270 lawsvOn's history 



is, our conntry's being faced with a sound near 

 ten leagues over in some places, through which, 

 although there be water enough for as large ships 

 to come in at, as in any part hitherto seated in 

 both Ca!*linas ; yet the difficulty of that sound to 

 strangers, hinders them from attempting any hos- 

 tilities against us ; and at the same time, if we 

 consider the advantages thereof, nothing can ap- 

 pear to be a l)etter situation, than to be fronted 

 with such a bulwark, which secures us from our 

 enemies. Furthermore, our distance from the 

 sea rids us of two curses, which attend most other 

 parts of America, viz : muskeetos and the worm 

 biting, which eat ships bottoms out ; whereas at 

 Bath-town, there is no such thing known ; and as 

 for muskeetos, they hinder us of as little rest as 

 they do you in England. Add to this, the unac- 

 countable quantities of fish this great water or 

 sound, supplies us withal, whenever we take the 

 pains to fish for them ; advantages I have no 

 where met withal in America, except here. 



As for the climate, we enjoy a very wholesome 

 and serene sky, and a pure and thin air, the sun 

 seldom missing to give us his daily blessing, un- 

 less now and then on a winter's day, which is not 

 often ; and when cloudy, the first appearance of a 

 north-west wind clears the horizon, and restores 

 the light of the sun. The weather, in summer, is 

 very pleasant. The hotter months being refresh- 

 ed with continual breezes of cool reviving air ; 

 and the spring being as pleasant and beautiful, as in 



