the records that in this time it has contributed to the relief of the families of seventy-five of its deceased members the sum of $31,168 75, and by an accumulation of its members, with semiannual interest on its investments, it now has a fund of $30,300 invested in 6 per cent. State and City Stocks, together with a balance exceeding $300 to its credit in bank.

"The benefits of such an association must be obvious in a community where the relief it has afforded to many distressed families, in time of their utmost need, is notorious, and this, too, so far differing from ordinary societies for such purposes, as to authorize a legal demand, in lieu of a dependence for a charitable donation."

The following is a summary of the principal Acts of Assembly relating to Norfolk in its early history, and prior to this period: 1680. Act concerning settlements, &c.

1705. Titles to lands, establishment of the town, &c.

1736. Charter and its confirmation.

1752. Charter explained, and privileges enlarged.

1757. Power enlarged, ferries, &c.

1762. Privileges, and limits.

1763. Taxes, watch, and lamps.

1764. Vestry, ministers, &c., E. River Parish.

1766. Trustees, limits, &c.

1769. Confirmation of "An agreement made by Thomas Talbutt."

1772. Taxes.

1783. Powers enlarged.

1787. Charter amended.

1788. Rights, courts, &c.

1789. Seat of Justice removed.

1790. Privileges.

1796. Lotteries.

1798. Provision for the poor.

1801. Docks and wharves.

1802. Charter amended.

1802. Donation of Mr. Godfrey to the poor of Norfolk County.

1803. Charter.

1804. Extension of Church Street.

1804. Norfolk Academy.

1806. Militia.

1806. Flood-gates across Back Creek.

1806. Surveyor.

1806. Hustings Court.

1807. Paving of streets.

1807. Northern boundary.

1808. Hustings Court.

1809. Jurisdiction of County and Corporation Courts.

1810. Ferry to Hampton.

1811. Lamps.

1811. Port Wardens.

1811. Mechanics' Benevolent Society.

1811. Concord Street.

1812. Pilots.

1812. Extension of Bermuda Street.

1813. Removal of obstructions in Bute Street.

1816. Suppression of Small-pox.

1816. Incorporation of Library Company.

1816. Female Orphan Society.

1816. Salary to Mayor.

1816. Election of Councilmen.

1816. Extension of Granby Street.

1816. Commissioner of Revenue.

1817. Extension of Catharine Street.

1817. Norfolk Marine Society.

February 1, 1819. Act of Assembly passed, authorizing the Governor to cede to the United States the jurisdiction over a certain lot of land, in the borough of Norfolk, for the purpose of building a custom-house thereon. The act required a custom-house to be erected on this lot, within the space of five years after the session at which the act was passed; and that "if, at any time thereafter, the said custom-house and public stores shall be suffered to fall into decay, or be rendered useless as to the purposes aforesaid, and so continued for the space of five years, then, and in those cases, the jurisdiction over such territory shall revert to the Commonwealth."*

* At a very early period in the commercial history of this section, applica

At this period, the trip by steamboat, from this place to Baltimore, was performed in about twenty-four hours; and this was considered a very short time for so long a distance. The steamers that run hence to New York by sea, require less than this length of time to perform the trip; and one of the boats on the Bay Line, now runs the distance, from this city to Baltimore, in a little over eleven hours.

We may remark here, that this line is so well and ably conducted, that accidents seldom or never happen. The boats are very superior, kept in the finest order, and are in charge of officers of long experience, and well-tried skill and judgment. The North Carolina, a very large and splendid new boat, has recently been placed upon this line; and, under the able management of Captain Russell, presents unusual attractions to the traveller, who desires to go north by the pleasant and delightful bay

route.

Died, this year, in Princess Anne County, Wonder Booker, a coloured man, aged 126 years. He was remarkable for the strength of his physical constitution, and worked in his master's garden at the age of nearly 120 years. When he was born, his mother was nearly threescore! It is stated, as an undeniable fact, that she had arrived at the good old age of 58 years, when she gave birth to a son who was so remarkable for his longevity and vigour of body. She gave him a very appropriate name; and we have thought fit to book the wonder.

The writer has also been informed of other extraordinary cases of longevity in Princess Anne. The age of one old lady, at her death, was just 99 years, 11 months, and 30 days, requiring only one day to complete her hundredth year. She left a female servant, who is said to have attained the age of 120 years.

tion was made for a custom-house by both Norfolk and Portsmouth, as considerable business was done on both sides of the river. Norfolk was finally selected as the location. The custom-house was long situated on Town Point, prior to the erection of the present building on Wide Water Street.

CHAPTER XIX.

1820-1821.

Navigation Act-Trade of the West Indies-Commercial Distress-United States Bank-Colonization Society-Brutal Murder of Lagaudette-Startling Discovery-Arrest, Trial, Conviction, and Execution of the MurderersExciting Scene at the Gallows--Bungling Work-The Murderers and their Victim-Thieves-Highway Robbery-Awful Thunder Storm-A Gloomy Year-Sickness-Terrific Hurricane-The Great September Gale-High Tide-Effects of the Storm-Booth-Day of Humiliation and Prayer--Public Meeting-Navigation Law-Trade of the West Indies Declining.

MAY 15, 1820. On this day the Navigation Law was passed; which restricted vessels from bringing the produce of the British colonies to our ports; and from taking in return that of the States. The effects of this law were of course injurious to the commerce of Norfolk. Notwithstanding which, the exportations to the West Indies alone, amounted to $118,000, and the importations in sugar, molasses, fruit, rum, &c., were considerable; but the succeeding year the amount was much less. Norfolk was about the only port at that time on our coast, at which assorted cargoes of produce could be conveniently obtained. Tobacco, grain, flour, meal, lard, fish, and many other articles, required by the West Indies trade, were furnished here at fair prices.

For many years previous to this, Norfolk showed manifest signs of advancement in appearance and in commerce; but a sad reverse in the commercial affairs of the place occurred about this time. Some of the principal merchants were compelled to suspend payment, others failed for large amounts, while some of the small traders were reduced to poverty. There was very considerable interruption to the West Indies trade, and the general business of the place suffered greatly. One cause of the embarrassment and pressure was the liberal accommodations that had been afforded by the branch of the United States bank, which had been established here; very large sums were borrowed, and a heavy business was done. But suddenly and unexpectedly,

a reaction was experienced, and the consequences were ruinous, especially to the mercantile portion of the community.

December 26. Colonization Society of Norfolk organized.

March 20, 1821. On this day there was perpetrated in the borough, one of the most inhuman and diabolical murders ever placed upon the dark catalogue of crime. A small and unsightly frame building,* on street, was occupied by three men, two of whom were Spaniards, named Castilano and Garcia, and the other, a Frenchman, whose name was Peter Lagaudette. Their appearance was rather strange, and calculated to excite suspicion; although it seems they had attracted no special notice prior to this occasion.

It was said, that a lass who was passing the house on her way to school, hearing loud screams, succeeded in getting a view of the interior through a back window, just in time to witness the bloody affair; and her statement was in substance, that one of the Spaniards, with the violence and desperation of a fiend incarnate, was levelling powerful and deadly blows at the Frenchman, who imploringly begged for mercy, and tried in vain to escape from the murderous hand of the bloodthirsty Spaniard; that he ran up the stairs, shrieking for help, but the

"Staunch murderer, steady to his purpose, Pursued him close."

And that both coming quickly down again, the wretch dealt his victim another dreadful deathblow with an axe, and accomplished his fiendish purpose! Be this as it may, before the house was entered, Castilano and Garcia had both made their escape, and fled beyond the limits of the town. With extraordinary haste and precision, the body of the murdered man was dissected at the neck, shoulders, and knees, and, excepting the head, deposited in a trunk and secreted in the house. The head was not found, and is supposed to have been burned; which supposition was strengthened by a most unpleasant smell about the time at which the murder was committed. They intended, it was said, to preserve the mutilated remains by salting them, and then re

* The house is still standing (1853).