Charlestown has more than eight thousand inhabitants, several churches, a large almshouse, a market house and a bank. There are two large wooden bridges across the Mystic river; one of them joins Charlestown to Malden, the other joins it to Chelsea. Two bridges across the Charles river connect Charlestown with Boston. Charlestown has a harbour and wharves, many vessels, and. much trade.

In this town is the State Prison. It consists of two large buildings of granite, five stories high, and surrounded by a high stone wall. These buildings have a great number of very small rooms in them, with iron doors and strong locks. The little rooms are called cells. No cell has more than one window, and that very narrow, letting in only a faint light. The windows have iron bars across them on the outside. Some of the cells, called dungeons, have no windows at all, and are as dark as the * darkest cellar. When the iron doors are opened, they grate on their hinges; and when one speaks in the cells, it makes a most dismal sound. The State Prison was made for persons that steal, pass counterfeit 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 over two hundred and fifty 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 MacLean Asylum for the insane. It is a large, handsome building of brick. It has been built in order that insane, that is, crazy people, may

be carried to it, and be better taken care of than they can 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, a very large monument of stone is begun. 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 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 twcntythree 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 a hundred great guns. There are generally several of these great ships lying in the water near the navy yard.

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 west from Charlestown, and as many from Boston, is Cambridge. This town has three principal villages; Cambridgeport, East Cambridge, and Old Cambridge. This last village has many fine houses, and is planted with trees, and in the summer season is very pleasant. 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, and 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.

Connected with the University are generally more than four hundred young men. Learned professors 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 an exhibition, called Commencement. Several hundred ladies and gentlemen from various parts of the country, go to Com