Lancaster is beautifully situated on the Nashua river, whose north and south branches meet near the center of the town. This stream annually overflows the extensive intervals on its banks, and enriches their already productive soil. There are ten ponds in different parts of the town. Interesting specimens of minerals are found here, and a large slate quarry was once worked for the supply of the Boston market, but has for some time been neglected.

South-western view of the central part of Lancaster.

The above engraving shows the appearance of the central part of Lancaster from the road a few rods north of the burying-ground. The prominent building in the center, with a spire, is the Congregational (Unitarian) church. The building with a small spire, to the right, is the academy. The Lancaster House, with a turret, is seen to the left of the church; the bridge seen below the meetinghouse is that on which the principal road crosses the Nashua. The Lancaster Bank is in this village. Mr. Rowlandson's house, which was burnt by the Indians, was located at the spot where the cattle are seen feeding. In the central village there are about 75 houses. In this place there are many large elms. There are two other villages in this town, the south or New Boston, and the North village. Population, 1,903. Distance, 16 miles from Worcester, about 25 from Lowell, and 35 from Boston. In 1837 there were 1 woollen and 3 small cotton mills. There were 6 comb manufactories; value of combs manufactured, $35,000; males employed, 40; females, 9. Engraving in its various branches, printing, and bookbinding have been carried on to some extent in the central village.

LEICESTER.

THIS township was purchased of the Indians on the 7th of June, 1686-7, by Joshua Lamb, Richard Draper, Samuel Ruggles, and others. The natives called the place Towtaid, but by the English,

before the present name was given, it was called Strawberry-hill. The settlement was not made till many years after the purchase.

In the beginning of 1713, the proprietors petitioned the general court for a confirmation of the purchase; which was granted, on the condition that within 7 years from that time 50 families should be settled on a part of the tract, and that a sufficient quantity of land should be reserved for the gospel ministry there and a school. The court ordered that the town should be named Leicester. It appears that the 50 families were settled on land previous to 1722, for on the 8th of Jan. of that year a deed was executed by order of the proprietors to John Stebbins and 46 others, securing to them their lands. Parts of the original purchase are now comprehended in the towns of Spencer, Paxton, and Ward. The first town meeting was held on the 6th of March, 1721. The exact time when the Congregational church here was first formed cannot be ascertained, but that it was organized before the 30th of March, 1721, appears probable, since at a town meeting then held the question of settling Mr. David Parsons as pastor was acted upon. He was the first minister in the town, and was installed in Sept., 1721. He had previously been settled in Malden. The connection of Mr. Parsons with the people was very unhappy, as they soon began to differ, and at length fell into violent contention. Difficulties continuing to increase, the town voted, on the 13th of Jan., 1735, to join in calling an ecclesiastical council to dismiss him, which convening, he was dismissed from his pastoral relation on the 6th of March the same year. He continued, however, to reside in the town till his death, in 1737. By his particular direction he was buried on his own land, apart from the graves of those who had once formed a part of his congregation. He was unwilling that his ashes should repose by the side of those with whom he had worshipped in the sanctuary, but who had contended with him. His grave is now visible in a mowing-field, about 30 rods north of the meeting-house. He was succeeded in the pastoral office by Rev. David Goddard, a native of Framingham, in 1736, whose relation to the people was uniformly happy. Rev. Joseph Roberts, the successor of Mr. Goddard, was ordained in 1754, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Conklin, in 1763. The next minister, Rev. Zeph. Swift Moore, D. D., was ordained in 1798. Dr. Moore was succeeded by Rev. John Nelson in 1812. A Baptist society was formed in the town about the year 1738. The first minister was Dr. Thomas Green, a physician of considerable distinction in his day. He was a native of Malden, Mass., and was one of the early settlers of Leicester. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that this church was gathered. Their meeting-house stands about 3 miles south of the Congregational meeting-house. There has been a respectable society of Friends here for more than a century. In 1732, eight persons filed their certificate with the town-clerk that they belonged to that persuasion, who, either from a mistake in spelling, or to make a revengeful pun, wrote it "those people called Quackers." Their present meeting-house, built in 1791, is commodious and of good proportions. The spot in which it stands is retired, and almost surrounded with forest-trees; around it repose, in their nameless graves, the ashes of those who have died of the society. The number of this society is now about 130 members. In 1823, an Episcopal society was gathered in the south part of the town, and a neat church erected by private subscription, which was consecrated by Bishop Griswold, in May, 1824. The Rev. Joseph Muenscher was ordained in March, immediately after which he took charge of this church. This was the first Episcopal church ever formed in Worcester county.

There was from 1777 till 1783 a society of Jews resident in this town. They removed here in the winter of 1777 from Newport, R. I., to escape from the war then raging along the coasts. There were in the whole, including servants, about 70 who removed here. Numbers of them engaged in trade, and licenses are recorded to these "to sell bohea and other Indian teas." After peace took place they mostly returned to Newport. They always observed the rites and ceremonies of their law, and their stores were closed from Friday evening until Monday morning. A child of one of the families having one day tasted of some pork in one of the neighbor's houses, its mother, immediately upon learning the fact, administered a powerful emetic, and thus cast out the sin of which

it had been unconsciously guilty. Not one of their number now remains; the last individual some years since moved to New York, and the synagogue where they worshipped is now desolate and forsaken.

In this town is an endowed academy, and one of the oldest in the state, which was incorporated March 23, 1784. It owes its foundation to the generosity and public spirit of Col. Jacob Davis and Col. Ebenezer Crafts. This for many years was the only academy in the county of Worcester. The character of its instruction has ever been elevated and liberal. It has a respectable philosophical apparatus, which was procured in 1824.

The above shows the appearance of the village of Leicester, as seen from the residence of N. P. Denny, Esq., on Mount Pleasant, about 1 mile distant from the center of the place. The public buildings, the Orthodox and Unitarian churches, the academy, the bank, and town-house, all stand in a line on the summit of the hill, on the north side of a small public green, surrounded by railing.

The town is well watered by springs and several large brooks. Shaw and Henshaw ponds are of some extent. There are 5 churches, 2 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 1 Friends, and 1 Baptist. Population, 2,122. Distance, 6 miles from Worcester, and 46 from Boston. Clappville is a manufacturing village, situated about 4 miles from the center of the town, having an Episcopal and Baptist church. In 1837, there were 5 woollen mills, 15 sets of machinery; 130,159 yards of cloth were manufactured; value, $319,450; males employed, 166; females, 178. There were 8 manufactories of machine cards; machines, 118; value of machine cards manufactured, $101,500; hands employed, 38; there were 9 manufactories of hand cards; machines, 35; value of cards manufactured, $50,300; hands employed, 32. There was 1 scythe manufactory, (20 hands,) and 1 machine manufactory, (8 hands.)

LEOMINSTER.

THIS town was taken from Lancaster, and was part of what was called "Lancaster New Grant." It was incorporated in 1740.

The church here was embodied in 1743, and Rev. John Rogers was ordained their pastor. On account of difference of opinion between him and his people about some minor doctrinal points of religion, he was dismissed in 1757. But about one fifth of the society adhering to him, a poll society was made of them by the legislature, with whom he preached till prevented by the infirmities of age; and was dismissed from them in 1788. After the settlement of the controversy with Mr. Rogers, the church and town proceeded to the choice of a minister, and in 1762 Rev. Francis Gardner was settled their second pastor. After the dismission of Mr. Rogers from the "poll society," that church and society was dissolved, and the members united with Mr. Gardner's church. Rev. William Bascom, the successor of Mr. Gardner, was installed in 1815, and was succeeded by Rev. Abel Conant, in 1824. Rev. Phillips Payson was ordained pastor of the 2d church in 1825; he was succeeded by Rev. Ochus G. Hubbard, in 1833.

South-eastern view of the central part of Leominster.

This is a pleasant town, and contains much excellent land. The north and western parts are hilly, the land rising in long regular swells; the eastern part, through which Nashua river passes, has extensive plains and tracts of interval.

The above is a south-eastern view of the central part of Leominster village, which consists of upwards of 30 dwelling-houses, in the immediate vicinity of the two churches represented in the engraving. This place is 20 miles from Worcester, 7 from Lancaster, 5 from Fitchburg, and 41 from Boston. There are 5 churches, 2 Congregational, (1 of which is Unitarian,) 1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist. Population, 1,944. In 1837, there were 5 paper-mills in this town, and 17 comb manufactories; value of combs, $80,800; males employed, 84; females, 47.

LUNENBURG.

THIS town was granted by the general court, in 1719, to a number of persons, upon their petition, for a valuable consideration;

reserving, however, school and ministerial lands. The grant included the whole of the present town of Fitchburg. It was called Turkey Hill (from a hill in the middle of the tract which was once frequented by wild turkeys) until the time of its incorporation, in 1728; when the name of Lunenburg was given to it, in compliment to George II., who the preceding year came to the British throne, and was styled Duke of Lunenburg, as having in his German dominions a town of that name. Many of the first settlers were emigrants from Ireland and Scotland. A church was formed here in 1728, and the Rev. Andrew Gardner ordained pastor, a few months before the incorporation of the town. He was dismissed in 1732, and was succeeded the next year by Rev. David Stearns, who died in 1761. He was followed by Rev. Samuel Payson, ordained in 1762, died in a few months. Their next minister was Rev. Zabdiel Adams, ordained in 1764. The succeeding ministers were Rev. Timothy Flint, ordained in 1802, Rev. David Damon, in 1815, and Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard, in 1828. Rev. Eli W. Harrington was ordained pastor of the 2d church in 1837. The land in this town is elevated, and the hills afford the best soil. The people are principally engaged in agriculture. In 1837, there were manufactured 90,000 palm-leaf hats; value, $17,000. There were 16,000 volumes of books printed and bound; hands employed, 5. In the central part of the town there are two churches, and about 15 houses. Distance, 25 miles from Worcester, 10 from Lancaster, 22 from Lowell, and 40 from Boston. Population, 1,250.

MENDON.

[For the history and description of this town, the author is indebted to a well-written history, by John Geo. Metcalf, M. D., of Mendon. It is a matter of regret that this history, so politely furnished by the author, could not be copied entire; but, owing to the prescribed limits of this publication, extracts only could be given.]

MENDON is situated at the south-easternmost extremity of the county of Worcester, and is the oldest town in it except Lancaster. It was incorporated May 15, 1667. It is 18 miles from Worcester, 34 from Boston, and 24 from Providence, R. I. It is 12 miles from the Worcester and Boston railroad at Westborough. Population in 1837, 3,657.

The face of the town is broken and hilly; the north part is the most fertile, producing large crops of hay and grain. This part of the township has also long been noted for its variety and abundance of winter apples. The south-westerly portion of the town is generally rough and stony, though there are some excellent farms in it. The south-easterly part is more level and sandy, and less fertile; the middle, hilly and thinly inhabited.

The manufacturing villages are all in the south parish, and are situated principally upon Mill and Blackstone rivers. They are called Millville, Blackstone, Waterford, and Upper and Lower Canadas. There are five post-offices in this town, viz. Mendon,