The New York herald., 1872-11-11
THE BURNED DISTRICT.

The locality embraced within the burned district
comprises the richest quarters OF the old city, OF
late years more than previously devoted to trade,
commerce ana business OF every description and
kind. The locality, according to latest accounts,
is bordered by Summer, Federal, Broad, Central,
Water, Washington and Bedford streets. This
comprises to great degree the wealth and anu
ence and the commercial and mercantile area OF
Of the city. Here the merchant, the shipper the
whoesale-business man In any particular trade
most did congregate. II was the Rialt0 OF Boston.
II Is o matter OF most especial congratulatiOn,
however, that up to latest dispatches none OF
the old historic or tme-hOnored structures OF the
city have fallen prey to the devOuring element.
To the old BOstonian, or present native and to
the manner born, some ancient landmarks which
their fathers set up have snccumbed, no doubt;
but these will hardly leave blank In the historic
landmarks OF the past-when Boston was
ea on which tbe peope W we're have BEEN
taxed before they could have enjoyed II:
Some OF the most esteemed monuments OF
later days. commemorative OF Massachusetts, as
Commonwealth In the family OF States or the great
American union still stand untouched by the de-
structve fire, whose terrible progress in other
parts OF the city 1t is our unpleasant duty TO
record.
BosToNs EARLY HISTORY.
From the "Handbook OF Northern Traver' us711
we take the suboined brief description OF Boston,
familiarly known as the American Athens, so as to
be enabled TO lay before readers clearer per-
ccption OF what the American people, and Bost0ni-
ans In particular, would suffer from the destruction
OF this beautiful city. Chicago has had its day OF
tribuaton, but there everything was modern. The
Lake CITY OF the West was the creature OF American
enterprise from the moment the march OF empire
westward took its way. Its record In the late
war proved the love OF the people OF the city and
the Prairie state for the Union but Illinois has not
It's Concord and Lexington Bunker Hill and It's hos
tity to British tyranny and intolerance written in
the history OF the American Revolntion--the
brightest and grandest page in the early lie OF any
people; but II has Its Grant, and this Is alsuilcent
for the present SO we go back to the past. /
Boston Is one OF the most interesting OF the
great American cities, not only on account OF its
thrilling tradltionary and historical associations,
dating from early days In the discovery and coOni-
cation Of the western Continent through all the
trials and triumphs OF the childhood, youth and
manhood OF tho Republic, but for its dauntless
public enterprise and Its high social culture, Tor tS
great educational and literary facilities, Tor its
numerous and admirable benevolent establish
mcnts for its elegant public ond private architec-
suburban landscape. Boston Is divided into
Ave sectlons-Boston proper, East and South
Boston, the Highlands formerly R0xburyl aud
Dorchester. The old city is built upon penin-
sula OF 700 acres, very uneven In surface aud
rising at three different points into an eminence,
one OF which Is 1873 feet above the sea. The Indian
name of this peninsula was Shawmut, meaning
LIVING FOuNeAIN."
II was called by the carrier Inhabitants Trkf
mount or fremont, which latter name it still re-
tans In one OF Its principal streets. The name OF
John Cotton, who came hither from Boston in Eng
land. The first white inhabtant OF this peninsula,
now covered by Boston proper, was the Rev. John
Blackstone. Here he lived alone until John Win.
setts-came across the river from Charestown,
where he had dwelt with some fellow emigrants lof
snort time. About 1895 Mr.. Blackstone s@0iN @
his claim TO the now p0puous peninsula 10, Icy.
built in 1892 the first wharf In 1873 -Four years
later postmaster was appointed andn d.a tNps tNp.ns
2t) the first newspaper, called the bosson A'e'Vs
| Letter, was published.