46 
Van Nessen. The workshops of the different mechanics, be¬ 
longing to the arsenal, are arranged behind this building, on each 
side of the yard; at a short distance from the arsenal stands 
the powder magazine, built of granite, and containing about fifty 
thousand pounds; thirty thousand stands of arms are contained in 
the arsenal in chests, each holding twenty pieces. I saw there a 
newly-invented machine for casting a hundred and sixty-two balls 
at once, giving them at the same time a perfectly round form. The 
arsenal is very pleasantly situated in Watertown. 
We passed farther along the shore, through a romantic part of 
the country, towards Waltham. At this place a branch of a large 
cotton manufactory is situated, belonging to a company of twenty- 
five persons. It is under the direction of Mr. Jackson, who pos¬ 
sesses a very handsome dwelling, where he appears to pass a hap¬ 
py life with his amiable family. About four hundred and fifty 
workmen are employed, who live in different buildings belonging 
to the factory, and form a particular colony; they have two 
schools, a church, and a clergyman. They appear to be in very 
good circumstances, as the dress, cleanly exterior, and healthy ap¬ 
pearance of the workmen testify. In these buildings the cotton 
is spun and woven; but the colouring and printing are performed 
in another establishment. The machines are worked by water, 
which is said not to freeze in winter, but sometimes fails in dry 
summers. More simple machines than jennys are used for spin¬ 
ning, and the dressing machines are different from those in the 
Netherlands, though not better, I believe, as they have but one 
cylinder. The weaving machines are mostly of wood, which is 
very cheap, though I believe that our iron ones are better. The 
workmen of this factory are, as I have since learned, esteemed 
on account of their good manners, and their morality is univer¬ 
sally praised. But one case of seduction occurred in ten years. 
After leaving this factory we passed by several very neat houses 
and parks; the latter are smaller than those in England, because 
in this country there are no rights of primogeniture, and the es¬ 
tate of parents at their death is divided into as many parts as 
there are children. On this account we do not find such great 
and powerful landholders here as in England. It is a subject of 
dispute, whether primogeniture or equal division be preferable; 
but it is certain that real prosperity is much more diffused through 
the nation in America, and the land is better cultivated. 
Mr. Nathaniel Amory’s country seat lies on a small eminence 
in a tolerably large park, and affords an extensive prospect of the 
vicinity of Boston. Mr. Amory collected several good paintings 
of the Flemish school in his travels, and some handsome mosaic 
work in Rome, with which his house is decorated. In the after¬ 
noon we took a walk through the park to a cottage, which be- 
