The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-03
TH Il TIE mt see n e
THE CELEBRATION IN 1859,
&C.. &C., &c.

&C.. &C., &c.
Onr Special Correspondence.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN AND oHU RCHEs-AN
GENT AND INTERESTING EPITAPHs, ETC.
PLYMOUTH, Mass, July 81, 1858.
This little town Is now, will be tomorrow, and has
been, by way of anticipation, for week past, in
state of excitement hardly to be looked for in such
quiet, outoftheway sort of place as it is, and ameng
community boastful of their ancestry and preserv-
ing much of their fathers strict spiritual purtanic
notions. But yet / have never seen SO general an
exhibition of interest manifested in any event, by
the inhabitants Of any town or city, as that which
now see in Plymouth on the great demonstration
which takes place here tomorrow, in commemora-
tion Of the departure for England from Delft Haven
in the Netherlands, Of that little band of Pilgrims
from among the Leyden congregation, who after
wards departed from the shores of England in that
historic craft the Maydower and landed at this spot
| on the 22d of December, 1920. / do not know
whether history preserves the date of this departure
with any accuracy further than that it took place in
the latter end of July, but tradition makes it day
which corresponds according to the new style, with
the first Of August. That memorable epoch is to be
celebrated here tomorrow with, perhaps, the greater
ervor that has not hitherto been the custom to OBJ
serve it, for the Pilgrim society here like the New
England society in New York and elsewhere, cee
brate the anniversary of the landing at Plymouth
the 22d of December-as the great and memorable
day which inaugurated in a New World, new
church, the settlement of somewhat peculiar race
of people, and the establishment of an asylum and
home for the prosecuted and poverty stricken Of al
nations.
This commemoration of the first of August, has
therefore, the merit Of novelty to recommend it,
it has been undertaken in spirit Of empressmcn
which might put New Workers to the blush, and
which will render tomorrow day to be remember
ed in the annals of this historic place. The most
eminent New England orators and sta a;esmen are to
be here, to do honor to the occasion; the New Eng
land Society from New York and elsewhere; the
scattered members of the Pilgrim Society; the Cape
Cod Association and other civic and military soce
ties, will congregate on this sacred SOIL and setting
out from Pilgrim Hall, march in procession through
the handsomely decorated streets Of the town. to
large tent erected on a rising ground facing the
ocean. a short distance aouth of plymouth Rock
where the company is to partake of banquet, and
listen thereafter to the inspired eloquence Of the
tors. All the details of this procession, the decora
tons Of the houses, the notices suspended over the
streets the speeches. &C., will naturally form subject
for my next communication.
Plymouth is spoken of in historical sketches and
orations, as barren, bleak, and nhospitabe Shore
the very sight of which, would be capable of deter
ring from their purpose, hearts less strong and re-
solute than were those of the Pilgrim Fathers and
Mothers. 1t may be somewhat different now but
still those terms might not inapty be applied to it,
nf IN fbo md
spots in its immediate neighborhood, which labor
and industry have made fertile. New Plymouth
harbor stretches wide expanse of water in 'front.'
to the east of the town. and few sails appear there to
relieve the dull monotony of the scene. Wise and
fcrseeirg as the Pilgrim Fathers were, it might well
be wondered why they choose their first settlement
on position where the water OF the harbor was
insufficient to float vessel of large drought were it
not remembered that theirs was desperate strait,
and the long perilous voyage then at end, made
them yearn for any land, no matter how barren or
uninvitDg.
The captain Of the Mayiower is reported to have
been corrupted by interested companies in Amser-
dam not to land his passengers the shores of the
Hudson, as it had been intended they should.
The sight is ocean wards limited by strip
of sandy land, termed Plymouth beach, at about
leagues distance from the shore stretching from the
south mainland as if to reach the northern pro-
montory, and shut in the scene. To the north
lies on q somewhat rising ground, Duxbury, on
the mainland, the island Of Seguish, and the
Gurney, another island on which there are two
light houses, end on the first glance you might
imagine that Plymouth harbor was entirely shut in
from the ocean. Beyond, and not distinctly visible
to the naked eye but just within the entrance of the
harbor, is situated Clark's Island, named after the
individual of the exploring party who first set bis
foot on it. Here, it will be remembered, the boats
crew of the shalop sent on the exploring expedition,
COMPRISING Winslow Bradford Standish, and seven
teen Others passed the Sabbath previous to the land
ing at Plymouth. The name Of this island has been
changed to that Of its present proprietor.
The town of Plymouth, which is the capital of
the county Of the same name, and about thirty
miles southeast Of Boston, srather irregular in shape,
the main street stretching north and south short
distance from the water, and other small streets
crossing il at right angles The houses are frame,
generally standing detached within little plots or
| gardens, and many of them are handsome edifces
The business done here is not Of much importance,
but has been increasing latterly Some large repe-
walks, shoe manufactory, and nail manufactory,
give large employment, and in the coasting, Fest
| Indian, and fishing trade there are some fifty
vessels engaged. Ship building is also carried
on on smaller scale. Being the county town,
| Plymouth possesses court house, Jail, and
almshouse. It has also six churches belonging
to different Protestant sects, two banks, an
Insurance Company, and public building, denomi
mated Pilgrim Hall, Of which win speak again