thine airy spear? Thou frownest in vain : I never fled from the mighty in war. And shall the sons of the wind frighten the king of Morven? No: he knows the weakness of their arms!'

"Fly to thy land,' replied the form; 'receive thy wind, and fly! The blasts are in the hollow of my hand; the course of the storm is mine. The king of Sora is my son; he bends at the stone of my power. His battle is around Carric-thura; and he will prevail! Fly to thy land, son of Combal, or feel my flaming wrath!'

"He lifted high his shadowy spear! He bent forward his dreadful height. Fingal, advancing, drew his sword; the blade of dark-brown Luno. The gleaming path of the steel winds through the gloomy ghost. The form fell shapeless into air, like a column of smoke, which the staff of the boy disturbs as it rises from the half-extinguished furnace."

In 1837, there were in this town 2,716 merino sheep, which produced 8,148 lbs. of wool, valued at $4,574. The value of leather tanned and curried was $13,000. Population, 985. Distance, 20 miles from Greenfield, 23 from Northampton, 53 to Albany, and

about 120 from Boston.

НЕАТН.

THIS town was incorporated in 1785. Rev. Joseph Strong, the first minister, was settled here in 1790. The church originated from that in Charlemont, at the close of the Revolutionary war, when Mr. Leavitt was the minister of the latter. "It was a period of some difficulty, owing, in part, to the state of the times." The number of original members was thirty-five. Rev. Moses Miller succeeded Mr. Strong in the ministry, in 1804. It is stated in the American Quarterly Register, Feb. 1838, as follows, viz.: "The church now consists of about 200. It has been diminished 100, by emigration. About 60 families attend Mr. Miller's meeting; of which 15 do not belong to the parish. About 350 persons attend meeting statedly; 30 families attend the Baptist meeting; 10 the Methodist; and 20 are Unitarians. At one time one third of the persons in town were professors of religion."

This is principally an agricultural town. The principal articles manufactured in the town are palm-leaf hats; of these, in 1837, there were 30,000 manufactured, valued at $5,000. The number of inhabitants in 1830 was 1,199; in 1837 it was reduced to 953, Distance, 4 miles N. of Charlemont, 13 from Greenfield, and 125 from Boston. There are three churches in the town, 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist; and two post-offices. One of the cordon of forts, built in 1744 for a defence against the Indians, was situated in this town, and was called Fort Shirley.

LEVERETT.

THIS town was incorporated in 1774. Rev. Henry Williams was installed pastor here in 1784. He died in 1811, and was succeed

ed by Rev. Joel Wright, in 1812, who continued pastor till 1820; Rev. Joseph Sawyer, the next minister, was settled in 1822. The next was Rev. Jonas Colburn, who was settled in 1824; and was succeeded, in 1832, by Rev. Freegrace Reynolds.

This is principally an agricultural town. In 1837, there were two scythe factories, which manufactured 2,400 scythes, valued at $1,600. Palm-leaf hats manufactured, 30,400; the value of which was $4,590. There are two Congregational churches, one in the north, the other in the south part of the town; there are two postoffices. Population, 902. Distance, 3 miles E. from Sunderland, 10 from Greenfield, and 85 from Boston.

LEYDEN.

THIS town was incorporated in 1809. It was formerly a part of Coleraine, and is now divided from that town by Green river, which, passing through Greenfield, passes into Deerfield river. There is one church in the town, which is situated in the central part, and belongs to the Baptists, the only regular denomination in the town. Agricultural pursuits is the business of the inhabitants. In 1837, there were 1,140 Saxony, 1,733 merino, and 269 other kinds of sheep in this town; Saxony wool produced, 3,320 lbs. ; merino, 5,199 lbs. ; other kinds, 807 lbs.; average weight of fleece, 3 lbs.; value of wool, $5,129 30; capital invested, $7,855. Population, 656. Distance, 7 miles from Greenfield, and 100 from Boston. The "Glen," a narrow rocky pass, through which a branch of the Green river passes, is much admired for its wild and picturesque scenery.

William Dorrell, the founder of the sect of Dorrellites, it is believed is still living in the north-west corner of this town. He is a native of England, and was born in Gloucestershire, about 1750, and was the son of a farmer. He enlisted as a soldier when he was twenty years of age. He came to America and was captured with Burgoyne. He lived for a time in Petersham, where he married a woman by the name of Polly Chase; he lived afterwards in Warwick, and then removed into Leyden. He was visited by a gentleman in 1834, from whom the above, and following particulars are derived. He was found living in a poor old house, situated in a bleak place, far from any travelled road. He was six feet or more in height. He did not believe in the Bible. He said the first revelation was made to him when he was chopping wood; it was, "Render yourself an acceptable sacrifice," or something similar. He began to have followers in the spring of 1791, and at one time twenty or more families joined him; some were from Bernardston. Dorrell held that all days were alike, and also to non-resist ance, and would say that no arm of flesh could hurt him. Some of his followers wore wooden shoes and tow cloth. Dorrell possessed a good deal of firmness of mind, and it is said that the organ for this was very fully developed in his cranium. He was in the habit of occasionally drinking too much; he was, however, very punctual in fulfilling all his engagements, whether drunk or sober. The sect of which he was the head, it is believed, has become extinct.

MONROE.

THIS town was incorporated in 1822. It is situated on the high lands north of Hoosic river. Distance, 23 miles from Greenfield,

and 130 N. W. of Boston. Number of inhabitants, 232. It is stated that no religious society has yet been formed in the place. In 1837, there were 400 Saxony, 600 merino, and 103 other kinds of sheep; the average weight of whose fleeces were three and one fourth pounds.

MONTAGUE.

MONTAGUE was incorporated as a town in 1753. Before that time, the southern part belonged to the town of Sunderland, and the northern part belonged to the state. It is about 6 miles square. The general face of the town is uneven, the soil various; a range of highlands in the easterly part of the town, the parts of which

are designated by different names, Harvey's Hill, Chesnut Hill, Bald Hill, Pine Hill, Quarry Hill, &c. South-westerly from the present center of the town there is a hill called Taylor Hill. The northerly part consists of pine plains; on the west of the town, bordering upon the Connecticut, there is quite an extensive tract of meadow land, of a good quality for cultivation. There is also upon the Saw-mill river, which takes its rise from Lock's Pond, Shutesbury, considerable meadow land. This river enters the town of Montague near the south-east corner, and winds its way in a north-westerly direction, passing northerly of the center of the town, and empties itself into the Connecticut, about one mile from the south-west corner of the town. The town affords many excellent water privileges. Timber, clay, granite and other stone of a good quality for building, are abundant.

The above is a view from the north-west of the central part of the town, on the bank of Saw-mill river, showing the two churches, and some other buildings in the vicinity. In 1837, there was $6,000's worth of scythe-snaiths and $3,000's worth of palm-leaf

hats manufactured. Population, 1,260. Distance, 7 miles from Greenfield, and 80 from Boston.

In the north-westerly part of the town there is a canal 3 miles long, commencing at the head of Turner's falls, descent 70 feet, through which lumber and goods are conveyed in great abundance annually. There is a post-office at this place, called Montague Canal post-office. From time to time many traces of savage men are here discovered, such as points of arrows, stone chisels, &c. The first ordained minister was the Rev. Judah Nash, as appears upon a slab of slate-stone over his grave; was settled Nov. 17, 1752, died Feb. 19, 1805, having continued with his people 53 years. And it is engraven upon said slab, that

"He was faithful to his God, a lover of the church, a friend to mankind.

Ever ready to hear affliction's cry,

And trace his Maker's will with a curious eye,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds and led the way.
At church, with meek and unaffected grace,
His look adorned the venerable place."

The names of some of the first settlers are Ellis, Harvey, Root, Gunn, Taylor, Clapp, &c. The celebrated Capt. Jonathan Carver had his residence in this town for many years.* One of his daughters married a Mr. Moses Gunn, who is still living in this place, and through the descent of his children by Capt. Carver's daughter claims an interest in what is called the Carver lands, granted him by the western Indians, situated in the Wisconsin Territory. The following was transcribed from a grave-stone in said Montague, about one mile from the present center:-"In memory of Mrs. Olive, wife of Mr. Moses Gunn, and daughter of Capt. Jonathan Carver of Montague, who died April 21, 1789, aged 30 years, leaving 4 children."

That part of the town taken from Sunderland in early times was called Hunting-hill Fields. Tradition says that it was thickly inhabited by animals of the forest, such as bears, wolves, deer, and moose. From the many stories of hunters, one only is selected. "A Mr. Ebenezer Tuttle and his father, of this place, at the time of its first settlement, went out on a hunting expedition, agreeing to continue out over night, designating the spot, about 3 miles from any house, in the easterly part of the town, in a gloomy forest. They separated for the objects of their pursuit. The son returned first to the place of encampment; he had not been there long before he heard a noise, saw the bushes move, and, being somewhat frightened, he thought he saw a bear, levelled his piece and fired; his father replied, 'You have killed me!' and soon expir ed. It was then almost dark. He took his father in his arms, with what emotions nor pen nor tongue can describe, and continued with him till day, and then went and gave information of what had taken place." In the grave-yard in said Montague there is the following inscription:

*Communication from J. Hartwell, Esq.

"In memory of Mr. Elijah Bordwell, who died Jan 26, 1786, in ye 27th year of his age, having but a few days survived ye fatal night when he was flung from his horse and drawn by ye sturrup 26 rods along ye path, as appeared by ye place where his hat was found, and here he had spent ye whole of the following severe cold night treading down the snow in a small circle. The Family he left was an aged Father, a wife and three small children."

NEW SALEM.

THIS town was incorporated in 1753. The first inhabitants were chiefly from Middleborough, and some from Danvers. The first minister was Rev. Samuel Kendal, who died in 1792, and was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Joel Foster, who was settled in 1779; he resigned in 1802, and was succeeded by Rev. Warren Pierce. Rev. Alpheus Harding succeeded Mr. Pierce in 1807. The north Congregational society erected their meeting-house in 1836, about three and a half miles north of the south church. The church (called the Orthodox) was organized in 1824. Rev. Levi French was settled pastor the next year; he was succeeded by Rev. Erastus Curtiss, in 1834. There is a Baptist church near the southern line of the town.

The south Congregational church and the academy, which was incorporated in 1795, stand on a very elevated hill, which commands an extensive prospect over the neighboring valleys. "The fogs of Connecticut river seldom rise above this place, while it covers the surrounding country; and the towering Monadnock on the north appear like islands rising from a boundless ocean." This place is 19 miles from Greenfield, 12 from Montague, 35 from Worcester, 10 from Athol, and 73 from Boston. The Millington post-office, in this town, is 3 miles distant from this place, in a little village in the south part of the town. Population, 1,255. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. The manufacture of palm-leaf hats, however, receives considerable attention. In 1837, seventy-nine thousand were manufactured, valued at $13,575.

The following, relative to Revolutionary times, is copied from the Barre Gazette.

"The news of the battle at Lexington flew through New England like wildfire. The swift horseman with his red flag proclaimed it in every village, and made the stirring call upon the patriots to move forward in defence of the rights so ruthlessly invaded and now sealed with the martyr's blood. Putnam, it will be recollected, left his plough in the furrow and led his gallant band to Cambridge. Such instances of promptness and devotion were not rare. We have the following instance of the display of fervid patriotism from an eye-witness--one of those valued relics of the band of '76, whom now a grateful nation delights to honor.

"When the intelligence reached New Salem in this state, the people were hastily assembled on the village green, by the notes of alarm. Every man came with his gun, and other hasty preparations for a short march. The militia of the town were then divided into two companies, one of which was commanded by Capt. G. This company was paraded before much consultation had been had upon the proper steps to be taken in the emergency, and while determination was expressed on almost every countenance, the men stood silently leaning on their muskets, awaiting the movement of the spir