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WYOMING VALLEY POETRY.

Critical and Historical Survey Early Writers and Published Books of Verse. PART FIRST.

To give a critical and historical analysis of the poetry of the Wyoming Valley, necessitates the exploring of a hitherto unwritten department of local literature. Mr. John S. McGroarty, in his Poets and Poetry of Wyoming Valley, gives selections f om the better known versifiers, but no critical or historical reminiscences. For this brief survey I have taken possession of many widely scattered facts and have endeavored to mound them into a history of Wyoming Valley poetry: and, while I have admired the songs of our native writers and made the touch of the critical fiuger somewhat gentle, I have sought to point out the powers and limitations of the singers and emphasize their imperfections.

More than a hundred years have passed since the first local writers began to drink inspiration from the beauties of this historic Valley and to pour for.h their intoxication with sparkling emications of poetic tancy. It was in 1785 that Uriah Terry wrote his "Wyoming Massacre;" in 1810 that Charles F. Wells wrote the "Warriors of Wyoming,” and in 1812 that James Sinton wrote the "Poor Man and the Doctor." Edward Chapman, Charles Miner, and Josiah Wright helped to swell the flood of local verse during the opening years of the present century, but their rhymes contain little merit and can scarcely be called poetry. The ublished verses of Amos Sisty, Audrew Beaumont, A. T. Lee, Sarah Miner and Charles Mowery evince a degree of poetic talent, though unequal and faulty in finish.

established at

The Literary Visiter, Wilkes-Barre in 1813, served as a medium of communication for the early writers of this section. It was royal octavo size, a weekly journal, and published by Steuben Butler. The Visitor was primarily a literary periodical, and the editor, in the salutatory of the initial number, assures his readers that the paper will be devoted to every department of knowledge "which can be considered useful, interesting, or amusing to all classes of readers-biographical sketches of the most important personages of America and Europe-anecdotes of wit and humor -important facts in the history of nature-remarkable events in the history of nations-the finest flights of the muse-the selected beauties of ancient and modern eloquence-such essays as will instruct correctly in morality and duty, in education, science and the arts; and these selected from the best writers, will appear in a dress calculated to form a correct taste in

English composition." He also informs his readers that "the great part of the paper, instead of being occupied with advertisements which are useful only to a few men of business, will be filled with such a diversity of matter, that it can hardly fail of obtaining a welcome reception from every reader." This promise was well kept. It contained no advertisements during the two years that it existed, and was the principal market for the wares of the early Wyoming Valley writers.

The Frontier Maid, or a Tale of Wyoming, was the first poetical volume published here. It was a metrical romance of two hundred pages written by Joseph McCoy and pub. lished at Wilkes-Barre in 1819 by Samuel Maffet & Steuben Butler. It is a narrative of the massacre of Wyoming, has ten or a dozen prominent characters, is divided into five cantos, and has an appendix of nineteen pages of notes explaining the geographical and historica: allusions of the poem. Mature years paiu fully revealed to the author the defects of the poem and he subsequently collected and burned all the copies he could get. Athough characterized for its inequalities and absurdities, The Frontier Maid is not wholly without merit. Here and there a line can be found having the genuine poetic ring. Mr. McCoy was, of course, too deficient in constructive art to elaborate a well sustained narrative; but had he been less ambitious and given more finish to what he undertook, he might have written clever verses.

The Harp of the B-ech Woods, by Juliana Frances Turner, was published at Montrose in 1822 by Adam Waldie. The selections are chiefly lyrical, of which "My Home in the Beech Woods" is perhaps the best. "Evening," a dainty pastoral, is a poem of remarkable purity and simplicity; and "The Humming Bird" and "Happiness at Home" are delicate and picturesque descriptive lyrics. The volume contains a dozen sonnets which detract from the merit of the book, since the author evidently knew little or nothing of the mechanical construction of the sonnet. The sonnet "To a Mother" is rich in sentiment; and in the one on "My Rhymes" she displays a genuine sense of refined humor.

The Wyoming Monument, "A Poem by the Ln-Nat-ic Bard of Wyoming," was pub lished at Wilkes-Barre in 1841 by Anthony P. Brower, the author, and dedicated to the Ladies' Monumental Association of WilkesBarre. It is an attempt at lyric poetry, but has no merit, whatever, and teems with the eccentricities which characterized its author. About the only redeeming feature of the book is the twelve page appendix of explanatory notes. A receipt for the price of the book, in the bard's own handwriting, was

attached to the first page of each copy sold. Richard Drinker and Edward E. Le Clerc were both writers of meritorious verse. Mr. Drinker's "Address to a Land Tortoise," published in Chandler's Magazine of Philadelphia, in 1819, shows him to have been possessed of a rich sense of humor combined with all the fervor of a true poet. "Christmas," after the style of Burns, is humorous, witty and genial. His poems are wanting in deep pathos and originality of thought, bat are distinguished for their vigor

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common sense and unique execution. Edward E. LeClerc, another writer of clever verse, possessed the divine gift of so g to a remarkable degree. His best poem, "The Massacre of Wyoming," was read at the commencement exercises of Dickinson College in July, 1839, and subsequently published in Godey's Lady Book. This, and the poem on the death of his friend, Lieut. James Monroe Bowman, represents him at his best, although in all his writings he displays an exquisite sense of rhythm and a remarkable instinct in the choice of words. -Wil S. Monroe in Scranton Saturday Argus.

History and Science in Scranton.

The Lackawanna Institute of History and Science has completed the first year of its existence. Its library comprises 365 bound volumes, 175 pamphlets and 3 maps and manuscripts. The museum has 371 catalogued specimens. In his annual report Curator C. L. Wheeler has the following:

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I have prepared a catalogue of the coal flora fossils of this valley and tiud that fortyeight genera and three hundred and fortyeight species have been found and described. After consultation with Mr. R. D. Lacoe, and by his advice I have divided the vally into six districts, to be called respectively the Carbondale, Olyphant, Scranton, Pittston, Wilkes Barre and Plymouth districts. In the two or three lower veins worked at Carbondale Mr. Clarkson found twenty-six species. Oly phant, which shows the work of two three good collections, has afforded hundred and one species. A result of very little collecting gives Plymouth twentyeight. Wilkes Barre has yielded one hundred and seven. Pittston, through the earnest work of so able a palæo-botanist as Mr. R. D. Lacoe, comes to the front with two hundred and forty five species. Scranton, with her five or six veins of coal covering everything from the inter conglomerate up through the coal measure with her broad Valley and the great quantities of slate exposed, has afforded only thirty-nine species to the scintific world. Surely, here is a virgin field for our infant Institute to cultivate.

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West Branch Local History. We are pleased to announce publication devoted to the history of the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna, the Juniata region, and the Northwestern counties of our State. It will be published by Mr. John F. Meginness, of Williamsport, who for many years has edited the leading daily paper of that city, and who some 30 years ago wrote a charming history of the West Branch region, under the title of "Otzinachson." We append the prospectus which Mr. Meginness is eending out, knowing that it will interest many readers on the North Branch, both regions having much in common, pertaining to their early history.

The Historical Journal: A monthly magazine for preserving fragments of local history in Northwestern Pennsylvania.—I have often been solicited to start a monthly Historical Magazine, for the purpose of collecting and preserving scraps of Local History which will soon be lost forever. Yielding to these solicitations, I now propose to start such a publication, and will issue the first number about the first of May. It will contain thirty two octavo pages, in magazine form, and be neatly printed on fine paper.

The opening feature of each number will be a Biographical Sketch of some prominent deceased person-with portrait-or some old person living. Special attention will be given to the collection of Historical Incidents of Early Times, Reminiscences of Pioneers, Indian Antiquities, Necrology, Longevity, Statistics, Manufactures, and curious things.

Siuce publishing the History of the West Branch Valley, more than thirty years ago, and especially during my editorial service on the Gazette and Bulletin for eighteen years, I have gathered a large mount of material that would be valuable if put in a magazine for pre-ervation. This publication will not interfere with the proposed revised History of the West Branch Valley, as the bulk of the matter it will contain cannot be used in that book, only in the briefest form, and in the majority of cases not at all.

An opportunity is now afforded those who are interested in the preservation of bits of Local History to aid in the enterprise. The Historical Journal will be printed with a view to binding, and twelve numbers will make a handsome volume of 384 pages. The subscription price will be $2 per annum, of twelve numbers, payable in advance. A biographical sketch of Rev. Bryson, with portrait, who was pastor of Warrior Run Presbyterian Church, Northumberland County, for over half a century, will be the opening article in the first number.

John

TWO UNPUBLISHED LETTERS. How Fort Allen, Now Allentown, was Provisioned 131 Years Ago-How Easton Looked to the Pioneers of 1752.

The following unpublished letter, bearing upon the early history of Northeastern Pennsylvania, are kindly sent the ECORD by Charles F. Hill, of Hazleton, whose contributious are always welcome:

EDITOR RECORD: I herewith communicate a letter, which I believe has never appeared in print. It is from Jacob Levan, Esq, of Maxatawney, Berks County, Pa., to Major William Parsons at Easton, Pa. Jacob Levan, Esq., was a justice of the peace, a judge and father of Jacob and Col, Sebastian Levan, of the Revolutionary army, and also a member of the Supreme Executive Council. Major Parsors was surveyor general of the province, and resigned on account of ill health in June, 1748, was appointed a justice of the peace, removed to Easton ir 1752, and as major had the military charge of that section. In connection with the letter or Jacob Levan, Esq., we will also give a letter from Major Parsons to Richard Peters, Esq., giving a description of Easton as it appeared Dec. 8, 1752:

MAXATAWNEY, November 8, 1756. MY KIND SERVICE AND GREETING TO YOU SIR AND MAJOR WILLIAM PARSONS: I am constrained to write you a few lines in as much as I have provisioned Fort Allen since spring and have had much labor aud trouble by day and night; and have furnished everything, in quantities, that they needed, so that Captain Reinolds was well satisfied with me. And now since I have gone to heavy costs, and have bought wheat and fat cattle to provision the Fort again, Adam Deschler and Paul Balliet have assumed to provision the Fort, and have told me I should furnish no more provision; that they had made a written agreement with the Commissary, and offered to furnish proVision for 6 pence less per man per week than formerly, which I am also willing to do as well as another. Sir William Parsons as Major has already once, on my account, given himself the trouble to write to the Commissary that I should provision the Fort, hence I ask him yet once more, since I cannot go there myself, as for several weeks I have been confined to my bed, else I would appear in person before him, andand speak face to face to him.

I remain his most obedient friend and well wisher. JACOB LEVAN.

EASTON, December 8th, 1752. RICH. PETERS, Esq, Sir: Upon removing my family to this Place my Thoughts have been more engaged in considering the circumstances of this Infant Town than ever,

as well with regard to its neighborhood, as the Probability there is of its being furnished with Provisions from the Inhabitants near about it, and if there already is, or probably may in time be, a sufficient number of settlers to carry on any considerable Trade with the Town. For without these it is not likely that it will be improved to any great height, as well with Regard to the Town itself, that is to say its Situation, as to Health, Trade and Pleasantness. Easton is situate in the Fork of the River Delaware, exactly in that Part of the Fork where the two main Branches meet, and is bounded on the South by the West Branch, and on the East with the main Branch of the River which runs in this Place, nearly North and South, about 120 Perches to the very pleasant brook of water, called Tattamy's Creek, which bounds the town to the north. On the west it is bounded by a pretty high hill that runs nearly parallel to and at the distance of 130 perches from the main branch. The site of the town is pleasant and very agreeable; the banks of all the waters bounding it are high and clean, and if it was as large again as it is, being now about 100 acres, it might be said to be a very beautiful place for a town. It is true that it is surrounded on every side by very high hills, which make it appear under some disadvantages at a distance, and might give some occasion for suspicion of its not being very healthy. But during all the last summer, which was very dry, and the fall, which has been remarkably wet, I don't know that any one has been visited with the fever or any other sickness, notwithstanding most of the people have been much exposed to the night air and wet weather. From whence I make no difficulty to conclude the place is and will continue very healthy. As to the external advantages or disadvantages of the town, not yet sufficiently acquainted the country to enumerate them all. most conspicuous are the adjacent rivers. The main branch in some seasons of the year is navigable for smail craft, from near 100 miles above the town to Philadelphia. and if it were cleared in some places of the rocks which impede the navigation in the summer season, above as well as below the town, (and I have been told that it is practicable in some good measure to clear them,) the advantage that would accrue from the trade to and from Philadelphia, must be very considerable, as water carriage is much cheaper, and, in respect to several kinds of merchandise goods, much safer than land carriage. And in regard to the trade up the river, that would likewise be very advantageous to the town, as well as to the country in general, even in the single article of lumber, as there is great

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plenty of almost all kinds of timber over the mountains, where there is also many good conveniences for erecting saw mills, and several are built there already. From whence the town might readily be supplied with boards, Scantling &c. The West Branch will also be of advantage to the town, as it is navigable several miles for small craft. And Tattam's Creek being a good stream of water to erect mills upon, will also contribute towards the advancement of the place. The Jersey side being at present more settled near the river, opposite to the forks, than the Pennsylvania side, and indeed the land on that side is better watered and more convenient for settlements, than it is on this side for several miles about Easton. We have been sup. plied as much or more from that side, as from our own. But how Mr. John Cox's project of laying out a town upon his land adjoining Mr. Martin's land, is hard to say, and time only can obviate. But notwithstanding the advantages already mentioned, and perhaps many have escaped my notice, it must be confest that the town labours under several considerable disadvantages. The first that offers, I mention with submission, is the great tract of land called the dry land, to the westward of the town. This with another tract adjoining the town to the Northward, being all together about 20,000 acres, is almost the only part of the country that, by its nearness to the town, were it settled and improved, could conveniently and readily afford a constant supply of provisions of all kinds, especially the smaller kinds which would not be so convenient for persons who live more remote to furnish. To the westward and northward of the dry land are the Moravian settlements, about eleven miles from the town. These settlements are not only of no advantage, but rather a great disadvantage to the town. For being an entire and separate interest by themselves, corresponding with only one another where they can possibly avoid it, except where the advantage is evidently in their favour, it can't be expected that the town should reap any benefit from them. Besides, as they have not hitherto raised, and as their number is continually increasing by the yearly addition of foreigners, it is not likely that they will, in time to come, raise sufficient provision for themselves, but are obliged to purchase great quantities from their neighbours, who would otherwise bring it to the town, but this is not to be expected while they can dispose of what they have to sell so much nearer home. And this lends me to wish, for the good of Easton, if the honorable the proprietaries should incline to have the dry lands improved, that it may not be disposed of to the Moravians. Not be

cause they are Moravians but because their interest interferes so much with the interest of the town. If the dry lands should be settled chiefly by them, the master brethern would have the whole direction and disposal of all that should be raised there. Which would be more discouraging and worse to the town, than if that land were not inhabited at all. For so long as it remains uncultivated, it will serve for range to the town cattle. Between the town and the mountains, which is about 16 miles, is mostly poor land, and but thin settled. The other side of the mountain consists chiefly of new settlements, except the Minisinks and some other plantations near the river. But very probably in the time they will contribute to the advancement and Trade of the Town. On the South Side of the West Branch, the Country is the most and best settled, except near the Town, where the Land is very hilly and stony. Upon the whole, the Town has hitherto been very well supplied with Meal, Pork, Mutton, Butter, Turnips, &c. But how it will be supplied with Hay and Pasturage, I can't yet yet clearly foresee. I mean if the Town increases, as I am in great hopes it will. For this winter, I think we are pretty well provided. However, this leads me to mention Out Lots, which will be more particularly wanted here than at any of the other new County Towns, as they are all of them much better accommodated with Meadow Ground. near about them, than this Town is. If I might presume to speak my Opinion, and I know you expect I should, if I speak at all. I could wish that a sufficient Quantity of the dry Lands might be appropriated for Out Lots, and that all the Rest were to be settled and improved, and that, by Dutch People; altho' they were of the poorest sort of them. I don't mention Dutch People from any particular regard that I have for them more than any other People. But because they are generally more laborious and conformable to their circumstances, than some others amongst us are. I need not say who they are, but it is an old observation, that noor Gentle Folks don't always prove the fittest to begin new Places, where Labour is chiefly wanted.

I can't hear of any considerable Body of Clay for making Bricks or Potters Work, upon any of the Proprietary's land near the Town, but upon the 500 Acre Tract which was surveyed for Mr. Thomas Craig, near the Town, I am told there is very good Clay, both for a Potter and Brickmaker. The 500 acres belongs now to one Correy, in Che-ter County, I wrote to you about it very largely in a former Letter. There is now eleven Families in Easton, who all propose to stay there this Winter. And when our Prison is finished, which there is Hopes it soon will be,

as it is now covered in. there is great Probability that the number will encrease before the Spring. I am, Sir, Your obedient, humble Servant, WM. PARSONS.

Iudorsed "Copy Wm. Parson's letter to R. P. about Easton of the 8 pecr, 1852. Original sent to Propr. Capn Browne, in Lre, of mine, the 15th Decr, 1752."

An Old-Time Masonic Record.
[Montrose Republican.]

In a record which has been preserved of the old Rising Sun Lodge, No. 149, the first Masonic Lodge ever known in Montrose, instituted about 1816, is to be found the proceeding of a regular stated meeting, held in the old court house, May 30, 1825, at which the following were the officers and brethren present. Of all these not one is now living, excepting the one who wa made a member at that meeting. it being some three weeks after he became of age; and he happens to be the last one who was initiated in that lodge previous to its being disbanded; though his name may be found as Junior Warden among the charter members of Warren Lodge, No. 240, instituted in 1849, and now existing here.

Among these departed brethren may be seen the names of the old centenarian Luther Catlin, who died some two years ago, at the age of a little over a hundred years, and of Dr. Horace Smith, the last survivor of them, who left us last June, aged 87.

Officers of the "Rising Sun Lodge," No. 149-Perez Perkins, W. master; Dr. Samuel A. Bissell, S. warden; Wm. C. Turrell, J. warden; Horace Smith, treasurer; Hiram Finch, secretary; Harry Clark, S. D.; Hiram Plum, J. D.; Jabez A. Burchard, tyler.

Members present-James Lathrop, Ira Gage, David O. Turrell, David Bissel, Erastus Catlin, Luther Catlin, Asa Olmstead, Daniel Curtis, Dr. Mason Denison, George Claggett, Henry Parke.

Accepted and initiated-James W. Chap

man.

Visitors-Charles R Marsh, Jesse Bagley, Peter Osborn, Isaiah Main, James Stephens, Benoni Austin, John Passmore.

Many of the readers of the Republican will recognize in the now sole survivor of the above, the old surveyor, the editor of forty or fifty years ago, more recently known as County Judge; and they may perhaps be interested to know that he is yet quite vigorous and active, though now in his 83d year, walks plum, performs on the level and square with his compass, and can follow ancient land-marks, or solve a mathematical problem as well as ever; and withal is vivacious enough to appreciate a good joke or tell a good story, if required.

Wyoming Pioneers in Binghamton. In a rare volume, "Annals of Binghamton," published at that place in 1840, by J. B. Wilkinson, (a copy of which is in the possession of W. A. Wilcox, Esq., Wyoming) are numerous references to Wyoming and its people. Condensed, they are as follows:

First white settler, Capt. Joseph Leonard, moved from Wyoming 1787. Left on ac count of land disputes. Was a farmer at Wyoming, at time of massacre.

Reference to one Cole, early settler near Binghamton. Very inhuman-said to have had part in leading the Indians against Wyoming and Minisink.

Tom Hill, a pauper, also engaged in massacre. Said to have married Queen Esther. Flour brought up in canoes from Wyoming. In 1789 Jonathan Fitch, of Wyoming, merchant and sheriff there, settled near Binghamton. Was first representative from Tioga in Legislature.

Capt. Brink came from Wyoming. Lost all by the great ice freshet. Was one of Plunkett's men.

Moses Chambers settled 1790. Came from Wyoming, was a sufferer by ice freshet. His father moved from Wyoming to Binghamton with his three sons.

Narrative of Mrs. Elisha Matthewson, a prisoner at Wyoming, and her escape.

Settlers between Wellsburgh and Elmira: Libbeus Tubbs, Rufus Baldwin, Wm. Jenkins, Libbeus Hammond, of Wyoming. Hammond's narrative.

Below Wellsburgh, Eldor John Goff, the first minister of that region--a Baptist. Came from Wyoming and settled on Chemung Flats in 1786.

First settler at Elmira, Col. John Handy. Was from Wyoming.

Judge Gore and Gen. Spalding rented the tands lying between the Pennsylvania line on the south, the pre-emption line on the west, the two lakes on the north, and the Chemung narrows on the east, for 99 years. Philip Wells came from Wyoming. Also Henry Richards.

Probably Our Oldest Subscriber. LOCK HAVEN, PA., March 18, 1887.EDITOR RECORD OF THE TIMES: Please find enclosed one dollar, payment for the WEEKLY RECORD for another year's subscription, for I can't do without it. This being the fiftieth year of my subscription. I hope to make it a half century.

D. B. POLAND.

Mr. Poland is a manufacturer and wholesale dealer in foreign fruits, nuts, etc. If there is any one on our list who took the RECORD as long ago as 1837 we shall be glad to mention the fact in these columns. ED.]

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