CHAPTEE IX 

 A DESCEIPTION OF EAELY BOSTON 



Boston as ^^"^ NE of the best descriptioDS of Boston and its 



Seen by a M B 



Refugee ■ ■ snri'ounding settlements in these early days is to 



X^.^^ be found in the "Narrative of a French Protes- 

 tant Eefugee in Boston." Some exti-acts from that very 

 valuable document will be of interest here, as they show 

 the conditions by which the Huguenot settlers were sur- 

 rounded, and give a hint as to the kind of life which went 

 on in Boston prior to the opening of the eighteenth cen- 

 tury. As will be gathered from the first selection, the 

 narrative was written as a guide to refugees in London 

 who contemplated emigrating to America. Says the 

 author : 



"First, in order to come to this country, it is necessary 



The Ship to embark at London, from which place a ship sails about 



Voyage 



once a month. The most favourable time to embark is 

 the latter part of March, or the end of August and the 

 beginning of September. These are the proper seasons ; 

 all the more because the weather is then neither too hot 

 nor too cold, and one does not experience the dead calms 

 which occur frequently in summer, and on account of 

 which vessels take four months to cross hither : besides 

 which, the heat often produces sickness on shipboard. 

 If one will provide himself with suitable refreshments of 

 all kinds, he will not have to endure any discomfort. 

 With regard to danger, one must be particular to take 

 passage on a good vessel, well equipped with men and 

 with cannon, and well provided with an unfailing supply 

 of bread and water. 



"There is risk only in approaching land, and on the 

 sand banks which one fiuds. (After stating that ' Cap 



192 



