did, under the evils which she had already suffered, and in the full apprehension of those which she was destined to suffer, would have been able to act the part of nice casuists; and fewer still, perhaps, would have exercised her intrepidity. That she herself approved of the conduct, which was applauded by the magistrates and divines of the day, in the cool hours of deliberation, cannot be doubted. The truth is, the season of Indian invasion, burning, butchering, captivity, threatening, and torture, is an unfortunate time for nice investigation and critical moralizing. A wife, who had just seen her house burnt, her infant dashed against a tree, and her companions coldly murdered one by one; who supposed her husband, and her remaining children, to have shared the same fate; who was threatened with torture, and indecency more painful than torture; and who did not entertain a doubt, that the threatening would be fulfilled; would probably feel no necessity, when she found it in her power to dispatch the authors of her sufferings, of asking questions concerning any thing but the success of the enterprise.

But, whatever may be thought of the rectitude of her conduct, that of her husband is in every view honourable. A finer succession of scenes for the pencil was hardly ever presented to the eye, than is furnished by the efforts of this gallant man, with their interesting appendages. The artist must be destitute indeed of talents, who could not engross every heart, as well as every eye, by exhibitions of this husband and father flying to rescue his wife, her infant, and her nurse, from the approaching horde of savages, attempting on his horse to select from his flying family the child which he was the least able to spare, and unable to make the selection; facing, in their rear, the horde of hell hounds; alternately and sternly retreating behind his inestimable charge, and fronting the enemy again, receiving and returning their fire, and presenting himself equally as a barrier against murderers, and a shelter to the flight of innocence and anguish. In the back ground of some or other of these pictures might be exhibited, with powerful impression, the kindled dwelling, the sickly mother, the terrified nurse, with the new-born infant in her arms, and the furious natives surrounding them, driving them for

ward, and displaying the trophies of savage victory, and the insolence of savage triumph.

In the year 1708, this unfortunate town was again attacked by a body of French and Indians, sent by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor of Canada, to attack Portsmouth. This company is supposed to have consisted at first of more than four hundred men; but, being wasted by sickness and desertion, they were afraid to attempt that town. A design was then formed to attack Dover, and after that Exeter; but, being diverted from this intention, they turned their course to Haverhill. These men were commanded by Monsieur Perriere de Chaillons, and Monsieur Hertel de Rouville, the Gallic savage, who a little before had destroyed Deerfield. They expected to have been joined by the Indians of Maine and New-Hampshire. For a reason, which does not appear, these people declined taking any part in the enterprise. Those who remained of the army, one half of which was composed of savages, proceeded, according to the orders of the governor, to accomplish the object of their expedition; or, in other words, to burn private dwellings, and to butcher defenceless women and children.

Intelligence of this expedition had reached Boston; and guards had been sent to this and other towns exposed to the common danger. The guards at Haverhill were, however, so posted, that the enemy passed them without being discovered: and on the 29th of August, attacked, burnt, and plundered a considerable part of the town. Most of the adult male inhabitants within the town were killed; among whom was the Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, the clergyman, and Captain Wainwright, the commander of the militia. It is worthy of remembrance, that a maid-servant of Mr. Rolfe escaped from her bed, with two of his daughters, to the cellar; and, covering each of them with a large tub, effectually concealed them from their enemies.

The guards, assembling from their scattered posts, pursued the invaders; and, coming up with them just as they were entering the forests, fought them about an hour, when they retreated into the forest, leaving two of their officers, and seven of their men on the field. Had the advantage

been pursued, the party might not improbably have been cut off.

In the year 1790, Haverhill contained 330 dwellinghouses, and 2,408 inhabitants; in the year 1800, 362 dwelling-houses, and 2,732 inhabitants; and, in the year 1810, 2,682.

I am, Sir, &c.

LETTER XL.

Plaistow. Kingston. Exeter: its Academy.

Effect of Easterly Wind. Pascataqua Bridge and River. Dover: Cruelty of the Indians: Death of Major Waldron. Story Somersworth. Berwick; attacked by

of Mrs. Heard. Somersworth.

the Indians. Death of Robert Rogers. View of the White Mountains. Inns of New-England.

DEAR SIR;

ON Tuesday afternoon, October 4th, we rode through Plaistow, three miles; Kingston, twelve; to Exeter, eighteen. This tract is chiefly composed of small hills and vallies, not very pleasant, and two or three plains, still less inviting.

Plaistow, now included in New-Hampshire, was originally a part of Haverhill. The soil is good; yet, when we passed through it in this journey, the husbandry, the houses, and the circumstances of the inhabitants, were apparently indifferent. They have since made a much better appearance. When the dividing line between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire was finally settled, the little tract, which is now the town of Plaistow, fell within the limits of New-Hampshire. It is wholly composed of plantations, was incorporated in 1749, and contained, in 1790, 521 inhabitants; in 1800, 459; and, in 1810, 424.

Kingston, on the road, is chiefly a pine plain. It contains a scattered hamlet near the church. The houses throughout the town are indifferent. The soil is light and thin, the cultivation very ordinary, and the whole appearance of the country unpromising.

There is

Kingston was incorporated in 1694, and contained, in 1790, 906 inhabitants; in 1800, 785; and, in 1810, 746. but one congregation in each of these townships.

Exeter is a considerable town, situated on the falls of Squamscut, or Exeter river, a branch of the Pascataqua, about fourteen miles from Portsmouth. The tide flows up this river to the town, where its progress is terminated by a ridge of rocks. The highest rise of the tide is about eleven feet. The river is therefore navigable to these falls for vessels of five hundred tons, At a small distance above the town, the Squamscut is joined by another stream, called Little river. On these waters are erected eight grist-mills, six saw-mills, two oil-mills, two chocolate-mills, two fulling-mills, one paper-mill, one snuff-mill, one slitting-mill, and a furnace. In the summer, however, there is sufficient water for the grist-mills and fullingmills only.

Granite, though not without considerable labour, is here wrought into handsome materials for building. Marl has been found here.

The soil of Exeter is various. The centre of the township is a fertile plain, particularly favourable to the growth of maize. I was very credibly informed, that, although planted year by year for a great length of time, and cultivated with a husbandry moderately skilful, it still yields plentiful crops. Some parts of the township are good, some indifferent, and others poor. All of them, however, might easily, with a superior cultivation, become more productive than the proprietors could be induced to believe.

Exeter contains about two hundred and twenty houses, of which many are indifferent, many decent, and some of a still higher class. The court-house is a good building; one of the churches very ordinary, and the other handsome. This structure is of wood, and was erected at the expense of seventeen thousand dollars.

I have already mentioned Exeter academy. It was founded in the year 1781 by the Honourable John Phillips, LL. D., of this town. Its funds, which, as is said, amount to about 80,000 dollars, were almost all given by this gentleman. The interest of 6,666 dollars 67 cents, or £1,500 sterling, is appropriated to the purpose of boarding poor scholars, of promising characters, while they are qualifying themselves to enter upon a collegiate education. This institution, like that of Andover, is eminently respectable and prosperous. The academical