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presbyter, the able and popular Dr. Johns of Christ church, and his assistant George D. Cummins. That church edifice had just been thoroughly repaired and decorated with a new steeple-the model for which I was told was "a candle extinguisher set on top of an inkstand." Architecturally this denomination had nothing it could show with pride, its newest, then not quite completed, was Mount Calvary at the corner of Eutaw and Madison streets, which was externally the same as today. With the exception of a few moderate spires, their edifices were little more pretentious than those of the Methodists, the newest and grandest, and which was the "pew church" at the corner of Charles and Fayette streets. Beyond question or comparison the finest piece of ecclesiastical architecture in the city was St. Alphonsus church, at the corner of Saratoga and Park streets. The building of this had progressed so far that it was occupied, but it had come to a stand in its aspiring, and for several years the top stone was not brought forth, but it stood as the Cathedral did, and as several of those of most beautiful promise-St. Paul's, Grace, St. Luke's, etc., do today.

The First Presbyterian church stood upon the high bank at the northwest corner of Fayette and North streets, stately and dignified, under the pastoral care of Dr. J. C. Backus, who still abides beside it in its more pretentious home, and who is too well known and too active still to have his biography given here. The Second Presbyterian church edifice was quaint and ancient with the pulpit in the middle of one side and the pews of a pattern no longer extant. Dr. R. J. Breckenridge the pastor of this church and Dr. Musgrave pastor of the Third Presbyterian church on Eutaw street were of the kind we read of, who contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints as they understand it, and make the pulpit a drum ecclesiastic. The one had found it necessary to rebuke the errors of the Catholic church, and the other to bear testimony against the heresies of the Methodists and they had done it in language quite as forcible as it was elegant in books which the denominations at which they were respectively aimed had placed among their indices expurgatorii. But they were both men of decision, zeal and power, and ranked among the ablest of

their sect in the country. But there was one of perhaps more reputation than either-a Presbyterian, save that he repudiated the Presbyterian creed and discipline, and rejected the authority of the Presbytery. This was Rev. John M. Duncan, pastor of the church on Fayette street near Liberty. He and his church had declared and maintained their independence, the contest they had waged together had cemented them firmly and it was then and until his death continued to be one of the largest, wealthiest and most intelligent congregation in the city and it was probably the one to which strangers were attracted more than any other.

On Second street north side a little nearer to Gay than to South, setting back some hundred feet in a yard well supplied with shade trees, stood a church which ought not to pass unnoticed. This was the First German Reformed church, under the ministry of Dr. Elias Heiner, and its tall spire contained the town clock which was the generally accepted horological standard. It was among the attractive churches of the city and so continued until the opening of Holliday street south from Baltimore required its demolition and removed every vestige by which its site could be recognized.

Two other of those churches then prominent have been swept away by the flames. St. Paul's, upon the site of which with additions, yet using to considerable extent the old walls, the present edifice has been reared. The First English Lutheran church on Lexington street, well ministered to by Dr. J. G. Morris, and whose site after the destruction was surrendered to the demands of traffic; and two, the Fifth Presbyterian on Hanover street, then large, popular and flourishing under the charge of Rev. Dr. J. G. Hamner, and the church of the Ascension, Episcopal, on Lexington street, near Pine, have been surrendered by the creeds to which they respectively belonged and have become synagogues of the Jews.

At my first introduction to the Court House I found two courts there-viz., the Baltimore City Court which administered criminal law for the city, and in which Judges Brice, Nesbitt and Worthington held the scales; and Baltimore County Court which had jurisdiction of civil and equity business for the city

and of civil, equity and criminal business for Baltimore County outside of the city-all of which was dispensed by Chief Justice Stevenson Archer of Harford County and Judges Purviance and LeGrand of Baltimore. There was also in the same building a room given up to the commissioners of insolvent debtors and occupied by them, and in the lower portion of the Masonic Temple Judge Upton S. Heath held the United States District Court and Judge R. B. Taney the Circuit.

Some few of the attorneys then in active practice and doing the city's professional work still survive-but the names of most are written upon tombstones. Geo. R. Richardson was AttorneyGeneral of the State, and Robert J. Brent soon after succeeded him. Reverdy Johnson and John Nelson, ex-Attorney-Generals of the United States, were looked up to as standing at the head of their profession. Jos. J. Speed and Thos. S. Alexander were the first of chancery lawyers, and John Glenn was reputed to be doing the most lucrative business of any one at the bar, while John V. L. McMahon, Jonathan Meredith, Nathaniel Williams, Wm. Schley, Wm. A. Talbott, T. Yates Walsh, J. Mason Campbell, Chas. H. Pitts and John J. Lloyd were names that were spoken when inquiry was made for the lawyers of Balti

more.

It is quite time that the biographies of some of these should be written. They belong to the history of the Baltimore bar and of Baltimore City. I have called attention to the fact that since I have been an observer here they have passed away, in the hope that some who knew them better than I did, will make fitting record of their lives and influence before the memory of them, and the material which might illustrate their cause shall have passed forever beyond reach.

Baltimore, 10 December, 1875.

LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS.

HENRY GALE TO Gov. T. S. LEE.

Somerset County, Oct. 8, 1781.

His Excellency Thomas Sim Lee Esq.

Sir

Permit me to address you in behalf of a certain John Timmons, an unhappy man who was convicted of High Treason at the last General Court of this Shore, and who now lies under sentence of Death, which punishment he must undergo unless your Excellency will be pleased to grant him a Reprieve, and Remission of the Judgment passed on him, which I most earnestly entreat and hope you will do.

Perhaps Sir you will think this request a very uncommon one from a private individual, and therefore I beg leave to relate the very singular and uncommon circumstances that induce me to trouble you on this occasion, when you have read them I dare say you will no longer wonder at my solicitation and flatter myself as the facts are literally true, they will together with your own natural propensity to relieve the miserable, and unhappy have such an effect as to Induce you to grant my petition.

I think it highly probable you may have heard of the severe and cruel treatment I received from a certain McMullin Commander of a British Barge; but lest the circumstances attending that affair should not have been truly represented to you, I beg leave to relate them, at least such as are most material.

Some time in July last I was with several others (at the house of Mr. Levin Gale) taken prisoner in the night by the aforesaid McMullin, who after Robing the House of many articles and discharging every other person; carried me and the Goods over to Sandy Island, where directly upon our land

ing I was charg'd with being one of the members of the Court Martial that passed sentence of Death on Mister. This charge being true I wished to evade it, but McMullin without consulting any of his crew that I know of, and refusing me any form of Tryal, Imediately proceeded to tie me with his own hands to a post (upon several of the Crews refusing to do it) and began to whip me on the bare back and gave I believe about a Dozen Severe Strokes, with a whip or Cowskin I cannot say which. He than ordered two others to give me twelve strokes apiece, which I believe I received. As soon as this ceremony was over, McMullin ordered his Crew to put a Rope about my neck tie my hands behind me and hang me up to a Tree, which sentence was accordingly executed.

What happened during the time I was hanging I know not, being absolutely insensible, and as I was afterwards told really dead in the opinion of every person present, but after lieing some time I began to Recover, and before I could either See, or speak, I heard some person propose knocking me in the head which was objected to by some other person, who I believe was the before-mentioned John Timmons. Soon after this I so far recovered the rest of my senses as to be able to know and distinguish everything about me, when the aforesaid John Timmons with the appearance of Joy at my Recovery, in a very kind manner assur'd me I should not again be I'll treated, and used his utmostly endeavours to prevail on the rest of the crew to be of his opinion. McMullin still appearing resolutely determined to dispatch me at all events, and for this purpose the Rope was once more put around my neck and I was again drag'd to the Tree, but the earnest and unwearied entreaties of my now poor unhappy friend John Timmons, together with the solicitations of the rest of the Crew, had at last such an effect on the cruel Heart of McMullin that he consented to discharge me on my taking an oath not to bear arms against the British and particularly the Barges and Barge men.

Under these circumstances I think Myself in some degree indebted to John Timmons for my life and in return I most earnestly entreat you will (if consistent with your duty) grant

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