196 



range of hills stretches to a considerable extent from west to 

 east. When our ancestors made their settlement at Shawmut, 

 now Boston, it is said that they sent out a number of persons 

 to examine the country to the north. These persons, having 

 reached this first range of hills, then covered with forests, re- 

 turned and reported, that, having reached a mountainous and 

 rocky country, they deemed it best to come back, as there was 

 no probability of the settlements ever extending beyond these 

 mountains. How short-sighted are all human calculations, and 

 how far and how widely, destined to be checked only by the 

 waters of the great Pacific, has the tide of population rolled be- 

 yond these limits ! 



III. Area of the County and its Divisions. — The area of 

 Middlesex county includes 800 square miles, and its territory 

 is thus divided, according to the last report of the Valuation 

 Committee : 



IV. Soil, — The soil of Middlesex county is in general hard 

 and rocky. This remark applies particularly to the elevated 

 parts of it. The rocks abounding in the county are granite. 

 There are deposites of clay slate in the southern part of the 

 county of unknown depth, and which furnish to their vicinity 



