was engraved on her bills of credit, and their | J. Colburn, Esq., of Boston, also informs me that he motto reads, "Issued in defence of American has four three-pences of the N. E. oak type; and on a catalogue of coins lately sent me (in Yale College) Liberty." I find a N. E. three-pence. The following are the actual weights of the best specimens of the pine-tree type in my collection:-Two one shilling pieces, seventy-two grains each, also two of seventy grains cach, and one of sixty-one grains; three sixpences, one of thirty grains, one of thirty-two, and one of thirty-six grains; three-pence, seventeen grains. No change of any consequence occurs in the type of these coins till near the elose of their coinage, when an abbreviation of the inscription on the shilling appears, reading An. Do. instead of An. Dom. They are also better executed, of less circumference, and quite round, having the appearance of being done by improved machinery, and have altogether a more modern appearance. They, with the Spanish coins ordered to be stamped with N. E., 1672, undoubtedly close the series. NOTE 1.-From 1561 to 1662 hammered money was issued at the same time with the milled in Eug land. MEMORIALS OF NATHANIEL WARD, A. M., LIBRARIAN OF HARVARD COLLEGE, WHO DIED OCTOBER 13TH., 1768. COMPILED BY B. F. BROWNE. NATHANIEL WARD was a native of Salem, and as will be perceived by the following contemporaneous notices of him,—was a young man of uncommon scientific attaiments and one of the most promising scholars of his time. He was a son of Miles Ward, a merchant of Salem, by his second wife, Hannah, who was the widow of Benjamin Hathorne. Nathaniel W. is erroneously stated, in the Annals of Salem, page 473, to have been the son of John and Hannah Ward. He was born in 1746 and graduated at Harvard 1765. Miles Ward, his NOTE 2.-There are notices of the old New Eng-father, was born 18th April, 1704, and died land ensign as early as 1686. A representation of one in 1701 has in one of its quarters the figure of a pine-tree. NOTE 3. In 1678 Massachusetts, through her agents in London, offered to change the impress on her coin, "if his Majesty will please to order one more acceptable." He appears to have been satisfied with the impress, as no notice seems to have been taken of it. They made a similar offer to James II, 1686. In reply they say, "they will take time to consider of it." NOTE 4.-Weight of the coin of the Commonwealth of England ordered to be struck 1649:-one shilling, ninety-two grains; sixpence, forty-six grains; three-pence, none; two-pence, fifteen and a half grains. The hammered coins of Charles II, issued before 1662, weighed-one shilling, ninety-four grains; sixpence, forty-seven grains; three-pence, twenty-three grains; two-pence, sixteen grains; but few of these coins were struck. In a former note I said no three-pences were coined from 1647 to '70, but I then overlooked the hammered three-pence of his reign, which are supposed not to have been struck for circulation, but only "Maundy" money. June, 1792, aged 88. His first wife was Elizabeth Webb, and he had by both wives fifteen children. Those who grew up were, Abigail, married first Samuel Griffiths, of Portsmouth, N. II., second John Bass. Miles married Experience Goodale, and his daughter Hannah was married to the late Capt. Jonathan Neal, and Polly married Henry Os born. Sarah married John Ives, grandfather to the present William, John M., and Stephen B. Ives. Elizabeth married Wm. Poole of Danvers, grandfather to the editor of the Wizard. Samuel married Priscilla Hodges, and was many years Naval Officer of Salem, and was father of Lieut. Henry Ward of the United States Navy, and of Mary, wife of Hon. Joseph R. Chandler of Philadelphia, and of several other sons and daughters. Anna, who married first Jonathan Mansfield and second Joseph Henfield, who was for many years an assessor of Salem. Nathaniel, the subject under notice, born debts to receive, related by himself in Virginia 29th July, 1746. 3d 1st month, 1650: "In England given by his father as a legacy, fortie pounds, to be paid to said Miles by his brother, which he both giveth and bequeatheth to his four children." His wife Margaret was then living. Lucretia, who married Dr. Joseph Osgood of Salem. Dr. Joseph Osgood of South Danvers is a grandson. Joshua, a merchant, who owned and lived in the house on Washington street now occupied by Dr. Fisk. Washington was his guest in that house on his visit to Salem in 1789. The late Judge Joshua Ward was his grand son. Miles, the father of Nathaniel, was son of Deacon Miles, who was born 11th March, 1673-4, and died August 19th, 1764.His wife was Sarah Massey, daughter of John Massey, who was the son of Jeffry M., the original planter. Of Deacon Miles it is related that "He said, within a week of his death, that there had been 19 weddings of his children, and all married into different families, that he had 91 children and grandchildren, 21 males of the name of Ward, 27 children of the 4th generation, and not a fatherless child in his family." See Boston News Letter,20th September, 1764. Deacon Miles was the son of Joshua Ward, who was born in the town of Huer, County of Kent, England, and who probably came to New England with his father, Miles Ward, who was a member of the church 1637, freeman 1641. Joshua married Hannah Flint, daughter of Wm. F. Her sister Alice, who married John Pickering, was presented at Court 1652 for wearing a silk hood, but was acquitted because she proved herself to be worth £200. Joshua was one of the crew of the ketch Providence, John Grafton master, which was cast away on a rock in the West Indies, the story of which is related by Mather in his Magnalia and by Felt in his Annals of Salem. He escaped a watery grave then, but found it about 1677 or 8, being lost in a shallop while fishing. Miles, father of Joshua, died early in 1650, as the inventory of his estate in Court Records, 7th month, 1650, what debts to pay and what Nathaniel, at the time of his death, was engaged to Priscilla, youngest daughter of President Holyoke and sister of the late Dr. E. A. Holyoke of Salem, and who aftewards was the wife of Dr. Eliphalet Pearson of Andover. The publisher of the Salem Gazette advertises— The Essex Almanac for 1769, the principal calculations, transits, eclipses, &c., made by the late ingenious Nathaniel Ward, A. M.” From the Essex Gazette, Salem, October 18th, 1768. "On Wednesday last died at Cambridge, after a few days illness, Nathaniel Ward, A. M., Librarian of Harvard College. As he was a Native of this Town and his parents are still living, his Corpse was brought here, where his funeral was attended on Friday last, with great decency and respect by the principal Inhabitants of this Town and a number of Gentlemen of the College. His Character justly drawn was published in the Boston Weekly News Letter of Thursday last, as follows, viz: "To give an high character to the Dead, in whom there was no merit while living, is the greatest Prostitution of Praise, and a real Injury to the deserving, who thereby, to all except their acquaintance, are put upon a level with the worthless. But to set forth distinguished worth to public view, where there is no danger of Imposition, is a Debt due to the Virtuous Dead, and a Service to the Living, as it may induce others to follow the bright Example. For these Reasons there seems to be a great propriety in exhibiting to the World a short Character of Mr. Nathaniel Ward, who departed this Life Yesterday, about 10 o'clock in the Forenoon, at this place. "He was born in Salem, where he continued till the Commencement, A. D. 1761, when he was admitted a member of Harvard College, where he gave early Proofs of a lively and pen etrating Genius. Whatever Part of Science determined otherwise. Confined to his bed by he engaged in the Pursuit of, he quickly gained, a raging Fever, for about a week, he expired and far from being satisfied with a superficial in the twenty-third year of his Age, to the utacquaintance with things, he always endeavor- most Grief of all his Relatives and acquained to make himself Master of what he under- tance; to the great loss of the College which took. He acquired a very considerable Know- had high Expectations from him; and of the ledge in various Branches of Literature, but world, to which, had Providence continued as he had a peculiar Turn for Mathematics and him, he might have been very Serviceable. Natural Philosophy, he applied much time to And is it thus afflicted Virtue cries, these Studies; in which his acquaintance was That Heaven distinguishes the early wise, so considerable, that the Professorship of these Thus crowns the tender parent's watchful care? Branches of Science at King's College, New Celestial Picty, her sister fair, York, being vacant, was offered him last year, to which Place he was recommended by Mr. Professor Winthrop, but for some particular Reasons he did not accept the Chair. "His private Character was such as gained him the Universal esteem of his acquaintance. Of an open and frank Disposition, his mind was elevated aboye every Thing mean and groveling, and his whole Conduct discovered the Benevolence of his Soul. His Professions of Esteem were ever sincere; Though he treated all with Politeness, he would never pretend a Friendship for any whom he could not embrace with a Cordial Affection. His Company was very engaging; a warm and lively Imagination, joined with native good Sense, and many Acquirements in nseful Literature, rendered his Conversation entertaining and agreeable. With accents mild, and look serenely bright, The editor of the Gazette says:-"Since the foregoing Character of Mr. Ward, wrote in Cambridge, was prepared for this Paper, we received the following, wrote in this place; and as his friends here are numerous, and all most sensibly affected with his Death, the inserting this it is hoped will not be looked upon as ostentatious or superfluous: "As I am not used to lavish extravagant Encomiums on the dead, nor versed in Panegyric, which is often prostituted to the praise of the undeserving, and more admired than believed; the following short Sketch of the deceased Mr. Ward's character is dictated by sentiments from an intimate acquaintance and the feelings of a divided Friendship:— that Though Sprightly, he was far from being Vain, and was often heard to express the utmost Dissatisfaction at those who have treated Sacred Things in a light manner. In short, he was a Gentleman of Strict Virtue and undissembled Picty, who exhibited in his Life the fruits of that divine Religion he professed, which "His particular merit could be known only to made all his other amiable accomplishments ap- those who enjoyed the Happiness of a familiar pear the more lovely. He was well qualified to Intercourse with him; let it suffice to fill some Place of Trust at the College; and they have, in the sincere Friend, lost the polite having declined the last vacant Tutorship, to Scholar, the agreeable Companion and useful which he might have been unanimously chosen Instructor; studious in the Principles, and by the Corporation, he was elected the week careful in the Practice of pure rationa! Rein which he was taken ill to the office of Li-ligion, he was precise, tho' not rigid, and firm brarian, a place he would have filled with without Obstinacy. Few young Gentlemen great Reputation, and in which he promised ever received such early Honors, or distinhimself much Happiness. But alas! Ileaven guished Tributes to superior accomplishments; say, fewer so well deserved them. Naturally imbued with an acute Penetration, the Difficulty of no Science eluded the Force of his Application and Genius; and with a Temper mild and forgiving, he readily discerned and pardoned the Faults of the heedless and undesigning, and the Insults of Malice and Envy. These united, amiable qualities made his Life extremely desirable to all who knew him and his death sincerely lamented." His Epitaph, written in Latin, with the following translation, was found among the papers of John and Margaret Mascarine,and is now in the possession of the family of the late Joshua Ward, Esq., to whom I am under obligations for this and other information. It is there stated to have been written by Mr. W――dprobably Rev. Joseph Willard, afterwards President of the College. The translation differs somewhat, though not essentially, from the inscription on his gravestone in Charter street burying-grouud: "In this Grave are deposited A penetrating Genius, His native good sense And literary accomplishments; His Amiable Disposition And Social Virtues; In the Vigor of Youth, Amidst happy prospects; Cut off by a raging Fever, He breathed forth his Soul October xii, A. D. MDCCLXVIII, Etatis q XXIII." ON THE DEATH OF N. WARD, BY MR. (JOHN) Nature had form'd within his noble mind He always held the honest man most dear, COPIES OF UNPUBLISHED LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS.-No. 1. COMMUNICATED BY M. A. STICKNEY. The following copy of an autograph letter of Gen'l Washington's is directed to Anthony White, Esq., of Brunswick, (New Jersey), favored by his son, who seems to have been expecting to become Secretary to Washington, but who, on account of a previous engagement, as appears by the letter, employed R. H. Harrison, who long faithfully served him in that capacity. The letter is 4to water-ruled French paper. The seal used by Washington has given a very fine impression on the wax, of a shield, bordered on its right by a suspended wreath of roses, and from the base of the left His undissembled Honesty and Frankness of mind, ascends a sprig of wheat. The shield in its Gained him Universal Esteem And the Love of all. He was a Son observant, dutiful; A Brother most affectionate; A Friend faithful, warm, constant; chief quarter bears one star, (perhaps for Virginia,) and thirteen surround it, for the United Colonies. New Jersey afterwards adopted a very similar shield on the reverse of the coins she issued in 1786, '7, '8. It appears on the pattern Washington cents issued in 1791, '2, also on the arms of the United States, and on most of the early coinage of the U. S. Mint; Sir: Camp at Cambridge, 28th Oct., 1775. &c., &c. Signed and sealed, June 22, 1741, in presence of JOHN HIGGINSON, Philip English of Salem, Innholder, with consent of Mary, his wife, in consideration of Ten pounds paid him by Clifford Crowninshield, Mariner, of said Salem, conveys unto said Clifford all that certain piece or parcel of land in Salem containing about fourteen poles, be the same more or less, Butting Southeasterly on land of Gilbert Tapley, Southwesterly and Northwesterly on said Clifford's land, and Northeasterly on a Lane, or however otherwise bounded, with the fences, &c., &c. I could not let Mr. White depart this camp without paying you the tribute of a letter. When I wrote to you last I thought it not at all unlikely that he might have been one of my Family before this, as I was not sanguine in my expectation of the Gentleman's (to whom I had written before I had spoke to y'r son on this Subject) coming this way. By the last Post I received a Letter from him, (that is Mr. Harrison,) informing me of his having received my Invitation, tho' long after date, and that he should immediately set out for this Camp: whereupon Iadvis'd Mr. White, as I learnt by a letter from a Member of Congress, that two Battalions were to be raised in the Jersey's to repair D. 1744, in presence of Signed and sealed this 24th day of April, A. there without loss of time, being firmly persuaded that his merit would entitle him to an honorable appointment in one or the other of those Corps. For the occurrences of this Camp I must refor you to Mr. White, who can relate matters more circumstantially than my time, or the limit of a Letter, will enable me to do. With great esteem I remain, Sir, Y'r Most Obed't H'ble Serv't, G'o. WASHINGTON. MISCELLANEA. ABSTRACTS OF OLD DEEDS. Joseph Hilliard of Salem in the Co. of Essex, Ropemaker, and Rachel his wife, in consideration of Ninety pounds in bills of Credit to them in hand well and truly paid by Clifford Crowinshield, Mariner, do convey unto said Clifford "about three-quarters of an acre of land situate in Salem aforesaid, bounded westerly on Smith & Becket's land, northerly on Mascoll's land, easterly on land formerly Hollingsworth's, then southerly on English's land, then easterly on English in part and partly on Tapley's land, and then southerly on the South River, with the app'rtenances," JOHN HIGGINSON, JR., Robert Gray of Salem, Shipwright, with the consent of Ruth his wife, in consideration of thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence paid him by Clifford Crowninshield Mariner, conveys unto said Clifford "a certain lot of land in Salem, bounded Easterly on English's Lane so called, Northerly on Tyler's land, Westerly on land of Mr. Samuel Fisk, and Southerly on land formerly Mascoll's, or however otherwise ye same is bounded, being ye land given by Joseph Swasey to my Grandmother Abigail Masury, by deed dated ye 21st day of April, A. D. 1688, with ye privileges," &c., &c. Signed and sealed this 12th day of Dec'r, ICHABOD PLAISTED, Philip English of Salem, Innholder, with consent of Mary his wife, in consideration of the sum of two hundred and sixteen pounds old tenor,to him paid by Clifford Crowninshield of Salem, mariner, conveys unto said Clifford "five acres and forty-six rods of land in the North Field so called in Salem, bounded Southwesterly on land set off to my sister Mary Browne in ye division of |