a great broad hill, whereon is planted a fort, which can command any ship, as she sails into the harbour within the still bay. On the north side is another hill, equal in bigness, whereon stands a windmill. To the northwest is a high mountain, with three little rising hills on the top of it, wherefore it is called

'From the top of this mountain, a man may overlook all the islands which lie within the bay, and descry such ships as are on the sea coast.

'This town although it be neither the greatest nor the richest, yet is the most noted and frequented, being the centre of the plantations, where the monthly courts are kept. Here likewise dwells the Governour. This place hath very good land affording rich corn-fields and fruitful gardens, having likewise sweet and pleasant springs. The inhabitants of this place, for their enlargement, have taken to themselves farm houses in a place called Muddy River, [Brookline] two miles from the town, where there is good ground, large timber, and store of marsh land and meadow. In this place they keep their swine and other cattle in the summer, whilst the corn is in the ground at Boston, and bring them to town in the winter.

'Newtown [Cambridge] is one of the neatest and best compacted towns in New England, having many fair structures, with many handsome contrived streets: the inhabitants most of them are very rich.-Half a mile westward of this is Watertown, a place nothing inferior for land, wood, meadows and water to Newtown. Within half a mile of this town is a great pond which is divided between the two towns, and divides their bounds to the northward. Both towns are on the north side of the river Charles.

'On the same side of that river is Charlestown, which is another neck of land, on whose north side runs Mystick river. At this town there is kept a ferry boat to convey passengers over Charles river, which between the banks is a quarter of a mile over, being a very deep channel. Up higher is a broad

bay, being above two miles between the shores, into which Fun Stony river and Muddy river. Towards the southwest in the midst of this bay is a great oyster bank: towards the northeast is a great creek, upon whose shore is situated a small village [included within the bounds of Charlestown.] At the bottom of this bay, the river begins to be narrower, being but half a quarter of a mile broad.

'The next town is Mystick [Medford] which is three miles from Charlestown by land, and a league and a half by water. It is seated by the water side very pleasantly; there are not many houses as yet. On the west side of this river the Governour hath af rm, where he keeps most of his cattle. On the east side is Mr., Craddock's plantation, where he hath a park impaled and keeps his cattle, till he can store it with deer. Here likewise he is at charges of building ships. The last year one was upon the stocks of an hundred tons; that being finished they are to build one of twice her burden.

'The last town in the still bay is Winnesimet [Chelsea] a very sweet place for situation: it is within a mile of Charlestown, the river only parting them.

'The next plantation is Saugus [including Lynn] six miles northeast from Winnesimet. This town is pleasant for situation, seated at the bottom of a bay, which is made on one side with the surrounding shore, and on the other side with a long sandy beach, which is two miles long to the end, whereon is a neck of land called NAHant. Upon the south side of the sandy beach the sea beateth, which is a true prognostication, to presage storms and foul weather, and the breaking up of the frost for when a storm hath been or is likely to be, it will roar like thunder, so as to be heard six miles. Upon the north side of this bay are two great marshes which are made two by a pleasant river which runs between them. At the mouth of this river runs up a great creek into that great marsh which is called Romney Marsh, and is four miles long and two miles broad, half of it being marsh ground, and half upland grass without tree or bush."

These descriptions were sketched before the fifteenth of August, 1633, on which day Wood set sail for England, and were published the next year accompanied with a curious map, engraved on wood.

CHAPTER IX.

"Lands you may have, we value not the soil,
Accounting tillage too severe a toil."

WHILE the people of Boston depended in good measure upon the productions of their farms and gardens for subsistence, their wants could not be supplied from the land within the peninsula, which did not originally exceed seven hundred acres. They were therefore allowed to extend themselves into various parts of the adjacent territory, and many of the places described in the extract we have just finished, were under the improvement of Bostonians. Conant's Island [Governour's I.] was granted to Gov. Winthrop for a nominal rent, and thus became a part of Boston, in April sixteen hundred and thirty-two. In the same year, that part of Chelsea between Powder-horn hill and Pull-in point was assigned to Boston forever, and not a long time after, the whole of Winnesimet was annexed. Brookline or Muddy river was owned and occupied by persons considered as belonging to Boston. As early as April 1634, Long Island, Hog and Deer Islands, were granted to Boston by the court for a nominal yearly rent, and convenient enlargement at Mount Wolaston was allowed to her inhabitants. They were allowed to cut wood on Dorchester neck, but the jurisdiction was to remain with Dorchester. Romney Marsh, Spectacle Island, and Noddle's Island were added before the end of sixteen hundred and thirty-six. These grants are recorded in the colony records, and it is probable the remaining Islands were occasionally annexed afterwards. At these several places, portions were allotted to every family in Boston according to their number and necessities.

The question has been asked, by what right did our ancestors take and retain possession of the lands we inherit? The answer is as complete and satisfactory as such a case admits. So far as the King of England's title was concerned, the grant of the council of Plymouth to the six gentlemen and their associates, and the subsequent confirmation of the King, which empowered them and others to dispose of the lands to the best advantage, were considered sufficient to cancel his claim to property in the soil.

The Indians that formerly possessed these parts were few in number when our fathers arrived. A pestilence had not long