New-York tribune., 1871-08-30
SUMMER LETTERS.
NEWBURYPORT.
A STILL OLD TOWN AND ITS SUMNER At
FRACTIONS.

heaven 10 speak eCstatcay than the Summer s00urner
In this strange old town Of farmers aud factories and
nshormen, which lies embowered In elms its green
hillside half out at sea- but protected by the nine mile
long breastwOr Of Plum Island from any OF the
waves whose great pulse s forever sounding through It's
streets and always somewhat veled from the seward
behoder in the hazes OF the marshes stretching
watering aud mountain places, 1t IL refreshing
10 alight at town that has been settled
nearly $50 yoars, that IL absorbed In its own
pursuits and pleasures, that gives you free use or
noble public library and readingroom, and allows the
wayfarer to come and go with almost as much uncon-
srant he possesses in the Wilderness OF great CITY
IL is still old town, this burgh Of Newburyport. ranb-
ling with it enyrOns, over so much territory tat no
amount OF business to make any stir there; half
dozen mills burr away IN it all day with small cOmmO
tion except Immediately around themselves; the East
ern Railroad sends through 1t 20 pass ngerrains day.
and the Boston and Maine half as many more, without
making any concOurse on the streets you forget the
remote ship-yards where busy tbrong chlp ana ham
mer the year IN and out till warned of the gay scene AT
some stately aunch-shpyards off whose ways nave slid
huge ocean steamships gunbOats, and those clippers
among which the wordknown Dreadnaught IN her day.
took the lead and collers and hshingschooners arrive
at the ancient ample wharves and leave them again
causing one might almost say scarcely ripple on the
river.
Newburyport ia Democratic town in politics, rather
than otherwise believe, orators Of that persuasion haV
ing styled her. in alusOn to the supposed "backness
Of the rest OF the State the swel la the Ethops ear
But better than anything OF that SORT she ademOcra
town in feeling there i in fact aristOcracy within
her borders AS wealth goes now counted by Millions
there is nobody very rich here and but few who are very
DOOR The Indian merchant OF the place sends his boys
TO tho same school attended by the aborers boys. and
with exception OF an infant school, there has not been
until now private school In the place for many years
Although all that portion OF the town destroyed ny the
great fire" was rebuilt in brick, there Is but little am
bilious architecture in the pace-the Custom-H House.
stone chapel and very pretty brown-stone savings
bank comprising the most Of IT. but the ak miles OF
Highst. lying partly In Eewbury and partly in New
buryport and shaded by interlacing centuryod ems,
are lined with rich farms and charming residences, with
princely gardens and orchards behind them,
and slOping lawns in front, generally the
old-fashOned, square, three-stOry houses, wild
wide halls running from end to end once resoundng 10
much good cheer though now the days OF their famous
hospitality among these are the mansion atey
belonging TO Gen. Cushing and now TO his brother;
that OF Mr.. VIM. wheelwrght. the celebrated South
American railway contractor the house Of Lord Timothy
Dexter called, who offered TO pave the whole length
OF Hgh-st should 1t be named for hlm-an offer secuted
by the townspeope; the Laurels, which Sir Edward
Thornton has for the last few Summers made his country
seat and many others; WHILE the river, out OF
their pine cOppce rise the pointed towers and trrets OF
Hawkswood built at great cost by the Rev. JC Fletcher
Of Brazilian fame, and now our Consul at oporto For
the history of the fires that have threatened to sweep
away these beautiful places there is here neither time
space but it is full OF romantic interest While the
action OF the ncendary recently sentenced To the state
Prison LIFE presents curious Psychological study
as could be- desired.
Newburyport, may be imagined, makes but small
pretension to modesty; as indeed why should she
There has much ia her history to boast Of and 1t
would Idle ignore it, 1t is well known that she
furnished the first company mustered for the Reyolu-
ton and although the call to arms at the breaking
out OF the Rebellion, Pennsylvania company afNeu
first at the Of action yet company had left New
buryport summoned by wild bellringng in the dead or
night many hours earlier in the War OF ll2 her prya-
teers, almost unaied crippled British commerce; WHILE
in other peaceful matters she lays claim to
being the principal point in the Attica OF America
known otherwise the Valley OF the Merrmack out OF
which sprung startling array or those endurihSy
known In history our Judiciary and our past ana
present terature-Our LOngfelOws and LowellS, Whp-
pies Fetons Storys Adamses, Parsons, and Websters,
Choates and host of others behind them Indeed so
many uustrious names has NewburypOrt, with her
suburbs right TO number her beadro that she can
well afford meet the SCOTS OF envous souls who de-
clare she claims every whose aunt uncle
passed through the pacebut perhaps one ever did
pass through the place without returning, captive 10 It's
maze OF sea and meadow beauty.
In dmple near the center of the town lies small
pond backed by hill that i5 covered with old grave
yard whose sunken states with their carved cherubs
enlaced by blackberry vines. saved from gloomy
socation by the presence OF the school children playing
about Them the pond - surrounded by handsome wall,
the gift of citizen to terrace and turf which, many
years ago. the whole army OF townsmen turned out with
their spades and shoves while their wives and daughters
waited them with hot coffee and cold meats. II is
planted now with tall ems and naples. and you come
up High az. any moont Summer night when the white
mist stealing through its branches, from the hollow
the pond below it is like vision OF some unreal and
unearthly land so weird and shadOwy Is ts loveness
There a tradition that not than three score years
ago. this pond itself hillndeed the late Rector OF
the parish OF Pauls here informed me that his
grandmother had picked blueberries on the spot-and
that IL became pond on the occurrence OF some
one OF the many earthquakes with which the place
has been nfested-nowhere east OF the Mississippi more
shocks having been experienced with less damage.
may be that we are rather proud OF this visitation OF
ours certain wont 10 boast OF their Affections but
it makes no difference in regard for our neighbors
We hate Satem Just cordially for instance, as though
we were not chosen and set apart 10 this Distinction
hate her. because she has Scientific Society, and ar
Institute Building, and Museum, and a Castelated
Railway Station and twice as many inhabitants as VT
have and ten times much wealth and whole acres Of
cashmere sliws and once our successful rival II
the East India trade but because she is salemSaem In
duging herself in lofty contempt OF the town that die
not hang tho only witch she ever had a chance {,
hang but kept her alive and unexecued. though undo
sentence OF death. for two years and day.
The drives around Newburyport something unri
vailed In quiet pturesIueness and they radatc in every
direction maradamzed roads easier to roll on thar
wooden pavement-thcse through deep deciduou
woods toward Rowley River and Old Dummer Glen. and
past the old house from which the Longfelows tool
flight; those toward the Ppestave and CraneNeck ant
Indian Hills the latter the house OF Ben. Perley Poore
still held by the original rantof the Sachem and charm
ing in its collection OF many buildings beneath roof
whore each generation has added tower. oriel, o
a peaked gable Other drives take you up-country