54 
observed in most of these places, and in Belchertown there is 
even a fashionable one. The churches are usually pro vided with 
long sheds, in which the carriages and horses of the members of 
the church are protected from the heat and weather during the 
service. Ware, situated on the river of the same name, which 
is crossed by a wooden bridge rather better built than usual, 
was laid out about three years since; it is a neat, flourishing place, 
and belongs to the Dexter family in Boston, who have established 
a woollen and cotton manufactory here, the workmen of which, 
above three hundred in number, form the inhabitants of the place. 
Mr. Dexter, of Boston, had entrusted me with an important 
packet of papers for his brother, who resides in Ware, which I 
delivered in person. We found Mr. Dexter with his beautiful 
wife, at his neat and well arranged cottage, situated in the centre 
of a garden, and received a friendly welcome. From his window 
he can overlook the whole village and manufactories. Heretofore, 
said Mr. Dexter, I have received the greatest part of my wool 
from Saxony, which is preferred here to the Spanish; but at pre¬ 
sent, we have sheep imported from Saxony, which are permitted 
to roam at large through the wood, as there are no wild animals 
in Massachusetts to destroy them; they yield a very superior 
kind of wool. Unfortunately we were not at leisure to accept of 
Mr. Dexter’s invitation to look at his establishments At the 
tavern, which was perfectly clean and comfortable, we obtained 
a very good dinner, and continued our journey. The inhabitants 
of Ware are said to be distinguished for their strict morality. 
They have a common school, to which they are obliged by law 
to send their children, as is the case throughout Massachusetts, or 
pay a fine. In Ware there is but one physician, who has a hand¬ 
some house, and keeps a well furnished apothecary store. The 
strict republicans are jealous of the large manufacturing establish¬ 
ments, because they are afraid that individual citizens, in conse¬ 
quence of their property, may have too great an influence upon 
a large mass of people; but I imagine that the republic has nothing 
to fear on this head, since the effect of individual influence is coun¬ 
terbalanced by the promotion of the welfare of the poorer classes. 
About a mile from Northampton we passed the Connecticut 
river, five hundred yards wide, in a small ferry-boat, which, as 
the night had already set in, was not very agreeable. At North¬ 
ampton we took lodgings at Warner’s Hotel, a large, clean, 
and convenient inn. In front of the house is a large porch, and 
in the first story a large balcony. The gentlemen sit below, 
and the ladies walk above. It is called a piazza, and has many 
conveniences. Elm trees stand in front of the house, and a large 
reflecting lamp illuminates the house and the yard. This, with the 
beautiful warm evening, and the great number of people, who 
