. History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts . e French officers whohad served with General Lincoln under Washington, were travel-ling in this country, and came to Hingham to pay their respectsto the old general. Squire Blank gave a soiree in their honor,and considered himself in courtesy bound to converse in Frenchinstead of the vernacular. Consequently, after welcoming hisforeign guests, he launched into a general conversation with themost prominent Frenchman, who stood gracefully bowing andsmiling, and using the most agonized endeavors to comprehendthe SquhVs French. At last, in despair
. History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts . e French officers whohad served with General Lincoln under Washington, were travel-ling in this country, and came to Hingham to pay their respectsto the old general. Squire Blank gave a soiree in their honor,and considered himself in courtesy bound to converse in Frenchinstead of the vernacular. Consequently, after welcoming hisforeign guests, he launched into a general conversation with themost prominent Frenchman, who stood gracefully bowing andsmiling, and using the most agonized endeavors to comprehendthe SquhVs French. At last, in despair of coming at his enter-tainers meaning, he broke out deprecatingly but vigorously, andin the Squires mother tongue, For Heavens sake, Mr. Blank,speak English if you can ! On North Street, facing Broad Bridge, where the CatholicChurch now is, there stood until recently a fine old colonialmansion, having tapestried halls, and with some of the door-panels decorated by sketches painted by the celebrated Madam 188 History of Hingham. - ASfl&fcfia. LL*H$£f*,B< THE THAXTEK HOUSE,Which stood on North Street opposite Broad Bridge. Derby, — the old Thaxter House. At the time of the Revolu-tion it was owned and occupied by a Mr. Elisha Leavitt, who wasa bitter Tory. It was thought by the patriots that he suggested tothe British commander, during the siege of Boston, the sending ofthe expedition to Grape Island for the purpose of securing for-age. To punish him for this, a mob assembled and started for hishouse, with the idea, perhaps, of destroying the mansion, or pos-sibly, even, of offering him personal violence. He got wind oftheir coming, however, and had a barrel of rum rolled out of hiscellar in front of the house, with other refreshments, such ascrackers and cheese, for the rank and file of the mob, while cakeand wine were provided in the house for the gentlemen leadingthe populace. Upon the arrival of the crowd, they were invitedto help themselves to the refreshments, w
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