Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 277 



sessments. A few persons subscribed for several lots each, some to 

 secure the success of the enterprise, and some on speculation, anticipat- 

 ing an advance on the lots. This result was so encouraging, that it was 

 voted to keep the books open till another hundred lots were subscribed 

 for, so as to be certain of means to lay out and embellish the land after 

 purchasing it. I think its cost was six thousand dollars ; and it was said 

 that the tasteful and public-spirited owner had bought and held it for 

 some twenty yeai-s, with the confident anticipation that eventually the 

 increase of population and wealth, and the good judgment and correct 

 taste of the city, would require just such a spot for a rural cemetery ; 

 and that, for this purpose, he had transplanted there many evergreens 

 and ornamental trees, which had acquired a stately growth. The spot 

 was also covered with majestic oaks, pines, beeches, and walnuts, that 

 had braved the storms of a century ; in fiact, a more appropriate loca- 

 tion could not have been found near Boston. 



At the September meeting of the society, as a sufficient number of 

 subscriptions had been obtained, it was voted that the grounds should 

 be consecrated with religious ceremonies on Saturday, the 24th, which 

 was done, the Rev. Drs. Ware and Pierpont officiating as clergvmen. 

 The address was delivered by Judge Story, and an original hymn, by 

 Dr. Pierpont, was sung by a thousand voices, in Consecration Dell. 

 An unclouded sun, a clear, bracing atmosphere, the interesting services, 

 and the immense crowd present from the city, combined to make it an 

 occasion long to be remembered. 



The season was too far advanced for accomplishing much that vear 

 in laying out the grounds, though a careful sui^vey was made by Alex- 

 ander Wadsworth. The land was divested of underbrush and cleared 

 up, giving it the appearance of a park, so that a general view of the 

 spot could be taken. The choice of lots was put up at auction, in No- 

 vember, to be selected, after the avenues and walks were laid out, in the- 

 ensuing spring. The first choice was sold to Samuel Appleton, for one 

 hundred dollars ; the second to Benjamin Adams, for sixty-five dollars ; 

 the third to Abbott Lawrence, for fifty dollars ; and premiums of from 

 ten to thirty dollars were given for many other lots, of which about two 

 hundred were sold, each containing three hundred square feet. 



