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section of the town, as it was very inconvenient in the night
<br />tinii•,• ►vlreir these disturbances generally occurred, to take
<br />from the extreme part of the town, rr. turbulent prisoner to our
<br />existing Deice of confinement. We saw that in finishing the
<br />Adams Engine House, which the town had authorized, a
<br />suitable Lock-up could be constructed cheaper than in any
<br />other way; and we availed ourselves of the opportunity.
<br />This cost with the herbs and furniture ordered by the town,
<br />about $280. The town appropriated a sun), deemed sufli-
<br />cient to paint and furnish Adams Engine hall, and procure a
<br />• • Hoof. and Ladder truck, but proviiled no means to pay for the
<br />• banre. This therefore was drawn frons the Treasury, and
<br />. added about $1000 more to these itciu.. which were. unpro-
<br />vidcdfor. The law -suit with Brown, late of tlio Poor (louse,
<br />cost us $318. There is one subject more which we will
<br />mention ; for we wish to lay our whole doings before our
<br />comAituents. The Conanissioners, some two yeal•8 ago, were
<br />• called on by a. large number of petitioners to widen Main
<br />street from the Cointnuii to Woburn street; end by some
<br />inforurality the (natter was delayed till the past summer.
<br />The town, on a notice from the Commissioners, had referred
<br />the whole subject to the Selectman with fall powers. I ho
<br />Commissioners had fixed the Zinc to the satisfaction of tall
<br />pal ties 'above the Town IIall ; and the Selectrrrcn, knowing
<br />the ripliroaching Anniversary would require that the'irrr-
<br />,. pruvement-about the Town hall ,and Depot be made .this
<br />season, so that the ground would be settled before the lath
<br />of April, have deom'd it wise to finish the work from Morris
<br />Block to the Town Hall. This improvement, which we
<br />• considered necessary, cost $2.25. There is one item more
<br />which we will lnetrtion which amounts to over $1100 above
<br />` the grant, that is the pauper bill. For some reason un-
<br />. known. to us,wthe pauper grant last spring, was reduced
<br />about that amount below the ordinary cost of that depart-
<br />nrent; add to this the sumo of $500 appropriated for the Han-
<br />. cock schoolhouse. These items make ;ii ggregate amount of
<br />nearly $4000, which will account for the small sum now in -
<br />the Treasury.
<br />But though tic balance is small, we need not :anticipate
<br />banl.ruptey. 'There is some $4500" uncollected which will ho
<br />available in rt short time, and ubant $15011 which tn. y be ex-•
<br />petted from the betterment tax, if the .Ritter is property '
<br />managed. •%Ve know of no town inilirovenient tvhiclr will r-.
<br />require any extra expenalitures; and hence, we -may redu4e
<br />our ordinary appropriations tilo coming—leer, without any
<br />detriment to the public interest. But there is one.subjcet
<br />which will engross the attention of our people and mall for
<br />a 'generous pecuniary aid—we allude to the approaching
<br />centennial celebration. The Town of Le Cingtotr occupies ai
<br />brighter page in history than any other town upon the con -
<br />'Uncut. Though her population -Ives small, she carefully
<br />watched the tide of (•vents, and disciplining herself in the
<br />school of adversity, was prepared to meet coolly any •danger
<br />that might arise. Under the guidance of her pious :sired
<br />patriotic priest, she not only prepared herself for th(1 im-
<br />pending contest, liut she encouraged, animated, and sus-
<br />tained others by her example and assurance that wbatev.er
<br />others might do, she would stand firm in defence of liberty.
<br />•\Vith a sacred trust lir• God, Lexington, two years before
<br />the collision in galls, assured her sister towns that "if the
<br />stale of our uffuir8 should require it, she should be ready,fo
<br />sacrifice. her estates, and everything dear inlife, yea, and
<br />even life itself, in sniTort of the conmOn cause."
<br />Nor :was this stn empty boast. When the day arrived,
<br />Lexington was as gold cgs her word. • When eight htuidicd .-..
<br />British iogulars, armed to the teeth, approached our village.,
<br />and rushed upon a band of about fifty citizens, but poorly
<br />awned and disciplined, and commanded them to throwdo'n..
<br />their arms and disperse, this little Spartan band stoodiim
<br />upon their own parade ground, and did not leave it till their.
<br />ranks were decimated, and they were ordered to retire 4
<br />their own commander_. Nor did they leave the field till
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