Re-printed from the New Hampshire Gazette, August 9, 1771

Those Pesky Frontiersmen

The War against the Regulators (rebels) of North Carolina, and the disputes between Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and Connecticut Men on the frontier, prompted one Philadelphia writer to observe this about the people of frontier Colonial America:

“..it is our opinion of folks in this country, that if some method is not fallen upon of reducing the frontier rioters to a submission to Law, that one general chain will be formed of them throughout the whole continent, as the views and conduct of them are all similar..”

The Quack Doctor

If to a patient call’d, to him unknown,
When first into the House or Room he’s shown,
The mercenary Quack looks round to see
What signs of want, or of prosperity,
Appear about the chamber, and from thence
Does his advice accordingly dispense.
If meanly furnished, and course sheets, he’s poor–
The country air must then perform the cure;
But if the patient’s rich, lie still, dear sir;
Nurse, keep him close, ’tis present death to stir;
I’ll send a Drink shall rectify his blood,
Drenches and drops can only do him good;
Pearl cordials, of crabs-eyes, must be his food.
Thus is the unappy wretch with physic plied,
and what he begs for most, is most denied,
Till pined away at last to skin and bone,
Only for want of food to live upon;
But when gave o’er, if nature be but strong,
The cook oft proves the doctor’s in the wrong,
And does his life with kitchen physic save,
Brought by base Emp’rice once so near the Grave,
From whence, dear sir, it plainly doth appear,
Such doctors many thousands in a year
Secundum Artem, kill for want of right good cheer.

Lightning Strikes the Meeting House

We hear from Stratford in Connecticut, that on Lord’s Day the 28th ult. during the time of divine service, in the forenoon, the meeting-house there was struck with lightning, and John Burr, Esq; and Mr. David Sherman were instantly struck dead, and several other persons in the congregation much wounded.  The lightning first struck the steeple, which it tore much, ran down the corner posts, into the body of the house, which it also damaged considerably.  The people assembled for public worship were greatly affected with this terrible dispensation of God’s Providence. — Further particulars in our next.