THE FAMO US MATHER BYLES
THE NOTED BOSTON TORY PREACHER P D OET, AN WIT
1 707-1 788
ARTHUR WENTWORTH HAMILTON
ILLUSTRATED WITH um ENGRAVINGS F RO" ORIGINAL
P BY OPLEY T H P I-R A MS A INTING S C , E E AND O TBRRB
BOSTON
W . A . BUTTERFIELD 1 91 4
CO NTENTS
THE FAMOUS MATHER BTLES
D T N BIRTH, E UCA IO , JO URNALISTIC
WRITINGS
ORDINATIO N AND FIRST MARRIAGE
EVENTS IN EARLIER MINISTRY PASTORATE AT HO LLIS STREET CHURCH
DO C TO R BYLmAS A PO ET
’ DO CTO R BTLmS HUMO UR
D ISMISSAL FRO MHIS CHURCH
TRIA L BEFO RE THE TOW N
SOCIA L STANDING . FRIENDSHIPB
LAST YEARS
THE BYLES FAMILY
NOTES
CHIET PUBLISHED WRITINGS MANUSCRIPT LETTERS
INDEX
ILLUSTRATIO NS
Dr Math r B l . e y es Frontispieoe
Fro mthe o ri inal aintin le g p g by Co p y. 1 774, in he ssession of illiamB lmn t o W ru A o . ce Es M . p . q , D N FAG! PLO.
v n a Mather Re . I cre se
Fromthe o ri inal aintin b Vander r e g p g y sp i t. 1 088. in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical
Society.
n Mather b eter ha v . tt o el m Re Co , y P P
ravin Froman eng g by Peter Pelham.
nc ons than Belcher b R His Excelle y J , y . Phillips m m in n Fro a en ot t e graving by Faber.
Province Ho use
ma drawin . P. Fro g by M Kenway. B l Dr. Mather y es
romthe o ri inal aintin Peter Pelham F g p g by . in
e ion of Mr. eri a the poss ss Fred ck Lew is G y.
Hollis St . Church
’ Fro mBonner s ma of Boston 1 709. p .
mas Hollis b James Hi hmore Tho , y g Alexander Pope. by Arthur Pond
Froman w a ving by Houbrsken.
Dr. Iss ac Watts
Froman w n i b h o tter 1 788. a ng y .
n A Cano o f 6, words by Dr. Byles
ro tbe l S ur h F m o tbe HoliS t . 1 Recordn l Ch c . 770.
Tho mas Prince b ohn G Rev . . y J reenwood
l . Frommmp aving by T . B. We ch
Dr. Mather Byles
mthe r inal aintin b o le 1 707 in the Fro o ig p g y C p y. .
n r i a . possessio of Mr. Me ick Lew s G y
Mather B les Jr. Rev . y .
Froman originalpainfing in the posaealion olllr.
Frederick le wis Gs y.
P Fro mtbe originalpsinting by Henry elham.
View of Bosto n Co mmon
l ll 1 780. Frommengn ving by Samue Hi . THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
CHAPTER I
THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLEB
FROMthe shadows Of pre-Revolutionary Boston no single figure emerges in whom sympathetic historians find a greater variety Of interest than in the Tory
re her h ris ho a p ac , poet, and umou t, w p pears commonly in o ur annals as the ” “ ” famous o r celebrated Doctor Mather
Byles . In days when religious discus sion w as acrid and local political feeling ran high and vituperation o f opponents
’ was en in r i i r h B les s Oft c ed bly b tte , Mat er y witticisms kept Boston laughing im
der i n mo ately fo r at least a generat on, a d no doubt tended no t a little t o the soften
in ri i s in h r i d g of aspe t e t e popula l fe, an a l 2 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ it is naturally as o ne of New England s earliest humourists that Byles has been most conspicuously mentioned in periodicals d an books . But the man has an interest “ ” i e ne far w d r than that of a punning divi , the age through which he lived w as the most dramatic in o ur annals and his o wn life lacks no single element that gives the
i i r en hi e e n t me p ctu esqu ess, w l th aloof ess from politics he persistently maintained puts himout of the category of those who in the fierce Revolutionary struggle actively helped or hindered the great cause to which the majority of his fellow townsmen gave
h ir e r t e ard nt suppo t . That no o ne has hitherto taken the trouble to write the life of Mather Byles
He nds n is no t strange. was a gra o of
h n Mh r Increase and a nep ew of Cotto at e ,
r i n i i i and his st ik ng perso al ty , h s keen ntel
i h r r in i e lectual g fts , and is p olific w it gs g v hima worthy place beside those remarkable me h i ed hr h the Revo lu n, but e l v t oug THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES 8
tion and in that momentous conflict gave
he in countenance to t los g side, and among the Congregational ministers o f New Eng
n ith the a ri s ener la d , as w P t ot g ally, he
r hi i n stood for the est Of s l fe, a d his name continued to stand when he w as n i dead , as a syno ym fo r d sloyalty and
r h r h as ind . t eac e y Of t e b est k Moreover, at the evacuation Of Boston his only living s n Mh r e i r e o , at e Byl s, Jun o , w nt to Halifax
’ e nd in t e with Howe s fl et, a h Anglican
r t . in h n n chu ch Of S Paul t at tow , a d in
ri h r h . hn T nity C u c , St Jo , New Bruns wick, later, pursued the ministry which he had previously exercised at Christ
h r h s n and hen h i C u c , Bo to , w e d ed , all his des endan s ere i i c t w l v ng, as most o f in them have s ce lived , under the British fl ag. Mather Byles has lately been brought
r nd i before us pictu esquely, a probably n
n r a rather truthful w ay, i that cha ming
r h h imaginative brochu e, that as ad wide 4 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ re in r er i ad g, Ea l P cy s D nner Table.
I ha e fin im n n t t book, w d h duri g the
i e n n s eg of Bosto , amo g British Officers in s ar e ni an d or in c l t tu cs d gol lace, the blue
’ ni r s Hi M u fo m of s ajesty s Royal Navy, and rich gentlemen merchants of the town in si and n lk brocade, in velvet a d lace,
ie enan - e in i L ut t Colon l John Gunn g, Franc s
’ o r n n L d Rawdon ; Lo rd Holla d s son, Ho .
e r rd in e H n y Edwa Fox, Capta Evelyn of th ’ in i K g s Own, the young Cuthbert Coll ng i n wood , Major John Pitca rn, Colo el Isaac
ff i in is Royal , and Roger Shea e s pp g h
n r n in port, a d th owi g the company to fits “ of laughter by his witty sallies o n the holy hypocrisy which is ruining the prov in r ce, o r o n much less impo tant personal
’ he e E r n t m s . But a l Percy s Din er Table is only the latest writing in which Doctor Byles figures: no faithful chronicler of Rev “ o lutionary Boston but exploits his per ” “ ” is n r i r i r i i s te t To y sm , o h s irrep ess ble w t , and no conscientious reviewer of early New THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES 5
England literature but has something to say about the poetry and the published dis courses Of this brilliant descendant Of the
a M rs n n f mous athe , a d e thusiastic disciple h of t e poet Pope. For more than forty years Doctor Byles ’ w as the faithful pastor Of Boston s Hollis
e i h an i Str et Congregat onal C urch , d h s i h n striking g fts as a preac er, a d the close relationship he bore t o the Mathers and
n himan i r n re in Cotto s, make mpo ta t figu
New England ecclesiastical annals . But he w as besides a literary man Of much i i E ab l ty, and reviewers Of early New ng
and r n i n l p ose a d poetry, wh le o t always enthusiastic in praise Of his literary pro du i r i ed a e e ct ons, have neve fa l to t k r spect ful notice Of his work . In the social life of Boston, moreover, Byles occupied a hi h n and h ar e g ly importa t place, t e m k d preference he uniformly showed fo r persons of high Official and social rank quite evi dently created against himin the minds 6 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
Of his more democratic brethren of the
M er a s r n ni assachusetts cl gy, t o g antago sm, that greatly increased their bitterness against him when he finally gave the weight of his influence against the po pular i i n cause n the Revolut o . Doctor Byles married tw ice and by both marriages allied himself with influential families among the r in i i ul g class, and in h s ar stocratic s hi in hi r i n ympat es, as s pe s ste t loyalty En an to gl d , his family, as was natural , dee As r ply shared . w e have p eviously said n i re ee i in , a co sp cuous fug w th the
ri ish in n n n i B t l es a d later reside t i Hal fax ,
N a ia hi her i f r ov Scot , w t l ke most O the oyal . ists O f s n in Mr h 1 7 6 he fle i Bo to , a c , 7 , d w th
Gener H e as his in o n al ow , w only liv g s , w ho fo r several years previous to the breaking out Of the Revolution had been the Rector
hris h r h n n of C t C u c , i the orth end of his na i n t ve tow . That like the rest of the Tories in the Revolution Doctor Byles was sentenced
lle themto see ush in and ur pe d ered , g ading
’ o brother, wh lived under England s rule.
ression in the cases of some ho p , , wever, we are left in no possible doubt . Of ’ Doctor Byles s friend Doctor William
l o o Water, Rect or f Trinity Church , Bost n, we have the minute information that he
han me m ro was a dso an, tall and well p
tin r h in dica g a serene tempe , and t at the street he commonly wore an ample blue cloak over his cassock or long frock coat , a - om i full bott ed w g, dressed and powdered,
nee h of fin k breec es e black cloth , black “ ” il n s k stockings, a d square quartered THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES 9
i e i h shoes with s lver buckl s, h s ead covered with an impressive three-cornered o r cocked
’ nin r B l hat . Concer g Docto y es s appear an e ra i i n has een a s as e i it c t d t o b lmo t xpl c } he w as rather large, rather tall , rather fine
in e h in look g, altog t er Of command g pres
n h n o f th i ence, a d bot in a d o ut e pulp t 1 in ne nd i he had a pleas g man r a vo ce. How he commonly dressed w e are nowhere
in e ha is i pla ly told , xcept t t h w g w as ample,
he hi n di ed a as t fas o ctat , th t he wore a
a r n -fi in c ssock o lo g, close tt g coat, probably with a single ro w Of buttons from the
ai he n ha he hr - w st to t eck, t t t t ee cornered hat w as a s his ead rin l o h cove g , and that
s a rri n he u u lly ca ed a heavy ca e. When he w as summoned to appear before the members Of his church fo r trial he is described as having appeared in full flo w in r es rse i h n g ob , Of cou w t ba ds, but since w e do no t feel certain regarding the time when gowns came to be worn by New England Congregational ministers in the 1 0 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES pulpit we do no t feel quite sure of the o accuracy of this acc unt . We are fortunate in having three edmir
or able portraits of Doct Byles, and these,
if ren tim in his in taken at d f e t es career,
known po rtrait of Cotto n Mather that greets us in so
te b e ham e iden al t im pain d y P l , v tly mos
ministr the o her two ere ain y, t w p ted by
o one it is elieve in 1 768 h C pley, b d , the ot er in 1 774 the same ear in the ear s mmer , y ly u of which this great painter left Bosto n
finally fo r Europe. In allthree of these portraits Doctor Byles is represented in
ome sort of classi a ra er it is os s c l d p y , p
in o i u i sible, deed, an rd nary p lp t gown, the ’ n in e hams or rai h e r gow P l p t t, ow ve , being painted a rich red . In all, his wig is full and curling, and in the latter tw o his face THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES 1 1 become so familiar with in himas w e have
’ e studied his life. P lham s portrait sacri fices strength to attractiveness in the sub
’ e n i h r jcet, Copl y s, o e pa nted w en Docto - Byles w as about sixty o ne, the other when w i - n h him n he as about s xty seve , S ow a
is n r man i h accompl hed looki g, elde ly , w t
n n eri ri een intelli stro g se se Of sup o ty , k
en e re ner ner hi h- re g c , g at vous e gy , a g b d
n n e e e i ar e Roma os , ey s that might as ly sp kl with enlivening humour o r gleam with
fier e sar as and firm e i d h c c m , a , d c de mout , from which might come the most kindly encouragements o r the most scathing and
r n r bitte rebukes . A commandi g pe sonal it in i rin r in e y, wh ch high p ciple p edom at d , but where serious outlook o n life w as frequently tempered with an almost riotous
en h nd e i i n s se Of umour, a lofty appr c at o with dislike and contempt this is the character Of Doctor Byles that the fine portraits of himby Copley present to o ur Of th ese three distinguished portraits
o of Mather Byles the earliest ne, that by
Pelham nd the first of the two o le s , a C p y ,
of are o wned by Mr. R oderick Lewis Gay
iliam Bruce Almo s . . of W l n, E q M D ,
’ ’ r i of Doctor lmon i h o t a t A s, w t the wner s kind permission we are able to present as CHAPTER II
AT N RNALI BIRTH, EDUC IO , JOU STIC
WRITINGS
IN the last decade of the seventeenth h n n i n century , w e Bosto w as a l ttle tow of
nh are about ten thousand i abitants , its squ mile of area coextensive with the peninsula “ ” h i as i h e a o n whic t w bu lt, t e N ck , bout
r two hundred feet wide at Dove Street, uniting the peninsula with the neighbour
r r in the town of Roxbu y , the e came to
r nd n r in hes er No th E of Bosto , f om W c t ,
n n an res e e sa d er Ha ts, E gl d , a p ctabl d l
i n r v named Jos as Byles . U til afte the Re
l i n e o n in h in n o ut o , w ll to t e n eteenth ce
r in a e n r tu y f ct, th o th part Of Boston, din inclu g Dock Square and Hanover Street,
’ and the e re e N r nd xt m o th E , about Copp s
i e n e ed n H ll , a r gio p opl o w almost entirely I3 - byI taliang was the home of a laIge nnm
o most active and ros her f the p pero us, and indeed influentiah people of the town.
l li tle la r n the time of In l7l , a t te tha
near that was evidmtly meant t o out shine his in magnificence. Facing North Square stood the Old
orth or on C urch e meetin N Sec d h , th g
ere ruled and for the most art ruled w , p
of the historic Mather famil the Reveren y, d
r M n il Docto Increase ather, his so the lus
rio o n r t us C tton Mather, a d fo a while,
and he moved away with a portion of
his people and founded a new society,
the v D elMa Co ton Re . Sam er t oct or u th ,
BIRTH AND EDUCATION
’ i ’ Mather s much less mportant so n. When
s n Josias Byles came to Bo to , Doctor In crease Mather w as well along in his min 3 i r ld r h r n i st y of the O No t Chu ch , a d h s so n w as ea e i h him he n Cotto coll gu w t , t
r ni r i in r ree h Olde mi ste l v g o n No th St t, t e younger probably then as later living o n
H e no far r the h r h . anover Stre t, t f om c u c Josias Byles may have come to Boston
4 r h d late in 1 693 o r early in 1 69 , fo he a a young child buried in the Granary Burying Ground in April o f the latter
r d e n ed se ed at n e yea , an h u doubt ly ttl o c
en he e is in the North End . Wh cam h family consisted Of his wife Sarah and
r r n nd er th ee o four young childre , a aft n he had lived two o r three years in Bosto ,
n r 1 96 he co n o the 1 1 th of Octobe , 6 , nected himself formally with Doctor In ’ In s n h crease Mather s church . Bo to t e Byleses had at least four children born and soon after the birth Of her youngest child
'I' ithin a r a er er MByles died . W yea ft h 1 6 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES d o n he 6 er eath , t th of Octob , 1 708, a
nd r widower a with seve al young children, a saddler and in no t remarkably good cir cumstances sia e arried , Jo s Byl s m , rather
e sh d s se h ambitiously w oul uppo , is pastor
’
Rev . n rease a her s se nd da h I c M t co ug ter,
iza e h id i ia G ree h El b t , w ow of W ll m noug , a lady of between thirty-seven and thirty ei h r Old Mr g t yea s , . Byles being then - n about forty seve . After his second marriage and probably
i r di i n before, Jos as Byles lived , so t a t o i 1 821 Til n says , in what became n est o
r r r r a aid St eet, a st eet fi st fo m lly l out
1 806 hi h r ns r near the about , w c u f om lower end of Hanover Street to Salem Street and is the northern boundary O f the block Of which North Bennet Street
ern I e s h n five ears is the south . n l s t a y ,
er r hi nd arria e howev , afte s seco m g , to
’ i h s Mr n t e dd er s rade . the last pursu g a l t ,
died r e s Byles suddenly , but f om thes les
’ than five years dates the Byles family s BIRTH AND EDUCATION 1 7
chief subsequent importance in Boston .
’ The precise event in which the family s conspicuousness takes its rise is the birth o l5th ar 1 7 7 n the of M ch , 0 , a little less
n a r her died tha yea before the fat , of a so n whose c oming into the world united indissolubly the comparatively unknown Byles family with the great ecclesiastical
is houses O f Mather and Cotton. To th
o n o ma eared ra her nu s , wh y have app t e e s far w e kn iza e h xpect dly , fo r o as ow El b t
ad n n i e re in Byles h ever bor e a ch ld b fo , recognition o f his distinguished ancestry ’ o n his mother s side the name Mather i as r r i . w p omptly , most app opr ately g ven
ha si h d ha e rried T t Jo as Byles s oul v ma , as far as w e can tell without protest o n
h r i in e e t e pa t of ts members, to th notabl
n si e ha Mather family, shows co clu v ly t t the late-emigrating Englishman w as re
rded man Of h r a d his ga as a muc wo th , n general good standing is further declared
’ by Chief-Justice Sewall s respectful men 1 8 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES ti n of himin hi famou Di r o s s a y, where,
n e of Mi Mr uder dat dweek, a ch 1 7 , “ e records m oun r -m h : y C t y an, ” ! B le r udd l MJosiah y s dyed ve y s my. “ Soon after he writes : Reginald Odell n M! B l dies sudde ly. Heard of it at y es ” n Fu eral. But it is quite as evident that the saddlery in Tileston Street had not
ie d i ri y l ed ts prop etor very large profits, for although when Josias Byles died he
e a entlemanl will in which he bade l ft g y , his children by his first wife behave with
i o and charged his eldest son Jos as, Jr. , t give his stepmother allthe help he could ’ in carrying on the saddler s trade if she
er i e wished to continue it , he left v y lttl property for his widow and her child or
o i f mil nd les indeed any f h s a y, a By soon had to be helped by her kind brother
n ou on 28 o C . In his r al the d f otto j n , ecember 1 71 l Cotton Mather wri es D , t “ h i r i o in m I ave a Sste , a W d w, so e Wants BIRTH AND EDUCATION 1 9
i i and Straits . I w ll d spense Releefs unto ” er ar i ar in re ard r i h p t cul ly g of he Hab t . “ in n r 1 7 1 And aga , Ja ua y , 1 7 4 : I have a
- r o r Widow siste , wh g eatly needs to be
in a Wa s is in putt to y of ubs t g herself, and to be animated unto the use Of her o w n vigorous Endeavours for that Pur ” “ i r 1 7 1 4 ' . a a n an a 8 1 pose Still g , J u y , I must proceed with further Contrivances
d i e ha id -si r an Ass stanc s , t t my W ow ste ” ded fo r may be well provi . ’ When the widow Byles s so n Mather
i r n n his rand r was a l ttle ove seve tee , g fathe ,
h r i d and is rn Increase Mat e d e , in th lea ed,
’ i ini method cal m ster s will , which he had
i fiv r e r i dea wr tten about e yea s b fo e h s th , “ w e find the aged testator saying : What I give to my daughter Elizabeth I desire may (if his mother can) be improved
‘ towards y education Of her only so n (my
r es in grandson Mathe Byl ) Learning, be cause he is a child whom God has blessed with a strong memory 8: ready capacity 20 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
rn ea 8: aptness to lea . I l ve it as my dying Request to his uncle my son Cotton
‘ r a e are e Mathe , to t k c of y ducation of ‘ i o e y child as of h s wn . If he shall Obtain
‘ subscriptions for his education for y minis t ry (as he knows I have done for more
‘ fatherless children y o ne) I ampersuaded
‘ ‘ y his o wne children willno t fare y worse for his bein a a her a a er g f t to f th less child . To prevent his being Chargable as much as I can I give himmy wearing apparel “h excepting my chamber cloak w I give to my executor. If ye Lo rd shall take away Mather Byles by death before he is Of full age (or
‘ if he shall not be employed in y work of
‘ ‘ y ministry it is my mind 8: will y then
‘ y Books bequeathed to him shall be given to such other Of my grand children
‘ as shall be preachers of y Gospel of Christ ” ac rdin s e e rs sh l co g a my x cuto al dispose. A fourth part of his library the testator bequeaths to his fatherless grandson Mather graduated in 1 678, his uncle Nathaniel in 1 685 and his ncl amn 0 , u e 8 d in 1 80. and of which every one of his ministerial relatives who had lived in and near m
“ overseer. But t owards lthe end o f f his college course his health became extn mely poor and it was fesred he was going to dis con o Mr 1 8 1 724 hi uc sumti . a ch s of p n , , n le
him? r e : The April1 st , 1 724 , he w it s dangerous condition of my Nephew M. B. in regud of t ntring into aConsumption requires me t o do allI can for h im: es
b o A ril22d he rites : M e coming t . p w y i b in falle I ub in nsm . B. e t K an, M g n, do . to a ons mtion I must ith all ossible C u p , w p
BIRTH AND EDUCATION 28
Goodness and Concern sett myself to do all that I can find proper to be done fo r a Nephew in such circumstances In the
’ autumn Of this year Byles s life w as evi
n l ir f r n he 28th de t y despa ed of, o o t of Octo ber Cotton Mather writes : Lord what
h he s h se i e s all I do , fo r my two Nep w , w o L f ” draw es near to the Grave ? In spite of his
’ n s r r e re ered u cle fea s, howeve , Byl s fully cov , and in 1 725 hen a i er ei h een , w l ttle ov g t , ’ “ left college with his bachelor s degree . The Harvard class of which Mather Byles w as the thirteenth member in social r n a n f i ffi ia s a k , dozen o f the so s o publ c O c l and hers in r im at rad a ot com g befo e h , g u
i n r r - v h h ear ier t o numbe ed fo ty fi e, but t oug l classes had had a large proport ion Of
ini r n ir er his ass m ste s amo g the memb s, t cl h i is ad bes des Byles, so far as w e can d
r w o w h d ini ria cove , only t o a opted a m ste l ’ h her es hi s f r i e career. W et Byl m elf o a t m after graduation wavered in his choice Of
i no n nor ha e w e a profess on we do t k ow, v 24 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
learned what if any subsequent training
inis r i 1 729 he too k fo r the m t y , but t was before he seems to have been thought of
s n it as no n i a e in for a pari h , a d w t u t l l t ‘ n d be 1 788 that he w as ordai ed . It woul exceedingly interesting to know if we could precisely what the relations were between Byles and his fellow students and the tutors of the college during the four years
r r o n they spent together at Ha va d , but h this point likewise we have little lig t . That Byles gave special attention to litera
i e r is r the ase ture, espec ally po t y, clea ly c but from his general intelligence and love of learning there is no reason to doubt that he gave creditable care to the routine
i resh an So h re ni r stud es Of his F m , p omo , Ju o
hi nd Seni r So his er ears . In Sop ster, a o p t y
er 1 728 a i ee isi a i n Octob , , comm tt of v t t o ,
hi h e Se a w as hairman of w c Judg w ll c , made a curious report o n the moral co n
di i n he Har ar den t o of t v d stu t body, in “ which they say : Although there is a BIRTH AND EDUCATION 25 considerable number of virtuous and stu
in the e re h dio us youth colleg , yet the as been a practice of several immoralities ;
i i in rin i e part cularly steal ng, ly g, swea g, dl
i in nd r en use ness, p ck g of locks, a t oo f equ t i i i i of strong drink ; which immoral t es , t s
r i i e no w i fea ed , st ll cont nue in the colleg , t th standing the faithful endeavours O i the rulers of the House t o suppress Of the two contrasted groups mentioned in this fierce arraignment Of the students o f Harvard in 1 728 w e judge that Mather Byles and his “ intimate friends stood among the virtuous ” and s di h a r han a n the tu ous yout , r the t mo g swearing and lying young gentlemen w ho picked locks and were too frequently given
the use r n rin w e sh d to of st o g d k , but oul also like much to know whether the anger Of the whole student body and of Byles among the rest w as not fiercely aroused by such a defamatory report of the college as had been o fi cially given by Sewalland n his ce sorious band . the third newspaper to be published in
Bost on made its arli , e est appearancs
’ min F n ol b ra klin s der rother. The jour
clergy, and various individuals, were at
“ n 1 7 perso nalcharacter. In 1 721 a d 22 an
tion being the venerable Increase and his
fd sehood in rd m to the ufid a he also
to be fromthe devil lnd at lealt im>li , l a
men ond t of hh ts concsrning the c uc papa .
‘ prints in his journal of January so to Febmr 5 1 722 Doctor Increa e Mather a y , , s
Mt Frsnklin J had Theughts of tsking yo ur Courant (upon Mal) for aQuarta o one o of a Year, but I shallnot n w . In f
Ministers of aod ars for a mag it is a D vil Sign it is fromthe e , and have dealt
Yo The malice of be concerned with u. JOURNALISTIC WRITINGS 29
in h the Mathers aga st is paper, so Franklin
h e re ed i e d fini asserts , ad xp ss ts lf e tely in the slanderous charges that the Courant “ w arrie o n a He - ire as c d by ll F Club , ” i h a Non- r r a he hea h w t Ju o t t d of t em, this club being patterned after a conspicu o us anti-religious club of men and women
rin s i n in London, bea g the name ju t g ve ,
h i e e e ar e w ose blasphem es , as p opl r g d d i n ndin i h ere . e e h s t em , w notor ous I d f g paper against the charges of the Mathers and some other attacks of enemies O f the
rn r n in : h e i h a jou al , F a kl says T es , w t m ny
h r n r e in r r i ot e E deavours, p oc ed g f om an a b
ra a r h n t ry nd Selfish tempe , ave bee at tended with their hearty Curses ou the Courant and its Publisher ; but allt o no
r i pu pose ; fo r, (as a Connect cut trader once said of his onions) The more they are
cursed the more the row . N twi hstand , y g o t i hi h n ri i ng w c , a you g sc bbling Colleg an, w ho has just Learning enough to make a
n i in hi Hea Fool of himself , has take t s d b rd o Sto to this WM as p p , (as he ’ calls it) by a Letter in the last Week s
' Gazette. Poor Boy l When your Let ter
come soon r s to be in othe Countries, (under the Umbrage of Authority) what indeed - will they think of New England ! They wi r i l n ll ce tan y co clude, There is bloody shin for nonsense at Cambri fi g dge, and sad wort: C at ths oiledps. The young
Wretch, when he calls those who wrote
e -Fire Club of Bost on and find a H ll , s Go ather for them hich df , (w , by the way. is a Hellish Moclnery of the Ordinance of
tism mini h Bap , as ad stered by the C urch
of England.) and t ells us, That all the Supporters of the paper will be looked upon as Destroyers of the Religion of the
i e M nisters of it , littl thinks what a cruel
ho then om Grandfather, w was , and for s e ” m o ub b f e Pa e ti c bef re, a S scri er or th p r. JOURNALISTIC WRITINGS 31
’ “ ’ Byles s letter in last week s Gazette to which Franklin refers W ith such con tempt will be n in the Gazette of Jan ‘fou d
722 . r uary 1 5, 1 It eads as follows
AMBRID E an ar 1 1 1 721 o ld s e C G , J u y , [ tyl !
M' US RAVE M G ,
When I read the Crimes laid to your Charge in the Scandalous Courant last Monday I w as in some danger of enter taining a hard Character o f yo u; but
i r h r the an er when I read o n a l ttle fu t e , d g
i r w as over. F nding the Wretches Cha ge you as imposing o n the Publick when you inserted these words from the London
er r e e er 1 6 reat Number M cu y , S pt mb , G s
n his it i t C y, and Suburbs are under the Inoculation of the SmallPox Every o ne said That if these Words were indeed
re he i her i i the , t Publ s s o f th s Imp ous and
mi a e ran Abo n bl Cou t , must be the most
’ Audacious and Brazen-fac d Liars in th e World ; no t a Word is to be believed and found the words every Syllable of thet So we allconcluded that you mi ht be an honest Man illbe e Men g , t tt r n than they ca prove an illthing upon you. “ Every one sees that the main intsntion of this Vfle Coun nais to Vilify and Abnss the but Men we have and especially the Principal Ministers of Religion in the ’ Country. And tho they have been so
o n left f God, a d of Sense. as to t ellPeople in Print , that they live in a Wiclnedness.
n tian, Turkish, or Pagan, was ever know t o be guilty of ; yet they go on in it ;
’ add u a flcinmtis a Sign that it is qf
' the D You see Sir tha ou ml. t , y have Company of which you need not be m asha d . JOURNALISTIC WRITINGS 88
a er a e the If such an horrid P p , c ll d
nd urant s ud b seen in New Engla Co , ho l e
ri ha d he hin O f other Count es , w t woul t y t k
- n i h New Engla d If you call th s Crew, t e
- o B n ri am HellFire Club f osto , your F end C p bellwill stand God-father fo r it ; having
’ in o ne of his News Papers formerly assign d
i d allthe th s proper Name fo r them . An
sober People in the Country will say, l h h er i . B re a l t e T ey des ve t e su , Supporters o f this Paper will be justly
d r o f Weekl looke upon, as the Supporte s a y I/lbel written o n purpose to destroy the
i i n h n r a d n i Rel g o of t e Cou t y, n as E em es
o h i h Mi i An t t e fa t ful nisters Of t . d if
his e - ir a r t H ll F e P pe be still carried o n,
sha ha e a is Of h i you ll v L t t e r Names , that allthe Sober People in the Country may n w h h a k ow o t ey re . I amno t my self a
inis er no r ha M t , ve I advised with any such fo r this Letter ; no r did I ever yet n publish a y thing . But there is a Num
ber s w ho r i of u, esolve, that f this W icked ’ o st p d , w e will pluck up o ur
d see what w e can do in o ur
SC I am “ Sir, Your Servant .
Th i n r no i [ e S g atue t g ven. )
When come to discuss Mather Byles m a poet we shall see that he himsclf Lafi rmS that in college he wrote a con li n er e s he her th s derable umb of po m , but w t e wrote to the Gazette during the m controversy was his only as well as butio n to journalism while he
been In March , 1 727 , ho wevu, when he had e almost t wo years out of college, be connect d himself as an editorialwriter and contribu
1 741 , when it was incorporated with the
' evidence of havhu bssa W h y
Mather Byles. It rsads in part as foflows : “ Last Tuesday in the foreman lumen ’ ' Sm O d oek died hue the myBevuud
COTTON Mam bomqr ia Diviniv d Glasgo and Fellow of fi e RoyalSociety in LOndomSenior Pastor of the OMNortb
Church in Boston, and an overseer of Harvard College ; by whose Death persoas
of allranks are in Concsrn and Sorrow.
‘ He was perhaps tbe principsl ornam t
' “ joy with whlch he finished his Csrem . CHAPTER III
ORDINATION AND FIRST MARRIAG E
IN 1 729 Mather Byles evidently felt
’ hi r d r r i i mself ea y fo o dinat on, for n Clapp s
n ien r ie r n Do r A c t P opr to s of Jo es Hill , ” hes er w find n c t e the stateme t, no doubt
a en r r r t k f om the Do cheste church records, ha in a a f i n t t th t ye r, o three cand dates co sidered fo r the position of colleague to
h r the a ed r er v . g Do c est pasto , Re John Th an r h Mr. w o ne. r D fo t , Byles as e pe son h n h n w e Rev . a han c ose , however, as t Jo t M ’ an and fo r r as . B l Bowm , some e on r y es s
rdina i ha e sai did o t on, as w e v d , no t take
er 20 1 788 place until Decemb , , more than eight years after his graduation from co l
782 he i lege. Up to 1 t Congregat onal
r n e n chu ches of Bosto numb red seve , the First Church organized in 1 680 ; the Second s7 . an er in 1 1 4 house was on H ov Street, 7 the church who se meeting-house was o n in 1 1 Church Green, 7 9 ; and the Federal Street Church (which began as a Pres byterian Church but became Congrega
io t nal), in 1 727 . In January, 1 780, the
n r e na han e her o Ho ou abl Jo t B lc , wh like his M! n re father, A d w Belcher, had he come what Boston historians euphemis “ ” i mer an t cally term a very opulent ch t, and consequently a person of high im
in the m a mi portance co mercial town, by d t political management while in England had been able to get the appointment of d Governor of Massachusetts , an the Hon o urable William Tailer had been resto red
li nan - ern s i . e e t r h hich h to the ut gov o p, w e had e time held s béore. B this ti e om _ sE m in the south 8 : ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 89
n ia a n ran o n the Neck , a d espec lly lo g O ge n a n (Washingto ) Street, good ma y houses i n hi h had been bu lt, o e of w c , near the
i i an r n w junct on of Holl s d O a ge Streets , as ’ n r her s o wn n h s Gover o Belc cou try ou e. h From his father, Andrew Belc er, the Gov erno r had inherited in this region a co nsid hi h a crable quantity of land, w ch e prob bly
n r h w wanted to sell , and atu ally e as anxious to give people every inducement
r Th n he could to settle he e. e Bosto churches w e have enumerated were then alllocated either in the North End of the i a town o r near the centre of the pen ns ul , and Belcher among others determined to
r r in e ect achurch in Hollis Street . Acco d gly
s u n r ha h n n fo r i thi op le t me c nt, t e a d n ne years longer the chief Official of the prov “ a i i ince, g ve a deed of a bu ld ng lot fo r a
h se n 1 4 h meeting ou ; o the t of November,
1 782 w r i i i w r niz , a ne el g ous soc ety as o ga ed,
h r 1 788 Mather and o n the 2ot of Decembe , ,
Byles w as ordained pastor of the church . FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
beginning of this church the the His tory of th e O ld South “ says : The South Church took terest in the gathering of llo llis
r hurch , which was fo med Novem Governor Belcher gave the land h the meeting house had been (1 Doctor Sewall d rew up the
r n t . Mather Byles , g a d
Mather, was ordained as “ December This
1 v . 4 , says the Re was kept as a Day of
Ne h e w Society at the Sout .
e an han Mr. o er b g , t C op ’ Doctor Colman preach d from
e d . Then Mr. W bb pray of the B reth ren entred into
W stood quite as high socially as Go ver e her as r i er m0: B lc , w Docto Ol v Noyes,
hn d arah li er of Jo an S O v Noyes, a in Boston and Med
M a ra a e ar ar the ass , g du t of H v d of cl is 1 695 . Though a busy man in his Docto r Noyes shared actively local enterprises calculated to
LevelO s n a i d p Bo to , consp cuous o ne of these Ibeing the building of the famous Long
!Wharf . The first wife of Doctor Noyes
' as An e her er i w n B lc , a young s ster of the
ov er r who re her h s and ix hi g no , bo u b s c l
dren, the eldest of these being Doctor ’ r r Byles s wife . Anna Noyes was bo n Ap il
1 r 81 1 22 w as mar 1 7 , 704 , and Janua y , 7 , M d r Jr. O f ehea ried to Azo Gale, , a arbl
er h s and did no t family, but h young u b
d e ha e ilive long , an as w v
r 1 788 in of Februa y , ,
the wife of Rev . Ma I ns ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 48
’ bulent eleven years administration of the
Massa h government of c usetts , Governor Belcher may have lived in summer in his
i r r h h house n O ange St eet, in t e sout sub
d i in er i he r in e e urbs, an n w t n t P ov c Hous in fo r he arria e his ie e town, t m g of n c
nn h se a h r w as ead a d w ho A a, w o f t e d , n
’ w as thus probably much under her uncle s
r Ma h r a e in the ca e, to t e Byles , took pl c magnificent Official residence of the Massa “ w chusetts governors . Weird tales , as e kn ird i i e a es ere ow , we and mposs bl t l , w woven by Hawthorne about this same
r in it i a famous P ov ce House, and s pleas nt in co ntrast to picture to ourselves the festive scene of a wedding in the official Th n mansion . e Province House had bee acquired by the Massachusetts govern
n r he h ir e ri na n r me t f om t e s of th o gi l ow e ,
r r ean an h n i w h Pete Se g t, d w e t as boug t no ains had een s are a e it an p b , p d to m k e e an O fli ialr i n T h e hi h l g t c es de ce. he ous , w c stood a little back from what is no w Wash almost opposite the Old
Church , was of brick, three s tories and was appro ached by a stone which led to a flight of massive and these to a door “ which Shurtlefi in his Topographical ” t ri a e r His o c l D sc iption of Boston, pardonable enthusiasmdeclares might PROVINCE HOUSE
ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 45
in i s hi h Dutch porcela t le , w c so attracted the
n Ha h rne w attentio of wt o , ho when the Old Province House had come to be a humble
rn r ri in hi i tave w ote the sto es w ch t figures, “ ” in his Twice Told Tales . Unless the wedding in question was an entirely private
the i n d na ra ceremony, to funct o woul tu lly have come the very flower of the Boston
da f r h ride d aristocracy of the y, o t e b an groomwere both scions of families recog
z i im r an ni ed as of the h ghest local po t ce,
’ and w e may be sure that Governor Belcher s “ opulence and his taste fo r magnificent display would have made this wedding
i i a i n here so n the gubernator al m ns o , w many brilliant functions had already taken
fi e ia affair place, o ne o f the n st soc l s of a f the year. Of the rel tives o the young
’ ri e and r m he ri e s r er B l b d g oo , t b d b oth , e
N s w r a h r cher oye as p ob bly t e e, and also
h i er rah w ho h rri P l er s st Sa , ad ma ed a u
’ T r o sifor of Plymouth . he Governo s s n
ra Har 1 7 4 Andrew , a g duate of vard of 2 , :who later married Emilia Louisa Teal of ’ ew erse u h e o f his at e s se nd N J y, dag t r f h r co ' " ‘
r rs hh sband . an lived in __ 2 y he fi t o d e e ib e Mi on in fin st was r d a s . lt yl , oubt gu t
een married between five and six years !b B d e re t o Mr. fiel e i h her bfo y Lyd , w t
s re d husband was u ly present , an Doctor
’ l m her iza e en e o CBy eS s ot El b th , th w ll n hi n a h seventy, s au ts, Maria M t er, fi ld and Ma of Richard Fi e , Sarah thew were probably there ; and most naturally ” ’ her B le i the re so me of Mat y s s cous ns, .
a little later married a sister of Governor
ouh the weddin event, and alth g g was of
48 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
here the s n ri Nova Scotia, w Bo to To es all found temporary shelter and where many er anent remaine he of them p m ly d , w re through a thriving West Indian trade considerable fo rtunes were able to be s e cuma e here the resence o f the ul t d , w p
rm a d na in e en rea er rce a y n vy , v g t fo ,
e een iIlleed , than had ver b true of Bo sto n, added the peculiar picturesqueness that has always belonged to important military
i e ri ish stat ons of th B t Empire, dignified old-wo rld class dis until beyond the period of
the upper classes at the time of Doctor ’ B ls mrria e we h ave in omminds a y e s a g ,
1 an English traveller, in 740 wrote an
an account of his travels here, in whlch he ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 49 describes it with a good deal of minute “ r r r i ness . The e a e seve al famil es in ” “ h h a d Boston, e says, that keep a coac n pair o f horses ; but fo r chaises and saddle h r i ri th f h o ses, cons de ng e bulk O t e place h they outdo London. They ave some
i r he a h nimble, l vely horses fo t co c , but no t any of that beautiful large black breed
The e so common in London. g ntle m r a n a s e i en ride out he e s in E gl nd , om n
h i s nd h r o n h rse a i h c a se , a ot e s o b ck, w t
r their negroes to attend them . They t avel in much the same manner o n business as fo re n ar i r pleasu , a d e attended n both
h ir i i by t e black equ pages . Fo r the r
es i a se dom t c mu ments , every afternoon,
a er rin in ft d k g tea, the gentlemen and
a ie M l d s walk the all , and from thence
’ adjourn to o ne another s houses to spend in h the even g , t ose that are no t dis posed to attend the evening lecture ; which
m if he they ay do , t y please, six nights in
r . seven, the year ound 50 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
What they call the Mall is a walk o n a fine green Common adjoining to the
r southwest side of the town. It is nea
er i h r n half a mile ov , w t two ows of you g
i e h her i trees planted oppos t to eac ot , w th n in i i i n a fine footway betwee , m tat o of
’ r d St . James s Pa k ; an part of the bay of
hi en i es the n in the sea w ch c rcl tow , tak g its course along the north-west side of the hi h i i Common, by w c t s bounded o n
i n he o r o n the o ne s de, a d by t c unt y the
i n i ie other, forms a beaut ful ca al , n v w of t he walk . The government being in the hands of ’ n i a s o r dissenters, they do t adm t of pl y
- i hs an in music houses . But, notw t t d g plays and such like diversions do not
’ i e d n ee be dis obta n here, th y o t s m to pirited nor moped fo r want of them ; fo r both the ladies and gentlemen dress and
r i n as o r ier appea as gay, n commo , c u t s i E r a i o r r d n ngland o n a co on t on bi th ay . i And the ladies here visit, dr nk tea, and ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 51 in e er i e i o f en i i dulge v y l ttl p ece g t l ty, to the height o f the mode ; and neglect the affairs o f their families with as good a ” 1 7 r g ace as the finest ladies in London. “ These people have the air Of having ” ee re r her En ish b n b d at cou ts , some ot gl
i i r s n i h e here v s to to Bo to wr tes om , w ” did they get it i and a more recent writer i i i ” n the Dictionary of Nat onal B ography, sketching the life o f John Singleton Cop
ri h n ie hi h ley, desc bes t e Bosto soc ty to w c Copley belonged as composed Of remark a i i rni ble elements , n wh ch lea ng and
e an i g neral culture, statesm sh p , and busi n i fi ess capac ty , borrowed re nement from the presence o f many women conspicuous ” r a i n i fo be uty and accompl shments . I h s Hi f ’ a e s r o in a v . bl to y K g s Ch pel , Re Henry Wilder Foote suggests to us the fashion and wealth Of the pro -Revolution i ary congregat on Of that historic church . He gives us glimpses Of the Royal Governors
i ur in their pew o f state, hung w th red c mm
mo on as it sto od under the south gallery o f the uniformed Officers of the British : .
pray ; and of the afistocratic
ers i o e rn worshipp , n br cad and velvet in ruflles and lace the h r s i , , Apt o p ,
’ the h r h c u c s aisles, and knelt
To the conspic uous richness of the Bos
’ hon people s dress in the Pro vincial perio d
r Mr. F ank W. Bayley of the ” l r d i Ga le y has escr hed them.
blue silk, edged at the neck with white ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE 53 collar of three rows of pearls round her '? neck . MJohn Barrett has o n a robe o f
i e n ed a ol v brow brocad d mask . Thomas
s ffin hi i A ton Co , as a c ld, s dressed in a - low necked sacque of green satin, over a
r e r i r d ess of white satin, richly mb o de ed
i h a ha i es . w t lace, and has t w th plum Timothy Fitch is arrayed in a gold-laced
an i in s . coat and waistcoat, d s lk stock g
" M i h i i r ish ink sa in i h F tc s n pu pl p t , w t
i '? i e blue lin ng . M John Forbes s dress d
i i r in yellow satin, ornamented w th s lve h lace, t e short sleeves of her gown edged
i h ri h ar w t c lace. She wears a l ge hoop , her hair r hi , deco ated with a w te bow, is
s e i dre s d over a cush on, and she has on a a neckl ce and earrings of pearls . Anne
ar i a a G d ner, w ho married C pt in the Hon
e o urable Arthur Brown , wears a white
a in re m e i h ear s and h s s t d ss tri m d w t p l , old i a in her left hand a pink s lk m ntle. Moses
Gill wears a dark blue velvet coat, lined ’ e with white satin, and lik many of Copley s h tbe wa o Gfl a daug ter, by y, f llev .
Th om Pr is in dark blue velvet M , with mufl in unda d eem cnding in do uble
she too has earls o n her mMand p neck. ? il h The sew nd M G l , a daug ter of
with gold around the bosom. Harrison
he n e li i Gray, t ot d Loya st, s painted in
r i h b own velvet , w t lace at the wrists and
r neck, and wears a g ay wig, with a queue.
’ That young Mather Byles s bride Anna ’ was not the clergyman s first love we are led to believe fro m o ne of the well-known witticisms perpetrated by Byles probably
o r erha s e en e re he e soon after, p p v b fo , l ft
eed it e r her college. Ind would b at strange if she had becn, fo r at the ti marriage the susceptible young had reached the age of almost The pun we refer to
he n another distinguis d ame in on,
CHAPTER IV
EVENTS IN EARLIER MINISTRY
WHERE Doctor Byles may have lived from the beginning o f his ministry at
H i re r h n i 1 1 oll s St et Chu c u t l 74 , w e do no n i e t k ow , but t se ms quite possible that Governor Belcher may have furnished him with a house somewhere near his h o w n . To w atever dwelling he took his bride Anna he seems also t o have taken his id e h E iza w ow d mot er l beth , fo r o n the en - r h ar tw ty fou t of M ch , 1 784 , he records in his church register that his “ ” aged mother had o n that day been received into communion at Hollis Street
r th r r f om e No th Chu ch , to which she had previously belonged A little less than h ho se e re rs . t e th with spectato At u , b fo e
r ed the Rev . o or ewal co rtege sta t , D ct S l
So uth made a l’fl el‘ and then of the Old p Y , the procession to o k its way through the
he ranar r in r un town to t G y Bu y g G o d , where the Governor in 1 720 h a d built a
The des ri i n in the News-Mar tomb . c pt o “ adds that the coffin was covered with
EARLIER MINISTRY
i i n n - o n r h E . a G v Spe ce P pps, sq , o ur L eute t
cru r i iam r E . r r o , W ll Dumme , sq , fo me ly Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in
hie hi r in i C f of t s P ov ce, Benjam n Lynde, E s . h H hi E . q , T omas utc nson, sq , and Adam i n in h E . H E W t rop , sq s xcelle cy with his
hi d n n h r c l re a d family followed t e co pse, all in deep mourning ; next went the several relatives according to their respec
i r h re ed a rea t ve deg ees, w o we follow by g t many o f the principal gentlewomen in town ; after whom went the gentlemen of
’ His Ma n i h r er n Min j esty s Cou c l , t e ev e d
isters o f hi an h rin t s d the neig bou g towns, the reverend President and fellows of
Har ar r n v d College, a g eat umber of officers
h the i i and i i r bot of c v l m l ta y order, with
a i d o f he n i mult tu e ot r ge tlemen . H s Ex ’ cellen s a h dra n cy co c , w by four horses, w as covered with black cloth and adorned with escutcheons of the coats of arms both of his Excellency and of his deceased
ri h i e o f th lady , and du ng t e t m e procession 60 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
- uns e a r the half minute g b g n, fi st at His ’ i i hi h Majesty s Castle W ll am, w c were
’ followed by those o n board His Majesty s
el d he hi in ship Squirr , an many ot r s ps
ir o the harbour, the c lours being all day
h hei h h raised to t e g t, as usual on suc n occasions . On the following Su day ’ his Excellency s pew and the pulpit at the South Church were put into mourning and i h a rne i h s he a d r c ly do d w t e cutc ons, n the Reverend Thomas Prince preached a
rmn hi h as rin e . ra er se o , w c w p t d by J D p , with the customary black border and
’ ” death s head . In reading of this magnificent funeral dis play o ne is struck with the liberal use in
rmria earin s and sin e the it of a o l b g , c
’ r d a her nd e her governor s g an f t , A rew B lc
fir i in of Cambridge, the st of the fam ly
n h on New Engla d , was t e s of a cloth
n n nd h h o worker in Lo do , a e t e s n of a
i is ele n weaver in W lts , comp l d to wo der in passing where these Belcher arms were
ers b of the Poet, I never forget the Charac t er of the Divine
’ Your Excellency s Afiect io nate Nephew and most humble Servant “ M' B . . um
The poemis as follows Q
“ ’ elc er nce more ermi the Mu l B h , o p t se you ov d, ’ h no r and a r Friendshi m By o u , by s c ed p ov d , ’ Wak d our woe her numers to ro on by y , b p l g ,
An h ri in a F nera so n d pay er t bute u l g .
“ ’ Fr m ou rea Hea n i h n is ued oice o y , g t v w t u d p t v ’ snatch d r 1 er of our o ul o Has the pa t1 y y uthf j ys , ’ r ns m Her beauties, ere slow Hectick fi es co u d , e es shone cheerf l and her roses Her y u , EARLIER MINISTRY
No more in o nv erse s ri htl sh C p g y e appears, With ni d r m n li n ce eco u , a d o b gi g airs :
Ye o o r no more ex ectin ro un h p , p g d er stand , ’ Where soft compassion stretch d her bo unteous h n a d .
Her ho use her happy skill no mo re shall boast
B all hin lenti l b t n hin l y t gs p fu, u o t g ost . ’ o ld t the tombsee the al co r s c nv C o p e p e o ey d ,
W ra in siln e an th mal ha pt up e c , d e dis s de.
Ah what av ailthe sable v elvet spread , And go lden o rnaments amidst the dead ?
N m mil th r no an h r s o bea s e e e, eye c t e e di cern The v ulgar co ffin fromthe marble urn :
Th co l ho no rs chin s m o s e st y u prea g, ee t ay, ‘ ’ Ma nific n m st min l with h l g e ce u g e t e c ay.
earn here F ir th railt o r L , ye a , e f y o f y u face, ’ ’ Ravish d b d a h r nat ur s lo w y e t , o e s decays ’ Ye reat m st res i n r r nsi nt o G , u so g yo u t a e p w r,
r f m He oes o dust , and onarchs o f an ho ur l
o must a h leas in air h entle fire S e c p g , eac g , ’ ’ n all hat so t n l h A d t s f , a d a l t at s sw eet ,
expire.
B lch r murn the a n But yo u, O e e , o bse t Fair, h n an and dro th t Feelt e kee p g, p e ender t ear The G d a ro s na o o pp ve that ture d her part , A antin bosom an a p g , d bleeding heart : Ye baser arts of flattery away ! The r ous Muse mo Vi tu shall ralize her lay.
’ ’ To Fav ri Man t te the a s ream you, O , P w up
i es ealh and i es and en of ame G v w t t tl ext t f , o s ro m ene h and m J y f b at , blessings fro above,
’ The same hi h Po r n g w , unbou ded and alone,
esumes his i ts an s o r m r in o n R g f , d put y u ou n g .
His Edic issues and his assalD ath t , V e ,
il to bend St l be your glory at his feet , h h n o n his erei n Kiss t ou t e So , and w Sov g
hand , ’ h rs exer For his high honours allt y po w t,
a and the charms of Art The gift s of N ture,
“ l i ’n 80 over Death the conquest shal be g v ,
Mean j ih ad mu . N ama e ls e “
star EARLIER MINISTRY
Stillo ur warmFriendship mutualflames ex
t end , The Muse shallso survive fromage to age ’ ’ And Belcher s name pro tect his Byles s page.
In 1 74 1 Doctor Byles bought a house of his o w n and we presume immediately
i hin en moved his family into it . W t t
r r i r her arria e yea s, o a l ttle mo e, of m g , Anna Gale had borne her second husband
ix i n e e hese a se n s ch ldre , th eld st of t co d
M r h n o ne re ei in athe , t e you gest but c v g appropriately the name of Belcher. Of
hese six hi d ren h e er n hree t c l , ow v , o ly t “ r i i h die su v ved the r mother, who erself d
i n - 1 News r e n 44 . In he Ap l tw ty seve th , 7 t
Letter o f Ma hird 1 744 i as r r e y t , , t w eco d d “ as r ni i n Mo n L t Thu sday ght d ed , and o ’ ” da as w as de en in err d M? nna y l t c tly t , A
h i e n er Byles, t e am abl a d V tuous Consort ” of the Re v . Mr. Byles . That Doctor Byles held his first wife in proper esteem and reverence and that he genuinely la mented her death is shown by a sermon he 66 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
n a er her une i hi preached soo ft f ral , n w ch he extolled her virtues and commemorated
er i h calm and beaut ful end . “ he aid ee in l s f l g y, did these death vanquished in a more com no r did I ever witness to and uninterrupted a peace of
so i e er n long a t m to geth , upo a
before now . The king of terrors lay contemptible at the feet of this truly
hri in C stian hero e. Her speeches were wonderful and glorious . She said (the most joyful words to me that ever I
i nesses heard, before a room full of w t , else I think that I should no t so publicly
e f en en mention it , though sh had o t spok ‘ me e ess the same thing to alon ), I bl God that I ever saw you : the doctrines of
r e in t he comforts of hich l die g ac , w , applied to my heart under your preach
n ion h e er ing, and in your co versat , t an v . they as
the in erre a i nshi a n w hi h Lydes , t l t o p mo g c pre-Revolutionary Boston first families is such an intricate tangle that no o ne who had not much genealogical skill could
e n i possibly make it out . To th co sp cuous names we have just given should be added
n for r also the Royalls and Boylsto s , sho tly - after the Tailer Byles marriage, occurred
’ e i e r her Doctc r that of R becca Ta l r s b ot ,
r E e s n and Gillam Taile , with lizab th Boyl to ,
r i i a Es . of her siste Ab ga l to Jacob Roy ll , q The house bought by Doctor Byles in
i e 1 741 , which was destined to be h s hom for the rest of his own life and the home
hi rri a h ers e isses of s unma ed d ug t , th M
rin i heir Mary and Cathe e Byles, unt l t
ea hs res e tive in 1 882 and 1 887 d t . p c ly , , was a plain wooden, perhaps gambrel r oofed, house which stood endwise to the
on street, the site of the building known “ ’ ” th r as e Child e n s Mission, and its door
ard o n y , Tremont Street nearly onnosite the entrants EARLIER MINISTRY land o n which the house stood w as pur
r H rr ri a er chased by Pete a att , a b ckl y ,
r h r i 1 732 nd he from Gove nor Belc e , n , a t house was probably erected soon after
r 1 Harra i by the buye . Before 1 74 tt d ed and in that year his widow Catherine " h h s is sold it to Doctor Byles . T e ou e “ ” described in an instructive and amusing ” 2° n rin e game called Cards of Bosto , p t d in 1 831 by Miss Eliza Leslie of Phila d er an i n ra e i din elphia, as a v y c e t f m bu l g at t he corner o f Nassau and Tremont s ee s t he si e near a s an tr t , out d ly bl ck , t d in in a reen in r h i h ar g g closu e, s aded w t l ge
r i trees . P obably n the very year she
rin e the a Mi ri er p t d g me, ss Leslie, a w t of
s e a r n om loc l eputation, sister o f the pai ter
har s R er ie i i d C le ob t Lesl , v s ted Boston, an
’ in 1 842 in Grahams Magazine gave an entertaining description of the house both i h n i in n i ain w t out a d w th , a d of ts qu t
n e h r r owners, the the ag d daug te s of Docto “ in h Byles . After pass g t e beautiful Com 70 ° THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
” mon iss eslie sa s c ani n , M L y , my omp o pointed out t o me at what seemed th e termination of the long vista of Tremont
ac - in fra e h e Street, an old bl k look g m ous , it seemed to block up the way by standing i n directly across it . It was the anc e t residence of Mather Byles , and the present dwelling of his aged daughters, one of whom was in her eighty-first and the other
- e r in her seventy ninth y a . This part of
M on S ree hi h is o n the s th t t t , w c ou
ri eastern declivity of a hill, car ed us far from allvicinity to the aristocratic sectio n
of Boston. At length w e arrived at the
domain of the two antique maidens . It
d n r o n ha once bee a ve y close e, but time
‘ ’ and those universal depredators the boys had made numerous cracks and chinks in
e i i it . Th ho use (wh ch stood w th the gable end to the street llooked as if it had never e: EARLIER MINISTRY 71 ure th n n r in h he to e su a d a , to t e ats of a hundred summers and the snows of a h n re in r h r n u d d w te s, ad da ke ed its whole i outs de nearly to the blackness of iron. it n Also , had even in its best days bee evidently o ne of the plainest and most unbeautified structures in the town of
n er n f h ra Bosto , wh e ma y o t e old f me houses can boast of a redolence of quaint ornament about t he doors and windows
r and porches and balconies . Still the e n i was something no t unpleasa t in ts aspect, t h o r rather it s situation . It stood at e
er n r n l i upp e d of a g ee o t , whose long th ck
ras n fi g s was e amelled with eld flowers . It w as shaded with noble horse-chestnut
ree re ie e a ains the ear t s l v d g t cl blue sky, and whose close and graceful clusters of n an lo g jagged leaves , f ned by the light
r r r ir summe b eeze, th ew the chequered and quivering shadows on the grass beneath and o n the mossy roof of the venerable
n Th h i i h r ma sion. e ouse, M ss Lesl e furt e r tells her reade s, was a gambrel
e re ee us , which when T mont Str t beyond its original terminus a piece take n off its southeastern
’ Byles s second marriage succession in the
living far beyond the
Revolution, until
old . The second
- 9 lived untilJuly twenty third , 1 77 , when
b i n tomb 2 in wills, was ur ed i No . the in ‘ Granary Bury g Ground . That both ’ Doctor Byles s marriages were as happy EARLIER MINISTRY 73
o i reason n t to suppose . At the t me of i the Re volut on, when the Doctor w as in
r dis i i n h so e grace pol t cally i t e town, a
ini r i i h young m ste , John El ot, w t youthful
ns ri n i i en amiliari ce o ous ess, and w th ev d t f ty
’ i h wn i i r r e h e w th t e to s goss p , s epo t d to av “ said that the women allproclaimed that the misfortunes that had come upon Doctor Byles were a judgment on him from Heaven fo r his bad treatment of his
i i is the s e w ves , but th s gratuitous fling ol reflection of the kind w e have ever seen
ad on m e Mather Byles . CHAPTER V
ON the long active ministry of Mather
les at H is By oll Street, which terminated really though no t formally when the occu patiou of Boston by the British in the Revolution sent the greater part of his
arishi ner of ha e p o s out the town, we v
nsi era e i h e co d bl l g t. Th facts we have, h e r i ow ve , are chiefly of the ordinary detals of parochial administration and of sermons
r r r r hi p eached yea afte yea , many of w ch ,
r in r e soon after p each g, Docto Byl s put
r into p int . The Hollis Street congrega tion was never an influentialcongregation like the congregations of the First Church o h r the Old Sout h , thoug from the start it had o n its communion roll many respect " a e na es e ha e e er e n bl m , but w v v y r aso to
HOLLIS STREET PASTORATE 75
’ believe that Doctor Byles s ministry to his
i hi n r rn i par s o e s w as ea est, fa thful , sympa
i n kin . thet c, a d d In spite of his intellectual activity and
e era e rn r e a e no g n l l a ing, Mathe Byl s m d original contribution to New England
i ini r theology . The period h s m st y
‘ n no o f n ire covered , indeed , w as o e t e t theological inactivity but certainly of marked lack o f constructive energy in - i theological and theo lo gico political th ngs .
r i i The work o f shaping Cong egat onal sm ,
in n h r rea which those ster t eoc ats , his g t grandfathers John Cotton and Richard
a a rn n M ther h d bo e chief parts , had lo g
i hed h i h been accompl s , t e d spute over t e half-w ay covenant had lost much o f its
i a erv r h i i an i i orig n l f ou , t e pol t cal d rel g ous indignation which had been visited o n Increase Mather o n his return from Eng land because oi the defects o f the Charter
o f 1 691 had subsided like other similar
nd e n ar a e s ir indignations , a th o ly rem k bl t 76 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES ring of the Boston churches until the Re volution w as the Great Awakening under Whitefield in l74o The period of
’ Doctor Byles s ministry is described by New England church historians as o n the whole o ne of comparative formalism and
enera a of s iri a h D r g l l ck p tu l ent usiasm . u in t he i e h er i i h g t m , owev , rel g ous t ought was no t ina i e r i i s h n ct v , el g ou t ought ever
an s en ire d r hi st d t ly still , un er the leade s p of a series of strenuous thinkers it was
in ie in mov g qu tly two opposite ways . Of these two movements the most striking
ha is n H in i nis was w t know as opk s a m , which aflirmed as Calvinistic logic had never done before the absolute so ver
n and the ne essi fo r un eig ty of God, c ty i i n n th in conditional subm ss o , eve to e po t
i i n s be med fo r his r of w ll ng e s to da n glo y, n H h i of the huma soul to im. At t e oppos te pole from this tremendous irrationalism was the moderate assert ion of t he validity
n reas n Chaunc M he of huma o , of y, ay w,
78 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES way for obtaining the more special and eflectual bestowments of divine help es ” i nd h sentialto salvat on, a t o t is Old Calvinist party Doctor Byles emphatically
eadin r n o n belonged . R g his se mo s e finds in himabsolutely no traces of a disposition
r e e r e ie i towa ds th xt em v ws of Hopk ns, no r does the least tendency appear towards ni h U tarian thoug t, but be everywhere af
r s the in i i n fi m ma pos t o s of Calvinism, and with apparently entirely unquestion h h n i ing fait . In t e commo view of h s day that from beginning to end the Scrip tures were the inerrant message of God he h in i i profoundly s ared , but as pol t cs so in religion his attitude w as essentially non
i n his hie aimin rea h controvers al , a d c f p c ing w as t o bring what be conceived to be the teaching of the Scriptures with con
er the r i a i e e vincing pow to p act c l l f of mn. With a narrower range of intellectual in
i n e Ma h r terest s than h s u cl Cotton t e , he yet shared unmistakably in the peculiar HOLLIS STREET PASTORATE 79
r n mental tempe ament of his u cle, but although he had as unwavering confidence in the value of saintly death -bed expe riences and with as fervid imagination revelled in t he unspeakable glories of the unseen Heaven where after death the
in r he et es a ed chosen sa t s we e to go , y c p t he amazing credulity o f Cotton Mather and showed little of the superstition that characterized that extraordinary man. Fo r the most part the style of his sermons
i a er is simple and direct . Occas on lly, ov powered by his subj ect he indulges in the
r i d e n i n st a ne el ga ce o f fine writ ng, but ge
rall i i no at ll a in e y h s writing, wh le t a l ck g in n r r smooth ess, is rema kably fo ceful and
T e r i n clear. o these merits of xp ess o he often adds the power of a rich and vivid i ina i n n r n mag t o , a d w e can well unde sta d ho w with a magnetic presence in the pulpit and a musical voice he quickly earned fo r himself the reputation of a brilliant preacher. 80 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
s e r ie e e h i n A w ev w, v n ast ly, the sermo s
e s r n and ssay of Docto Byles , writte during
i t r e a ha e n n h s pas o at , th t v bee pri ted ,
indeed his r hr h i as poet y t oug out his l fe, we cannot help regretting that after his death some kind friend had no t cared enough for him to collect his writings in o r hree o r to two t volumes, f some of his r d i n r d e r p o uct o s, both in p ose an po t y,
re in in r n n a of last g te est . I the ext chapter we shall speak of t he fine imagination dis “ played in his noble sermon o n The Flour ” ish h nn S rin e ann of t e A ual p g, w c ot refrain from giving here an extract printed
Du ki ck in i i by yc n , h s Cyclope d a of ” eri n i era re r h Am ca L t tu , f om is essay,
h e edi a i i T M t t on of Cass m, the So n of
d firs rin ed in t he New E lan Ahme , t p t ng d
ekl J ournal s e i e in 1 727 We y om t m , and afterward reprinted in 1 77 1 with the second “ edition of his sermon o n The Present Vileness of the Body and Its Future
han e hri Glorious C g by C st, from Acts
82 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES blue Expanse of Heaven in a fair Winter
n n E era d i e Eve ing . I this Place an m l , l k
i i r the calm Ocean , d splays ts chee ful and i n n viv d Gree . A d close by a Ruby flames with the ripened Blush of the Th i rnin . e r and e e Mo g B east L gs, l k
E hine i h r bony, s w t a glorious Da kness ; while it s expanded Wings are edged with the den Mnifi gol ag cence of the Topaz . Thus the illustrious little creature is fur
i h i h the i in n s ed w t d v est Art , and looks li ni ke an a mated Composition of Jewels, that blend their promiscuous Beams about
im. h Cassim ha e dies h T us O , s ll th Bo of Good Men be raised ; thus shall they h a a . shine, and t us fly w y That the Great Awakening of 1 740
’ 42 influenced very deeply the Hollis Street Church o r it s pastor w e have no reason t o
n e r r e h thi k, for th eco ds of th C urch during that time do no t show any very remarkable increase in the number of admissions t o “ communion. Wh en Whitefield first ap HOLLIS STREET PASTORATE 83 pearcd in Boston in the middle of Sep
r 1 74 e w r ei e enera tembe , 0 , h as ec v d g lly n i n n among Congregatio al sts , a d o doubt
h inis e by Doctor Byles as by ot er m t rs, with great warmth and w as heartily w el n comed to the ch urches . O the of the month he preached from a scaflo ld erected outside the Hollis Street meeting
n a r house, o doubt t o accommodate la ger audience than could find room within the i i n in 1 4 bu ld ng . From a discussio 7 3 of the effects of the revival in which several
inis ers an n r e a m t took ear est pa t , so m p
r in hers e r in r p ov g, ot d p ecat g, Docto Byles and hi sin M r h s cou Samuel athe , wit t w o
5 ” her inisters M W eed nd . ot m , elst a M n i In i Gray, stood e t rely aloof . the counc ls o f the den ina i n i h e n om t o to wh c h belo ged , called fo r the installation o r dismissal of
i r min sters o r fo other reasons, the Hollis Street Church and its pastor are frequently h M 1 7 8 mentioned , as o n t e of ay, 6 ,
r w rdaine when the Rev . John Lath op as o d n h r h On pasto r of the Seco d C u c . that o ccasion the young past or himself preached n the ordination sermo , Doctor Joseph
o fl ra er Re . e ezer Pem Sewall ered p y , v Eb n
h har e nd t r berton gave t e c g , a Doc o Byles In gave the right hand of fellowship .
1 40 r es ffere h March , 7 , Docto Byl o d t e
a n Mee in prayer at Tow t g, in the same
Artillery Company, and probably many “ times he preached the Thursday Lec ” i h hi ture n the First C urch, w ch had been - established by his great grandfather John n hi Co tton, a d w ch has continued to be preached almost continuously to the pres " ent ime. ha i e his son a her es t T t l k M t Byl ,
i da h e in Jr. , and h s ug t rs, spite of his strong
r es h Toryism , Docto Byl ad , even after the
n esire Revolutio , any d to become an Angli
e ha e ee no e iden can w v s n v ce. He was too near the old New England Puritan the
and he in ocracy, t fluence of the Mather dynasty was probably too strong upon his
86 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
‘1 To the Rev . Doctor John Chalmers Prin ’ eipelof the King s College and University at
Aberdeen.
’ o m a S , The honour which the University of Aber
n h o n m o o dee as d e e, and y ur good flices in
c lr callfo r m l parti ua , y Res pectfu Ackno wledge ’ nts ha e endea o r t o co ll h me . I v v u d ect t e blica ions h m o a m Pu t I ave ade, t send s a s all Tribute t o the Publick Library : but I have
een able t o rocure but fe the res o h b p w, t, th ug
me of th mh se lE i n so e ave past vera d tio s, being
h o ut of rin ho the illh w o lly P t . I pe y w ave a li mo re t o recommen themthan as Triflin ttle d , g
o si ies roma Far o untr ishin o curi t f C y. W g y u,
ni er F o r of and the Illustrious U versity, ev y av u
as n o r a r e in s Heaven, and ki g y u Pr ye s and Bl ss g , “ I am “ o if l n y ur dut u So , and most o bliged “ h ml t u be Servan .
’ l ri r i i Doctor By es s a stoc at c tendenc es, and the important social position be him
n h re i self held in Bosto , as we ave p v ously
he se es a ua e said, were of t m lv c lc l t d to HOLLIS STREET PASTORATE 87 arouse antagonism against him in the minds o f his more democratic brother i i h in h m n sters o f Massac usetts , and t e feeling o f many o f the faithful laity as
7 1 . E z r well . In the autumn o f 1 4 , Rev lea e
he n t e ers ar W elock, o e of h found of D t
h i i e s n and nd r mout College, v s t d Bo to , u e " date o f October 9 evidently w ith enor
- i i ri in hi i mous self sat sfact on, w tes s d ary “ Preached [in the Old South Church!to
r h r n e a a ve y t o ged ass mbly, m ny more
han d et in the s i t coul g to hou e, w th very
r n great f eedom a d enlargement . I be lieve the children of God were very much r r h d ef es e . They told me afterwards they believed that Mather Byles w as never so ” ash i i l ed n h s life . Precisely w hy the “ ” children o f Go d of the Old South Church should have been so delighted to see ” es ashe r r Byl l d , o Docto Eleazer Wheel “ o ck t o ha e ashed him r v l , pa ticularly
’ at his ear eri d l t ly p o of By es s ministry, so long before his political opinions had 88 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
n i e it is n t eas no e become offe s v , o y w to t ll, but that censorious younger ministers like John Eliot and Jeremy Belknap should habitually have sneered at and ridiculed himas he did ar es hie the s ren h , t y , gu c fly t gt
na i h ie if of his perso l ty, t e var ty of his g ts , and the superior position in the co mmu nity he held . That he w as unpopular among certain classes of laymen in Boston may be due largely to the fact that he did not strictly bind his conduct by all t he conv entions that had been established fo men his r essi n and ha he r of p of o , t t never hesitated to give voice to his opin
her he a ree i h h se ions , whet t y g d w t t o of
r no t the majority o . After the dissolution of his pastorate of the Hollis Street Church Doctor Byles probably saw very little of his former Congregational friends of the clergy or
i Man his s in i a e the la ty . y of mo t t m t d n i associates ha been amo g the Royal sts , and these had allbeen compelled to leave
90 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES had among the younger Congregational
inis M h se s the m ters of assac u tt : Re v . Na ni h tha el Emmons of Wrent am , whom Doc tor Leonard Woods credited with having o ne of the grandest understandings ever ” created . 1 Doctor Emmons w as thirty ei h ears er h n g t y young t a Doctor Byles , but from about 1 770 to the death of the latter in 1 788 the two were deeply at h tac ed friends . The person was o ne of
rien my best f ds, Doctor Emmons is “ in on on i n n quoted as say g e occas o , a d I
’ don t know but I owe more to himthan to any other man I ever knew ; fo r it w as he w ho taught me never to preach what
i e ie e nd ha it is o I d d not fully b l v , a t t n certain mark of godliness to wear a sad
a he n e o me countenance . In f ct o c t ld that the genuine Christian denied his
if he as no t n i a profession w co t nu lly jolly,
‘ ’ fo r his calling and election being sure he had no occasion to feel any anxiety ” “ r on any subject whatever. Docto HOLLIS STREET PASTORATE 91
Byles w as o ne o f the best and purest men ” that ever lived . That Doctor Byles w as especially in
terested in n ra ien n an i ari atu l sc ce, a d t qu an r e r h a en i es a c , and gave a good deal of tt t on
e e di i hi e i n to th s stu es , not ces o f s coll ct o
uri si i i r eren es in of c o t es, and inc dental ef c hi er n ra e in the s s mo s, and articles enume t d inventory o f his effects made after his ” ea h ffi i n hese ef d t , su c ently show . Amo g t fec i an er ts were geograph cal maps, m y p s ec iv r s es a h e a i a p t e glasses , mic o cop , m t m t c l i s rumn a r e ra id n t e ts , globes , mic oscop py m ,
s ar ra id i i an e ol py m , un versal pyram d , opaqu
ra id - i lant ma a ar s py m , a mag c ho nd pp atu , a
ris a era ura a i i er p m, c m obsc , pyr m d cal cam a,
t urcle she rnin rmm ll bu g glass , the o
ter an m - e s d a baro eter, half hour glasses,
re in e e e i r ins v flect g t l scop s, s lve co , and al
l rin in uabe p ts . Accord g to the inventory ,
i i r r r n ll h s l b a y numbe ed i a books, - valued at a hundred and forty two pounds , i i an n twelve sh ll ngs, d te pence. CHAPTER VI
DOCTOR BYLES as A POET
’ T R BYLE r i DOC O s s p ose wr ting, as we
id i h e i have sa , s almost wit out xcept on of
hi h rder nd i i r in a g o , a t would be nte est g,
i r i if w e could , to g ve wide extracts from t
r h n o ur s i Hi e r he e t a pace w ll allow . s po t y
in n e fe varies much excelle c , but a w of his poems have an exaltation of spirit and a beauty of form that make them well
e e ere In 1 86 e worthy to be r m mb d . 7 , Byl s “ r e published a small 1 8 volume of ve s ,
nd h een a es hi h of a hundred a eig t p g , w c
e i e em o n Se era bore t he mod st t tl , Po s v l
? ” M I r e . n the e Occasions , by Byl s p f ace to this volume the author explains “ to us that th e poems had fo r th e most part been written as the amusements of
r r hi e the h n ed loose hou s, w l aut or belo g
94 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
King George the First had died in June
n r in ha ia an at Os abu g, Westp l , d that George the Second had ascended the
r n n es r th o e, a d Byl w ote a poem o n the d e e e s r har e i ne r oubl v nt u c g d w th pa gy ic . Of the dead king he writes
“ e di let nat re o H es 1 u wn the direful blo w ,
i h all inds ith t r e ri Sg ye w , w ea s y vers flo w,
Let th ide ocean o d in an ish r e w l u gu roa , And tides of grief po ur plenteous on the sho re ;
N0 mo re the s rin shall oom r mo rnin p g bl , o g
nae,
h l s i But nig t eterna wrap the sable k es .
h in i i e he in ! But, t e k g s dead , long l v t k g and the laureate proceeds
h m mse i e allth ears awa Enoug , y u , g v y t y, shad and rise the rose da Break ye dull es , y y, n O un th hariot dazzlin -bri ht Quicke , S , y C g g , ’ amin emire o ur the li ht And o er thy fl g p p g ,
O rin alon th auhin lawns be seen Sp g, g y l g g
al a resh and r es o re er reen Fi elds w y f , g ov f v g , ’ n orro cease her o s inlar e Let Britai s s ws , j y g , ” n e The first revives within the seco d Georg . DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 95
1 “-l 1 On the 3 Of July, 728 , Governor
i ia ms arri ed a W ll m Bu t v t Boston, in
New r s great state, from Yo k, to as ume the “ M h e government of assac us tts . He w as ” i h r and welcomed w t mo e of pomp parade, “ r E is han ha says Doctor Geo ge ll , t d ever been Observed in Boston o n any previous o c
i n nd a a e ense to the reas r cas o , a t n xp t u y of
h r w eleven hundred pounds . T e e as acaval
d a i h es i i and e i a rha ca e, l v s f t v ty , a po t c l p
‘ ’ i in he s ari ea s sody antic pat g t o ng gle tyle, hi by the famous Mather Byles . T s poem w as published in t he New England Weekly
ournal a er s ha ri en J , but l t Byles mu t ve w tt
an h r fo r w e ha i h d i ot e , ve o ne no t publ s e n this newspaper which begins as fo llows
Welcome great man to our desiring eyes ; Thouearth proclaimit and res ound ye skies l
nsw erin V ice in o ful o n rt m Vo ice a g o , j y C ce eet,
ill lle h n he r The H s a c o , a d t Rocks epeat ;
0 Bost n Mistress f And Thou, o , o the To wns, ’ Wh omthe pleas ed Bay with amrous Arms
surro unds , 96 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
“ ’ Let thy warmTranspo rts blaze in numrous
And beaming Glories glitt er on thy Spires ;
e st reamin the Ether ar Let Rock ts , g, up gl e,
ln ir And flaming Serpents hiss a o g the A . ’ n h o m While risi g s outs a gen ralJ y proclai , ’ n B t s ame e 0 urne is th N . And ev ry to gu, , l p y
9 M r i he In 1 72 ( ay Byles fi st publ s d ,
h New En la kl ournal in t e g nd Wee y J , a noted poem of his that eventually bore “ i e e fl r t io n the elaborate t tl, Th Con ag a , applied to that Grand Period o r Catas
o he o ur r d hen the a e t r p of Wo l , w f c of Nature is to be changed by a Deluge of
er Fire as formerly it w as by that of Wat . ” e The God o f Tempest and Earthquak .
i t r in i h ou al In a note n oduc g it n t e J rn , it is said that t he author wrote th e poem
e he w n in his wh n as o ly fifteenth year.
’ i r e B e i If th s is t u , yls s poetical gen us in
fl i'e r o deed ow e d ea ly, f r the poem is a
n o h in r stro g ne, s ow g t aces of the influence
M er i i i of ilton p haps, but nd cat ng a native
98 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
m ide- a in ro ar a o d Devouring fla es , w w v g, l u , And melted mountains flo w a fiery flood
llat once immense the fires arise Then, a , , A bright destruction wraps the crackling skies ;
hi althe e ements to mel cons ire W le l l t p , ” in And the world blazes the final fire.
’ In 1 782 Governor Belcher s brother-in
a o . ni i er ied nd lw , H n Da el Ol v , d , a Doctor Byles addressed to His Excellency an
o t h elegiac poem n e melancholy event .
1 3 : e On the of October, 7 6, as we hav
d sh n e i di e da r alrea y ow , h n t d a lau to y epistle in verse to the governor o n the
' e M! r n i 1 787 hen d ath of Belche , a d n , w
hi i e he a ain Queen Caroline departed t s l f , g h i addressed is patron n a poem . “ In 1 744 appeared a Collection of Poems ” i h iden by Several Hands, wh c was ev tly,
M i r e ff rin as oses Co t Tyle says, th o sp g of an amiable conspiracy o n the part of a
r i erar riends r e g oup of l t y f of Docto Byl s,
. hn d m among them Rev Jo A ams , to acco ’ li h n i B les o wn en ire a p s , a d w th y s t p DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 99
n h he is o f h i probatio , t e apot os t e Holl s nd in Street parson, a to duce the public
’ to believe that one Of Boston s most gifted
hers w as i wis rea preac l ke e a g t poet . One o f these adulatory poems addresses Byles in the following style
h rmin h e stin ui h a Hail c a g po et , w os di g s ed l ys
n r n s rm nt rai Excite o ur w o de a d u ou our p se,
h mall h ms wi h resh ar o r fir W o t e ues t f d u e, ’ ” An hr sta r am ins ir d Aganippe s c y l st e s p e.
’ Another describes Byles as Harvard s
’ h o n u ho e o r and New England s pe, declar s that he
Bids air t ri n f o se a d sing and rival Pope,
and informs the world that
’ o uld anus iv a n h C J l e gai , e d wish to die,
in oblivion B es oud l himl If yl w l et y.
Still another sings
’ Long has New England groan d beneath the Lo ad Of t h m r oo too just Repro ac es fro Ab o ad , 1 00 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ in Arts an arren in heir Unlearn d , d b t Skill Ho w to employ the tender Muses Quill:
n h o r B es alo t trans ers his nam At le gt u yl f f e, And binds it on the radient wings of fame ;
ll e co d i h the Yo th he no a r A w ul w s u w ppea s, ’ finish oe in his oo min ea A d P t bl g y rs . With anxious care we see the Stripling climb ’ Tho se Heights we deemd for mortals too lime sub , ’ And dread a dang ro us Fall
Y ond az i be o e o et f ly g e, t ll , ab v ur fears ’ Has lost th attracting world and shines ” mn e star a o g th s .
Whatever admirer wrote this last poem printed it first anonymously in the New
n l eekl J ournal s 5 1 728 . E g and W y of Augu t , In this collection of slightly twenty “ hi h o r the s ar are i poems, w c f mo t p t l ttle ” han a e er er i ns more t we k r v b at o of Pope,
r hi several a e by Doctor Byles mself . One i “ Th ” of these s e Comet, a poem having
i e e e s h es re n l ttl xc pt moot n s to comme d it , and another a long poem with even less
des ri in r rd merit, c b g a Ha va Commence
1 02 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES what corner of the earth so secret as not
h hear the na e Mr to ave d m of . Pope ? o r w ho so retired as no t to be acquainted
i h hi mir i i n w t s ad able compos t o s, or so
id as o t be r ished h he stup n to av wit t m . Ho w often have I been sooth ed and charmed with the ever blooming landscape of your Winds or Forest ! And ho w does my very Soul melt away at the soft com plaints of the languishing Eloisa! How frequently has the Rape of the Lock com manded t he ari s assi ns ind v ou p o of my m ,
r h er rea hed r n i i p ovoked laug t , b t a t a qu ll ty, o r inspired a transport ! And ho w have I been raised and borne away by the
e Iliad it s in resistless fire of th , as glow ”
r im r a rans a i n. t he se you mo t l t l t o At clo , he begs to be permitted to conclude his “ letter by asking the favour of a few lines from the land which has blessed th e world i ” “ with such divine product ons . If you ” “ h h n r me he ri es ass re r t us o ou , w t , u you self the joys you will produce in me will
1 04 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
cin fi e e no r du g many n po ts, have we been very famous fo r o ur skill in the arts of
e r i h n the ses . e o t mu How v , s appe s that we love to be dabbling in the streams of
r s s h h n Pa nas u , t oug the product is othing ” dd r but mu y wate . In incidental notices of Doctor Byles in Boston print a good deal has been
’ made of Byles s correspondence with these
n ed n i n i ir two ot E gl sh poets , a d w th a th d English writer who more o r less success
i a ed the e e r e ran fully cult v t mus s, G o g G
i o r r n i rd nsd e ho v lle G e v lle, Lo La own , w i lived between 1 667 and W th Pope,
’ Byles s correspondence was extremely fo r ml nd rare the i e man Twicken a a , l ttl of ham alh h he sen es i h , t oug t Byl (w t out any word whatever) a handsomely bound
i se hen it a ared copy of h s Odys y w ppe , apparently never warming very much to ” his transatlantic admirer. With Doctor
n de en en inis er and a Watts , a In p d t m t
es had the nd he i Calvinist, Byl bo of t olog cal
DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 05 and ecclesiastical as well as poetical sym
h nd na r rr pat y, a tu ally his co espondence with the noted nonconformist divine w as
a h re a i iar and riend r of muc mo f m l f ly so t . Of the extent of this correspondence w e
r r n a e no t su e, but we k ow that Doctor Watts sent Byles copies of some of his
r hymns when they appea ed , and that Byles in return sent some of his poems to
’ n B les rre n n the English divi e . y s co spo de ce with Lansdowne probably ext ended only to o ne letter from the New England poet to the noble lord . It is doubtful if any honour Byles ever received in his lifetime gratified him so
’ h h r i n muc as t e ecept o of Pope s Odyssey . In lending it once to a lady he acco m panied it with these gallant lines of his o w n
m dear o e trans ort th a Go , y P p , p e ttentive
ir fa , h with winnin harmn And soo t e g o y her ear, ’ ’ Twilladd new graces to thy heav nly so ng b her ent e t n To be repeated y g l o gue. 1 06 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ Old Homer s shade shall smile if she com
mend , n And Pope be proud to write as Byles to le d .
That Doctor Byles had given consider able attention to the art of poetry w e have strong testimony in a sermon he preached
t he h rsda emre M hird 1 789 a t T u y L u , ay t , , ” o n Th ri h rin e Flou sh of t e Annual Sp g.
hi n i h h r T s sermo , wh c s ows p obably a
er i i n h n r fin maginat o t a any othe be printed , “ r n 2 1 0—1 8 ise n is f om Ca ticles , R up a d
e a the in er is as t he rain com aw y, lo w t p t, is over and gone ; the flowers appear o n
r i i in irds the ea th , t he t me of the s ng g of b ”
ri n e a . is co me. A se a d com way Of allmere men w ho have lived since the ” “ d e er n e ins the fall of A am , th s mo b g , author of this beautiful passage is pro
h i e h Go d He n no unced t e w s st by t e of ave . And of allthe books he wrote this is the
i e most elegant, subl m , and devout . The title of the book is the Song of Songs and f it well deserves the name, o r it is the DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 07
finest poetical composure now extant in
i n r her r the world . It s o t eve yw e ove nice and exact in its metaphors and al lusio n he ar d and rand s , but t y e bol g ,
fir ll n r ed elevated and lofty, all e, a co sec at rapture and inspiration ! The criticks of the Art of Poetry will presently see that it is a dramatic composition of that kind to which the modems would give the
it is a name of a Pastoral Opera. That
i er d dramatic performance is easily d scov e , i n inasmuch as it consists wholly of act o ,
i n i er na d a e a r r. s a s logu , d cha acte It p o l
re e i i n pr sentat on of passion and act o ,
dia e and is r l i h re the logu h to y , a lOf wh c a
exact description of the drama. It is i an era t e f . op , se ms to consist o three acts
Th er ar th l ri n e numb s e of e y ck kind , a d it has in it the evident intimations of
i n r n i mus ck a d a cho us . A d t is a pas
r ar i to al , as the scenes e mostly la d in the
r nd th har and i r count y , a e c acters mages a e i i ’ r r r . r a p nc pally u al But mo e than this , tis .
DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 09
“ The painted Meads and fragrant Fields ml A sudden s i e best o w ,
l n eameach Va e A go de Gl ll y yields ,
r n mr s Bea ti Whe e u e ou u es blo w .
A Thousand gaudy Colours flush ’ ’ Each od rous Mountain s Side
ll ri ir an bl h Li ies se fa , d Roses us
r h ir ri And Tulips sp ead t e P de.
h n n a Thus flouris es the wa to Ye r,
n ri h r sio n a I c P ofu g y,
l mn i h mr ir TilAutu bds t e bloo et e,
r The Verdue fade aw ay.
l h h Succeeding Co d wit ers t e Woods,
n e n While heavy Wi ter r ig s,
n F h ro zen F I ett ers binds t e f loo ds, ’ And shiv ers o er the Plains .
n i i i I a cur ous l ttle book of sacred mus c, “ called the New England Psalm-Singer ” o r eri n i i Am ca Chor ster, publ shed by Edes nd i in 1 7 in a G ll , probably 7 0 , contain g “ n - n a umber of psalm tunes , a thems , and ” n in r n fiv r ed ca ons , fou a d e pa ts, compos i i i by Willam B ll ngs of Boston, the book
ere a h n r Rev , is ym by Docto Byles, en “ titled New-England Hymn [Adapted to America This hymn is as follows :
“ To hee the n hem T tuneful A t soars, ’ To h o ur Fa her s an T ee, t God , d ours ; This Wilderness we chose o ur Seat ’ To Rights sccur d by EqualLaws ’ Fro ersecution s ron m P I Claws, e here ha e so h o ur cam e W v ug t l R treat.
See !how the Flocks of Jesus rise ! See !ho w the Face of Paradise ’ Blooms thro the Thickets o f the Wild 1 Here Liberty crests her Throne ; Here Plenty pours her Treasures down I ’
mil a H nl h r mi d . Peace s es , s eav y C e ub l
“ Lord, guard thy Favours ; Lord , extend Where farther Western Suns descend ; Nor Southern Seas the Blessings hound
” Halmi l-A W M mural-f lm ark
DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 1 1
That Doctor Byles had much interest in music is shown no t only by the hymn given above but by the following lines descriptive
i hi r n th en h o f fugue mus c, w ch appea o e t t ” h l in r nd r h r page o f t e Psa ni S ge , a a e t e e “ said to be from a miscellany o f the Rev .
' D . Byles “ r ma ic Air D o wn steers the Bass with g av e jest , And up the Treble mounts with shrill Career ;
i s Maze ith so er unds in mi d Me o d ou W ft So , l l ,
ar lin t w n the Tenor entl la s : W b g be ee , g y P y ’ B h i n Al in i Fo rce ut if t as p ri g tus j o ts ,
! i h ar it in s i to w r1 n See l ke t e L k, W g ts g Co urse ; ’ ’ hro Harmon s subimes here it ies T y l t Sp fl , And t o Angelic Accents seems t o rise ;
Fromthe H i hail h e i B s bo ld e ght it s t e cho ng as ,
hi h sw e ls o m t and mix in clse m ra . W c l t ee , o e b ce ’ ’ Tho diff rent st ems allth ar Sy e P ts divide, ’ With Music s Cho rds the distant Notes are ’ ty d ; And Sympathetick Strains enchanting winde ’ ir r s a e all he arts are in The estle s R c , till t P jo d ’ Then ro lls the Rapture thro the air around ” n In the full Magic Melody of So u d . 1 1 2 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ erses r saa a s Byles s v to Docto I c W tt , “ ” e era c asi ns are as in Poems on S v l O c o , follows :
a To the Reverend Doctor W tts, on his Divine
Poems .
’ smi in Muse h h Say, l g , w at eav nly Strain Fo rbids the Waves to roar ;
’ And charms our list ning Sho re !
’ What Angelstrikes the tremb ling Strings And whence the go lden So und I Or is it Watts or Gabriel sings Fro myo n celestial Gro und ?
“ ’ Tis h Sera hick a T ou, p W tts , thy Lyre Plays soft along the Floods ; ’ h No es the snarin Hi s ins T y t , g ll pire,
end the avin s And b w g Wood .
“ ’ The Meade i h d in Msi , w t y g u ck filld ,
’ ’ hi e whis rin o er c s r W l , p g a h f agrant Field,
- ’ - The H e rt h a a Marat h i“ bar s u T r am
E1 DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 1 8
’ ’ Fresh flo w ry Joys flame o er the Face ’ f e r la hin a O v y ug g V le.
And h m he rans T ou, y So ul , t T port o wn, ’ Fir d with immortal Heat ;
hile an in W d c g Pulses driving on, t th B Abo u y ody beat .
n r r hi Lo g as the Sun shall ea s Head,
An in l ms d chase the fly g G o o , As blushing fromhis nuptial Bed The gallant Bridegroomcomes
’ Lo ng as the dusky Ev ning flies An h a i ht d s ed s do ubtful L g , While sudden rush along the Sh es The sable Shades of Night
0 at h sa red a s n W ts , t y c L y so lo g ’ Shall ev ry Bosomfire ; ’ ’ And ev r Muse and ev r on e y , y T gu
i ir To speak thy Prase consp e.
When thy fair So ul shall on the Wings
n ra h Of sho uti g Se p s rise, And with superior Sw eetness sings Amid thy native Sh es ;
DOCTOR BYLES AS A POET 1 1 5
Ho w shall I sing P what numbers shallI chuse ’ ’ Fo r in m fav rite cat I v e ost m m y l y use. ’ No mo re ee m mind ith ra I f l y w ptures fir d , ’ I w ant those airs that Puss so oft inapir d
NO r in h h m r a l c o wd g t o ug ts y e dy fancy fil, No r w ords run fluent frommy easy quill ;
llm rse r r r a Yet sha y ve deplo e he c uel f te, m And celebrate the virt ues o f y cat .
In acts o bscene she never took delight ’ No cat erw auls disturbd o ur sleep by mght
h as a vir in ree romever s C aste g , f f y tain, ’ ’ And neighbring cats mew d for her love in
v a1 n .
’ She nev er thirsted fo r the chickens blood Her teeth she used only to chew her fo od
armlss as a ir h m H e s t es which er as t er writes,
f ra hi n n s i A oe to sc tc ng, a d u ued to bt es, She in the study was my constant mate ;
her e h r mn T e w e t og t e a y evenings sat . ’ ’ n l m Whe e er I fe t y t o w ring fancy fail,
r her head her ears he a an I st oked , , r b ck , d tail ’ And as I stroked impro v d my dying song Fromthe sw eet notes of her melodious tongue
H r urr and mews so evenl t t m e p s y kep i e, ’ ’ h urr in me re and she me in rh me S e p d t , w d y . 1 1 6 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ h n m d ness has to o st u o rn r But w e y ul bb p ov d, ’ ’ o r oud uss s msic be remo d N c l by P u v ,
t o the e - no wn o umes ha e Oft w ll k v l v I gone, n e a line ro m i A d stol f Pope or Add son .
m hen ost amidst ic bes Oftti es w l poet t , She leaping on my knee has took her seat ; ’ ’ There saw the thro es that rock d my leb ring
brain, ’ ’ An lick d and cla d me to s ain d w my elf ag .
h riends ind l m rief l me T en, f , u ge y g and et mo urn,
Mcat is o ne ah !ne er to re urn. y g , v t
m s ud allthe edio us ni h No w in y t y, t g t, n nassis e rite Alone I sit , a d u t d w d r a ca se o f a n Look often roun (O g e test u p i ), ’ And view the numrous labours of my brain ; ’ Those quires of wo rds array d in po mpo us
me rhy , the a s of all—e o rin im Which braved j w d v u g t e, ’ No w undefended and unwatch d by cats ’ th Are doomd a victimto e teeth of rats . CHAPTER VII
’ DOCTOR BYLEs s HU MOUR
Tw o ministers who filled a marked and honourable place in eighteenth century
n ri r in th ria Bosto , says a w te e Memo l ” is r r h rin th H to y , we e T omas P ce of e Old
h h r h n h the Sout C u c , a d Mat er Byles of
i h rin e Holl s Street Church . T omas P c shares with Cotton Mather the reputa tion of being the most learned man in
N En an in h i h n ew gl d t e e g tee th century . He far surpassed all the Mathers in h d n the met o , accuracy , a d usefulness o f
his writings . Mather Byles w as t oo w ay ward and eccentric a genius to make a
r r n r i ve y pe ma ent imp ess on, though he had
r i i and rema kable l terary g fts , a fancy
h h in his ear ier ears ne no w ic l y k w bounds .
r aine e in n in h i He ea ly obt d m e ce t e pulp t, 1 1 7
DOCTOR BYLES’S’ HUMOUR 1 1 9 have accomplished of reputation by his grave discourses and elaborate poetical
a r h r i l bou s , e ce ta nly and signally achieved - - by his never to be-forgotten quips and cranks and bo n mots and puns and funny ” a in s n i s y g a d com cal His w it , “ sa s r athanie m ns e y Docto N l E mo , bubbl d
r up as naturally as spring wate , and his witticisms kept Boston on a broad grin
r ll n r h r he fo a of half a ce tu y . You ea d t m repeated on t he streets and at the most
h en i him select dinner parties . T ey t tled
he r e to a monument, because t y p omot d the public health by aiding public diges ” “ Th fir r h ar o tion . e st story I eve e d f
” 5 h M r n w Mat er Byles, says Sa ge t , as ’ r h v elated at my father s table by t e Re .
! D Belknap in 1 797 . It was upon a Satur
! hn ar and r day, and D Jo Cl ke some othe n gentlemen, amo g whom I well remem
r r ber Majo Gene al Lincoln, ate their salt fish there that day. I was a boy, and I remember their mirth when after D? Belknap had told the story I said
minist er ? h to o ur D Clark , near w om I
in m e h was eat g y appl , that I wished e ” half as funn a minis s were y ter a Byles . The reputation fo r wit Docto r Byles had in Boston is very well shown by Thomas ’ Morton Jones s well-known doggerel ballad on the Boston ministers of his time which
rin n 1 4 was p ted i 77 . Describing with
r e r l coa s humou al the Bosto n ministers,
C unc e er n i r Sam ha y, P mb to , El ot, Coope ,
l her ue Mat , and the rest, Jones says of
’ here s nnin es in es our smi es T pu g Byl vok l , A man of stately parts i He visits folks to crack h s jokes, men h ir Which never d t e hearts . “ r n ai an i r With st utti g g t, d w g so g eat, n the s r He walks alo g t eets , ’ s out wit o r And throw , what s like it, ” he m To every one eets .
Fro msuch no tices as thcse v octor DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 21
w lived nearer his time than e, and from ’ the examples o f the doctor s wit that
s w r have come down to u, e a e obliged to admit that his humour rarely if ever rises above the plane o f puns o r amusing jokes
r h his h o r sharp repa tee, but suc as umour w as it seems to have kept Boston laugh
re han a enera i n and his ing fo r mo t g t o , scattered puns and smart sayings that have survived to o ur time no t o ne of us who has any sense of humour can help
in re o r ess en r ainin find g mo l te t g still . While he lived people met himas Greville
sa s e e a a s met n y p opl lw y Syd ey Smith , prepared to laugh and if need he go into “ fits o f erri en er his ns an m m t ov pu d quips . Doctor Byles could be fiercely satirical but his satire had none of the sustained dignity
’ nd a aren ra i of i a pp t g v ty Sw ft s , he could
t e se peopl laughing, but his sallies always came short of the droll fun of that prince
ia h ri hi f of soc l umou sts , msel also a clergy
m ne i h . i n an, Syd y Sm t Occas o ally Doctor
DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 23
i h an th to t me, t e doctor beg e service.
But Doctor Prince, w ho had possibly
n ir f r n e t ely o gotte the appointment, failed n i t o come, a d Doctor Byles w as obl ged to
r h hi Th h nn p eac mself . e text e a ounced , “ i i o r r t is sa d, was Put n t you t ust in ” princes ! ’ The drawings for King s Chapel pre
n h r rris n se ted by t e architect, Pete Ha o of
N r h a a d na ewpo t, R ode Isl nd , n fi lly ac ce d sh e iers of ind s the pte , ow d two t w ow , lower w indows no t much more than half the size of the upper ; when Doctor Byles
h r in saw t e d aw gs he exclaimed , referring “ to the lower tier o f windows : I have hear o h d f t e canons of the Church , but I ” 44 n r s - eve aw the port holes before.
In 1 773 M achusetts , the ass Gazette in forms us, the town authorities purchased fo r Boston from England two or three h n r r u d ed st eet lamps . The afternoon of the day they arrived a gossipy woman “ ” w ho had adopted ao -called New Light 1 24 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
d as i e i h a isa re opinions , an w g ft d w t d g e
i o u es . able whining vo ce, called Doctor Byl Her conversation irritated and bored the doctor and at last in desperation he said : “ ” “ ? ha Have you heard the news No , w t
r es r news, Docto Byl she asked eage ly . “ “ h a id the arso n W y, M dam , sa p , three hundmd new lights have this morning arrived from London, and the selectmen ” e is hav w ely ordered them put in irons . “ ’ n so ! You do t say said the woman. whereupon she hurried away to see who “ else had heard the distressing news . A gentleman whom Doctor Byles knew very kindly sent the doctor a barrel of
’ M d n r s i e fine oysters . eeting the o o w f o n the street an hour o r two after the
e r es s i her oysters cam , Docto Byl a d to “ o h s and h s re te me Madam, y ur u b a t a d this morning in a mo st Billingsgate man ” h T nd o er. he n ho ner l a s left woma , w
w as o f a nerv us temp e . o rament . went home DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 25 to dinner told himwhat Doctor Byles had
h man i i r r i . T e t s e sa d , co ded , w as so
’ annoyed at the doctor s folly that he promptly cut his acquaintance . A poor chap in agony with the tooth ache asked Doctor Byles where he should T go to have his tooth drawn. he Doctor directed himto a certain lo nely house o n h t he southwest side of Beacon Hill , w ere he told himhe would find a person w ho “ ” Th m en and would draw it . e an w t,
n t i hn i e n fou d , no a dent st, but Jo S ngl to “ t h r hi is a r Copley, e painte . T s poo “
fo r i . joke Doctor Byles, sa d Copley I do no t think my drawing your tooth u h ” wo ld ease t e pain very much . A candidate fo r local fame once an no unced to the public that he would fly h from t e steeple o f the North Church . h d n h He a already mou ted t e steeple, and w as clapping his artificial wings to the
h f r hen r d elig t o the c owd below , w Docto
n i Byles happe ed along. What has th s
DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 27
r o f the Byles household , o whether this incident occurred in the time o f the first o r the second Byles w e are no t i nformed .
? One night after M Rebecca Byles and her daughters had gone t o bed they
’ were awakened by the doctor s calling “ ” loudly Thieves ! Thieves l Hastily springing from their beds the women
’ r d ushed to Doctor Byles s stu y , but found the doctor calmly writing o r reading “ ” t is s her ? as e a h de k . Where ? W e k d ” w h ! ai h the omen excitedly . T ere s d t e i i doctor, po nt ng quietly to t he candles . Another very cold night the Miss Byleses were roused from their comfortable beds
ir i by the father call ng to themto get up . “ When they came to his study he said : I merely wanted to know whether you lay ” warm in bed . The Byles servant at o ne time was a
r i n i r ri ir ve y stup d a d l te al I sh g l , probably
n r h Emer d no t lo g f om t e al Isle. One 1 28 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES day with a look of afiright and in ap parent agitation Doctor Byles said to her : Go upstairs and tell your mistress that Doct or Byles has put an end t o him
Th ir ran h rried M9 self . e g l u ly t o Byles and in a terrified voice gave the
’ e h i doc tor s messag . To t e study qu ckly
'P e came MByles and her daughters . Th vision that greeted them was of the rever end gentleman waltzing about the room
’ with part of a cow s tail he had somewhere
picked up tied t o his coat behind .
'' One morning when MI Byles was iron
n e en visi rs the d r i g, som wom to t o octo
'' Ml es did no t ish were announced . Byl w to be seen at the ironing table and allowed herself to be pushed by her husband into
er i e n r er a closet . Aft a l ttl ge e al conv sa tion the callers expressed a wish to see
’ d r ri i i T r the octo s cu os t es . he pa son took them about the house and finally came “ to the closet . My greatest curiosity I ” h e e i h s h s id av k pt t ll t e la t, e a , then DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 29
Opening the door he presented t o them his greatly embarrassed wife. The road opposite the Byles house for several seasons w as almost impassable in w e he a e h dee s et w at r bec us o f t e p , oft m ud . Doctor Byles repeatedly com plained to the selectmen of the nuisance
h en and asked to have t e road m ded , but
he without avail. One day looked out and saw tw o o f the city fathers standing in the mud trying t o extricate from its depths the wheels of the chaise in which
h i i o f they ad been driv ng . Go ng out his house Doctor Byles bowed respect fully to the selectmen and said : Gentle mn ha e re en e resen e ha e , I v f qu tly r p t d t t
h as a isan hi hert sloug to you nu ce, but t o i am w thout an result, I glad to see you y , ” stirring in the matter at last . One Fast Day Doctor Byles and some brother minister o ut of town were to ex
change pulpits . On the appointed mo m
in i r r n h g both min ste s sta ted o orseback ,
DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 81 his ern rshi Ma s ! gov o p of s achusetts, M Belcher undertook a voyage to the east “ ” ward (it is said to Nova Scotia) to treat with the Indians. The governor asked
t r es i h him Doc o Byl to go w t , but the minister felt obliged to refuse: Governor
’ Belcher wanted his friend s company and de r ined to h i te m ave t , so he go t the chap ain t i ia l a Castle W ll m , in the harbour, to exchange pulpits with Doctor Byles o n n n n the followi g Sunday , o the afternoo i o f wh ch day he had arranged to start . The Governor w as going in t he w ar-ship
carborouh in u S g , Capta Durell , and on S n day morning he had the ship anchor near the castle. In the afternoon he invited
r Doctor Byles to come aboa d to drink t ea, hi and w le Byles was there the captain,
dire e ei he an h r a d the min as ct d , w g d c o , n i ister w as obl ged t o take the voyage.
n en But the story does o t end here. Wh a h ha in another Sunday came, the we t er v g hi been stormy , Doctor Byles found mself 1 82 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
i r st ll at sea. Of cou se he must have religious serv ice o n board and he pre d Ha in n pared to o so . v g take two ser mons with himto Castle William he was i n n well equ pped for preachi g, but obody o n r - rdin boa d had a hymn book . Acco gly, t e i n h min ster himself wrote a hymn, a d it is o n di i e that has great gn ty, shows a
fine ima in d i g ation, an is indeed qu te above i med ocrity .
reat Th or o onder raise G God I y w ks ur w , To Thee our swelling notes belong ; While skies and winds and rocks and seas hal ho o on Around s l ec to ur s g.
mi ht rame Thy po wer produced this g y f , Alo ud t o Thee t he tempests roar ; Or soft er breezes tune Thy name
ln the hell shore Gently a o g S y .
he na on Round Thee t scaly ti roves, Thy opening hand their joys bestow ;
h allthe bl i coral Throug ush ng groves,
h t a tr ts o T ese silen g y re ea belw . DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 83
See the r a s n orsa e th b o d u f k e skies, lo w n a G o the waves, nd do wnward slide ;
Anon l hea n o ens allits e ve p yes ,
And tar m em e in h s bea s tr bl t e tide.
Ea r a r ni h ch various scene, o d y o g t, ’ r in avi h l Lo d, po ts to Thee our r s d sou; Th y glories fix our who le delight , h ’ l So the to uc d needle co urts the po e.
That the composition of this fine hymn of the sea should have exposed Doctor Byles to subsequent satire seems at least
n air n n in ei h n h u f , but as Lo do the g tee t century had fierce rivalries that led liter ary men into coarse satirical rhyming a ains i g t each other, so Boston had ts doggerel rhymesters who occasionally did what they could to turn into ridicule th e literary compositions and smirch if they were able the reputations o f other writers
h h i i a h ri w om t ey d sl ked . As umou st Doc to r Byles had o ne acknowledged rival in n s e a is Bosto , w ho w as almo t x ctly of h o w n a e and who had ra a e at Har g , . g du t d
DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 85
and the h n i se . Th h mn ym t lf e y , as we have seen, was somewhat minutely de s ri i i c pt ve, and this feature of it espec ally ’ came in for Green s satire. In order to treat properly with the Indians Governor Belcher w as supposed to have taken with himo n the voyage a goodly quantity of rum reen no t , and this fact also G does fail to make trenchant allusion to in his parody . The satire reads :
’ In David s Psalms an o versight ’ B l n n mo rnin o er hi y es fo u d o e g s tea.
las wh n t avi rite A , y did o D d w A proper psalmto sing at sea?
hi a hi Aw le he paused nd stroked s Muse, h n n hi n n T e , taki g up s tu eful pe , Wrote a few stanzas for the use
Of his seafaring brethren.
’ The a ormd the ard on en t sk perf , B c t t , Wellchosen was each flo wing word ;
On a sho rt voyage himself he went,
To hear it read and sung on board . What pleasures and unknown delights ’ Thrilled the vain poet s soul to hear Others r h h epeat t e t ings he writes.
Mos a d hri ians o a er t ge C st d v ,
heir cr it sure e ma T ed w y rely on.
They used t o sing a song o ion ;
“ ’ Our mdern ars n ha in ra o p o , v g p y d,
Un ess o am r ai h l l ud f e ou f t beguiles , Sat do n out hi an w , took s book, d said, “ ’ ’ et s sin a so n of Ma h L g g t er Byles .
As soon as he a beg n to read ,
heir hea he s m n T ds t as e bly dow ward hung,
he i h oldnus did r e But w t b p oc ed,
An read and h s e d thus he , t u th y sung,
Tan PM
04
The wonders of the deep,
here mackrelswimand o r i W , p po se n cr b n l ter re A d a s a d ohs s c ep.
“ F is h o f allk ind DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 87
her h c hake an T e addi k, , d flo unders are, h an And eels and perc d co d .
m in i an m Fro rag g w nds d te pests free, m a So s oo th th t as youpass, The shining surface seems to be i f B l l A p ece o risto g ass .
h n h win s em s But w e t e d t pestuou rise,
min w sw ell And fo a g billo s , h lm T e vesse ounts abo ve the skies, n l i ha ll The o wer s nks t n he .
r in m Our b a s the to ttering otion feel, And quickly w e beco me
id as n w- r t alv an G dy e d op c es , d reel
Like I dians drunk wi r n th um.
What praises then are due that we
h ar hav a l T us f e s fe y got , Ama n riscoggi tribe to see, ” An tribe of eno d P bsco t.
Before long Doctor Byles retorted on
’ r i h ar o n reen r G een w t a p ody G s pa ody , which Doctor Belknap says distinctly turned the laugh on Green. Doctor ’ Byles s parody in one form (fo r there is
DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 89
r i h v n l h St a t to t e ta er c ub e went, ’ o h it bellw oun the r T ear o d r d boa d .
n n n eli hts his ears l U k o w d g exp ore, ’ t midni h a Inur d o g t c terwauls ,
h r hi h s mani r ar To ea s o ar e co p ons o ,
h h rri hin his n ra ls T e o d t g dul ess sc w .
am we ma rel on The club, if f e y y , ’ n n t r the drun en catch Co ve d , o hea k ,
At the three horse-sho es or red lion
’ n ni a h Tippli g began the ght s deb uc .
’ The little stiller took the pint n n Stillfraught with flip and so gs obsce e, ’ n af e a ln t rin meant A d , t r o g stut g, f To sing a song o Jo sy Green.
wi m n t n Soo n as th sta u g o gue, to read
h r nke alla an T e d u n b d , he beg , ’ r m lm ra r The clubf o c a ring st it ecede,
hea mr ar he hin a ne To r hi o t t g lo .
So ns
With vast amazement we survey
r ro ad s ee The can so b oad, so b , o d p,
Where punch succeeds to strong gangree, i Both to delightfulfl p. [40 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
f m inha i Drink o alls acks , b t here, And throng the dark abode ; ’ r m an n m Here s u , d sugar, a d s allbeer, con ul In a tin a flood .
m e ho h Fro crul t ug ts and conscience free,
Our chee s like a k , pples, ruddy be r e eb l oo lik Ou y als l k e glass .
At once i e uri , l k f es, up we rise, Our raging passions swell We hur the bot l l t e to the skies, But wh e canno y w t tell .
Our brain a t o tt rm m s g otion feel, And quickly we become
i i h ne r Sck, as w t g o steaks, and reel
i e n n i h m L k I dians dru k w t ru .
s t in ran i l Thu los deep t qul ity, it t We s , supine and so , Tillwe t wo moons distinctly see ’ ” me i t o her ot Co g ve us t p .
” Th hr e ne r e p as g o steaks, in the last ataz o ne his ar d is n abut of t p o y, an allusion to an unsavoury story at that time current DOCTOR BYLES’S HUMOUR 1 41 in Boston that on one occasion some prs c tical joker had imposed steaks cut from a
r ins ea ee o h dead neg o , t d of b f, n t e convivial " i h r club to wh c G een belonged . At some period in his ministerial career
r es had his s d ain e r Docto Byl tu y p t d b own . In explanation of the rather dull colour he is said to have told people that he wanted to be able o n occasion to say he “ ” r n s w as in a b ow tudy . On a certain
n rha s s l day he we t, pe p omewhat re uc
a arishi r tautly, to see p one w ho w as con v i r alesc ng f om smallpox . As he entered
’ the patient s room he piously uttered what the man took to be the familiar e esias i a sa a i Pas: te cum! ccl t c l lut t on, ’ c r B les a a a Do to y s ctu l s lutation, however, “ ’ ” w as a e em1 , Pox t k
DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 48 the scene of some of the most stirring
r and hen i events of the st uggle, w the s ege
an i i i er i of Boston beg , ts m n st l ke allthe other Congregational ministers of the town with the exception of Doctor Andrew
i r El ot of the New North Chu ch , Doctor
M r n r M r Samuel athe , a d Docto athe Byles ,
i h r at once took refuge, w t a la ge part of
r their parishioners, in the count y near.
he e n n Of t s mi isters of Boston, a d indeed of the whole body of Congregational min
isters in n a n New E gland , Doctor Byles lo e
s ma hize i r y p t d w th the c own . In the “ ” Memorial History of Boston the writer “ ” on the Boston Pulpit of the Revolution “ a : s ys Doctor Byles tried, with un
e i i doubt d s ncerity , to avo d politics in
the pulpit, but his opinions were too
n ri a oto ous, nd his sharp tongue was too
r a f ee, to m ke his position long an agree able one either to his people or to him
” ? r i i self . M Eph am Eliot in h s historical notices of the New North Church says that 1 44 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ Doctor Andrew Eliot s remaining in town during the siege was enforced probably by n the selectme , so that Congregational wo r
sh in in ship ould be ma ta ed ; Do cto r Byles, “ e i in h says, be ng the Tory interest was
e e s n n glect d by mo t of the i habitants , although he performed service fo r some time ” in o cen r i - ne of the t almeet ng houses . That Doctor Byles persistently refused to rea h o n i i e p c pol t calsubjects , wh n all the other ministers of his denomination
r d in o em we e o g s , se s to have produced
r i i n o n i e g eat d ssat sfac tio am g h s peopl . In answer to their queries as to why he avoided politics in his sermons he is re “ ported to have sententiously said : I
r reas r ehin have thrown up fou b two ks, b d
forced In b fi of which can be . t e rst place, I do not underst and politics ; in the second
’ ldo e er m place, you al , v y an and mo ther s a _ uh nv son of v ou: in the third nlace. vo DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 45 out of seven be devoted to religion ; and i r h a am n a n the fou t pl ce, I e g ged in a
r i ni e rea r i r wo k of nfi t ly g te mpo tance. Give me any subject to preach upon of more consequence than the truths I bring
i r a i th to you , and I w ll p e ch upon t e next Sabbath Fo r the unique position Doc t or Byles held among his brethren of the
n e i Congregatio al cl rgy , n the great political struggle of the country through which he
i ed i is o n the h e o t iffi find l v , t w ol n d cult to
re ri an i is er i the asons . No Pu t m n t n New
n and in his i e r a . h i E gl t m , p ob bly , ad l ved in so close friendly relations with the lead ing government officials and their families
h and his s a hi a as e, ymp t es soci lly were profoundly with the more conserv ative
the se a e he w a class . In cond pl c as poet and the vulgar clash of political parties
ai i i a a ini ra and the det ls of pol t c l dm st tion,
n m r as with ma y such en, we e uncongenial
im and he re erre as h to h , p f d muc as pos a sible to let them lone.
DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 47
i r thousand m les away, o by three thousand ’ ” tyrants no t a mile away P Doctor Em mons is further quoted as saying to the friend to whom he related this incident : “ here w as I tell you , my boy, t just as much humbug in politics seventy years ago as there is to-day ; and throwing out
Samand hn da s and hn a Jo A m Jo H ncock, a r h nd some few other leade s, t e majority of o ur New England patriots were a sorry ” set .
In the twenty-seventh volume of the New England Historical and Genealogical
e is er in M R g t , a note on the ay family of “ s n a r r Bo to write says : Docto Byles, as is e n n w a s ead nen w ll k ow , as t y oppo t of the a ri i m i n p t ot c ovement, of wh ch Bosto w he h n i ll a as t eadquarters, a d n a w ys strove to ridicule it and its principal
s r . e er ree ex upporte s . As he gav v y f
r s his n n s p ession to his feeling , oppo e t ,
r n a ard in heir of course, we e o t b ckw t ” i e s a e hat censures of h m. Th t t ment t while Byles refused to discuss politics in the pulpit he gave free rein t o his po wers of sarcasmin opposition to the Patriot
i e or i o n cause s undoubtedly tru , f wh le e
i Mr. i of h s deacons , Benjam n Church , sympathized with the Tories and upheld
i ini er h s m st , most of the Hollis Street congregation were extremely bitter against
‘ from the Hollis Street Church and uniting
e with th Old South . When the royal troops invested Boston most of Doctor ’ Byles s congregation that could get away
r hu ried out of the town, but the doctor and his family stayed , and his staying was one of the charges brought against him
en his n re a i n at l re rn wh co g g t o ast tu ed . In this day of clear judgment on the iss es at s a e i he u t k n t Revolution, the DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 49 her i r s h i pol cy towa d t e colon es , a revolt w i as nevitable, but when the crisis came he saw so much fanaticism mingled with the true spirit of independence that like many another man of patriotic but co n serv ative views he w as disgusted with the outbreaks of feeling he witnessed and contemptuous of the methods by which many of his fellow-citizens sought to i h redress the r wrongs . We ave spoken
hi r e n i a i h Ear r of s p obabl i t m cy w t l Pe cy , “ ” ams rr sa r e er his I o y to y, w ot P cy to
a her in 1 774 ha no d men i f t , , t t bo y of n this Province are so extremely injurious to the peace and tranquillity of it as the
r h re h i i n cle gy . T ey p ac up sed t o openly i heir . Na e from t pulp ts y, som of them have gone so far as absolutely to refuse the sacrament to the communicants till they have signed a paper of the most
i i i d hi h he ha e denomi sed t ous k n , w c t y v ” nd nated the Solemn League a Covenant .
v Es . ha To Henry Re eley, q , of Peck m,
DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 51
quite right in imagining Doctor Byles to have been an occasional guest at Earl
’ r Percy s dinne table, in the house this charming young nobleman had rented at
i r r o the head of W nte St eet, n the edge of
’ m l in i t he Com on. But By es s t macy with B ritish officers did no t prevent t he quarter ing of troops in the Hollis Street meeting
i ld h a r house, as n the O Sout nd the B attle
’ r r n r B l St eet Chu ches, and whe Docto y es s congregation came back they found to their great indignation the pews taken
n an in aler be se dow d stored the g l y , to u d
e e i re ir b as fu l should n cess ty qu e, a ox s e set in h h r h the i tov up t e c u c , p pe of which went perpendicularly through the
and the r i red i h r roof, floo still l tte w t st aw , which had no doubt served the soldiers
in h ir r s as beds . Collect g t e fo ce , the leaders of the congregation accordingly resolved without further delay to rid them
ir n a ri i e selves o f the u p t ot c pastor, whos voice they were stoutly resolved never 1 52 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
in heir i a in T r r to hear t pulp t ga . he egula way of dismissing himwould have been to call an advisory council of sister churches to review his co nduct and coun
l th h h ho ac in se e c urc w to t . But stead of doing this they took matters promptly into their o wn hands and prepared to deal
i h the inis er he w t m t by t mselves .
In rs n e hi r pu ua c of t s esolve, they gave
‘II public notice that on the 9 . of August (1 776) t he church would meet Doctor Byles and give hima chance to answer the charges they had to prefer against hi h d h m. W en the ay came t e male mem bers of the church seated themselves in o e the erie nd ai ed fo r the n of gall s, a w t
d r a e r. resen e en ere octo to pp a P tly h t d , dressed in n and ds o hi h gow ban , n s ead a full bush wig that had been recently
dered s r n e pow , u mou t d by a large three
r er d i co n e hat . W th due solemnity of bearing and with a long and measured tread Byles walked to the pulpit and
DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 58
e e s ir Han i i ascend d th ta s . g ng h s hat o n
e e ea a p g, b s ted himself, and after a few “ ” en i n r mom ts s le ce, with a po tentous air
turned towards the gallery where his ac
r i cuse s sat . Lo ok ng at them sternly he “ called out : If ye have aught to com ” municate a o ! er a m en , s y n Aft om t of
rri s i nes ea - i ed te ble t ll s, a small , w k vo c dea co n arose, and unfolding a paper began “ r h r feebly to ead . T e chu ch of Christ ” in H i r i oll s St eet he sa d . Lo uder l
ried h n r ain c t e a g y Doctor Byles . Ag the
i e dea n r in r is his i l ttl co , t y g to a e vo ce, “ began : The church of Christ in Hollis
’ Street But again the doctor s sten “ ” torian voice thundered out Lo uder l
hir i e the dea n essa ed A t d t m co y to read , when once more he w as interrupted with “ ” o der ! r I The d L u Lo ude , I say eacon
’ no w r in at th inis er s ra h , t embl g e m t w t , strained his voice to the utmost and read the specifications of unministerial and un
’ patriotic conduct o n the doct or s part which he and his fellow-members had
' or fourth charge had been read Docto r Byles ro se and shouted at the t0 p of his “ ’ " ' ’ voice : fi s false ! D s false ! Tis false ! and the Church of Christ in Hollis Street
’ knows that t is false whereupon he seized
his ha an ed it r o n i t , pl t fi mly h s head , and in fierce indignation dramatically moved
h r h out of the c u c , never while he lived to
i r i enter ts doo s agan. The specific charges made against Doc
r e ere h he had to Byles by his peopl w , t at stayed in town during the siege ; that he
“ ’ had pray d in publick that America might
bmitt ra e ri ain o r r s su to G t B tt , wo d to “ the same purpose that he associated and spent a considerable part of his time
ri i with the ofi cers of the B t sh army, having them frequently at his house and lending them his glasses fo r the purpose of seeing the works erecting out of town ” for o ur Defense ; that he treated the DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 55
public calamity with a grate degree of
i eness n n iff ren e sa i l t a d I d e c , y ng when his tow nspeople left their houses that a bette r s r d heir o t of people woul take t place, o r words to that purpose and that he fre
’ n m n r a s r n que tly et o Lo d s d y , befo e a d
i m r r In after serv ce, with a nu be of o u
i r in in v eterate Enem es , at a ce ta place ” King Street called Tory Hall . One week
’ later than the doctor s dramatic arraign ment in the meeting-house the church “ ? again met and voted that the Rev
r Ma h r in i Docto t e Byles , hav g by h s co n duct put an end to his usefulness as a
u i rea h r mn P bl ck p c e a o gst us, Be and
here is i by , d smissed from his Pastoral ” “1 h r c a ge. Of the general truth of these accusations of the church against Doctor Byles w e
s se here an b n i uppo t c e o doubt . Prec sely
ha his in er r in w t feel gs w e, o deed the feel
in s an i i g of m y of h s fellow Tor es , as they witnessed fo r years previous to the Revolu
DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 57 rank in command of the forces were fre quently entertained at his house during
i w n e r i i the s ege as u doubt dly t ue, t s even n i n said that o th s account, a d because of the detestation in which he w as gener
f r i i i ri i ally held o h s pol t cal p nc ples , the blinds in his house had to be kept tightly closed in the evenings during the latter h i i ni part of t e s ege, lest the l ghts shi ng out should make the house a target fo r unfriendly shots from the soldiers en d i campe o n Dorchester He ghts . Although the bitterest feeling against Doctor Byles existed in the minds of his fellow-ministers when they returned to
heir h r h i i e id n t c u c es, t s v e t that some of them entirely disapproved of the course the Hollis Street Church had taken in no t seeking advice from other churches in dissolving the relations between them and “ i w he ea in the r pastor. It as t gr tes t jury to the ministry that ever w as done when this church proceeded to dismiss 1 58 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
D! Byles without any kind of advice from ” i n i ri n an Ecclesiast cal Cou c l , w tes you g
hn E i r s n his riend Rev . Jo l ot f om Bo to to f
r e n a r n Rev . Je emy B lk ap t Dove , Ju e
? i e rli r i a 1 777 . A l ttl ea e M El ot s ys
“ ? ’ ' B les s h r h i s ied Mr D y c u c s uppl by .
rad rd en an a ri nd B fo , a young g tlem , f e of
ine i ne T r m , a new beg n r. he Doctor st uts about town in the luxuriance of his self
ufi ie in h i l s c ncy, look g as if e desp sed al
nd H e r n n manki . e n ve atte ds a y meet i o e d mi n n n . H h h fo r n e g w ot a a te a c ,
n s esides him and th n nobody k ow b , e o ly
‘ n h c n i i h h d e accou t e a g ve us s , T at e oubl s ’ e hi ne H i ir e and tr bles s mo y . e s a v ul nt
r d des i all r To y , an t tute of p udence .
? Notwithstanding I despise D Byles as m mn can h d n her t uch as a a ol a ot , ye I think y? proceedings of that church with him ere irre ar and arran w gul unw table, and hath held up a precedent fo r a practise
‘ that will cause y ruin of o ur ecclesiastical
‘ ns i i n h ‘ co t tut o , weaken y ands of y minis DISMISSAL FROM CHURCH 1 59
and la uh i r e en try, y s c d scou ag m t before
i i re en h ir cand dates as w ll p v t t e settling, and in a few years the harvest must be
e i f a r almost d st tute o l bou ers . When the church at Bolton made this innovation
? D Channey w as so angry that he would have refused holding communion with the members ; yet now he justifies and was the cause of this church at Boston pro
n in he a n ceedi g t w ay they h ve do e. He
‘ ’ i no f r rea her says , Byles s t fit o a p c . So
ha e had a i say I , but I would v Counc l , and I amcertain any Council would have i hi i ” given h m s qu etus .
! The reason given by M Ephraim Eliot
’ fo r Doctor Byles s summary dismissal from his pastorate is that he no t only had o f
ended his e e his r f p opl by To y principles , but had lost their respect by indulging “ in a natural vein of low w it and ridicu ” “3 in the a er lous punn g . If l tt charge is
! true w e must accept it largely o n M
’ Eliot s statement : w e believe it has no
CHAPTER IX
TRIAL BEFORE 'rnn To wn
AFTER his dismissal from his pastorate a further trial and condemnation fo r his Tory principles awaited Doctor Byles from
i ri i the Boston c vil autho t es . In the Records of the Committee of Correspond en n 1 776 w find ce a d Safety of August , , e “ Information having been given this Com mittee of a number of Persons w ho had heard Doctor Byles express himself very
? n ri nd hi n r u f e ly to t s Cou t y , M Thomas
dir ir h i nd n w as ected to requ e t e r atte a ce . A number of Persons appeared and were examined as to what they knew relative ” In a ee in he d o n to Doctor Byles . m t g l ‘h . M 1 777 the s n se e the 1 7 of ay, , Bo to l ct men in pursuance of a law that had lately been passed presented a list of names of u 1 61 1 62 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES persons belonging to the town who had
“ since the of April , 1 775 , to counter act the united struggles of this and the ” ei h rin nd n g bou g state, a of these offend
’ i r B l . ng names Docto y es s stood second . At a specialSessio ns o f the Peace held o n the e o e rie s c nd of Jun , Byles was t d and convicted of disloyalty to the state and was ordered to be confined o n board a
ar sh or er i n i gu d ip oth w se secured , u t l he could be sent either to the West Indies o r to Europe. In the Massachusetts His t orical Society Collections is printed an
z 9 extract from the Boston Ga ette of June , “ which says : At the special Ses sions of the Peace held here o n Monday
a e o n the ria Ma h er last c m t l of t Byles ,
a ni r h hi l te mi ste of t e Gospel in t s to w n, charged with being an enemy to the United States ; when after a fair and candid ex amination of evidence the jury returned
heir Mh r t ver t at e Byles , TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 68 and ha n sin e he ri 1 7 s bee c t of Ap l , 7 5 , inimically disposed towards this and the
r ni d nd ha hi r i othe U te States , a t t s es dence in this State is dangerous to the public
w h n i peace and safety . He as t e del vered
er offi er ho into the custody of a prop c , w conducted him to the Honourable the
r r h re b dea i h Boa d of Wa , t e to e lt w t
r e ac hi r ag eeable t o a lat t of t s State, fo
h r n a e and r v id suc pe so s m d p o ed . “ William Tudor in his Life of James ” ’ “ Otis says of Doctor Byles s trial : On being brought before the Board of War he w as rea e i h r and h t t d w t espect, e w as ordered to be confined to his o w n house ” “ h i s fo r a s ort t me. A there seems to have been nothing absolutely treasonable ” in hi he ra h r i s conduct, t e na vely pro “ d i m b d e he her h cee s, t ay e oubt d w t e would have experienced any inconvenience o n account of his political sentiments if he had no t provoked enmity in other ways . He possessed in a remarkable degree a
TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 65
? ernment peo ple of Mass Bay in New England hereby directed immediately to deliver the Mather to the board of w ar of the State to be by them put on board a guard ship o r otherwise secured until they can transport Mather Byles o ff the continent to some part of the West Indies o r Europe agreeable to a late law 9 i r hand and of 8 State. G ven under ou s seals at Boston the second day of
June in the year of the Lord 1 777 .
JO HN HILL o
SAML . PEMBERTON E Jo snpn GREENLEAF 8 Jo snpn GARDNER The warrant is endorsed o n the back “ Warrant to deliver Mather Byles to the Board of War June
n 1 8 1 777 . U der date of June , , t he Rev Doctor Ezra Stiles in his diary says
“ ‘l ' ° T Rev . M ar is inis er he Cl k, Ep c M t
ee ad d ed a in Dedham , w as last w k ju g by
n r d Jury an enemy to his Cou t y , an sent e r i ou board th Gua d Sh p at Boston. So
° n o r . o ne Episc a d ne P esb . Minister (Dr Byles) formally tried and condemned ac ” ‘ o cord to act f Mass . Assembly . What influence may have prevented ’ the Boston authorities carrying out the rigorous sentence they had imposed Doctor Byles we are nowhere certainly told . It has been said in print that the
' doctor flatly told the selectmen that he
' d no t e e th woul l av e town, it has also been stated that in their final dealing with the o ld minister the authorities considered his
i h t his i e as i t e er age, wh c a t t m w a l t l ov
en . m e en h h it sev ty It ay be, v , t oug
r seems i e ha s e o ne or ha dly l k ly, t t om more of the other Bo sto n ministers inter
e ced ed to hav his sentence remitted , at any rate he w as no t placed o n the guard
hi n ne o s p but was co fi d to his wn house, before which a sentinel was placed to pre vent his being visited by o r having com TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 67
F r r a still have in the town. o p ob bly
h i h h r i er a two o r three mont s, w t a s o t nt v l
n n w ed during which the se ti el as remov , the farce of guarding the old Tory w as
a hi a s r i ris n kept up , but t last s b u d mp o
n n nd and he w as a ed me t came to a e , llow once more freely to go about the town .
778 hi r es w as In July , 1 , w le Docto Byl imprisoned in his house the Rev . Jacob
ai E i a er ma e B ley, an p scop l cl gy n, w ll “ r n i i i n r known to us as the f o t er m ss o a y,
a r P r Mai e Bo c me f om o w nalbo o ugh , n , to s
to n on i n er i , bus ness, a d w as p m tted to
isi th d i nder da e v t e o l Royal st . U t of
? July MBailey writes in his diary “ After breakfast went to visit the famous
5 D e h in n r Byl s, w o w as deta ed a priso e i hi h n s o wn se. He re ei e me s e ou c v d ,
r in hi nn r i r co d g to s ma e , w th great f eedom , n in n a d enterta ed me with a variety of pu s. He w as mightly pleased with the letters I brought himfrom his son and grand
a n i r hi h ers a d ughter, a d nst ucted s daug t ,
TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 69 ing two o r three tunes o n the organ by o ne
his da h ers m of ug t , I took y leave, with an ” in ita i n and r ise rene i i v t o p om to w my v s t .
’ Of the doctor s trial and his conduct
r r n th oughout the o deal , a d o f the justice
the er i i n a ain him n of v d ct g ve g st , you g
hn E i no rd ined i Jo l ot, t yet o a , w th char acteristic bitterness against the o ld minis
r n h ne f te , a d with t e cocksure ss o youth “ writes to Jeremy Belknap : I will ac i i i qua nt a l ttle about o ur Boston an court . The first called to the bar w as the mag fi H n ni cent Doctor. e had o his large
W hi sic n an a g [ !, lo g b d , a bl ck coat, &c .
He a eare i n pp d w thout cou sel , and upon the nomination of the jury he objected to
o ne a as n d e F ll , commo ly calle F llows, be cause he said he would no t be tried by fellows . The evidence w as much more in a f vour o f him than against him. All that could be proved w as that he is a
si i h erson sh d lly , mpertinent, childis p ; I oul
sa n h h nd y i consistent, if is w ole co uct did not manifest himto be one consistent lump of absurdity . It was to the
as well as to the whole to wn, that he ’ Hi should be bro t in guilty . s general character has been so despicable that he
e s h no rien i him o s em to ave f ds to p ty , th ’ allallow upon such evidence he o t no t be
The condemned . women all pro claim a judgment from Heaven as a punishment
or i f his ill treatment of his w ves . Ven
e ce has at en h er a en him h g an l gt ov t k , t ey
i en s fferin i no say, and h s pres t u gs w ll w
rin him re e ion and he i lno b g to fl ct , w l w find that a Righteous Being taketh notice
h a n men and of all unrig teousness mo g , at proper times humbles the most haughty
- The r i and self sufficient . Docto is st ll confined to his house to be removed at the pl of War. How are the TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 71
restin a n i n h te g ccou t, wr tte on t ethirteenth
r 1 778 ri h of Octobe , , of the t al of er father
he h r h and the n by t c u c tow authorities . “ Miss Byles writes : Upon the first open in he wn a er h e a a i n h g of t to [ ft t e v cu t o !, t e people among whom my father had o fli cis ted fo r forty-three years had an irregular meeting and desired his attendance ; when a charge of his attachment to government w r ad whi h h n er o h as e , of c , as e ev could
in am na i e an e a ta a copy , I u ble to g v x ct
n n h r in d d hi accou t . Amo g ot ers w e e clu e s i n i i fr e dly dispos t on to the British troops, particularly his entertaining them at o ur h se ind in h i ou , ulg g t em with h s telescope,
&c . his ra r fo r h in n f r , p ye s t e K g, a d o th e preserv ation of the town during the siege . Some time after this a few lines
ere sen him in r in him h ix w t , fo m g t at s weeks before (without so much as the advice o f any Council) be had been dis
i r hi m ssed f om s pastoral charge. Thus
he e him i r o r o t y l ft w thout any suppo t, s
TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 78
! ? ported by M Bailey and M Eliot to h i h ave ndulged , w e have t e following
ri h nd n ra i i n f sto es, a ed dow by t d t o , o his humour while he w as suffering political
In r re h i disgrace. his t ial befo t e just ces of the peace a certain Ebenezer “ ” commonly known as Ebby w as sum Th n w moued t o give evidence. e ma as probably giving his testimony in too low
n f r h r h r h n a to e o t e docto to ea , w e sud
' nl l w i a in r ar i de y the o d t le n g fo w d , w th “ his hand to his ear called o ut : What ” does that Ebby-dunce say ? Who is ” that man in uniform before your house ? once queried some o ne o f the doctor
hi e he w as ein ard w l b g gu ed by a sentinel . “ said r Docto Byles quickly , that ” is my observe-a-Tory 1 One warm day
d ri his i ri n u ng mp so ment , Byles wanted some cool water and begged the sentinel
the e and f to go to w ll get some or him.
fir h s di r i At st t e ol e , a s mple fellow, re
’ sed o n the c r s e in him fu , but do to t ll g he hi se ee that m lf would k p guard , the man consented to go . Doctor Byles then ’ taking the man s musket put it o n his o wn
ho ld r d ith a r e mili s u e , an w t u tary air paced up and down before his door till the soldier
’ r i retu ned . As we have sa d, Doofe r Byles s
rd as fo r a i e i hen gua w t m w thdrawn, t re
la e and at a re a o e p c d, l st moved lt g ther. din h i i i Allu g to t is fact, the w tty m n ster “ is reported to have said : I have been
r - gua ded, re guarded , and disregarded . General Howe with his troops left Boston on h r 1 6 n o n h 20 9 t e of Ma ch , 77 , a d t e
’ General Washington s troops came in over
r n r ar the Neck . Colonel Hen y K ox , afte w d
re e General Knox, who had p viously k pt a fashionable book-store in Cornhill and was
r es as extremely well known to Doc to Byl , w n in command of the artillery, a d he had “ some oint on heir grown very stout. At p t route through the town Doctor Byles was standing on t he sid ew alk w atc hing the troops and 1 came ah TRIAL BEFORE THE TOWN 1 75
“ claimed I never saw an ox fatter in my life When Knox w as told of the pun he is said to have remarked that Doctor Byles “ ” w as a damned fool .
i r r d h r h It s eco de t at once, befo e t e
Revolution, the doctor created almost a panic among the British troops by report ing that o n the fourteenth of June forty thousand men would rise up in opposition
h m i h h r a ir . to t e , w t t e cle gy t the head
’ Doctor Byles s meaning w as that the of June w as to be t he annual New Eng i land Fast Day, when pol tical sermons would be generally preached and all the grievances of the colonies against England i h i “ w t great warmth be d scussed . W e ” “ ~ . h i e a v r . sm l , s ys Re Geo ge L C aney, at the possibility of finding anything for midab in a - a n e i le Fast d y co gr gat on, but in h d in his r in e it n t at ay, t P ov c , mea t, in ll i er n ar t w - r a l t alness, a my o f o sco e
h n mn h ad d h ir r t ousa d e , e e by t e cle gy, and animated with the dangerous resolu
CHAPTER X
In So ciAL STANDING . FR a nrrs
Tar: place held by Mather Byles in the social life of Boston in the Provincial i per od w as distinctly an important o ne. [ There were people in the community w ho i him ir ri d sliked , fo r the a of supe ority
h n ha r fo r e seems commo ly to ve wo n,
i iri th Ma h r hi h the combat ve sp t of e t e s, w c
d r ai de r fo r he had inherite to a ce t n g ee, the sometimes far to o caustic tone o f his
h r and in ee it i i e e iden umou , d d , s qu t v t,
n w r fo r the humour itself , a d e mo e than suspect from the preference he show ed in social intercourse fo r men of position and
in n ere ere few e ie e flue ce, but th w , we b l v , w ho would have ventured to question his
ri ri o r hi ri h intellectual supe o ty, s g t in the catalogue of locally important men to m beside the scholarly Docto r
e O d h r es Prince of th l South , C a l ’ yles s contemporary through
r i i e se h the last yea of h s l f , Jo p
or h Jonathan Mayhew, any ot ers the most eminent preachers and writers o r the lesser New England estimate the most critical of his time put o n his poetry we
hi o n know, but s poems as a y u g
welcome of royal governors, and
dea mnar hs an th of o c , d of local men and women occupied high official o r social
ni s ha e in the commu ty, mu t v given himt he local distinction of almost - a New England poet laureate . The exact social rank Doctor Byles had in Bost on to the time tion we may without with a good deal of By the time he
1 SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 79 dynasty under which he had been born h d d hi rand a h r n r a passe , s g f t e I c ease, the most pow erful individual force in ” r in hi n h Ame ica s day, a d is stupendous
n ha in di d i in a u cle Cotton, v g e w th less th n
fi ar f ea h h r r in v e ye s o c ot e , the latte
r 1 728 i a Feb uary , , but the prest ge th t these eminent relatives had fo r so long
w r n enjoyed as no t by any means fo gotte , and Byles could no t have failed in some measure to inherit the distinction the h f Mathers had earned . As t e pastor o r over forty years of o ne of the less influen tial churches of Boston his ecclesiastical position w ould no t necessarily have en titled himto the social consideration he
was e id i n v ently g ve , but at the outset of
is ini r if no t ar i h in h m st y, e l er, e came to confidential relations with the rich Gov
erno r e her h s ie e h mar B lc , w o e n c e soon
ri d a d hi ri nd inter r e i h e , n s f e ly cou s w t royal governors did no t cease when Belcher h i f n n yielded t e re ns o gover me t to Shirley, ’ r a n i a o r indeed p ob bly u t l G ge s brief, stormy rule came to an end . As the Rev olution drew on be identified himself closely in political sympathy with the crown officials and rich merchants and
o f leading lawyers, wh or the most part
ries nd th h were To , a al ough many of t ese were staunch supporters of the Anglican
’ r Church and worshippe s at King s Chapel, his intercourse with them must necessarily
n ri d have been exceedi gly f en ly, and his social separatio n from the less aristocratic Patrio t Congregational families of the town correspondingly great . ’ r l i The Boston of Docto By es s lifet me, before the Revolution drove its acknowl a edged aristocracy aw y, w as much like a
t and certainly, from he extent of its for SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 1 81 w as the central point and chief city of the most compact population to be found o eri ea ard h im n the Am can s bo , t e most
r n h po ta t town in the new world . It ad many wharv es from which vessels were constantly plying to other parts of
eri he es i r d Am ca, t W t Ind es , Eu ope, an
ri n h h the O e t, t e most noted of t ese of
r in n ha in i h are cou se be g Lo g W rf , l ed w t w h s r hi re ou es , f om w ch busy State St et,
he in r near he en re t n K g St eet, led to t c t
d f hi r of the town . At the hea o t s st eet was h r h ern t e Town House, whe e t e gov
en in alli ran h m en m t ts b c es et , and b eath which some of the well-known merchants had their stores . On the summit of
ea n Hi d B co ll stoo the tall beacon, o n
r -i r in c oss t mbe s , rest g o n a stone fo unda i n t o and supported by braces . The
n w as a h e rass Commo ug g y public field , d a hi h an the M ll , w c led along the eastern sid hi hi ri in r e of t s sto c closu e, from Park
r Street to West St eet , bordered by lux
SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 1 88
properties w as confiscated and thereafter
w a i r s occup ed by humble folk . On Beacon
ree r St t, a little to the westwa d of the
H e r h a Ha State ous g ounds , stood T om s n ’ “ e ri cock s hous , o ne of the noblest p vate ” hi h mansions in Boston, built in 1 787 , w c
e an h in tim passed to John H cock , w o alone of the merchant-aristocrats of Bo s i t on, fo r o ne reas on or another, d d no t give his sympathy to the royal cause. The estate that had originally belonged
n r n r to Rev . Joh Cotton, o n T emo t St eet,
’ i n i a l ttle to the north of Peter Fa eu l s , w as owned at the Revolution by William ’ assa i i r V ll , wh le R chard Cla ke, Copley s
a her- n-law h i in f t i , w o w th Joshua W slow , i n n n n a ui r. i a Be jam F e l , J , and El sha d
ins n i n Thomas Hutch o , w as a cons g ee of
h hr n in he har r the tea t at w as t ow to t bou ,
r i lived on School St eet, a l ttle below w where the Parker House stands no . Of
h r me ro i en e i ia hi li s ot e n of p m n c , W ll m P l p lived in the house built by his father-in r Bromfield o n n ree law , Edw a d , Beaco St t, almost opposite the Athenmum; James
d in d s Bow o ha a house, which almo t “ rivalled the Bromfield-Phillips house in i i d ” sol d ty an elegance, a little to the west of this house ; Gilbert De Blois had a
se on re n t the rner hou T mo t Street, a co of Bromfield Street ; Judge Robert
u mut r n A ch y, J . , when the Revolutio be gan lived in School Street ; Jonathan Snelling lived in Hanover Street ; Harri so n Gray lived probably o n Washingto n
e r h hile Stre t, no t of State Street ; w Gov cru r h as i s n d e re his o T om Hutch n o , an b fo death Sir Charles Henry Frankland, as i ’ N s well known, lived in the extrerne orth “ ’ d r B les s in i En . One of Docto y t mate
e e e e h lr es h estat of l ven acr s , t e a g t at t e
i e Hi een s d of Beacon ll , betw Beacon and
Pincknev . and W alnut and Charles . streets . . SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 1 85
d ssi no t a er a an po bly v y h ndsome o ne, but in it he painted some of his most n te r rai s an re i i i o d po t t , d ce ved v s tors, clad
n fi n i ri n mag i ce tly n a c mso velvet, gold hi laced suit, s income of three hundred guineas a year enabling himto live in a
’ style befitting his position as Boston s
e i n - in most m ne t court pa ter. Another warm friend of Doctor Byles fo r an ears w as a s n rn man m y y Bo to bo ,
i h r h n hi sl g tly olde t a mself, w ho , however, early separated himself from the town of his na i i an i th t v ty, d n e great Revolution ary struggle sympathized with and cham pioned no t the royalist party to which
r es e n d i Docto Byl b lo ge , but the Patr ots , whose actions this ardent upholder of British supremacy in New England co r i ll i d a y hated and scorned . Th s friend of
’ Doctor Byles s w as no less a person than “ r en i r n in Docto B jam n F a kl , with whom, although his early associations in Boston
’ ere s e ha ifferen fr ran in s w om w t d t om F kl , ,
SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 1 87 sored by the Secretary of the Province or n h n some o e w om he should appoi t . Fo r some time previously Benjamin Franklin
’ ha een i r h r a r n i d b h s b ot e s pp e t ce, and
’ o n James s release from prison the latter made Benjamin nominal editor of the
n n lin paper. Although Be jami Frank to i n n i this t me had bee merely an appre t ce, his formal assumption of the editorship of the Courant must no w have made him
ni an somewhat known in the commu ty , d i hi before he left Boston fo r Ph ladelp a, hi which he did , however, long before s name as editor disappeared from the
Courant it i far r n i a , s f om u l kely th t Byles “ and h ha i h e e d occas onally met . T at th y somehow became early acquainted is shown by an interesting correspondence between them that from various sources w e have recently been able to gather up . From
’ Benjamin Franklin s obscure editorship of
ouant i in i he i the C r , to the d st gu s d publ c position he held in his later years, is in
SOCIAL STAND ING . FRIENDS 1 89
itt e ride hat h th And it is with no l l P , t w en e
n r alk o f the ri ina 9. h m Picture i t oduces t O g l, T e e
n th ov ers of earnin always pleasi g to e L L g, that ‘ ‘ I can prono unce This was sent me by D. ’ Frana himself . “ But my Ambition has been strangely aug mnt a o o f a ett er ro m o ndon e ed by C py L f L ,
me o wn erso n in w ritt en by you to so unkn P , which yo uHo nour me with a Character so far h ' beyond any Merits o f mine that I blus to read . It w as the utmo st wish of one t o be kno wn only ‘ ’ ’ h l r li rien by t e Tit e o f Si Phil p Sidney s F d .
n as t an int t r n t I ca bo , d po o you o wn Ha d o
ro v it that hav e been at eas t D! Frank p e , I l ’ ln s n n h i lo ng Acquai ta ce . I ad not the leas t Apprehension that any Fo reign Hono urs w ere ’ desi n d me i l w in rm g , t l I as fo ed of it by a Lett er fromyour side o f the Wat er ; and receiv ed this
ranscri t o f our Frien T p y dship. My little o fler ing o f gratitude will make no perceptible Addition t o the Acknowledgements univ ersally paid yo uby the whole Wo rld o f Literature and
Science. “ shoud be e ceedin ad i I l x gly gl , Sr, if you ’ co uld be prev aild on to furnish me with a ca a o e o f our b ati n h t l gu y Pulic o s. T ose of them 1 90 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
’ that I ampossess d o f are so me of the most
r b rnamn f m ibrar Ag eea le O e ts o y L y. “ Whatev er Title my partial Friends may honour me th n n more e i ht me wi , o e can d l g than that of
“ ear ir D S , “ Your most Aflectionate Friend “ and o bliged
h mbe r an u l Se v t , [MA THER Burns!
The o n en leman ho brin s his y u g G t w g yo ut , ! MEdw r huch i n n m a d C r , s a So o f o e o f y
eacon He has had a iberalEducation in D s . l
lle n i o on affairs of our co ge, but o w vis ts L ndon m n ill be lease to see the ercha dize . He w p d
t r h h r o much o f Doc o e as ead s . “ ShallI ask the Fav o ur o f yo ut o fo rw ard the enclosed t o Aberdeen with as little Expense as may be. “ I hav e just been reading a beautifulLetter
n 2 56 on he h o f o urs ritt e Feb. 2 1 7 t eat y , w , , D
o r Bro her hich is handed abo ut amon of y u t , w g
i amcharmed h us in Manuscript Co p es . I wit the Easy and Gay Light in w hich yo uview o ur
l as irds mon th Leaving this Litt e Earth , B a g e SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS 1 91
Immo rtals : and as setting o ut on a party o f
ure a i e e o re o ur Friends are r pleas l ttl b f eady. The Superstition with which w e Seize and pre
it l n a o uches f serv e l t e accide t l T o your pen, puts one in mind of the care of the bishop to co llect the Jugs and Galipots with the paintings o f Rap
h Ma 1 787 On t e of y, , Doctor Byles wrote Franklin again a SIR , “ It is long since I had the pleas ure of writing
o u Mi E ward hurch t o han ou t o y by d C , t k y fo r yo ur friendly mentio n o f me in a letter that I find was transmitt ed t o the Univ ersity o f
n h r erdee . dou wh t e v Ab I bt e yo ue er receiv ed it , under reat w eakness o ld a a g by ge and palsy, I seize this o pportunity of emplo ying my daughter t o repeat the thanks w hich I aimed to express in l r r Ex lln that et te . Yo u ce e cy is no w the man
h ear ted t o s t at I ly expec ee you. I congratulate m unt r o n h r ha n r y co y up e vi g p oduced 9. Frank lin and can o nl add wish t m her , y , I o eet youw e c m ete e icit and w e shallbe fo r r nit o pl f l y eve u ed . I ammy dear and early friend yo ur most affec
n e an hum e ser ant tio at d bl v , M LE . BY S.
1 98 SOCIAL STANDING . FRIENDS
h r in Bos on the a ita of New gatio nalC uch t , C p l
n ln The rinci les or doctrines of hose E g a d . p p t Churches are the same with those o f the
h x t hat re a es to Churc of Sco tland , e cep w l t
v ment nt eman of Church Go ern . He is a ge l superior parts and learning ; an elo quent preacher and on many acco unts an hono ur to his Co unt ry . “ I amSir your most humble Servant
B. FRANKLIN.
’ In reply to Doctor Byles s letter of
Ma 1 4 1 787 ran in r he y , , Doctor F kl w ote t aged minister :
‘ Prm. ne 1 1 788 . Ju ,
EAR LD END D O FRI ,
ul ived r in tt r f Ma 1 4 I d y rece you k d Le e o y , ’ 87 w as then usil n a in t ndin . I b y e g g d a t e g o ur enera onvention w hi h a G l C , c , dded to the o rdinar current Business o f this v rnmn y Go e e t , ’ t o o u so much of m ime that o li k p y T , I was b g d t o postpone answering many Letters o f Friends which gave occasio n of my mislaying so me o f them 8: amon those was o n , g y urs , o ly last com a ain to han Week e g d . I think I never rsit o r een bu the o l mi ve y f Abe d , t Go d wi lI ght sho w o n that Occasion was no t of Importance enough to deserve your repeating the Acknowl ed as in m i a gemont . It w e only pay ng Debt fo r remem r ith h o n I be w Gratitude, t at I owe e of my first AcadernicalHono urs to your Recom m a and tion . It gives me much pleasure to understand that my Points hav e been of
ish for o ur sa e h El r ci h a w y k , t at ect i ty ad re lly ’ ’ rov d ha it was at first su o to be a p w t pp s d ,
ure f r the as is ho ev er ha for C o p l y . It w ppy ou ha hen Old A e and ha Maad have y , t t w g t t l y ’ concurr d to in ee e o n e o u f bl y u, a d to disabl y
or i o h r an f Writ ng, y uhave a Daug te at h d t o nurse h liala en ion a d to be o ur you wit fi tt t , n y
r hich see she is a e Secreta y, of w I very C pabl , by the Elegance and Co rrectness of h er Writing in et I m ns eri I the L ter a a w ng . too have a D h r ho li es with me and is the Com aug te , w v ort of m de inin Years whi e m Son is f y cl g , l y ’ estrang d fromme by the Part he took in the late War and k e s aloof residin in En land , ep , g g , C N SO IAL STA DING . FRIENDS 1 95
“ ‘ My So n is my Son till he take him a i W fe, ’ But my Daughter s my Daughter allDays of i ’ her L fe.
I remember youhad a little Collection of h Curiosities . Please t o o no ur with a Place in it th in Ma hi h t r in a e closed ed l, w c I go st uck P ris . ’ The Tho ught was much appro v d by the Co n nois rs h er an En r ut eu t e, d the g aving w ell exec ed .
M est ishes attend o in v r y b W y u, be g e e your affectio nate Friend and humble Serv ant “ B . FRANKLIN .
Eight years before this letter of Frank
’ in s w as i en hi ad hi l wr tt from P l elp a, Doctor
es had i en h M Byl g v is grandson, ather
r n o n in n and a e er B ow , go g to E gl , l tt to
‘ Fran in n Doctor kl , a d as w e shall see in a
a er ha e an in l t c pt r, Fr kl treated the young
ain er i h r rdi i in p t w t g eat co al ty , and tro duced him at Versailles as being grand so n to o ne of his most particular friends in ” America.
LAST YEARS 1 97
i n n c rcumsta ces , however, his wit ever fo r
him. In 1 780 he a e his ran n sook g v g dso ,
Ma e r n e r hi l ri th r B ow , a l tte to s o d f end in En d Copley glan , which presumably in ’ reference t o Copley s exalted position “ in abroad he addressed To Mr. Copley ” h F n a t e Solar System . o r ma y ye rs Doc to r Samuel Cooper of the church in Brattle Square had been a fellow-minister with him in Boston and of course after the Re volution that notably patriotic and highly eloquent divine had little friendly feeling toward the ex-minister of Hollis
Street . In his walks out of town Doctor
’ Cooper frequently passed Doctor Byles s h se n d i ne ou , but ever e gned to call . O day Doctor Byles met Doctor Cooper “ and said him: to Doctor Cooper, you ” “ treat me just like a baby l I hardly ” a e Sir th ra are min t k you , , e B ttle Squ is i ter w th becoming dignity replied . “ ” “ Wh aid h h r y, s t e umo ous Byles, you
On the rr M go by, by, by occu ence, ay
LAST YEARS 1 99
nezer zar h Ha d of t e of December, 1 788 “ , Doctor Belknap says : It is no t usual with me to entertain you with an n di i accou t of my bo ly a ls and complaints, but the situation I amnow reduced to by an unlucky strain in my hip bears so near a resemblance to the state in which I ann n n D lately found my p i g u cle, r. Byles
w h h i h n r i in ( o by t e w ay, s t e o ly su v v g
r he e b ot r of Thomas Byles, lat of Phila d hia ed h n i n i fo elp , deceas ) t at I me t o t r the sake of telling you one of his stories ; and that I may give you a true idea of the man I will endeavour to relate it
e i with its attendant circumstances . H s
n -ei h i seve ty g t years o ld , and usually s ts in an easy chair which has a back hung n o hinges . In such a chair I found him si in nd a r a he himhe he tt g , a as I pp o c d ld i ‘ out h s hand . You must excuse my no t
r i i getting up to ece ve you , cous n ; for I amno t one of the rising n n Doctor Byles the went o to say, Doctor h d Belknap says, that he a the same disease a go od man he had o nm heard o f had
! e i r t he ev . M gon to h s pasto , R Willard , ! to complain of. M Willard was very
' fond of using scholastic terms and in a sermon shortly before had used the word synecdoche. Some one had told the man
e ia i a nd his h had sc t c , a t word was so like synecdoche that the man felt sure the “ ” parson had used sciatica in his sermon “ ” “ himso . and told I have, he said , a disease the name of which you mentioned in your sermon o n such a day. I canno t remember the word but it begins with
? ilar e er his n es s . M W l d look d ov ot
he and t man and found synecdoc , he said, “ ’ s ha e s ne d he in m Yes , that it , I v y c oc y ” hip ! In the great fire that raged in the south
n ri 1 78 part of Bosto in Ap l , 7 , laying wast e
the re i n a o is much of g o bout H ll Street, LAST YEARS 201
bo ard r of books , pape s, prints , instru
en s and s is h m t , mo t of h house old goods, were dislodged from their nearly fifty ’ years repose and thrown out in chaotic
n si n in a inin r co fu o n adjo g g een field . Doctor Byles was taken fo r the night to
s e h s i r om o p table house nea by, but w as able to return to his o wn house the next “ day. One of the latest glimpses w e get
’ of the o ld minister s mind is in the letter be dictated to Doctor Franklin o n the M h i n of ay, 1 787 , whic w e have g ve n i at length on a earl er page. It seems probable that after his dis
issa r hi r h m l f om s chu c , Doctor Byles ,
hi e he w a a a r w l s ble to w lk , more o less regularly worshipped with his daughters in i at Tr ity Church . It s doubtful if he ever again entered a church of his o wn i i w i n i . h h e s denom at on W le, as e av a d , he never so far as is recorded showed any wish to enter the ministry of the Anglican
n Mher r. had n Church , as his so at , J , lo g
LAST YEARS 208
The body of the aged divine was laid to
i N 2 in th r n rest n tomb o . e G a ary
in n r r d he h r Rev . m Bu y g G ou , but w t e Sa uelParker performed the burial service o r n " o t w e cannot tell .
1 7 1 7 E z z r i July , 88 , bene er Ha a d wr tes “ Doctor Belknap facetiously : So the o ld a Doctor has left o ff punning at last . Wh t must the grave spirits in heaven think on the approach of so ludicrous an o ne as ” “3 1 4 9 r Bel his . September , 1 7 0 , Docto “ knap w rites Hazard : I add fo r your amusement and fo r a laugh among a few
riends m in th f , a nu ber of articles found e
! ” h s h h he ou e of t e late D Byles . T ese
n er r ix z n r e um ates as , fiv e o s do e pai s of “ ll n l h spectacles , of a powers a d al fas i n m h n i o s ore t an twe ty walking st cks, “ ” iff r n iz and n ri n a of d e e t s es co t va ces , bout
zen - s s era a ds a do jest book , ev l p cks of car , “ ” n n i h n new a d clean, a qua t ty of w etsto es , “ h es . m d bon , etc , as muc as a an coul i h carry n a bushel basket on his s oulder, r r i a la ge numbe of we ghts for shops,
ne - es etc s e in e n mo y scal , om s ts , a d
r e r c e n i some b ok n , a la ge oll ctio of p e
’ Ho s e e ra e rin tures from garth c l b t d p ts , “ down to the corners of newspapers and ” n He ere pieces of line . says also th was “ ' r i a la ge parcel of co ns , from fi berius ” esar to se s c Ca Massachu tts cent , a par el ’ i ren s of ch ld toys, among these two bags
of marbles , a quantity of Tom Thumb
eri e i books and pu l h stories, about adozen ' - d ra - ra a e r eners bird cages an t t ps , s t of ga d ’ o ne r e r s ar e tools and of ca p nte s tool , a p c l - of speaking trumpets and hearing tubes ,
e e s with many other things . Th miscellan ou ’ character of Doctor Byles s accumulations knap mmuch amusemenh is fully borne CHAPTER XII
TR E BYLES FAMILY
i i w ha sai BY h s first w fe, as e ve d , Doct or
i r hr Byles had six ch ld en, t ee of whom ,
Mh r E iza e h d Sa e i e at e , Jr. , l b t , an mu l , l v d to grow up ; by his second wife he had
hre h n the isses t e, two of w om o ly , M
Mary and Catherine lived to maturity . in Ma h r e . w rn s n t e Byl s , Jr , as bo Bo to
n r d rad Ja ua y twelfth , an g uated
r r 1 ix at Ha va d College in 1 75 . S years later be formally entered the Congrega
i nal ini r at n i t o m st y New Lo don, Co nnect
h h r h in i cut, over t e c u c wh ch town he remained fo r between ten and eleven years . At his ordination his father preached the
r sermon and gave the cha ge, and a very impressive and serious sermon and charge these efforts of the older Mather Byles
THE BYLES FAMILY 207
i somewhat del cate mould , probably smaller
an i her i h n r s i th h s fat , w t a e vou , exc table
ra her in i r face, t th l ps, fi mly pressed to
ether d . h n i e g , an t e u m stakabl look and f n pose o a aristocratic feeling man . On
‘ll the 1 2 . f M 1 7 rr o ay, 61 , Byles ma ied at
Ro r a s h hi n in xbu y , M s ac usetts , s seco d cous ,
Re v . becca Walter, a daughter o f the Re Na h ni a a h t a el W lter of that pl ce, w ose older sister Sarah was married to Sir
z ri i s ershi r Robert Ha el gg, a Le ce t re ba
n r her ilia h n a o et, and whose b ot W l m w e few years o ut of Harvard embraced Epis co en n n f r r ina i n pacy, w t to Lo do o o d t o , ’ and a little later became Rector o f Boston s in h Tr ity C urch . It is no t to any one dimcult in these days to see why the younger Mather Byles should no t have remained always a Congregation i i al st . He had n Boston probably asso cis ted almost as much with Episcopalians
i h n re i na i d h as w t Co g gat o l sts , an e w as the sort of man to whom a classical liturgy and
THE BYLES FAMILY 209
v a i t h the Re . Mather Byles h d disms im ” l re T se f from the cong gation . o the moment o f his resignation o f his pastorate
r n his popularity had been gene al , but ow in the streets could be heard a wretched
r n n n r i n dogge el so g o his co ve s o , called ” n h The Proselyte , su g to the tune of t e ” n e era Thief a d Cordelier, while into g n l circulation from some local press came a “ ” n in h th iri Wo derful Dream , whic e sp t o f the venerable Richard Mather w as introduced rebuking his great-grandson fo r his degenerate apostasy from the Puritan
! faith . On his part M Byles regarded “ the call from Christ Church as mani festly a call of Providence inviting himto
rea er s r f n ain a g t phe e o usefulness, a d pl ly in in him h h f d po t g out to t e pat o uty , and at once he left New London fo r
n h i in f n nd be Bosto , t ence sa l g or E gla , to
i ri n reorda ned a p est of the Anglica Church . In Episcopal Orders he soon came back to his native town and began his pastorate " in st n r h Bo o as Rector of Christ Chu c , and in this recto rship he remained until
e r 1 5 th of Ap il , 77 . On that day be
r a r i ne h fo m lly es g d t is charge, his resigna tion probably being due largely to the fact that his royalist sympathies had become too pronounced to allow himto remain i h ri w t a people, the majo ty of whom desired separation fromthe British
e ire. The h i mp excuse e gave for res gning, h e er ow v , was that he had received a call ’
r St . hn s hur h r h e f om Jo C c , Po tsmout , N w
hi . Hamps re, to become Rector there To the Portsmouth church fo r some reason he
’ did no t go , but when Howe s fleet sailed
r 1 6 h hi f om Boston in March, 77 , he wit s
h r i i h c ild en, n company w t his brother - i in law , Will am Walter, Rector of
nd Rev a the . Doctor Caner, ’ in s h i h h K g C apel , went w t t e great THE BYLES FAMILY 21 1
r h n ha ai he ri ish r Chu c , a d c pl n to t B t t oops .
n M 1 89 h r . hn I ay, 7 , e emoved to St Jo , w i in Ne Brunsw ck, that town assuming
r rs i rini r n the ecto h p of T ty Chu ch , a d as i i i h n Hal fax, the garr son c aplaincy as well .
v h h m Re . . i Mat er Byles , Jr , took s as
’ r s e r e r r in r e in 1 754 te d g e at Ha va d , cou s , , and from Yale College received a similar
e r i 7 7 In 1 770 h ni ersi d g ee n 1 5 . t e U v ty o f Oxford conferred o n hima doctorate in fi i ini . i d v ty He marr ed three times, rst a w h e aid n Re a s e av s his seco d cousin , becc
a er s nd i a i n r n W lt , eco , n H l fax , a othe seco d
sin ar a B l e cou , S ah , d ughter of yfie d Lyd ,
hird a s in a i a h t , l o H l f x, t e widow o f an
ffi r n his fir o ce , Susa na Re id . By st
i Re w w fe becca, ho died a little over four
n r h n r i mo ths befo e e left Bosto fo Hal fax ,
he had nine children, by his second wife
n r im i r n r n four, a d f om h , n late ge e atio s, no t a few important people in the British
Colonies have been descended . For the
THE BYLES FAMILY 21 8
’ h E iz Doctor Byles s daug ter l abeth , bo rn
r n - 1 787 w arried Ma ch twe ty second , , as m
hi in 1 760 a e as s second wife, , to G w n
n e a r f a he Brown of Boston, a ot d m ke o w tc s " d a e the her and clocks , an bec m mot of
M r a ain er s n e ather B own, p t of ome ot ,
1 1 w o in 1 780 born October seventh , 76 , h
n n i h e er r left Boston fo r Lo do , w t l tt s f om his grandfather to Copley and Doctor ’ r n s a r u Benjamin Franklin . B ow l te s c cess in London w as probably due in great measure t o the fact that through Franklin he came almost immediately to the favour i h n h able notice o f Benjam n West . W e e w in i reached London, West as Par s, and
thither Brown almost immediately went .
“ r In a letter home in 1 781 he writes : D
n i i n m a s and m Fra kl n has g ve e pas , reco a ? mendato ry letter to the f mous M West . He treats me with the utmost politeness ; i n in i n hi has g ve me an vitat o to s home. ’ e i ered him rand a her s essa I d l v my g f t m ge, he expressed himself with the greates t 21 4 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
' m d affe i n for himand has sin e estee an ct o , c intr uced me at ersai es as ein rand od V ll , b g g son to one of his mo st particular friends in Am In another letter B ro w n “ writes : In consequence of the recom
e r his el - ns an the am l tte s to f low tow m , f ous
! h i r D West of P iladelph a, I prac tise g atis ’ i hi e ho flo r m r w th t s g ntleman, w a ds e eve y en ra e en as e ! o cou g m t, w ll as M C pley,
ho is ar i ar in o me e w p t cul ly k d t , welcom d me his h me and len me i to o , t his p ctures,
rri ! etc . At my a val MTreasurer Gray carried me and intro duced me to Lo rd ” George Germaine .
r As a pupil of West, B own st udied some
e in i 1 82 h tim Paris , but n 7 , and t ereafter
he i for fifty years , pa nted and exhibited at the a ca i Roy l A demy n London.
mo n r Ki o r e s, ng Ge ge Third and Qu& n MAT HER Illlt l“
Fromthe originalpainting by himself
THE BYLES FAMILY 21 5 styles him Historical Painter to His ” M th r ajesty and e late Duke o f Yo k . In his last years Brow n grew eccentric and lived in a forlorn w ay ; his death occurred in n n n th o f Ma 1 881 Lo do o e y, .
’ Doctor Byles s sixth and last child by
i i rn n h s first w fe w as Samuel , bo twe ty
hir r 4 i i t d of Ma ch , 1 7 8 , who stud ed med cine and seems to have already reached
r h i ix his p ofession w en he d ed , June s 7 4 i h teenth , 1 6 . After h s death is father published a little volume called Pious Re mains of a Young Gentleman lately ” e ed h i f h D ceas , t e book consist ng o a touc ing prose epistle to o ne o f his half-sisters “ ” h he a s in hich h w om c ll Am ta, in w e gives a fervid imaginary account of th e e ri n hi E iza e h xpe e ces o f s o wn sister, l b t , immediately after she died ; and eight
re ed selected poems, the whole p fac no hi n doubt by Doctor Byles , s father, a d
h i e en h t e preface bear ng date July s v t ,
1 764 . 21 6 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
When Doctor Byles died his only living descendants in Boston were his two younger daughters, the Misses Mary and
h rin h i in Cat e e Byles . Of t ese lad es their
r i h e h r er i e ea l est yout w ea v y l ttl , but at the time of the Revolution they come before us in a rath er clear and entirely i p ctures que w ay. In 1 775 Miss Mary was twenty-five and Miss Catherine
ent -t o nd hi th i tw y w , a w le e s ege was in progress the British o fi cers of highest r n ha h n ha een a k, as w e ve s ow , seem to ve b
’ frequent visitors at their father s house ; o er ne o f these visitors being Earl P cy,
hi he whose letters from Boston to s fat r, h n a d th the Duke of Nort umberla d , n to e
er edi r the n ed Rev . Doctor P cy , to of ot
i e r a n Rel ques o f Anci nt Poet y, dista t i h E relat ve of t e arl , were recently pub
i hed n th end heir ls i Boston. To e of t days the Miss Byleses were staunch royal
i hei herished reco l sts , and among t r most c lections were the flattering attentions he ‘ t y
THE BYLES FAMILY 21 7 had received from Lord Howe and Earl h Percy during t e siege . Of Earl Percy they remembered with satisfaction that he had no t only once ordered them sere i naded by a reg mental band, but o n some still happier occasion had promenaded with
he arm-in-armo n the ashi n t m f o able Mall . Th Mi B l i e ss y eses l ved , Mary until
er 1 1 882 a herine n i Octob , , C t u t l July 1 9,
1 887 he er in at r i h - , t form dy g ove e g ty two ,
h r ei h - r t e latte at almost g ty fou , and fo r many years before their deaths they were r r as ind ega ded , eed they were, as lonely
’ relics of a period very remote in Bosto n s social history . Some time before the death of Miss
Mr es Miss iza a y Byl , El Leslie, of whom
h r s en i w e ave al eady pok , s ster of Charles
r ie the ain er Robe t Lesl p t , came to Boston
i i nd in an ar and to v s t, a J u y February,
’ n rahams Ma azine 1 842 , i G g , as w e have
h ished s e in said , s e publ om teresting reminiscences of a visit she was permitted i in M t o make to these anc ent sp st ers . iss Mary she describes as a rather broad
ra e and er smilin a ha ited f m d v y g old ldy, b in a black worsted petticoat and a short i n go wn, nto the eck of which was tucked - i a book muslin kerch ef . Her silver hair was smoothly arranged
e - n but w ll formed fore head , be eath which
- was covered with a close, full bordered
i en white l n cap, that looked equally co n ” “ enient fo i h or v r n g t for day. Miss
e r der Catherine was unlik he el sister, both in er ea i figure and face, h f tures be ng much
e i e sh r an her sharper (in fact xcess v ly a p), d whole person extremely thin . She also was arrayed in a black bombasin petti h d a coat, a s ort gown, an with a deep border, that t o bury her narrow visage. ladies kept no regular servant, visitors arrived Miss Mary always came
THE BYLES FAMILY 21 9
unfailingly produced her o w n effect by no t making her appearance till callers had
sat f r e i o som t me in the parlour. Naturally the conversation of both sisters w as much
f h as nd o t e p t, a always, as Miss Leslie “ ri h says, they glo ed , they triump ed , in the firmadherence of their father and his i h fam ly to t e royalty of England , and scorned the idea of even no w being classed
n he i ennes re i amo g t c toy of a publ c, a i i h h i republ c , wh c , as t ey sa d , they had never acknowledged and never would ; re garding themselves still as faithful subj ects
His M ri in to aj esty of B ta , whoever that
a s i h i m je ty m g t be . To M ss Leslie these ancient ladies expressed much regret that they had no t been able to prevail o n their father after the Revolution to renounce America entirely and remove with his a i n and in hi i f m ly to E gl , w ch case, sa d i h M ss Mary, t ey should all have been introduced at court and the King and Queen would have spoken to them and 220 THE FAMOUS MATHER BYLES
n e he ind fo r eir tha k d t m k ly th loyalty . In Boston it w as a matter of common knowledge that o n the accession of William the Fourth o ne of the sisters had h umbly addressed his sai r a es as rin him lo M j ty , su g that the family of Doctor Byles of Boston had never renounced their loyalty to the
hr ne n n e t o of E gla d and n ver would . One of the most conspicuous treasures of these ancient ladies was a handsome
hair r h r n n c , b oug t f om E gla d long before
heir r nd a he ie n - r by t g a f t r, L utena t Governo
ai r n hi h r e T le , o the top of w c w as ca v d a
e ia a r ea h royal crown. As a sp c l f vou c visitor w as permitted to sit a moment in
’ air n he h s esses ex this ch , a d always t o t
a i n the ri i e ed ers n clam t o , as p v l g p o took “ : e nder ha a his seat, w as W wo t t you ,
i an si r a nder the republ can, c t comfo t bly u
er nd crown Of their revered fath , a
hei i in o r other members of t r fam ly , liv g
h is B leses had an re i dead , t e M s y m y m
’ h i her i sa niscences, some of t e r fat s w tty y THE BYLES FAMILY 221
n i i gs they being espec ally proud to repeat.
Fo r h ir en ne he Ma er r n t e abs t p w, th B ow , h f i t ey had deep af ect on, and of course no one w as ever suffered to forget that this moderately successful portrait painter had the very great honour of having painted
r n he membe s of the Royal Family . O t walls of their parlour hung the notable portraits of Doctor Byles which we have
ri h h e s desc bed, t e latest of t e two Copl y
in h i e having the greatest value t e r yes , no t because of its general intrinsic merit but because it port rayed faithfully their
’ ” h r n a e r a rin . M e e a f t s co neli g y y s, s ys
is i M s Lesl e, were soon riveted on a fine
r rai r po t t of Doctor Mather Byles, f om
he r en i t wonde ful p c l of Copley . The moment I looked at this picture I knew it
i n r must be a l ke ess, fo I saw in its linea
e s the h e hara er f m nt w ol c ct o Doctor Byles ,
ar i ar the er h ur e p t cul ly cov t umo of th eye.
The e a e the a - r fac was p l , fe tures well fo med, and the aspect pleasantly acute. He w as
THE BYLES FAMILY 223
” s s and n h ir r ett , as lo g as t e health pe mitted
he en ser i e re ar o n d t y w t to v c gul ly Sun ays, dressed with slight regard fo r changing “ ashi ns an i d o f o , d closely ve le , no t s much ” n f rin fo r co cealment as or gentility . Du g
n h ir inin r h r ma y of t e decl g yea s, oweve ,
he rar l h r i f r nd t y e y went , ot e w se, a beyo their o w n door. In their w ills they re membered scrupulously by name each of
’ a considerable number of their brother s
en s n r in n d desc dant in E gland o Ca ada, an o n e d M h rine th eath of iss Cat e , as had been agreed between the sisters before
Mis Mar died th r s y , e t easures of the o ld h se o n re n ou T mo t Street, of which there
ere no t a f r w ew , we e almost without ex ce tio n re ed dire H i p mov ctly to al fax, Nova
S ia h r e cot , w e e som of the most valuable of them still remain .
NOTES Crun n I
’ “ ” Sprague s Annals of the American Pulpit and ! o ther w orks w hich mention D Byles say that he was tall w ell- ro o rtioned and alto ether of co mmandin , p p , g g
res ence that his v i w as at o n mlodio u and o w er p , o ce ce e s p ful and that is manner of a r th in ublic and in , h dd ess bo p riva w l p te as highly p easing .
Gu r'ru H
? everend D amuel ather in co ns uence o f serio us R S M , eq d safiec tio n a ainst himin the Old o rth hurch in 1 742 i g N C , led o ff a o rt o n of the church and orme a new church p i f d , with a meeting ho use at the co rner of Hano ver and North
ennet st reets . This church how ever las nl ntil B , , ted o y u ’ sho rtl a ter amuel at r s i y f S M he death n 1 786 . ? Reverend D Increase Mather was o rdained over the Old orth hurch Ma 27 1 664 i N C , y , , and died stillas ts chie to r uut 28 2 as s 1 . f p , A g , 7 3 ? ’ D o tton r Di r V l 2 athe s a o . . 64 . C M y, , p Befo re the close o f the century no less than ten members o f the Mather family had been graduated
r r at Ha va d . ’ H m r r i r is aste s deg ee came n couse three years later.
On of these was osiah mith of harleston outh e J S C , S
Caro lina th rst tud nt ro mth aroli to co me to , e fi s e f e C nas
Harvar the ot was Tho mas la of cituate. d . her C p S Q
NOTES 227 o rganization o f the parish and the building and furnishing
o f the ollis treet Church . October 6 1 738 the G v H S , , o er “ " nor w h ll him hi n , o ca s self c ef patro o f the church , “ w rites : Upon laying o ut a co nsiderable tract of land in h wn w t is to about t o years ago into streets and ho use lo ts , o ne o f the main streets w as name ollis tr t d H S ee , since ’ which a number o f w orthy men have erected and finish d “ ‘ ? a han so me c whereo the Rev ather les d , f M M By ’ i ' l w as o rdain d the pastor n Decemb ast . He is grand ‘l ? son to the late Rev learned and excellent D Increase ’ w n t a nu Mather. Altho this ne co grega ion are mber of so ber ood hristians et the are no t in the most lenti g C , y y p
' ullcircumstances and have r mist to mention to o u f , I p o y the procuring for themby yo urself friends a smallbell “ n w l The bellw as iven for this e c in Ho lis Street . g u b Mr. o llis in 1 784 and w as enerall tho ht the y H , g y g
n t r m r a handso me cloc best i his count y. The sa e yea k 5 w as lace in the in rior. Ma 2 1 742 D les p d te y , , By
rmll r n i um a esen d to the hurch ro mHo . lliamD fo y p te c , f W “ mer late lieutenant- o vernor a lar e and rich olio , g , g f f Bible, o n co nditio n that it sho uld be read as a part o
’ ” li n pub ck w o rship o n the Lo rd s day among us . The co ? gregatio n vo ted their thanks to M Dummer fo r this “ " statel church Bible and Ma 9 1 742 readin rom y , y , , g f
the Scriptures was introduced in the church .
i to r f h urch b amilton H s y o the Old Sout Ch , y H
rew s ill V l. . 461 . And H o I, p u ! D Byles scrupulo usly mentions the place o f his
It is do ubt w edding in the family record which he kept . ful w hether the Co ngregationalists at this time o ften - celebrated marriages in their meeting houses . 228 NOTES
elhamand Smibert were then in i in P pa t ng Boston,
o i Copley having n t yet come on th s earthly scene. Proceedin s o f the assachusetts istorical ociet g M H S y, - - 2 . 1 860 1 86 , pp 1 24 1 26 . This witticism of D! Byles also comes to us as - follo ws : Yo ur taste in distempers must be very bad ” i o when t has led y uto prefer Quincy to Byles . There seems little do ubt that this early love afiair ! ’ o f D B les s was with Elizabeth endell auhter o f y W , d g
b h m nd atarina De Ke endell who w A ra a a K ( y) W . as ba tised uus t 20 1 704 and was married ril1 6 1 725 p A g , , Ap , ,
uin ritin ro ton ri d to Edmund Q cy. W g f mBos to his f en ' ’ Ebenezer azard o n the o f arch 1 788 D . B les s H M , , y ’ rand-ne hew erem elna sa s o f ud e uinc s g p , J y B k p, y J g Q y “ end : Old Daddy Quincy died here about the time that ! yo u mentio n D Crosby did at New Yo rk . He was ! ” o l . elna a ers buried the day bef re D By es B k p P p ,
l. es . 52. r 2 ass . ist . Soc. oll. Vo 8 eri Pa t , M H C , , S , p
Cu rran IV
' At the same time D? Byles s wife Annawas received fro mthe Brattle Street Church . ” - M !Belcher w as a daughter of Lieutenant Go verno r
WilliamPartridge o f New Hampshire.
’3 v hi o nderous sermon delivere We ha e seen t s p , d ' O 7 1 786 which D Prince discusses not onl ctober 1 , , in y
e ews o f death and the naturalhistory of death , but th vi
ure held b ree and o man hiloso hers and the fut y G k R p p .
her classes of men includin he slaves o f rica many o t , g t Af
h o rth merican ndians and in which he ives and t e N A I , g
c o f deaths b e rth u es la ues a minute a count many y a q ak , p g , NOTES 229
elues and confia rations sin the time o f d g , g , ce Christ . As w e read the sermon w e canno t help being amazed that in any age people could have sat patiently thro ugh such a i fearfuld sco urse. “ Yan ee heral r writ es ro esso r arrett en ell k d y, P f B W d ,
h n v r li n o h vol as e e been puncti o us. Lo g bef re t e Re ution people who fo und themselves pro spero us w ere apt to adopt armo rialbearin s o ten far ro m rammatical w hich are g , f f g , stillreverentl reserve on silv r mb tones and m y p d e , to s , e i " i f bro dered hatchments . A L terary History o Amer i ” ca, p. 248 .
These three w ere ather Jr. Elizabeth who be M , , , came the wi e of Gaw en ro wn and amuel a oun f B , S , y g
h sician w ho die une 1 6 1 764 a e sli htl o ver p y , d J , , g d g y tw ent -o ne havin written a little rose and oetr y , g p p y, w hich his father printed after his death . The burialplace o f the Byles family fro mthis time
w as To mb No . 2 in the Granar ur in Gro und built y B y g , ’ ’ b D Oliver o es nna B la s ather in 1 720 at the y N y , A y f , , same time that Go verno r Belcher built his tomb in this
r cemete y. ’ Hon . WilliamTailer s death had occurred at Do r
chester arch 8 1 782 new st l . , M , ( y e) ’7 B Dr. les ai fo r the ro ert £850 th state bein y p d p p y , e e g “ described as all that certain messua e tenement or g ,
w ellin -house with the lan thereto belon in situate d g , d g g , ,
lin and bein at the southerl d of ton a o resaid y g, g y en Bos f , butted and bo unded as follo w s together with all
and sin ular the ho uses o ut-ho uses e ifices builin s g , , d , d g , " ments and ences thereon standin . This w as the ease , f g first property the Sufio lk Deeds record Mather Byles as
NOTES 281
” “ m amuel firs s n o ir chil y S , t , eco d, r th d d, as the case might be. ! Th la . h on i r e te Rev D Henry S. Nas ce sad t ench ently to his class in Cambridge that a certain pio us “ ” ch rch ath r liv m m u f e had ed too uch with godly wo en.
Curran V
The rsons who ov mber 1 4 1 782 subscribed pe , N e , ,
he o venan ri n bers w ere : ohn Clo uh t C t as the o gi almem J g ,
ose h a so n nr Gibbon ames Da o nathan J p P y , He y , J y, J
eal o ill os t er Ebenezer Clo uh athaniel air N , H pest F , g , N F
field ohn ravath and l en ass allof whomhad , J C , A d B , been in communio n w ith o ther churches . Besides these there w ere ohn la e Tho mas Tro tt and saac o rin J B k , , I L g, who then fo r the first time w ere received into fullcom
munion .
See So me Aspects o f the Religious Life o f New ” En land with ecial e erence to on re ationalists g , Sp R f C g g ,
b Geo r e eon aler D . D 1 897 . y g L W k , “ ’ ” u v hilli f can t s sa s . amuel o I ppose, y Re S P ps
n o ver that an on who at all imes ithf A d , y e t fa t
imro ves the co mmon r c he has that is to sa is p g a e , y,
dili ent in t ndin on the a ointe means of r c g a te g pp d g a e, w ith a desire to profit thereby shallperish for want ” of specialand saving grace.
In 1 741 number of rsons a mitte w six in the pe d d as ,
1 742 thirteen, in 1 748 five, and in 1 744 nine.
mu . Eli D . D . sa in a h v . a el o t s re ace to T e Re S A , , y p f ” Pio neers of Religious Liberty in America (1 908) Two
n -w o n minister hundred and seve ty t o years ag John Co tto ,
o f the First Church in Boston, with the cobperation of his 282 NOTES ministerialassociates established what came tp be known ‘ as the Great and Thursday Lecture) This weekly lee
event in Bosto n.
SamuelCo o er anl Andrew E hsd received p . liot , their
r tes fromthe docto a University of Edinburgh. The Rev.
Ebenq emba MJra had reoeived his fromPrince
ton. Befm fl lH v had ven of l u ard gi the degree STD . m c 692 h on e this in 1 to lncrease Mt r. ly : was , a e In
H rvar ve v a 1 771 a d ga it next to Re . N thanielAppleton of Cambrid ho had duated in 1 l ga w p a 7 2. “ " an article b un See y James R. Gilmore ( Edm d " Kirke in the NmEn h nd ll asimfor uu 1 897 ) o q A g st. , “ ! on Nathaniel Emmons and lfather Byles. D
Emmons as as o r of the Seeond hurch entham. w p t C . Wr In this article the writer gives a pleasant scco unt of the relaion weea Emmo ns and B les as D! t s bet y .
Emmons himself had described themto bim. In the same issue of the Nm Englaad lfagasins is a poemof “ z nr mes loo entitle The twelve stan as by He y A B d. d " Byla Girls (the two daughtus of Byles).
Curran “
t li e b t en 1 6 and 1 748 la n Isaac Wa ts v d e we 74 . A ander Pope betwaen 1 688 and l744 . Johnson says of “ Lansdowne : He had no ambition above the imitation of
r m e f uls and ver little Walle . of who he has eopied tb a t y ” more. NOTES 288
! i t l ouh D les used to show it with rid is sad tha ath g By p e, l l n ? l it had no t a remarkaby p easant to e. D By es had
l o e so me of his own verses for o apparent y sent P p , P pe remarks with so me irony that he had feared the Muses
n En land but it was evident the had o nl had o rsa e g , y y . f k ' ’ i w w rl D B les s latest taken up their abode n the ne o d . y
r erv e in his letter boo is entirel letter to Pope, p es d k, y ’ l wanting in the efiervescent praise of his earlier etters.
Cu rran VII “ — f n Vol. 2 . 425 4 27 . MemorialHistory o Bosto , , pp ! ’ r ent calls D B les s humour that rolicso me Mr. Sa g y f vein w hich was to himas congenitalas is the tendency ” o f a fish to sw im.
See fo r this ballad the New England Historic Genea
i l e ister Vol. 1 8 . 1 81 . lo g ca R g , , p Mackintosh is said to have rolled on the floor in an m ’ agony of laughter at one o f Sydney S ith s jo kes . “ ’ d ” See Drake s Lan marks of Bosto n. This story is ’ also given as follo w s : The architecture o f King s Chapel was unfamiliar t o Bosto nians generally and w as at first
much ridi uled . h l a c W en By es s w the building erected, with so me sarcasmhe made the remark we have given
here. “ emorial istor of oston Vo l. 2 . 482 and M H y B , , p ,
elsewhere.
! D Belknap tells it in its briefer formin a letter to
n r azar ate uust 28 1 780. Ebe eze H d , d d A g ,
‘7 h G a osto n merchant o f consi erable Josep reen, B d
o rtune is said to have had also the lar est rivate librar f , g p y w t th vol ion he w a ointe in Ne England . A e Re ut as pp d
NOTES 285
! ath r l Jr. had written Mr. aile D M e By es, , B y from
ali x under d te o f ebruar 1 7 1 77 llin him H fa , a F y , 8, te g that he (Bailey) was entitled to apply for fifty potmds to an English fund for the relief of distressed clergyman — “ in merica. i f v aco b aile the n i A L fe o Re . J B y, Fro t er
i r M ssiona y.
'7 hn Eli w ri lt r Rev . Jo ot as a sp ghtly e te writer and his letters are none the less entertaining because of ’ t l the writer s positive opinions . I wo ud seemas if both he and Jeremy Belknap may have had so me personalgrudge ! against D Byles . “ e orial tor f osto n Vol. 8 . 1 60. M m His y o B , , p ’ See Knox s portrait in the third vo lume of the
r Memo rialHisto y of Bosto n. “ ’ “ Dealin s w ith the Dead nd Dra e s istor See g , a k H y ” - D . 4 4 . e o rmr re rts E le as o f Boston, pp 7 6 7 8 Th f e po By s “ in w hen he saw the troo s : ell thin can no say g p W , I k we ” longer complain that o ur grievances are not red-dressed l
Cu rran X
It will be remembered that some of the leading
To r amilies li e the Brinle s and o alls who were y f , k y R y , o bliged t o leave Massachusetts at the time of the Revo lation live chiefl out of town in ambrid e xb , d y , C g . Ro ury,
rd or Medfo . ran lin was born anuar 1 7 1 706 and i F k J y , , d ed April
1 7, 1 790 . The New -England Courant was first issued August
1 721 t e onl earlier osto n news a rs havin n 7 , , h y B p pe g bee th Boston News-Letter be un in 1 704 and the B ton e , g , os
in 1 71 9. ith these two a r Gazette, started W p pe s the
NOTES 287 his uncle to praythat he might not be mistaken in amatter o f such ev erlasting impo rtance : that he might not build
on a false fo undation.
e l r V l. 1 . 470 See th Be knap Pape s, o , p : Memorial ” “ istor of oston Vol 8 . 7 istor of the l H y B , , , p : H y O d ”
h r h . 2 . 24 . So uth C uc , Vol , p 0 ! '7 A declaration made by the daughters of D Byles ’ in connexio n w ith the settlement of their father s estate includes the statement that a number o f their friends raised a sumo f mo ney by subscriptio n to defray the ex ” i r i o ut n t o th penses o f h s fune alw th a y charge e estate.
ass . . ll. 51 . M Hist Co , 8 ,
Curran XII
His ather ba tized him recor in the ba tism f p , d g p “ ” th He r affectionately as of my Ma er. g aduated at
arvard as w e have said in 1 751 but his o rdination at H , , ,
o ndo l until o vember 1 8 7 New n did no t ta e ace 1 7 . L k p N , 5
hat he was do in rom1 7 1 to 755 w e do no w W g f 5 1 t kno , but fro m1 755 to 1 757 he w as (the librarian of Har
vard olle e. See ibrar o f arvar niver it i C g L y H d U s y, B o ” ra hical o uio E ntrib t ns ited b ustin insor o . g p C , d y J W , N “ 52 ; The Librarians of Harvard College 1 667 by
lre la horn Potter and harl nowles lto A f d C g C es K Bo n,
mbrid - a e 1 897 . In the Boston in Post o f M C g , Even g ay 2,
1 7 8 w e rea : n ri a l . Mr. a 6 , d O F d y ast the Rev M ther
l and amil came to Town r mN w o n By es, F y, f o e L don :
and we hear he embar s in the rst lfor En l d k fi Vesse g an , in order to receive Episco palOrdination to qualify himself fo r
inister o f hri t urc h re M C s Ch h e , fromwhomhe received ” n invita ion as la l mention a t , te y ed.
NOTES 289
o umberland u H rth u st 1 0 1 760. e marrie first N , A g , d ,
ril5 1 750 Rev ose h w ll r l who Ap , ( . J p Se a ) Ma y F agg , died
arch 1 760 and w uri in the r ar r M 28 , , as b ed G an y Buying
Gro und a ter havin borne her husban six children l , f g d , al mw o f who ere ba tize in the Old outh . ro wn marrie p d S B d , secon ul 8 1 760 intention une 1 8 Eliza h d , J y , ( J , bet
les who bo re her usban one n ather i By , h d so , M , bapt zed
Octo ber 1 1 1 761 . Eliza th ie une 6 1 768 her death , be d d J , ,
v l r e idently p unging the Byles family in deep g ief. Octo ber 1 9 1 764 awen ro wn married third in the N w , , G B , e ! o uth arish Elizabeth ill ams wido w o f D S p , (H ) Ad , Joseph
d ms bro ther o f amuel d ms the at rio t . ro wn A a , S A a p B
die uust 8 1 801 e 82. See no tes on Gawen and d A g , , ag d
G in ass . ist . . Mather Bro wn by Frederick L. ay M H Soc - in s X I . 289 298 arch ril Proceed g , LV I , pp , (M Ap ,
7’ w in th C ia tho uht uln of Rev It was o g to e hrist n g f ess . ! D ndrew Elio t o f the New o rth Church who we hav A N , , e stated w as o ne o f the three on re ationalministers who , C g g
sta e in oston urin the sie e that Rev . amuel y d B d g g , S Parker did no t go away with the o ther Anglican clergy w men w hen Ho e evacuated the t o wn. The Rec tor o f ! rinit hur m w T y C ch at the ti e as the Rev . D William - - alter a bro ther in law o f Rev . ather le Jr. an W , M By s, , d
his assistant was the Rev . amuel ar er hen S P k . W the r word was iven that the Tories must leav D . an g e, C er,
l r d Rev . ther l r n a te an a es . at o too u W , M By , J , ce k ref ge ’
w ith owe flee and Mr. ar er l w ac in H s t, P k aso as p k g his ! Elo t had n n o n n f E books to go . D i bee a ppo e t o pis co ps ey but he realized the deplo rable state religiously t hat the Bosto n Anglicans w ould be in if no minister o f
w l t in th wn. rdin l h w their faith as ef e to Acco g y, e ent 240 PUBLISHED WRITINGS
Mr. Parker and told him h as occu i to t at he, py ng a ’ ' seeondary positio n in h inity Church. had no t aroused - the antagonismof the Patiio ts he wo nld be safe in staying f and that he had better no t desert his people. MParker took his advice and stayed, with the result that in 1 804 he became for a year (tmtilhis death) the second Bishop of
assachusetts. The evacnation took lce in Mar h M p a c . ’ d follo i u on M! an the w ng J ly, Parher s representing that he md d mbnga d d y may for the mthe wudens and ves try instmcted himto omit the prayers for the — ’ “ ' ” o al amil . Foots s Histor of s l R y F y y King Chape . Vol. - 2. pp. 806 800.
WRITINGS
A Poemon the Death ot late Mest Kin Geo e aj y g rg . of Glorions Mmor and the Aeeession of omPrmen e y, t
Sovmmn ng George HJ o the British Thro ne. Printed fa lm.
A Poem resented to His Exe llenc WilliamBnme p e y t ,
r ton ul 1 9 1 . Esq . ; on his a rivalat Bos , J y , 728 Printed ln
1 728 . The Character of the Perfect and Upright Man : his PeacefulEnd described ; and Our Duty to obaerve it laid
I on Psalm . Prin or down. n a Diseourse 87 : 87 ted f S.
A Diseourse on the Present Vilenms of the o a B dy. nd
- a Sermo n on the ature and Imor n of Conv rsi N p ta ee e on. PUBLISHED WRITINGS 24 1
i ’ The Fa thfulServant , Appro v d at Death , and Entring
o r h ulic into the J y o f His Lo rd . A Se mon at t e P b k Lec ture in Bosto n ul 27 1 782 Occasione b the much , J y , . d y lmn h o i a e te Deat f the o no ur bl D elOliver Es . d H a e an , q ; ’ o f Hi n il r Who one s Majesty s Co uc fo r the P o vince. 9 Decease there the 28 of the same month in the d ,
r f Hi A . l yea o s ge With a Poemby Mr. By es .
lm1 2 : rin . reen fo r [Psa P ted by S Kneeland and T. G
D . enchman in o rnhill 1 782 nd itle An H , C , . Seco t , ’ Ele address d t o His Ex ellenc Go verno ur Belcher : gy, c y o n h eath of his rother-in-law th onour ble t e D B , e H a
DanielOliver, Esq.
To His Excellency Go verno ur Belcher, on the Death ! H d . i B v r les . o f is La y An Ep stle. y the Re e end M By
Printed in 1 786.
n h f . nscribe to O t e Death o the Queen A Po em. I d
His Excellency Go verno ur Belcher. By the Reverend ? les . rin . r r f r n hman b D o D . in M By P ted y J ape , He c
Cornhill, 1 788 .
' Aflec tio n o n hin v T gs Abo ve. A Disco urse deli ered at the Thurs a ecture in oston Decem r 1 1 1 740 d y L B , be , .
rinte in 1 740 b . o e nd . f . P d , y G R g rs a D Fo wle or J Edwards
nd . oster in rnhill. a H F , Co
The Glories o f th o rd o f osts and ortitud e L H , the F e li n of the Re gio us Hero . A Sermo preached to the Ancient
d no ur ble r illr C m un 4 an o a t e o an e 2 1 7 . B in H A y p y, J , 0 e g
e nniversar o f ir Electio n o f fi ext th A y the O cers . [T II
in s 5 rinte in 1 740 and sold b Tho mas K g , P d , y
Fleet and Joseph Edwards at their shop in Co rnhill.
r i eneralMa azine r icle (Rep inted n G g and HistoricalCh on , - o l 1 . 84 85 hila elhia V . . PP , P d p , n
PUBLISHED WRITINGS 248
’ a res se To the Rev . . atts on his ivin o e . dd d , D W D e P ms “ The preface t o the collection says : The Poems collected in these Pages w ere fo r the most Part written as the
musemen o f looser o urs while e utho r belon A ts H , th A ged to the o lle e and was unben in his in romseverer C g , d g M d f
udi in En r inmn t es the te ta o f th Classicks . S , e ts e Most o f t emhave been severalTimes rinte here t Lo n h p d , a don and lsew h e ei er se aratel or in iscellanies , e er , th p y M l And the Author has no w drawn theminto a Vo ume.
hus e iv n h li r rodu ions and T h g es up at o ce t ese ghte P ct , ” bids adieuto the airy Muse.
lo v n ermon at t hur The G rious Rest o f Hea e , A S he T s
B . l B r 744 . M dayLecture in oston, Janua y 8 , 1 /5 y r By es .
x ublishe at the e uest of man Te t att . 1 7 : ( , M P d R q y
d m n f r . r n n o o o f the Hearers . Printed by B G ee a C pa y
oo v ins ld u eetin o use D . G in o er a t the O o th k , ag S M g H ,
1 745 .
The Prayer and Plea of David to be delivered fro m
loo - uiltines s mro ve in a ermon t e ncien B d g , I p d S a th A t
hursda ec ture in Boston M 751 B or T y L , ay 1 , ef e the Executio n o f a Yo ung Negro Servant for po isoning an
n ant . salm40 : 9 rinted and sold mu I f [P , P by Sa el
neeland o osite the rison in ueen treet 1 751 . K , pp P Q S , God the Strength and Po rtio n o f His Peo ple under allthe Exigencies of Life and Death : A FuneralSemen ' o n the o no urabl M? therine Dummer the ad o f H e Ka , L y
His ono ur illiamDummer Es . late ieutenant H , W , q ; L
Go vernor and o mmander in hie o ver this rovince. C . C f P
’ ’ 9 1 752 the o rd s Da a ter Preach d at Bosto n, January , , L y f
hn ra er 1 752. her Death and Burial. Printed by Jo D p ,
Di w nd n er Dis la e in Earth uakes vine Po er a A g p y d q . 244 PUBLISHED WRITINGS
A Sermon occasioned by the late Earthquake in New
lnd ovember 1 8 1 755 . And reached the neat Eng a . N , P ’ Lo rd s Day at Point Shirley. Published at the
ix lines f i Pressing Importunity o f the Hearers. [S o Scr p
ure . rinte nd sol b . l in ueen t texts ! P d a d y S Knee and, Q
Street , 1 766 .
The Confi r ti n lie to tha Gr n Perio or ag a q , App d t a d d
atastro he o f o ur orld when ace o f ure is to C p W , the f Nat be chan ed b a Delue o Fire as ormerl i was b g y g f , f y t y
t o f T G o f E . tha Water. he od Tempest and arthquake
rinte and sold b D . o wle in Ann treet nd !. P d y F , S , a
o wle in iddle tree . T l he os o F , M S t he cataogue of t B t n
ublic ibr v ar i es the date 1 744 tha f the . P L y g as . t o Mass
ist . Soc. 1 H as 755 . The poemwas first printed in the
New-En land eekl rna M g W y Jou l. ay 1 9, 1 729. The Man of God Thoro ughly Furnished to Every Good
or W k . A Sermon preached at the ordination o f the
Reverend Mr. ather les to t e asto ralOfi ce in the M By h P . fi rs hur f ist in N w o ndon o ember 1 8 t C ch o Chr e L , N v ,
1 To whi is dd the har e iven hi uon 757 . ch A ed C g g m p i v that Occasion. By h s Father. (Text , Pro erbs
' Printed and sold by NathanielGreen and limothy
Green r. 1 758 . The co in the ass. ist . Soc , J , ( py M H . library has manuscript corrections by the author. )
o f Ev t The Vanity ery Man a His Best Estate. A
uneral ermon on th n r l e o ouabe illiamDummer Es . F S H W . q , Late Lieutenant-Go verno r and Co mmander in Chief o ver the ro vince o f the assachuse Ba w E P M tts y in Ne ngland.
who Died October 1 0 1 761 84 ears . Tex , . Aged y ( t , Ec clesiastes Printed by Green and Russellin
Boston, 1 761 . PUBLISHED WRITINGS 245
The Flourish o f the nnual rin mro ve in A Sp g, I p d a Sermo n Preached at the Ancient Thursday Lecture in
os n M 7 9. i fo r to a 8 1 8 a mn th . B , y , W th Hy e Spring i The Second Edit o n. Boston : Reprinted by Tho mas and Jo hn Fleet at the Heart and Crow n in Co mhillin Th 1 769 . ( e copy in the Massachusetts HistoricalSociety Library has in it the auto graph Catharine
The Glo ries of the ord o f osts and the o rtit d L H , F u e f li o the Re gio us Hero . A Sermon preached to the Ancient
and ono urable rtillr oman une 2 1 740. ein H A e y C p y, J , B g
' h v r f f ext t e Anni ersa y o their Electio n o Ofi cers . [T II
in s 9 : 4 5 The T r E ition. e rinted b K g , , hi d d R p y
Thomas and ohn Fleet at th eart and ro wn in Co m J , e H C hill, 1 769.
ur t o f o nv io n A Sermon on the Nat e and Necessi y C ers , reprinted by Ed es and Gillin 1 769 [First printed in
w En lnd mn ted to tune merica Ne g a Hy [Adap A !. “ Printed in The New England Psalm-Singer o r American ”
orister. l Ch Edes and Gill, pro baby 1 770. A Disco urse on the Present Vileness of the Body and
Its uture Glo rio us han hri T xt cts 7 e b st . e 1 F C g y C ( , A
The Second Edition. Reprinted by Tho mas and Jo hn
leet at the art and rown in o rnhill 1 77 1 . rinted F , He C , C , P w ith this sermon the second edition is an essa calle , in , y d “ ” The editation o f assim the So n of hmed which M C , A , w as first printed in the New-England Weekly Journalin
1 727 .
The Death o f a Friend lamented and impro ved . A ur uneral ermo n on o hn Go uld Es . w ho Die an a F S J , q ; d J y
2 . i r 72. 8 , 1 77 Bosto n : Printed by R chard Drape , 1 7 ” An E is le in two es in ucin a sermon o n p t , pag , trod g
LETTERS 247
l al r in Glocester Oct . 1 4 1 729. Nathanae W te , , The Right Hono urable Jo hn Lord Barrington at
ett o use Dec . 1 5 1 780. Beck H , , The Right Ho no urable Geo rge Granville My Lord 7 Lansdo wne, Dec . 1 5 , 1 80.
i h o r bl r or ansdowne The R g t H noua e Ged ge, L d L ,
rch 4 1 73 . Ma , 4
’ Th ! h r b r o ndon arch e Reverend M T o mas B ad uy, L , M
4, ! T Rev . saac atts Jan. 8 he D I W , ,
lexander o e Es r. Twic enham. No ate. A P p , q , k d
’ ! l New- r t Lon ho m . in M James T so n To be eft St ee ,
don, Jan. 4 ,
r n l D amin Fran lin on on. No The Ho o urabe Benj k , L d
date. d r ’ v . o hn halmers rinci alo f the in s The Re D J C , P p K g
Co llege and Univ ersity o f Aberdeen . No date.
His Excellenc Go vern r utchinson ril8 y the o [H !, Ap ,
1 77 1 . ” The ono urable An rew Oliver Es alem. No ate. H d , q , S d ' MP ivin stone sent e Da a r her usband and L g , th y fte H
o thers had been here o n a visit , w hen 800 do llars w as lf in th o und e t e cham r closet . Ma 24 1 780. f be y , r M rr l . u a G ocester Jan. 1 781 M y, , , ? Enoch ro wn oston Feb. 1 0 1 781 . M B , B , ,
His dauhter-in-law in ali ax o n the death o f his g H f ,
wi . [second! fe No date.
? rederic illiamG er ndon ul 1 1 788 . M F k W ey , Lo , J y , ! lmes ondo n No v . 4 1 7 . M Ho , L , , 88
r ric illi e mrchant in ondo n M F ede k W am G yer, e L ,
No v . 1 4 , 1 788 . 248 LETTERS
- - His dau ta in aw in ali ax Dec. 1 0 1 784 . gh l H f , . Ezra Stiles Prmident o l C l N w Rev . . ae olege. e
Ha n ril 8 1 8 . ve . Ap 1 , 7 7 l ax i DEBy es, Halif , Apr l1 4 . 1 787 . His Excellenc en amin Franklin Es ' Phila elh y B j . q . d p ia.
M 1 4 1 787 . ay , - !Gaw en ro wn ete shru ir inia Ma 4 1 . M B , P r g. V g , y 1 , 787 ' [Following these letters o f Byles s are many fro m his dauhters to vario us g friends, especially their brother and his family in Halifax ! INDEX
’ Adams Elizabeth ill 289. , (H ). Bennett. Joseph s account of — ams v . ohn Ad Re 98. B n J osto 48 . , . , 51
Adams Jose h 289. Billin s William . p , g , , 1 1 0 .
ms amul 1 47 289 . Bla Ada , S e , , ke, John, 281 .
mB u 1 2. Bl Almo n Dr. Willia r e r A 2 m 28 . , c , oo d, Hen y es, Almon amil of ali ax No va Bo lton ar w , f y, H f , , Ch les Kno les, 287 .
Sco tia, 288 . Bolton. church at, 1 59.
Amo r John 52. Board of War warran y, , , t to de
m Mrs . 2 i A o oh 5 . lv B 1 ry, J n. er yles to , 65.
A leton Rev . Nathaniel 282. B n th n m pp , , osto . A e nu . 1 84
A tho Mrs . hn 52. 1 p rp, Jo , beacon, 1 8 ; Beaco n Hill,
Ar illr man 84 . mm 82 t e y Co p y, 1 81 ; Co on, 1 81 , 1 ; ’
Attuclrs ri us 1 46 . ll 8 a . C sp . Copp s Hi , 1 ; Dock Squre,
A chmt d Jr. 8 eneral u uy, Juge Robert. , 1 ; evacuatio n o f, by G o w 1 74 240 Evenin 1 84 . H e, , ; g
Post, 287 ; Gazette, 27 , 84, B v - 69 l 2 ail . b 1 1 al 0 1 7 ey, Re Jaco , 67 . M , 49, 5 , ; mansio ns 1 82-1 85 minis , ;
M. . 2 Barrett rs John 58 o er l alla on 1 0 , , ters, d gg e b d , ; - Bass, Alden, 281 . News Letter, 285 ; North
Belcher Andrew 88 89 60 . S r r , , , , qua e, 1 4 ; Old North o
Belcher, Andrew , Jr. , 45, 46. Second Church , 1 4 ; in Pro - el Ann 42. B cher, , vincialperiod . 1 80 1 85 ; Pul ” lcher amil 41 60 61 246 . v Be , f y, , . . pit of the Re olution, 1 48 ; elch r verno r onathan 88 v B e , Go J , . in the se enteenth century,
89 43 58 1 80 1 79 228 229 . 1 1 4 1 4 , , , , , , 8, ; siege of, 8 ; so cial - Belcher Mrs . Jonathan 58 60 . f in th vin al , , histo ry o , e Pro ci ” B lch Pa e er pers, 226. period , 47 ; Tileston Street,
Bel er arah 46. 6 ch , S , 1 ; Town House. 1 81 ;
Bel Rev . e 1 v 1 na m 88 1 9 whar es 1 8 . k p, J re y. , , , - 1 26 1 58 1 69 1 98 200 208 Bow doin James 1 84 . . , , , , , , ” 228 , 288, 285 , 286. Bower of Taste, 286. ” l man Rev . ona Be knap Papers. 228 , 284. 287 . Bow , J than. 87 .
Belknap, Sarah (Byles), 1 98 . Boylston, Elizabeth. 68.
INDEX 251
. 0 l ma es 1 48 onri malcontr ion to th po itical sy p thi . g ibut e n 1 46 ; aristo cratic tendencies olo gy. 75 abrillia t preach er. l i i 86 78 9 sermns and so cia pos t on. 5, , 1 5. 7 ; his printed o , 78, him v i l 1 80 : prejudices against , 79 ; a o ds po itics in the a rien of British uli 1 48-1 5 ra a 5, 6. 88 ; f d p p t. 4 ; p ys t officers and staunch Tory in town meeting and preaches 2 8 4 6 1 48 r the Revo lution, , , , . , Thusday Lectures. 84 , 1 06 ; h “ watc es ash v . l 1 50, 1 51 , 1 55, 1 56 ; l ed by Re E eazer
l n Cris us l 7 Rev . o funera processio of p Whee ock, 8 ; J hn ’
4 al be ore lo t s ti sm 78 v . Attucks, 1 6 ; tri f E i cri ci , ; Re - 7 1 7 1 ’ his church , 9. 1 54 1 5 . , John Elio t s acco unt of (in ’ 1 72 ; disappro val of other 1 58 ; EphraimElio t s ministers o th o urse o f strictures on 1 59 show ed no f e c . ; - 9 tri i man An lican the church . 1 57 1 5 ; ed des re to beco e g . minis r before the town and sentenced 84 ; character of his t y. on sentence 5 resen voi e dress 9 to transpo rtati . but 7 ; p ce, c . , 89 1 61 of 1 0—1 2 ro not carried o ut . 6, 7 , , 1 1 ; portraits , ; p h s s 2 a tem o 1 67 impriso ned in his oue, lific writing . ; t pt f h h r Cathe ri nds to exalt as a reat oet 1 66. 1 67 ; is daug te f e g p , ’ - n lan rine s acco unt of the tw o trials, 98 1 00 ; a New E g d ” - Re v la 8 E istles 1 70 1 72 ; life after the o poet ureate. 1 7 ; p - l ic a 88 89 1 96 friend to Go verno r Belcher 61 65 ut . . , ; , . athaniel of elo me o ship with Rev . N 98 ; poem w c t mmons 90 91 relatio ns Governor Bumet 95 96 E , , ; , . ; it r. n amin ran lin e nfia on wr ten with D Be j F k , Th Co grati . — r - 1 85 1 95 ; probably attended in his fifteenth yea . 96 98 ; - Trinity Church, son; visited letter to Po pe. 1 01 1 08 ; co r a aile 1 6 n ence with Po by Rev . J cob B y. 7 ; respo d pe. ral an vill 1 is seized with pa ysis. 1 98 ; Watts . d Gren e, 08,
Belna ribes his 04 1 05 288 oemto Dr. Dr. k p desc 1 , , ; p nfi mities 1 99 taken from Watts 1 1 2—1 1 4 receives the i r , ; . ; reat fir m e and in his house in the g e, Odyssey fro Pop
200, 201 ; tender relations scribes lines in it, 1 05, 1 06 2 2 visi on th a of r with his so n, 1 ; t of attenti to e rt poet y. melPar er to him 1 06-1 08 interest in musi Rev . Sa u k ; c. n nat l when he w as dying, 202 ; his 1 1 1 ; i terest in ura 1 his o verflowin death . 202, 208 ; buried in science, 9 ; g i - und 1 2 4 Luius anlius the G ranary bury ng gro , wit, . , ; c M 208 ; money subscribed for his Sargent characterizes his hu x the mour 288 un on the names funeral e penses, 287 ; . ; p l al made no uin and B les 55 as o ogic position. 78 ; Q cy y . ; p 252 INDEX
a -at-arms with ose h o 2 0 lea s ge J p Boston, s c. 1 ; ves for Gre n 1 1 4 Go ernor Bel ax o va Sco i with e , ; v Halif . N t a. ’ ’ cher s ractical o e on 1 80 o we s fleet 21 0 marries p j k . H . ; ’ 82 Green s aro of his m 2 1 minis 1 ; p dy th ree ti es, 1 ; try at mn writ a 88 l h ten t sea 1 . y . Haifax and St John. New
1 87 ; he reto rts on Green, 1 87. Brunswick, 21 0 , 21 1 ; receives ” 1 1 1 40 ; his bro wn study. 4 ; witticismat his trialbefore and Oxfor 21 1 let ter fro m d . ; e usti es 1 78 humor th j c , ; his father. 21 2 ; writes Rev . liev his uard 1 78 o usly re es g . . Jacob Bailey. 285 ; his de 1 74 fri tens British troo s ; gh p scendants. 21 1 . 21 2. b his o e on Fast Da 1 75 B le M Mar y j k y. , y s. isses y and Cath 1 76 ma es fun of General 0 ; k erine, 7 . 8. 68, 7 . 72. 89. 1 27. x 75 un on redressin - Kno . 1 ; p g 1 28. 205. 21 6 228 .
Byles. Rebecca. Sr. . 67 . 72. 1 27.
1 6 letter to Mr. Co le 7 ; p y 1 28. 21 1 . ” s s m 1 97 in the solar te : B les Rebecca Ir. 21 1 . y . m y . . , tells Dr. Co o er he treats hi les S muel 21 5 229. p By . a . . “ li e a bab 1 97 the dar S k . y. k Byles. arah . 1 5 ” da 1 98 estimate of 1 1 8 S y. : . : Byles. arah (Lyde).
r. Nathaniel estimate of b D l omas 1 99. . y By es. Th . Emmons 90 91 o inions of chair urmounted b . . ; p Byles s y expressed in MemorialHis ” ' r of Bosto n 1 1 7 1 1 8 m 280 to y . . ; Byles s Co er. . his i t of humo ur - where g f Byles ho use. 7 . 68 72. 280. m 1 22 illiam came fro W mb 229 . , ; Byles to . ’ Tudo r s verdict on. 1 68. 1 64 ; r 9 his letter his libra y. 1 ; Caner. Rev . Dr. , 21 0. 288. 289. “ miscellaneous ef Bos 280 boo k, 1 88 ; Cards of to n. 69. .
ects o f 208 204 . stl William60 1 82. f . , Ca e . ,
. rn 65 m r. l Ma er Jr 7 bo l Re . D oh By es. th . , ; . , Cha ers. v J n. 85. e 2S7 radua ed 205 ; baptis d, ; g t 1 92 . brarian arvar 205 li . r L. 60 at H d . , Chaney. Rev Geo ge , 1 , arvard 287 o d ined at of H . ; r a 1 75 . n 05 New Londo . 2 ; portrait Charlesto n. South Carolina. 225. rl 1 9 Channey. Rev . Dr. Cha es. 5 .
n n m oned 282. A glica . 208 ; is la po , 1 78. n o B E 240 209 ; o tice f. in oston un Chief Published Writings. ’
t m s for 246. sng Pos , 287 e bark
7 mes the Christ Ch r h Boston 208 21 0. England, 28 ; assu uc . . ,
c rshi of st Church la Thomas of Scituate 225 . Re to p Chri , C p, . . INDEX 258
’ “ ar v . Mr. of edham ra e s ist r of Boston Cl k. Re . D , D k H o y .
1 65 . ’ ra dmar s ar Dr. ohn 1 1 9. e s Lan of B Cl ke. J . D k k os ”
R hard 1 88 . to 288 . Clarke, ic . n.
r mmer Hon. illia louh b neze 281 . Du W m C g , E e , , , 59.
l h J hn 281 . C oug , o . of Poems b tain - Collection y Sev Durell, Cap . of war ship ” - 8 1 . arbr uh 1 81 . eralHands, 9 1 0 Sc o o g . ’
l . l Co lingw oo d, Cuthbert . 4 Duyckinck s Cyc o pe dia of ” mmitt f ond nce Am Literat ure 80 Co ee o Corre sp e erican , ,
an Sa 61 . d fety. Reco rds o f, 1 Contributions to New England ’ l i l . Ear Percy s D nner Tabe, 4 '
r m l 97 E house 1 1 . Co ope , Rev . Dr. Sa ue , 1 . arlPercy s . 5 Early Co ngregationalChurches — o le J hn Sin leto 5 52 f t n 87 89 C p y. o g n, 1 . , o Bos o , . 1 ll ublsh rs 24 . 1 48. 1 84. 1 85 . Edes and Gi , p i e , 1 09.
o le rt ra t f 22 222 r h niv r it 282 . C p y po i o , 1 , . Edinbug U e s y, l orn an n l r E . Dr. An r w 4 C e i ri g in Cop ey po lio t, Rev d e , 1 8,
trait, 222. ’
Co rnhill Knox s boo st ore in Elio Mr. E hraim 1 48 1 59 . k . t, p . . .
1 74 .
Co tto n R v . 7 1 58 e John 75 1 88 281 . El v . John 8 88 , , . . iot, Re , , , .
Cravath , John, 281 .
. 22 rosb Dr 8 . l muel D . . 281 . C y. , E io t, Rev . Sa . D ,
l . urw u ud e Samue El . Dr r e 95 . C e , J g . extract lis. Rev Geo g .
f mo urnalof 50 . mmo Rev . Dr. Nathani l ro j , 1 E ns, e ,
rt Rev . John 7 . 4 . Danfo h, , 8 Evelyn. Captain, ut ll mo h e e . Dart Co g , 87
ames 281 . amin 1 88 . Day. J , Faneuil, Benj . “ 2 Dealings with the Dead. 1 1 8, Faneuil, Peter. 1 8 .
Fairfield, Nathaniel, 281 .
De Blois. Gilbert , 1 84 . Fifleld. Richard, 46.
b h B n 28 . Degrees (of given y First Churc . osto . 1
r 282 . m 5 . Harva d . Fitch, Ti othy. 8
Brisa amil Nova Fitch Mrs moth 58 . Des y f y of , . Ti y, l Sco tia. 288 . Flourish of Annua Spring.
Do rchester Heights. troops en
m 1 7 . F . 51 ca ped on. 5 oote, Rev Henry Wilder, .
o 6. D ro thy Q. . 5
INDEX 255
m 6. Letters of Dr. B l Hopkinsianis . 7 y es in Manu - 6 74 . r t 24 2 . How e. General, . 1 sc ip . 6 48 “ tchinson Elisha 1 88 . Librar of a r ni Hu , . y H rva d U versity. ” hin n o v or Thomas Bio ra hi u Hutc so , G ern , g p cal Contrib tions,
1 4. 46, 59. 1 88, 1 84 . ” mn f he rin 1 08 Li e am s 68 . Hy or t Sp g. , f of J es Oti , 1 Lin l 1 09. co n, Major General. 1 1 9.
mn written at sea 1 82 1 88 . Literar isto of Ameri Hy . . y H ry ca,
229 .
m me B n Lo ndon r h re i ts co to osto Mer 27 28 . Iris g en cuy. .
m ali ax 1 76. n ha l f fro H f . Lo g W rf. bui ding o . 42. t mal 26 la io n n . Inocu for s l . Lori g, Isaac, 281
1 6. B 2 . 81 , 8 Lyde, yfield, 46, 1 1
r. d daughter of By
mul232. Johnson Dr. Sa e -, , Jo g f orton) doggerelbal L nde B n . y , e j Esq , 59. mlg
assachusetts Charter of 1 691 r of 93 M , King Geo ge 1 st. death , .
75 . 94 .
Mfl mchmtu0 0 11 1 1 01 1 59 . , n cd m 0 “OI 94 . Ki g George . . Massachusetts Gazette 1 93 , l mFo 220 . King Wi lia urth, Kin C e are ture o g D ’ ciety s Co llections. 1 80. 1 62.
’ King s Chapel, architectural
drawings for, 1 28 . ’ t Pr . e y, oceedings of. 228 . 89 a l n 47 , King s Ch pe congregatio , 2 ’ assachusetts State Archives d de M , King s Chapel, history an volume pertaining to Ro yal r ti n f 1 1 24 0 . sc ip o o , 5 , 5 . a l ‘ t Ki “ Ch pe , worshippers ’
ather Rev . Dr. Cotton 2 1 4 ra; M , , , ,
1 5. 1 8. 1 9. 82. 23. 86, 46. 78. 79, Kneeland, S. , 226. 1 1 7 1 79 225 230 ra nr ters . . . Knox. Gene l He y, en
ather 7 . M dynasty. 84. 1 9 Boston. 1 74. 1 75. 6 Mather. Elizabeth, 1 . down 2 Lans e eor e r n ll th r . n (G g G e vi e), Ma e . Rev Dr. I crease. , — — I4, 1 5, 1 9 2 1 . 26 84. 75, 1 79. 2 Lathrop, Rev . John. 88 . 2 5, 226, 282. Lesli is E 2 2 ather e, M s liza. 69. 1 7 . 1 9. M . Maria. 46.
221 , 280 .
li Math . Les e Robert 21 7 . er Rev Dr. Sam l 1 4 , . , ue . , - Letter book of Dr. Byles. 85 . 1 5. 46. 1 48. 225. 256 INDEX
r Mather. Sa ah. 46.
athers r uates of v d No r. v 42 2 . M . g ad Har ar . yes. D Oli er. . 28
Noyes . John. 42. Ma l 4 mi 7 48. y fa y. 1 . 1
a hew Rev . ona han 1 . M y . J t . 86 Odell. Reginald. 8 “ 1 78 . Ol d Cal n m 78 . vi is . 77 . “ ” editation cl s m 80—82 C M Cas i , Old North hurch. 47. 226 .
Old South Church. 40. 47 . 60.
87 . 1 42. 1 61 . 227 . 234. 237 .
ten d 1 42. Oli er Hon. Daniel08 . . v . . emorial r M Histo y of Boston.
" 7 1 48 288 236. Par er Bisho Samuel 202 . . . k . p . .
r d udock arol 50. Par . M . H . 1 ker House. Boston. 1 83 ose Payson, J ph. 281 . N athaniel Emmons and PelhamPeter 1 0 1 1 228 . . . . . ” ather B ls 2 m r E 8 M y e . 28 . Pe be ton. Rev . beneser. 4.
N ona . 2 ealJ than 281 28 . . . — New En and our t 26 P m muel . P 1 66 . gl C an . 84 e berto n. Sa . J
1 86 1 226 6. . 87 . . 285. 23 Percy. Earl. letters to his father
New En lan an r E . g d Histo ric Genea d Hen y Reveley. sq ,
1 49. 1 60 .
New En land isto rical nd Philli s Rev . Samuel281 . g H a p . .
o l 4 P lli s W lliam1 83 . Genealgica Register. 1 7. hi p . i .
Phipps. Lieut . Go vernor Speu
New En land mn ub cer 69 . g Hy . p . “ lished b Edes d l 1 09 Pio us Remains of Dr. Samuel y an Gil. . 1 0 B l 2 6 1 . y es. 1
New E a Mazi e 282. Pitcairn Ma or John 4 . nglnd ag n . . j .
E n Dr. Poem describn New ngla d patriots. i g a Harvard ' Emmo ns s o inion of 1 47 . mmencement 1 00 1 01 . p , Co . . N w n P m- r Poem on the death of Kin e Engla d sal Singe . g 1 09 Geor e t and the ac . 1 s em g . sion
of George 2d. 64 .
84 . 95. 96. 1 00. 226 . ’ New England s Grievances red ” dressed. 1 76, 236. 92. 98.
n 1 28 24 . Po e Alexander 01 282 288 . New Light opinio s. . 1 p . . 1 . .
Po tter Alf C . New North Church. 1 48. 289. . red laghorn. 287 Po uh ine 1 o . . 1 28 . wnalboro a 67 . Newp rt. R I . g , M . INDEX 257
Rev . Dr. Thomas 46 Stam A t 76. Prince; , . p c . 1
47 . 60 . 1 1 7 . 1 22. 1 23 . 1 78. 228 . State Street . Boston, 1 81 .
olle 282. Princeton C ge. Stiles. Rev . Dr. Ezra. extract
B l 2. 6 Writin s f Dr. es 9 ro m ar of 66 Prose g o y . f di y . 1 6. 1 . 284 . ince o use s and hn N w Pro v de cri ti n . o Brunsw H . p o St J . e ick. Trin — r f 48 46 . histo y o . ity Church at, 8. 21 1 . '
t . hn a h h muth S Jo C urc . Ports o .
n ud Edmund 2 . Qui cy. J ge . 66. 2 8 21 0 . l ’ uinc ami 66 . . Pauls 8 Q y f y. St Church. Halifax. .
21 0. i Raw don. Lo rd Franc s. 4 . ' w i o w e s fl t 6. al m68 Refugees th H ee . T i er. Dr. Gilla , .
i Mrs . usanna 21 1 . a ler 6 . Re d. S . T i . Rebecca. 7 - s . tter of l nr E le lr o n. ie t . v Raveley, He y. q , Tai e . H L u Go . Wi
r 1 60 . lam88 67 220 2 . Ea lPercy to . 1 49. i . . . . 29 ’ v aul 1 aler amil nn Re ere, P . 1 0. T i f y s co exions, 67 .
ml of ali ax 288 . 68 . Ritchie fa i y H f .
. u 6 Ro renes in New Lond n 206 ealEmilia Lo isa 4 . ge o . T , .
l ml 286 . ra hicaland is rical Royalfa i y. Topo g p H to ”
Bosto n 44 . al l. Isaac 4 . Descri tion o f Roy , Co . p .
l 21 0 . Tories leave fo r Ha ifax.
us anlius 1 1 8 aln the all 1 82. Sargent. Luci M . . Trees o g M , 8 h B ton 8 20 1 1 9 , 28 . Trinity Churc . os . . 1 .
h m282 . S nd hurc Wr ntha 289 240 . eco C , e . . ' ' P r 48 . nt h N. B S r ete n h . oh e gea , , h i ity C urc . St J n. l v lment r. es er 2 Sett e of D By o 8. 1 1 . ' ' h . lls t . urch 4 1 he o i S C t h mas 28 1 . t H . lho t. T o . ’ “ S wall hief-Justice ll m i of e . C . Tudor a (Wi ia ) L fe ”
. am 1 68 . 26 J es Otis.
S Rev . Dr. h 67 84 l all Jose o al 46 . ew . p , . . Twice T d T es.
1 78 239 . T ler oses o 98 . . y . M C it,
Ro r 4 . Sheafe, ge .
S le Go vern r 1 79. nitarian m m rate and hir y. o . U is , ode
b rt J hn 228 . a van 7 mi e o d ced 6 77 . S . . . .
Smth Josiah 226 . niv it A i . . U ers y of berdeen. 86
Sm S dne 1 21 288 . ith. y y. ,
S lli J nath n 1 84 . ne ng. o a . Vassall, John. 1 82.
Solemn League and Covenant.
4 . aler r n . . 281 . 1 9 W k . Geo ge Leo . D D ’ S u s Annals of the Amer l R a t wi of prag e Wa ter. ebecc . firs fe " it 226 . B l ican Pulp . Mather y u. Jr . 207 .
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