The only material consideration to the inhabitants is the acquisition of a Government, and public institutions, founded on the combined principles of freedom, energy, learning, good order, and religion. These blessings I most cordially wish them and their descendants to acquire, and enjoy, throughout every succeeding period of time.* I am, Sir, yours, &c. *The District of Maine was received into the Union as a State in 1820.—Pub. LETTER XXV. Madbury-Epping-Chester-Londonderry-Nottingham West-Dunstable, N. H. Dunstable, Mass.-Lovewell's Excursions-Groton-Indian Depredations. Dear Sir, ON Wednesday, October 11th, we left the excellent house of Capt. R. and rode through Dover, Madbury, and Epping, to Chester, thirty-five or thirty six miles. Mr. L. left us at the bridge, to pursue his rout along the Eastern shore to Boston, and thence through Providence and Newport to New-Haven. On my return from Hallowell in 1807, I had an opportunity during my continuance at Portsmouth to observe the alterations, which had been made in this town; as I also had in a journey, which I made to it in the year 1801. Two great fires had consumed a considerable part of Portsmouth. The vacancies, produced by these conflagrations, have been entirely, or nearly, filled up with several rows of handsome brick buildings; generally of four stories. Most of these are stores; and, except in Boston, are, as a whole, not excelled in New-England. Many new and beautiful houses have also been erected; and the whole aspect of the town has been essentially improved.* * On the 26th of September, three days after we passed through Portsmouth on our journey in 1807, Colonel Walker of this town went out on a shooting excursion at four o'clock in the morning. For this purpose he embarked in a small boat with an intention of crossing the Pascataqua. When he had passed over about half the breadth of the river, a severe spasm seizing him in the head, sensibly affected his sight, but left him in full possession of his understanding. Apprehending that his situation was dangerous, he immediately turned his course back towards the Portsmouth shore; and, as the flood tide then flowing with great strength forced him up the river, he steered towards a small wharf about three-fourths of a mile above the town. As the boat came near the wharf, he laid the end of a paddle, which he held in his hand, upon a corner of the wharf; in order to lay the boat by its side. But the tide forced him away. He then attempted to reach a rocky point, a few rods above; but while he was in the act of making a stroke with his paddle, by some accident or other he missed the stroke, broke the paddle, and fell into the river where it was about ten feet deep. As soon as he rose above the surface he endeavoured to swim; but being unskilled in the art, and encumbered with his clothes and boots, 32 VOL. II. The Ecclesiastical concerns, both of Portsmouth and its neighbourhood, have been less prosperous. Except the Congregation of the Rev. Dr. B. which is very large and flourishing, there is scarcely one, which has not within a few years had serious intrusions made upon its welfare. Several respectable Clergymen have died; others have been removed; and others, distressed by long continued diseases. I have mentioned the storm, which overtook me and my companions just before our arrival at Portsmouth in 1807. It began to rain here at half after four, P. M.; at Boston, about nine, A. M. ; at New-London, and New-Haven, early in the morning. Its progress against the wind was therefore irregular, and much slower than in the instances, unitedly observed by Doctor Franklin and Professor Winthrop. According to their observations, rain is found himself unable. When he perceived that he must sink again, he turned his face towards the shore; designing when he should reach the bottom to make his way to the spot where he hoped to land, by creeping. Accordingly, as soon as he felt the bottom, he made the most vigorous exertions for this purpose; and, when he rose again, had advanced so far towards the shore as to be able to raise his head above the water while his feet touched the bottom. He then walked to the shore which he reached about an hour before the sun rose. Hence he ascended the bank; and walked up the river with the hope of finding some person who might assist him to recover his boat. To this time Colonel Walker had retained full possession of his reason; but, as he supposed, he now fainted and fell, and had afterwards no distinct recollection of his circumstances until a little before noon on Monday the 28th. Still he retained a remembrance, which he styles imperfect, and visionary, of climbing over stone-walls, groping in a corn-field, and endeavouring to reach his house before the news of taking up his boat should alarm his family. The course which he took to find his house he could not remember; and probably did not contrive nor distinguish. But he evidently spent the whole of Saturday, Sunday, and a part of Monday, in attempting to find his way thither. The spasmodic affection which he mentions, the anxiety and flutter of spirits which he suffered during the time while he was in and under the water, and the excessive fatigue occasioned by his extraordinary exertions to regain the shore, affected both his body and his mind in such a manner as to leave him absolutely bewildered. Two days he seems to have wandered in the cornfield and its environs; and two nights to have slept, if he slept at all, within the same narrow limits; and all this on ground, which he must have familiarly known. After he had reached the town on Monday morning he made a variety of attempts by wandering through different parts of it, as he afterwards remembered, to find the way to supposed to commence at Philadelphia, in a North-East storm, such as this was, four hours sooner than at Boston.* Madbury, Epping, and Chester, are all farming towns. The surface is undulating; the soil, and the cultivation, moderately good; and the houses decent. Chester, the best of these townships, contains a village of well appearing houses, around a neat church. Epping is inferiour to it; and Madbury to Epping. Madbury was incorporated in 1755; Epping in 1741; and Chester in 1722. Madbury contained in 1790, 592; in 1800, 544; in 1810, 582 inhabitants. Epping contained in 1790, 1,233; in 1800, 1,141; in 1810, 1,182 inhabitants. Chester contained in 1790, 1,902; in 1800, 2,046; in 1810, 2,030 inhabitants. his own house; but failed in them all. About five o'clock, P. M. he was discovered and conducted home by some bakers in the neighbourhood. To this account taken from Colonel Walker himself, Dr. Buckminster adds, "Upon coming to the bake-house, to which he was probably directed by the light of the oven, Colonel Walker asked the men ; whether they knew where he was, and who he was, and whether they could conduct him to his house. The bake-house was within sight of the house of Colonel Walker; and directly behind the church where he had worshipped for thirty years. After he came home he was put to bed. Within an hour I visited him, and found him in a great degree of perturbation. He knew me however; as he had known his wife, and several of his family, at his first coming home. But he could not be convinced that it was Monday, and not Saturday, morning. In my hearing he urged his wife to send a messenger unto a company of men who under his superintendance were working on a road, to tell them that he was unable to give them directions, and that they must therefore disperse." Within a few days Colonel Walker was so far recovered as to attend to his customary business ; and not long after regained his usual health. I have recited this story because it exhibits man in an attitude, which, so far as I know, is absolutely new. * Subsequent observation has convinced me, that the irregularity mentioned in the text is not uncommon; although I am unprepared to say that it is predominant. On Tuesday, the 3d of May, 1813, began at New-Haven a storm attended with rain. Both continued, with some interruptions, five days. The quantity of water which fell was five inches and a half. At Norwich it began to rain on Wednesday, and at Boston, on Friday. Madbury is in the County of Strafford; the other townships are in the County of Rockingham. In the township of Chester there is a round eminence, called Rattle Snake Hill; which is esteemed a curiosity by the inhabitants. On the Southern side of this eminence there is, it is said, at the height of thirty or forty feet' from its base, a cavern, from fifteen to twenty feet square; from the ceiling of which depend a number of stalactites, whose polished surfaces reflect the light of a torch with uncommon brilliancy. From Chester we rode, the following day, through Londonderry and Nottingham-West; crossing the Merrimac, through Dunstable, (N. H.) and Dunstable, (Mass.) to Groton: thirtythree miles. The road on both these days was, for one so obscure, tolerably good. Londonderry is a large farming township; one of the best in New-Hampshire. Its surface is less undulating than that of the three preceding ones: the soil is better. The houses are generally good; and, together with the husbandry, indicate the prosperity of the inhabitants. A colony came to this town, at an early period, from the North of Ireland. Their descendants constitute a great part of the present inhabitants. Soon after their arrival they began to manufacture linen, and thread; and have ever since carried on this business, to a considerable extent; dispersing the products of their industry through many parts of the neighbouring States. This is the most considerable, and I believe the most respectable, colony of Irish emigrants, which has been planted in New-England. Londonderry was incorporated in 1722. In 1775, it contained 2,590 inhabitants; in 1790, 2,672; in 1800, 2,650; and, in 1810, 2,766. This township was first planted in 1718; settled its first minister in 1719; and contains two Congregations; both Presbyterian in the proper sense. After leaving Londonderry we passed through a part of Nottingham-West. Of this township we saw nothing, except a lean plain, forested with yellow pines. I have rarely seen a less in |