53 



with the usual order and conviviality displayed upon such 



occasions." 



In October, the old tried officers vv^ere re-elected as 

 usual, and the ensuing spring opened auspiciously. A 

 very large meeting assembled at Mrs. Nicholas', and the 

 various committees of accounts, on Boats, and Bridge, &c. 

 were appointed, a tax assessed, and forty tickets issued 

 for the May meeting, at two dollars each. 



This appears to be the last meeting at which Colonel 

 Johnston acted as recorder of proceedings, and seldom 

 appeared as a member at future meetings. Many years 

 intervene, without the exhibition of any matter deserving 

 of notice in the transactions. 



We were doomed to witness distressing revisitations of 

 the dreadful malady of 1793, in the successive years, 

 1797, '98 and '99, with different degrees of intensity and 

 less mortality, on account of the first impressive monition, 

 and the timely dispersion of the justly alarmed inhabi- 

 tants, who sought asylums from the pestilence, in every 

 part of the surrounding country. 



Making its dread appearance late in the summer, and 

 in the fall months of those unhappy years, the regular 

 meetings were interrupted, until the surviving members 

 were enabled to meet with convenience and safety, at 

 their favorite Castle, or at the neighbouring ferry, to hold 

 their annual elections, and make the necessary disposi- 

 tions of business at the season's close. 



On the 1st of May 1800, the company met at the Cas- 

 tle, and spent a festive day. 



