ident at Harvard could reconcile the opposition with the acts of his administration. The appearance of the frigate Constitution, therefore, with a figure-head of President Jackson was greeted with a storm of disapproval. When it was known that it was the intention of Commodore Jesse D. Elliott, the then commander of the Navy Yard, to thus ornament the frigate's bows, and that Laban S. Beecher, the well-known Boston carver, was at work upon it, threats were freely made that she would not be allowed to go to sea with the obnoxious image. Large bribes were also offered to the artist to destroy his work, but he remained true to his employers, working on the figure-head in his garret, which served alike as his atelier and citadel. Alarmed, however, by the menaces against Beecher, and thinking the head no longer safe in his custody, Commodore Elliott caused its removal by an armed boat's crew to the Navy Yard, where it was placed in the engine-house and finished by Beecher at his leisure. The figure represented the President in the Hermitage scene, holding in his hand a scroll with the motto, "The Union it must be preserved." Beecher was also engaged upon the busts of Hull, Bainbridge, and Stewart for stern ornaments of the frigate. The graven image was placed at the Constitution's stem, but on the 3d of July (1834) was discovered to have been mutilated, the head being sawed completely off, leaving only the body of the Chief Magistrate. The affair caused a great noise. It was committed during the prevalence of a violent thunderstorm, with sentinels pacing the ship's deck, while she herself lay moored between two seventy-fours (the Independence and Columbus) off the yard. The act was a daring one, and conjecture was for a long time busy as to its author, who, however, maintained a prudent reserve until the excitement caused by the affair had time to cool. What this excitement was may be understood when it is stated that the people of Wheeling, Va., rang the bells, assembled in public meeting, and passed resolutions approving the act. On the night in question, Captain Dewey, a Boston shipmaster, obtained a small row-boat, and dropped quietly down with the tide to where the frigate lay moored. Securing his boat he proceeded to his work, in the accomplishment of which he had to cut through a copper bolt. Several times the sentry on deck looked over the bow, hearing perhaps the noise of the saw, when the workman ceased his labor for the time. The rain poured in torrents, which, with the intense darkness, favored the bold operator. The head of Jackson, like a victim of the seraglio, fell into a sack. Dewey pulled to the shore and repaired to meet some friends at a public-house, where his success was duly celebrated. In this plight the Constitution she was then in commission proceeded to New York, where, in due time, a second figure-head bearing the same features took the place of the headless one. To secure it from a similar mutilation, a copper bolt of extraordinary thickness was placed perpendicularly in the head. At the Charlestown Navy Yard may be seen the bust of General Jackson from which the original was modelled. In March, 1835, the Constitution sailed from New York for the Mediterranean as flag-ship of Commodore Elliott, since which time her history is that of a useful but peaceful ship. At the outbreak of the Rebellion she was lying at Annapolis, where she would doubtless have shared the fate of the government vessels at Norfolk and elsewhere, had not our soldiers opportunely secured the place. Edward E. Preble, a grandson of the commodore, was on board the Constitution at this time. After being used as quarters for the midshipmen of the Naval Academy at Newport and Annapolis, she was, in 1871, towed round to Philadelphia and laid up. She will bear a conspicuous part in the centennial celebration of 1876. From sources already mentioned it is ascertained that she captured eight armed vessels carrying one hundred and fiftyeight guns, and ten unarmed prizes. From this statement it will be seen that her crews shared more hard knocks than prize money. The next war-vessel built at Hartt's yard was the Boston frigate of seven hundred tons, so called because she was built by the subscription of Boston merchants and others, and given a free-will offering to the government. She was designed, probably, by Mr. Hartt, and built under his superintendence. Her rate was to have been a thirty-six, but she mounted only twenty-eight guns. On the 22d of August, 1798, her keel was laid, and in April, 1799, President Adams appointed Captain George Little, of Massachusetts, to command her. June 12 she hauled into the stream, and sailed on her first cruise July 24, 1799. She was declared to be one of the handsomest vessels that ever floated. The names of those persons who contributed to build the Boston are worthy of preservation. A notice appeared in the Centinel of June 27, 1798, that a subscription would be opened in the chamber over Taylor's Insurance Office (corner of State and Kilby Streets) at one o'clock, "where those who wish to join in this testimonial of public spirit" might affix their signatures. At this meeting $115,250 was raised, of which Hon. William Phillips gave $10,000. This subscription was subsequently increased to $130,000; the frigate cost $137,969. David Sears, Stephen Higginson, Eben Parsons, John Codman, Joseph Coolidge and Son, Theodore Lyman, Boot and Pratt, and Thomas Dickinson gave $3,000 each. Samuel Parkman and Samuel Elliott gave $4,000 each. Benjamin Joy, James and T. H. Perkins, Thomas Walley, John Parker, Stephen Higginson, Jr., Abiel Smith, and Thomas C. Amory are down for $1,500 each. St. Andrew's Lodge gave $1,000. Benjamin and Nathaniel Goddard and Josiah Quincy gave $500. givers of smaller sums are not less deserving of mention, but are too numerous for our limits. The The Boston got to sea during the hostilities with France, and soon distinguished herself on the West India station by capturing Le Berceau, a ship of twenty-four guns and two hundred. and twenty men; Les Deux Anges, ship of twenty guns; three barges, and three unarmed prizes. At this time she was one of Commodore Talbot's squadron. The next year, under command of Captain McNeil, the Boston carried a minister to France and joined the Mediterranean fleet. Captain Little brought Le Berceau, his prize, into Boston early in November. The Frenchman was completely dismasted in the engagement, but was repaired and restored to the French under treaty stipulations. For circumstances attending this capture, Captain Little was court-martialled, the court sitting on board the Constitution, but was honorably acquitted. In her action with Le Berceau the Boston had four killed and eight wounded. The French prisoners were confined at the Castle. In 1812 the Boston was reported unworthy of repair, and in 1814, when the British were advancing on Washington, she was burned to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. The brig Argus, sixteen guns, two hundred and twenty-six tons, was built at Hartt's yard in 1803, at a cost of $37,420. She was designed by Mr. Hartly. In August, 1813, having landed Mr. Crawford, our Minister to France, at Havre, she proceeded to cruise off the English and Irish coasts, and captured and burnt so many vessels that the Irish declared the Channel was all ablaze. Between the Shannon and the Liffey she captured twenty vessels, most of which were burnt. On the 14th August, 1813, the Argus fought and was captured by the British brig Pelican, of twenty-one guns. Lieutenant Wm. H. Allen of the Argus was mortally wounded early in the conflict; he was Decatur's first lieutenant when he took the Macedonian. The Argus had also been a busy cruiser during the war with Tripoli. Both Hull and Decatur had commanded her. CHAPTER VII. COPP'S HILL AND THE VICINITY. Copp's Hill. British Works. — Ancient Arch. — Wm. Gray. — Old Ferry. Reminiscences of Bunker Hill. - The Cemetery. Curious Stones, Epitaphs, etc. - Old Funeral Customs. Church. Revere's Night Ride. Charter Street. Sir Wm. - John Hull. Colonial Mint. — Christ -The Chimes. The Vaults, - Legends of. Major Pitcairn. - Love Lane. - North Latin School. - Prince Street. Salem Church. - North End Heroes. - Captain Manly. — Massachusetts Spy. First Baptist Church. - Second Baptist Church. — Draft Riot, 1863. WE E pursue our way, after our long halt among the shipyards, around the base of Copp's Hill. The hill itself is the early Mill Field of 1632 and later, so called because the windmill used to grind the settlers' corn was brought from Cambridge in this year and placed upon the summit. This was the first windmill erected in the town. The appearance of Copp's Hill, which name is from William Copp, an early possessor, is very different to-day from what it was in 1800. At that time the hill terminated abruptly on the northwest side in a rugged cliff almost inaccessible from the water-side. Southerly, the ground fell away in an easy descent to the bottom of North Square and the shore of the Mill Pond, while to the eastward a gradual slope conducted to the North Battery. The beach at the foot of the headland, opposite Charlestown, was made into a street with earth taken from the summit of the hill, which was where Snow-Hill Street now crosses it. This made Lynn Street, - our Commercial Street extension, and afforded a continuous route along the water. Going north, the rising ground at Richmond Street indicates the beginning of the ascent. The hill has been known as Windmill Hill and as Snow Hill; but our ancestors were never at a |