tion of an active committee, and are kept about five months in each year at the public expense. The school tax for 1826, was four hundred dollars. In addition there are private schools kept every year, in nearly all the districts.

Although this town has never been considered high in a literary view, yet a large proportion of its native citizens have received the honors of college. The list is as follows:

BUSINESS AND TRADE.-There are in town five stores for retailing goods; two houses of entertainment, one of them having been known nearly a century, as "Beaman's," being now kept by the third generation of that name; a Post Office; four blacksmith shops; a trip hammer; scythe factory; and tan yard; cabinet maker; wheelwright; six shoemakers; and a book binder; two grist mills, one of them running three pair stones, three saw mills, clothing work, and carding machine. Baskets are manufactured to considerable extent in this town from white oak timber.

To these may be added, two practising physicians, two clergymen, and three magistrates. These last mentioned, are not crowded with professional business, as there is but little litigation in town, and no Attorney at Law. The present justices of the peace, are Joseph Hinds, Barnabas Davis, and R. B. Thomas, Esqrs.; the latter is the author of the Farmer's Almanac, which has been published thirty four years successively; 36,000 copies have been issued in a year; and 1,800,000 sold since its first publication.

MANUFACTORIES.-The water power in this town is quite extensive, but at present only partially improved, sufficient being left, to employ a large capital advantageously.

The oldest and largest establishment, was commenced in 1804, near Maj. Beaman's, and is called the Lower Factory: its operation being solely with cotton. In 1809, this property came into the hands of Mr. Robert Parkinson of England, and in 1812, was purchased of him, by the present owners, now doing business under the firm of John Slater, & Co. The establishment has been grad

ually enlarged until, at this time, they run 2000 spindles, and make about 7000 yards of cloth, per week, of No. 16, sheetings.

The factory building is of wood, about 160 feet long, and three stories high. There are about 200 inhabitants in the village, and from 90 to 100 persons are employed by the company.

There is a chemical bleaching establishment, grist, and saw mill, with a large farm, attached to the factory. The canal to conduct the water to, and from the factory, is nearly one mile and a half in length. Should the business continue profitable, this company will soon enlarge their works, at their present establishment.

The next establishment, called the Upper Factory, is two miles above that first mentioned, and on the Stillwater river.

It was incorporated in 1813, by the name of the West Boylston Cotton and Wire Manufactory, with a capital of $140,000, a small part of which was invested.

Owing to want of experience, but little progress was ever made in the Wire business, and it was soon relinquished. The manufacture of cotton, is now the chief business of the company.

They have two large buildings for machinery, one of brick, four stories high, 68 feet long, by 34 wide, containing 1000 Spindles, and 32 power looms. The other of wood, three stories high, 40 by 26 feet, and occupied for building machinery, both cotton and woollen, under the superintendence of an experienced workman. Here are employed about fifty workmen regularly and about 5000 yards of cloth, shirting width, are made per week.

The village consists of about a dozen families, and one hundred and twenty inhabitants, and the hum of the spindle, and noise of the shuttle, indicate a prosperous course of business.

At this place there is a plentiful supply of water, as the waters of Quinnepoxet are conveyed by a canal, into the factory pond, and far more extensive operations will be carried on, ere long, at the factory.

Last of all, is the establishment on the Nashua, called Hathorn's Mills, where there are seated together a grist and saw mill, a trip hammer, a manufactory of cotton batting, and yarn, a clothier's shop, and carding machine, owned by different individuals, and situated intermediate of the other factories. The grist mill here has a great run of business. About two hundred dozen scythes are made annually, and many edge tools. The manufacture of cotton, is on a small scale, by an individual proprietor.

These works are frequently deficient in the quantity of water

to move them. A new establishment for manufacturing cotton is soon to be commenced.

One thing is deserving of notice in relation to these factories, and which, for the credit of the managing agents, ought to be known it is, the attention paid to the morals, and instruction of the children, and youth. We feel safe in affirming from our own observation, that it only requires firmness of principle, and patience in its exercise, to render a factory village as orderly, and decorous as any other.

MISCELLANEOUS.In the south part of the town, there is a beautiful, and romantic spot, called Pleasant Valley. At some remote period, it was the location of a small pond; the area of the place is about an acre and a half, of an elliptical form, and surrounded by a range of hills, covered with trees, which open at the southwest end and stretch along in parallel ranges, for one fourth of a mile. The path to the valley is between them. The bottom of the valley is a smooth, plane surface, covered with the richest verdure. The singular, silent, and wild features of the place, render it a pleasant retreat to the lovers of nature and retirement.

The earthquake in 1755, produced a very singular phenomenon in this town. A piece of land about ten rods square, on the west bank of Quinnepoxet river, sunk about ten or twelve feet. This, at the time excited great curiosity, and was visited by hundreds, but the inundations of the river have nearly filled up the chasm.

At the Upper Factory Village, there is a Mineral Spring, which was discovered in repairing the enbankment of the pond. It runs over a bed of pyrites under the pond. The water is strongly impregnated with iron,,and slightly with sulphur; no gas is emitted.

This town presents no peculiar attractions to the mineralogist. Some fine specimens of Schorl, bedded in quartz, have been found; also, some uncommonly beautiful formations of Mica; iron is occasionally met with, but in small masses.

A few traces of the aborigines of the country have been discovered. In repairing the road below the lower factory, in 1825, a skeleton, brass kettle and spoon, were discovered; the skeleton was supposed to be that of an Indian Squaw. A few stone chissels and arrows have been found in our fields.

The first settlers built a stockade fort, of square logs, for defence, on the land now owned by Mr. John Temple. This fort stood until within about forty years, the only intimations of any hostilities against it were a few bullets lodged in the timbers.

There is a Social Library in town, of about two hundred select volumes, and owned in shares. Another Society own the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. There are also two associations for acquiring useful knowledge, and discussing questions.

These are only the incipient operations of institutions, which must continue to exert a favorable influence upon the interests of literature and science.

These institutions are supported by a class of people who have not before had the treasures of science opened to their minds, nor would they now, but for such combined exertions.

Among other strange things, there is a singular fraternity of men, who have lived in five incorporated towns, and two parishes, and yet, have never resided off the farms where they were born. This is explained by the tract called the leg being so often transfered to other towns.

There is not less than one hundred feet of water fall in this town, and two or three good sites for manufacturing establishments. As this will eventually be a manufacturing town to a large extent, it is not improbable that the Blackstone or Massachusetts Canal will be extended to the place.

INHABITANTS.-The number of inhabitants at the last census, was 987, but now they have increased to about 1100; there being 178 families, with 260 rateable polls. The increase of population in this town is about 35 net gain, per annum. In 1821, there were 210 polls, increase of 50 in five years.

The Manufacturing interests, will undoubtedly give this town a great increase of population.

There is a general equality among them, as none can boast of the distinctions, which great wealth, family, or honors, confer on the few who are the favorites of fortune. Industry and economy are prominent traits in the character of our citizens; Agriculture, or Manufactures, claim their chief attention. They live easily and comfortably, unless an evil spirit, residing in taverns, or grogshops, happens to draw them away from home, to the sorrow, and distress of their families.

List of Taxes.-For Schools, $400 per annum.-Highways, $400: Support of the poor, $400 on an average.-Incidental expences, $200.-Support of the Gospel, $1000 per annum. Total of necessary taxes, $2400.

Deaths. 1798-8: 1800-10: 1810-10: 1820-18: 1825--16. 26

VOL. II.

RELIGIOUS. The people in this town, are of various denominations, viz. Congregationalists, both Orthodox, and Unitarians, Baptists, Universalists, a few Methodists, and one family of Quakers.

The Congregationalists were the first, and are now, the most numerous sect in this town, there being about 160 rateable polls in the parish. They have a Meeting House built thirty years since, before the parish was set off. It is situated near the centre of the town, and has a pleasant location, with a beautiful level common, and good sheds in the rear. The church, and parish, were in a harmonious state, as long as Mr. Nash remained their pastor; since his dismission, they have been divided, and occasionally some controversies have arisen between the parties, chiefly respecting their minister.*

After Mr. Nash resigned the pastoral office, several gentlemen were invited to supply the pulpit, but none could be found who had the happiness to unite all parties.

In 1820, the present pastor, Rev. John Boardman, A. M. of Dartmouth College, was settled. In this measure the Unitarians and Universalists, never concurred, and afterwards a very respectable minority seceded from the parish; alledging that their feelings had not been sufficiently regarded, in a transaction of such importance.

When the town was incorporated, parochial powers were not included in the act, (although, until this time they had been exercised;) those who declined Mr. Boardman's ministry, refused to pay a tax for the support of the gospel, which they considered illegal. This induced the friends of Mr. Boardman to petition the Legislature to pass an act or resolution, empowering them to revive the old precinct formed in 1796, and re-organize it in such a manner as to enable them, as a parish, to support a Minister. Notwithstanding a remonstrance was presented against the petition, the legislature in 1823, authorized the re-organization of the ancient precinct. Since this, they have gone on their own way, rejoicing under the ministry of their own selection. They have a fund of about $2000 for the support of Mr. Boardman. The church when gathered consisted of 32 members; since then 135 have been added to it; and the total number now, is about 90.

The Baptists, follow next in order, having first held their meetings in 1810, being then members of the church in Holden. In 1812, Rev. Mr. Nash still resides in town, in easy circumstances. Mr. Nash removed from Williamsburg, Mass. and was graduated from Yale College, in 1791.