county of Effex, and State of Maffachusetts Bay, and the Honourable John Phillips, Efq; of Exeter, in the county of Rockingham, and State of New-Hampshire. It was incorporated October 4, 1780, and has twelve trustees.. LEICESTER ACADEMY, in the township of Leicester, was incorporated in 1784. For the encouragement of this inftitution, Ebenezer Crafts and Jacob Davis, Efqrs; generoufly gave a large and commodious manfionhoufe, lands and appurtenances in Leicester, for that use. At William's-Town, in Berkshire county, is another Academy, which is yet in its infancy. Colonel Ephraim Williams has made a handfome donation in lands, for its encouragement and fupport. At Hingham is a well endowed school, or Academy, which, in honour of its principal donor and founder, is called DERBY SCHOOL. Thefe Academies have very handsome funds, and are flourishing The defigns of the trustees are, to diffeminate virtue and true piety, to promote the education of youth in the English, Latin, Greek, and French languages, to encourage their inftruction in writing, arithmetic, oratory, geography, practical geometry, logic, philofophy, and fuch other of the liberal arts and sciences, or languages, as may be thought expedient. HARVARD COLLEGE (now UNIVERSITY) takes its date from the year 1638. Two years before, the general court gave four hundred pounds for the fupport of a public fchool at Newtown, which has fince been called Cambridge. This year (1638) the Rev. Mr. John Harvard, a worthy minifter refiding in Charleston, died, and left a donation of £.779 for the ufe of the forementioned public fchool. In honour to the memory of fo liberal a benefactor, the general court the fame year, ordered that the fchool fhould take the name of HARVARD COLLEGE. In 1642, the College was put upon a more refpectable footing, and the governor, deputy governor and magiftrates, and the minifters of the fix next adjacent towns, with the prefident, were erected into a corporation for the ordering and managing its concerns. This year nine young gen tlemen received the decree of Batchelor of Arts. It received its firft char ter in 1650. Cambridge, in which the univerfity is fituated, is a pleasant village, four miles weftward from Bofton, containing a number of gentlemens feats, which are neat and well built. The university confifts of four elegant brick edifices, hand fomely enclofed. They ftand on a beautiful green, which fpreads to the north-weft, and exhibit a pleasing view. The names of the feveral buildings are, Harvard-Hall, MaffachusettsHall, Hollis Hall, and Holden-Chapel. Harvard-Hall is divided into fix apartments; one of which is appropriated for the library, one for the mufeum, two for the philofophical apparatus, one is used for a chapel, and the other for a dining hall. The library, in 1787, confifted of 12,000 volumes; and will be continually increafing from the intereft of permanent funds, as well as from cafual benefactions. The philofophical apparatus belonging to this univerfity, coft between 1400 and £.1500 lawful money, and is the most elegant and complete of any in America. Agreeable to the prefent conftitution of Maffachusetts, his excellency the governor, lieutenant governor, the council and fenate, the prefident of the univerfity, and the minifters of the congregational churches in the towns towns of Boston, Charleston, Cambridge, Waterton, Roxbury, and Dorchester, are ex officiis, overfeers of the Univerfity. The corporation is a diftinct body, confifting of feven members, in whom is vefted the property of the university. The inftructors in the univerfity are, a prefident, Hollifian profeffor of divinity, Hollifian profeffor of the mathematics and natural philofophy, Hancock profeffor of oriental languages, profeffor of anatomy and furgery, profeffor of the theory and practice of phyfic, profeffor of chymiftry and materia medica, and four tutors. This univerfity as to its library, philofophical apparatus, and profefforfhips, is at prefent the firft literary inftitution on this continent. Since its first establishment, 3146 ftudents have received honorary degrees from its fucceffive officers; 1002 of whom have been ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. It has generally from 120 to 150 ftudents. Chief towns.] BoSTON is the capital, not only of Massachusetts, but of New-England. It is built on a peninfula of an irregular form, at the bottom of Maffachusetts Bay. The neck, or ifthmus which joins the peninsula to the continent, is at the fouth end of the town, and leads to Roxbury. The length of the town, including the neck, is about three miles; the town itself is not quite two miles. Its breadth is various. At the entrance from Roxbury it is narrow. The greatest breadth is one mile and 139 yards. The buildings in the town cover about 1000 acres. It contains near 1800 dwelling-houses. By a late computation, the number of inhabitants was found to be 14,640, of thefe 6,570 were males, and 8,070 females. This number is exclufive of ftrangers and tranfient perfons, who make nearly one third of the whole number of fouls in Boston. The ratable polls, at the time of the cenfus, were about 2,620. In this town there are feventy-nine ftreets, thirty-eight lanes, and twenty-one alleys, exclufive of fquares and courts; and about eighty wharfs and quays, very convenient for veffels. The principal wharf extends 600 yards into the fea, and is covered on the north fide with large and convenient ftores. It far exceeds any other wharf in the United States. In Boston are fixteen houses for publick worship; of which nine are for congregationalifts, three for epifcopalians, two for baptifts, one for the friends, and one for univerfalifts, or independents. There is one old meeting-house defolate and in ruins, in School-street. The other public buildings are the ftate-house, Faneuil-hall, an alms house, a workhouse, and a bridewell. That building which was formerly the governor's houfe, is now occupied in its feveral apartments, by the council, the treasurer, and the secretary; the two latter hold their offices in it. The public granary is converted into a store, and the linen manufactory house is now occupied by the bank. Most of the public buildings are handfome, and fome of them are elegant. The town is irregularly built, but, as it lies in a circular form around the harbour, it exhibits a very handsome view as you approach it from the fea. On the west fide of the town is the mall, a very beautiful public walk, adorned with rows of trees, and in view of the common, which is always open to re freshing breezes. Beacon hill, which overlooks the town from the west, affords a fine variegated profpect. The harbour of Boston is fafe, and large enough to contain 500 fhips at at anchor, in a good depth of water; while the entrance is fo narrow as fcarcely to admit two fhips abreaft. It is diverfified with many islands, which afford rich pafturing, hay and grain. About three miles from the town is the castle, which commands the entrance of the harbour. Here are mounted about forty pieces of heavy artillery, befides a large number of a smaller fize. The fort is garrifoned by a company of about fifty foldiers, who alfo guard the convicts that are fentenced, and fent here to labour Thefe are all employed in the nail manufactory. In Bofton there are two grammar fchools, and four for writing, &c. whose mafters are fupported by the town: befides twelve or fourteen private schools. It has been computed, that during the fiege in 1775, as many houses were deftroyed in Boston by the British troops, as were burnt in Charleston. Since the peace, a fpirit of repairs and improvement has diffuféd itfelf among the inhabitants. A few years may render the metropolis of Maffachusetts as famed for arts, manufactures, and commerce, as any city in the United States. The town next to Bofton, in point of numbers and commercial importance, is Salem. This town was fettled as early as 1628, by Mr. Endicot, afterwards governor, and a colony under his direction. It is the oldeft town in the ftate, except Plymouth, which was fettled eight years before. In 1786, it contained 646 dwelling-houfes, and 6700 inhabitants. In this town are five churches for congregationalifts, one for epifcopalians, and a meeting houfe for the friends. Its harbour is inferior to that of Bofton. The inhabitants, notwithstanding, carry on a large foreign trade. Salem is fifteen miles north-eastward of Boston, and is confidered as the metropolis of the county of Effex. Newbury Port, forty-five miles eastward from Bofton, is fituated on the fouthweft fide of Merrimak river, about two miles from the fea. The town is about a mile in length, and a fourth of a mile in breadth, and contains 450 dwelling-houfes, and 4113 natural inhabitants. It has one epifcopal, one prefbyterian, and two congregational churches. The bufinefs of fhip-building is largely carried on here. Thefe towns, with Marblehead, Gloucefter or Cape Ann, and Beverly, carry on the fishery, which furnishes the principal article of exportation from Massachusetts. Worcester is one of the largest inland towns in New-England. It is the fhire town of Worcester county, and is about forty-feven miles weftward of Boston. On Connecticut river, in the county of Hampshire, are a number of very pleasant towns. Of thefe Springfield is the oldeft and largest. It ftands on the eaft fide of Connecticut river, about ninety-fix miles weftward of Boston. The courts are held here and at Northampton alternately. Within its ancient limits are about 700 families, who are divided into eight worshipping affemblies. The original townfhip has been divided into fix parifhes, fome of which have been Incorporated into distinct townships. The fettlement of Springfield was b gun in 1636, by William Pynchon, Efq; whofe defcendants are ftill living in the place He called the place Springfield, in remembrance of his native place in England, which bore that name. Hardley is a neat little town on the oppofite fide of the river from Northampton. Northampton, Northampton, Hatfield, and Deerfield are all pleafant, flourishing towns, fucceeding each other as you travel northerly on the weft fide of the river. Conftitution.] The conftitution of the Commonwealth of Maffachusetts, established in 1780, contains a declaration of rights and a frame of government. The declaration afferts the natural freedom and equality of men-Liberty of confcience-Freedom of the prefs-Trial by jury-Sovereignty and independence-that all power is derived from the peoplethat hereditary honours and emoluments are inadmiffible that every sub ject is entitled to protection of life, liberty, and property-and, in return, muft obey the laws and pay his proportion of the common expence that he fhall not be obliged to accufe himself; but may be heard in his own defence-that he may keep arms; but ftanding armies fhall not be maintained in time of peace-that no tax fhall be levied without the confent of the people by their reprefentatives-that no ex poft facto law fhall be made that the martial law fhall extend only to men in actual military fervice-that the legislative, executive, and judiciary powers shall be kept distinct, &c. By the frame of government, the power of legiflation is lodged in a general court, confifting of two branches, viz. a fenate and a house of representatives, each having a negative upon the other. They meet annually on the laft Tuesday in May. No act can be paffed without the approbation of the governor, unless two-thirds of both branches are in favour of it. Either branch, or the governor and council, may require the opinion of the juftices of the fupreme judicial court, upon important queftions. Senators are chosen by districts, of which there cannot be lefs than thirteen. The number of counsellors and fenators, for the whole commonwealth, is forty; the number of each district is in proportion to their public taxes; but no district shall be fo large, as to have more than fix. Sixteen fenators make a quorum. The reprefentatives are chosen by the feveral towns, according to their numbers of rateable polls. For 150 polls one is elected; and for every addition of 225, an additional one. Their travelling expences to and from the general court, are defrayed by the public, but their wages for attendance are paid by their own towns. Impeachments, for misconduct in office, are made by the reprefentatives, and tried by the fenate; but the judgment can go only to removal from office and future difqualification. Money bills originate in the house of reprefentatives, but may be altered by the fenate. Representatives are privileged from arrefts on mefne procefs. Sixty members make a quorum. The fupreme executive authority is vested in a governor, who is elected annually by the people, and has a council confifting of the lieutenant-governor, and nine gentlemen chofen out of the forty, who are returned for counsellors and fenators. Five counfellors make a quorum. The governor is commander of all the military force of the commonwealth. He may convene the general court, may adjourn them, when the two branches difagree about the time, and in their recefs, may prorogue them from time to time, not exceeding ninety days-may pardon convicts, but the legislature alone can grant pardons before conviction. He commiflions all officers, and, with advice of council, appoints all judicial officers. Military officers are thus appointed; the refpective companies choose their captain and fubalterns, who choose their regimental officers, who choofe their their brigadiers. The major-generals are appointed by the general court. all other judicial, Juftices of the peace are commiffioned for feven years; and all executive and military offices, continue during good behaviour, yet are removeable by the governor, upon addrefs of the legislature. The falaries of governor and juftices of the fupreme court, cannot be diminished, although they may be enlarged. Official qualifications are as follow for a voter, twenty-one year's age, one year's refidence, a freehold of three pounds annual value, or fixty pounds of any other eftate— for a reprefentative, £ 100 freehold, or £.200 other eftate, and one year's refidence in the town for a senator, .300 freehold, or £.600 other estate in the commonwealth, and five years refidence in the district -for goyears refidence. vernor, or lieutenant-governor, £1000 freehold, and seven Every governor, lieutenant-governor, counsellor, fenator, or reprefentative, muft declare that he believes the Chriftian religion, and has the legal qualifications. A governor, lieutenant-governor, or juftice of the fupreme court can hold no other office. No man fhall Hold two of thefe offices, judge of probate, sheriff, regifter. No juftices of the fupreme court, fecretary, attorney-general, treafurer, judge of probate, inftructor of Harvard College, clerk, register, fheriff, or custom officer can have a feat in the legislature. The privilege of Habeas Corpus cannot be fufpended more than a year at one time. In 1795, if two-thirds of the lified voters defire it, a convention fhall be called to revise the constitution. qua Bridges.] The principal bridge in this ftate, or in any of the United States, is that which was built over Charles river, between Boston and Charleston, in 1786. The following is an accurate defcription of this convenient and handfome ftructure : The abutment at Charleston, from the old landing, is 36 Piers at an equal dittance, to draw, Width of the draw, 39 Piers at equal diftance, 75 The whole number of piers. Spaces to the abutment at Boston, Abutment at Boston to the old landing, Whole length, Feet. 100 16 522 30 6720 Each pier is composed of feven sticks of oak timber, united by a cappiece, ftrong braces and girts, and afterwards driven into the bed of the river, and firmly secured by a fingle pile on each fide, driven obliquely to a folid bottom. The piers are connected to each other by large ftring pieces, which are covered with four-inch plank. The bridge is 43 feet in width, and on each fide is accommodated with a paffage fix feet wide, railed in for the fafety of people on foot. The bridge has a gradual rife from each end, so as to be two feet higher in the middle than at the extremities. Forty elegant lamps are erected at a fuitable distance from each other, |