175 



judgment, thenceforth exerted, largely increased the circula- 

 tion of the paper, and gave it popularity and influence. He 

 was the sole conductor during the times of the embargo and 

 the war Avith England, when political feeling ran very high, 

 and was much embittered by personal hostilities. "Yet, notwith- 

 standing all the excitements of those periods," said his eulogist, 

 the late Jos. E. Sprague, " Mr. Palfray gave as little just 

 cause of offence as any man living could. Possessed of most 

 generous and honorable feelings, he never willingly gave just 

 cause of offence to a political opponent. Personal allusions 

 were always painful to him — and at those periods of deadly 

 feud, Avhen he Avas placed at the editorial desk, it was his great- 

 est pleasure to take from the papers handed him for publication 

 the poisoned arrows ; and when he could not, consistently with 

 political duty, wholly remove personal allusions, to soften them 

 to the utmost limit." * *• * '• With but slight advantages of 

 education there were but fcAV who were more useful to society. 

 His heart was the abode of pure thoughts — his life the exem- 

 plar of good principles. The tongue of calumny, in the times 

 of bitterest political animosities, never breathed a syllable 

 against the spotless purity of his life and character." 



Though Mr. Palfray never sought office, he held several pub- 

 lic trusts. He was a member of the city government at the 

 time of his death, and vice president of the Mechanic Associa- 

 tion. He had served with usefulness in both branches of the 

 legislature. 



After the death of Mr. Palfray, the paper was continued 

 by the surviving partner, Mr. Chapman, — the family of 

 the former retaining an interest in the publication. On Jan. 

 1st, 1839, Charles W. Palfray, a son of the former proprietor, 

 and a graduate of Harvard University, assumed the place 

 vacated by his father. In 1841, Jan. 1, the earlier name of 

 " The Salem Register" was again adopted. 



The Register during the more than half century of its exis- 

 tence has received the contributions of able pens. Dr. Bentley, 

 and the late Sheriff Sprague, were voluminous and influential 

 writers in its columns for a great many years. Judge Story, 

 during his residence in Salem, was a frequent contributor. So 

 was Andrew Dunlap for many years previous to 1825. The 

 Summaries of Dr. Bentley have become famous. These con- 

 cise and curious medleys were furnished regularly for a quarter 

 of a century. They often extended to a column and a half of 

 close matter, and sometimes to several columns. They were 



