Part 7 (1/2)

Also on August 4, 1795 an ordinance relating to garbage, gla.s.s bottles, or oyster sh.e.l.ls in quant.i.ty 30 s.h.i.+llings fine. We are still having trouble keeping Georgetown neat and clean.

And they had trouble about speeding then as now, for there was pa.s.sed an ordinance August 4, 1795 ”that any person who shall by galloping, or otherwise force at an improper speed any Horse, Mare, or Gelding, shall if a free man, forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of 15 s.h.i.+llings current money; if an apprentice, servant or a slave the master or the mistress shall forfeit and pay the sum of 7 s.h.i.+llings and sixpence.”

And in 1807 they pa.s.sed an ordinance to ”more effectually diminish the number of dogs in Gerogetown as they have become a public nuisance; on the first dog of the male kind owned by any one person, $1; on the second, $2; and on all over two, owned by the same person, $5; and on the first of the female kind, $2; on the second, $4; and on all dogs of the female kind over and above two, owned by the same person, $10.”

Then they pa.s.sed an ordinance, ”that after the first day of May next no slave shall be permitted to sell any article whatever (other than fruit) on the Sabboth.”

In 1811 the Mayor was ordered to appoint and hire eight men of good character to keep a night watch at the rate of $150 per annum, one of them to act as Captain at the rate of $250.

They probably officiated at these events.

Ordinance pa.s.sed 10th October 1796.

Whereas many respectable inhabitants of Georgetown have complained that they suffer great inconvenience from the vast concourse of idle white and black persons that frequently a.s.semble together for the purpose of fighting c.o.c.ks, at which time they drink to access, become riotous, and disturb the quiet and repose of the good citizens, be it ordained by Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council that any white person or persons or free negro or negroes who shall presume to fight any game c.o.c.ks or dunghill fouls within the jurisdiction of the corporation for any wagers or for diversion shall for every offense pay $5. Also if having a.s.sembled in a disorderly manner for the purpose of fighting c.o.c.ks, if they refuse to disperse, constables shall take such negro or negroes (being slaves) and give him, her, or them, due correction upon the bare back in some public part of Georgetown not exceeding 39 strikes.

An ordinance for regulating and licensing hackney carriages, billiard tables, theatrical and other public amus.e.m.e.nts.

Another says,

... any person or persons who shall keep or maintain the common gaming house or open or set up any public gaming table shall forfeit and pay $20 current money.

Provided always, that licensed billiard tables are not intended hereby to be prohibited or herein included.

Pa.s.sed 4th October 1803.

The fire engines and fire buckets heretofore bought by the subscription of sundry inhabitants of the town have been offered for the use of the town.

In 1801 the corporation of Georgetown was concerning itself a good deal with the paving of the streets.

John Mason, Jesse Baley and Wm. H. Dorsey were a committee to report permanent systems for improving the streets and alleys, whether by paving or otherwise.

They determined to commence the work at the intersection of Was.h.i.+ngton (30th) and Bridge (M) Streets and carry the pavement up along the north side of Bridge Street to the intersection of High and Water Streets and thence, after paving with round stone the Center Square to continue it afterwards along the south of Fall Street ... to remove the earth and pave 5 ft. wide against the curb stone, where individuals would not pave, from Was.h.i.+ngton to High Street and to graduate and pave the Center Square.

There was a good deal more work of that kind to be done at that time and John Peter was appointed permanent superintendent.

Chapter V

_Was.h.i.+ngton and L'Enfant in George Town_

Such was the town through which General George Was.h.i.+ngton pa.s.sed in April 1789, on his way from Mount Vernon to his inauguration in New York as first President of the government which was trying out an experiment new to the world.

In the _Times and Potowmack Packet_, on April 23, is this insertion:

George Town. Last Thursday pa.s.sed through this town on his way to New York the most ill.u.s.trious, the President of the United States of America, with Charles Thompson, Esq. Secretary, to Congress. His Excellency arrived at about 2 O'Clock on the bank of the Patowmack, escorted by a respectable corps of gentlemen from Alexandria where the George Town ferry boats, properly equipped, received his Excellency and suit, safely landed them, under the acclamation of a large crowd of their grateful fellow citizens--who beheld his Fabius, in the evening of his day, bid adieu to the peaceful retreat of Mount Vernon, in order to save his country once more from confusion and anarchy. From this place his Excellency was escorted by corps of gentlemen commanded by Col. Wm. Deakins, Junr., to Mr.

Spurrier's Tavern, where the escort from Baltimore take charge of him.

Colonel Deakins was Justice of the Peace, a very high office in those days, (there was no mayor) besides being a large landowner and s.h.i.+powner.

Among the prominent men who probably formed this escort were many of Was.h.i.+ngton's former officers of the Revolutionary Army, for when he came to George Town he was amongst old friends: Colonel Forrest, Major Stoddert, General James Maccubbin Lingan, General Otho Williams, William Beatty (who had distinguished himself in the army and had attained the rank of Colonel), Thomas Richardson who, although a Quaker, was Captain of a company and won high repute; William Murdock, who had been a Colonel of militia raised for the defense of the Province of Maryland in 1776, and Lloyd Beall, who had been adjutant of the Staff of Alexander Hamilton, and General John Mason.