rounded with a high wall, with turrets and platforms at the four corners, on which sentinels keep guard with loaded muskets. All the prisoners, except those condemned to a solitary cell, are employed in some manual art. Part of them are kept in regular employment by tradesmen who provide them with work: the remainder are variously employed on behalf of the establishment. A small proportion of the earnings of each prisoner is allowed to accumulate for his own benefit, that he may be stimulated to labour, and, when his term of punishment expires, have a little money to supply his immediate exigencies. At the time of Mr. Duncan's visit, the classification in this prison was very imperfect, and there were other drawbacks upon the efficacy of the system. Since then, (in 1825,) a society has been formed at Boston, for "the Improvement of Public Prisons," by whom some important measures have been carried into effect. A new building has been erected within the limits of the State Prison in Charleston; and an act has passed the State legislature, giving the city council of Boston authority to send juvenile delinquents to a separate penitentiary. The neglected and consequently de-. graded state of the coloured population, is assigned as one main cause of the frequency and increase of crime in this State. In 1826, the total population of Massachusetts was 523,000, of which the coloured population was 7000, or one seventy-fourth part the whole number of convicts was 314; the coloured convicts, 50, or one-sixth. In Connecticut and New Jersey, the coloured convicts formed a third; in New York, about one-fourth; and in Pennsylvania, more than one-third of the whole number.*

• See "Seventh Report of the Society for the Improvement of

The Lunatic Hospital is well situated, a mile and a half from Boston. The direct approach to it is by one of the many wooden bridges which, "with their wearisome but needful length," connect the town with the surrounding country. The buildings crown the brow of a rising-ground which swells gradually from the water, commanding a fine view of the city and bay. Ten acres of ground, with an ancient mansion, to which new buildings have been attached, are appropriated to this benevolent institution. The General Hospital is "a large and well ventilated granite building, abundantly roomy and well ordered in every part." *

Boston is honourably pre-eminent in the number of its literary and educational institutions. From the "School Report" of 1826, it appears, that the number of schools in this city, is not less than 215, although the population is under 50,000.† The public schools are maintained by a tax; and as every person has a right to send his children to these establishments, the poor obtain education almost gratis. The rich mostly prefer sending their children to pri

Prison Discipline." London, 1827. Appendix, pp. 306-329. Some highly interesting extracts from the Report of the Boston Society, will be found in this highly valuable collection of documents.

* "Indeed," says Captain Basil Hall, whose words are cited in the text, "I hardly ever saw an establishment of the kind which could pretend to rival it, except, perhaps, the Infirmary at Derby."

In January 1821, the number of " primary public schools" for the instruction of children between four and seven years of age, was thirty-five; and the number of children belonging to them was, 885 girls and 921 boys. A general regulation provides, that no school shall have less than forty, or more than fifty children attached to it. The teachers are all females. These public primary schools are considered as superior to the private ones. The public schools for older children were, in 1796, six English, and one Latin Grammar School, containing 1300 children. They must now be more numerous.-See Dwight, vol. i. p. 460. Basil Hall, vol. ii. p. 164, PART III.

T

vate academies. The public schools are under the inspection of a committee of gentlemen annually chosen, whose duty it is to visit them once in three months. "The Bostonians are very proud, and perhaps justly so," remarks Captain Basil Hall," of this system of public instruction." Boston is rich in public libraries, among which that of the Athenæum, a literary institution incorporated in 1817, claims preeminence. In works on American history, the collection is said to be unrivalled. A museum is attached to it. The other literary societies of Boston are, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; the American Antiquarian Society; the Massachusetts' Medical Society; the Massachusetts' Historical Society; and the Massachusetts' Agricultural Society. Its charitable associations are not less numerous. Among these are, a Bible Society for Massachusetts; several Missionary Societies; an Institution for the relief of the widows and children of deceased ministers; a Humane Society for the Relief of distressed Seamen; and a Female Asylum.

About three miles from Boston, is Harvard College, the Cambridge University of America; the most ancient and most amply endowed collegiate establishment in the Union. The foundation of this public seminary was laid in the year 1636, by the appropriation of 4001. for the purpose of a public school, by the General Court of the infant colony. In 1638, the Rev. John Harvard, of Charleston, bequeathed to it one-half of his property, amounting to nearly 8007. The institution was now dignified with the name of Harvard College; and the town, which had hitherto been called Newtown, was named Cambridge, in honour of that seat of science in England, at which a great number of the principal colonists had received

their education. Thus, remarks Dr. Dwight, "within ten years after the little flock which commenced the settlement at Massachusetts, landed at Salem, and within eighteen years after the first foot was set on the shore of Plymouth, a college was endowed by them, and established." In 1650, the first charter was granted by a General Court, constituting the President and Fellows of the College a corporate body. This charter was confirmed by the constitution of the State, when the style of "the University in Cambridge was first legally given. The professorships of divinity and of mathematics and natural philosophy were founded by Mr. Thomas Hollis, a merchant of London, in 1722 and 1726,; that of Hebrew, by the Hon. Thomas Hancock, an eminent merchant of Boston, in 1765. Other professorships have been added from time to time, by subsequent benefactions. They now amount to upwards of twenty, including the Medical Department, which is an integral part of the Institution, although, for the greater convenience of medical students, it occupies buildings in Boston. The University now comprises five colleges and a new hall, (erected in 1814, at an expense of nearly 17,000%.,) containing the chapel, lecture-rooms, dining-rooms, and kitchen: this hall, which is of fine white granite, is reckoned the handsomest building in Massachusetts. The buildings stand in an inclosed plain, fourteen acres in extent, sheltered on three sides by forest trees, and in the immediate vicinity of an extensive common. The library, containing (in 1820) upwards of 25,000 volumes, is the best in the United States. The philosophical apparatus is also valuable. The museum has been enriched by a collection of mineralogical specimens, principally presented by Dr. Lettsom of London, and the Paris Committee of Public Safety.

There is also a valuable collection of anatomical wax models, the workmanship of Italian artists.* The academical course is completed in four years, at an expense of not less than about 100 guineas a-year: in most cases, the students expend a great deal more.

"The literary and scientific reputation of Harvard University," says Mr. Duncan, "stands very high; and except Yale College, none in this country can contest with it the pre-eminence. There is one feature, however, in its character, which excites the most melancholy reflections. Its theological creed is undisguised Socinianism; and it is said, that nearly all the professors are of these sentiments...... The state of religion in the capital of New England is far from cheering. Whether the contagious influence spread from Harvard University to Boston, or from Boston to it, I know not; but, though both were once distinguished for evangelical sentiments, both are now alike characterized by the lamentable predominance of Socinianism."t

The rise and progress of what is called Unitarianism in America, is a subject which it scarcely falls within the province of the present work to advert to, except in reference to its supposed connection with the

* Partly imported from Florence, and in part the workmanship of an Italian emigrant. At Boston, there is another collection of anatomical preparations in wax, beautifully executed by a Dr. Williams.

+ Duncan, vol. ii. pp. 81, 87. "During 140 years, Boston was probably more distinguished for religion, than any city of the same size in the world. An important change has, however, within a period of no great length, taken place in the religious opinions of the Bostonians. Before this period, moderate Calvinism very generally prevailed. At the present time, Unitarianism appears to be the predominating system. It is believed that neither ministers nor people have had any reason to congratulate themselves on this change."-Dwight, vol. i. p. 470.