170 



tic legislature of 1811-12 had so carved and cut up the to^vns 

 of Essex County as to favor the election of a democratic member 

 of congress from Essex South. The district thus formed was 

 very strange in its outlines, running from Salem all around the 

 line of back towns, Lynn, Andover, ELaverhill, &c., and ending 

 at Salisbury. This curious arrangement struck the eye of Gil- 

 bert Stuart, the celebrated Painter, as presenting the outlines of 

 a natural monster, and he accordingly took his pencil, and by 

 affixing claws to the lower extremities at Salem and Marble- 

 head, wings to the back at Andover, and a 'horrid beak' at Salis- 

 bury, produced the figure of a creature which he said would do 

 for a Salamander. But Major Ben. Russell suggested that it 

 might more properly be called a " Gerrymander," in allusion 

 to the democratic Governor of the state. It ever after receiv- 

 this title. An engraving of the monster was inserted in the Ga- 

 zette and other papers, and printed upon handbills, as an election- 

 eering document. In 1813, when the democrats were defeated, 

 the federalists were in high glee over the "Gerrymander" 

 which had been so useful to them, and on the morning after the 

 election in April, a figure of the skeleton of the deceased mon- 

 ster appeared in the Gazette, with the appropriate epitaph, 

 " Hatched 1812— killed 1813." This device was executed by 

 Mr. Appleton, the jocose partner of Mr. Gushing in his book- 

 store, who cast a block of type-metal and engraved the figure 

 during the night previous to its publication. There was subse- 

 quently published a picture of the non-descript in its coffin, and 

 a fac- simile of the grave stone, together with an amusing pro- 

 gramme of mock ceremonials at its funeral. 



Mr. Gushing relinquished the publication of the Gazette 

 Dec. 31, 1822, on account of infirm health, and in retiring 

 from a post he had so long occupied, bade adieu to his friends 

 in a graceful note. He died Sept. 28, 1824, aged 60. As an 

 editor and publisher, as well as a member of the firm of Gushing 

 and Appleton, he had secured a host of friends, who remembered 

 him as " the amiable and gifted Gushing." His qualities of 

 mind and heart were such as commanded the respect and esteem 

 of all who knew him. He was steadfast and conscientious in 

 his political opinions, a person of thorough integrity in his 

 business affiiirs, gentle and pleasing in his manners. He is 

 described as having had strong powers of mind, warmth of 

 fancy, various and extensive knowledge, and a familiar acquain- 

 tance with the best of English literature, which gave attraction 

 and fascination to hia conversation. 



