Newspaper Page Text
No. 46. Vol. IV.
DESCRIPTIVE.
BUNKER’S HILL.
From the Richmond Evan, and Lit. Magazine.
Extract of a Letter.
BOSTON, JULY 10.
You will readily believe that one of ray
habits of lUbught and feeling, visited, with
very lively interest, the place where War
ren fought and fell. It seems, that we must
now call it Breed's hill. And here is a re
markable instance of the power of youthful
associations. One of the first things that
I Csn remember is the battle of Bunker's
hill. That event, in jts minute details, was
related to me when I was quite a child. I
mourned for Warren, and exulted in the
valour displayed by my countrymen when
I was too young to understand what death
and valour meant ; and could only sympa
thise with ray parents who took care that
all their children should be good American
■xhigs. Indeed, my feelings in relation to
the whole revolutionary struggle are mere
intense, and the more easily excited, be
cause a number of my nearest kindred
were soldier l , who, having in some instan
ces suffered the evils of captivity, had much
to tell on their return home, to their young
i?i?Jred. I remember well to have sat, of
ten halfa w inter’s right, on the knee of my
favourite uncle, and listened to his narrative
of feats of American valour and sufferings,
and of British cruelties, until I was excited
to the very utmost of a child’s capacity.—
At this moment l most di-tinctly recollect
liny emotions when I first heard of General
jPutnam’s plunging down the precipice at
Greenwich church in Connecticut.—And so
if a thousand other things, related by actor?
md eye-witnesses. Now, as I had always
n early life heard of Bunker’s hill, anJ had
issociated with that name those displays of
letermined courage and prowess, which, in
he beginning of a doubtful and perilous
iontest, raised ihe American character, and
lerhaps were closely connected with the
esult of the struggle; on arriving in Button
could not help eagerly inquiring for Bun
er's hill. And really, it was a little pro
oking to be reminded, as often as I was,
hat Breed’s hill was the place. This may
e well enough for the mere topographer,
ut Bunker's bill is the name associated in
ny memory with these fine displays of
Imerican gallantry and patriotism ; and I
hall habitually call the place Bunker’s hill
tis long as I live. In this letter, however,
o please my Boton friends, I consent that
l shall be Breed’s hill.
II viM'ed (he place with a very intelligent
gentleman, who, by conversation with aged
persons, who had been spectators of the
field of battle, had become perfectly ac
quainted with every thing of importance
that had occurred on that memoratde oc
casion. The hill gives a v'-jv interesting
and commanding view of Boston. There
are yet distinct traces of the redoubt thrown
up on the summit by the Americans.—
There we stood, while our friend pointed
out to us the ground over which the enemy
marched, and the places where the battle
ragejJ most fiercely. lam not able to des
cribe my emotions at the time, We stood
just by what is called the tomb of Warren.
Shall I confess to you that in the complex
feeling of which 1 was conscious, there was
a mingling of surprise, shame and indigna
tion ! The tomb of Warren is a pillar of
wood going fast to decay. It was set up
ye.'/rs ago by the Free Mason’s Lodge, of
which that distinguished patriot was a mem
ber, to mark the spot where he offered his
life on the altar of his country, until his
grateful countrymen should erect a monu
ment worthy of his memory. It has be
fore been mentioned that the hilt complete
ly commands the.cily of Boston. One may
ihen, while he leans against this pillar of
wood, see a thousand tokens of the wealth
and publick spirit of the Bostonians; and it
is impossible not to ask, why have they thus
neglected a man, who, living and dead, has
done as much honour to Massachusetts as
any ether citizen she has ever produced ?
To this interrogatory, I could get no satis
factory answer. I hope to be forgiven, if
I am uncharitable in judging that this neg
lect is owing to the strength of mere local
feeling. The grave of fVarren is not in Bos
ton ! otherwise there would long ago have
been erected a mausoleum worthy of the
patriot arv'l the h?ro.
1f you will look into the first volume of
the history of the American war by Botta,
(translated by Otis) you will find how a for
eigner speaks of this distinguished Ameri
can. Perhaps, of all the victims of that
contest, not one deserved more esteem both
for publick and private virtue than Dr. Jo
seph Warren. If no monumental marble
marks the place where his duet sleeps, his
memory will live in the history of the
country which he adorned and defended,
and his example will afford instruction .and
rouse to virtuous action, when even the
marble tombs of less conspicuous men shall
be forgotten
While standing on thefteight of Breed’s
hill, I could not but contrast the scene
which then lay before me, with what had
been exhibited when the raw, untrained
militiamen of Massachusetts determined to
contend with the veteran troops of the mo
ther couq'ry., Immediately before us lay
THE MISSIONARY.
the field of battle, now clothed with beauti
ful verdure, but then ploughed up by artil
lery and stained with blood. Next stands
Charlestown, with its handsome churches
and spires all peaceful and quiet, with no
sounds but the hum of industry and the.
shouts of juvenile gladness ; but then, by the
cruel and unprofitable policy of the enemy,
wrapped in fire, and shooting a mighty pyr
amid of flame towards heaven. The eye
then rests on the river Charles, and Boston
harbour, once in full possession of the ene
my, and covered with their vessels of war;
but now whitened with the sails of our own
merchant vessels, and all alive with boats
gliding in every direction', while on the
Charleston side there lie the U. States’
navy yard, and several of Ihe most power
ful and formidable vessels of war ever
built in this country; putting one in mind of
Ihe enierprise and gallantry of American
seamen, and the heroick deeds of our naval
commanders. Beyond the river, Boston
rises in full view, once garrisoned by an en
emy and filled up with a wretched popula
tion, who suffered every indignity and pri
vation that the wantonoes3 and caprice of
power chose to inflict ; but now the abode
of beauty, taste, fashion, wealth and luxu
ry ; the seat of literary and commercial en
terprise ; of much that an enlightened
Christian patriot may well rejoice in, and
much that he can mourn over and condemn.
For myself, I have a sort of pliancy of af
fection, which embraces every object of in
terest in my country, and as 1 stood and
looked at Boston, forgetting for a moment
how far off was the place of my abode, 1
said to myself, “ Peace be within tby walls,
and prosperity within thy
of the house of the Lord our God which is
in thee, I will seek thv gnod.”
The contrast which the spectator cannot
help drawing between the scene presented
when the battle was fought on Breed’s bill
and that which now greets the eye on eve
ry side, fills the mind with many delightful
emotions, calls np many proud recollections
of American achievement, and awakens a
powerful feeling of gratitude to the Almigh
ty Arbiter of this world’s destiny. All the
interesting events which lie between the
period when the tug of war commenced,and
that which is present to the observer,crowd
into the remembrance. He thioli3 of the
time when we were poor, and few and des ,
pried ; when it was thought and said that a
dozen British regiments could look down all
opposition to British” authority; qnd his
mind runs along the course of events and
rests delightfully on the present period,
when the example of his country is quoted
by the most distinguished statesmen, for
the instruction of the world. To the God
of our fathers be ascribed the glory ! And
let the memory of Warren and the rnen like
minded with him be cherished, and the ex
ample of their virtues be imitated.
a Ship of war.
On retiring from Breed’s hill we visited
the navy-yard, with a view of examining
every part of that interesting establish
inent. But although our friend had a per
mit from the Commodore, we were, owing
to some regulation not understood, repulsed
by the sentinel. We had an opportunity of
seeing a ship of Ihe line, now ready to be
launched,and put under cover for protection
against the weather. Its enormous bulk
surprized me. Although it lies at the wa
ter’s edge, yet the height is such that from
the top you have one of the finest views of
Boston and the harbour, that is any where
afforded. Its othpr dimensions are in pro
portion. The inhabitants of a considera
ble village might find room between its
decks. The thick ribs and mighty beams
of live oak, which ring like iron when you
strike them, seem to bid defiance to any as
sault that man can make. I contemplate a
great ship of war with peculiar emotions.
Taking it altogether, it conveys to my mind
a higher idea of human power, than any
other of (be works of tnan. Os course it
awakens the feelings produced by objects
of sublimity and grandeur, more effectually
than any thing else of man’s device. And
while this is the case, I associate the me
chanism of the vessel, and the object of its
destination with the glory of my country.
THE SHAKERS.
From a “Visit to Lake George. Saratoga & Leb
anon’’^—recently published in the Theological
Repertory, (Washington City.)
On Saturday morning we set out for
Lebanon Spring*. From Albany to this
place, there occurs nothing very worthy of
notice. Greenhush, an extensive barracks,
erected during the late war, and the small
towns, Schodack, Nassau, and Slephentown,
are the principal points of observation.
Having reached the confines of tne Shaker
village early in the afternoon, we deter
mined to spend the remainder of the day in
obtaining some information respecting the
establishments, the manners, and principles,
of this singular people. The afternoon
being rainy, however, we were able lo take
only a cursory glance at the village, and to
hold a short conversation with the elders.
They manifested the utmost willingness
to discuss their religious tenets. 1 soon
found, however, that the hope of convinc
ing them of their errour would be perfect
ly vain, as they relied upon trances and vra-
MOUNT ZION. (HANCOCK COUNTV, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1823.
CO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE COSPFX TO EVERY CREATURE.
ions to corroborate their expositions of
Scripture. These communications, they
maintained, still continued to he vouchsafed
to (hose “ who had received i* gift,” and
were of paramount authority with the Bi
ble. I contented myself, therefore, with
inquiring, whether it were probable that
the elders would preach on the next day,
aDd whether they would, probably, enlarge
on their peculiar tenets. Having re
ceived a reply in the affirmative, we
took leave ot them, with thanks for their
politeness, and promising to accept their
invitation to attend their religious service
on the following day.
We had an opportunity of visiting only a
few of their stores and manufactories, or of
making such general observations as a
laudable curiosity might reasonably demand.
In default thereof, therefore, I have here
transcribed an account of this settlement,
and of the customs and principles of the in
habitants, which was drawn up by Professor
Silliman, from his own observations aud
from other authentick sources.
“ Their buildings are thickly planted,
along a street a mile in length. All cf them
are comfortable, and a considerable portion
of them are large. are, almost with
out an exception, painted of an ochre yel
low, and, although plain, they make a hand
some appearance. The utmost neatness is
conspicuous in their fields, gardens, court
yards, out-houses, ar.d Ihe very roads; not
a weed, not a spot of filth, or any nuisance
is suffered to exist. Their wood is cut and
piled, in the most exact order; their fen
ces are perfect; even their stone walls are
constructed with great regularity, and of
materials so massy, and so well arranged,
that unless overthrown by force, they may
stand for centuries; instead of wooden pil
lars for their gates, they bave pillars of
stone, of one solid piece, and every thing
hears the impress of labour, vigilance and
skill, with such a share of taste as is consis
tent with the austerities of their sect.
Their orchards are beautiful; and proba
bly no part of our country presents finer
examples of agricultural excellence. They
are said to possess nearly 3,000 acres of
land in this vicinity. Such neatness and
order I.Lave not seen nny where on so large
a scale, except in Holland, where the very
necessities of existence impose orde.r and
neatness on Ihe whole population; but
here it is voluntary. 1
“ Besides agriculture, it is well known
that the Shakers occupy themselves much
with mechanical employments. The pro
ductions of their industry and skill, sieves,
brushes, boxes, pails, and other domestick
utensils, are every where exposed for sale,
and are distinguished by excellence of
workmanship. Their garden-seeds are
celebrated’ for goodness, and find a ready
market. They have many gardens, but
there is a principal one of several acres
which I am told exhibits superiour cultiva
tion.
“Their females are employed in domes
• ick manufactures and house work, and the
commanity is fed and clothed by its own
productions.
“ The property is all in common. The
avails of the general industry are poured
into the treasury of the whole; individual
wants are supplied from a common maga
zine, or store house, which is kept for each
family, and ultimately, the elders invest the
gains in land and buildings, or sometimes in
money, or other personal property, which
is held for the good of the Society.
“ The members in this village, as we
were informed by one of the male mem
bers, are about five hundred, but there are
said to be fifteen hundred, including other
villages in this vicinity. Their numbers
are sustained by voluntary additions, and
by proselyting. Poor anil ignorant people,
in the vicinity, and on the neighbouring
mountains in particular, are allured, it is
said, by kindness, and presents, to join the
society; and destitute widows frequent
ly come in, with their children, and unite
themselves to this commoajfy. When a
comfortable subsistence for The, a refuge
for old age, and for infancy and childhood,
the reputation (at least with the order) of
piety, and the promise of heaven, are held
out to view, it is no wonder that the igno
rant, the poor, the bereaved, the deserted,
the-unhappy, the superstitious, the cynical,
and even the whimsical, should occasionally
swell the number of the Shakers.
n Their homfe o f publick worship is pain
ted white, and is a heat building, which jn
its external appearance, would not be dis
reputable to any sect.
“Their worship is said to he lees extrpv
agant than formerly ; their dancing is still
practised, but with morb moderation, and
for a good many years they have ceased to
dance naked, which was formerly practis
ed, and even with persons of different sexes.
The elders exercise a very great influence
over the minds of the young people. The
latter believe (as I was assured by a re
spectable inhabitant,) that the former hold
a direct and personal intercourse with
Christ and the Apostles, and that the elders
possess the power of inspecting their very
thoughts, and their most secret actions.
Perhaps this will account for the reputed
purity of the Shakers ; for whatever may
be imagined, it does not appear that any
scandalous offences do now occur among
them, or, at least, that they are brought to
light; and it must be allowed that if they
were frequent they could not be concealed.
“ They profess, it is to believe that
Christ has already appeared the second
time on earth, in the person of their great
leader, Mother Ann Lee, and that the saints
are now judging the world.
“ They have no literature among them,
nor do we hear that they were ever joined
by people of enlightened minds.
“ This singular people took their rise ia
England, nearly half a century ago, and the
settlement at New-Lebanon is of more than
40 years standing.
“ They first emigrated to America in the
year 1774, under their Spiritual Mother
Ann Lee, a niece of the celebrated General
Charles Lee, who made a distinguished
fignre dating the American Revolutionary
War. J
“ They rarely publish any thing respect
ing their own principles and habits, and we
are indebted chiefly to those who bave se
ceded from their community for the more
precise iniormation which we possess re
specting them.
“Among various publications of this na
ture, “An account of the people called
Shakers, their faith, doctrines, and practice,
&c. by Thomas Brown,” who was, for sev
eral years, a member of their society, is
probably the best. It has every appear
ance of being written with candour and
truth, and although an unpolished perform
ance exhibits considerable ability.
“ If this book be considered as a fair ac
count of the Shakers, it is manifest, that
notwithstanding all the commendation to
which they are entitled, for their moral vir
tues and their habits of order, industry, and
economy, they are the subjects of the wild
est fanaticism, and the most degrading su
perstition. If it be idolatry and blasphemy,
to pronounce a woman, of at least question
able character, to be the Saviour of the
world, at his second coming, and thus, in
the person ofihis woman, to blend the at
tributes of the Son of God, with at least oc
casional drunkenness, it will be very difli
to acquit the Shakers of these crimes.”*
On Snnday morning we made ready to
attend their worship, at the village. It is
somewhat questionable whether such an at
tendance can be made to consist with a pro-,
per regard to the sanctity of the Sabbath.
With respect to the great majority of those
who do attend, there can be no doubt of
its being an idle profanation of the day.
But to him who is studying (he phenomena
of mind, with a view of consecrating his dis
coveries to the good of mankind, while he
neglects not to cultivate in the temple of
his heart the spirit of devotion, it may die
permitted, and perhaps to the glory of God,
to witness and improve this curious, though
sad, exhibition of the vagaries of the hu
man intellect.
Upon this occasion Ibe meeting house,,
which is an oblong wooden building, about
fifty feet by thirty, was unusually crowded;
there being at the Springs a considerable
number of travellers, on their return home,
and this spectacle forming an accustomed
item in the tour of fashion. A little past
10 the worshippers began to assemble, the
males at the west, and the females at the
east, door of the house. The latter were
dressed in white or brown dresses, with
capes of uniform shape and materials, just
fitting the head, with the hair combed back
so as to be quite concealed. This was
common to the girls as well as the women,
and served to disfigure and deform faces,
some of which required no such detraction
from their charms. The men, principally,
and especially the younger ones, were
without coats, having their arms tied round
with a piece of blue tape. Their dres9
copsisled, generally, of drab waistcoats,
with white or striped pantaloons. Among
the men were two or three black ones of
very decent mein, and, in fact, the best
looking ones among them. Among them
* Silliman’s Tour from Hartford, between
Hartford and Quebec. —! here allude to Ann Lee.
She was born in Manchester, about the year 1735,
and became the wife of Abraham Stanley, a
blacksmith, who proved unkind and intemperate.
Having been peculiarly unfortunate in the loss of
eight infants* owing principally to very severe
personal sufferings, during a dangerous crisis,
which, at least, had nearly proved fatal, she re
nounced marriage, declaring it to have been the
great original sin, and thus became the leader of
the Shakers. They had before practised mar
riage, but from this time (1771,) they reuoimced
it. Ann Lee, (now called Mother Ann, because
she was considered as the Spiritual Mother of her
disciples) claimed the gift of languages, of heating,
of discovering the secrets of the heart, of being
actuated by the invisible power of God, of sinless
perfection, and of immediate revelutians. Mr.
Brown says, however, of Mother Ann, that she
sometimes drank spirituous liquors to intoxication,
pronouncing them as one of God's good creatures,
she died at Niskenna in 1734. In what estima
tion she was held by her followers, may he learned
from tliq following, (must we not say ?) blasplie-’
moos lines, taken from different hymns of the
Shakers:
“Christ’s second coming was in Mother Ann—
We bles9 our dear Mother, the chief corner stone.
Which God has laid iu Zion, his anointed one.
Let names, and sects, and parties,
Accost my ears no more;
My ever blessed mother,
For ever I’ll adore.
Appointed by kind heaven,
My Saviour to reveal;
She was the Lord’s anointed,
To show the root of tiu, See*'’
m. or,)
’ l $3,00 m advance. $
all, there was the appearance of the great*
est neatness and cleanliness. The young
er ones, as they came in took their stations
in the rear, and the eldest in front. About
half an hour was taken up in assembling,
during which time they stood intermingled,
without any order or apparent devotion,
and with the most unmeaning countenances,
looking about upon the spectator* The
men thus occupied the south and west side
and end of the building, and the women the
south HDd east side and end, leaving a space
of about six feel between them, and reserv
ing, for the accommodation of spectators,
the north side of the house, through its
whole length. Upon the signal being given
the two bodies formed themselves at once
into solid columns, with all the regularity
and promptness of a well disciplined army,
the space between them forming the seg
ment of a circle. The south part of this
avenue appeared to be the place set apart
for the speakers, who glided from the
crowd around the acute angle of the col
umn, like actors from behind the curtian.
One of these soon made his entree , and in a
few common place observations, and with
sufficient want of animation, announced the
object of (he meeting to be to worship God
in spirit and in truth, and “ his desire that
the assembly would consider the privilege
of the gospel, and improve it to their justi
fication and acceptance.” One or two of
the elders then drew from their pockets,
each, a hymn book, and without givmg out
the words, struck up a tune which was im
mediately caught by the rest, and sung with
great vociferation. About a dozen verses
were sung without any intermission, so that
it was not possible to tell when the tune,
which was a simple, monotonous, and plain
tive air, commenced or finished. There
was some solemnity in their countenances
during this performance, and some of them
entered into it with great energy, beating
time with their feet, and working their
bodies. Another speaker then came for
ward, and reiterated his “ desire, that the
privilege of the gospel should be duly con
sidered af*l improved, and that they who
had received the gift should walk worthy
ofit, and let their light shine before men.”
He expressed “ a gratification in seeing so
many spectators; the Shake r s were always
glad to afford room for those who demean
ed themselves civilly, and to give them in
formation respecting their tenets; he hop
ed and believed that, in return, all persons
present would conduct themselves with de
corum, and would not intterrupt their sin
cere devotions by noise and laughing.”
Another tune was then sung in the same
style aud manner. After this, notice was
given to “ those who fell the gift,to prepare
to praise God in the dance.” Those who had
on coats then laid them aside, and the
whole, turning their faces, which hail look
ed towards the eod of the building, to the
side of it, formed tbemselves into columns
of about five in a file. Opposite to each
file, and facing it, a man, on the male side,
and a woman, on the female side, stood
against the wall. It appeared to be the
province of these to lead the musick. This
was a most singular and barbarous noise
proceeding from the throat, escaping with
difficulty from their distended cheeks, and
accompanied with the most furious agita
tion of the tongue, without any articulation
whatever. The musick, if it might he so
cn”sd, was in quick time, and the. moment
it was struck up, they commenced the dance,
beating time with gr-eat exactness,and with
regular step, advancing up to their musi?
cians, (hen retreating, and sometimes tern
ing round. The musick had a regular in
terlude of chorus, at which time there en
sued a regular double shuffle, such as is
performed in great style by a certain class
in the southern states. This exercise was
performed thrice after a short interval.
Nothing can be conceived more awfully
ludicrous than such an exhibition. Amidst
the conflicting feelings which it is calculat
ed to awaken, one hardly knows which
predominates, that of pity or ridicule.
The sensations of pain, however, which
the impressions of such a scene cannot fail
to leave upon a pious or an intelligent
mind, will prompt the desire never more to
behold so sad an exhibition of human im
becility.
After the second dance, an old man came
forward, and after a few observations on the
“general principles of godliness,” remark
ed, that, as many inquiries hud been made
respecting the tenets of the Shakers, and
many erroneous notions thereon had gone
abroad, he should, take (he present oppor
tunity of giving correct information on the
subject. He hoped that the course which
he deemed it necessary to take jp defence,
would not he considered as ;t violation of
modesty. He should lake, as the head of
his discourse, the 7l!i chupter of Ist Gorin
thiaus. Asa preliminary, it waa necessary
to advert to the previous chapters, in order
to show the scope and design of the writer.
It was evident therefrom, that there were
divisions in the church, and that some were
carnal and corrupt. Such the Apostle
thought it necessary to,feed with milk and
not with meat. Such were allowed to have
wives. But if any of the present day would
take advantage of this privilege, they must
take with it the demerit of being carnal, un
der bondage, and qnfit fur heaven.