14 A PEEP AT 



is emphatically the birth-place of American freedom, 

 and up to the present hour has taken the lead in all 

 political and social reforms of any consequence. 

 Boston is situated on a peninsula, at the western ex- 

 tremity of Massachusetts Bay. It is about three 

 miles in length, and one in breadth. Its surface is 

 quite uneven, and rises into three eminences, from 

 which originates the name Tremont, or Tri-Mountain, 

 by which it was called by the first settlers. Its In- 

 dian name was Shawmut. It received its present 

 name on the 7th September, 1630, in honor of the 

 Rev. John Cotton, who was an emigrant from Boston 

 in England, and second minister of the first church. 

 It was incorporated a city in 1822. The peninsula 

 on which Old Boston, or Boston proper, is built, ex- 

 tends from Roxbury to Winnisimmet Ferry, a great 

 part of which has been reclaimed from the sea. It 

 is surrounded by the waters of Boston harbor on the 

 east, and Charles river on the north and west. South 

 Boston was taken from Dorchester in 1804. It is 

 connected with Boston proper by two bridges. East 

 Boston, a few years ago, was called "Noddle's 

 Island." It is connected with Old Boston by a steam- 

 boat ferry, which starts from either side every five 

 minutes. 



