Towns and Cities, in Counties, in the Commonwealth, and in other States. A good proportion of them have been successful in business, and have even become wealthy. Many of the citizens of Boston were born here. A number of years ago, one of them took it into his head to invite a Leominster party, and went so far as to begin to write down names; but soon found, that although his house was very spacious, "it was a great deal too little" to accommodate his fellow natives, and he relinquished his design. It would occupy too much space to mention one tenth of those who, even during the last sixty-five years, have left their native town and gone elsewhere. Among them are the names of Allen, Burrage, Boutelle, Burditt, Carter, Crocker, Conant, Darling, Gardner, Hills, Haws, Joslin, Johnson, Kendall, Low, Legate, Lincoln, Murdock, Nichols, Phelps, Pierce, Richardson, Rugg, Stearns, Snow, Tainter, Tyler, Wood, and Wilder.

Soon after the adoption of the United States Constitution, a post office was established in this town, and the late Asa Johnson, Esq., was appointed the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr. Charles Prentiss, for two or three years, and then John Gardner, Esq., was the postmaster about twenty years. His suc

In 1851

cessor was the late Mr. John Kendall. The present accommodating and faithful incumbent was first appointed October 1, 1833. an additional post office was established near the Fitchburg Rail Road depot, called the "North Leominster," and Mr. Wm. F. Howe appointed postmaster.

For many years the post-riders brought from Boston two mails in a week; afterwards there were three by stage-coach; and now, from all directions, we have in both offices six mails a day by railroad, besides the news by telegraph. By a statement in the Worcester Magazine for 1826, it appears that at that time there were but six post offices in the County of Worcester that yielded a nett revenue to the United States Government greater than the one in this town, it being then $113,88. From a particular account, kindly furnished me by Mr. C. H. Colburn, it appears that the balance accruing to the Government annually on the 30th of September, since the first of October, 1833, has been as follows, viz:

$9388,29.

To which add the balance due and paid by the North

Post Office since it was established in 1851,

and the whole amount of revenue to the P. O. Dep't will be $9520,37.

132,08.

PRINTING.

The "Rural Repository," a weekly sheet by Charles Prentiss, was commenced in this town October 22, 1795, and the publication closed in about eighteen months.

The "Political Focus," by Charles and John Prentiss, was commenced in June, 1798, and closed November 28, 1799. John Prentiss left the town in March, 1799, and commenced the New Hampshire Sentinel, at Keene, which he conducted with great ability and good success, for forty-eight years, and which is now published by his son.

"The Telescope," by Adams and Wilder, edited by the former, was commenced January 2, 1800, and the publication ceased, for want of due encouragement, October 14, 1802. The subscriptions to neither of the papers exceeded five or six hundred, and the advertising and job patronage was small. Charles Prentiss published a volume of his own "Essays," in prose and poetry, the "Philosophy of Love," a poem by the late Rev. Charles Stearns, of Lincoln, Mass. Also a thick 12mo. volume of "Dramatic Dialogues," by the same author. He pub

lished also several miscellaneous volumes for himself and others, and kept a small assortment of books and stationery, with a bindery attached. Doctor Adams published two or three editions of his "Scholar's Arithmetic," and his "Understanding Reader," two valuable school books, while he resided in this town. Among the Doctor's other works are the "Monitorial Reader," "Mental Arithmetic," "Book-keeping" and "Mensuration." Doctor Adams now resides in Keene, and, at the age of seventy-seven, enjoys comfortable health. Mr. J. Prentiss is also there, and, apparently, in the vigor of manhood. It was a misfortune to this town that two such men should leave it.

Mr. Salmon Wilder, the partner of Doctor Adams, continued for a time to do job printing in this town, and then removed to New Ipswich.,

Mr. J. Prentiss purchased the copy-right of the Scholar's Arithmetic, about the year 1806 or 1807, and published large editions until the year 1828, when, to meet the demands of the age, he engaged the author to revise it. From that time to 1848, large stereotype editions were published by him of this new 12mo. work, "Adams' New Arithmetic." Again the demands required a revision, and it has been since published by J. W. Prentiss & Co., "Re

vised Edition," much enlarged and improved. Messrs. Charles and John Prentiss were the sons of the Rev. Caleb Prentiss, of Reading, and the elder was graduated at Harvard University in 1795. He taught one of the schools in this town the winter preceding.

A Mr. Ephraim Wilder opened a Bookstore here about the year 1803; but, although the inhabitants generally at that time were fond of reading, he did not meet with sufficient encouragement to induce him to remain long.

A Social Library of choice books had previously been established in this town. An Association called "The Institute," was formed here in 1818; and in 1847, "The Lyceum was organized. The funds for the commencement of a Library were obtained at a tea-party given by the ladies in January, 1848. And in that year the three Libraries were united into one, and now comprise nearly or quite seven hundred volumes of useful and entertaining books.