he now took his 
place again by the side of his brethren, in the opening contest against 
Parliament. With Daniel Dulany himself he grappled, and the controversy 
was the most marked of the day. It was carried on under the names of the 
"First Citizen," and "Antilon." His articles were able and eloquent, as 
able and eloquent as those of his great and learned opponent, who had long 
stood the leading mind of Maryland; and they were more effective. He 
conquered, for he fought on the side of liberty.

The talent and firmness evinced by Mr. Carroll in his contest with Dulany 
raised him at once to a high station in the confidence of the people; and 
we find him, during the years 1773--4--5, actively

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engaged in all the measures which were taken in opposition to the course 
of Great Britain's colonial policy. In January, 1775, Mr. Carroll was 
chosen a member of the first committee of observation that was established 
in Annapolis, and in the same year he was elected a delegate to represent 
Anne Arundel County in the provincial convention. In February, 1776, he 
was appointed a commissioner by Congress, then in session at Philadelphia, 
with Dr. Franklin, Archbishop Carroll, and Samuel Chase, to proceed to 
Canada to induce the inhabitants of that country to join the United 
Provinces in opposition to Great Britain. On the 4th of July, 1776, Mr. 
Carroll was appointed for the first time a delegate to Congress on his 
return from Canada, and on the 18th of July took his seat in that body. 
The engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence was placed on the 
desk of the Secretary of Congress on the second of August, to receive the 
signatures of the members, and Mr. Hancock, president of Congress, during 
a conversation with Mr. Carroll, asked him if he would sign it. "Most 
willingly," was the reply, and taking a pen, he at once put his name to 
the instrument. "There go a few millions," said one of those who stood by; 
and all present at that time agreed, that in point of fortune few risked 
more than Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

Mr. Carroll continued in Congress until the year 1778, when the treaty 
with France removing from his mind all doubt as to the ultimate success of 
the war of the Revolution, and his duty as a Senator of Maryland requiring 
his attendance in Annapolis, he resigned his seat, and for the future 
devoted himself to the local politics of his native State. In the year 
1781 he was re-elected to the Senate of Maryland, in which he had been the 
first under the new constitution, and in which he had already served five 
years; and in December, 1788, was chosen Representative of Maryland in the 
Senate of the United States, immediately after the adoption of the Federal 
Constitution. In 1791 Mr. Carroll vacated his seat in the Senate of the 
United States, and in the same year was once more chosen to the Senate of 
Maryland. In 1796 he was again reelected; and in 1797 was one of the 
commissioners appointed to settle the boundary line between Virginia and 
Maryland. Mr. Carroll continued an active member of the Senate of his 
native State until 1801, when he retired from public life, and lived in 
the enjoyment of accumulated honors and social and domestic happiness, 
until November 14th, 1832, when he passed away in the ninety-sixth year of 
his age, in this city, as though he was going to sleep, his strength 
having gradually decreased until exhausted, and life was extinguished, as 
it were, without an effort; and when he passed away to the sleep of peace, 
the tears, not alone of Maryland, but of the whole nation, flowed for the 
last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

On the 13th of November, 1832, a number of gentlemen convened at the 
office of the American Farmer, for the purpose of forming

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a Horticultural Society, when B. I. Cohen, Esq., was called to the chair, 
and J. Irvine Hitchcock appointed secretary. H. F. Dukehart, Gideon B. 
Smith, and George W. Dobbin were appointed a committee to draft the 
constitution and by-laws. A second meeting was held on the 20th, when the 
committee reported the draft of a constitution and by-laws, which, with 
some modifications, were adopted. At a subsequent meeting a number of 
gentlemen were elected officers.

1833. The Hon. John Randolph of Roanoke, Va., reached this city on the 
19th of May from Washington, and proceeded to Philadelphia on the 20th, 
where he died on the 24th. He travelled in his old-fashioned English coach 
and four, with a postillion on one of the leading horses, and "Juba" on 
the box. His passage through Pratt street to the City Hotel was the 
occasion of some little inconvenience and irritation to him. By the time 
he reached the hotel, the crowd was so dense in front of it that his 
entrance at the principal door was impossible. At length the remarkable 
equipage proceeded to the door on Fayette street, and he was conveyed from 
the coach into the hotel in the arms of "Juba," his favorite servant.

The Cathedral was robbed on the 18th of April of sundry candle-sticks, 
crucifixes, &c.

The Roman Catholic Council opened its session in this city, in the 
Cathedral, on the 20th of October. The most Rev. Dr. Whitfield, Archbishop 
of Baltimore, presided.

The corner-stone of St. James' Roman Catholic Church was laid on Wednesday 
afternoon, May 1st, at the corner of Monument and Aisquith streets, by the 
Most Reverend Archbishop Whitfield.

A new line of steamers between this city and Philadelphia, via the canal, 
commenced operations on Saturday, May 4th.

During President Jackson's visit to Baltimore in June, he had an interview 
with the celebrated Indian chief Black Hawk and other Indians, who arrived 
here on the same day he did. So great was the pressure of the immense 
crowds of persons who attended to get a sight of Black Hawk and his 
companions that it was thought necessary to remove them to Fort McHenry, 
previous to which, however, they were conveyed in carriages through the 
principal streets of the city.

The Horticultural Society of Maryland held their first exhibition on 
Wednesday, June 12th, at the Athenæum. The Hon. John P. Kennedy delivered 
the opening address to a large auditory of ladies and gentlemen.

An earthquake was felt in Baltimore on Tuesday, August 27th.

The Hon. Henry Clay arrived in Baltimore on Tuesday, Oct. 8th, and 
received the visits of a large number of the citizens. He was invited to a 
public dinner, which he found necessary to decline.

Extracts from the papers of November 13th: "Being up this

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morning at five o'clock, I witnessed one of the most grand and alarming 
spectacles which ever beamed upon the eye of man. The light in my room was 
so great that I could see the hour of the morning by my watch which hung 
over the mantle, and supposing that there was fire near at hand, probably 
on my own premises, I sprung to the window, and beheld the stars, or some 
other bodies presenting a fiery appearance, descending in torrents as 
rapid and numerous as I ever saw flakes of snow or drops of rain in the 
midst of a storm. Occasionally a large body of apparent fire would be 
hurled through the atmosphere, which without noise exploded, when millions 
of fiery particles would be cast through the air. To the eye it presented 
the appearance of what may be called a raining of fire, for I can compare 
it to nothing else. Its continuance, according to my time, was, from the 
moment when I first discovered it, twenty minutes; but a friend, whose 
lady was up, says it commenced at half-past four; that she was watching 
the sick bed of a relative, and therefore can speak positive as to the 
hour of its commencement. If her time was correct, then it rained fire 
fifty minutes. The shed in the adjoining yard to my own was covered with 
stars, as I supposed, during the whole time. A friend at my elbow, who 
also witnessed it, in whose veracity I can place the most implicit 
reliance, confirms my own observation of the phenomenon, and adds, that 
the fiery particles which fell south descended in a southern direction, 
and those north took a northern direction. He thinks it commenced earlier 
than the period at which I first witnessed it, and that it lasted longer; 
that when his clock chimed six there were still occasional descents of 
stars."

"While most of our fellow-citizens were comfortably wrapped in the arms of 
Somnus, we beheld one of the most sublime and awful spectacles which 
nature can present. At five o'clock this morning the sky was perfectly 
serene, and not a cloud was to be seen. On a sudden the heavens became 
illuminated by thousands of shooting-stars going in the direction of the 
northwest. The phenomenon lasted without intermission for nearly thirty 
minutes. The meteors were of various sizes, some larger, some smaller, 
some forming long trains, which remained for several seconds in the 
heavens. They were observed not in one part of the sky only, but the 
north, the south, the east, and the west were equally spangled. At twenty 
minutes past five a meteor, we would suppose about six inches in diameter, 
exploded with considerable noise almost perpendicularly over the northwest 
part of the city. The blaze was splendid, so as to give the sky the 
appearance of sunrise. It shot in the direction of the northwest, leaving 
stream of light, which assumed a serpentine form, apparently of thirty 
feet in length, and lasted more than one minute. We were amused at the 
different effects produced upon the few beholders. Some in dreadful 
affright predicted the end of the world, others of

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more stern souls were sure that it at least prognosticated some dreadful 
war, whilst the philosopher, smiling at their simplicity, calmly viewed 
the phenomenon, wonderful as it was."

Nelson Wallis and Aurelia Chase, both colored persons, were executed in 
Baltimore on Friday, the 20th of December, the first for rape of a very 
atrocious character, and the second for deliberately poisoning her 
mistress.

On the 27th of September, at about 11 o'clock A. M., the new and extensive 
planing mills and lumber-yard of Messrs. Howland & Woollen on Lombard 
street, opposite the Medical College, took fire, and were entirely 
consumed, with a great quantity of dressed and undressed plank. It was the 
most rapid fire that this city ever witnessed--as may be supposed from the 
fact that three horses, attached to a wagon which was loading in the yard, 
with the wagon, were consumed, being instantly enveloped in flames. One of 
the firemen, Mr. Columbus Vinkle, was killed, being run over by the 
suction engine of the Howard Company.

During the year a number of gentlemen held several meetings at Elisha 
Snikes' Temperance House, on Thames street, Fell's Point, and after some 
preliminary arrangements, organized the first Tribe of Red Men, now known 
as "Logan Tribe, No. 1, Improved Order of Red Men." On the 20th of May, 
1835, the Great Council of Maryland was organized by Messrs. George A. 
Peters, William F. Jones, Charles Skillman, Joseph Branson and Edmund 
Lucas, in the city of Baltimore.

1834. The annunciation on the 24th of March by the directors of the Bank 
of Maryland, declaring its inability to prosecute its business any longer, 
fell with a heavy shock on this community. At a meeting of the officers of 
the several banks of the city, convened at the Union Bank, to take into 
consideration the state of affairs arising from the closing of the 
business of the Bank of Maryland, William Lorman, president of the Bank of 
Baltimore, was called to the chair, and Nicholas Brice, of the Farmers and 
Merchants' Bank, acted as secretary. The president of the Union Bank 
informed the meeting that the Bank of Maryland had made a deed of trust, 
which they were prepared to deliver, conveying all the property of the 
bank to him in trust for the general and equal benefit of its creditors, 
&c. It was unanimously resolved by the presidents and cashiers present, 
that in their opinion it is advisable that Mr. Ellicott accept the deed of 
trust, &c. On the 28th of March a very numerous meeting of the creditors 
of the Bank of Maryland was held at the Exchange. Wm. Patterson was called 
to the chair, and the Hon. Nicholas Brice appointed secretary. A committee 
of fifteen was appointed to advance the interest of said creditors, and to 
bring the affairs of said Bank of Maryland to a just and speedy settlement.

Upon the arrival in this city of Messrs. McDuffie, Preston, Binney and 
Webster, on Saturday and Sunday, April 19th and 20th,

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they were met on the wharf by 5000 citizens, who escorted them, amidst 
great enthusiasm, to the Exchange and Barnum's, where the gentlemen 
delivered brief addresses.

Mr. Alexander Brown, the founder of the house of Alexander Brown & Sons, 
was born in the north of Ireland, in 1764, and married at Ballymena, 
Ireland, where all his children were born, and where he was engaged in 
business. In the year 1800, leaving his younger children, George, John A., 
and James, to be educated in England, he came, with his wife and eldest 
son William, to Baltimore. He brought with him a small capital, and 
immediately engaged in the business of importing and selling Irish linens. 
In the year 1810 the eldest son William went to Liverpool, and there 
established with his brother James the firm of William & James Brown & 
Company, which subsequently became Brown, Shipley & Co., a branch of which 
has since been established in London. William Brown died in Liverpool in 
1864 possessed of great wealth, after having for many years represented 
the county of Lancashire in the British Parliament, and having been 
created a Baronet in 1862. He endowed a free public library and the 
erection of a noble building for its accommodation in Liverpool. In the 
year 1811 the firm of Alexander Brown & Sons was formed in the city of 
Baltimore, and still continues to exist, being now composed of George S. 
Brown and William H. Graham, son and son-in-law of George Brown. In 1818 
John A. Brown established a branch of the house in Philadelphia, under the 
name of John A. Brown & Co., and, in 1825, James Brown settled in New 
York, and established the firm of Brown Brothers & Co. George Brown 
continued to reside in Baltimore with his father. John A. Brown retired in 
1839, and the business is now carried on in Philadelphia, as well as in 
New York, under the firm of Brown Brothers & Co. While Mr. Alexander Brown 
lived, Baltimore continued to be the headquarters of all the houses, and 
several times a year, and on every important occasion, it was the custom 
of all the brothers in this country to meet together and take counsel with 
their father and each other. Mr. Alexander Brown died on the 3d of April, 
1834, of pneumonia, which he contracted at a meeting of merchants, over 
which he presided, at the Exchange, on the occasion of a panic which then 
prevailed, growing out of the failure of the Bank of Maryland.

On the 23d of April, a great meeting of the people was held in Monument 
Square, to adopt certain proceedings with a view of expressing the 
opinions of the citizens on the late protest of the President of the 
United States. General Wm. McDonald presided, assisted by many vice-
presidents, &c. The multitude were addressed by John P. Kennedy, Charles 
C. Harper, Joshua Jones and John V. L. McMahon, Esqs. And it is not a 
little remarkable that each of these gentlemen, in times not long past, 
were among the most zealous and distinguished supporters of the President 
of the United States, (Andrew Jackson). A series of resolutions was 
passed, repudiating

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the doctrines of the protest, and sustaining the Senate and others, and 
for the formation of a "State Whig Society," &c. We regret to add, that 
some violent actions took place with an evident design to disturb or break 
up the meeting, by persons who had not been invited to attend it; but they 
were resisted and put down. On the evening following, in South street, 
some young "Whigs" met to form a military association, and were attacked 
by the "Democrats," but the Mayor and his posse interfered, and not much 
harm was done.

The United States Insurance Company suspended payment on the 30th of April.

In the month of May, John B. Morris and R. W. Gill, Esqs., trustees for 
the benefit of the creditors of the Bank of Maryland, made a report 
concerning the affairs of that institution, which Thomas Ellicott, the 
other trustee, declined to unite in. The result seems to be this--that the 
supposed available means of the bank were $1,001,661, with doubtful and 
disputed claims in its favor amounting to $683,569 more; whereas the 
circulation, certificates and other claims against the bank, amounted to 
$1,683,218.

The city of Baltimore designated Thursday, July 10th, to express by 
suitable testimonies its feelings on the occasion of the death of the 
illustrious La Fayette. The ceremonies were imposing in the highest 
degree, and peculiarly appropriate to the solemn event which the whole 
population united in commemorating. At daybreak minute-guns were fired by 
a detachment of artillery, which were responded to by the melancholy toll 
of the bells of the different churches. All the vessels in port and all 
the public places had their flags at half-mast, and many of those of the 
latter were trimmed with the sable tokens of mourning. At a few minutes 
after nine the funeral procession, led by the chief marshal, Henry 
Thompson, assisted by his aides, Cols. Heath and Thomas, commenced its 
movement along Baltimore street, starting from the bridge at Christ 
Church. Murray's excellent band of music was in front playing appropriate 
funeral marches. The military corps followed, having on their right the 
fine-looking detachment of United States artillerists under command of 
Captain Thompson. The volunteer infantry and rifle regiments followed. To 
these succeeded, in a barouche, the officiating clergymen, the Rev. Dr. 
Henshaw and the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge; the orator of the day, Francis H. 
Davidge, Esq., and Gen. Samuel Smith, president of the Society of 
Cincinnati. The pall-bearers followed, also in barouches, viz: William 
Patterson, James H. McCulloch, Wm. McDonald, Robert Smith, Robert Oliver, 
Nathan Levy, David Harris, William Lorman. The sarcophagus came next, 
drawn by four led horses, all caparisoned in deep mourning. It was covered 
with black-cloth, and placed upon a car resting upon four massive wheels. 
The design and symbols were after the Egyptian style. Each end of the car 
terminated in a large scroll, with an

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appropriate symbol on it. That on the front was a shield with an 
alligator, intended to represent that in the western hemisphere LaFayette 
first shed his blood in defence of the rights of man. On the other scroll 
was the representation of a horse, emblematic of Europe, in which quarter 
of the globe he also contended for liberty. On the other side of the 
sarcophagus were these inscriptions: "On the 1st September, A. D. 1757, 
Born." "On the 21st May, A. D. 1834, Died." Between the inscriptions was 
the figure of a lachrymal urn. On each end of the sarcophagus was a winged 
globe, the emblem of eternity. Following the sarcophagus was a white 
horse, caparisoned as the charger of a deceased general officer, and led 
by an attendant in mourning. Then came as mourners a body of French 
gentlemen, bearing at their head the French and American national 
standards shrouded in black, the Mayor and officers and members of the 
city corporation walking next in order. Then followed the Trades' Union 
and the numerous mechanical associations represented in it. The original 
Pulaski's banner was carried on this occasion at the head of the Trades' 
Union. The juvenile associations of Fell's Point came next, followed by 
the Washington Hose and Mechanical Fire Companies, and after them came the 
medical students and polemic associations, all with banners and badges, 
the teachers and scholars of the male public-schools Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. 
The Order of Independent Odd-Fellows, comprising the various lodges and 
orders of that institution, followed. The Grand Lodge was the last in line 
on foot, and the procession was finally terminated by the "Encampment of 
Patriarchs" in full suits of mourning, all mounted on horses elegantly 
caparisoned in mourning.

The procession moved slowly through the densely crowded streets to the 
sound of the muffled drums and the dirges of the several bands of music, 
to the appointed place in Howard's Park. The customary honors to the 
military rank of the deceased were paid in the most impressive manner amid 
the deepest attention. The most striking and solemn period was, however, 
when the address to the throne of Grace was commenced by the Rev. Mr. 
Henshaw. At the word, the whole vast multitude stood uncovered and in 
silence around the bier. Thousands and tens of thousands of faces were 
seen rising on every side above each other to the farthest distance, all 
full of solemnity and feeling. The mourning banners that rose above the 
naked heads, the melancholy note of the distant bell, the solemn minute-
gun heard duly from afar in the strange silence, the black bier in the 
midst, and the solitary voice of the minister speaking of death and the 
departed, formed a combination of affecting and impressive incidents well 
calculated to touch and elevate the feelings. When the prayer was 
concluded, the venerable General Samuel Smith addressed the people in 
eulogy of the character and services of La Fayette. The orator of the day, 
Francis H. Davidge, Esq., followed, and addressed

Page 471

an attentive audience for upwards of an hour, in a eulogy detailing the 
career of La Fayette and his claims upon American gratitude. When Mr. 
Davidge concluded his oration, the Rev. Mr. Breckinridge offered an 
appropriate and fervent prayer, with which the ceremonies at the park were 
closed. The procession then took up the line of march to its place of 
meeting for dismissal.

Mr. R. B. Taney, late Secretary of Treasury, returned to Baltimore on the 
11th of July, and was escorted into the city by a cavalcade of about 200 
gentlemen, when he met a large number of his political friends at the 
Columbian Garden. The party was addressed by Mr. Taney, Mr. Benton, of the 
Senate, and Mr. Allen, of the House of Representatives, from Ohio. There 
was a heavy storm of wind and rain from the north, which carried away the 
awnings over the tables and completely drenched the company while Mr. 
Benton was speaking.

A meeting of the citizens was convened on the 8th of November, at the 
Exchange, in pursuance of public notice given by the Mayor, at the request 
of "the convention appointed to promote the trade and commercial interests 
of Baltimore," for the purpose of considering the proceedings of a meeting 
held in Cumberland, Alleghany county, in relation to the extension of the 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Jesse Hunt, Esq., Mayor of the city, was called 
to the chair, and John S. Hollins and Benjamin I. Cohen appointed 
secretaries. The objects of the meeting were then stated by Chas. F. 
Mayer, with appropriate and impressive remarks; and at the conclusion he 
submitted a preamble and resolutions, which, being considered, were 
unanimously adopted.

On the 18th of November, Mr. Gorman, one of the contractors of the 
Washington railroad, about eighteen miles from this city, was assailed in 
his own shanty by eight or ten men, supposed to be some of those at work 
on the road. Mr. John Watson, a superintendent, was also in the shanty on 
a casual visit. Both gentlemen were forcibly dragged out, beaten severely, 
and left in a state of insensibility. These outrages thus perpetrated by 
these cruel ruffians were not sufficient, it seems, to satisfy their blood-
thirsty cravings. About midnight the next day they surrounded the office 
where Mr. Watson was lying wounded, and after breaking open the door, they 
deliberately murdered him in a most barbarous and shocking manner, the 
back of his head being cut open and the brains scattered about. Mr. 
William Messer, one of Mr. W's assistants, who was present in the office 
when the attack on it was made, was dragged out and shot dead. Another of 
the superintendents, Mr. -- Callon, was also shot dead; several other 
persons were injured, but none dangerously. The miscreants, after the 
murders, proceeded to rob the premises. On the 25th a detachment of the 
first brigade marched to the scene of disturbance and arrested nearly 300 
Irish laborers, and conveyed them under guard to the jail in this city.

Page 472

Died on the 19th of October, in the 64th year of his age, the Most Rev. 
James Whitfield, Archbishop of Baltimore. His career in his elevated 
station was marked with prudence and zeal. His fortune was considerable, 
and it was generously consecrated to the purposes of religion. The 
Cathedral experienced his liberality, and the beautiful edifice of St. 
James in our city is a lasting monument of his munificence.

Died on the 28th of December, Robert Oliver, Esq., in the 77th year of his 
age. He was much valued for his liberality, benevolence and public spirit, 
and one of the most enterprising of our merchants, and strongest of 
capitalists.

William Wirt died on Tuesday morning, February 18th, in Washington, D. C. 
Hon. Daniel Webster in his address to the Supreme Court, which adjourned 
in honor of his memory, says: "It is announced to us that one of the 
oldest, one of the ablest, one of the most distinguished members of this 
bar has departed this mortal life. Wm. Wirt is no more! He has this day 
closed a professional career amongst the longest and most brilliant which 
the distinguished members of the profession in the United States have at 
any time accomplished. Unsullied in everything which regards professional 
honor and integrity, patient of labor, and rich in those stores of 
learning which are the rewards of patient labor, and patient labor only; 
and if equalled, yet certainly allowed not to be excelled, in fervent, 
animated, and persuasive eloquence, he has left an example which those who 
seek to raise themselves to great heights of professional eminence will 
hereafter emulously study. Fortunate, indeed, will be the few who shall 
imitate it successfully!" The funeral took place on the 20th. The highest 
honors were rendered to it. Both Houses of Congress adjourned to enable 
their members to attend the body to the tomb. Such a proceeding had never 
yet been accorded by the National Legislature, except to deceased members 
of one or the other House. In the procession were seen the President of 
the United States, the Vice-President, the heads of departments, the 
diplomatic corps, the bench and bar of the Supreme Court, the members of 
the two Houses of Congress, officers of the army and navy, and a large 
concourse of private citizens. The body was conducted to the National 
Cemetery, and around the tomb were gathered the most illustrious of the 
land. Adams, Jackson, Calhoun, Van Buren, Marshall, Story, Clay, Webster, 
Southard, Taney, Binney, Sergeant, Woodbury, Everett, Cass, Generals 
Scott, Macomb, Rogers, and Chauncey, and many others whose renown in 
council, in court, in camp and on sea have added lustre to the history of 
the nation, were the witnesses to the laying down of the remains of 
William Wirt in their last resting-place.

A new locomotive engine, built by Mr. Charles Reeder, of this city, for 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, while on its trial-trip on Tuesday, 
November 11th, in conveying a heavy train of cars, exploded,

Page 473

by which the engineer was killed and the fireman badly wounded. This was 
the first locomotive explosion on this road.

The Maryland Savings Institution suspended operations on the 6th of May, 
which caused a severe run upon the Savings Bank of Baltimore.

The Baltimore Republican of Saturday, May 10th, has the following:--
"Attention!!! Those young men of Baltimore who are willing to pledge life, 
fortune, and sacred honor in the support of their patriotic Chief 
Magistrate, against the lawless course of a factious Senate, are requested 
to assemble on Thursday evening next, the 15th inst., at half-past seven 
o'clock, at the Columbian Gardens. The object of the meeting will be 
explained in an address from a friend to the cause of equal rights and 
universal suffrage." The meeting was large and resulted in the passage of 
a few stereotype-like resolutions.

Pursuant to a call from the Jackson Republican Convention of the city of 
Baltimore, a meeting of the friends of the national administration 
assembled in Monument square, on the evening of Wednesday, May 7th. On 
motion of Col. U. S. Heath, the meeting was organized, and William Frick, 
Esq., was called to the chair. The president stated the object of the 
meeting, when resolutions offered by Col. B. C. Howard were adopted. The 
meeting was addressed by Col. B. C. Howard, Samuel Brady, William George 
Reed, John Nelson, and Col. U. S. Heath.

The most remarkable instance of rapid sailing recorded, is probably the 
ease of the brig John Gilpin, of Baltimore, a thorough-clipper of course, 
which vessel left Baltimore in the year 1832, and arrived in Batavia after 
a passage of 82 days; proceeded from thence to Canton in 11 days, from 
Canton to Manilla in 5 days, from Manilla through the Straits of Sunda, 
round south of New Holland, to latitude 48 or 50 degrees to Valparaiso, in 
85 days, and from Valparaiso to Lima in 6 days and 17 hours--making an 
aggregate distance of 34,920 miles in 189 days 17 hours, averaging a 
fraction more than one hundred and eighty-three miles per day.

1835. On the 7th of February we had two fires in Baltimore. The first 
broke out in the extensive chair-factory of Mr. Daily, on Market street, 
adjacent to Jones Falls; and being of a combustible nature, was entirely 
consumed. And a little after 11 o'clock A. M., same day, it was discovered 
that the very large building, the Athenæum, at the corner of St. Paul's 
and Lexington streets, was on fire. It being dreadfully cold the hydrants 
had to be thawed by fire; and the apparatus from the preceding fire was in 
a bad state of fitness for action. This great building with all its 
contents, except in the offices in the basement and on the second floor, 
were consumed. It was chiefly occupied by lawyers' offices and different 
societies. The beautiful and costly philosophical apparatus of the 
Mechanical Institute, (not long since imported from France)

Page 474

with two or three society libraries, (one of them very extensive), and 
that of the Maryland Academy of Arts, with its valuable cabinets, (not 
perhaps to be replaced), a splendid organ in the saloon, with other costly 
articles and fixtures, were all lost. And on the 13th of February, the 
court-house, (which at the time was perhaps the largest and the best 
building of its kind in America), was nearly destroyed by fire. The city 
and county, and Orphans' court, with the grand jury, &c., were in session 
when it was discovered, and all the important records were either removed 
or remained in safety in the fire-proof rooms in the first story. The fire 
was checked on the second floor, so that the city court-room, though not 
fire-proof, was preserved by the perseverance of the firemen; but all 
above that floor was destroyed. The burning of the cupola was a grand but 
distressing object to look at, and had it happened in the night, would 
have illuminated the whole city. During the same week attempts were made 
to fire the Rev. Mr. Duncan's church in Lexington street, the Female 
Orphan Asylum in Franklin street, the Friends' meeting-house in Lombard 
street, the Baltimore Gazette office, the middle district police station, 
the Museum, the Liberty and Union engine-houses, the Exchange, and several 
other large establishments. The Mayor offered a reward of $500 for the 
incendiary or incendiaries, or either of them, but no distinct trace was 
ever discovered of the persons who were supposed to have caused the fires.

On the 25th of February, the range of stables in the rear of the Western 
Hotel, at the corner of Howard and Saratoga streets, being on fire, the 
firemen attended with their usual promptitude and zeal, and it was soon 
discovered that the destruction would be complete; but in the midst of 
their operations, one of the stable walls fell, and instantly killed four 
firemen and badly wounded several others. The following are the names of 
the persons killed: William McNelly, Stewart D. Downes, Michael Moran and 
William Macklin. The fire department met and took charge of the interment 
of the remains of these unfortunate men, and, after a long procession, 
with imposing and appropriate ceremonies, assisted by a large body of "Odd 
Fellows," deposited them in the earth, in the most feeling and respectful 
manner.

On the 4th of May, books were opened for subscription to the shares of the 
Merchants' Bank of Baltimore, and in ten days 364,133 shares were 
subscribed. On each share $10 were paid, making the gross amount received 
$3,641,330, thus showing the spirit of speculation which had entered into 
everything at this date.

The Bank of Maryland (the history of which is that of one of the most 
stupendous and general frauds ever committed, bearing specially hard upon 
the industrious poor) was shut up in March 1834, and, though about 
seventeen months had elapsed, no satisfactory statement of its affairs 
were laid before its creditors, being obstructed by the "law's delay" and 
other causes that were not

Page 475

understood by the people at large. In the meantime, however, the late 
president of the bank (Evan Poultney) and others were battering one 
another by heavy pamphlets, with which the public were made weary and 
disgusted. But the creditors refrained and bore these things as they 
ought; and the citizens remained quiet, though the loss of character 
effected by the miserable failure of the bank, affected the interests of 
the city much more than the amount of money the creditors of the bank had 
lost. Within the year, by the bankruptcy of the Susquehanna Bank, the Bank 
of Maryland, the Maryland Savings Institution, the United States Insurance 
Company, the reduced value of the stock in others, as much as 25 per cent. 
in some cases, and the failure of two or three other rag-shops, the people 
were plundered of more than two millions of dollars, perhaps three 
millions. They bore all this with astonishing meekness. On Monday, the 3d 
of August, another weighty pamphlet appeared, and this, with certain 
comments upon it by Mr. Poultney, are put forward as the cause of the 
riots that followed, for a "feverish" state was soon visible. On the 
evening of the 6th, a small number of persons assembled opposite the 
splendid residence of Mr. Reverdy Johnson on Monument Square. They 
dispersed, however, after breaking a few panes of glass, at the request of 
the Mayor, who was induced, however, by the signs that appeared, to issue 
the following call for a public meeting:

"Mayor's Office, August 7th, 1835.--In compliance with the wishes of a 
large number of my fellow-citizens, I hereby request the citizens of 
Baltimore to assemble in town meeting, at the Exchange, at four o'clock 
this afternoon, for the purpose of adopting such measures as may be deemed 
proper to insure the preservation of the public peace.

Jesse Hunt, Mayor."

And thus was given an importance and notoriety to the matter which many 
thought did not belong to it. The meeting, however, was held, and Jesse 
Hunt was appointed president, and S. C. Leakin, Wm. Krebs, C. O'Donnell, 
Dr. T. E. Bond and W. G. Read, Esq., were appointed vice-presidents, and 
William H. Norris secretary. On motion of J. G. Proud, the five vice-
presidents were appointed a committee to report suitable resolutions for 
the consideration of the meeting. The committee, after having retired, 
reported a number of resolutions, which were adopted. On motion of James 
H. Thomas, Esq., it was "Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, 
it would promote the peace of the city if the present trustees would 
relinquish the trust held by them, and transfer over to the creditors of 
the Bank of Maryland the books and papers connected therewith." The 
meeting then adjourned. The motion of Mr. Thomas was passed by 
acclamation, and here it is proper to say that the trustees alluded to 
were John B. Morris and R. W. Gill, Esqs. Mr. Thomas Ellicott, the other

Page 476

trustee, had long before made known his willingness to relinquish his 
trust and throw the whole concern into the hands of the creditors of the 
bank, but Messrs. Gill and Morris thought they could not do so without 
encountering a pecuniary responsibility that they were unwilling to meet--
the best legal advice having been taken; nor were they satisfied that such 
was the wish of a majority of the creditors of the bank.

On Friday evening, the 7th of August, the Mayor was on the ground in 
Monument Square, attended by the city bailiffs, the watchmen, and many 
citizens for his support. The crowd was much larger than on the preceding 
night, and more panes of glass were broken. They were addressed by the 
Mayor and by Gen. W. Jones, of Washington, who happened to be in the city. 
They were respectfully listened to, and the crowd dispersed at about 11 
o'clock. At about seven o'clock on Saturday night the Mayor, having 
previously called together a considerable number of citizens, it was 
agreed to station several hundred of them, each provided with a staff or 
insignia of office, to guard every avenue leading to Reverdy Johnson's 
residence in Monument Square. About thirty of this guard were mounted on 
horses. By dark, multitudes of people had assembled. The principal point 
of concentration, at this time, was in Baltimore street, at the 
intersection of North Calvert street, which leads to the square. Here the 
crowd made frequent rushes upon the guard. Brickbats and stones were 
showered upon the guard like hail, and ultimately by the guard returned. A 
number of the latter, were severely bruised and wounded. They, however, 
kept their posts, and a large portion of the rioters, finding it 
impossible to get access to Mr. Johnson's house, started off to the house 
of Mr. John Glenn, on North Charles street, which was not guarded, and 
commenced throwing stones and missiles at the windows and front door. The 
house was of brick, strongly built, and the door was barricaded in 
anticipation of an attack. For a brief space of time the assailants were 
diverted from their assaults upon the house by a number of the mounted 
guard rushing down and firing upon them. The assailants, however, soon 
renewed their attacks upon the house, and after a continued effort of near 
half an hour, it was taken possession of, and all the furniture it 
contained was broken up and thrown into the street and utterly destroyed. 
The work of demolition was renewed some time during Sunday by numbers of 
young men and boys, who got in and continued through the afternoon to 
break up the woodwork and to beat down the jambs of the outer wall. A 
portion of the front wall of the second and third story was thrown down, 
and the house exhibited the appearance of a wreck. The guard stationed in 
different parts of the city, finding themselves so severely attacked, 
armed themselves with muskets. At about one o'clock on Sunday morning a 
company of some twenty-five or perhaps thirty armed citizens marched 
against the rioters in Charles street. They were received with a shower

Page 477

of stones, and in return fired into the crowd they opposed. They loaded 
and fired several times. The police and guard also fired upon their 
assailants at their several stations a number of times.

On Sunday night the attack was renewed upon Reverdy Johnson's house, which 
was soon entered, and its furniture, a very extensive law library, and all 
its contents were cast forth, and a bonfire made of them in front of the 
house. The whole interior was torn out and cast upon the burning pile. The 
marble portico in front and a great portion of the front wall were torn 
down by about 11 o'clock. Previous to this, however, an attack was 
commenced upon the house of John B. Morris in South street. His dwelling 
was entered and cleared, and the furniture and other contents piled up in 
the street and burnt. In the course of the proceedings the house took fire 
inside, as Reverdy Johnson's was also near doing from the bonfire near it. 
In both instances the engines were brought promptly to the spot, and the 
fire put out, so that the neighboring dwellings should not suffer. From 
John B. Morris's house they proceeded to that of the Mayor of the city, 
Jesse Hunt, Esq., broke it open, took out the furniture, and burnt it 
before the door. They also destroyed the furniture of Evan T. Ellicott, 
and much injured his dwelling in Pratt street. They proceeded to the new 
house of Hugh McElderry in North Calvert street, now finishing, broke the 
front windows, entered the door and began to destroy the house, when the 
builder appeared, and stated that as it was not finished the key had not 
been given up, and that all the injury it might sustain would fall upon 
him, and thus complete his ruin. Upon this assurance they desisted and 
retired. All the property destroyed was supposed to have belonged to the 
directors of the Bank. The mob also attacked Captain Willey's hardware 
store in Franklin street, and commenced destroying its contents, but 
desisted at the urgent solicitations of Mr. Lynch, who assured them that 
he, and not Mr. W., was the owner, and that Capt. Willey had left town. 
The house of Dr. Hintze was assailed, but his lady making her appearance, 
and declaring that the property was her own, she having received it from 
her father's estate, they listened to her appeal and departed without 
doing any injury. Capt. Bentzinger's house was also attacked, and all his 
furniture destroyed. This, as well as the attack on Capt. Willey and Dr. 
Hintze, was because of their opposition to the rioters. The very valuable 
libraries of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Glenn were destroyed, worth many thousand 
dollars each. All their stock of wines, and many other valuable articles, 
fell a prey to the crowd, and were offered for sale at small prices. The 
different stations where guards were posted to prevent access to the 
square, were all more or less frequently the scene of alarm and 
contention, and with the discharge of firearms, the shouts of the 
multitude, and the rapid passage of the horsemen, the night had a truly 
fearful aspect. The watch-house on

Page 478

North street, the receptacle for the prisoners, was the scene of incessant 
din and commotion. At daybreak on Sunday morning the prisoners, fifty-five 
in number, were conveyed to jail. On Sunday the power of the city was in 
strange hands, and the Mayor posted up an address for the people to 
"remain at home, &c," which he thus explains on Monday:

"Mayor's Office, Baltimore, August 1Oth.--Having stated in a publication 
of yesterday, in reference to the melancholy occurrences of the past 
nights, that firearms were resorted to against my judgment and advice; and 
having learned with extreme pain, that the language used by me has induced 
some persons to suppose that the use of firearms was entirely unauthorized 
by any competent power, I deem it an imperative act of justice, at the 
first moment of being informed of the interpretation which I supposed this 
part of my publication of yesterday might bear, distinctly to state that 
the persons who used firearms were fully authorized so to do, but again 
repeat the order was not issued by me.

"Jesse Hunt, Mayor."

And thus was the city yielded; and, in consequence, the prisoners made on 
Sunday morning were released, as they certainly would have been on Sunday 
night by their colleagues. On Sunday, the people, without a head, had 
nothing to do but to look on and tremble. No one felt himself safe, as 
everything was given up. Anarchy prevailed. The law and its officers were 
away. But Monday morning changed the aspect of things. It now appeared 
that the people were called upon to defend, not only their property, but 
also their lives; and it was manifest that there was a general but gloomy 
resolution entertained to do both. Things had reverted to their original 
elements; there was no law, and a head was wanted to bring order out of 
confusion. This was easily found in Gen. Samuel Smith, who being elected 
chairman by a great assemblage at the Exchange, accepted the trust reposed 
in him, and, with the alacrity of youth, though in his 83d year, took his 
seat, and told the assembly that the time for resolving had passed away, 
and that for action had arrived. The flag of the Union had been previously 
raised, and with it at their head, the people marched to Howard's Park, 
when being addressed briefly by Gen. Smith and others, and told what they 
ought to do, they speedily retired to prepare themselves instantly to 
obey. The orders were to arm and to repair to the City Hall. The fire 
companies were also called out, and appeared on the ground in great force. 
The Mayor having retired from his seat, (which he formally resigned the 
next day), the president of the First Branch of the Council, General 
Anthony Miltenberger, ex officio, took his place, and aided by Gen. Smith, 
issued the necessary orders. On Monday evening a large display of citizens 
in arms attended at the Mayor's office; they were stationed in different 
parts of the city with the firemen, ready also

Page 479

for action. Peace prevailed during the night. The streets were as quiet as 
the grave, except in the heavy tread of detachments of armed men to 
reconnoitre its different parts. A body of one hundred United States 
regular troops reached the city from Washington, and a number from Fort 
Severn, Annapolis. They were not needed, as order prevailed, and the laws 
were respected.

Those proscribed by the mob having fled the city for safety, a meeting was 
held by the First Company of Baltimore Independent Volunteers, who 
unanimously adopted and signed the following resolutions by all the 
members of the company: "Resolved, that the First Company of the 
Independent Volunteers view with horror and detestation the late illegal 
and riotous proceedings which have taken place in the city of Baltimore. 
Resolved, that Messrs. Reverdy Johnson, John Glenn, Evan T. Ellicott, 
David M. Perine, Hugh McElderry, John B. Morris, and Richard M. Gill be, 
and they are hereby invited to return to our city, and that we pledge 
ourselves to support them and all others who have been proscribed by the 
late mob both in their persons and their property against all illegal 
combinations. And further resolved, that in order to accomplish this 
object we will remain united as a company, and that we will hold ourselves 
in readiness to join in their defence whenever our services may be 
required." Reverdy Johnson, Esq., took refuge in Fort McHenry.

The following persons were arrested and subjected to fines and 
imprisonment for participation in the riots: Joseph Walters, Jesse Massey, 
Jackson Bowen alias John Bowen, James Spencer, Peter Harman, Benjamin A. 
Lynch, William Harrison, John McKewin, David Biggart, Samuel Farr, and 
James C. Jones. They were afterwards pardoned by the Governor.

The Baltimore and Washington Railroad was formally opened on the 25th of 
August. It was a grand and glorious sight. The procession consisted of 
seventeen cars loaded with about fifty happy persons each, which were 
drawn by four locomotive engines: the George Washington, John Adams, 
Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Arriving at Bladensburg, they met 
another train of cars from Washington also drawn by a locomotive, and 
filled with public functionaries and other invited guests, and were 
congratulated on the result of the labors of the railroad company. The 
whole party then proceeded to Washington, and soon arrived at the depot at 
the foot of Capitol Hill, where a vast crowd of people were assembled, and 
rent the air with acclamations at this victory of science over time and 
space.

Gen. Samuel Smith was elected on the 7th of September, almost unanimously, 
Mayor of the city, in opposition to Moses Davis, to fill the vacancy 
occasioned by the resignation of Jesse Hunt.

Wm. Adams, a negro, who was condemned for the murder of Captain Tilden, 
was executed on Friday morning, May 29th, in the jail-yard. For about ten 
minutes he addressed the crowd, which was very large, and composed 
principally of females.

Page 480

On Saturday, May 30th, thirty-four acres of ground, part of the McHenry 
estate, situated on West Baltimore street, corner of Fremont, now occupied 
by Mr. Thomas Winans, was purchased for fifty-two thousand dollars. And on 
the same day, the edifice known as the "Baltimore Assembly Rooms," corner 
of Holliday and Fayette streets, was sold at auction for ten thousand 
dollars to B. I. Cohen.

Our city was visited, on Saturday afternoon, June 27th, by a violent storm 
of rain accompanied by heavy wind and thunder. Two houses on Albemarle 
street covered with tin were unroofed, without further injury, and one of 
the chimneys left stranding in the court-house after its recent 
conflagration was thrown down--possibly struck by lightning, as some of 
the persons in the house were induced to believe, its fall being 
immediately after a vivid flash. In its fall the chimney broke down a 
temporary roof erected to protect from the rain the offices on the first 
floor, which were used by the county clerk, and the ruins of the chimney 
and roof fell on the staircase and partly into the hall of the building. 
It was here that the most serious injury was caused. Mr. Thomas Marshall, 
son of the venerable Chief-Justice of the United States, had arrived in 
the city a few hours before on his way to Philadelphia to visit his sick 
parent. He was walking with a friend in the street near the courthouse 
when the rain commenced, and both sought shelter in the hall from the 
storm. Mr. Marshall unfortunately occupied a position immediately within 
the reach of the falling ruins, which were precipitated on his head, and 
wounded him so severely that he expired on Monday following, at the house 
of his friend and relative Dr. Alexander. Mr. Marshall graduated at 
Princeton in 1803, and was endowed by nature with a rich and brilliant 
intellect, and was esteemed as a gentleman of great worth and usefulness. 
He possessed a large landed estate in Virginia, and was a member of the 
Virginia House of Delegates.

Mr. Niles, in his Register of September 5th, speaking of the times, says: 
"During the last and present week we have cut out and laid aside more than 
five hundred articles relating to the various excitements now acting on 
the people of the United States, public and private! Society seems 
everywhere unhinged, and the demon of blood and slaughter has been let 
loose upon us! We have the slave question in many different forms, 
including the proceedings of kidnappers and man-stealers, and others 
belonging to the free negroes; the proscription and prosecution of 
gamblers; with mobs growing out of local matters--and a great collection 
of acts of violence of a private or personal nature, ending in death; and 
regret to believe, also, that an awful political outcry is about to be 
raised to rally the poor against the rich! We have executions and murders 
and riots to the utmost limits of the Union! The character of our 
countrymen seems suddenly changed, and thousands interpret the law in 
their own way--sometimes in one case, and then in another, guided 
apparently only by their own will!"

Page 481

Messrs. Clark & Kellog established a new line of packets to run between 
Baltimore and New Orleans.

A bold attempt was made on Saturday night, October 31st, to rob the 
Merchants' Bank of Baltimore. Soon after midnight the watchmen of the bank 
heard a noise, and upon one of them going to the south side of the 
Exchange, he heard a movement within the Maryland Insurance Office, 
followed by the throwing up of one of the front windows on Gay street. The 
rogue it appears jumped from the window, but did not clear the iron 
railing of the area in front, and thus sprained his ankle severely. His 
groans soon attracted the other watchman, and as the latter came up, the 
robber attempted to knock him down with a short elastic stick loaded at 
each end with lead, which he had attached to his wrist. The watchman, 
however, received no injury, and the rogue was secured. On gaining 
admission to the insurance office, it was found that the villain, by means 
of false keys, had opened the large book-safe or vault in the office, and 
had been industriously at work in endeavoring to effect an entrance 
through the brick wall at its north end into the bank. He was provided 
with every implement which a regular workman would require in removing a 
wall or opening locks.

On Sunday night, December 6th, ten of the prisoners confined in the 
Baltimore City jail effected their escape.

Mr. William Gwynn Jones, editor and proprietor of the Baltitimore Gazette, 
was detected on Friday, May 24th, in robbing the post-office of many 
letters (about 100), being seized in the act of taking them away. He 
enjoyed a fair character, and had privileges in the post-office which were 
never again extended to any one. It appears that he had carried on this 
business a considerable time, recklessly destroying post notes and drafts 
requiring endorsements, and causing much trouble and loss greater than the 
amount of the money that he obtained,--which latter, as he said, was about 
two thousand dollars. His family was highly respectable.

The following is his conviction in the United States Circuit Court: "The 
United States vs. William Gwynn Jones. Fourth Circuit District of 
Maryland, November term, 1835:--The Grand Jury preferred against the 
traverser three bills of indictment for stealing letters and packets out 
of the post-office in this city, in violation of the 22d section of the 
post-office law. The first contained sundry counts charging the party with 
taking letters enclosing money. The second contained sundry counts for 
taking letters containing drafts, &c., and packets. The third contained 
different counts for taking letters not containing articles of value. To 
those three indictments the traverser plead guilty. His Honor Judge Glenn 
this day (10 inst.) pronounced sentence: On the first indictment that the 
traverser be imprisoned for five years; on the second, that he be 
imprisoned for four years; and on the third, that he be imprisoned for 
twelve months and pay a fine of five dollars. And

Page 482

further, that during these several imprisonments he be kept at hard labor 
in the Penitentiary of the State of Maryland.

"N. Williams, District Attorney for the United States."

It is supposed that William Gwynn Jones also set fire to the Athenæum and 
the Court House.

The aged, patriotic and universally esteemed citizen, William Patterson, 
Esq., departed this life on Saturday, February 7th, 1835, in the eighty-
third year of his age; a soldier of the Revolution, a liberal contributor 
to his adopted country in the time of its need, the oldest of the 
merchants of Baltimore, and probably, also, the most wealthy of that 
worthy class of our population. He possessed a high public spirit, with 
much private kindness and charity; and, with respect to either, was always 
among the foremost to do good. He had no enemies; many, very many friends. 
In the Orphans' Court we find the following sketch of his life attached to 
his will, which was written by him, August 20th, 1827, and signed in the 
presence of John B. Morris, R. Wilson, Hamilton Graham, and S. V. Soloman. 
It was recorded on the 12th day of February, 1835, and is a curious and 
instructive document, well worthy of examination:

"Having lived beyond the common period allotted for man (being now in the 
seventy-fifth year of my age), and having seen much of the world, it may 
be gratifying to some and useful to others of my descendants, to give them 
some account of myself, as well as to notice some cursory remarks that 
have struck me in the course of my life; and I have therefore thought it 
not inconsistent or improper to commence this my last will and testament 
with the following sketch. My family were of the Episcopal Church, the 
established religion of Ireland, in which I was born and brought up with 
great care and attention; and from the religious impressions which I then 
received I am, under the guidance of a divine and kind providence, 
indebted for my future conduct and success in life. My father was a farmer 
in the country with a large family. His name was William. My mother's name 
was Elizabeth (her maiden name was Peoples). They were both descended from 
a mixture of English and Scotch families who had settled in Ireland aider 
the conquest of that country. I was born on the first of November, old 
style, in the year seventeen hundred and fifty-two, at the place called 
Fanat, in the County of Donegal, Ireland, and was sent by my family at the 
early age of fourteen years to Philadelphia, for the purpose of being 
brought up to mercantile pursuits, where I arrived in the month of April, 
1766, and was placed in the counting-house of a Mr. Samuel Jackson, an 
Irish merchant, who was pretty extensively concerned in the shipping 
business, and who, in company with others of his friends, usually built a 
new ship or vessel every year. This gave me an early knowledge and 
attachment to that business, a passion that has followed me through

Page 483

life; and although I may be said to have been fortunate, I would not 
advise any young friend to engage in or to follow the shipping business 
without great caution, and in a limited degree to gain experience, without 
which it is impossible to succeed. Commerce in the shipping line is one of 
the most dangerous pursuits that can possibly be engaged in. I have known 
the trade of this country for upwards of sixty years, and I am persuaded 
that in that time, not one in fifty shipping merchants have succeeded, 
either in New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore; this is a lamentable 
consideration, but I believe no less true. I became interested in sea 
vessels at Philadelphia as far back as the years 1773 and '74, and have 
continued very largely in the business ever since, with various success. I 
have lived and transacted business as a shipping merchant under four 
different governments, namely: the British at Philadelphia before the 
Revolution, the Dutch at St. Eustatia, and the French at Martinique, both 
in the early part of the Revolution; and lastly at Baltimore, from the 
time of my arrival in the year 1778 to the present time, when the American 
Revolution commenced, in which I took great interest. It appeared to me 
that one of the greatest difficulties we should experience was the want of 
powder and arms, in consequence of the great precautions taken by the 
British government to prevent their being brought to this country from 
other places. This induced me in the year 1775 to embark all the property 
I then possessed in parts of two vessels and their cargoes, destined from 
Philadelphia to France, for the sole purpose of returning with powder and 
arms, and in one of which I embarked myself. One only of these vessels got 
safe back to Philadelphia, where she arrived in the month of March, 1776, 
with the cargo intended, and in a most critical time, when it was said 
that General Washington, then before Boston with the army, had not powder 
sufficient to fire a salute. On my way from Europe I stopped at the Island 
of St. Eustatia, in the month of February, 1776, where I was persuaded by 
some of my friends to remain and carry on business with America; and which 
I was the more induced to do on account of the great intercourse that soon 
took place, affording the Americans the opportunity of collecting and 
shipping arms and ammunition, and almost everything necessary for carrying 
on the war.

"I remained at St. Eustatia for about eighteen months, and finding that 
the Dutch Government (although perfectly well disposed) were not able to 
protect the Americans and their trade against the British, I thought it 
most advisable to remove from thence to Martinique, where I continued in 
business until my return to Baltimore. The scene of my commercial business 
in the West Indies centred at St. Eustatia, St. Martin's, and St. Pierre 
Martinique. Governor de Graft commanded at the former, Governor Hylegar at 
the second, and the Marques de Bullie at the latter; they are all since 
dead, but it is due to their memories to observe that they one and all 
contributed greatly in promoting the interest of America, in affording 
every

Page 484

facility in their power to the Americans who lived under their 
governments. Governor de Graft in particular was called home to Holland to 
answer for the partiality shown to Americans. Having had some valuable 
friends and connections in Europe and America, established myself with 
great advantage at St. Eustatia and Martinique, where I soon made what was 
then considered a fortune, say sixty to eighty thousand dollars; but as 
the trade with America was attended with great hazard and no insurance 
could be effected, I lost by British captures and sea losses, in little 
more than a month, nearly one-half of what I was then worth. This of 
course gave me considerable concern, and brought me to the determination 
that if I should live to come to America (being then in bad health) that I 
would certainly realize one-half at least of what I might possess, and 
sport with the other half in commerce as a prudent gambler would do at 
games of chance; for I did then, and still do consider commerce in the 
shipping line as a hazardous and desperate game of chance.

"I arrived in Baltimore from Martinique in the month of July, 1778, and 
brought with me, in fast-sailing vessels, cash and merchandize more than a 
hundred thousand dollars value, rated at the standard value of gold and 
silver; for Continental paper was then the only currency in circulation, 
and was at a depreciation of four pence, at which rate I sold some gold 
brought in with me from the West Indies. The first thing I thought of 
after my arrival was to put my former resolution into practice, by 
investing, about one-half the proceeds of my property in real estate, and 
this I accomplished as soon as practicable; and the purchases I then made 
remain in my possession to the present day, having made it a rule never to 
purchase real property on speculation with a view to sell again, and never 
but when I had the money to spare without running into debt; and by 
adhering to this rule I have from time to time increased my purchases of 
real property as fast as I made money by commerce, never risking more at 
any time than one-half what I was worth, considering that were I even to 
lose that half I had still left a sufficiency to make myself and family 
comfortable and independent. A merchant possessing a fortune should never 
put more at risk than one-half what he is worth, and should he have the 
misfortune to lose that half (which is more than probable), he ought to 
retire immediately from business, or it is fifty to one that he will lose 
the other half and be left a beggar. Want of this precaution has been the 
cause of many failures after people had made fortunes, but unfortunately 
merchants consider themselves entitled, or rather disgraced, unless they 
will trade not only up to their capital, but as far beyond it as they can 
obtain credit. What better is this than a gambler staking his money on 
games of chance and doubling his bets every time he wins. It is true that 
chance may favor him for a time; luck, however (as it is termed by the 
thoughtless), must change, and he is soon broke and ruined; and such is the

Page 485

fate of merchants who make use of all their capital and credit in commerce 
in the shipping line, nor have I ever known one to succeed on this 
principle for any length of time. I am perfectly sensible that had I 
placed my spare money at interest instead of investing it in real estate, 
that it would have been much more productive in my own life-time. This, 
however, was not my object, because my life was uncertain, and I might 
have a young family to take chance in the world. Considering myself, 
therefore, acting for my posterity, I have thought it better to leave them 
real estate than money and stocks; the two latter being too easy parted 
with, whilst the former is more likely to stick by them, and is the last 
thing that young people think of selling after everything else is disposed 
of.

"In the course of an active and extensive pursuit in commerce for more 
than half a century, it now affords me some pleasure to believe and to 
say, that in the course of that time I have made the fortunes of some, 
saved others from ruin, and have found employment and bread for thousands 
of my fellow-mortals; and I can further say with satisfaction, that no one 
could ever come to me and say, 'Neighbor, or friend, you got the advantage 
of me; I was uninformed of the late news and the rise of the market'; nor 
could any one ever say to me, 'You acted unfriendly or ungenerously by me, 
first in taking advantage of my necessities by assisting me for the 
moment, and afterwards in obtaining my property at a sacrifice for much 
less than it was worth.' It has ever been a rule with me, never to 
purchase or sell property of any kind but where the seller and buyer were 
on a perfectly equal footing as to information. Everything I possess was 
purchased openly and fairly in the market, and thank God! I have thus far 
lived, and I hope to die, with a clear conscience. In order to get through 
the world with ease and satisfaction in large concerns, it is not only 
necessary to be always just, but often generous; nor is there anything 
lost by this, when it is considered that those who act on this principle 
will generally have a preference in all their dealings with others.

"In early life at Philadelphia I experienced considerable inconvenience in 
not being able to find young people suitable for companions. They were 
almost all more or less tainted with folly or vice, and did not seem to 
suit my turn of mind. This obliged me to associate with people much older 
than myself, and to take to the study of books to fill up my time, both of 
which I found of great advantage, as it led to warm friendships that 
lasted through life without a single exception. At this time I applied 
myself pretty much to the study of natural philosophy, for which I had a 
great propensity; and had I then possessed an independence of two thousand 
dollars a year, Neptune should never have sported with my fortune and 
feelings in future life.

"On my arrival in the West Indies in the year 1776, it opened quite a new 
scene to me, for which I was little qualified; for I had

Page 486

previously lived all my life among religious people of correct principles, 
and it was quite the contrary with most of my new acquaintances and those 
I had to transact business with. No one came there to settle for life; all 
were in quest of fortune to retire and spend it elsewhere. Character was 
little thought of. Of course it required the utmost circumspection and 
caution to steer clear of difficulties. A kind, superintending Providence 
in this, as in many other concerns of my life, enabled me, however, to 
surmount every difficulty, young and inexperienced as I then was. A few 
days after my arrival at St. Eustatia I was invited to spend the evening 
with one of the most respectable families of the place, consisting of 
three gentlemen and three ladies, two of the latter being single. Cards 
were introduced, and we played at whist during the evening. No money was 
introduced, nor was any sum mentioned for the game, which induced me to 
believe that it was altogether for amusement. But next morning the head of 
the family called on me with a pile of dollars, and said it was the result 
of my winnings the evening before, and offered to pay me, which I refused 
to accept, observing that I never played for money, at least for not more 
than a trifle to keep up the attention of the game. This established my 
character against gaming, and I then resolved with myself that I never 
would game or play so as to lose or gain more than ten dollars at any one 
time, and this resolution I have kept faithfully ever since; and had I not 
taken and kept it, I probably might have been ruined, as was the case of 
some others of my acquaintances in the West Indies.

"I have never sought for offices of honor or profit; when I have in any 
way acted in a public capacity, it was from a sense of duty which I could 
not well avoid, for I considered that every good citizen should contribute 
more or less for the good of society when he can do it without too much 
loss or inconvenience to himself. I always considered it a duty to my 
family to keep them as much as possible under my own eye, so that i have 
seldom in my life left home either on business or pleasure. Since I had a 
family, my great desire to keep my sons in view induced me to pass them 
all (seven in number) through my own counting-house: this was a kind of 
useful finish to their education, as it gave them a knowledge of accounts 
and business, and qualified them for future life, be their pursuits what 
it might. And ever since I had a house it has been an invariable rule with 
me to be the last up at night, and to see that the fires and lights were 
secured before I retired myself; from which I found two advantages: one 
was that there was little or no risk from fire under my own roof, and the 
other that it induced my family to keep regular hours. I inherited nothing 
of any consequence of my forefathers, nor have I benefitted anything from 
public favors or appointments. What I possess is solely the fruits of my 
own industry and labor, and what I shall leave my descendants ought to 
satisfy them in a country and under a government

Page 487

like ours, where industry, frugality, and merit are the only sure and 
certain road to respect and consequence.

"I think it was Doctor Franklin who observed that he would have no 
objection to live his life over again, provided it was so ordered. In this 
I cannot altogether agree with the doctor. My life has been attended with 
too much care and anxiety, and had I the option, I cannot say that I would 
desire it; yet if I had my life to live over again, I am not conscious 
that I could improve it in any particular or at any period."

He adds, he thought it necessary to say this much for the benefit of his 
descendants, and by way of justification for the contents of his following 
will. Here follows his will, which is a very long and curious one, from 
which we make the following extracts:--In addition to the two squares of 
ground (Patterson Park) lately conveyed by him to the Mayor and City 
Council, he devised to the same and their successors 150 shares of U. S. 
Bank stock in trust, first, for erecting a temple of liberty on the two 
squares above mentioned; also two monuments, "one to the memory of 
Christopher Columbus, who found the way to this Western World, and the 
other to the memory of the good Marquis (now General) La Fayette, who 
risked his life and sacrificed his fortune, and who contributed so largely 
to the independence of this country, convinced as I am (having witnessed 
the progress of the Revolution from beginning to end) that it was through 
his means and interest that France joined and continued with us in the 
Revolutionary War, and without their aid and assistance at the time we 
could not otherwise have obtained our independence when we did. But as the 
value of those 150 shares of U. S. Bank stock must fall greatly short of 
the objects I have in view of erecting a temple of liberty and the two 
monuments," he earnestly requests and recommends of the trustees of this 
fired for the time being, that the said 150 shares of stock be kept and 
continued at interest, together with the dividends and interest that may 
be received from time to time, until the principal and interest shall so 
accumulate as to reach and produce the sum of half a million of dollars, 
which he estimated would take place in about sixty years; after which the 
interest only of this sum shall be expended annually, first, in the 
erection of the temple of liberty; and when completed, then in the 
erection of the two monuments. And after the completion of these, the 
annual interest of the fund of $500,000 to be employed in preserving the 
navigation of the harbor of Baltimore yearly, and every year without 
breaking in or touching on the principal so long as the fund shall exist. 
Or in case the interest may not be required for the preservation of the 
navigation, then it may be employed to any other useful purpose of public 
improvements, He also devised that the trustees for the said fund "shall 
at the expiration of two years after his decease, and every five years 
thereafter, cause a gold medal of the value of one hundred dollars to be 
provided and given

Page 488

to the author of the best piece, essay or production on Liberty, not 
exceeding one hundred lines in either prose or verse, by a native 
American."

Speaking of his daughter, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, who married Jerome 
Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, the first Consul of France, 
he says: "The conduct of my daughter Betsey has through life been so 
disobedient, that in no instance has she ever consulted my opinion or 
feelings; indeed, she has caused me more anxiety and trouble than all my 
other children put together, and her folly and misconduct has occasioned 
me a train of expense that first and last has cost me much money. Under 
such circumstances it would not be reasonable, just or proper that she 
should at my death inherit and participate in an equal proportion with my 
other children, in an equal division of my estate. Considering, however, 
the weakness of human nature, and that she is still my daughter, it is my 
will and pleasure to provide for her as follows." Here follows her 
division, which proved to be, however, a very large fortune.

"A figure most grotesque and weird," says Dr. John W. Palmer in 
Lippincott's Magazine, "was that of 'Old Hagar,' the colored centenarian 
of South Baltimore and Old Town, whose sudden apparition, as the careless 
passenger encountered it, had all the startling impressiveness of an omen 
and memento mori. Gowned and capped in white in and out of season, hooded 
and veiled in black, supported by a long staff in one hand and an umbrella 
in the other, and bearing always a black bag and a book, she shuffled 
shaking, her shoulders keeping company with her knees. As she hobbled, 
witchlike, she mumbled formless ditties, whereof the tunes were of cradles 
and the words of tombs. To the old crones she was as a hag of evil eye, 
and to the children a fairy godmother; while to the dodging superstition 
of the negroes her staff became a wizard's wand, her black bag a budget of 
charms and spells and incantations, and her book a vade-mecum of the black 
art, compiled by the fiend himself. Yet 'twas but a catechism of a psalter 
of St. Paul's Church, from whose charitable purse her helpless age drew 
stated pittance of alms; and that uncanny pouch held only roots and herbs, 
and other trash of virtue for the healing of her untold ailments--
especially the 'misery' in her back and the shortness of her wind. 'But 
she slept in her coffin.' True! That was a way she had, and it prejudiced 
her repute among the orthodox, who all said 'I told you so,' when on 
Saturday night, March 14th, she was burned to death in her fantastical 
bunk, at the age of one hundred and four." She lived in a frame house in 
Apple alley, near Fleet street.

The National Democratic Convention met in this city on the 20th of May, 
and nominated as their candidate for President Martin Van Buren, and Col. 
Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President.

1836. On the 6th of August, Richard Lemmon, Robert Barry,

Page 489

and James Cheston, appointed by the Governor of Maryland commissioners 
under the Act passed by both branches of the Legislature of Maryland at 
the December Session, 1835, entitled "An Act to provide indemnity to the 
sufferers by certain riots in the city of Baltimore," returned the awards 
of the damages made by them, and specifying the names of the parties 
injured, and the amount of loss or injury sustained by them respectively,--
viz.:

Reverdy Johnson                        $40,632 50 
John B. Morris and Lydia Hollingsworth  16,825 92 
Evan T. Ellicott                         4,747 55 
Eleanor Bond                             1,643 44 
John Glenn                              37,270 65 
Elizabeth Patterson                        400 00 
J. J. Audubon                              120 00 
Ebenezer L. Finley                         912 76 
                                      $102,552 82

James H. McCulloch, the venerable collector of the port of Baltimore, died 
at his residence near this city on the 10th of November. In the 
Revolutionary War he was a brave and active partisan, and in the late war 
with Great Britain, though his locks were hoary with age, he shouldered 
his musket, and at the battle of North Point fought with an invincible 
spirit.

A bill was passed this session of the Legislature to increase the 
delegation from Baltimore from two to four members.

On Monday, March 28th, Elias Glenn, United States district judge for the 
State of Maryland, administered, in the presence of many members of the 
bar and a number of citizens, to Mr. Roger B. Taney his oath of office as 
chief justice of the United States court and presiding judge of this 
circuit. Mr. Taney was nominated on the 28th of December, 1835, and 
confirmed by the Senate of the United States on the 15th of March, 1836. 
Yeas 29--Nays 15.

The ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the new City and County Record 
Office, on the Court House lot at the S. E. corner of Lexington and St. 
Paul streets, was performed on Wednesday morning, June 28th, by Solomon 
Etting, president of the board of commissioners for repairing the Court 
House, &c., assisted by General Samuel Smith, the venerable Mayor, in 
presence of Chief Justice Taney, the judges of the different courts and 
other city and county officers, and a numerous assemblage of citizens and 
strangers.

Thursday, the 26th of August, being the day designated for the performance 
of funeral obsequies in honor of the memory of James Madison, the streets 
were filled at an early hour with crowds of citizens repairing to their 
several, places of meeting, and by persons attracted by a desire of 
beholding the anticipated spectacle. At the head of the column of march 
there came a detachment of military, whose appearance was soldier-like and 
imposing. Next came

Page 490

the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, arranged in lodges, and bearing the 
numerous insignia of the Order shrouded in crape, which served to add to 
the solemn effect of the scene. Then followed an appropriate funeral car 
of Egyptian design, covered with a black pall and drawn by six white 
horses dressed in black housings and led by grooms in white. On each side 
of the car rode the encampment of patriarchs, and in its rear a military 
escort. After these succeeded a barouche and four black horses, in which 
sat his Honor the Mayor (Gen. Samuel Smith), the orator of the day (Joseph 
Willey, Esq.), and the attendant clergy. After these equipages came in 
succession the various associations of the Trades' Union, each preceded by 
its distinguished banner dressed in mourning. The rear of the procession 
was brought up by the order of Red Men. During the march, bands of music 
judiciously disposed along the line played appropriate airs. The 
procession reached its destination in Howard's Park, where appropriate 
ceremonies were held. During the day the stores along the line of 
procession were generally closed.

In this year, Mr. Horace Abbott, who was born in Worcester county, 
Massachusetts, in July, 1806, removed to Baltimore and secured the "Canton 
Iron Works," then owned by Peter Cooper, Esq., of New York. At these works 
Mr. Abbott forged the first large steamship shaft wrought in this country. 
This shaft was for the Russian frigate Kamtschatka, built in New York for 
the Emperor Nicholas I., and such was the interest manifested in this huge 
production of wrought iron, as it was then considered, that it was 
exhibited at the Exchange in New York, and was doubtless the means of 
stimulating others to feats of enterprise and skill. In 1850 Mr. Abbott 
built a rolling-mill capable of turning out the largest rolled plate then 
made in the United States. On one occasion, in 1863, he completed an order 
for 250,000 pounds of rolled iron in forty-eight hours, and received from 
the Secretary of the Navy a letter in commendation of his fidelity and 
energy. When Captain Ericsson designed the first Monitor he was 
apprehensive that this country contained no mills of sufficient capacity 
to furnish armor plate of the requisite thickness and dimensions for this 
form of iron-clad, and was under the impression that he would be compelled 
to order them from England. Before doing so, however, he applied to Mr. 
Abbott, who, realizing the emergency, but feeling equal to the task, 
promptly undertook to furnish whatever was needed. The plates were 
manufactured and delivered in a shorter time than had been anticipated. 
The Monitor was completed and ready for sea in time to engage the hostile 
ram Merrimac in Hampton Roads, and prevent her from accomplishing her 
mission of destruction among the wooden craft of the navy, then lying in 
the roads. In her encounter with her formidable adversary, the Monitor was 
so effectually protected by her armor that not a plate was pierced or 
injured, and a new era was inaugurated in the

Page 491

history of naval architecture and warfare. Subsequently Mr. Abbott 
furnished the armor-plates for nearly all of the vessels of the monitor 
class built on the Atlantic coast, and also for the Roanoke, Agamenticus, 
Monadnock, and other large iron-clads.

Gen. Harrison reached this city on Thursday afternoon, September 22d, from 
Washington, accompanied by a committee of citizens of Baltimore and 
Washington. He was met at Carroll's bridge by a large concourse of 
citizens on horseback, who formed themselves into an escort, and in Pratt 
street the line of procession was greatly augmented by the body of 
citizens on foot assembled there to receive him. Aider proceeding through 
Pratt, Bond, and Baltimore streets, the General alighted at the Eutaw 
House, where the address of welcome was delivered by Judge Hanson, to 
which he made an eloquent reply.

On Tuesday, March 15th, it was resolved by the Mayor and City Council of 
Baltimore to subscribe to the capital stock of the Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad Company the sum of three millions of dollars, in the name of the 
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.

On the 7th of May, a number of gentlemen of Baltimore gave a public dinner 
at Mr. Page's hotel, to Mr. Henry S. Fox, his Britannic Majesty's minister 
in this city, in celebration of the mediation of Great Britain between the 
United States and France. Mr. Robert Gilmor presided, assisted by J. 
Meredith, J. P. Kennedy, Dr. Macauley, and J. S. Nicholas as vice 
presidents.