to the west side of Tremont street. The General
Court, as well as some of the law courts, sat there prior to 1730. The
American post was located there in 1775, which was burnt by the British
at night in July of that year. It was near that spot, in 1824, when
Lafayette visited Boston, a triumphal arch was thrown across Washington
street, bearing the couplet, written by Charles Sprague,--

We bow not the neck, we bend not the knee.
But our hearts, LAFAYETTE! we surrender to thee.

The Royal Exchange Tavern was built in 1726, and stood on the south-west
corner of State and Exchange streets, the site of the Merchants' Bank
building. It gave its name to the street on its easterly side. Luke
Vardy was its first landlord, who was succeeded in 1747 by Robert Stone.
It was in this building, in 1728, that the altercation began which ended
in the first duel fought in Boston, when Benjamin Woodbridge was killed
by Henry Phillips. The Scots' Charitable Society frequently held its
meetings there.

The Old Mansion House was built in 1732, and stood on the south side of
Milk street, between Hawley and Arch streets, on the site of the Bowdoin
building. It stood a little back from the street, with large American
elms in front, and was a stopping place for old stage lines. Hon. Robert
C. Winthrop was born there, and Hon. Henry Dearborn occupied it at the
time of his decease.

The Blue Anchor Tavern (the third of that name) was built in 1735, and
stood on the north-east corner of Water and Batterymarch streets. It was
kept by Joseph Wilson.

The British Coffee House was built in 1741, and stood on the site of No.
66 State street, afterwards occupied by the Massachusetts Bank. It was
kept, in 1762, by Ballard, and was largely patronized by British
officers. The repeal of the Stamp Act was celebrated there in 1767. The
eloquent James Otis was assaulted in it by a British gang, and an injury
was inflicted upon his head, which rendered him insane for a long time.
The Scots' Charitable Society frequently held its meetings there. Its
name was changed to American Coffee House in 1776.

The Cromwell's Head Tavern was built it 1751, and is still standing on
the north side of School street, upon the site of No. 13, where Mrs.
Harrington deals out coffee and mince pie to her customers. Lieut.-Col.
GEORGE WASHINGTON lodged there in 1756, while upon a visit to Gov.
Shirley, to consult with him upon business connected with the French
war. It