The Portland daily press., 1867-07-12
Terms Eight Dollars per AMMAN, sss adrancs. 4.

by him "St. Georges Island" This name
was aiterward applied by the Popham and
Gilbert Expedition (1607 to the cluster OF
Islands lite to the north, on one of which
they found Weymouth's cross, and by this
name they are yet known.
Monhegan is still just as Weymouth de-
scribed it, "a mean high land some six miles
IN compass, and an excellent land fall"
Far in upon the main land to the north
northeast are the high mountains SO truly
ueseriDed by that ancient voyager. The
"hiee Mountains, which were once supposed
10 De tne nigh lands seen by Weymouth, are
not visible nom here. 1 have taken pains 10
look for them nearly every clear day. The
mountains to the north-north. east can be
clearly discerned, and form a beautiful land
scape view.
In the centre OF the island Is beautiful,
moving field of some twenty or thirty acres,
once the bottom of shallow pond. A small
stream still runs through the centre of the
field, and empties into the harbor. The signs
of an ancient settlement are still TO be seen,
such as cellars, ovens, wells, &c, but OF SO Old
date that ''the memory of man runneth not
to the contrary" Upon small island form
ing the western side of the harbor, can be
traced upon the smooth rocks some characters
which have excited the curiosity of antiquari-
ans, and are believed by many, to have been
made by the Mortimer, before the discoveries
OF Columbus. Time has mostly worn them
away. ar
The adjacent Islands are most beautiful and
losely at this Sc son, particularly "George'5
Islands" among which is the snug little har-
Dor which Weymouth named "Pentecost Har-
bor," where he rsplenished his vessel and built
his shallop. The historical associations cor
nected with this little harbor, now called ''St.
Georges Island harbor," are exceedingly In
teresting. In 1906, fifteen years before the
Plymouth settlement, and two years before the
Popham abortion, there was built in this little
island harbor by Capt. Weymouth, the first
vessel ever erected by Englishmen, on the
shores of New England. Here at the same
early period, was held the first Christian SER
| vice ever heard In New England, attended as
| the historian informs US, by two savages,
"who behaved themselves very civilly." Here
too, the first garden was planted, the first
vegetables raised, the first fruits Of husbandry
seen by Englishmen on New England soil.
Here the first prayer was said, the first cross
10 New England was erected, the first EN-
blam of Christianity planted which remained
standing two years afterwards when the Pop
ham Expedition held religious service be-
meath it. From this harbor Weymouth sailed
in his new shaliop which he had just finished,
and discovered the beautiful river St. Georges.
From this harbor he set sail for England just
two bundled ami sevsntytwo years ago on
the 26th ult., reckoning according to new
style. Tie harbor is now q great place of re-
sort for fishermen, and might be made most
beautiful summer watering place, which would
attract visitors on account of its historical
"reminiscences, as sllas its natural loveliness.
have spent much of the last month in sail
ing about among these islands, and with Re-
sier's Narrative Of Waymouth's voyage before
me have traced the ancient voyagers step By
step, from place to place, and hope to spend
many more summer months as proftably and
as happily. W.