eralogical cabinet, the library, the chap-| by weather-proof shutters, and worked els, &c. Besides these are the halls of by means of an endless chain and toothed law, divinity, medicine, &c. It has an wheel. excellent anatomical museum, and a bo- On the lower side of this dome is aftanical garden of eight acres, richly stored fixed a grooved iron rail, and on the granwith an extensive collection of trees, ite cap of the wall is placed a similar shrubs, and plants, both native and for- rail: between these grooves are placed eign. The libraries contain above forty eight iron spheres, accurately turned, on thousand volumes, including those of the which the dome is revolved. The appa several departments. Those belonging ratus for moving the dome consists to the studies contain about five thou-toothed wheels, geared to a series sand volumes. The cabinets and appa-toothed iron plates, fastened to its 1 ratus are very valuable. The annual section. By means of this, the commencement is on the third Wednes-dome, weighing about fourteen to day in July. be turned through a whole rev

Cambridge Observatory. This obser- by a single person, in thirty-five vatory is situated on a commanding emi- In this dome are placed the “Gr nence called Summer-house hill, the sum-fractor," and one or two smalle mit of which is about fifty feet above the ments. The comet-seeker, a f plain on which are erected the buildings strument of four inches' ape of the university. This height is found Merz, is used from the balcon to give from the dome an horizon almost dome. This is the instrument uninterrupted to within two or three de- the younger Bond has discove grees of altitude. The grounds appro- than eleven telescopic comet priated to the use of the observatory com- telligence had reached him o prise about six and a half acres. It is ing been seen by any other distant nearly three fourths of a mile From these balconies a most northwest from University hall, and three and beautiful view of the ne and a half miles in the same direction towns meets the eye-their from the statehouse in Boston. hills, spires, &c.

This observatory may be said to owe On either side of the tower its existence to the liberality of the Hon. wing. Of these, the eastern i DAVID SEARS, Who contributed five thou- a dwelling for the observer ; sand dollars for the erection of an obser-ern, on which is placed the smalgenious contrivan vatory tower, five hundred dollars tow-is used for magnetic and meteo observatory is the ard the purchase of a telescope, and five observations. This wing was evented by the di thousand dollars more to create a fund, the years 1850-'51, and adds this chair, the obthe income of which to be appropriated the architectural beauty of the self to any part to the support of the observers, and for tory. In this dome is placed the wing from his other purposes of science. equatorial, of five feet focal leng SEARS TOWER, SO called in honor of an object-glass of four and one ug the motion its founder, whose generous donation is inches, made by Merz, which is a pendulum, mentioned above, is built of brick, on a markably fine instrument. foundation of granite, laid with cement. The Grand Refractor," justhat the Law It is thirty-two feet square on the out-sidered second to none in the wor side, while on the inside the corners are already become celebrated in the -Practical gradually brought to a circular form for of the skilful and scientific directe, physical, the better support of the dome, forming his assistant, from the many brillian more exa massive arch. This dome, covering coveries which have been made win the unthe grand equatorial, is a hemisphere of Among these we may particularly vard, had thirty-two feet interior diameter, formed tion the new ring and satellite evious to with stout ribs of plank, and covered ex-planet Saturn. It has also enabled In his ternally with copper. There is an open-observers to resolve the principal nel project ing five feet wide, and extending a few particularly those in the constella degrees beyond the zenith, which is closed | Orion and Andromeda. The object

rvatory, and

eceived

About

eralogical cabinet, the library, the chap-by weather-proof shutters, and worked els, &c. Besides these are the halls of by means of an endless chain and toothed law, divinity, medicine, &c. It has an wheel. excellent anatomical museum, and a botanical garden of eight acres, richly stored with an extensive collection of trees, shrubs, and plants, both native and foreign. The libraries contain above forty thousand volumes, including those of the several departments. Those belongi to the studies contain about five ftains sand volumes. The cabinets anBesides ratus are very valuable. aries: one, commencement is on the Society, conday in from t

-8

On the lower side of this dome is affixed a grooved iron rail, and on the granite cap of the wall is placed a similar rail: between these grooves are placed et iron spheres, accurately turned, on following:e is revolved. The an sachusetts Magazine, dome cons useum, which extended to eight folumes; in 1800, the Columbian Phoenix and Boston Review, which ceased after the eighth number; in 1802, the New England Magee thousand vol-azine; from 1803 to 1811, the Monthly Anthology, or Boston Review, in ten volumes, edited at first by Phineas Adams, and afterward by Rev. William Emerson, W. S. Shaw, A. M. Walter, James Savage, and others; in 1803, the American Baptist Magazine was begun, which continued under several editors; in 1805, the Missionary Magazine, by congregational clergymen ; in 1806, the Panoplist, by Rev. J. Morse and others: these two were united in 1808, and edited by Rev. Jeremiah Evarts from 1810 till 1820, when the Missionary Herald took its place, which is still continued, under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Literary, religious, and scientific publications of this class have since multiplied to such a degree, that we have not room for any further notice under this head. The North American Review, however, must be mentioned, as one of the oldest and most influential publications of the kind in the United States. It was commenced in 1815, forms two volumes annually, and has been edited successively by William Tudor, Jared Sparks. Edward T. Channing, Edward Everett, Alexander H. Everett, &c.

ames; the other, benging to the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions, containing from one to two thousand volumes. There is an athenæum and newsroom, supported by the students. Annexed to the institution is a commodious mechanic's shop, where the students can exercise themselves in carpentering or cabinet-work. The term is three years. The principal study for the first year is the Bible in its original tongues. The second year is occupied in the study of systematic theology. The third year is devoted to the study of ecclesiastical history, and the composition of sermons. There is also a Teachers' Seminary near the institution, which will accommodate two bundred students. It is under the trustees of Phillips Academy and four visi'ers.

LEARNED SOCIETIES.-The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was incorporated in 1780, and has published several quarto volumes.

The Massachusetts Medical Society was incorporated in 1781.

The Massachusetts Historical Society was established in 1791 and incorporated in 1794, and has published many volumes of collections.

The American Antiquarian Society was incorporated in 1812.

The American Institute of Instruction

was founded in 1831.

NEWSPAPERS, &c.-The number of newspapers published in this state before the Revolution (in 1775) was seven, viz., in Boston, the Boston News-Letter, the Evening Post, the Gazette, the Massa

BOSTON, the capital of this state, is situated on a small peninsula at the head of Massachusetts bay, at the mouth of Charles river, and is the principal city and seaport of New England. The harbor is accessible, large, and well protected by both nature and art. This city contains an uncommonly large proportion of fine buildings, particularly private residences. The finest buildings are of