MACOMB, WILLIAM H. 



MAINE. 



491 



missionary labors of the Kirk of Scotland, in 

 1850 Dr. Macleod crossed the Atlantic and 

 traversed the vast domain of Canada on a tour 

 of personal inspection, and in 1867 went out 

 on another and more extensive tour over por- 

 tions of India. From 1850 to 1860 he edited 

 the Edinburgh Christian Magazine, and, upon 

 the establishment of a new periodical entitled 

 Good Words, he became the editor, furnishing 

 from his own pen a goodly portion of the ar- 

 ticles. Among his published works are " The 

 Earnest Student," or memorials of Mackin- 

 tosh, 1847 ; " Reminiscences of a Highland 

 Parish, 1 ' 1862 ; " Eastward," a book of Travel, 

 1866; "The Old Lieutenant and His Son," 

 "The Starling," 1867; "Peeps at the Far 

 East," a familiar account of a visit to India, 

 1871 ; " Simple Truth spoken to Working 

 People," "The Gold Thread," and "Wee 

 Davie," also several sermons. 



MACOMB, Commodore WILLIAM H., United 

 States Navy, born in Michigan, about 1820; 

 died in Philadelphia, August 12, 1872. He 

 was appointed from New York, April 10, 1834, 

 and was attached to the frigate Potomac, of 

 the Mediterranean squadron, until 1887. In 

 1840 he was in the Naval School at Philadel- 

 phia, was promoted to passed-midshipman the 

 same year, and served with the Brazil squad- 

 ron and at rendezvous, New York, until 1846; 

 was commissioned lieutenant in 1847, and 

 served two years on the steamship Lexington, 

 Pacific squadron. In 1849 and 1850 he served 

 on the receiving-ship New York, and in 1850 

 -'53 on the brig Bainbridge, of the Brazil 

 squadron, and again on the receiving-ship New 

 York in 1854~'56. He was attached to the 

 sloop Portsmouth, of the East India squadron, 

 1856-'58, and participated in the engagements 

 with the Barrier Forts, on the Canton River, 

 China, November 16, 20, 21, and 22, 1856, in 

 which the Portsmouth and Levant attacked 

 and captured the forts. He commanded the 

 steamer Metacomet, of the Brazil squadron 

 and Paraguay Expedition, in 1859, the steamer 

 Pulaski, Brazil station, in 1860-'61, and the 

 steamer Geriesee, of the blockading squadron, 

 1862-'63. He was commissioned commander 

 in 1863. While in command of the Genesee 

 he attempted the passage of the batteries at 

 Port Hudson, March 14, 1863, and took part 

 in almost daily engagements with Confeder- 

 ate batteries along the Mississippi during April, 

 May, and June, 1863. He commanded the 

 steamer Shamrock in the blockading squadron 

 in 1864-'65, and was in command of the naval 

 force in the bombardment and capture of 

 Plymouth, N. C., October 29 and 30, 1864. He 

 also commanded the naval forces in the action 

 with the batteries and infantry on the Roan- 

 oke River, near Poplar Point, N. C., during 

 the expedition up that river. For the gal- 

 lantry and energy displayed in his operations 

 against the enemy while serving in the North 

 Atlantic squadron, Commodore Macomb was 

 advanced several numbers in his grade. After 



the close of the war he was attached to the 

 navy-yard at Philadelphia from 1866 to 1868, 

 and was commissioned captain in 1866. He 

 commanded the steam-sloop Plymouth, of the 

 European squadron, in 1869. His commission 

 as commodore is dated July, 1870, and his latest 

 employment was as light-house inspector. 



MAINE. The fifty-first annual session of 

 the Legislature of Maine began on the 3d of 

 January and closed on the 29th of February. 

 There were few acts passed which have more 

 than a local importance. The law relating to 

 the sale of intoxicating liquors was amended 

 so as to bring cider and wine, made from fruits 

 grown in the State, within the prohibition. 

 The sale of unadulterated cider by the manu- 

 facturer or his agents is, however, allowed, 

 and the sale of pure wine for sacramental and 

 medicinal purposes. The following entirely 

 new section was incorporated into the law : 



SECTIOX 32. Every wife, child, parent, husband, or 

 other person who shall he injured in personj prop- 

 erty, or means of support, or otherwise, by an intoxi- 

 cated person, by reason of the intoxication of any 

 person, shall have a right of action in his or her own 

 name against any person or persons who shall, by 

 selling or giving any intoxicating liquors, or other- 

 wise, have caused or contributed to the intoxication 

 of such person or persons ; and in any such action 

 the plaintiff shall have a right to recover actual and 

 exemplary damages. And the owner or lessee or 

 person or persons renting or leasing any building or 

 premises, having knowledge that intoxicating liquors 

 are sold therein in violation of law, shall he liable, 

 severally or jointly with the person so selling or giv- 

 ing intoxicating liquors as aforesaid. And in every 

 action hy any wife, husband, parent, or child, gen- 

 eral reputation of the relation of husband and wife, 

 parent or child, shall he prima facie evidence of such 

 relation, and the amount recovered hy every wife or 

 child shall he his or her sole and separate property. 



These and other amendments of the law had 

 been urged by the Temperance Convention, 

 which met at Augusta, in January. 



An act was passed relating to savings-banks 

 which required a semi-annual report to the 

 State Treasurer of the total amount of de- 

 posits, and the payment of one-fourth of one 

 per cent, thereon to be appropriated for the 

 use of schools. The trustees must also once 

 in six months, after setting apart the amount 

 required by law for a reserved fund, declare a 

 dividend not exceeding three per cent, among 

 the depositors. Any balance of earnings over 

 these dividends, the reserve funds, taxes, ex- 

 penses, etc., is to be divided once in four years 

 ratably among the depositors. An examina- 

 tion and a settlement of the Treasurer's ac- 

 count are required twice a year. Savings-banks 

 are prohibited from investing in the bonds of 

 unfinished railroads, or roads the net income 

 of which is not sufficient to pay the interest 

 on their bonded debt, or in the bonds of any 

 town or county out of New England issued in 

 aid of any railroad. 



An act to promote immigration and facili- 

 tate the settlement of public lands constitutes 

 the Governor, Secretary of State, and Land 

 Agent, a Board of Immigration. It is made 



