i2r. 



most convenient., in or near about the follo-wing places (he not injuring 

 the road, and keeping the said receptacles covered, and allowing any 

 who would have received benefit to their land by the wash of the street 

 in either of the places, if they will clear out said receptacles when 

 empty of water, to take earth for manure, and also allowing the town' 

 to use the water in said receptacles in case of fire) viz ; One place in 

 the highway near Mr. James Cutler's ; one in the street near Capt. 

 George Osborne's ; one to take the wash of tne drain near Mr. Benj. 

 Deland's; another place in the drain in the street below the court 

 house, and another near Mr. Nathaniel Gould's shop ; and that none 

 may lie allowed to turn the present natural course of the water which 

 may run after a rain or set up any receptacles of water above those of 

 your memorialist, so as to prevent the water in whole or in part, irom 

 coming to them, and that he may enjoy this privilege till the town shall 

 see fit to alter it," etc. 



This prayer the town granted, and Mr. Felt states that the 

 works were set up near the head ot the Turnpike. In his 

 sermon against torjism, Dr. Whittaker mentions, that he was 

 assisted in his saltpetre manufacture by several gentlemen who- 

 subscribed .*g500 to aid the enterprise. There are records re- 

 maining of the sale of small quantities of saltpetre to the' 

 State, in 1776, by Dr. W. and others of Salem. 



These active exertions of Dr. Whitaker, in behalf of the 

 War, greatly exasperated the tories. Judge Samuel Curwen, 

 a loyalist refugee in London, wrote home to a friend that 

 Whittaker was "a notorious character in America, and not 

 unknown here. * * * He is usually called Dr. Meroz in 

 America, from his usually applying the 23d verse of the 5th 

 chapter of Judges to the poor refugees." And again, as "a 

 mischievous incendiary, of a proud, restless, turbulent spirit." 



At the close of the war, William Pynchon, a loyalist lawyer 

 in Salem, who had temporized and conceded to the whigs- 

 rather than flee the country, wrote to Judge Curwen as follows : 



"Since plundering and privateering hsive declined, the reverend Dr.- 

 Whitaker exerts himself on the wharves as well as in the desk against 

 the return of Americans. * * * Alcock evasit et abdicavit with bag- 

 and baggage, and Whitaker seems to be hastening after him. These 

 two politicians seem to have been the authors and promoters of more 

 mischief than it is possible that any two who are left behind them 

 either could or would effect, or even attempt. They resembled Swift's 

 committee of ways and means for continuing the war and promoting 

 malevolence and contention as long as possible ; but at length they 

 became contemned and deserted by all, and I cannot recollect any better 

 proof or assurance you can have than the fate of these two persons as 

 to the temper of the people of this town, and as to their disposition for 

 peace and benevolence." * * * " Alcock's g(dng off, (or abscond- 

 ing,) with Dr. Whitaker's sinking in the esteem of the people, even at 

 the fish-market and brandy shops has produced a good effect." 



These passages are chiefly tolerable as exhibiting the^ bitter- 

 ness of feeling entertained by the loyalists tov\'ard Dr. Whittaker 



