406 MASSACHUSETTS. 



vessels. Long Wharf, or Boston Pier, in particular, extends from 

 the bottom of State-street 1743 feet into the harbour in a straight line. 

 The breadth is 104 feet. At the end are 17 feet of water at eob-tide. 

 Long Wharf is covered on the north side with large and commodious 

 warehouses, and in every respect exceeds every thing of the kind in 

 the United States. Charles river and West Boston bridges are highly 

 useful and ornamental to Boston, and both are on Charles river, 

 which mingles its waters with those of Mystic river, in Boston har- 

 bour. Charles river bridge connects Boston with Charlestown, in 

 Middlesex county, and is 1503 feet long, 42 feet broad, and stands on 

 >5 piers. West Boston is 3483 feet long, stands on 180 piers, and 

 exceeds the other as much in elegance as in length. The view of the 

 town, as it is approached from the sea, is truly beautiful and pictu- 

 resque. It lies in a circular and pleasingly irregular form round the 

 harbour, and is ornamented with spires, above which the monument 

 of Beacon Hill rises pre-eminent ; on its top is a gilt eagle, bearing 

 the arms of the union, and on the base of the column are inscriptions 

 commemorating some of the most remarkable eVents of the revolu- 

 tionary war. The town is governed by nine select men, chosen at an 

 annual meeting in March, when twelve overseers, twelve constables, 

 and some other officers are chosen. Attempts have been made to 

 change the government of the town from its present form to that of 

 a city : but this measure not according with the democratic spirit 

 of the people, has as yet failed. The number of houses in 1800, 

 was 2870. The population in 1790, was 18,038; in 1800, 24,937; 

 and in 1810, 33,250. 



Salem is the second town in this state. It contained, in 1800, 980 

 houses, and 9,457 inhabitants. In 1810, the number of inhabitants 

 was 12,613. It is a very commercial place, and is connected with 

 Beverly by Essex bridge, upwards of 1500 feet in length, erected in 

 1789. The harbour is defended by a fort. 



Plymouth was the first town built in New-England, and is peopled 

 principally by the descendants of the first settlers. The r'ock on 

 which their forefathers landed was conveyed in 1774, from the shore 

 to a square in the centre of the town, where it remains as a monu- 

 ment. The situation of the town is pleasant and healthful. 



Portland is the capital of the District of Maine. It has a most ex- 

 cellent, safe, and capacious harbour, and is one of the most thriving 

 commercial towns in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1795, 

 a fort, a citadel, and a battery of ten pieces of cannon, were erected 

 for its defence. 



Charlestown stands on a peninsula between Mystic river and a bay 

 of Charles river. In this town is the state prison, built of stone, 200 

 feet long, by 44 wide. The wings are four. The centre is five sto- 

 ries. The floors are of hewn stone, many of them weighing three or 

 four tons; the doors are of iron. In the lower story are 28 cells, in 

 the second 30. The third and fourth stories contain 16 rooms each. 

 In the fourth is a convenient chapel, and in the fifth an hospital. The 

 comfort and religious instruction of the convicts are carefully regard- 

 ed. In this town is also a marine hospital belonging to the United 

 States. 



Commerce and manufactures. ...This state, including the Dis- 

 trict of Maine, owns more than three times as many tons of shipping 

 as any other of the states; and more than one third part of the whole 



