92 



Samuel Batchelder, formerly minister of Haverhill, aud others ; the 

 venerable Rev. Dr. Brown Emerson, now living at Salem, was of 

 Wakefield descent, his grandfather, of the same name, having long 

 been an eminent citizen of this place. Many other useful and promi- 

 nent persons, including one or more among our visitors this day, have 

 gone from this place to become inhabitants of Essex. 



Another consideration in fiivor of visits like the present, is the inti- 

 mate connection of this town with the County of Essex by means of 

 railroad facilities. We are thus directly connected by three diiferent 

 lines of railroad, w'ith at least four of the principal cities and many 

 of the large towns of Essex, and indirectly with many other places in 

 the County, so that our people, in their pursuits and interests, are 

 becoming homogeneous with those of that County. 



It is therefore not only suitable, but very pleasant, that a delega- 

 tion from the heart of our mother County sliould pay this friendly 

 visit to their suburbs. It is true we have notliing striking or wonder- 

 ful to exhil)it; no lofty mountains, majestic rivers or beautiful cas- 

 cades ; no qiiarries of marble or granite ; no mines of coal, of silver 

 or gold ; no Pirate's Den or Devil's Kock or Dishful, or other wonder- 

 ful curiosities ; no famous battle or siege has rendered our territory 

 liistoric, but the ashes of a hundred braves who fought for liberty in 

 the war for independence, have made yonder cemetery sacred. Some 

 of them were talented officers, and became subsequently influential 

 and valuable citizens. We have some characteristics as a town, de- 

 serving of notice, and will refer to only one or two of them. Our 

 town, like the ancient Mt. Zion, is beautiful for natural situation and 

 scenery. Its centre, an undulating plain, with lovely lakes at each 



end, 



" Where people oft do wander o'er 

 Their {jrassy banks aud pebbled shore;" 



on either side are swelling hills, from which may be seen in the dis- 

 tance, in one direction tlie deep blue sea, and in another tlie lofty 

 summits of the mountains in New Hampshire ; its soil is fertile, with 

 an agreeable diversity of shady woodland and flowery meads all 

 around its borders ; few inland towns in the State exceeding it in 

 the beauty of its natural scenery. 



The central and convenient location is fortunate. It was said by 

 Johnson the ancient Woburn historian, who wrote in 1651, that 

 " Reading hath her foundation in the very centre of the country." 

 She holds a similar position in reference to population and business, 

 being surrounded witli cities aud populous towns, at convenient dis- 

 tances ; for within a i-adius of some twelve or fifteen miles, ai'e eight 

 cities, mauy large towns, and nearly half a million of inhabitants. 

 With these cities aud towns she is connected by unusual railroad ac- 



