instrument kept in readiness from year to year. He tells us that Ipswich, that is, the place now so called, was particularly noticed by that wonder of wonders, Capt. John Smith, as early as 1614, when there was nothing like an European settlement from Manhattan to Newfoundland. At this time, and for considerable space after the arrival of the English, the country thereabouts was called Agawam, which was its real Indian name; a name, our author thinks was given to it from its abounding in "fish of passage." This may be true, although numerous other places noted for the same, are not named Agawam. As to the name Ipswich, it was given to that place by its English inhabitants, to remind themselves and their posterity of the kindnesses that were extended to them by the inhabitants of Ipswich in England, from whence many of them took their departure for America. Few names in our country, except those given by the Indians have any reference to their situation or products. It was not so in England. Places there were named, originally, according to the true definition of their names:-thus Exmouth was situated at the mouth of the Ex or Ax; Norfolk, or north folk, and Suffolk, south folk, or the south people, in contradistinction to those on the north of them. The name Ipswich is not quite as clearly defined, but denoted its situation upon the river Gippen, which was at its confluence with the Orwell. In Dooms-daybook it is written Gyppeswick, Gyppewic, &c. This spelling gradually changed to Yppyswyche, and lastly to Ipswich. To an ancient Briton, as well as to an original American, the name of a place at the same time told him what its situation was, or for what it was noted; but the modern inhabitant can no more tell whether a place be upon a river or a good way from one, by the signification of its name; whether it be noted for its animals or its fruits, its trees or stones. Although Ipswich was occupied by the whites in 1633, yet they do not appear to have purchased it of its real owner, until 1638. This year the Sachem called Masconomet, or Mascononomo, sold Agawam to Mr. John Winthrop for £20. Mr. Felt has treated his subject in a different manner from others who have heretofore written town histories. He has collected the facts of every department under suitable heads in the manner following: First Settlers.-As in other towns of the colony, no persons were admitted as inhabitants with out the consent of its frecmen. When this custom fell into disuse we are not told. In 1634, Rev. Thomas Parker with a company of about 150 persons took up their abode in Ipswich. Grants, &c.-In 1635 the Genl. Court ordered that no dwelling house should be built above half a mile from the meeting house in any new plantation, without the leave of the court, &c. 1649, Ipswich is allowed two fifths of Plumb Island. Common Lands.-On 16 April, 1683, it was ordered that no man shall cut any grass on Plumb Island before the 10 July, nor any family use above two scythes at a time.-1757. Voted, that Capt. Jonathan Fellows, of Cape Ann, have the use of all the sandbanks lying in Ipswich, for one year at £2 13s. 4d.-Those must have been golden days for the gentlemen of the chord; for many a shoe left the best part of its sole upon the sanded floor, which it had shuffled but one night. Titles.-The title of Mr. was borne only by officers of the militia, captains and mates of vessels, eminent merchants, schoolmasters, doctors, clergymen, persons who had received a second degree at college, and who had been made freemen. To be deprived of this title was a great degradation. The wives of those thus entitled were called Mrs. Sept. 27, 1631. Josiah Plaistow of Boston, was sentenced by the court of Assistants to be deprived of his title of Mr. Our author should have added that the offence was for stealing corn from the Indians. Besides losing his title of gentleman he was ordered to pay £5. Lightningrods.-There has been none in Essex or in Hamilton. The only one recollected eighty years since, was on the old jail. There are now seven in Ipswich. A probable reason for their not being formerly more introduced here, was the prejudice, very prevalent through the colonies, that the erection of them upon buildings was a resistance to Providence, because attracting the electric fluid from its direct course. It is well that such Mahomedan fatality has not the influence it once had, in preventing the improvements of science. 1659. The General Court grant each town copies of Mr. Norton's work, in the press, against the Quakers, in proportion to its rates. Thus the artillery of the legislature of the commonwealth was brought into the field against a poor handful of fanatics, to whom indifference would have been far inore formidable. Ipswich owes not a little of its ancient renown to that worthy and excellent man, the Rev. William Hubbard. For an account of him as well as others, who should be mentioned, we can only refer our reader to the work of Mr. Felt. But as every thing is of the greatest interest which in any way concerns that eminent individual, we note the following facts which happen to be known to us : 15 Feb. 1665. William Hubbard of Ipswich & Mary his wife deed to Robert & Samuel Williams of Roxbury, "all that hie fowerteen acres of Salt Marsh, be it more or lesse Lying at the lower end of the field called ye Lower Calves Pasture, within the precincts of Roxbury, and not farre from the tyde mill in Dorchester," &c. Concerning what the author has said about Mr. Hubbard's presiding at the commencement in 1688, we offer the following extract from an old manuscript letter, dated 2 July of that year, by Mr. John Richards. Said letter was for Dr. Increase Mather, then in London:-"The commencement is to be managed this year by Mr. William Hubbard of Ipswich. The Govr. sent to Mr. Lee to do it, who likewise intended, but was not positive in his answer, and so Mr. Hubbard is to manage it. [He] hath been here about it." In Judge Sewall's celebrated Diary is this entry:-14 Sept. 1704, Thursday. Mr. William Hubbard of Ipswich, goes to the Lecture, after to Col. Appleton's, goes home and dies that night. We will close our short notice of this valuable work with the following extract. After giving some facts concerning "Unity Lodge," in Ipswich, and candidly observing that its members "do not undertake to assert, that no lodges in our country have become so corrupt, as to engage, that, if expediency or necessity require, they will violate laws both human and divine," very sensibly proceeds: But they can truly declare, that neither they nor any lodge of New-England, with which they have any acquaintance, have ever understandingly covenanted to countenance, much less to practice immoralities. They feel themselves bound to condemn the murderers of Morgan, if such there be, and the attempts to prevent the infliction of justice upon them, as upon other members of the community. It would, however, be infatuation to pretend, that Masonry is free from every fault. Like all institutions of human origin, it has imperfections. Among these imperfections is a part of the figurative expressions and forms, used on the admission of its members. Such things, if they were not formerly defects, have become so, wherever the benevolent spirit and enlightened views of Christianity prevail. The object of legitimate Masonry can now be accomplished without them. With regard to the proposal before our legislature, it is a question deserving serious and general consideration, whether they should not only forbid Masonic, Phi Beta Kappa, and other literary societies oaths of secrecy, but also oaths of every description. The true man will tell the truth without an oath. The false man will declare falsely with an cath. Indeed, who is not shocked to witness the frequent perjury which takes place in our courts of justice? In cases of this sort, the perjurer implicitly calls upon his Maker to destroy his soul, if he do not speak truly. There is nothing really so awful as this in the obligations of Masonry. While the axe is laid to one root, let be laid to the whole. Let a law be passed, prohibiting oaths of every kind, and requiring, when necessary, the solemn affirmation of the Friends. Let this be done, and then the public welfare will not have cause to complain, that while one part of its claims are listened to by a numerous legislative assembly, the other is neglected. OUR FILE. "A New Theory of Comets, ' "Visions of the Past," "Rainy-Day Musings," "Political Parties," are on file for the next number. Several contributions from unknown writers are under consideration, and may find a place, when we are made acquainted with the authors' names. The short poetical articles from a lady, whose former contributions have been inserted, have too local or personal applications to interest the majority of readers. POLITICS AND STATISTICS. INCLUDING NOTICES OF COLLEGES UNIVERSITIES, &c. UNITED STATES. Since the adjournment of Congress, the political discussions of the public journals have turned chiefly upon the local politics of individual states. Elections have already been held in some of the Western states, the results of which, so far as they are known, are supposed to manifest changes of opinion in regard to the National Administration. In others, elections are soon to take place, and the preparations indicate a fierce contention. New-York and Pennsylvania, it is said, form the battleground, on which the great question between the Tories and Whigs, or the Administration party and the Opposition, is to be decided. The elections in these states will be held in October and November. The President of the United States left Washington, immediately after the adjournment of Congress, for his residence in Tennessee, where he arrived early in August. New Gold Coin. On the first of August, the coinage of gold, according to the new ratio of gold to silver, commenced at the Mint. The peculiarities, which distinguish the new gold coin from the old, are stated thus, by the Director of the Mint, in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury : On the face, the new coins will be readily distinguished by a head of Liberty disencumbered of a cap. On the reverse, the surplus motto, "E Pluribus Unum," which for many years has occupied a portion of the disk above the figure of the Eagle, is now omitted. These changes, independently of the facility to be derived from them, in distinguishing the future from the past emissions of our gold coins, are recommended by a nearer adherence to the provisions of the law, as well as by the rules of taste and classic authority. In regard to the omission of the motto above referred to, the same improvement was introduced in the quarter dollar in 1831, the subject having, by communication of the 29th January, of that year, been submitted to the President, through the Department, and approved. The Eagle of the former issues weighs 270 grains, the Half Eagle 135 grains, and the Quarter 67 grains. The Eagle, under the present Jaw, will weigh 258 grains, the Half Eagle 129 grains, and the Quarter 644 grains. These weights are recited because desirable to be kept in mind, rather than as affording a farther criterion of distinction between the two classes of coins-since an inspection, much more cursory than that of weighing, will distinguish them by the preceding characteristics. The Eagle and Half Eagle of the new coinage will be less in diameter than those of the former emissions, and that in a greater proportion than the diminution of weight would indicate. This, however, though a decided amendment of our coinage, is of less value at a distinctive mark, since the comparison would require the presence of coin of both classes. Another letter from the Director of the Mint to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated August 16, presents the following facts: Statement of the amount of gold subject to coinage under the new ratio, deposited within the period commencing 1st June, and ending 1st August, 1834, with the whole amount coined to the latter date from August 1st, and the amount of coin delivered. Gold Bullion deposited in June-coinage deferred under an anticipation of the action of Congress, Gold deposited in July, and deferred, viz: Uncoined Bullion, 133,300 Coins of the United States, 226,300 Foreign Coins, Gold deposited from the 1st to the 9th August: $61,500 47,400 407,000 $234,500 Whole amount coined from 1st to 9th August, Remaining uncoined August 9th, Commerce and Navigation. From the statements published of the commerce and navigation of the United States, for the year 1833, and comparisons of some of the items with those of preceding years, the Baltimore American has gleaned the following statistical items, which are interesting for reference. The whole amount of exports for the year, was $90,140,433, of which $70,317,698 were of domestic, and $19,882,735 of foreign articles. The total for 1832 was $87,176,443, of which $63,137,470 were domestic, and $24,039,473 foreign. For 1831, the total was $81,310,583, of which $61,277,057 were domestic, and $20,033,526 foreign. The exportation of flour for the three years, was, in 1831, 1,806,529 bbls; 1832, 864,919 bbls; 1833, 955,788. Of cotton, Sea Island, 1831, 8,311,762; 1832, 8,743,373 lbs; 1833, 11,142,987 lbs; of other cottons, the exports were respectively, 268,668,122, 313,471,749, and, 313,555,617 lbs. The aggregate value of all the importations into the United States, was, for the three years, severally, $103,191,124, $101,029,266, and $108,118,311. The navigation tables furnish the following as the total of the tonnage of the United States, registered, enrolled, and licensed for those years; 1,191,176, 1,267,846, 1,439,450, tons. In 1833, there arrived 1,111,441 tons of American shipping, and departed 1,142,160 tons. Of foreign shipping, there arrived 496,705 tons, and departed 497,039 tons. There were imported, in 1833, 15,698,050 gallons of molasses; 14,634,822 pounds of tea; 99,955,020 of coffee; 85,689,944 pounds of brown sugar; and 11,999,089 pounds of white sugar. The Navy. The number of vessels now in the American Navy, is as follows:-Twelve 74s, fourteen 44s, three 36s, two 24s, thirteen 18s, seven 12s, one 3; total, ships 52; guns, 2071. Captains in the Navy, 37; Masters Commandant, 41; Lieutenants, 252; Surgeons, 43; Assistant do. 48; Pursers, 43; Chaplains, 8; Passed Midshipmen, 134; Midshipmen, 314; Sailing Masters, 29; Boatswains, 18; Gunners, 17; Carpenters, 14; Sail-makers, 14; total officers, 1012. West Point. The following is the conclusion of the report of the Board of Visiters at the late examination of Cadets of West Point. The report is altogether favorable to this excellent institution. "The whole investigation of the Board led them to the conclusion, that the Military Academy is a most valuable and essential part of the army establishment of the United States; that at a cost so low as not to exceed that of a second rate man-of-war, it prepares and can spread over the whole country, officers instructed and capable of giving instruction in the military art, and this without the danger arising to liberty, from large standing armies in time of peace, enables the government to fulfil the duty which the Constitution so solemnly enjoins, of 'providing for the common defence,' and lastly, that if our young citizens were commissioned in the army as lieutenants, in the first instance, as they must be if this institution be abolished, they could not obtain in four years, even the same military knowledge as the Cadets, while their probation and education would be far more expensive to the country." MAINE. Waterville College. The annual Commencement took place on the 31st of July. The exercises connected with it, (as stated by a correspondent of the Hallowell Advocate) commenced with the Baccalaureate Address of the President, on the Sunday evening previous which, though on a subject of much importance, yet, on account of the commonness of such exercises on Sabbath evenings, did not excite much interest. The exercises of Tuesday commenced with an address before the Peace Society of the College, delivered by the Rev. Mr. Choules of New-Bedford, on a subject appropriate to the object. After this, the exercises connected with the public induction of Rev. Rufus Babcock, jr. into the office of President, were performed. On this occasion, an address was delivered to the candidate, by Judge Weston of Augusta, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. After a succinct history of the settlement of this state, the various and fluctuating fortunes of the tribes of Indians and bands of whites which first peopled it, especially in the vicinity of the college-he briefly adverted to the present condition of the state, her rank and importance as a member of the Union, the necessity to her maintaining a proper standing in the Union, of encouraging literature and literary institutions; and closed, by speaking of the responsibleness of the President's station, his various duties and cares, and the consequent duty of the scholar. After an original hymn, (composed for the occasion,) sung by the choir, the President, in a very able and eloquent address, took a general and comprehensive view of " the teacher's office," the course of studies and instruction best to be pursued in a literary institution, the method of government, and, in a word, every thing pertaining to the office of a public teacher of youth. In the evening, an address was delivered before the Literary Fraternity, by Freeman Bradford, on "The duties and prospects of American Youth." A splendid illumination of the college buildings, closed the performances of the evening. the The order of exercises of Commencement, was as follows, viz:-Salutatory Address in Latin-Enoch Hutchinson, Newport, N. H.; The Scholar's Reward, an Oration-Silas Ilsley, Limerick ; Literary Festivals, an Essay-Albert W. Poole, Portland, (excused); Phrenology, a Disquisition-Thomas Leishman, Boothbay; which has exerted the greatest influence on mankind, Poetry or Philosophy? a Literary DiscussionCharles Nickerson, Augusta, William Stockbridge, North-Yarmouth; Druids, a Historical Disquisition-Allen Barnes, Hartford; French Oration -Joseph C. Loring, Boston, Mass.; National Prejudice, a Poem-Francis Barker, Hanson, Mass.; The Importance of the Christian Pastor, the Foreign Missionary, and the Teacher of Youth, a Conference-Chas. W. Bradbury, Bangor, Ivory Clark, Lebanon, S. G. Sargent, Methuen, Mass.; Moral Reform, a Dissertation--Zabdiel Bradford, New-Bedford, Mass.; Comparative influence on the mind of the study of the Physical and Moral Sciences, a Philosophical Discussion-Carleton Parker, Hopkinton, Mass. Enoch Hutchinson, Newport, N. H.; War, a moral and unnecessary evil, a Dissertation-Lemuel Porter, Boston, Mass.; Progress of true principles, an Oration-Edward P. McKown, Charlestown, Mass.; Valedictory Addresses-W. B. S. Moor, A. B. Waterville, a candidate for the degree of A. M. No honorary degrees were conferred. The degree of A. B. was conferred upon seventeen young gentlemen, viz: Enoch Hutchinson, Newport, N. H.; Silas Ilsley, Limerick; Albert W. Poole, Portland; Thomas Leishman, Boothbay; Charles Nickerson, Augusta; William Stockbridge, North-Yarmouth; Allen Barrows, Hartford; J. C. Loring, Boston, Mass.; Francis Barker, Hanson, N. H.; Charles W. Bradbury, Bangor; Ivory Clark, Lebanon; Sylvanus G. Sargent, Methuen, Mass.; Zabdiel Bradford, New-Bedford, Mass.; Carleton Parker, Hopkinton, do.; Lemuel Porter, jr. Boston, do.; Edward P. McKown, Charlestown, do.; Albert W. Paine, Augusta. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon W. B. S. Moore, a graduate of the Institution. Phineas Barnes, A. M. was appointed a Professor of Greek and Latin in said College. Hon. Lemuel Paine, of Winslow, was elected Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the College, and James Stackpole, jr. Esq. of Waterville, Treasurer and Trustee; Gen. Alfred Richardson of Portland, and Rev. J. Gilpatrick, of Bluehill, were also elected Trustees. CONNECTICUT. Washington College. The annual commencement took place on Thursday, 7th August, in Christ Church, Hartford. The literary exercises performed by the graduating class, were as follows: 1. An Oration-"The infancy of intellect." Solomon Gilbert Hitchcock, Sharon. 2. A Dissertation-" The modesty of true wisdom." William Bliss Ashley, Ulster, N. Y. 3. An Oration "The natural freedom and equality of man." Abel Nichols, Newtown. 4. A Dissertation-" The erroneous views of the American people with regard to the civil commotions in Europe.' William Henry Warren, Troy, N. Y. 5. An EssayThe discovery of truth by the inductive theory." William Cooke, Salem, Mass. 6. An Oration-" The comparative influence of benevolence and selfishness." George Washington Natt, Philadelphia. 7. A Eulogy"The life and character of William Wilberforce." Henry Perkins, Hartford. 8. An Oration-" The source of ordinary pleasure.' Daniel Shepard Dewey, Hartford. 9. A Poem-"The victim of error.' Ferdinand Rogers, Hudson, N. Y. 10. An Oration-" On carrying the warmth of early feeling into the active duties of life.' William Payne, Chatham. 11. An Oration"The moral dignity of the missionary enterprize." Thomas Hubbard Vail, A. B., Norwich, candidate for the degree of Master of Arts. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conferred on the following gentlemen, alumni of the Institution: Daniel Shepard Dewey, William Henry Warren, William Payne, Abel Nichols, Luther Harris Perkins, Henry Perkins, Gurdon Wadsworth Russell, George Washington Natt, William Bliss Ashley, Solomon Gilbert Hitchcock, William Cooke, Ferdinand Rogers, and David Jencks Capron. The degree of Master of Arts was also conferred on Richard Johnson, John R. Case, Thomas H. Vail, Jacob E. Clarke, Elias P. Ely, Charles J. Russ, Marcus M. Filley, the Rev. Nathaniel E. Cornwall, and the Rev. Richard C. Moore, alumni of the College; on Edward Ingersoll, an alumnus of Yale College; on the Rev. G. C. V. Eastman, an alumnus of Middlebury College; and the honorary degree of A. M. on the Rev. Jacob F. Huber, |