BIOGRAPHICAL. To the Editor of the Boston News-Letter. SIR-The following brief biogrophical memoir of the Hon. ÅNDREW BELCHER, esq. is at your service for publication. JAMES L. JENNISON. It seems to be almost certain that he was born in Cambridge, as in an authentic document on record, he calls it 'his native town.' During the early years of his minority, record is silent; but for a reason to be mentiened below, it is inferable that he became an experienced mariner. The earliest public notice we have of him is in 1642, as a member of the ancient and honourable SIR RICHARD SALTONSTALL. This gentleman was son of Samuel Saltonstall, whose brother Richard was Lord Mayor of London in 1597, and grandson of Gilbert Saltonstall, Esq. of Halifax, in Yorkshire. He early engaged in the New-England enterprise, and in the charter of Charles I. is the first named associate to the six original patentees of Massachusetts Bay, and was sppointed the first assistant. On board of the Arabella, at Yarmouth, he, with Gov. Winthrop and others, signed that "humble request of his majesty's loyal subjects, the governor and company late-y gone for New-England, to the rest of their brethren in and of the Church of England," in which they take so affecting a leave of their native land, on their departure for their "poor cottages in the wilderness." He arrived at Salem, in the Arabella, June 12, 1630. On the 17th of June, the Governor, and some of the principal persons, left Salem and travelled through the woods to Charlestown. Prince says, the want of good water and other conveniences at Charlestown, "made several Artillery Company, in Boston.This date is probably incorrect, as he could not then have been of age. In 1676, he commanded a vessel (if Governor Hutchinson's history be correct) carrying provisions from Boston to the Naragansett Country, for the use of the Massachusetts troops in the war then waging with king Philip. In 1689, his name appeared among many others of the principal characters in the then colony or province, justifying the depo-go abroad upon discovery. Some sition of Sir Edmond Andros. He was afterwards elected a councellor, and served years. By the records of Cambridge, in 1703, and of the first parish there, it appears that he was much esteemed and respect ed. Rev. Dr. Holmes' historical sketch of that town, gives him credit for liberal gifts to the parish and church. To the time of his death, he was a large proprietor there. on the He removed to Boston in 1703 or 4, and resided in Hanover Street, space where recently Earle's Coffee House has been built. He died at an advanced age, in the autumn of 1717, leaving one son, (the Governor afterwards) and 4 daughters, viz. Sarah Faye, of Charlestown, Elizabeth Oliver, Martha Stoddard, and Anna Noyes, all of Boston. Cambridge, Sept. 23, 1826. go over to Shawmut. Some go without Charlestown Neck, and travel up into the main, till they come to a place well watered, whith er Sir Richard Saltonstall, with Mr. Phillips, and several others, went and settled a plantation and called it Watertown." Johnson says, 'this town began by occasion of Sir Richard Saltonstall, who, at his arrival, having some store of cattle and servants, they wintered in those parts." There they entered into a church covenant, July 30, 1630, which Dr. Mather has published at large, adding "about forty men, whereof the first was that excellent Knight Sir Richard Saltonstall then subscribed this instrument.” He was present as first assistant at the first court of assistants, which was held at Charlestown, August 23, 1630, at which time various or 16 ders and regulations were made concerning the planting and government of this infant colony. The sufferings of those who engaged in this new settlement in the wilderness were extreme the first winter, and Sir Richard Saltonstall became discouraged from remaining himself, but left his two eldest sons. Gov. Winthrop has recorded in his journal, that " March 29, 1630, he, with his two daughters and one of his younger sons, came down to Boston and stayed that night, at the Governor's, and the next morning, accompanied with Mr. Pierce and others, departed for their ship at Salem." Sir Richard Saltonstall was also one of the patentees of Connecticut, with Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brooke and others, and a principal associate with them in the first settlement of that colony. They appointed John Winthrop, governor, and commissioned him to erect a fort at the mouth of Connecticut River. In 1635, Sir Richard Saltonstall sent over twenty men to take possession of land for him under this patent and to make settlement. In 1649, he was commissioned with others, by parliament, for the trial of Duke Hamilton, Lord Chapel, and the earl of Holland for high treason. They were condemned and executed. He has been justly styled "one of the Fathers of the Massachusetts colony." He was a patron of Harvard College, and left it a legacy in his will made in 1658. There is a very fine portrait of him in the possession of one of his descendants in New-York. Sir Richard Saltonstall always continued to be the friend of the Colony, and was actively engaged in their behalf. Two of his sons continued here, and he was largely interested as a proprietor. When Sir Christopher Gardner attempted to injure the colony by misrepresentations, and on other similar occasions, (for Massachusetts was troubled from its infancy by the false accusations of enemies,) he rendered the colony great assist-large a space in the public arena, is ance, and interceded with the government in its favour. Sir Richard Saltonstall was a man of singular liberality, in religion, for a puritan of the age in which he lived, and was offended at the bigotry of his associates, who were no sooner secure from persecution themselves, than they began to persecute others. He remonstrated against their course, and wrote from England to Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wilson a letter, which Hutchinson highly commends for its catholic spirit. This letter, Gov. Hutchinson says, must have been written between 1645 and 1653, fourteen years at least after Sir Richard Saltonstall left this country, and it shows that he continued his connexion with the principal settlers, and felt a lively interest in the honor and welfare of the colony. F. COL. AARON BURR, a practising lawyer at the New-York bar. He sustains a very high reputation for talents and legal acquirements, and is in independent circumstances. A casual visiter to the city, who chooses to pass an hour or two in Tammany Hall, will generally notice a small, delicate, white haired man, moving about in meditative mood, alone, and noticing no one-a man whose keen eye and expressive countenance, where age has in vain struggled to quench the fire of genius, and whose appearance bespeaking the finished gentleman will arrest his attention; That man is Aaron Burr-who, one day Vice President of the United States, the next a fugitive from the blood of Hamilton; at another time mounted on the whirlwind of Revolution, and meditating the dissolution of the Union and the building up of a Southern monarchy; and then a CITY RECORD. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. MONDAY, OCT. 16. Petitions of Lemuel Shaw, as attorney and guardian of the heirs of Watson Freeman; of the Firemen of Ward 11, praying that the Firemen may have fire caps allowed them, similar to the engineers; of Vaterston, Pray and Co.; of J. Webber and others, were severally committed. W The COMMON COUNCIL. Met according to adjournment. A petition and remonstrance on the subject of the change of Secondstreet, and obstructions to the navigation of Millk Creek, were referred to the Mayor, Aldermen Carney Welsh, and Oliver; Messrs. Morey, Hastings, James, Grosvenor, Howe, Hallet and Wiley. VANDERLYN. This celebrated painter was an apprentice to a blacksmith in the western part of New-York. Some drawings done with a pen and pasted up in a bar room, attracted the eye of Aaron Burr, then travelling through that part of the state. He enquired who did so ingenious a piece of work, and was told it was a lazy, idle apprentice to a blacksmith. Burr endeavoured to procure his freedom, but as the blacksmith supposed the boy must possess a secret worth, he refused io give him up on any terms. Burr then told Vanderlyn privately to come to New-York and enquire for him the first opportunity he had. This circumstance was almost forgotten by Burr, when a year or two afterwards young Vanderly came into his office in the city of New-York. Burr put him under the instruction of the best paintershe made great proficiency-afterwards went to France, studied under the celebrated David, and received from the hands of Napoleon the second prize medal for his paint-serving on the committee; he staing of Caius Marius amid the Ruins of Carthage, exhibited at the Louvre. When he returned to New York he found Burr a broken down politician, with empty pockets. The first misfortune Vanderlyn could not remedy, but the second he could and did. Burr has since become wealthy. Vanderlyn's Ariadne, his Cais Marius, and his splendid panorama of the garden of Versailles, we have seen and admired. Mr Carter, of the New-York Statesman, in a re Mr. Waters, chairman of the Committee on the funded debt of the city, which committee had been enlarged by the addition of four persons, asked to be discharged from ted that the new members of the committee entertained very different views from himself and the other two members, and were able to outvote them. He was not willing to put his name to a report of which he did not approve, and he stated that the new members of the committee were desirous of annihilating the former report, which had been referred back to the committee which was enlarged with instructions.— The Council refused to excuse him. The petition of John Sullivan and others, praying for indemnities for damage done to their estates by obstructing the navigation of the Mill Creek, was read and committed in concurrence. A communication from the Chief Engineer, enclosing a vote of the board of Engineers of the fire department, requesting that the number of firemen be increased to six hundred, was read and referred to the committee on the petition of N. C. Betton, Esq. A petition of Benj. Russell and others, praying for an appropriation to erect a fence and make repairs to the Boylston School House, was referred to Messrs. Bassett, Dorr and Dyer. since the note was given, was read and committed to Messrs. Hatch, James, and Fisher. Free Bridge to South Boston.-The order of the day, on the report on this subject, was resumed. A discussion ensued, which continued till past 10 o'clock, when the further consideration of it was postponed to Monday next. Adj. to Monday next, half past 6, P. M. BOSTON. SATURDAY, OCT. 21, 1826. MAKING NEWSPAPERS.-The rage of making Newspapers, in the United States, is truly astonishing: their utility is admitted by all communiA memorial of Ephraim Marsh ties, though there is a great want of and others, on the subject of a revi- prudence in the mass of undertaksion of the laws to secure the cityers. This mania is peculiar to the from damage by fire, and requesting that prosecutions pending against them may be dismissed, was committed to the Mayor, Aldermen Bellows and Robbins, Messrs. Curtis, Peabody, Waters, Sprague, and Brewer. A report of the Committee on petition of Charles Davis and Jonathan Dorr, praying a new street may be laid out between their land and the city lands in the rear of the bull pasture, against laying out such street, was accepted in concurrence. city of Boston., and future times will shew the absurdity of trying to force so many papers into existence.— The idea of profit, from new publications, is a mistaken notion; the most venerable journals of the day, which have been sustained ever since the revolution, have scarcely afforded the proprietors any thing more than a comfortable livingwhen, indeed, their constant industry and perseverance, seems to have entitled them to a generous competency. These reflections have resulted from a survey of the numerous papers which appear in this place, in the course of a season; and the disappointments which necessa A petition of the Gas Company offering to contract to light the streets, and requesting permission to open channels in the streets to lay their pipes, was referred to Alder-rily follow. men Bellows, Jackson and Robbins, Messrs. Gray, Farnsworth, Eveleth, Fenno and Baldwin. Report of Committee on communication of I. P. Davis and others, unfavourable to a compliance with their propositions, was accepted in concurrence. Petition of George McDonough to be discharged from the payment of a note of $125 given to idemnify the city for the maintenance of a bastard child, the child having died We are proud of the enterprise which has been the distinguishing characteristic of the printers of Boston, while we regret the vexations and losses they have incurred in projecting such a variety of newspapers. Every year brings forth a host of adventurers in the department of newsmaking, and often, before as many weeks have passed away, as there were capital letters in the title, the whole fabric, on which the individual had raised his hopes of future ease and greatness, has fallen to forget- No less from our own experience, than from the observation and discrimination of others, we hope that the number of papers will be diminished, rather than increased, and this will equalize business, and conduce to the general good of every printer in the country. MODERN TRAVELS.-Among the variety of books, which are daily brought before the public, the travels of Maj. Denham, Capt. Clapperton and Dr. Ordney, in Central Africa, claim particular attention. They have explored an untrodden field, and brought to view the resources of a country which was before almost unknown. Though the volumes have occasional details, which assist, materially, in making a book, the general character of the work, speaks abundandantly in their praise. There is considerable difference in the style of the three writers: Dr. Ordney is always dry, precise and fatiguing to the reader, while Maj. Denham displays the genuine traveller's tact of telling a poor story in the best manner. When it is recollected that Dr. Ordney was in a miserable state of health, at the time he noted the facts of his journal, it ought to be a lasting apology for any apparent want of talent, to edify his readers with his personal discoveries. Whether their tour will be of any particular advantage to their country, beyond an intelleetual gratification, is problematical. Wherever they were, after leaving Tripoli, to the Felatah empire, a race of people, fierce as the tiger, and more dreadful than a tempest, occupied the soil, and will, as they ever have, deal death to him who dares to say that Mahomet was not a prophet. To establish any regu lar trade with such tribes of freebooters as inhabit central Africa, seems altogether improbable, notwithstanding the commercial ingenuity of the British nation, which has overcome the prejudices,-the barbarity and, indeed, the hostile dispositions of many countries, where a white skin was once the signal for slaughter. The narrative is now before us, and we are willing to confess the satisfaction derived from a perusal no of it: there are such hair breadth escapes, so many perils, and such an endless chain of disasters, interspersed with historical remarks and philosophical reflections, that person can read it without feeling the most intense degree of interest. Copious extracts have already appeared in the journals of the day, but a deliberate examination of the book will abundantly compensate the reader for his labour. QUINCY RAIL-WAY. The Rail-way from the Quincy granite quarries through Milton to the tide-water, a distance of niore than 3 miles, is now in successful operation. The granite prepared at the quarry is transported by means of one horse, 20 tons at a time, to the landing place, whence it is to be laden on board lighters and carried to a cenvenient position in Charlestown, for the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument. Three empty waggons can be easily drawn back by the same horse which draws them down loaded. The cost of the railway when completed, together with the quarries of stone, we understand will not be far from $30,000 a mile; and its use in the transportation of a di rable and beautiful material for building in this city and other places, must be very apparent. The granite can probably be delivered at a |