in the eyes of some, who were still alive, when they saw their fellow creatures flying to their deliverance; but now despair seized every soul, and they sunk, one after another, into the arms of death, till but thirty two, out of one hundred and nineteen, remained alive!

The humane people of Plymouth succeeded, on monday, the 28 of December, in getting to the wreck, where a most melancholy scene was exhibited! Nearly one hundred men were frozen to death, in all manner of postures; some with a bottle at their mouth, some clasped in each other's arms, some kneeling, and some with their hands elevated towards heaven! All were taken from the wreck and carried to mr. Bartlett's publick house in Plymouth. Of the living some perfectly recovered, but others lost their limbs. The spot, where sixtysix of the dead were buried together, is still disting❤ uishable, though no stone has been erected to commemorate the uncommonly mournful event!

It is worthy of remark, that the captain and some others, by his advice, poured ardent spirit into their boots, but took none internally, which was, unquestionably, the mean of preserving their lives and limbs. Those, who made the freest use of intoxicating liquor, fell the first victims to the intenseness of the cold.

ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS.

469. Here lies the best of slaves,

Now turning into dust.

Cesar, the Ethiopian, craves
A place among the just.
His faithful soul is fled

To realms of heavenly light;
And, by the blood, that Jesus shed,
Is changed from black to white.
January 15, he quitted the stage
In the 77 year of his age.

ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS.

470. In memory of the rev. PETER THACHER, A. M. the late faithful and beloved pastor of the second congregational church in Attleborough, who was born, 25 January, 1716, ordained, 30 November, 1748, and died, 13 September, 1785, in the 70 year of his age, and 43 of his ministry. Whom papists not,

With superstitious fire,
Would dare to adore,

We justly may admire.

Note.-Mr. Thacher was a son of the rev. Peter Thacher of Middleborough and grandson of rev., Peter Thacher of Milton. Rev. Thomas Thacher of Boston, his great-grandfather, was his first American ancestor, who was a son of rev. Peter Thacher of Sarum. [See 121 art.]

The subject of this notice was one of ten children and the oldest of seven sons. According to family

1

tradition he was the fourteenth oldest son, in succession, employed in the work of the gospel ministry, a remarkable circumstance! His wife was Bethiah Carpenter, daughter of deacon Obadiah Carpenter of Attleborough, by whom he had seven sons and three daughters, all of whom were living in 1812, except the youngest son, who died before his father.

Mr. Thacher was a man of great simplicity and plainness of manners, a worthy and useful minister of the new covenant, and his memory is justly revered. A small volume of his sermons was published, some time after his death; but, although the sentiment may be preserved, an unjustifiable liberty was taken with his language. However plain may be the style of a man, no material posthumous alteration ought to take place in preparing his works for the publick. Every one appears most The only publication ex

natural in his own garb. tant, so far as the author of this work knows, which exhibits a fair specimen of mr. Thacher's common, plain, and impressive manner of sermonizing, is the discourse occasioned by the death of his much esteemed friend, the rev. Habijah Weld of Attlebo rough.

ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS.

471. Note. The hon. ELISHA MAY, who received his birth and spent his days in Attleborough, departed this life, 15 November, 1811, in the 78 year of his age. The rev. John Wilder delivered

a sermon at his interment, from Prov. 10. 7, which is before the publick and from which the following notice of this worthy man is extracted.

"How far the character of Colonel May answers the description, which has been given of the justman, it is not for me to determine. This, however, I will venture to say, his memory will long be precious, not only to his near relatives and friends, but likewise to his intimate acquaintance, to his neighbours, to the religious society in this place, and to the inhabitants of the town. For he is the man, whom his fellow-citizens, for a long course of years, have delighted to honour; nor was he unworthy their respect and confidence. For, blessed with a sound mind, a retentive memory, a quick discernment of men and things, a polite address, an honest heart, and an education considerably above mediocrity, he was singularly qualified for publick employments of various kinds. And his worth was early discovered; for at the time of the revolutionary war he was an active and useful member both in the military and civil departments. Since that period he was employed, without opposition, as a legislator or a counsellor, until he chose to retire. For about twenty-seven years in succession, one excepted, he was called to a seat in the legislature; and chiefly in the upper house. For almost forty years together, he has been moderator of the town meetings in this place; in which office he was eqalled by few, and exceeded by none. He had the honour of being an elector of the presi

dent of the United States. As a magistrate, throughout the commonwealth, he did much business, and to very general satisfaction. He was justly celebrated, both at home and abroad, for his wisdom in adjusting and settling differences between contending parties. As a politician, he was a friend and disciple of Washington. As a man, he was prepossessing and engaging. As a friend, he was faithful and constant. As a neighbour, he was kind and obliging. As a husband, he was attentive and tender. As a parent, he was pleasant and affectionate. As to his religion, he was a firm believer in the christian system, and a very constant, attentive, and apparently devout attender on publick worship, all his life."

ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS.

472. Note.-Mrs. ESTHER WILDER, daughter of colonel Samuel Tyler of Preston in Connecticut, consort of the rev. John Wilder, after a long and lingering complaint, died, 19 January, 1811, in the 42 year of her age, leaving six sons and four daughters .From the sermon, founded on 1 John 3. 2, delivered at her funeral, by the rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D. of Franklin, the following paragraph is extracted.

"There is not, perhaps, a single person here present, who does not lament the decease of that amiable and excellent child of God, whose remains now lie before us. I have endeavoured to delineate that filial spirit, which constitutes and adorns the