The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

226 HISTORY 01-' LYNN. [1825.110 enmity against him, and have never made a personal allusionto him or any other individual ; though he has sought foryears to injure my reputation, by means, which no man, possessingthe finer feelings of humanity, would have employed. I cannotimagine why a person, who retains good understanding,should wish to deceive others. Deception can only originatefrom ignorance or depravity. A mind of discernment cannoteasily deceive itself, and cannot expect to deceive that Beingwho has access to every thought of the heart. Falsehood anderror may prevail for a time, and self-interest may profit, andself-love be gratified by their dominion ; but it is only a weakor a corrupt heart which exults in their delusion.On Thursday, the twenty-third of June, immediately afterthe commencement of twilight, a remarkable sungush appeared.It proceeded from the place of sunsetting, and rose perfectlystraight, perpendicular, and well-defined, to the height of twentydegrees. Its color was a beautiful bright red, and its widthequal to that of a broad rainbow ; The clouds around werevariegated with the finest colors, and the pageant continuedabout fifteen minutes.On Saturday, September third, the first newspaper printedin Lynn, was published by ]Mr. Charles Frederic Lummus, withthe tide of the Lynn Weekly Mirror.A comet was visible in October, on the right of the Pleiades,vvhh a train about six degress in length.The Hon William Gray died at Boston, on the third of November,aged 75 years. He was born at Lynn, on the twentysevendi of June, 1750. His grandfather, Mr, William Gray,a respectable farmer, in 1701 resided on Water Hill, where thehouse of Mr. Benjamin Phillips now stands. His father, Mr.Abraham Gray, born 13 January, 1715, was one of the firstshoe manufacturers in Lynn, who employed journeymen andapprentices. He received such an education as could at thattime be obtained in a town school ; and, at the age of thirteen,having a strong inclination to mercantile pursuits, was placedin the counting house of Mr. Derby, a respectable merchantin Salem. As a reward for his faithfulness and diligence, hewas indulged with the privilege of sending what are termedadventures, or articles of hmited worth, at his own risk, in theships of his employer ; and was generally so fortunate as toobtain returns of far increased value. On his arrival at manhood,he entered extensively into the European and East Indiatrades, and by his industry, ability, and uncommon success, ac-