Boston 



At the entrance of the harbour stands a very good 

 light-house; and upon an island, about a league 

 from the town, a considerable castle, mounting near 

 150 cannon: there are several good batteries about 

 it, and one in particular very strong, built by Mr. 

 Shirley.* There are also two batteries in the town, 

 for 1 6 or 20 guns each; but they are not, I believe, 

 of any force. The buildings in Boston are in gen- 

 eral good; the streets are open and spacious, and 

 well paved; and the whole has much the air of some 

 of our best country towns in England. The country 

 round about it is exceedingly delightful; and from 

 a hill, which stands close to the town, where there 

 is a beacon to alarm the neighbourhood in case of 

 any surprise, is one of the finest prospects, the most 

 beautifully variegated, and richly grouped, of any 

 without exception that I have ever seen. 



The chief public buildings are, three churches; 

 thirteen or fourteen meeting-houses; the governor's 

 palace; the court-house, or exchange; Faneuil Hall; 

 a linen manufacturing-house; a work-house; a bride- 

 well; a public granary; and a very fine wharf, at 

 least half a mile long, undertaken at the expense of a 

 number of private gentlemen, for the advantage of 

 unloading and loading vessels. Most of these build- 

 ings are handsome: the church, called King's Chapel, 

 is exceedingly elegant; and fitted up in the Corin- 

 thian taste. There is also an elegant private con- 



* See Note XIX. 



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