From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, September 8, 1810 Compiled, with comments
BY HUGH C. MACDOUGALL
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE
The Trenton True American gives us an account of great progress in religion in Georgia, principally with the Baptists and Methodists, and among other good effects is mentioned its influence on the slaves, and on slaveholders in ameliorating the treatment of their servants. — The Columbian, Aug. 28.
COMMENT: A very large proportion of newspaper ``news’’ published in the Otsego Herald was in fact copied (usually, but not always, with credits) from other newspapers.
The Post Office at this time allowed newspaper publishers to exchange their papers with each other without paying any postage, thus encouraging the spread of information around the nation. The True American was a weekly in Trenton, New Jersey, and The Columbian was a daily paper in New York City. Both, like the Herald, were supporters of the Jefferson-Madison Republican Party.
FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE
Extract of a letter from an American at Constantinople to a gentleman in Boston, dated April 21, 1810.
Yesterday a fire broke out in Pera, one of the divisions of the suburbs, and to the N. and E. of Constantinople. It raged with the greatest degree of rapidity, and presented a truly terrific sight to the spectators.
At 11 o’clock it extended nearly a mile, and formed one continual flame; nor was any stop put to it until sunset, when some stone buildings stopped in some measure its rapid progress, and about midnight its ravages were nearly at an end. It is supposed that 30,000 are now in the fields, and burial grounds with the little they were able to snatch from the destructive element. It is supposed that about 8000 buildings were entirely consumed.
COMMENT: Pera is the name of that portion of Constantinople (today’s Istambul) on the European side of the Bosporus. The British traveler and politician John Cam Hobhouse (1786-1869, First Baron Broughton), who was visiting the Ottoman Empire in 1810, wrote that: ``A fire which had burned down nearly the half of Pera, rendered it difficult to procure lodgings, but in three days we were settled at a house in the main street....
On the conflagration in Pera, just before our arrival, Sultan Mahmoud posted himself at Galata Serai.... He distributed, according to custom, several bags of piasters among the assisting populace. The householders are by no means gainers by this singular usage, which has often been the cause, and contributed to the continuance, of fires.... The Turks, who are very expert at pulling down the houses adjoining to those where the fire rages, often wait until the arrival of the Sultan ensures them payment for their exertions, and employ the interval in pillaging. The number of general fires in the capital and in the suburbs, cannot be rated at less than three annually.... The houses, of lath and unburnt brick, are soon rebuilt, and the inhabitants prepare by lodging all their valuables in a chest.’’
PLEASE, PLEASE, PAY UP!!!
NOTICE: All persons indebted to the Subscribers in sums which ought to have been paid, one, two, three or four years ago, are hereby requested to settle the same by the 1st day of October next.
Those who treat the above with neglect, will (of necessity) be put to cost immediately after that date. COOK & CORY. August 31, 1810.
COMMENT: The partnership and general store of Oliver Cory (1762-1858) and Seth Cook (1782-1819) was established in 1806, and would break up in 1811. The Partners had been trying to collect old debts for years.
AND ANOTHER ...
NOTICE! The Subscriber intends starting for New-York after his FALL AND WINTER GOODS, on the first of next month, (October) previous to which time, he earnestly requests all those whose engagements are expired, to pay the WHOLE or part of their accounts.
Otsego Herald
September 9, 2010
Otsego Herald: Merchants ask customers to pay up
- Otsego Herald
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- Meteors Strikes New Haven, April 26. A short account of a METEOR, which was seen in this city by a number of gentlemen, on the evening of Saturday the 20th ultimo. [last].
- Maryland port attacked Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
- Canadian capital captured Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
- 'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
- Public schools created The Common School Act of 1812 marked the start of New York's public school system. Much of the credit for this was due to the radical Otsego County politician Jedediah Peck (1747-1821). To quote the NY Education Department:
- River Raisin Massacre Those whose feelings have been harrowed by the narration of the murder of the wounded, by the allied forces the day after the defeat of gen. [Jamed] Winchester at Frenchtown, will duly esteem the callous wretch (calling himself an American, and, perhaps, unfortunately, born in the United States) that could insert such an article as the annexed, in his paper.
- Please pay up Bristol Gazette, March 20, 1813. On the 19th inst. arrived at Holmes' Hole, the United States sloop of war HORNET, of 16 guns, Captain [James] Lawrence, from a cruise. Off Surinam fell in with His Britannic Majesty's brig PEACOCK, Captain [William] Peake, of 19 guns, which he sunk after 15 minutes close action. The following from the log-book, was handed us, which diffused a general joy amongst the friends of "FREE TRADE & SAILORS RIGHTS."
- Trust Nobody! Died in this village on Thursday last, Mrs. SUSAN GRAVES, consort of Mr. RECOMPENCE GRAVES, aged 49 years.
- Ship Sunk in China Died, in Cherry-Valley on the 13th inst. [March] Mr. CHRISTOPHER ALLEN, aged 27, of the prevailing epidemic.
- A cave tomb in Tennessee Died, in this town on the 2d inst. [March] of the prevailing epidemic, Mr. JACOB PRICE, aged 47 years.
- More Otsego Herald Headlines
