83

75)
1842

1st 4m/o
The difficulty among business men continues much as it has been for some months. Many people are straitened beyond what can be described with the Pen. Many good men, and of good Estates cannot pay their debts for want of money. The suffering is very great generally.
Very dull, Mechanicks mostly Idle, not many ships fitting out, Hundreds of the laborers on the Idle for want of business.

6th 5o/m
Isaac Macy & wife & Child left for New York on a visit.

6th 5
Chs. [CHARLES] C Macy, Sailed this morning for Providence as a hand with Joseph Spencer in Sloop Mary Nickols.

5th m/o
A serious difficulty subsists in the State of Rhode island. A strong party has risen up to change the form of the Government of the State, to establish a Constitution similar to the other States in the Union. Whereas heretofore they have been governed by the original Charter, that was granted by the English Government previous to the Revolutionary War.
The body of the people have got into a confused state of partys. Those of the new Constitution have chosen their Governor & other officers in defiance of the Charter party. Several of whom the new Constitution party are arrested and put under 10,000 $ bonds, who are charged with high Treason. Both sides are prepared for War with each other, one or more is put into Jail.
Thomas W Dorr the new Governor, has taken a station in the NW part of the State, and many who are called the Suffrage party have joined him in opposition to Governor King the legal Governor of the State, and on both sides are preparing for War. The subject has already become very serious and distressing.
25. 6
An encounter occured [OCCURRED] in which one man was shot dead and a number wounded.
The suffrage party is suppressed & a large number were taken prisoners, and are undergoing a trial, some of whom are cleared & others remanded back to prison. Govr. [GOVERNOR] Dorr absconded from the State & Govr. [GOVERNOR] King has proclaimed 1000 $ reward to bring him back, & deliver him up to the authority.