History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1793.] ST. CLAIR'S defeat—POST-OFFICE—FIRE-ENGINE. 563
be used for any such purpose, certainly they were not
quite ready to add dancing to the curriculum of the schools.
It was conducted by Mr. Griffiths, who also had another
school at Amherst. These schools soon became permanent,
for they were continued by different teachers at intervals
during the remainder of the century. Asahel Pomeroy,
in rebuilding his tavern, seems to have added a hall, and
for many years these schools were held there.
Schools at Lone Town Loue Towu and Lower Farms both sought
and Lower Farms. better school accommodations and in each
case the town voted them an allowance.
To the latter district was voted "as much money towards
building a new school house, as they have paid for the new
school house in the center and in Lickingwater, amounting
to £14.18." The Lone Town people were allowed their proportion
of the taxes for schools. Subsequently a committee
was appointed to build a school-house there, and a
grant of 650 towards the expense was made.
Mill River Bridge. Lickiugwater bridge was greatly out of re-
pair, and at the December meeting an order
was passed to make temporary betterments for the winter,
and to build a new one the following summer. It was to
be sixteen feet wide, to be covered with white pine plank,
clear of sap, three inches thick and well pinned down, and
to be about eighteen inches lower than' the old one. Materials
for the new bridge were to be obtained during the
winter. At the next March meeting a vote was passed to
supply the Lickingwater bridge committee with '
' rum for
raising the same, and with nails for finishing it." This
combination undoubtedly formed an "iron tonic," which
guaranteed a substantial structure. Before the work was
commenced, several persons were added to the committee
to advise with them with regard to the place in which it
should be erected. It is probable that the new structure
was placed a short distance below the old one, and very
nearly on the site of the covered bridge recently removed.
The Embargo. During the decade immediately succeeding
the treaty of peace, both the United States
and Great Britain were continually charging each other