An American biographical and historical dictionary, containing an account of the lives, characters, and writings of the most eminent persons in North America from its first discovery to the present time, and a summary of the history of the several colonies and of the United States / by William Allen.
- William Allen
- Date:
- 1809
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An American biographical and historical dictionary, containing an account of the lives, characters, and writings of the most eminent persons in North America from its first discovery to the present time, and a summary of the history of the several colonies and of the United States / by William Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.
99/660 page 81
![flux of foreign luxuries had exhausted the country of its specie, while ~ the heavy taxes of the war yet burthened the people. ‘This state of Suffering awakened discontent, and the spirit of disorder was cher- ished by unlicensed conventions, who arranged themselves against the legislature. One great subject of complaint was the adminis- tration of justice. Against lawyers and courts the strongest re- sentments were manifested. In many instances the Judges were restrained by mobs from proceeding in the execution of their duty. As the insurgents became more audacious from the lenient meas- ures of the government and were organizing themselves for the subversion of the constitution, it became necessary to suppress by _ force the spirit of insurrection. Governor Bowdoin accordingly _ Ordered into service upwards of four thousand of the militia, who were placed under the command of the veteran general Lincoln. As the public treasury did not afford the means of putting, the troops in motion, a number of the citizens of Boston with the gov- ernor at the head of the list subscribed in a few hours. a sufficient sum to carry on the proposed expedition. This decisive step res- cued the government from the contempt, into which it was sink- ing, and was the means of saving.the commonwealth. The dan- gerous insurrection of Shays was thus completely quelled. In the year 1787 governor Bowdoin was succeeded by Hancock, _ in consequence probably of the exertions of the discontented, who might hope for greater clemency from another chief magistrate. He died in Boston, after a distressing sickness of three months, November 6, 1790, in the sixty fourth year of his PSS ead ’ Governor Bowdoin was a learned man, and a constant and gen- érous friend of literature. He subscribed liberally for the restor- ation of the library of Harvard college in the year 1764, when it was consumed by fire. He was chosen a fellow of the corporation in the year 1779, but the pressure of more important duties induc- éd him to resign this office in 1784. He ever felt however an-af- -fectionate regard for the interests of the college, and bequeathed it M four hundred pounds, the interest of which was to be applied to the distribution of premiums among the students for the encourage- ment of useful and polite literature. The American academy, of arts and sciences, incorporated at Boston May 4, 1780, at a time when our country was in the deepest distress, was formed under his influence, and was an object of his constant attention. He was chosen its first president, and he continued in that office till his death. He was esteemed by its members as the pride and orna- ment of their institution. To this body he bequeathed one hun- dred pounds and his valuable library, consisting of upwards of twelve hundred volumes upon every branch of science and in almost every language. He was also one of the founders and the president of the Massachusetts bank, and of the humane society of Massachu- setts. The literary character of Governor Bowdoin gained him ~ 1 ] : s](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32886639_0099.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
