Marblehead, March 27, 1793.
In the "Salem Gazette," Oct. 8, 1793, Frederick Jordis complains of "a certain greedy worshipper of Plutus."
Whereas a certain greedy worſhipper of Plutus has attempted (canker worm like) to blaſt the tender bloom of my reputation, by miſrepreſenting an occurrence that took place between us on the third inſt.—I take this method, as the moſt ſalutary remedy, to put a ſtop to its dangerous ravages. I will confeſs candidly every particular. Sometime ſince, this man came to me with an account I had in vain demanded of him 4 months ago for horſe-hire; having compared it with my own memorandum, I found three charges over and above what I owed him, and the remainder a third higher than uſual; finding him unwilling to diminiſh his unjuſt claim, I repaired to his houſe laſt Thurſday to ſettle with him, and paid him in full the amount of his bill, ſubtraction made of his three charges: Perceiving his intention was to make me pay them again, I pocketed the bill; his pugiliſtick arguments to get it back again made me obſtinately refuſe it; and thanks to a gentleman then preſent, I eſcaped his dirty hands. Unwilling to enter the field of Themis with ſuch an antagoniſt, I will place his receipted account into any impartial man's hands, and ſubmit cheerfully to his deciſion.
FREDERICK JORDIS.
To show how factories were supplied with operatives in the early days of manufacturing in New England, we copy an advertisement from the "Columbian Centinel," March 4, 1795. This is addressed especially to those parents "who can ill afford to maintain their children." How much better off our manufacturing towns would be if such a system were practicable now!
An exceeding good opportunity for
parents (in theſe very expenſive times for every neceſſary of life) to provide their children with good and comfortable maintenance, cloathing, ſchooling, and a trade, but little known and underſtood in this country.
Mr. Erving propoſes to receive as Apprentices to the Cotton & Woolen Manufactory (now going on at New-Haven) any number of Boys or Girls, from the age of ten to fourteen. They will be inſtructed in all the various branches of the factory, well cloathed and fed, and taught to read, write and cypher; and parents may be aſſured that the moſt particular attention will be paid to the morals, as well as to the education, of their children.