CLXI 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. Field meeting at Newburyport. 



The sixth and last Field Meeting of the season took 

 place this day. About three hundred and seventy five 

 persons attended, the larger portion proceeding over the 

 Eastern Railroad to Newburyport, and thence down the 

 Merrimack to Salisbury Point. The party was so large 

 that, in addition to the passenger barge usually employed, 

 it was- found necessary to charter a schooner, both being 

 taken in tow by a powerful little tug boat called the "Thur- 

 low Weed". The trip down the river, some three miles, oc- 

 cupied about half an hour, and upon arriving at the Point, 

 the barge and schooner were run directly upon the sand 

 beach, and the company landed without any difficulty. 

 Here nearly two hours were spent, and a few improved 

 the time by inspecting Fort Nichols, and rambling over 

 Salisbury Beach proper, which extends several miles along 

 the ocean side, and is one of the finest beaches on the 

 coast. The heat was so intense, however, that but a small 

 number improved the opportunity. The fort mounts ten 

 or twelve guns. The parapet already shows signs of dis- 

 integration, the effect, probably, of the severe drought, and 

 of the sun's rays which concentrate upon the sand heaps 

 with overpowering intensity. There were several tents in 

 the vicinity, occupied by "camping out" parties from up 

 the river. 



Returning to Newburyport, the company partook of the 

 usual picnic dinner in the City Hall, and afterwards had 

 an opportunity to visit the many places of interest in the 

 city, including the Horton Memorial Chapel, the White- 

 field Church, the Copley Portraits, the Public Library, and 

 other objects of note heretofore described. 



At three o'clock, the afternoon meeting was organized 

 in the City Hall. 

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