" This phrase puzzled me, but at length I reached
the conclusion, that the people were living so well that they could
invite a neighbor who called without notice to take a seat at table
without making any change. In other words, that the daily fare of the
people was good enough for the neighbors.
In the autumn of 1851 a meeting was called in aid of Smith O'Brien and
his associates, who then were in banishment at Van Diemen's Land. Of
the project for the meeting I knew nothing until I received a call from
a committee of Irishmen asking me to preside. I saw no reason for
declining, and I therefore accepted the invitation, and without any
thought of its significance in politics. It was said afterwards that
the meeting had been promoted by the friends of Mr. Winthrop, with the
expectation that he would be invited to preside. Upon the vote in
committee, the invitation came to me, by a majority of one vote only.
The meeting was a great success, and probably it gave me some votes
among the Irish population.
XVI
ACTON MONUMENT
While I held the office of Governor, two memorial events occurred, of
some importance. The first was the erection and dedication of a
monument in the town of Acton, to the memory of Captain Isaac Davis,
and two others, who were killed the 19th of April, 1775, at the Old
North Bridge in Concord.
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