old; the girls can stay a year longer. Beside these grammar schools, there are two others, one called the English High School, and the other, the Latin Grammar School. Boys can enter the English High School at twelve years of age, and remain three years. They are instructed in the higher branches of English education. Boys can enter the Latin Grammar School, when nine years old. At this school they study Latin and Greek, and are fitted for college. To be well educated is one of the greatest blessings a child can enjoy; and the people of Boston have taken care, that no child in the city, who is studious and well disposed, shall want this blessing. Beside the schools I have mentioned, there are in Boston a great number of private schools; and lately there have been established a number of infant schools.

People who are fond of learning, are commonly friends to religion and good morals. The inhabitants of Boston, ever since the town was first settled, have been noted for attention to their ministers, and for going to meeting on the Sabbath. There are nearly fifty places of public worship in the city. Some of the churches are large and elegant, and all are neat and decent. A few of them are built of

wood, many of brick, and some of stone. Their tall spires, when seen at a distance, look grand, and it is very pleasant on a still Sabbath morning, to hear all the bells ringing to call the people to meeting.

What is said of schools in Boston?

What children go to Primary Schools?

What to grammar schools?

At what age are boys admitted to the English high school?
To the Latin grammar school?

How many places of public worship in Boston ?

LETTER XXXI.

THERE are several large libraries in Boston; but the largest in the city, and in the State, except perhaps the library of Harvard College, is the Boston Athenæum. This library contains twentyfive thousand volumes. All these books are arranged on shelves in the different rooms of a large house, given by Mr James Perkins, late a rich merchant of Boston. Behind the house where the library is kept, there is a large building of three stories, called the Gallery of Fine Arts. This building is a part of the Athenæum. In the lower story the libraries of several societies are kept. The upper story forms a single room, and is lighted

from the top by an opening in the roof. This room is used for exhibiting pictures; there is an exhibition of pictures here every summer. The money which the people pay who come to see the pictures, is for the use of the Athe

næum.

In Court Street is kept the New England Museum. This is a collection of all sorts of curiosities, filling eleven large halls and chambers. You would like very well to see them; and whenever you go to Boston, by paying a few cents you may see them all.

There are a great many images of wax; a great many skins of animals, stuffed so as to look almost as if the animals were alive; a great many curious shells, taken from the sea; a great many snakes and other reptiles; and all sorts of insects and birds, as well as a great many fine pictures and prints, and other curiosities, more than I can remember.

Which is the largest library in Boston?
Give some account of the Athenæum.

Of the New England Museum.

LETTER XXXII.

ONE of the largest and finest buildings in Boston is the State House. It is of brick, and

painted a brownish white color. It is on the top of a hill, called Beacon Hill, which is the highest land in the city. In the front of the State House is a portico, supported by large pillars; and on the top is a great dome. What

ture.

a dome is you will see by looking at the picAt the top of the dome is a small room with large windows, called the lantern. From this lantern one may have a fine view of the city, the harbour, and the surrounding country. It is very high. People who are coming to Boston see the dome of the State House at a great distance.

I presume you would like to know what this great building is for. I will tell you as much as I think you can possibly understand. A great number of gentlemen are chosen every year to go to Boston and make laws for the people of Massachusetts. These gentlemen are chosen every year at town-meetings, as I have already told you. One of them is called the Governor, another the Lieutenant Governor, nine are called Counsellors, because they advise the Governor; about forty are called Senators, and the rest, being about four hundred, are called Representatives. These gentlemen meet in the State House twice every year. The Representatives meet in a large beautiful hall in the centre of the State House, called the Represen tatives' room. The Senators meet in another hall much smaller, but very beautiful, called the Senate Chamber. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Counsellors meet in another room, called the Council Chamber.