Monthly Archives: February 2013

Habits on the USS Constitution The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea.…

The trouble between Harvard College and its treasurer, John Hancock, is too well known for detailing. Hancock, engrossed in affairs of graver importance, went off to Philadelphia carrying all the bonds and papers of the college with him, and, either from negligence or preoccupation turned a deaf ear to all the entreaties from the college officers. The comedy begins in a vote of the Corporation early in the spring. With the utmost suavity of language they desire to relieve him at once of his cares and the college money.

"Considering the present appearance of public affairs," are the words, "and that the Treasurer will soon be obliged to attend the Congress in Philadelphia, where he may be long detained; and being desirous to relieve the Treasurer from such a burden on his mind,

Spain and the Independence of the United States By Thomas e. Chavez Spanish forces overran the British lines during the climacticBattle of Pensacola (1781). In December 1785, George Washington, “recently retired to the country life,” wrote to the Spanish minister…