תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

In this statement it is fuppofed that all the inhabitants in the state confider themselves as belonging to one or the other of the religious denominations mentioned; and that each religious fociety, of every denomination, is compofed of an equal nun.ber of fouls; that is, each is fuppofed to contain 694, which, if we reckon the number of inhabitants in the ftate at 357,511, will be the proportion for each congregation. Although this may not be an exact apportionment of the different fects, yet it is perhaps as accurate as the nature of the fubject will allow, and fufficient to give a general idea of the proportion which the feveral denominations bear to each other.

The number of congregational churches in 1749 was 250.

In 1760, the number of inhabitants in this ftate, was about 268,850, The proportion of the fects then was nearly as follows, viz.

[blocks in formation]

Suppofed number of fouls of each fect.

225,426

16,192

14,723

9.568

2,944

268,850

The congregational minifters in this ftate, have an annual meeting at Bofton, the Thurfday following the laft Wednesday in May, on which occafion a fermon is preached, and a collection made for the relief and fupport of fuch of their fociety as are in needy circumstances. This collection is chiefly applied to the fupport of the widows of deceafed minif

ters.

Civil Divifions.] The commonwealth of Maffachusetts is divided into fourteen counties, and fub-divided into 355 townfhips. The following table exhibits a comparative view of the population-agricultural improvements-military ftrength, &c. of the feveral counties, together with their fea-ports and principal trading towns.

TABLE.

[blocks in formation]

Bristol,

25,640 97,360
York, 20,509 66,142 264,931 2101

Worcester, 47,614 207,410 520,236 8321

130,767

2958

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

*This valuation was taken in 1784, and fuppofed to be lefs than the reality,

+ This eftimate is very imperfect-No account having been taken for near tavelve years.

[ocr errors]

Number

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Population, Character, &c] The above table exhibits an accurate account of the population of this state. The most populous parts of the tate are included between the fea-coaft, and a line drawn parallel to it at the diftance of ten or twelve miles; and between two lines drawn parallel to Connecticut river on each frie, at the distance of five or fix miles.

Character, &c. fee New-England,

Literary

Literary and humane Societies.] The literary, humane and charitable inftitutions in Maffachusetts, exhibit a fair trait in the character of the inhabitants. Among the firft literary inftitutions in this ftate, is the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, incorporated May 4th, 1780. It is declared in the act, that the end and defign of the inftitution, is to promote and encourage the knowledge of the antiquities of America, and of the natural hiftory of the country, and to determine the ufes to which the various natural productions of the country may be applied. Alfo to promote and encourage medical discoveries, mathematical difquifitions, philofophical enquiries and experiments; aftronomical, meteorological and geographical obfervations; improvements in agriculture, arts, manufacture, commerce, and the cultivation of every fcience that may tend to advance a free, independent, and virtuous people. There are never to be more than two hundred members, nor lefs than forty. This fociety has four ftated annual meetings.

The MASSACHUSETTS CHARITABLE SOCIETY, incorporated December 16, 1779, is intended for the mutual aid of themselves and families, who may be diftreffed by any of the adverse accidents of life, and for the comforting and relieving of widows and orphans of their deceased memThe members of this fociety meet annually, and are not to exceed an hundred in number.

bers.

The BOSTON EPISCOPAL CHARITABLE SOCIETY, first inftituted in 1724, and incorporated February 12, 1784, has for its object, charity to fuch as are of the epifcopal church, and to fuch others as the fociety fhall think fit; but more especially the relief of those who are members of, and benefactors to the fociety, and afterwards become suitable objects of its charity. The members of this fociety meet annually, and are not to exceed one hundred in number.

The MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY, was incorporated November 1, 1781. The defign of this inftitution is, to promote medical and furgical knowledge; enquiries into the animal economy, and the properties and effects of medicine, by encouraging a free intercourfe with the gentlemen of the faculty throughout the United States of America, and a friendly correfpondence with the eminent in thofe profeffions throughout the world; as well as to make a juft difcrimination between fuch as are duly educated and properly qualified for the duties thereof, and thofe who may ignorantly and wickedly adminifter medicine, whereby the health and lives of many valuable individuals may be endangered, and perhaps loft to the community.

Further to evidence their humanity and benevolence, a number of the medical and other gentlemen, in the town of Bofton, in 1785, formed a fociety, by the name of the HUMANE SOCIETY, for the purpofe of recovering perfons apparently dead, from drowning, fuffocation, ftrangling, and other accidents. This Humane Society have erected three huts, furnifhed with wood, tinder boxes, blankets, &c. one on Lovel's Island in Boston harbour, one on Nantasket beach, and another on Situate beach near Marfhfield, for the comfort of fhip-wrecked feamen. Huts of the fame kind are erected on Plumb-Inland, near Newbury, by the Marine Society of that place; and there are alfo fome contiguous to Hampton and Salifbury beach.

At

[ocr errors]

At their femiannual meetings, a public difcourfe is delivered by fome perfon appointed by the truftees for that purpofe, on fome medical fubject connected with the principal object of the fociety; and as a ftimulus to inveftigation, and a reward of merit, a medal is adjudged annually, by the prefident and trustees, to the perfon who exhibits the most approved differtation.

The SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL among the Indians and others in North America, was incorporated November 19,1787. They are enabled to receive fubfcriptions of charitably difpofed perfons, and may take any perfonal eftate in fucceffion. All donations to the fociety, either by fubfcriptions, legacy or otherwife, excepting fuch as may be differently appropriated by the donors, to make a part of, or be put into the capital stock of the fociety, which is to be put out on interelt on good fecurity, or otherwife improved to the best advantage, and the income and profits are to be applied to the purpofes aforefaid, in fuch manner as the fociety fhall judge moft conducive to answer the design of their inftitution.

This Society is formed into a board of commiffioners from the Scot's Society for promoting Christian Knowledge among the Indians in Ame

rica.

Next to Pennsylvania, this ftate has the greatest number of focieties for the promotion of useful knowledge and human happiness; and as they are founded on the broad bafis of benevolence and charity, they cannot fail to profper. Thefe inftitutions, which are fatt encreafing in almost every state in the union, are fo many evidences of the advanced and advancing state of civilization and improvement in this country. They prove, likewife, that a free republican government, like ours, is of all others the most happily calculated to promote a general diffufion of useful knowledge, and the most favourable to the benevolent and humane feelings of the human heart.

Literature, Colleges, Academies, &c.] According to the laws of this Commonwealth, every town having fifty houfholders or upwards, is to be conitantly provided with a fchool-mafter, to teach children and youth to read and write; and where any town has 100 families, there is alfo to be a grammar-school fet up therein, and fome difcreet perfon, well inftructed in the language, procured to keep the fame, and be fuitably paid by the inhabitants.

Thefe laws refpecting fchools, are not fo well regarded in many parts of the ftate, as the wife purposes which they were intended to anfwer, and the happiness of the people, require.

Next in importance to the Grammar Schools are the Academies, in which, as well as in the Grammar Schools, young gentlemen are fitted for admiffion to the University.

DUMMER ACADEMY, at Newbury, was founded many years fince, by means of a liberal donation from the Honourable William Dummer, formerly Lieutenant Governor, and a worthy man, whofe name it has ever fince retained. It was incorporated in 1782, and is under the fuperintendence of fourteen refpectable trustees.

PHILLIPS'S ACADEMY, at Andover, owes its existence to the benefactions of the Honourable Samuel Phillips, Efq; of Andover, in the

Count

« הקודםהמשך »