History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1747.] MR. EDWARDS' SALARY—OREAT AWAKENING. 195
mont of one lialf of the sequestered land in the common
fiekl. It was also voted to provide him with wood by way
of rate, and the assessors were " directed to make a tax or
assessment to pay the same."
Salary of Mr. Ed- So irregular had become the prices of com-
^*i"^s. modifies owing to the fluctuations in the
value of bills, of credit that, at the March
meeting in 174f, Mr. Edwards proposed that the precinct
should allow him a permanent salary, rather than fix the
amount yearly, as had been the custom. This was refused,
but Mr. Edwards was persistent, and renewed his request
year after year. At the next annual meeting he addressed
a letter to the precinct, giving his reasons at length ''for
settling or fixing his Salary for the future." His main
point was ''that bills of credit had been fluctuating and
uncertain in their value and were still depreciating and
sinking in their value, whereby many mischiefs and Incon-
veniences arise." After an extended debate the meetingdeclined
to grant his request, but adjourned for five days
in order to give Mr. Edwards " opportunity to offer what
he thinks proper." At the adjourned meeting an attempt
was made to reconsider the former vote, "but it was not
decided whether it passed in the affirmative or negative."
An addition of £150 was made to his salary, and the price
of wood fixed at 15s. per load. Before the end of the year,
however, at another meeting, the price of wood had to be
raised to 18s., and the quantity placed at eighty loads.
A Permauent Salary lu December, 1747, a special meeting was
'^'''^®^^- called to act upon this question. After a
statement made to the meeting by Mr. Edwards
in person, the proposition to establish a permanent
salary was carried, and a committee appointed to consider
the question and devise some method of procedure. They
were to report at an adjourned meeting. In the meantime
£600 in bills of credit, old tenor, and the use of the usual
quantity of land, were voted as the salary ; the price of
wood being placed at 21s. per load. In the month of January
came the old complaint that wood enough could not
be obtained at the jn-ice offered, and it was voted to allow
25s. per load.