Benjamin Moore Norman who?

[Jd755]

This bloke was the publisher of books in the mid 1800's who lived in New Orleans. This singular book entitled:;
Norman’s New Orleans and Environs.
It can be read online here Norman's New Orleans and Environs by Benjamin Moore Norman

CONTAINING A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE TERRITORY AND STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME:

PRESENTING A COMPLETE GUIDE
TO ALL SUBJECTS OF GENERAL INTEREST IN THE SOUTHERN METROPOLIS; WITH A
CORRECT AND IMPROVED PLAN OF THE CITY, PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.

NEW ORLEANS:
PUBLISHED BY B. M. NORMAN.

Is what led me to writing this thread.
Frostychud's thread based largely in this books content can be read here.
Lost New Orleans

I have learnt over my time on the stolenhistory sites to look for and where possible into the names being pushed as creator to get a handle on why they said what they said if indeed the name is likely to be the actual creator.

I am posting my findings here as they are contradictory to frostychuds claims and as such they would likely be moved anyway were they posted in that thread.

My base position is dead simple. The history we are told and sold is off. The reason its off is those who claim to be in authority base that claim in a control of a past that they themselves invent.
Resets and mudfloods are red herrings thrown out for those who notice things are off, few though we are, to while away their lives on.

Mr Norman at the time of this books publication had his premises and shop at 16 Camp street New Orleans as evidenced in the book.
He was a bookseller, publisher, printer and published author.

Straight off the bat I have been unable to find out what this book cost when originally published. Not surprising really given it was published 176 years ago. Reason the price is important is it would give a guide to Mr Normans buying audiences social standing.
As there is no way to establish the literacy level of the people of New Orleans it comes down to the guessing game when looking for the audience
So keeping it vague as its literally a guess I argue few of the population of New Orleans at the time of printing could read its contents in comparison to the size of the total population and fewer still would buy it.
Greater numbers further afield could likely read it but no way to know how long the book remained on sale, if it was reprinted, if it flopped or how quickly other books on the same subject superseded it or where it was sold outside of New Orleans.

Mr Norman included a town plan with his book as evidenced below. It may have also been sold separately which makes sense as it would be much more useful to the visitor than the book.
In modern parlance the sale of the book delivered most profit per item sold, but if that doesn't fly he can still sell them a plan of the town so he gets a sale.
He advertises another book in this one and it is I argue the real reason why Mr Norman produced the book in the first place.
This other book is a business directory
NORMAN'S NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY, For 1845-6.

Containing the names, residences and occupations of Merchants and Bankers, Mechanics and Professional men. Classed and arranged alphabetically.

From the project Gutenberg link above.

This book is where Mr Norman made his money or hoped to make it. He could sell a copy to the majority of those businesses he lists, business visitors to the city etc. He could also sell them to booksellers in other cities where business people abounded who could want to do business in New Orleans.
In short this book has much greater but more focussed appeal than the other. It likely contained advertisements the income from which might well cover publishing costs.

Sadly I cannot find it digitised anywhere but a hard copy exists
NORMAN'S NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY, FOR 1845 & 1846: CONTAINING THE NAMES, RESIDENCES AND OCCUPATIONS OF MERCHANTS AND BANKERS, MECHANICS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN, CLASSIFIED AND ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY WITH APPENDIX,

And judging from the price tag, $2,750.00 its quite a rare thing.
Key thing is this bit which is the sellers description.

The final leaf advertises Norman's shop at 16 Camp Street, and announces the publication of his 'New Orleans and Environs.'

So each book contains an advert for the other.

I argue Mr Norman is basically trying something new or copying something he had seen or heard work in another city either in America or overseas.

This bit from the sellers description sheds a light on the undertaking.

Despite its promise to publish annually, this is the only publication of the purported series.

As does this.

This is perhaps the rarest New Orleans directory. Benjamin Moore Norman [1809-1860], the son of a Hudson, New York, bookseller, established a book store in New Orleans in 1837 and wrote several works, notably 'New Orleans and its Environs' [Howes N180], which are far better known than this Directory, which is "intended to serve the wants of the mercantile community."

So basically neither sold well enough to justify follow up editions of the Business Directory.

Here is Mr Normans advertisement for his business that appeared in the book about the history of New Orleans. From the project gutenburg link

ADVERTISEMENTS.

JUST PUBLISHED,
BY
B. M. NORMAN,
16 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS.

NORMAN'S
PLAN OF NEW ORLEANS AND ENVIRONS,

A COMPLETE MAP OF THE CITY AND VICINITY, IN POCKET FORM. ALSO, ON CARDS, FOR COUNTING ROOMS AND PUBLIC OFFICES.

NORMAN'S
NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY,

For 1845-6.

Containing the names, residences and occupations of Merchants and Bankers, Mechanics and Professional men. Classed and arranged alphabetically.

[Pg 226]

NEW AND IMPROVED STOCK,

PRICES REDUCED.

NORMAN'S
BOOK, STATIONERY, PRINTING

AND

BINDING-ESTABLISHMENT,

No. 16
CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS.

[Pg 227]

BOOKS,
Comprising the works of the best standard authors in the various departments of literature,
ANCIENT AND MODERN.

CHEAP PUBLICATIONS,
AT PUBLISHERS' PRICES.

SCHOOL BOOKS.

Bibles, Prayer Books, Psalm and Hymn Books.

ANNUALS,
PICTORIAL AND EMBELLISHED WORKS.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

MAPS, GUIDE BOOKS,
AND OTHER WORKS FOR TRAVELLERS.

CITY AND COUNTRY DEALERS SUPPLIED,
Also Public and Private Libraries, at Publishers' Prices.

LITERARY GENTLEMEN, TEACHERS AND THE PUBLIC ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY INVITED TO VISIT THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

[Pg 228]

STATIONERY,
Consisting of the most approved kinds; adapted to the use of
COUNTING ROOMS AND PUBLIC OFFICES.

BLANK BOOKS,
OF THE MOST APPROVED MANUFACTURE, WITH RECENT IMPROVEMENTS, AND REDUCTION OF PRICES.
WARRANTED SUPERIOR.

All descriptions of ACCOUNT BOOKS made to order.

PAPER AND CARDS.

Custom House and Commercial Blanks.

ARTIST'S MATERIALS.

MERCHANTS', STEAMBOATS' and other CLERKS, ARE RESPECTFULLY INVITED TO CALL AND EXAMINE THE COMPLETE ASSORTMENT.

I note Mr Norman styles himself as Publisher. He makes no claim to be the author of the work although the project gutenburg transcriber puts his name against the author label.

PUBLISHED BY B. M. NORMAN.

DEDICATED TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS,
WITH
True Sentiments of Respect,
BY THEIR
HUMBLE SERVANT.
The Publisher.

The reason why he cannot claim to be the author is given in his preface. Bolding is mine.

To several gentlemen, who have kindly aided the publisher in gathering materials for the work, he would here express his grateful acknowledgements. For the historical facts embodied in the volume, he is indebted to several works on the history of Louisiana, and the discovery and early settlement of our country.

So he or some other gentleman copied bits from "several works of history" that went uncredited. Whether it was lifted word for word or just interpreted so too speak is unknown. The titles of the works and in turn their authors name are equally unknown, sadly as they would be well worth a read.

Mr Norman lived in New York prior to 1837

NORMAN, Benjamin Moore, author, born in Hudson, New York, 22 December, 1809; died near Summit, Mississippi, 1 February, 1860. After the death of his father, a bookseller at Hudson, he left a clerkship in New York to take charge of the business, and he was subsequently engaged in bookselling in Philadelphia, and in 1837 established a book-store in New Orleans. He was conspicuous for his philanthropy in the epidemic of yellow fever in New Orleans in 1841. He is the author of "Rambles in Yucatan" (New York, 1842) ; "New Orleans and its Environs" (New Orleans, 1845); and "Rambles by Land and Water" (New York, 1845).

From here Benjamin Moore Norman

His books can be read here Rambles in Yucatan; or, Notes of Travel Through the Peninsula Including a Visit to the Remarkable Ruins of Chi-Chen, Kabah, Zayi, and Uxmal. 2nd ed
And here Rambles by Land and Water; or, Notes of Travel in Cuba and Mexico.

In both Mr Norman is the author of the work.

He himself travelled from New Orleans as evidenced here, on both trips.

On the 20th of January, 1844, in company with sixty fellow passengers, I turned my back upon the crescent city, and embarked on board the Steam Ship Alabama, Captain Windle, bound from Now Orleans to Havana. Many of our number, like myself, were in pursuit of health and pleasure, some were braving the dangers and enduring the privations of the passage, for the purpose of amassing wealth in the sugar and coffee trade; and others were seeking, what they probably will never find this side the grave, a happier home than the one they were leaving behind them.

And the other

It was at the conclusion of the long and frightful season of epidemic disease, which caused many a desolated home in New Orleans to be hung with cypress during the summer of the year 1841, and on the 26th day of November, that I embarked from the Crescent city for Havana. My original intention had been, to visit the Windward Islands; but, not finding the facilities of intercommunication which I had anticipated, and excited by the curiosity of seeing a region of country of which but little is known to citizens of the United States, I was induced to change my contemplated route. Accordingly, after a detention of ten days in Cuba, where I had passed some of the happiest days of my youth, I resolved to embrace the first opportunity that presented itself to run down to the coast of Mexico. I was soon enabled to secure a passage on board of a Spanish brig bound to Sisal, of which I was prompt to avail myself.

These two books will I feel give a great insight into Mr Normans way of looking at his world and may shed light on which bits of the Norman’s New Orleans and Environs book, if any, he wrote.

As for the claims frostychud makes about this man and the content of the book he published its up to you, dear reader, to decide for yourself if they are valid.

Edit to add.
I have just begun reading

Rambles by Land and Water; or, Notes of Travel in Cuba and Mexico​

Its golden. He describes so much that sheds light on his world that official academia ignores. There will be quotes added in for sure.

 

[Jd755]

CHAPTER I.

VOYAGE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO HAVANA. DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL OF CUBA.​

Looking down from these frowning battlements upon the busy scene below, I was struck with the variety of flags, from almost every nation under heaven, blending their various hues and curious devices, amid the thick forest of masts that lay at my feet. But of all the gay and flaunting streamers that waved proudly in the morning breeze, the stripes and stars, the ensign of freedom, the pride of my own green forest land, appeared always most conspicuous.

A couple of things I noticed.
Firstly the description of the flags flying from the ships showing how well developed navigation must have been in 1845.
Secondly "my own green forest land". Not clear but my take is he is referring to America not just Louisiana or New Orleans. I mention time and again that I feel the lands of earth were, not that long ago even in Mr Normans time, covered in trees to such an extent the climate was different to anything we experience today. We are told the sea is the driver and moderator of climate, we are also told its the sun but trees are the climate moderator creating a world where they and we thrive.
Mr Normans seemingly waxing lyrical mention of his green forest land is something I take to support this.

The city of Havana stands on a plain, on the west side of the harbor, but is gradually, with its continually increasing population, stretching itself up into the bosom of the beautifully verdant hills by which it is surrounded

"Gradually" but with a "continually increasing population" note. Reads to me Havana is either an old settlement that is getting an increase in people it hadn't experienced at this scale since its creation or the island has only recently been opened up to settlement. Sort of locked up in the same fashion Japan was supposedly locked up.

Its general appearance is that of a provincial capital of Spain. There is an air of antiquity about this, and the cities of Mexico, which has no similitude in the United States.

So nothing similar in the United States that has the "air of antiquity" about it.

The streets, which are straight and at right angles to each other, are McAdamized, and, in good weather, are remarkably clean; but, during the rainy season, they become almost impassable. They are also very narrow, and without any side walks for the foot passenger.

Black topped streets no less! In 1845 Havana on the island of Cuba. Who knew?

The houses, many of which are one story high, with flat roofs, have a general air of neatness, and comfort. They are usually either white or yellow washed. Many of them are of the old Moorish style of architecture, dark and sombre, as the ages to which it traces back its origin.

Many but not all of the Moorish Style. A sign again the cities population is increasing. Quite why the older houses are Moorish in appearance when apparently the Moors were forced out of Spain centuries before the Spanish invaded Cuba I know not unless this style of building worked best in the heat common to parts of Spain and Cuba.

The doors and windows reach from the ceiling to the floor, and would give an airy and agreeable aspect to the buildings, were it not for their massive walls, and the iron gratings to the windows, which remind one too strongly of the prison's gloom.

So built to keep the occupants and contents of the houses cooler in the heat.

But notwithstanding the gloomy appearance of the windows, the houses are well ventilated by interior courts, which permit a free circulation of air,—a commodity which is very desirable in these latitudes.

The floors are of flat stone or brick, the walls stuccoed or painted,—and the traveller, judging from the external appearance, is led to imagine that within, every desirable accommodation may be obtained. In this, however, he is disappointed, and must content himself with some privations. Huge door-ways and windows, a spacious saloon, together with solidity of construction, are the chief objects to which the architect in this country seems to direct his attention.

Huge doorways and windows. There not for giants but human sized humans.
Courtyard for more cooling.

So it would appear from the above that unless Mr Norman is lying when he stated he knew of nothing of old, as in buildings, with an air of antiquity about them in the America he had travelled in and lived in there weren't any.

 

[Jd755]

CHAPTER II.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF HAVANA, AND THE TOMB OF COLUMBUS.

The Tacon Theatre is a splendid edifice, and is said to be capable of containing four or five thousand spectators

Hmm in his New Orleans book he wrote this about James Caldwells theatre.;

It held four thousand people, and was the fourth in size in the world—one at St. Petersburg, in Russia, another at Pescala, in Milan, and the third at San Carlos, in Naples, were those only which excelled it in size.

Again in his travels book he wrote this;

This building was erected by an individual, at an expense of two hundred thousand dollars. It contains three tiers of boxes, two galleries, and a pit, besides saloons, coffee-rooms, offices, etc., etc.

And in his New Orleans book he wrote this;

The first house was erected by the sole exertions of James H. Caldwell, Esq., in 1835, at the cost of $250,000, exclusive of the ground. It occupied one hundred and twenty-nine feet front by one hundred and eighty-six deep, and was seventy-six high

Seems to me very close in many aspects. Especially the seating capacity and the quoted cost. He doesn't mention the capacity of the second theatre in New St Charles theatre which replaced Caldwell's earlier 4,000 seater.
Or perhaps Mr Norman published his New Orleans book before he had visited Cuba.

The Cathedral is a massive building, constructed in the ecclesiastical style of the fifteenth century.

In this Cathedral, on the right side of the great altar, is "The Tomb of Columbus." A small recess made in the wall to receive the bones, is covered with a marble tablet about three feet in length. Upon the face of this is sculptured, in bold relief, the portrait of the great discoverer, with his right hand resting upon a globe. Under the portrait, various naval implements are represented, with the following inscription in Spanish.

¡O Restos é Imagen del grande Colon! Mil siglos durad guardados en la Orna, Y en la remembranza de nuestra Nacion.

In English, according to Google translate;
O Remains and Image of the great Columbus!
A thousand centuries last kept in the Orna,
And in the remembrance of our Nation

Mr Normans translation is a little different.

O Remains and Image of the great Columbus!
A thousand ages may you endure, guarded in this Urn;
And in the remembrance of our Nation.

Mr Normans seems more accurate.

On the left side of the high Altar, opposite the tomb, hangs a small painting, representing a number of priests performing some religious ceremony. It is very indifferent as a work of art, but possesses a peculiar value and interest, as having been the constant cabin companion of Columbus, in all his eventful voyages, a fact which is recorded in an inscription on a brass plate, attached to the picture.

Inscription on a brass plaque is not evidence the picture was anywhere near Columbus assuming he was a flesh and blood character.

Columbus died at Valladolid, on the 20th of May, 1506, aged 70 years. His body was deposited in the convent of St. Francisco, and his funeral obsequies were celebrated with great pomp, in the parochial church of Santa Maria de la Antigua. In 1513, his remains were removed to Seville, and deposited, with those of his son, and successor, Don Diego, in the chapel of Santo Christo, belonging to the Carthusian Monastery of Las Cuevas. In 1536, the bodies of Columbus and his son were both removed to the island of Hispaniola, which had been the centre and seat of his vice-royal government in this western world, and interred in the principal chapel of the Cathedral of the city of San Domingo. But even here, they did not rest in quiet. By the treaty of peace in 1795, Hispaniola, with other Spanish possessions in these waters, passed into the hands of France. With a feeling highly honorable to the nation, and to those who conducted the negotiations, the Spanish officers requested and obtained leave to translate the ashes of the illustrious hero to Cuba.

Beggars belief quite honestly.

The ceremonies of this last burial were exceedingly magnificent and imposing, such as have rarely been rendered to the dust of the proudest monarchs on earth, immediately after their decease, and much less after a lapse of almost three centuries. On the arrival of the San Lorenzo in the harbor of Havana, on the 15th of January, 1796, the whole population assembled to do honor to the occasion, the ecclesiastical, civil, and military bodies vying with each other in showing respect to the sacred relics. On the 19th, every thing being in readiness for their reception, a procession of boats and barges, three abreast, all habited in mourning, with muffled oars, moved solemnly and silently from the ship to the mole. The barge occupying the centre of these lines, bore a coffin, covered with a pall of black velvet, ornamented with fringes and tassels of gold, and guarded by a company of marines in mourning. It was brought on shore by the captains of the vessels, and delivered to the authorities. Conveyed to the Plaza de Armas, in solemn procession, it was placed in an ebony sarcophagus, made in the form of a throne, elaborately carved and gilded. This was supported on a high bier, richly covered with black velvet, forty-two wax candles burning around it.

I would love to know how Mr Norman came by such detail.

In this position, the coffin was opened in the presence of the Governor, the Captain General, and the Commander of the royal marines. A leaden chest, a foot and a half square, by one foot in height, was found within. On opening this chest, a small piece of bone and a quantity of dust were seen, which was all that remained of the great Columbus. These were formally, and with great solemnity pronounced to be the remains of the "incomparable Almirante Christoval Colon." All was then carefully closed up, and replaced in the ebony sarcophagus.

Making shit up is not a new phenomenon There is no way for anyone to decide a bone and dust were the mortal remains of anyone. Where did all the other bones go?
Were the men peering in shocked, worried, dismayed?

Near the Quay, in front of the Plaza de Armas, is a plain ecclesiastical structure, in which the imposing ceremony of the mass is occasionally celebrated. It is intended to commemorate the landing of the great discoverer, and the inscription upon a tablet in the front of the building, conveys the impression that it was erected on the very spot where he first set foot upon the soil of Cuba. This, however, is an error. Columbus touched the shore of Cuba, at a point which he named Santa Catalina, a few miles west of Neuvitas del Principe, and some three hundred miles east of Havana. He proceeded along the coast, westward, about a hundred miles, to the Laguna de Moron, and then returned. He subsequently explored all the southern coast of the island, from its eastern extremity to the Bay of Cortes, within fifty miles of Cape Antonio, its western terminus.

Why people who went to insane lengths to reverently inter a box containing a bone and dust in the cathedral make such an obvious error in where Columbus landed?

The greater part of the molasses that comes to Regla from the interior, to supply the export trade of Havana, is brought in five gallon kegs, on the backs of the mules, one on each side, after the manner of saddle-bags, or panniers. A common mule load is four or six kegs, equal to half, or two-thirds of a barrel. Large quantities are also transported in lighters from all the smaller towns on the coast, much of it coming in that way from a distance of more than a hundred miles. A large proportion of the article shipped from this port hitherto, having been unfit for ordinary domestic uses, and suitable only for the distillery, the trade in it has been greatly diminished by the operation of the mighty Temperance reform, which has blessed so large a portion of our favored land. I have not the means at hand to show the precise results; but will venture to assert,[Pg 47] from personal observation and knowledge of the matter, that the exports of this article from Cuba to this country, for distilling purposes, have fallen off more than one half in the last ten years.

Never heard of Temperance reforms in America at that time. Does any American reading this know more about it?
Reason for asking is it would clearly be a source of tension with the people of America. Not to mention the impact on any trade in products used in manufacture and distribution and exports of the demon drink.

The concentration of this once active and lucrative traffic at Regla, gave it, in former times, the aspect of a busy, thriving place. Now, it looks deserted and poor. It was formerly one of the many resorts of the pirates, robbers, and smugglers, who infested all the avenues to the capital, and carried on their business as a regular branch of trade, under the very walls of the city, and in full view of the custom-house and the castle. Thanks to the energetic administration of Tacon, they have no authorized rendezvous in Cuba now. Regla is consequently deserted.

The strongest mafia is the government.

Its houses are many of them going to decay. Its theatre is in ruins, and the spacious octagonal amphitheatre, once the arena for bull-fighting, the favorite spectacle of the Spaniards, both in Spain and in the provinces, and much resorted to from all quarters in the palmy days of piracy and intemperance, is now in a miserably dilapidated condition; affording the clearest proof of the immoral nature and tendency of the sport, by revealing the character of those who alone can sustain it.

I read that to say Mr Norman is alluding to the pirates being Spanish. Interesting as we here are told the pirates were primarily English.

The only amusement one can now find in Regla, is in listening to the wild and frightful stories of the robbers and robberies of other days. It is scarcely possible to conceive that scenes such as are there described, as of daily, or rather nightly occurrence, could have taken place in a spot now so quiet and secure, and without any of those dark, mysterious lurking places, which the imagination so easily conjures up, as essential to the successful prosecution of the profession of an organized band of outlaws.

Volumes of entertaining history, for those who have the taste to be entertained by the marvellous and horrible, might be written on this spot.

Isn't he simply describing how an awful lot of stories become historical 'fact' once written down, or am I too cynical?