180 History of Ming ham. 



The preceding pages will indicate the many branches of manu- 

 factures and commerce which have had a substantial footing in 

 Hingham in former years. Fate seems to have put her seal of 

 disapproval, however, upon the town as a permanent manufactur- 

 ing or commercial centre. The past fifty years have witnessed 

 a decline and discontinuance of nearly all those interests, and 

 Hingham seems destined to be a residential suburb of the neigh- 

 boring city. Efforts have been made from time to time to en- 

 courage the introduction of manufactories, and committees have 

 been appointed by the town to see what measures could be taken 

 to establish them here, without substantial success. There seems 

 to be nothing wanting in the situation of the town to render it a 

 favorable spot for manufacturing industries. The means of trans- 

 portation by land and water are good, yet only a few factories 

 remain. When and by what means encouragement shall come 

 to the manufacturer to settle again in Hingham cannot be fore- 

 told. Let us hope the future historian may look back with that 

 satisfaction and pride upon a period of honest work by honest 

 hands, in larger measure, with which we look back upon what 

 was accomplished in the days of smaller things. 



