BOSTON, called Shaumut by the Indians, and Trimountain by its first settlers, is a large town of America, the capital and port of the state of Massa chusetts and of New England, and the third town in point of size in the United States. It is situated on an irregular peninsula at the bottom of Massachusetts bay, and is connected with the main land by an lath - mus, at the so•th end of the town. The length of the town, including the rock, is three miles, and its widest part one mile and 139 yards. The town of Bos ton contains 79 * streets, 36 lanes, 26 alleys, and 18 courts. The principal public buildings are the State house, the court house, two theatres, Faneuil hall, concert hall, the almshouse, the workhouse, the powder magazine, the gaol, and the bridewell ; be sides 19 buildings for public worship, most of which are adorned with lofty and beautiful spires. On Bea con Hill, the highest land in the peninsula, is a monu ment, having on its top a gilt eagle, and the arms of i the union, with several inscriptions on its base, in commemoration of the leading events of the Ameri can war. On the south side of the hill, a magnificent statehouse was begun in 1795; and on the east side is the Mall, which is a delightful promenade about 600 yards long, adorned with rows of trees. The two bridges over Charles River, called Charles River Bridge, and West Boston Bridge, contribute to the ornament, as well as to the accommodation of the town. The former is 1503 feet long, and 43 feet broad, stands on 75 piles, and cost 50,000 dollars. The latter is 3483 feet long and 40 feet wide, stands on 180 piles, and cost 76,700 dollars. Besides these public buildings, there are seven free schools at Boston for the education of the citizens children.
The approach to Boston from the sea is singular ly picturesque and beautiful. The town is built in an irregularly circular form round the harbour, which is studded with about 40 small islands, 15 of which afford excellent pasturage, and are frequented in summer by numerous parties of pleasure. The hat bour itself, which is formed by Nahant Point on the north, and Point Alderton on the south, is so capa cious, as to allow 500 vessels to ride at anchor in a tolerable depth of water. The entrance to the har
bour, which is so narrow as scarcely to permit two ships to pass abreast, is defended by the fort of Cas tle William, erected upon Castle Island, and having 4.0 pieces of heavy artillery. On one of the islands, at the north entrance of the channel, is placed a lighthouse about 65 feet in height.
Prior to the late commercial decrees, which have proved so injurious to the trade of the United States, the trade of Boston was very considerable, as appears from the following statement : There are no fewer than 80 wharfs and quays in Boston. The long wharf, or Boston pier, stretches 1743 feet into the harbour. It is 104. feet bi-oad, and at the extremity of it there is 17 feet of watel. at ebb tide.
The principal manufactures of Boston, are sail cloth, cordage, cards for wool and cotton, paying cards, paper hangings, hats, plate, glass, tobacco, rum, loaf sugar, beer, and chocolate. There are in Boston 30 distilleries, 11 rope-walks, 8 sugar-houses, 2 breweries, and 3 banks. The principal societies are the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; the Marine Society ; the Massachusetts. Agricultural Society ; the Massachusetts Historical Society ; the Medical Society ; the Humane Society ; the Boston Library Society ; and the Boston Mechanic Associa tion ; beside several religious and charitable institu tions.
The town of Boston was settled froni Charlestown in the year 1631. It received great damage from ari earthquake on the 29th October 1727, and has since suffered severely from"numerous fires, the houses be ing chiefly built of wood. In 1794, no fewer than 96 houses were consumed, and the loss sustained amounted to 209,861 dollars. Number of houses 2376. Population in 1790, 18,038 • but sine that time it has considerably increased. West Long. 70° 58' 53", North Lat. 42° 23' 15". See Morse's Arne,' rican Geography, p. 187. Morse's American Ga zetteer. Wansey's Journal, London, 1796. A full account of the operations of Boston during the Ame rican war, and an excellent plan of the town, har bour, and environs of Boston, are to be found in Mar shall's LEfe of General Washington, ii. chap. iv: and vol. v. frontispiece. (v)