On what kind of ground does the white mapłe grow?

What is maple timber used for?

What is the wild cherry good for?

What trees are called fruit trees?

What is perry?

LETTER XVIII.

I AM glad to hear that you like my letters so well. I am told that you read them over several times, and that you can answer the questions. I have already told you a great many things about the State of Massachusetts, which I do not think you ever were told before; and now I will proceed to give you an account of the principal towns in the State. I will begin with the county of Essex, and go on through all the counties. You must look on the map for all the towns I shall mention. The names of the most important towns are on the map; but the names of the other towns are not put down, for fear of crowding it with too many words.

Beginning at the northeast, the first considerable town in Essex county, is Newburyport. It has the least land of any town in the State. It contains only six hundred and fortyseven acres,about enough for five farms. But there are no farms in Newburyport. It is laid out into lots and streets. On each side of the streets are

houses, shops, and other buildings. Nearly all the houses have gardens belonging to them. This town is on the south bank of Merrimack river, about three miles from the sea. It is one of the handsomest towns in the State. Vessels come up the river to the town, where there are many wharves and stores. Wharves are places built out into the water, where vessels can come for the purpose of looding or unloading.

The Merrimack is here about half a mile wide, and there is a beautiful bridge across it, supported in a curious manner by great iron chains. Newburyport has seven meetinghouses, a stone gaol, a market house, two banks, and about seven thousand inhabitants. It is thirtyeight miles northeast from Boston.

Ten miles south of Newburyport is Ispwich. This is one of the oldest towns in the State. It is quite a large village, and has a court house, gaol, house of correction for the county, and three meetinghouses. It is on both sides of Ipswich river, a pretty large stream, which runs northeast through the middle of Essex county, and empties into the sea at Ipswich. There is a stone bridge of two arches across the river. In this town is a factory for making lace. It is woven in a very curious sort of loom. There is also another large factory for cloth. It is built of stone, and is very handsome. In Ipswich is one of the best schools for young ladies, which is found in the State. Ipswich is twentyseven miles northeast from Boston. I shall omit the questions till I write the next letter.

LETTER XIX.

THIRTEEN miles south of Ipswich is Salem. This is the largest town in the county, and the oldest but one in the State. Salem is situated between two creeks, or inlets from the sea, called the north and south rivers. The tide flows up these inlets. Across the North river is a long wooden bridge, which joins Salem to Beverley.

The South river forms Salem harbour. It is a pretty good harbour, but the water is not deep enough for the largest ships to come up to the wharves. There are many rich merchants in Salem, who own ships and carry on a great deal of trade. Most of the houses in Salem are of wood; but many are of brick, and some of stone. Several of the streets are

paved with round smooth stones; and many of the houses and other buildings are handsome. The town has a fine level common, surrounded by a fence and a gravel walk, which is planted on both sides with trees. Next to Boston, Salem is the largest town in the State. It has a court house, a gaol, a large alms house, a market house, three banks, eleven meetinghouses or churches, and about thirteen thousand inhabitants. There is in this town a society called the East India Marine Society. This society has a large hall full of curious things, which the sea captains have brought home from India and from other foreign countries. You would be very much delighted to see them. In Essex county there are three shire towns, Newburyport, Ipswich and Salem. Salem is fourteen miles northeasterly from Boston.

Five miles southwest of Salem is Lynn. The road from Salem to Lynn, though remarkably good, is over rough rocky hills, with scarcely a house to be seen. Lynn is built on a fine smooth plain that slopes down to the sea-shore. It is a very neat town, and is famous for the manufacture of women's shoes. About ten hundred thousand pairs are made in this town 'every year. There is also a great deal of chocolate made here. Chocolate is made of a The cocoa is brought

sort of nut called cocoa.

in ships from countries that lie a great way

off to the south.

In the south part of Lynn is Nahant. Nahant is a high rocky piece of land almost surrounded by the sea, but joined to the shore, by a narrow ridge of sand and pebbles, a mile and a half long. On one side of this ridge where the sea breaks, is a fine, hard, smooth beach, very pleasant to ride and walk upon. A great many people go to Nahant, to enjoy the sea breezes, and to walk and ride on the beach, and to see the great waves roll up on the sand, or dash into white foam against the rocks.

Where is Newburyport? on what river? and what is said of it? What is said of Ipswich?

In what part of Essex county is Salem?