VERMONT STATE HOUSE

designed to be permanent. The post at the mouth of Otter creek was attacked on the 10th of May, 1814, by the British flotilla, consisting of five sail and eight row gallies, but they were repulsed without loss to the Americans. The American force consisted of only 190 men, commanded by Capt. Thornton of the artillery and Lieut. Cassin of the navy.

SECTION VII.

Vermont State House."

LOCATED AT MONTPELIER.

place, at a cost of $30,000, provided that town, should be made the capital of the state; that the inhabitants of Montpelier and vicinity had proposed to give $15,000 towards a new state house, to be erected on or near the site of the old one, at a cost of at least $30,000; the above were the only proposals made. When the subject came before the legislature, it received a full and careful examination, and, in consequence, an act was passed, dated Nov. 8, 1832, 'authorizing the erection of a state house at Montpelier,' and making an appropriation of $15,000 therefor, provided the inhabitants of Montpelier should guaranty to the state, the payment of an additional sum of $15,000 towards the object. The act authorized 'the governor to appoint three suitable persons as a committee to fix on a place in Montpelier for erecting said state house, and to prepare plan for the same,' and to 'appoint some suitable person, or persons, as a committee to superintend the erection of said state house, agreeably to the plan adopted by the committee aforesaid.' The Hon. Samuel C. Crafts, Hon. Allen Wardner, and George T. Hodges, Esq., were appointed the first committee, and the Hon. Lebbeus Egerton was appointed to superintend the building.

The committee met at Montpelier and organized, but, before making much progress in their duties, they decided to visit Concord, N. H., Boston, Mass., Hartford and New Haven, Conn., in company with Ammi B. Young, the architect, whom they had employed to make their plans, for the purpose of examining the state houses in those places, and ascertaining what improvements had been made in such build

When Montpelier was made the Capita! of the state, the inhabitants of the town and vicinity erected a State House, and gave it to the state. At the date of its erection, it was well adapted to the purpose of legislation, but as the state rapidly increased in population it was found after some years to be inadequate to the increasing wants of the legislature. Various propositions were made at successive sessions of the legislature to enlarge the building, but without effect. At the session of 1831, the attention of the members of the legislature was drawn to the sub-ings up to that time. They were also acject of a new state house, by a design for companied by Gov. Egerton, the superinone, made by Ammi B. Young, architect, tendent. After a full examination, and and exhibited at Montpelier at that time. deliberation upon the subject, they adoptThe design was much admired, and the ed a plan designed and drawn by Mr. legislature passed a resolution authorizing Young, which accorded with their views, the appointment of a committee to receive and which appeared to be admirably and proposals from the several towns in the conveniently arranged for the purposes of state, to build a new state house, suf-legislation; they decided that the buildficiently commodious for all the purpos- ing should be located about 250 feet to the es of state legislation, and to report to north west of the old state house, in order the next legislature. The Hon. Ezra to allow a spacious yard and grounds in Meech, Robert Temple, Allen Wardner, front, and that, so far as possible, the exand Timothy Hubbard, Esqrs., were apterior should be of Barre dark granite. pointed said committee. This committee The roof and dome were to be covered reported to the legislature at the session with copper, and every part constructed. of 1832, that the citizens of Burlington in the most perfect and substantial manhad proposed to erect a state house at that ner; but, as they did not feel warranted in directing a greater expense for the building than $60,000, without some further legislative action on the subject, they decided on a finish that would not exceed that sum, and made out a report to the

For most of the farts and descriptions embodied in thiss ection, I am indebted to the kindness of Ammi B. Young, Esq., the distinguished architect, under whose superintendence the state house was erected.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

next legislature, recommending the adoption of an improved finish for the building, and more in accordance with their views, but which would make the cost of the building about $84,000.

EXPENSE OF BUILDING.

At the session of 1836, the legislature decided, that the services of the superintendent might be dispensed with, and passed an act, making it "the duty of the governor to appoint some suitable person duly qualified as an architect, to superintend the completion of the state house, and to procure such additional furniture as may be needed to furnish the same, to lay out and finish the yard and grounds around the house, and who shall supersede the committee heretofore appointed" to superintend the erection of said house, " and fulfil and perform all the duties in

The superintendent entered on his duties in February, 1833, at Montpelier, and engaged Mr. Young, the architect who drew the plans, &c. to superintend the carrying of them into execution. All the necessary contracts for lumber, brick, stone, labor, &c. were made during the winter, and April 1st, 1833, the excavations for the foundations, site, &c., were commenced. The foundations of the building lie en-cumbent on said committee." Agreeably tirely on a ledge of rocks, which in some to the provisions of the said act, the gov places had to be removed to the depth of ernor appointed Ammi B.Young, Esq.(the 25 feet to afford the proper level, and in architect who had made all the plans and others was so low as to require a wall of superintended their execution) to that ofrough stone work of 20 feet in height. fice. The legislature made another apThe work was pursued with vigor through propriation of $25,000 to carry on the the season, yet owing to the immense la- work the next year, during which the bor of removing the ledge of rocks for the building was all completed and furnished, site, only the foundations were laid and and the grounds and yard nearly finished. in condition to receive the hammered At their session of 1837, the legislature granite, most of which, for the body of made a further appropriation of $3,500 to the building, was wrought and delivered. complete the yard and grounds, and preThe lumber for the building was also de-vious to the session of 1838 the whole was livered, and every thing in connection finished, having been about 5 years in with the business progressed with the ut-its erection. On the settlement with the most harmony and satisfaction. When superintendent, it was found that the the report of the committee, who prepared the plans for the building, came before the legislature at their session in 1833, the subject had another full and perfect examination; the doings of the committee were approved, and directions given to have all their views carried out in the most perfect manner, and another appropriation of $20,000 was made towards the The building stands on an elevated site, object. During the next season the walls about 325 feet north of State street, on of the building were erected, the frame of which it fronts, and is about 35 feet above the roof put on, and further excavations the level of it. on the site carried on. The legislature in grounds, and principal approach to the the fall made another appropriation of house from that street, is noble and com$25,000 for the object, and during the manding; the gateways, the fence, the succeeding season the works were carried grounds, and all their details are in keepon with activity, and good progress made ing with the building, and assist in giving towards finishing the interior. In the fall to it that consideration it should have, as of 1835 the legislature appropriated "the the capitol of a flourishing, independent further sum of $30,000 towards comple-state. ting and furnishing the house, graduating the yard and making a fence around it." During the season of 1836, the building was mostly completed except the portico: the several halls and rooms were in part furnished with good and appropriate furniture, so that at their fall session, the legislature were enabled to occupy it, but owing to a misunderstanding between the superintendent and architect in relation to the design for finishing the yard and grounds, little or nothing was done in relation to them during that season.

building, grounds, yard, furniture, &c. had cost the sum of $132,077,23, from which deduct the $15,000 paid by Montpelier, leaves $117,077,23 as the sum paid by the state; this deducted from $118,500, the whole amount appropriated, left in the treasury $1,422,77 of the appropriations not expended.

The entrance to the

The building is very neat and simple in its design, a pure architectural character is preserved throughout; this, combined with the convenience of interior arrangement, and the permanency of its construction, renders it a structure of more merit than any other in New England. It is in form of a cross, shewing in front a centre 72 feet broad, ornamented with a projecting portico of six columns, 6 feet in diameter, of the Grecian Dorick order, with its proper entablature and pediment extending the whole width of the centre, and two wings each 39 feet,

therefore confine ourselves principally to a brief account of banking operations in this state.*

*We have, doubtless, most of us heard our fathers or grandfathers speak of Old Tenor and of Continental Money, and as it will, doubtless, be gratifying to the rising generation to understand the meaning of these terms we will here endeavor to explain

them.

OLD TENOR.

CONTINENTAL AND LAWFUL MONEY.

For many years after the organization of the government of this state, a large majority of the people were decidedly opposed to the issue of paper money; nor could they be brought to consent to the establishment of banks within the state till they felt themselves compelled to such a measure in self defence, in consequence of the great multiplication of banks in the While bank bills neighboring states.

The first issue of paper money in America was made by the provincial government of Massachu- were the circulating medium in other setts in 1690, under the denomination of bills of states, it was found to be impossible to credit, and for the purpose of defraying the expense As specie could prevent their introduction here, and the of an expedition against Canada. not be had for that purpose, new issues were made consequence was that the people of Verfrom time to time for the redemption of these bills, mont suffered by being imposed upon by and various other means were resorted to for sustain-counterfeit bills and by the failure of banks, ing their credit. By the laws of that province we find the following issues of bills of credit authorized, from 1700 to 1720, viz.: in 1702 £10,000, in 1703 £10,000, in 1714, 50,000, in 1717, 100,000, and in 1720 £50,000. In 1712 a law was passed making bills of credit a tender for ten years, and in 1722 the same law was continued for ten years longer. But, without an adequate specie basis, legislative enactments could not avail to sustain the credit of such an amount of paper money. Its value depreciated very rapidly till 45 shillings came to be the value of one dollar, at which it stood many years, and was denominated Old Tenor,(old tender;) in this, accounts were then kept and contracts were made.' The following bill may serve to illustrate this

matter:

BOSTON, July 23d, 1768.

The Province of Massachusetts,

TO THOMAS WILLISTON, Dr.

For sundries bought for the use of the gentlemen
selectmen, in going down to Rainsford Island:
£ s.

Rump of Beef and pieces to roast,
Two Tongues,

Cucumbers, Mustard, Salt and Meal,

Lemons, hundred and a half,

Bread and Biscuit,

Two bottles of Claret and Cider,

Pipes and Tobacco,

Butter, Pork and Fat,

Onions and Pepper,

Sweet Majorum and Twine,

For roasting the Beef and Charcoal

Old Tenor,

Lawful money,

d.

0

5 0

1 10

0

1

4

0

2 15

0

3 15

When these bills of credit were finally redeemed, by a grant made by the British parliament to defray the military expenses of the colonies, their value had so far depreciated that 11. old tenor were considered equivalent to only 17. in specie or lawful money. CONTINENTAL AND LAWFUL MONEY.

The United States having no adequate sources of revenue, Congress found it necessary, in the early part of the revolution, to resort to the former practice of the colonies and make large issues of bills of credit. These at first possessed the same value as specie, and in these the troops and all the other expenses of the government were paid. But the United States not having the ability to redeem these bills with specie, they began, in the early part of the year 1777, to depreciate in value, and, before the close of the war, they became nearly worthless. These bills of credit constituted what was called Continental Money, and as this formed almost the entire circulating medium of the country during the revolution, bargains were very generally made and accounts kept in it during that period. After the

while neither the state nor any of its inhabitants shared any of the profit accruing from the banking operations. The only remedy, which they could devise for this evil, was to establish banks within the state, which should furnish to the people a medium of their own, similar to that possessed by other states, and serve as a guard against the circulation of spurious bills and the bills of insolvent foreign banks.

Though we had nothing which could continental money began to depreciate in value, although accounts were still kept in it, the specie value was usually entered upon the account book under the denomination of lawful money, as in the following item copied from the account book of the first treasurer of this state:

1779. June 5.-To cash paid Reuben Dean for a
Screw for a State Seal, Con.94.-Law.04., 168,4d.
By this item it appears that, at the time the
charge was made, 11. in continental money were
The rates of deprecia-
valued at 11. in specie.
tion of continental money, in the several states,
were in most cases fixed by law. That was the
case in Vermont. In April, 1781, an act was pass-
ed, which declared that all contracts made on or
before the first day of September, 1777, for money,
shall be deemed equal to the same nominal sum in
gold or silver; and that all contracts made between
that period and the first day of September, 1780, it
understood at the time to be for the common cur-
rency of the United States, shall be rated in specie
agreeably to the following table, where the num-
bers denote the amount of continental money, to
which $100 in specie shall be equivalent on com-
tracts made at the time, against which that amount
stands.
600
Sept. 1, 1777,
do