the river with the utmost expedition. From the quantity of blood, found the next day in their line of march, it was supposed that their loss was considerable. Thus did this heroic youth, in opposi tion to his superiour officers, preserve Fair-Haven, and merit a statue from its inhabilants.*

A wag, who had divined the true reasons of the Colonel's retreat, followed him to the house where he lodged; and, finding by inquiry, that notwithstanding his original declarations to the contrary, he had concluded to take up his lodgings there for the night, resolved to be his sentinel. He therefore mounted the jaw-bone of a horse upon a pair of small wheels, instead of a cannon. This piece of artillery he charged, and discharged, at regular intervals during the night, as the proper means of defence to his gallant Commander; and had the satisfaction of seeing him safe and sound the next morning.

The township of New-Bedford extends from Dartmouth to Rochester four miles, and from Buzzard's Bay to Freetown thirteen. In 1790, it contained 454 houses, and 3,313 inhabitants; in 1800, 626 dwelling-houses, and 4,361 inhabitants; and, in 1810, 5,651.

Thursday, November 25th, we left New-Bedford early in the morning; and rode to Sandwich, thirty miles; through Rochester, twelve: and Wareham, thirteen. On our way we visited a manufactory of twine at the head of the harbour, and about four miles from the town. It is the property of Mr. Rotch; and will cost, it is said, forty thousand dollars, when completed. It contains five stands of quills; each of which spins thirty pounds of flax per day; and a twisting machine, which easily twists all that is spun. One hundred and fifty pounds of flax, therefore, are converted daily into twine at this manufactory, or 46,950 pounds in twelve months. Sewing twine only is spun at present, and is said to be of a good quality; but it is intended soon to spin that, which is designed for netting. The flax is chiefly imported from Connecticut. This was an application of water machinery to the convenience of man, which I have not before seen.

This account of New-Bedford I had from Edward Pope, Esq. from whom I received many civilities.

Soon after we passed the Acchusnutt we entered upon the great sandy plain, which forms the South-Eastern region of Massachusetts. Between New-Bedford and Rochester it is tolerably firm. Thence to Wareham it becomes lighter, and the road heavier. From Wareham to Sandwich the horse may be said to wade. The forest throughout this region is principally formed of yellow pines. Oaks are however interspersed in New-Bedford, and Rochester. The soil in Rochester is principally hard and furnishes a good road.

Rochester consists of scattered plantations. The soil, so far as we had opportunity to see it, is thin and indifferent. Around a decent church we saw several well-looking houses, and a number of others in different parts of the township.

Rochester was incorporated in 1686; and contained, in 1790, 2,644 inhabitants; in 1800, 2,546; and, in 1810, 2,934.

Wareham, on the road, is almost merely a sandy plain, except a few spots lying chiefly along the streams. The soil, which is light and thin, lies immediately upon a stratum of white sand, from half an inch to eight or ten inches in thickness. Beneath this lies another stratum of yellow sand, descending below any depth to which it has been explored. As all this country is formed in the same manner to Province Town, with few and small interruptions, I shall have occasion hereafter to resume this subject.

The Congregational church in Wareham is decent; but neither this, nor the church in Rochester, has a steeple.

The lands in this township near the Ocean are said to be much better than those on the road.

Wareham was incorporated in 1739; and, in 1790, contained 854 inhabitants; in 1800, 770; and, in 1810, 851.

Between Wareham and Sandwich we crossed the neck, or isthmus, which connects the peninsula of Cape Cod with the main. Two streams from this peninsula empty their waters into Barnstable Bay on the East, and Buzzard's Bay on the West, whose head waters are very near to each other. A scheme has long since been projected, and often been brought up to the view of the public for making a canal, to connect these two waters, of suffi

cient depth to admit vessels of considerable burthen, and thus save them the voyage round Cape Cod, which at some seasons of the year is not a little hazardous. The design is accompanied by the following very serious difficulties. The expense as estimated by several successive surveyors, will be very great. There is no harbour at the entrance in Barnstable Bay, to secure vessels aiming at the canal in tempestuous weather. This evil is radical; and can be remedied only by an expensive mole at this spot. If the canal should be guarded with locks, it would in the winter be frozen; and thus preclude all navigation at the time of the greatest exposure. If the canal should be left open, it is believed that a sand bar would be formed at one of the entrances. The imporportance of this work, however, is so great, that it will probably be one day attempted. During five months out of the nine, in which it would be open, Easterly storms more or less prevail. Many vessels are lost; and a great mass of property is sunk in the Ocean. The commerce of Boston, and other towns on the Eastern shore of Massachusetts, would also be rendered so much safer and easier, that it could not fail of being greatly increased. Perhaps there never was a spot, in which such a work was more necessary, or in which it would be more useful to mankind, than in this. The distance between the navigable waters of these two bays, is five miles.

The soil of Sandwich is much better than that which we saw at Wareham. The surface is an interchange of hills and vallies; which, though not beautiful in themselves, were particularly agreeable to us, after having languished over so extensive a plain. These, to a considerable extent, are moderately well covered with earth. The meadows were often brilliant. The arable land bears good crops of the grains common to the country; and, among them, of wheat; which not uncommonly yields well. The maize was small but the season had been very dry, and stinted its growth. Generally, the crop is good. A stranger, surveying this ground, would suppose from its appearance, that vegetation of every kind must be greatly inferiour to that, which really exists. There are several good orchards in this town, and one cidermill; the only one on the peninsula.

The town of Sandwich is built on the Northern, or, as it is commonly called, the Western, side of the isthmus, on a hill of considerable height. The most compact part of it surrounds a clear, pleasant looking pond. From this water runs a handsome stream, on which stands a grist-mill. The church is an ancient building; as are also many of the houses.

A considerable salt marsh along the shore of the bay yields the inhabitants a large quantity of hay, which is valuable both as fodder, and as manure. Near it is a small harbour, called the Town Harbour, where, and in some other inlets belonging to the township, about thirty vessels are employed in the coasting business ; especially, in carrying wood to Boston.

The general appearance of Sandwich is not unpleasant; and from the high grounds, there is a fine prospect of the bay, and of the neighbouring country. There is a small academy, containing at this time a considerable collection of students.

Sandwich is divided into two parishes. It was incorporated in 1639; and, in 1790, contained 1,991 inhabitants; in 1800, 296 dwelling-houses, and 2,024 inhabitants; and, in 1810, 2,282. There is one Society of Friends, and another of Methodists, in this township.

The inhabitants of Sandwich have very civil, decent manners. Since we were on this ground there has been a considerable revival of Religion in the congregation of the Rev. Mr. Burr.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER IX.

Country between Sandwich and Barnstable--Barnstable--Yarmouth--Salt works of Cape Cod--Observations on the extent of this manufacture-Difficulties of christianizing the Indians-Dennis-Harwich-Orleans.

Dear Sir,

MONDAY, September 29th, we left our friends in Sandwich, and rode to Orleans: thirty miles; through Barnstable, twelve; Yarmouth, sixteen; Dennis, twenty-one; and Harwich, twenty-five.

The country from Sandwich to Barnstable is hilly, and in a great degree bare, bleak, and desolate; the inhabitants having universally cut down their forests and groves, and taken no measures to renew them. The soil is thin and unproductive, and furnishes very little that is sprightly to enliven the scene. The road is in many places worn through the soil down to the yellow sand, and is deep, and very heavy. The hills succeed. each other so rapidly, and the acclivities and declivities are so sudden, as to render the travelling very laborious. It ought to be mentioned, however, that in the vallies, and towards the bay, a number of meadows alternate the prospect pleasantly. The views from the heights are frequently extensive and interesting. The streams are few and small. The houses on the road are neither numerous, nor, except in a very few instances, of much value.

Barnstable lies at the bottom, or the Southern extremity of Massachusetts Bay. The township extends across the peninsula; which here is from five to nine miles wide; and about eight miles from Sandwich to Yarmouth. A noble prospect is seen from the high grounds; consisting of the town and neighbouring country. A very extensive salt marsh, at that time covered with several thousand stacks of hay; the harbour, a mile wide, and four or five miles long; a long, lofty, wild and fantastical beach, thrown into a thousand grotesque forms by the united force of winds and waves; and the Bay, bounded on the North only by VOL. III.

11