Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

students 53 medical students, and 277 undergraduates. The whole number who completed their education here from the establishment of the institution to the year 1821 was 4,622, a greater number than at any other college in the country.

Williams' college in Williamstown was incorporated in 1793. Its officers in 1821 were a president. 2 professors and 2 tutors. It has a respectable library, a valuable philosophical and chemical apparatus and at present about 50 students. The income of the charity funds is sufficient to pay the term bills of 25 students, and half of this is alike applicable to all indigent young men of merit, whether designed for the Christian ministry or not. The expenses of living at Williamstown are very moderate. Good board may be had for a dollar a week, and the best wood is sold for one dollar fifty cents a cord.

The Collegiate institution at Amherst, near Northampton, was established in 1821. It has a president, 3 professors, one tutor and 59 students. The library belonging to the institution contains 900 volumes, and the society libraries have about 400 The charity funds are large, and the expense of living very moderate.

more.

The Theological seminary at Andover, 20 miles north of Boston, was founded in 1808 and has been richly endowed entirely by private bounty. The whole amount of what has been contributed for permanent use in this seminary, including the permanent funds, library and public buildings, is more than three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and this has been contributed almost entirely from six families. In 1822 the officers were 4 professors and the number of students was 132. The whole number who have completed their education here is 312. The library contains about 5,000 volumes. The buildings are on a lofty eminence and command an extensive prospect. They consist of an elegant brick edifice, containing the chapel, library and lecture rooms; 2 spacious brick edifices, containing rooms for the accommodation of 128 students; and houses for each of the professors and the steward. A majority of the students are supported in whole or in part by charity.

Phillips' academy, also in Andover, is the most flourishing academy in the state. It was founded in 1778 by the Hon. Samuel Phillips, Esq. of Andover, and his brother, the Hon. John. Phillips L. L. D. of Exeter. Its officers are a principal. 3 assistants, a teacher of sacred music and a writing master. The number of students in 1822 was 130, all of whom were pursuing the study of the learned languages. The institution is accommodated with a large and commodious brick building, 80 feet by 40, erected in 1818, on a range with the buildings of the Theological seminary. This academy and the Theological seminary are under the same Board of Trustees.

Population. The population, in 1790, was 378,787; in 1800, 422,845; in 1810, 472,040 and in 1820, 523,287. It has on an average 72 persons to a square mile, and is the most thickly set tled state in the Union.

Religion.] The Congregationalists are much more numerous than any other denomination of Christians. In 1817 they had 366 congregations; the Baptists, 91; Friends, 32; Episcopalians, 14; Universalists, 11; Presbyterians, 8. There are also a few Methodists and Roman Catholics.

Government.] The Legislative power is vested in a General court, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, both chosen annually by the people. The Senate consists of 40 members, chosen by districts. The Representatives are chosen by towns; each town having 150 rateable polls sends one Representative, and another for every additional 225 polls. The executive power is vested in a Governor, Lieut. Governor and a Council of 9 members. The two first are chosen by the people annually. The Council is chosen by the Legislature out of the 40 returned as Senators; and if they decline, from the mass of the people. The judicial power is vested in a Supreme court and several inferior courts, and the judges hold their offices during good behavior.

Roads.] The state is intersected in almost every direction by excellent turnpikes which centre in the capital. The turnpike from Boston to Newburyport, 33 miles, cost $400,000; and that from Boston to Salem, 13 miles, more than $200,000. The road from Boston to Providence, 40 miles, and from Boston to Worcester, 37 miles, are of the same expensive construction.

Manufactures. Massachusetts is the third state in the Union in amount of manufactures. The value in 1810 was estimated at $21,895,528. The principal articles are cotton goods, boots and shoes, ardent spirits, leather, cordage, wrought and cast iron, nails, straw bonnets, window glass and other glass ware.

Fisheries.] Massachusetts is more extensively engaged in the fisheries than any other state in the Union. In many populous towns on the sea-coast, a large proportion of the inhabitants derive their subsistence entirely from this employment. The cod fishery is prosecuted to a great extent from Marblehead, and the whale fishery from Nantucket and New-Bedford.

Commerce. The principal exports are fish, beef, lumber, pork, ardent spirits, whale oil and various manufactures. The principal market for the western part of the state is New-York; for the country near Connecticut river, Hartford; for the towns near Rhode-Island, Providence; for the rest of the state, Boston, Salem and Newburyport. Boston is also the market for large sections of Vermont and New-Hampshire. In amount of shipping Massachusetts is the first state in the Union. In 1915, before Maine was separated, the number of tons was 452,273, which was about one third of the whole shipping of the United States.

Islands.] Plum island, which extends along the coast from Newburyport in a southerly direction, to Ipswich, is nine miles. long and one broad, and is separated from the main land by a narrow sound, over which a bridge has been built. The island consists principally of sand blown into heaps, and crowned with bushes bearing the beach plum. In summer, when piums are

ripe, it is a favorite resort for parties of pleasure. On the north end of the island are two light-houses, and several houses have been erected by the Humane society, and furnished with conveniences for the relief of distressed mariners.

Nantucket island lies south of the peninsula of cape Cod, near 41° 20' N. lat. and 70° W. lon. It is 15 miles long and contains about 50 square miles. The climate is mild compared with that of the adjacent continent. The soil is light and sandy, but in some parts is rich and productive, particularly in hay. It was formerly well wooded; but there is not now a single tree of native growth. The land is chiefly held in common by the inhabitants. All the cows, amounting to about 500 feed together in one herd; all the sheep, 14,000, in one pasture. The inhabitants are principally robust, enterprising seamen, extensively engaged in the whale fishery, and they have the reputation of being the most skilful and adventurous seamen in the world. They suffered severely both in the revolutionary and late war, a large portion of their shipping having been captured by the British. Since the peace, however, the whale fishery has revived, and there are now about 100 ships employed in this business. There are 30 spermaceti works on the island, employing a capital of $600,000. Nantucket, the only town, is on the north side of the island. Its harbor is completely safe from all winds, being almost land-locked, the points at its entrance approaching within a mile of each other. It contains 2 banks; 2 insurance companies; and 5 houses of public worship, 2 for Friends, 2 for Congregationalists, and one for Methodists. Population, in 1820, 7,266.

Martha's Vineyard lies west of Nantucket. It is 20 miles long, and from 2 to 10 broad. Edgartown, the chief town, contains 1,374 inhabitants. There is a spacious harbor on the north side of the island, called Holmes' hole, to which vessels bound to the eastward frequently resort, and wait for a wind to enable them to double cape Cod. The Elizabeth islands are small islands, extending in a row, about 18 miles in length, along the south side of Buzzard's bay.

RHODE-ISLAND.

Situation and Extent.] Rhode-Island is hounded N. and E. by Massachusetts; S. by the Atlantic; and W. by Connecticut. It extends from 41° 17′ to 42° N. lat. and from 71° 6' to 71° 52′ W. lon. It is 49 miles long from north to south, and on its northern boundary 29 broad. The area is estimated at 1,580 square

miles.

Divisons.] The state is divided into five counties and 31

towns.

[subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Bays.] Narraganset bay runs from north to south, dividing the state into two parts, and communicates with the ocean between point Judith on the west and point Seaconet on the east. It is about 30 miles long and 15 broad, and embraces several considerable islands. The northeast arm of Narraganset bay is called Mount Hope bay; the northwest arm, Greenwich bay; and the northern arm, Providence bay. The principal rivers which fall into it are Providence river from the north, and Taunton river from the northeast. The commissioners who were appointed to examine the coast of the United States, in 1817, were of opinion that this bay presented the best site for a naval depot in the Union north of Chesapeak bay. It is accessible from the sea aț all seasons of the year; it affords capacious harbors, and can be entered from the ocean in a few hours' sail; it is not susceptible of a continued blockade; nor is it obstructed by ice.

Islands.] Rhode-Island, from which the state takes its name, is in Narraganset bay. It is 15 miles long and on an average 3 broad, containing about 50 square miles. Its climate is delightful; the summers are remarkably pleasant, and the winters milder than on the continent Travellers have called it the Eden of America. Canonicut is a beautiful island, 7 miles long and 1 broad, lying northwest of Rhode Island. Prudence island lies N. B. of Canonicut. Block-island, 10 miles S. W. of point Judith, is 7 miles long and 4 broad, and contains about 700 inhabitants.

Face of the Country, &c.] The northern part of the state is hilly, and has a thin and barren soil; the rest is chiefly level. The islands and the country bordering on Narraganset bay are very fertile, and celebrated for their fine cattle, their numerous flocks of sheep, and the abundance and excellence of their butter and cheese. The southwestern part of the state is an excellent grazing country.

Rivers. The following are the principal rivers. 1. Pawtucket river rises in Massachusetts, in Worcester county, and running in a southeasterly direction falls into Providence river one mile below the town of Providence. There are falls of about 50 feet descent, 4 miles from its mouth. Below the falls the river is called the Seekhonk. 2. Providence river is formed by two small rivers which unite just above Providence. It is navigable to Providence for ships of 900 tons. 3. Pawtuxet river falls into

Providence river 5 miles below the town of Providence. It abounds with falls, which furuish fine situations for mill-seats and manufacturing establishments. There are about 40 cotton fac

tories on this river and its branches. 4. Pawcatuck river waters the S. W. part of the state, and runs into Stonington harbor. In the latter part of its course it is the boundary between this state and Connecticut.

Chief Towns. Providence, the largest town in the state, and the third in New-England in respect to population, stands on Providence river, just above the mouth of the Seekhonk, 35 miles from the ocean, and 40 S. S. W. of Boston. The town is built on both sides of the river, and the two parts are connected by an elegant bridge. Merchant ships of the largest class ascend to this place. Many of the private houses are handsome buildings, and the appearance of the town has been recently much improved by the construction of side walks along the principal streets paved with flag stones. Among the public buildings are the colleges; 7 banks; and 13 houses of public worship, 4 for Baptists, 3 for Congregationalists, 2 for Methodists, 1 for Episcopalians, 1 for Friends, 1 for Universalists and one for Africans. Several of the churches are elegant edifices.

Providence is one of the wealthiest and most flourishing towns of its size in the United States. The principal source of its prosperity is the cotton manufacture, which was introduced about 15 years ago, and has increased with astonishing rapidity. There are now more than 100 cotton factories in Rhode-Island and the adjacent parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, the business of which is transacted principally in Providence. Among the manufacturing establishments within the town are 5 cotton factories, 2 woollen factories, 5 distilleries, 3 rope-walks, and 10 jeweller's shops, where jewelry is manufactured principally for exportation. The commerce of the town has increased with its manufactures. The amount of shipping in 1819 was 19,000 tons, of which about 5,000 were employed in the East-India trade, and 5,000 or 6,000 in the coasting trade with the southern states, connected principally with the cotton business. Ten or twelve vessels are constantly employed in the exportation of cotton goods. In September, 1815, the town suffered severely from a tremendous gale, which forced the water in the river many feet above the highest tides, and deluged the town, destroying houses and shipping to an amount estimated at $1,500,000. Population, in 1820, 11,767,

Newport stands on the S. W. side of Rhode-Island, 5 miles from the sea and 30 S. by E. of Providence. The harbor spreads westward before the town, and is one of the finest in the world. It is of a semicircular form, of safe and easy access, sufficiently capacious to contain a large fleet, and deep enough for vessels of the largest burden. The town is built on a beautiful declivity, rising gradually from the harbor, and presents a fine view as you approach it from the water. The beauty of its situation and the salubrity of its climate have made it a place of fashionable resort from the Southern and Middle states during the summer months. Newport was formerly the first town in the state, but it has now

« AnteriorContinuar »