New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-11-12
SKETCHES OF NANTUCKET
Of The Y Y. THINE.


NANTUCKET, Monday, Oct. 81, l-j3
Ny letter Of last August promised continuation oi
bret sketches Of this island first Of its present cont
on afterward of It's early history and OF the rise and
progress the whale fishery. Circumstances have oc
casioued an unexpected delay in my writing, but now
resume the subject where | then left il.
The present condition Of the town and harbOr OF Nan
tuCket has an appearance Of dilspidatOn and decay
Most OF the buildings OF the ancient Quaker style OF
architecture, plain. without piazzas or ornament,
singled on the sides well the roof many OF them
old and poorly painted. They are, however, much
more comfortable within, than AM one would at hrs5
suppose and Often richly furnished The streets are
generally narrow. winding, and unpaved. excepting
few Of the principal ones in which the sidewalks are
laid with brick and fsgstone in certain portions OF
them. For tie most part the pedestrian has 20 make
bis way through sandy streets and alleys The only
buildings that are at all credtabe 10 the place are the
AtleIeum. the Ocean House, the West Grammar AMI
CofiI School Houses. aud few dwellings Of onr
Weather Inhabitants On Mainst, and here and tnere
through the other portions OF the town
Real estate is OF very little value, aud rents exceel-
ncly low-aRoiher indication OF the downward tenfen-
cy Of things, in commercial and material point OF
view. Very good dwellings elig0y situated are OF,
eIed for sale less than half their original cost aud
stand without purchaser II i no uncommon thing
to hear of good two-stery house and lot selling for
eight hundred a thousand dollars, which originally
cost twice thrice that emount and very g0oi tWD
story dwelling in the plcassntest part OF the town.
rents for from SO TO SEQ year. The highest rent
On the island is not more than Sl5O Tor twostory
double brick house. containing twelve rooms well tn
ithed. with garden, barn and every convenience AZ
tseled 10 IL go that if any one wishes to procure
cLeap and pleasant home this Is tie place to come 20
The outward appearance Of the houses as "hOle,
the character of the streets and the want OF trees and
foliage, with the exception OF here and there su'er-
leaf q willow or a hoTse-chestnut III 'front.' OF some
dwellng-ard this in very rare instances-g'e 70 tDe
town tie ancient and diapidated appearance ! nave
g. .icot TINA az . A
Which has a very quiet and unbusiness-like aspect,
compared with what is said OF II in former years Az
one If the vbarye lie the remains OF the Ola marine
csmels, built sEd used for while to noat IN loaded
ships over the bar, hat lying wreck oil time ana
rapidly going 10 pieces. They were butt many years
400. and soon got out of repair and the expense o.
keeping them in order and managing them was ouha g
be greater n N could be repaid from the business ~
which they were employed. They were accordingly
left TO decay at the wharf and the Investment thrown
AWAY Perhaps If the number of ships coming mo
this port had been sufficient 70 keep them constantly
employed, as in some Of the ports of Holland, they
mickt have proved successful undertaking. but such
was not the fact and the result is indicated above
Tie agriculture OF this island IL exceedingly limited
Hsv is the most abundant crop, about enough beng
rsifed 70 sustain the horses and cattle used here
few potatoes, small crop Of Indian corn, and good
supply Of tuups and pumpkins make up the remain
der There are good gardens in which the diier-
ut kinds OF garden vegetables are raised and an abund
anee of strawberries, grapes, eurrants gooseoeraes
ard the like Ounces grow timely here; but very iit-
tie fruit Of sny other kind. Apple, Plum pear Peach
and cherry trees sre generally killed IN winter D the Sc
we're winds and saline atmosphere Of the island very
few trees Of any Kind will grow tbriftily here The
leland in winter looks Ike naked and desolate waste
and the winds sweep over Il IN all their iur! anu 'V-
leuce. An attempt has been made within lew years
10 cultivate the pine tree which 10 oil Iafdy nature
and few Young groves Of this tree have ottahed a
growth Of several feet high, and promise well II "a
Ia ,ba tirre ms when the IFidn1 VIII Dc
wooded with this ufegl tree. but II VIII DE gOOd
while vet II was originally covered with ioFest ~
oak some of the timber Of which may n0w be found IN
few OF the oldest buildings Of the town lie was cut
AWAY by the early settlers for fuel and no second
growth ever sprung mp niterward
Nantucket il dangerous region for tho mariner
is shoals extend far out Ia sca and every winter there
are more ar less vessels wrecked or stranded upon i'
florsp There are two wreck masters here, aud the
busntrs If aiding lcftel In distress, aud saving tue
cnieoes Of such as 90 pieces gives employment TO
coed mrny pcrsong. during the stormy season o uia
year On sgncoty Head the highest point 81 land on
The leland situated on the eastern shoF. 10 one :" tue
beat lighthouses tho coast of America, CONTAINING
n revolving lirlt that Rruda up brilliant Nash al
intervals of minute apart by ucans OF an immen''
number 81 large pfismH. arranged In tho form dl al
uringon, fo that they fryo,c round tho central bsh
and tnd otih thr,p flashes az thsH enmc WITHIN th'
ttnro ol vision There Ia but one other equal &" u N
his count, and that believe u NJ Sandy llcoh
Tho vinte,a ho,e arc very miid ~ temperature, al
HAT nowr,s have been gathered nom tho gord us ir
nd.winictl hut tho lrh wluda maize it an uucomlort
allr residence The communication with The Cont
trrrt is often interrupted h, storms and Ice, ,hougl
uui ro frequently ~ late loara. IL uand q" happen
hat The inhabitants would too man, weeks without !
naii aud flncv the rpaiouoo IT Tho writer hctc w'
have lern shut up IN ono instance over week. wlhoA
Lr,wine wlatWa neina on Ia tho rest al the world
'iir Inhabitants, hnwr,rr have many resources %
ilrl own rf rareur Tho Winlr,a Netrcahy AMI psoat
hit There ls ri cuuftrnol much buanrns l"'na' AM
ll,uif ai leisure flraum lepturoa aud debates 10y
he educated raft ct Tho community. hheAapcro real
has literary oluha social parties, balls, denoea' en'
yilluf On ~ the winter mon,ha and ,end"r u aa hap
~ sodinielpstlup a'niamuniV aei there isu the world
H. tirfrrs,tstrH aud festivities The Wpmeu 90 TIE iHl