137 



house was struck several times iu response. This, with music from 

 the'band, constituted the interchange of courtesies usual on such occa- 

 sions, and the event was, on the wliole, one of considerable interest. 



From Minot's Ledge to Plymouth the boat kept near the shore, thus 

 affording an opportunity to observe its peculiarities as contrasted 

 with the North Shore. South of Cohasset, few rocks or ledges wei'e 

 to be seen. Steep sandy bluffs rose to the view with much frequency. 

 The straggling houses which dotted the hills and slopes, and the vil- 

 lages which occasionally came into view, were objects of interest and 

 elicited frequent inquiry as to the names of the different towns, which 

 are, — Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Kingston, and Ply- 

 mouth. Duxbury is due west of Provincetown ; the extremity of 

 Cape Cod and that toAvn, with Kingston and Plymouth, form the 

 western shore of Cape Cod Baj'. These towns cover considerable 

 territory, and generally have more than one village. Thus there are 

 Cohasset and North Cohasset, Scituate and North Scituate, North 

 Marshfleld, East Marshfield and South Marshfield, Duxbury and West 

 Duxbury, etc. The old lighthouse at Scituate was an object of some 

 interest, having a very primitive look, while Marshfield attracted 

 special attention as having been the home of Webster whom Massa- 

 chusetts loved to honor. 



The harbor of Plymouth is shallow, and good pilotage seems 

 essential. The pilot boats appear to be numerous, and the captain 

 secured the services of a pilot fi'om one of them ; and the steamer, 

 in making her way slowly in, once grounded, even with this precau- 

 tion. She entered by a winding and circuitous course, running close 

 to a long, low sand bar, which extends a mile apparently, into the bay 

 and across the mouth of the harbor, and upon which the attempt has 

 been made to construct a long line of breakwater, which still stands 

 with varying degrees of permanency. Rounding the headland at the 

 north of the harbor, which contains the Gurnet lighthouse, the excur- 

 sionists had a view of Clark's Island, where the Pilgrims spent their 

 first Sunday, and of Captain's Hill, where Captain Miles Standish 

 lived and died, and where, it is said, vestiges of his house, and the 

 well dug upon the premises, still remain. 



At 2 P. M. the boat reached her destination; the company was met 

 at the lauding by a committee of the selectmen, who conducted them 

 to Plymouth Rock, wliere a cordial welcome was tendered by the chair- 

 man, Albert Mason, Esq., as follows : — 



• Friends of the Essex Institute : — I am happy in behalf of the 

 oldest town in New England, to extend her greeting to so distinguished 

 a company, from her next oldest sister. 



Two hundred and fifty years ago, Samoset, with the little English 



Essex Inst. Bulletin. ii 18 



