The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, March 4, 1771.

Extract of a Letter from Newcastle.

I called as you desired, at Sedgefield, in the County of Durham, and paid a visit to Hardwick gardens, but must forbear at this time to give you the particulars of the charming walks and shades in these gardens; and indeed my description will convey but a very inadequate idea of their beauties.

From thence I went to Gibside, the seat of Lord S., and viewed the walks, &c. which are extremely elegant and well planned. Here was formerly the mansion of hospitality, where the stranger and traveller always found access to refreshment; but, tempora mutantur, there is no admittance now, and Famine seems to stand sentinel at the gates. From this place I proceeded to Newcastle, where I have stayed six days longer than I proposed, merely to see the ceremony of confirmation, as you know we have no bishops in America. The patriots in this part assured me the prelate's business would be but small at this confirmation, on account of his late political conduct in the senate, which had given much offence to them; but the patriots were mistaken: There was never known a greater number to attend, though chiefly the vulgar, or what the ministry call the Scum of the earth. So that it is plain, this class of people are very indifferent about their civil liberties, in comparison to the Bishop's blessing. But to proceed; the day on which the ceremony was performed was extremely unfavourable, the water pouring from the clouds in torrents the most part of the day, so that the country people (and many who came from the distance of twenty miles) were wet to the skin. These who came in boats down the river, appeared, when they landed, as if they had been delivered up by the river gods. They were every thing but drowned. Pitiable yet unpitied they proceeded in large companies to the church, headed by the journeyman parsons of their respective parishes, who strutted with all the consequence of a commanding officer, when marching to attack a few unarmed rioters. Indeed their gesticulations were so particularly striking and awful, that even an Indian at their appearance would have abandoned his post and fled: Our Warrior Attakullakulla might have made a valuable acquisition had he been a spectator of the procession: For instead of endangering his life with slaughtering the Indians over the Appalachian mountains, his very appearance would have frightened them to the remotest corners of America.

But to conclude, the church was extremely crowded, and the people rather unruly, every one endeavouring with much spiritual warmth, though half drowned, to get foremost to the blessing, whilst the journeyman parsons were exceedingly vigilant in sowing the seeds of patience and good order; and it might be about three hours before the last Christian received the finishing stroke of religion.

After which the clergy were elegantly entertained at the Mansion House, where Bacchus confirmed them all. And thus ended this holy farce!