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almost all his Ammunition, and then slipt his Cable and fell down, and the other Vessels followed; they Anchored below the Island Orleans, and were by stress of Weather forced out of the River to Sea and dispersed. Some Vessels by Sickness were very much disabled, and those that arrived lost some half, and others more, of their Men: In their return one of their Fire-ships was burnt by Accident, and Twelve Men lost; two other Vessels cast away, but the Men saved; and the last Vessels that sailed in February past from New-England say, that four of the Fleet was not then Arrived, nor any News of them, in which were about three hundred Men, supposed to be cast away, having been about three Months missing. After the Return of the Vessels, many Men died of the Distemper, which has infected the Inhabitants, Spreads and proves very Mortal amongst them.

This Expedition has brought the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay above 50000l. in Debt, for Payment whereof the General Court hath laid Grievous Taxes up on the Inhabitants, which they force from those who refuse to pay. And for the satisfying the Clamours of the Soldiers and Sailors, of whom most were Pressed and sent in this Service. They, upon the return of their Ships from Canada, made a Law, dated at Boston the Tenth of December 1690, ordering a Committee of five Persons, three whereof should be impowered for granting forth Printed Bills (none to be under 5s. nor exceeding the Summ of 5l. in one Bill) by which some of the Soldiers and Seamen are paid, and the Colony is thereby engaged to satisfie the Value of the said Bills, as the Treasury shall be enabled. But they will not pass in Trade between Man and Man, nor can these poor Soldiers and Seamen get any thing for them to above half their value, they being only used to pay Rates with. The Form of which Bills are as herein decyphered.

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No. (2161) 108.

THIS Indented Bill of Ten Shillings, due from the Massachusetts Colony to the Possessor, shall be in value equal to Money, and shall be accordingly accepted by the Treasurer and Receivers, subordinate to him in all Publick Payments, and for any Stock at any time in the Treasury Boston in New-England, December the 10th. 1690.

L. S.

By Order of the General Court.

PENN TOWNSEND

ADAM WINTHROP Com'tee.
TIM. THORNTON

A TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION OF WALTHAM, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, JAN. 1, 1815.

Situation, boundaries, &c. WALTHAM is situated near the south-eastern extremity of the county of Middlesex, upon the main road from Boston to Worcester. It is ten miles from the former, and thirty four from the latter place. It is

bounded N. by Lexington; N. E. by West Cambridge; E. by Watertown; S. by Charles River, which sepa rates it from Newton; W. by Weston, from which it is separated by Stony Brook; and N. W. by Lincoln. Its greatest length from E. to W. is nearly five miles; its greatest breadth, about four; and its least breadth, not quite three miles.

Face of the country, soil, &c.

The land in the south part of the town, which runs parallel with Charles river, the distance of two miles, and half a mile in breadth, is very level, and is mostly of a light, sandy soil, not very deep. Adjoining the river it is fertile. The interiour of the town is of a hard, loamy soil, upon a gravelly bottom, and tolerably fertile; in general the land is uneven, and in some parts rocky. Almost every farm is, or may be fenced with stone wall, from its own grounds; and probably few towns in the County exhibit more excellent walls. The part of the town, between Beavers'-brook, on the east, and Masters'brook, on the west, and through which is the main post road, has long been denominated, "Waltham Plain," 'from its being uncommonly level. It is a mile and an half in length. In the north and westerly parts of the town, the land is much broken, and somewhat hilly, but productive. There is not much wood in the town; the natural growth is white and black oak, walnut, and birch.

Produce, and state of agriculture.

As most of the inhabitants are farmers, and cultivate their farms with a view to the constant supply of the market of the metropolis, the fruits of their labour are various. Corn, barley, hay, butter, and vegetables of every kind, are the general productions of the place. The fruits of every season, especially apples, pears, and peaches, are raised; and considerable quantities of cider are made upon several farms. Horticulture is brought to some perfection, and a taste for it seems to be gradually increasing. In some parts of the town, rye can be raised, but is not

much cultivated, owing to its liability to be blasted. There are various opinions as to the cause of this blast; some persons attribute it to the barberry bush, which, however, is ascertained to be but partially injurious. It is probable, that the cold east wind, which prevails in the months of May and June, and the frequent fogs produ ced by sea breezes, are the great preventives to the growth and maturity of rye, in this and the neighbouring towns. Very good spring wheat has been raised here; and, with proper attention, there is reason to believe the cultivation of it would be profitable.

The state of agriculture has been improving among our farmers, for several years. The residence of gentlemen farmers in the town and vicinity has undoubtedly contributed to this improvement; but the chief causes are the increasing demands of the market and the enhanced price of labour, which have taught the owners of the soil, that it is more profitable to cultivate a few acres highly, than many in the ordinary way. The larger the surplus, that the farmer is enabled to sell, the more he enriches his land.

Manufactures.

There are but two manufactories of any importance, in the town; but the facilities afforded by Charles river, and the increasing rage for making ourselves many articles, which, in time of peace, can be imported at less expense, will probably cause them to be multiplied.

The "Waltham Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company" were incorporated in 1812. It is an extensive and profitable establishment. The Company commenced building early in 1810, and the Cotton factory was in operation the same year. It contains 2,000 spin-. dles, and works 300 lbs. of cotton per day. The woolen factory has 380 spindles, 4 jenneys, and 2 jacks, and spins 60 lbs. per day. The number of looms in constant operation is fourteen. Probably upon an average 10,000 yards of cloth are made every month, under direction of the institution; though a considerable portion of the

weaving is done in the neighbouring, and some of the distant towns. More than 200 persons are attached to this manufactory, about 150 of whom, chiefly women and children, are daily employed in spinning, weaving, dyeing, &c. They compose twenty families and upwards. The cotton factory is a large wooden building of four stories; there are besides four dwelling houses, two of them very large, for the convenience of the people, a large store and warehouse, dye house, grist mill, mechanick's shop, woolen factory, weaver's, and school house. These buildings, situated near to, or upon the bank of the river, and shaded by a grove of lofty oak and ash trees, present a pleasant object to the traveller upon the main road, about half a mile north. They are at the S. E. extremity of the town, within a few rods of the line. There is perhaps no institution of the kind in our country, under better regulations. Unlike most manufacturing establishments, this is free from the disorder and immorality which, in general, are found to exist, and by many are supposed to be almost their necessary evils. There is as much peace, order, and propriety of behaviour among these persons, as with any other portion of the inhabitants. This may in part be attributed to the employing of several families, of established good characters, with whom others, and those who have no guardians or parents to inspect their conduct, are obliged to live. Such parents will carefully watch the manners and habits of their own children, and permit none to dwell under their roof, of positively bad characters. much too depends upon the character of the superintendant. If he be, as is too often the case, young and thoughtless, uninterested in the success of the institution, and desirous only of immediate emolument, there will be much disorder and immorality among those under his care. Here, the superintendant is also a proprietor, of an established moral character, who has every motive to promote virtue, subordination, and industry among his people. The proprietors support a school for the instruction of the children and youth employed in the factory. A school is taught six months by a woman, and in the evenings by masters during the winter.

Very

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