feet base, seven feet rafters. These frames are morticed and tenoned together, and placed vertically in a line on the surface of the beach, and filled with stones. The largest size contains five tons, and the smallest three tons. The whole quantity of stones used from 1824 to 1831, is 14,997 tons. A wall has been erected to the extent of 450 feet, in the most substantial manner, and the works seem to have produced the desired effect. As an indirect aid to the security of the beach, a canal half a mile in length and fifteen feet wide, was cut by the town in the year 1814, for the purpose of conducting Eel river to its native outlet within side of the beach, which has been found to be of very essential advantage. This outlet will require annual vigilance, and it is confided to posterity as a work of great importance to the preservation of the harbor. The repairs of this beach which has so long engaged attention are now considered as complete, and with care and a little annual expense, will probably continue as a mound of defence for ages.

The Gurnet is a peninsula, or point of high land originating from Marshfield, and extending about 7 miles into the bay. On its southern extremity is situated the light-house. It was first erected in 1768, by the then province, at the expense of £660 17s. and in 1801, it was consumed by fire. The light-house now standing was erected by the United States, in 1803. It exhibits two lights, which are about 70 feet above the level of the sea. There is near the point a farm of rich soil which supports one family.

Saquish is a head land joined to the Gurnet by a narrow neck, lies contiguous to Clark's Island, and contains 12 or 14

acres.

Clark's Island is the first land that received the footsteps of our fathers who formed the exploring party from Cape Cod. It received its name from Clark, the master's mate of the Mayflower, who first took possession of it with the shallop, December 8th, 1620. There is a tradition that Edward Dotey, a young man, attempted to be the first to leap on the island, but was severely checked for his forwardness, that Clark might first land and have the honor of giving name to the island, which it still retains. My authority for this tradition is Mr. Joseph Lucas, whose father was the great-grand-s -son of Edward Dotey. The anecdote has been transmitted from father to son, so tenaciously that it need not be disputed. He also states, that Edward Dotey was one of the earliest settlers in that part of Plymouth which is now Carver, where he died at an advanced age, and his estate there was inherited by his descendants of the same name till within a few years.

This island contains 861 acres, as appears by the following survey. By virtue of a warrant from his excellency Sir Edward Andros, knight, captain general and governor in chief of his majesty's territory and dominion of New England, bearing date, Boston, the 23d of February, 1687,-1 have surveyed and laid out for Mr. Nathaniel Clark, a certain small island, being known by the name of Clark's Island, and is situated and lying in New Plymouth Bay, bearing from the meeting-house in Plymouth north by north-east, about three miles, and is bounded round with water and flats, and contains eighty-six acres and a quarter and three rods. Performed this 3d day of March, 1687. 'PHILIP WELLS, Surveyor.'

In Governor Hutchinson's history of Massachusetts, this is called one of the best islands of Massachusetts Bay. The growth of wood was chiefly red cedar, and was formerly an article of sale at Boston, for gate posts. In 1690, Clark's Island was sold to Samuel Lucas, Elkanah Watson, and George Morton. The family of the late John Watson, Esq. have been the proprietors of this island for half a century, and still reside on it. There is at present but one island in the harbor of Plymouth; that which was formerly called Brown's Island is only a shoal lying about half a mile east by north from Beach point. 'This it is supposed was once upland, and there is a tradition, that stumps of trees have been seen here." In Winthrop's Journal p. 87, it is said that in 1635, September 6th, Two shallops, going, laden with goods, to Connecticut, were overtaken in the night with an easterly storm, and cast away upon Brown's Island, near the Gurnet's Nose, and the men all drowned.'

Cow Yard. An anchorage in Plymouth harbor near Clark's Island. It takes its name from a cow whale, which once came into it and was caught, with her calf. This was formerly a famous anchorage for fishermen.

Salt House Beach is contiguous to Marshfield Beach, near Clark's Island.

High Pines is a piece of salt meadow which lies back of Clark's Island. 'William Shurtleff exchanges with the precinct, the precinct give him ten acres of upland and meadow, and he conveys to them a piece of salt meadow, six acres more or less, at High Pines.'-County Records, b. v. fol. 113, 114.

Sheep Pasture. At the commencement of the last century, the inhabitants considered it an object worthy of attention to encourage the rearing of sheep on the town's land. Accordingly in May, 1702, a tract of three miles square was granted to a

number of individuals, for their improvement as a sheep pasture. This tract was within the bounds of Plymouth, Rochester, Plympton, Carver, and extending to Smelt Pond in Kingston. The plan which they adopted was to divide the property into 322 shares, which were taken up by 16 persons. A house and folds were erected, and a shepherd was employed, who resided on the spot. Twenty acres were allowed for cultivation, and the sheep were to be folded on the land the first three summers, with the view of bringing it into grass. In the year 1704, the town passed a vote that the said land shall be, and remain to the persons therein named, according to the number of shares they have signed for, and to such others as shall join them, and to their heirs forever. The endeavors of the proprietors were attended with little success, and in the year 1712, they began to think of resigning the land back to the town, and in 1712, this was done, and the project altogether abandoned as impracticable. The number of sheep was about 360. In 1768, a proposition was made to revive this project as a town concern, but it was wisely rejected. Subsequently to 1784, this tract was sold at different times; the last 800 acres were disposed of in 1798. The Militia of the town. One company of Artillery, commanded by Eleazer S. Bartlett. One do. Light Infantry, called the Standish Guards, commanded by John Bartlett, 3d. Two companies Infantry, called South and North. South company, commanded by George W. Bartlett. North company, by Asa Barrows, Jr.

The above are attached to the 1st Regiment, commanded by Col. Leander Lovell, and belong to the 1st Brigade, 5th Division.

Manufactures. The Manufactures of Iron are various, and some of them extensive. On the stream called the Town brook are two forges, in which are made anchors, mill-cranks, ploughshares, sleigh shoes, &c. Formerly shovels were made at these works, under the superintendence of Mr. Ames, whose manufacture of the same article in Easton has since become so celebrated.

The rolling-mill and nail factory on the same stream have been in operation many years; the former was rebuilt in the year 1807, on the site of a slitting-mill for the manufacture of nail-rods, formerly the property of Martin Brimmer, Esq., of Boston. At this establishment are made about three tons of nails per day. Nearly all the nail machinery in this factory is the invention of Mr. Samuel Rogers, of East Bridgewater, who received large sums from the proprietors for his patents. There is one machine, lately invented and constructed by Mr.

Joseph Lucas, of this town, on a new principle, by which, while much of the manual labor is saved, a larger quantity of nails can be made in a given time than by any other machine. As a specimen of its performance, it may be mentioned, that the produce of something less than five hours' work was one thousand and twenty-five pounds of 10d. or board hails, of the very best quality. Mr. David Bradford, of this town, is the inventor of another nail machine, considered equal if not superior to the best of the old construction.

Near the rolling-mill, is an air furnace, occasionally used in casting machinery for the iron works. Here is also a furnace belonging to the same establishment, for converting bar iron into blistered steel. Thirty cords of wood are consumed in the process of baking, which requires from six to ten days. About eighteen tons are made in a batch.

At Eel River is another rolling mill of more modern construction. It commenced operation in June, 1827. The head and fall of water in this privilege are about thirty feet, with an unfailing stream. The rolling-mill and nail factory connected with it are built of granite, in a very strong and durable manner; the former is eighty by fifty feet in the clear, and the latter seventy-two by forty feet.

The rolling-mill will manufacture the present year about seventeen hundred tons of iron into nail-rods, plates and hoops. Another nail factory, about one mile from these works, is supplied by them with plates; and on the same dam with it is a forge where bar-iron of superior tenacity is made from scraps. Below these, on the same stream, is a rivet factory, where may be seen a machine for making rivets, invented by Mr. Timothy Allen, another ingenious mechanic of Plymouth, and intended to supersede the ill-contrived tools at present used. It has been in successful operation one or two years, and fully answers the expectations of the inventor..

It may not be amiss to include in this enumeration, a factory lately put in operation by Captain Samuel Bradford, for making staves, to be used for nail casks. By this machinery the staves are sawed from the log, jointed, and tapered into the precise form necessary to give the cask the required shape.

Cotton Factories. The Cotton Factory on Town-brook w a erected in 1813; dimensions ninety-two feet by thirty-six, and is four stories, including basement and attic. It contains about sixteen hundred spindles and thirty-four looms, and manufactures from nine hundred to one thousand yards of cloth daily, all about three quarters of a yard wide, employing about fiftyfour hands.

The factory at Eel River was erected in 1812, and its dimensions are ninety-two by thirty-six, and is six stories, including the basement and attic. Belonging to the same establishment and at the same dam, is a smaller building which contains spinning machinery also.

There are about two thousand spindles in both, and about forty looms in operation. From eleven to twelve hundred yards of cloth are manufactured daily, part of which is three-fourths and part one yard wide. This factory gives employment to about sixty-four persons. The factory at Manomet Ponds contains about three hundred spindles, and manufactures about 50 pounds of coarse warp per day, a considerable portion of which is colored, and made into cod and mackerel lines, which are lately introduced into use, and bid fair to supersede those made of hemp altogether. These are twisted and laid by water in a small line-walk attached to the factory. There is also a small cotton factory on the forge stream at Eel River, which manufactures coarse warps, and a very superior kind of wicking used for making sperm candles. There is at the forge dam at Eel River, a small nail factory, where about one thousand nails are made daily.

Plymouth Cordage Company was incorporated in 1824. Their rope-walk situated in the north part of the town and near the Kingston line, is three stories high, capable of employing eighty hands and making five hundred tons of cordage per year. Their cordage is of a patent kind, in high repute and made by water power.

There is another rope-walk in town, operating by water power, but no statement of the extent of its operations could be procured.

There is also in town a twine and line manufactory, where eight tons of hemp are manufactured annually into twine and various kinds of line, which come to a profitable market.

Ship building was formerly carried on to a considerable extent in this town; many excellent vessels have been sent from our ship yards, but the business is now diminished on account of the scarcity of timber. In 1779, a packet ship was built in this town for Congress, by Mr. John Peck, who was at that time much celebrated for his skill as a marine architect. The ship was called the Mercury, and was commanded by Captain Simeon Sampson, and employed to carry public despatches to our ministers in France. The ship-yard was on the spot which is now the garden of Captain Lothrop Turner.

News Papers. In the year 1785, Nathaniel Coverly, of Boston, commenced the publication of a newspaper in town, en