money, break open stores and houses, set fire to stores and houses, or do other wicked things contrary to the laws of the State. When a person has been found guilty of some dreadful crime, they shut him up in one of the cells, and sometimes chain him there. Those prisoners who are not so bad, go out of their cells. every morning; but they are obliged to work hard all day, and be shut up again at night. They sleep upon straw, eat coarse food, and are very unhappy. Nothing can be more gloomy than the State Prison. If you were to go into it to see how it looks, it would make you shudder. There are now about two hundred wicked persons in it; but I do hope no child that reads this letter, will ever behave so bad, as to be shut up in that dreadful place.

How is Charlestown situated?

How many inhabitants in it?

By what is it connected with Boston?

What is the State Prison for?

What is said of it?

LETTER XXII.

IN the town of Charlestown, on a gentle swell of land, called Pleasant Hill, is the Mac

Lean Asylum for the insane. It is a large, handsome building of brick. It was built in order that insane, that is, crazy people, might be carried to it, and be better taken care of than they could be at home. It is called after Mr John MacLean, who gave a great sum of money to support this hospital, and for other charitable purposes. In this town is Breed's Hill, where the famous battle was fought, commonly called the battle of Bunker Hill. Your mother, or some other friend, will tell you something about this battle. On the place where the battle was fought, they are building a very large monument of stone. Its shape is square, but it is larger at the bottom, than at the top; such a pillar is called an obelisk. When the monument is finished, it will be higher than the highest steeple you ever saw. It will be a noble object to look at. It is made hollow, having stairs within, winding round and round, so that one can go up to the top. On the top there will be a square flat space, surrounded by an iron railing. One will be able to see to a great distance from the top of the monument. It is built by a society called the Bunker Hill Monument Association.

In Charlestown is a great navy yard, belonging to the United States. Massachusetts is

one of the United States, but there are twentythree other States besides. The navy yard is enclosed on one side by a high stone wall, and on the other sides by the water. Within the wall are brick houses for the officers and men; also magazines, and storehouses, in which are kept all sorts of articles used in fitting out vessels of war; and a number of wooden houses, under which they build the largest ships. In this navy yard ships of war for the United States are built.

Some of them carry
There are generally

a hundred great guns. several of these great ships lying in the water near the navy yard. You will understand more about ships of war when you are older.

What is the insane hospital for?

What battle was fought in Charlestown?

What is said of the monument?

To whom does the navy yard belong?
What is it used for?

LETTER XXIII.

ABOUT three miles from Charlestown, and as many from Boston, is Cambridge. This town has three principal villages; Cambridge-port, East Cambridge, and Old Cambridge. This

last village has many fine houses, is planted with trees, and in the summer season is pleasant.

very

Here is Harvard University. A university is very nearly the same as a college. Harvard College is much the oldest school in the United States. It was founded almost two hundred years ago; a few years after the country was first settled by white people. It is called after Mr John Harvard, who gave a sum of money to support it. A great many people have since given money to it, and it is now rich. The college buildings are on a fine level plain. There are seven large buildings of brick and one of stone. Several of them are four stories

high. The building which is called Divinity Hall, stands at a considerable distance from the rest. The other buildings stand in a square, and between them is a fine large green, planted with elms, with gravel walks across it. All round the square there is a belt of young pines and other trees.

At the University are generally more than three hundred young men. Learned profes

sors and tutors are here to teach them; and a great number of books for them to read. The library has nearly thirty thousand volumes in it. Once every year there is a great exhi

bition in the meeting-house, which stands near the colleges. This exhibition is called Commencement. Several hundred ladies and gentlemen from various parts of the country, go to Commencement to hear the young men of the University, speak their orations, poems, and other pieces, which they have written. After a young man has been four years at college, if he has studied well, and behaved well, he is called a Bachelor of Arts. Some of the young men remain after they have become Bachelors of Arts, to study law and divinity; that is, to to qualify themselves for being lawyers and ministers. A great number of learned and excel lent men have been educated at Harvard College. The College has been a great blessing to Massachusetts; and I hope and trust, it will continue to be so for ages to come.

Cambridge-port is a large settlement east of Old Cambridge, and connected with Boston by a very long bridge. It has four houses for public worship, a bank, and considerable trade. East Cambridge is also connected with Boston by a long bridge. At this place there are three houses for public worship, a court-house, gaol, and an extensive manufactory of elegant cut glass. Other kinds of business are carried on to considerable extent.