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sustained by the President of Harvard University, in the scientific and literary world; the rank, above all ranks, held by the President of the United States, in the political world, imparts a consequence to their opinions, which can neither be increased nor diminished by that of a private individual. But when the President of a literary institution, instead of limiting the minds of his pupils to "particular attachments; geographical divisions, and peculiarities of opinion; trains those under his charge for the whole public and for mankind," no one can withhold the expression of his high respect, nor help declaring his approbation. When the Chief Magistrate of the only REPUBLIC on earth, instead of rejoicing in that mental degradation, and gross ignorance, which is the foundation of despotic power, declares, "The more extensive the means of education, the more confidently may we rely upon the preservation of our public liberties;" every one must approve of the sentiment, applaud the man, and delight in his administration.

After examining all the different departments of the sciences in this important institution, the President of the United States, received from the President of Harvard University, the Degree of Doctor of Laws, the highest honour he could bestow.

The President, in his exalted station, did not omit to manifest his respect for one of his predecessors-the venerable JOHN ADAMS. He visited him at his own mansion, in Quincey. The interview must have been one of the most interesting that can be imagined. It must have been pursued with "thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." This venerable patriot, with

locks bleached with eighty-five years, must have poured out a soul, swelling with gratitude to the KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS, that he had sustained THE REPUBLIC from infancy to manhood; and that he had preserved one of its ardent defenders, to preside over its destiny. The President, in this hoary headed statesman, recognized one of the earliest advocates of Ameri can Freedom, and must have thanked his God, that in retirement he was in the full enjoyment of those blessings, which he, so largely, contributed to acquire for his countrymen.

The President has the happiness to reflect, that he has enjoyed the intimacy, and secured the confidence of all his illustrious predecessors; a felicity which few, if any of his successors, can hope to enjoy. WASHINGTON has departed; and the path he made from temporal to immortal glory, must, ere long, be traversed by ADAMS, JEFFERSON, and MADISON.

The contracted limits of this work has inhibited the writer and compiler of it from giving such historical accounts and geographical descriptions of the important places, through which the President passed, as would have been gratifying to his own feelings, and perhaps not altogether destitute of amusement and information to his readers. The same restraint prevents him from expatiating, to any extent, upon Boston and its environs.

Boston has been settled by Europeans nearly two centuries. It is situated upon a peninsula, united to the main land upon the south, by a narrow neck of land extending to Roxbury. It has an inner and an outward bay, spreading before it to the east, making a harbous,

somewhat difficult of entrance, and safe when entered. In approaching it by land and by sea, it is presented to the view of the traveller, and the navigator, in the most flattering colours. The whole peninsula, excepting a capacious common, which the wise policy of the place has always preserved for a beautiful promenade, and for the benefit of a free circulation of air, is covered with buildings. The adjoining country is literally checquered with beautiful and flourishing villages.— Upon entering the town, the beholder is convinced there was no illusion in the distant view. Although irregularly built, its irregularity is more charming than the dull uniformity of the "cities of the plain." In its principal streets, there is a succession of extensive warehouses, and elegant residences. In its lanes and alleys, which might, by a stranger, be supposed to con-tain the sons of sorrow and indigence; there is every appearance of active industry and comfortable subsistence. The public buildings discover the wealth and. taste of the citizens. The new state house, and the new court house, are considered as models of elegant architecture. Twenty-three houses of public worship show that the present inhabitants are not forgetful of the God of their forefathers. Although, by the surrounding ocean, this peninsula is almost cut off from natural communication with the adjacent country, a number of elegant bridges furnish an artificial passage to every part of it.

The events that have taken place here, it will be the pride and the pleasure of the historian to record. The Tourist is precluded from it by his li mits. It can only here be said, that Boston was settled

by independent Christians, determined that no dictates, but those of divine revelation, should control them in the worship of the Deity. It was settled by freemen. who were resolved to resist the unauthorized exertion of the power of an earthly potentate. The revolution here commenced, and it was consummated upon the principles here advanced. The first blood shed in this contest, was spilled in its neighbourhood,* and in its neighbourhood† the first important battle was fought. It was upon Bunker's incrimsoned mount where a WARREN fell

"There stood stern PUTNAM, seam'd with many a scar, "The vet'ran honours of an earlier war."

r."‡

and here he saved the remnant of an army that had slain more than its whole number.

Having, in the first edition of this work, attempted to blend with the account of the interesting Tour of the President, brief historical notices of the most important events which had taken place in the principal places through which he passed, I could not omit to mention "the Battle of Bunker Hill." In mentioning that event, the BELOVED WARREN," and the "VETERAN PUTNAM," could not be forgotten.

The edition had hardly issued from the press, when Gen. Henry Dearborn, published "An Account of the Battle of Bunker Hill," calculated to throw a shade over the exalted fame of Warren, and to tarnish, forever, the hard earned laurels of Putnam. His " account" produced a sensation through the whole Republic. The surviving heroes of that sanguinary contest, *Battle of Lexington. + Battle of Bunker Hill. Barlow's Columbiad, and Trumbull's Painting.

whose hearts had almost ceased to beat from the weight of years, were roused into indignation at the sacrilegious attack upon " their General," the Gazettes of the whole Republic teemed with depositions repelling the attack upon the memory of Israel PUTNAM.

A digested account of that battle has recently been published by an accomplished scholar, Col. Samuel Swett, of Boston, to which the reader is referred.* I hope to be pardoned for incorporating into this work the following letters, which were published in the Gazettes of the day.

LETTER I.

To Gen. Henry Dearborn.

Hartford, May 1, 1818. SIR-My attention has recently been directed to a publication in the Port Folio, entitled, " An account of the battle of Bunker Hill." Not having been born until after the first war for Independence, I of course know nothing of that unparalleled contest, excepting from reading the histories we have of it, and hearing the surviving veterans relate the tales of it. It is a subject of all others most interesting to me. My ancestors were among the first to "breast the shock;" and those of them who did not fall upon the field of battle, were the last who left it.

My venerated grandfather, Major General Israel Putnam, was among the first who flew to arms after the blood of Americans stained the fields of Lexington. He had fought the French and the Savages in the French war. He had gone through scenes of sufferings, and hosts of dangers, which are probably without parallels

Vide Humphrey's Life of Putuam, with Swett's Appendix.

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