one time he remained fourteen days in a secret apartment of his own house, unknown to any of his family except his wife. The enraged inhabitants patrolled the town in parties, with halters in their hands, threatening to hang him on the nearest tree, and repeatedly entered his house in search of him during his concealment. Such was the madness of the multitude, that, even after the excitement had in some measure subsid ed, Dr. Boylston only ventured to visit his patients at midnight, and then in disguise. He had also to encounter violent opposition from most of the members of his own profession, and notwithstanding he invited them all to visit his patients, and judge for themselves, received nothing but threats and insults in reply. Indeed, many sober, pious people were deliberately of opinion, when inoculation was first commenced, that, should any of his patients die, the doctor ought to be capitally indicted. He was repeatedly summoned before the selectmen of Boston, and received their reprehension. His only friends were Dr. Cotton Mather and other clergymen, most of whom became zealous advocates for the new practice, and consequently drew upon themselves much odium from the populace. Some of them received personal injury; others were insulted in the streets, and were hardly safe in their own dwellings; nor were their services acceptable on Sunday to their respective audiences.

"A bill for prohibiting the practice of inoculation, under severe penalties, was brought before the legislature of Massachusetts, and actually passed the house of rep resentatives, but some doubts existing in the senate, it failed to become a law.

"Dr. Boylston lived to see the cause he espoused triumphant, and its utility gene rally appreciated. So prone are mankind to vacillate from one extreme to the other that, on a subsequent appearance of the small-pox in Boston, in the year 1792, the whole town was inoculated in three days, to appease the infatuation of the inhabitants respecting the danger apprehended from this deadly pestilence. Persons were inoculated indiscriminately, to the number of 9,152; and such was the hurry and confusion with which it was done, and such the impossibility of rendering proper assistance and attention to so large a number, that 165 deaths were the consequence."

CANTON.

CANTON was originally the south precinct of Dorchester, called Dorchester village; it was incorporated in 1797. The first church was embodied here in the year 1717, and Rev. Joseph Morse was ordained its minister the same year. He had preached in the village, previous to his ordination, nearly eleven years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Dunbar, in 1727. Mr. Dunbar was a warm and decided friend to the liberties of his country. In 1755, he was chaplain to Col. Brown's regiment, in the expedition against Crown Point. "His zeal and firmness in the American Revolution contributed not a little to support the hopes and sustain the sinking spirits of his people, when clouds and darkness shrouded our prospects." He died in 1783, and was succeeded by Rev. Zachariah Howard, who was settled in 1786. The Rev. William Harlow was installed over the second church in 1829, resigned the same year.

The following is a westerly view of the viaduct in this town, on which passes the Boston and Providence railroad. It is constructed of granite, and is 600 feet in length, 63 feet above the foundation, on 6 arches, with a succession of arches at the top. It is an admirable piece of workmanship, and cost the company about $80,000. On the right of the engraving is seen the northern extremity of the stone factory, a large establishment for the manufacture of cassimeres, which, when in full operation, employs be

tween 300 and 400 hands. The copper works of Mr. Revere, near the above, is an extensive establishment; all kinds of copper are manufactured. There are also other large manufacturing establishments in the limits of the town. There are 4 churches (2 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist) and a bank, the "Neponset Bank." Population, 2,185. Since 1830, the population has increased one third. Distance, 5 miles from Dedham, 18 from Taunton, and 15 from Boston.

In 1837, there was 1 woollen mill, 14 sets of machinery; wool consumed, 300,000 lbs. ; cloth manufactured, 254,000 yards, valued at $250,000; males employed, 125; females, 125. One cotton mill; 1,560 spindles; 463,547 yards of cotton goods were manufactured. There were 8 furnaces for the manufacture of copper; 1,500,000 lbs. of copper were manufactured; value estimated, $400,000; forty hands were employed; one forge; "shapes" manufactured, 129 tons, value, $21,330; fifty hands were employed in the manufacture of hoes and coarse cutlery; capital invested, $80,000. Two rolling mills, 1 cotton wicking mill, 1 cotton thread mill, and some other manufacturing establishments, were in operation.

COHASSET.

THIS town was originally a part of Hingham; it was incorporated in 1770. The first minister of Cohasset was Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, the grandson of Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister of Hingham. He was ordained in 1721, and continued in the ministry till his death, in 1740. His successor was Rev. John Fowle, who continued here about thirteen years. Rev. John Brown was the next minister, who was settled here in 1747, and died in 1791. His successor was Mr. Shaw, who was in the ministry here about

Lour years. The Rev. Jacob Flint, the next minister, was settled here in 1798. A Trinitarian church was built here in 1826, and Rev. Aaron Picket was installed the first pastor.

This town is noted for its rocky coasts, and for the numerous shipwrecks which have taken place on its borders. Cohasset rock, which consists of several small islands and sunken rocks. lies about three miles north-east of the harbor; they have proved fatal to many vessels. This town has become quite a place of resort for citizens and strangers, in summer months, to enjoy the marine scenery and sea air. In 1837, there were 36 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery, the tonnage of which was 2,284; codfish caught, 750 quintals, valued at $2,250; mackerel caught, 11,700 barrels, value, $73,286; hands employed, 324. In five years preceding 1837, there were 17 vessels built, the tonnage of which was 2,765, valued at $110,600. Population, 1,331. Distance, 6 miles from Hingham, and about 16 miles to Boston by

water.

DEDHAM.

THE settlement of this town was commenced in 1635. In that year, the general court, then sitting at Newtown, (now Cambridge,) granted a tract of land south of Charles river to 12 men. The next year 19 persons, including the first 12, petitioned the general court for an additional grant, lying on both sides of Charles river, which was made, agreeably to this petition. The last-mentioned grant included the territory of the present town of Dedham, and of a number of other towns in the vicinity. The first recorded public meeting was on the 15th of August, 1636, at which were present 18 persons. These adopted a covenant, by which each individual bound himself "to give information concerning any person who applied for admission, to submit to such fines as might be imposed for violation of rules, and to obey all such bye-laws and regulations as the inhabitants shall judge necessary for the management of their temporal affairs, for religion, and for loving society."

The government of the town was delegated by the freemen to 7 men, who were to be chosen annually. These 7 men met monthly, for many years, made many necessary bye-laws, which were recorded in the records of the town. Concerning the appropriation of the land, each man was provided with a lot of 12 acres if married, and 8 acres if unmarried; this to begin with. The after grants seem to have been made according to the necessities of members, or as a reward for services performed. The number of persons in a family was also made a rule by which to divide the lands; quality, rank or desert and usefulness in the church or commonwealth was also a rule considerable in the apportionment.

In a petition to the general court the inhabitants requested that the town might be called Contentment; which name is written over the record of the first several meetings. It would seem that the word well expresses the leading motives of the first 24 settlers in coming into this town. They were soon, however, associated with men of somewhat a different and higher character. The celebrated John Rogers, of Dedham, in England, had been forbidden to preach before the first settlers came to this country. Many of his people emigrated and numbers settled in this place. From that circum