whom 405 are negroes. There are Indians at Holliston, Malden, and Natick, in all about 15. A few of the inhabitants, living on the seaboard, are engaged in commerce; a large number in different parts of the county, are employed in manufactures; but by far the greatest part are devoted to agriculture. Middlesex County was incorporated in 1643, and sends five Senators to the Legislature.

Rivers. Charles River has its sources in Milford, Worcester County, in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, and in Wrentham, Norfolk County, whence issues a small tributary stream, called Stop River. Charles River flows in a very irregular course towards the east, partly through the south of Middlesex and partly through the north of Norfolk. At Dedham, Norfolk County, its waters are divided, about one third falling into Neponset River after a short course, the rest passing in another direction to the coast, and emptying into Boston harbor. It falls considerably in its course, particularly in Newton where it descends 20 feet perpendicularly. Its mill privileges are extremely valuable, and have been sought for and appropriated with great avidity.

Concord River is formed by the junction of

How many

county, and where are they? How are the people employed? When was the county incorporated? Senators does it send to the Legislature?

Where are the sources of Charles River? What is its course, and where does it empty? What is said of its falls and mill privileges?

Assabet River rising in Northborough and Grafton, Worcester County, and Sudbury River, which rises partly in Westborough, Worcester County, and partly in Hopkinton and other towns of Middlesex County. These branches unite at Concord, and receive the name of Concord River. The stream thence flows in a gentle current through extensive meadows, at first in a northeasterly, afterwards in a northerly course, till it passes over a series of rapids and falls between Lowell and Tewksbury into the Merrimack.

Merrimack River flows from the State of New-Hampshire into Middlesex County. It descends Wickasee Falls, and less than three miles below Pawtucket Falls, and Hunt's Falls not much farther down. It leaves the county, having cut off its northeastern corner, and passes into Essex County, and through it to the Atlantic Ocean.

Mystic River rises in Reading, pursues a southeasterly course to Medford, where it is navigable, and thence flows southeast, rapidly widening as it approaches the ocean, and expands below Chelsea Bridge into Boston Bay.

Nashua River runs north from Worcester County, across the northwestern part of Mid

By what streams is Concord River formed, and where do they rise? Where does Concord River receive its name? Describe its course.

What is the course of Merrimack River through Middlesex County? Where does it empty?

Describe the course of Mystic River.

dlesex into the State of New-Hampshire, to join the Merrimack. It affords water power of considerable importance; its banks produce great quantities of walnuts.

Squanicook River rises in Ashby and in Mason, New-Hampshire, and flowing southeasterly in a rapid current joins the Nashua at Groton.

Middlesex Canal. This great work was originally projected by the late Governor Sullivan. It was completed in 1804, at an expense of $575,000, being 27 miles long, 30 feet wide, and four feet deep. It has twenty locks for ascent and descent, and seven aqueducts over vallies and rivers. It receives its waters from Concord River at Billerica, and has from that place a descent of 21 feet to the level of Merrimack River, and of 107 feet to that of Boston harbor. This canal has opened an important trade through the Merrimack between the interior towns of the State of New-Hampshire and the city of Boston.

Mountains. There are no mountains in Middlesex County; the surface, however, is uneven and the land rises both on the north and on the south. The soil, though inferior

Through what part of Middlesex County does the Nashua River flow? What is said of its water power? Of its banks? Where does Squanicook River rise and empty ? Who projected the Middlesex Canal? Give an account What trade has it opened?

of it.

Are there any mountains in Middlesex County? What is said of the surface of the County? Of its soil ?

F2

to that of the Connecticut valley and of some other portions of the State, affords an ample recompense for diligent cultivation.

NANTUCKET COUNTY.

TOWN.

Nantucket is both a town and a county. The town is situated on an island of the same name about 30 miles from the main land of Barn

General review of the County.

Draw the shape of Middlesex County on a large scale. How is it bounded? Draw Merrimack River as it passes through this county. Draw the Nashua and its branches in its course through this county. Draw Concord River. Draw Charles River. Draw the course of the Middlesex Canal. In what town is the summit level of this canal? What supplies it with water? Draw Shawshine River. What falls are there on the Merrimack in Middlesex County? Mark them. What falls on Charles River? Mark them. In what towns in this county are the principal manufacturing establishments ? Mark those towns. What town on the seaboard? In what town is ship building carried on? Mark it. What towns in the county have academies? What towns suffered from Indian depredations? What are the shire towns of the county? Mark them. What do you recollect of the University at Cambridge ? What event in the beginning of the revolution happened at Concord? What happened at Lexington? Which way is Concord from Cambridge? Mark the situation of Lowell. Which way is it from Cambridge? Which way from Concord? In what part of the county is Ashby? Mark it. Mark Dracut. Which way is it from Ashby? What is the height of Pawtucket Falls? How are they passed by boats? Where is Hopkinton ? Mark Marlborough. Tewksbury.

What constitutes the county of Nantucket ? How is the town of Nantucket situated ? When and by whom was

stable County. The island was first settled in the year 1659, by Thomas Macy, from Salisbury in Essex County. He found here at that time a great many Indians, who were friendly to the white people and willing to dispose of their lands to them; which were by degrees bought till the natives were almost entirely dispossessed. The position of the settlement led the inhabitants to devote themselves to whale fishing in the neighboring seas, under the instructions of a man from Cape Cod, who came to the island for the purpose. This important branch of our fisheries the people of Nantucket have pursued in all periods of their history with unparallelled enterprise and success.

At the breaking out of the revolution, in 1775, Nantucket had 150 vessels, and employed in them 2200 men, on whaling voyages. They took annually about 30,000 barrels of oil. The peculiar interests of the island suffered severely by the war, at the close of which the number of whaling vessels was reduced to 30. The enterprise of the people received another check in the late war, but has since ágain restored the business of the Island to its

it first settled ? What inhabitants had the island before it was settled by the whites? To what employment have they been chiefly devoted? When and under what circumstances was the whale fishery begun in Nantucket? How many vessels and men were employed in it at the commencement of the revolution? How many barrels of oil did they take in a year? How was the whale fishery affected by the revolution? What other check has the en3r