and we have two handsome school houses in the central district. Our other public buildings are eight houses for Divine worship, (including the one above mentioned) where 30 years ago two were found sufficient. The busy workings of sectarianism have created a singular passion for multiplying meeting houses, as though religion requires one for every chapter in the bible, and our religious societies are so minutely divided that our ministers receive but a slender support.* Monumental Edifice or Pilgrim Hall.-For a particular description of this edifice the reader is referred to page 244. For the want of funds the front has not hitherto been adorned with the Doric portico, according to the original design. It is highly gratifying that the sum required, in addition to the late Dr. Lothrop's donation, for that very desirable purpose, has recently been obtained by subscription, and a handsome portico, was in 1834, erected, 8 feet wide in front, and supported by six pillars of wood 16 feet high. The whole building has been repaired and the hall finished in handsome style. The following streets and squares received their designations in 1823. Leyden Street, is that which was laid out in 1620, being the first street ever opened in Plymouth. It extends from the town square to Water street. Market Street, commences at the town house on the westerly side, and Bramhall's corner, so termed, on the east side, and extends south only to the stone arch bridge. Summer Street, extends south westerly from Market street, to the fork of roads beyond the rolling mill. Spring Street, is in the avenue extending northerly from Summer street to the Burial Hill. It was called Spring Lane by the first planters, as it led from their Fort Hill to a well known spring near the upper corn mill. High Street extends southwesterly from Market street, over rising ground, crossing Spring street, to Tribble's corner on the east side, and Bartlett's corner on the west side. Pleasant Street extends from the stone arch bridge, over the hill known by the name of Watson's Hill, to the training Green. Ring's Lane is the avenue anciently known by that name *There is no making christians of sectarians. You may make a thousand sectarians sooner than one christian. You may make proselytes, and convert to and from every sect in existence, you will not bring your converts one step nearer to the religion whose doctrine is love, for exclusion is in their mouths and supremacy in their hearts, and these are the essence of sectarianism, call it by what denomination you will.' leading from Summer street, and crossing Little Brook to the termination of High street. Mill Lane is the avenue from the lower corn mill to Summer street. Sandwich Street is the ancient street on the south side of the town brook, extending southwesterly from the stone arch bridge by Training Green to Wellingsly brook. This is the post road to Cape Cod. North Street begins at Warren's corner on the south side, and Dr. Cotton's corner on the north side, and ends at Water street. Water Street commences at the termination of North street, and extends southerly by the head of the wharves, across the lower bridge, and ends at its junction with Sandwich street. Middle Street, formerly known by the title of King's street, leads from Main street to Cole's Hill. Main Street begins at Hedge's corner on the east side, and at Wethrell's corner on the west side, and extends north-northwest by the head of North street to Cotton's corner. Court Street begins at Cotton's corner and extends north westerly to Wood's lane. The elm trees on the west side of this street were planted in 1830. School Street is the avenue which extends northerly from the first meeting-house, by the head of the gardens, to the new Court-house. North Alley extends northerly from Middle street to North street. South Alley is the opposite alley leading from Middle street to Leyden street. A new street was laid out in 1834, beginning at the house of Mrs. Nicolson, and running by the north side of the Courthouse, south-westerly, till it enters Summer street. On the north side of this street, on elevated ground, is a dwelling house erected the same year by Mr. Charles Sever, lately deceased, being the first house erected on that street. Training Green is a handsome square on the south side of the town brook, laid out many years since by the town in perpetuity for the convenience of training companies. Town Square is a handsome public square at the head of Leyden street, directly in front of the meeting-house of the first parish, having the old court-house, (now town-house,) on the south, and the dwelling house and garden of Mr. Brigham Russell, formerly owned and occupied by Capt. Thomas Davis, deceased, on the north side. This square has a gradual descent into Leyden street, and unites with Water street, near the spot where the pilgrims spent the first winter. The square is orna mented by six majestic elm trees, the planting of which the author witnessed in 1734, being brought from Portsmouth, by Capt. Thomas Davis. The largest in 1834, measured in circumference nine feet, averaging about two inches annual growth since first planted. Court Square, formerly called Training Green, is in front of the new court-house, and Mrs. Nicolson's boarding house. The elm trees in that square were planted in May, 1832. Agriculture. In the general view the land in this town is hilly, barren, and sandy; but a border of considerable extent on the sea-board having been well cultivated, consists of a rich, loamy soil, capable of yielding any agricultural production. The art of agriculture, however, has never been an object of study and consideration by the inhabitants of the town, the pursuits of commerce and navigation being more congenial to their habits and taste than the labors of husbandry, especially on a soil not sufficiently fertile to encourage their efforts. There are, nevertheless, locations near the shore, where we have seen fields of Indian corn, potatoes, rye, wheat, clover, and other cultivated grass, which would bear a comparison with the best farms in any part of the Old Colony. Instances have occurred of the produce of four tons of English hay per acre, and some of our fields have yielded summer wheat of excellent quality, at the rate of more than thirty bushels per acre; and a premium was awarded to one of our industrious farmers for the production of forty-three bushels of rye on one acre and seven rods. But these instances are stated as the maximum, and not the average. Our meadows generally will average from one and a half to two tons, and our corn land about twenty to thirty bushels per acre. The principal part of the corn and rye, and all the flour consumed in town, are imported from the Southern States, or from Boston. A considerable number of sheep are grazed in the woods and on the commons in summer, without expense to the owners. Orchards have not generally flourished to much advantage in this town. Although the trees are remarkable for rapid growth and healthy aspect, it is seldom that they yield a corresponding abundance of fruit. The peach tree has so uniformly disappointed our expectations, that it would appear that our climate is uncongenial to its nature. Our gardens in general are sufficiently productive for all the purposes of culinary and domestic consumption, and some there are which exhibit the skill of the botanist and horticulturist. The vine has been recently introduced into our gardens, and there is no reason to doubt but that those who are disposed to bestow the requisite care and attention on its culture, will be able to furnish their tables with the luxurious fruit in sufficient plenty, though it is not to be expected or desired that the wine press will ever be in requisition among us. The ancient Warren færm, situated at Eel river, three miles south of our village, has been, from the first settlement, in the possession of the Warren family, having descended from Richard Warren, who came over in the Mayflower in 1620. This very valuable tract, consisting of about four hundred acres, has, for a long time, suffered deterioration from wrong management and neglect. It is now in possession of John Thomas, Esq., who has commenced its renovation. This gentleman, having acquired a knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of the modern mode of culture, has, with commendable enterprise and industry, applied himself for two years past to improvement, in conformity with it. He has procured a stock of short-horned cattle, and is extending their breed. The sea shore furnishes rock-weed and kelp in abundance for compost manure, and he has greatly enriched the meadow land, and prepared fifty acres for mowing next season. The contiguity of this farm to the sea shore greatly enhances its value. There is another valuable farm, near the northern limits of the town, which, in 1665, was the seat of Governor Prince. This farm is bounded on its whole length by the sea bank, and I consists of a variety of soils. It is now in the possession of Isaac L. Hedge, Esq., who, duly appreciating the value of a long neglected farm, is now engaged in meliorating its condition, in all respects according to modern improvements. He has, at great expense, erected a large convenient farm-house and out building, and stocked the place with English short-horn cattle. His barn and yard for swine are on a plan admirably adapted for the making compost manure, and the adjacent shore furnishes abundant materials for the purpose. There is in the centre of the farm an immense mass of clay for the manufacture of brick, which is conducted on a large scale. There is a beautiful brook passing through the farm and emptying into the sea. A considerable number of acres had never received the plough tl the last summer, and the soil is excellent. Mr. Hedge has paid great attention to fruit trees and gardening, and he, with Mr. Thomas, is presenting excellent examples for imitation. Below Plymouth town, bordering on Sandwich and Wareham, is a district of country, nearly twenty miles square, that is chiefly covered with wood, for the growth of which it is more valuable than for any other purpose. This place has always been well stocked with deer, but they are thinned off annually by the hunters. In January, 1831, a heavy snow, laying about three feet deep, so impeded their motions as to prove fatal to a large proportion of the stock. A number of people provided themselves with snow-shoes, and pursued these beautiful animals, killing and capturing not less than two hundred. About forty were taken alive. The pine commons of Wareham, Sandwich, and Plymouth, have ever been the favorite haunt of the fallow deer, where this timid animal finds some sequestered delis, some secret recesses; a covert from his enemy, man, where 'He bursts the thicket, glances through glade, About the year 1730, John Rider, of Plymouth, killed three deer at a shot. It was in the summer season, in a rye field; tradition designates the place on the South Pond road. It was out of season by law to kill deer. The superior court, then in session, excused the man on the spot, it being in protection of his standing grain. This anecdote was related in England, by General John Winslow, in very high circles. It excited the smile of incredulity in that country, yet no event is more true. Tradition gives another instance equally extraordinary. A sachem named Samson, a mighty hunter in days of yore, seeing a number of deer drinking at a brook, killed so many at a shot, (too many it is said to be stated,) as acquired for him immortal fame among the huntsmen of the forest. The valuation in 1831 gives to Plymouth, woodland 11,662; unimproved, 19,463; unimprovable, 734 acres. Commerce and Navigation of Plymouth, past and present. In 1670, a valuation states the fish boats thus: Three of these were owned by Edward Gray, a respectable merchant. From this period to 1770, the fisheries were gradually increasing, and in 1774, seventy-five fishing vessels, of about 45 to 50 tons, navigated by seven or eight men each, were employed in this town. Merchant vessels from 1755, to 1770, or 1774, in the Liverpool trade: |