"The people here are extravagantly fond of dreſs; a ſtranger would take Montreal to be a city inhabited by none but the rich and idle: they are all finely powdered, walk with their hats under their arms, and wear long coats, adorned with tinſel lace, and buttoned down to the extremity. Since I came here, I have not ſeen one man dreſſed like a tradeſman. The ladies in general are handſome, extremely gay, and well bred."
In 1767 the best soap and "dipt" and "mould" candles were sold at the post-office in Boston, according to an advertisement in the "Gazette" of October 26. The candles were made of tallow, and gave but little light, requiring almost constant snuffing. Other kinds of candles were not in general use in New England in the last century. Sperm oil and sperm or wax candles could be used only by the wealthy. Many families, for economy, made their own candles. This practice was common in New England down to within fifty years.
It will be recollected that Dr. Franklin's father was a tallow-chandler in Boston, and that the Doctor himself worked at the business when a boy. Elizabeth Franklin, whose name appears in the following advertisement, was probably a relative of the family.
SOLD BY
Elizabeth Franklin,
At the Poſt-Office,
The best true Crown Soap, Alicant beſt hard Soap, by the Doz. or ſingle Pound, dipt and mould Candles at the loweſt Price.
Every week the burials and baptisms in Boston were thus inserted in the papers. The following is from the "Gazette" of Nov. 23, 1767:—
Buried in the Town of Boſton ſince our laſt,
Five Whites. Three Blacks.
Baptiz'd in the ſeveral Churches, Four.