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

State House.

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. On the lower floor of the State House, opposite to the principal entrance, and in a recess prepared for the purpose, stands a beautiful marble statue of Washington.

I presume you would like to know what this elegant building is for. I will tell you. 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 Representatives' 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.

The Governor and Council, Senate and Representatives, all together, are called the General Court, or Legislature. Laws are made in this way. A Representative who wishes to have a law made, writes it down on a piece of paper. This writing is called a bill. A gentleman called the Speaker, reads the bill to the Representatives, and asks those who wish it to become a law, to hold up their hands; then he asks those who do not wish it to become a law, to hold up their hands. If the number of Representatives, who wish it to become a law, is greater than the number who oppose it, the Speaker signs the bill with his own name, and sends it to the Senate. gentleman called the President of the Senate, reads the bill to the Senators; and if they like the bill they hold up their hands for it. Then the President of the Senate signs the bill and sends it to the Governor. If the Governor likes the bill, he signs it; and then it becomes a law; and every body in the State must obey the law or be punished. Sometimes, however, the bill is first brought into the Senate, and sent to the Representatives, and from them to the Governor; but all bills relating to taxes

A

must begin in the House of Representatives. Laws are not made, however, so fast as you might suppose from this account. For very often the Representatives and Senators talk a long time about a bill, before they take a vote upon it.

Where is the State House?

What is it for?

How are laws made?

LETTER XXXIII.

BOSTON is a large and beautiful city, and there are a great many things in it worth seeing and knowing, besides those I have spoken of. Some of them I will just mention; but I shall not describe them at length, for fear you should grow tired of my letters. There are three markets, besides the one I have mentioned, Boylston Market, Parkman's Market, and the New Market; three court-houses, one of them large and elegant, a large stone jail, two houses of correction, and a house of industry, for the relief and support of the poor; there are eighteen banks, and twentyone insurance offices. By paying a certain sum at

one of these offices, a person may have his house and furniture, or his vessels insured; that is, if his house be burnt, or his vessel lost, the insurers will pay him for it.

ses.

There are several large and beautiful halls for musical concerts and other public purpoFaneuil Hall is a noble and elegant building. The great hall in it, is seventysix feet square and twentyeight feet high. It is used for public meetings of the citizens. The building now called the City Hall, is an ancient building at the head of State Street; it was formerly the State House; but has recently been fitted up for the accommodation of the City Council, the Post Office, and other purposes.

In Boston there are many spacious and convenient houses for the accommodation of travellers. The largest is called Tremont House. This is a very extensive and elegant building with a stone front, containing one hundred and eighty rooms, some of them very large, and all of them handsomely furnished. It is much the largest house of the kind in the State.

A very great number of stage coaches run out of Boston and come into it every day from almost all parts of the country. There are