habitants wished for a stated fixed market house, in conformity to the practice of large towns, in some of the neighbouring colonies, viz. New York and Philadelphia, which, though they were then not so populous as Boston, yet had fixed days and places for this purpose. Others were for continuing the mode in practice in the town, and chose that the countrymen should carry their provision about into different parts of it, that the householders might have opportunity to purchase at their own doors. They also urged the probability, that in this way, provisions would be prevented from being dearer, the market men having no place of shelter in inclement weather. The advocates for market houses however prevailed: Three wooden buildings were set up, and occupied as markets; one, at the Old North square; one, in the centre of the town, where Faneuil hall now stands; the other, at the south part of the town, a short distance from the late Liberty tree. The centre building was the principal. The supply at people's doors now ceased. This some complained of as a grievance. The loss of time in coming to the market houses was one reason urged against the utility of the new mode.

The complainants, it is said, were joined by the town butchers, who were now deprived in great measure of their family customers; thus associated, they applied an effectual remedy to get rid of the grievance.

A number of citizens disguised in the habit of clergymen, &c. about the year 1736-7, assembled in the night, and totally demolished the centre market house: the other two houses were damaged and no longer occupied for markets. None other were erected for this purpose till Mr. Faneuil built one at his own expense, as related above.

THE PLAY-HOUSE] Or Theatre, the first building erected purposely for theatrical entertainments in the town of Boston, was opened the 3d of February, 1794, with the tragedy of Gustavus Vasa Erickson, the deliverer of Sweden.

We are obliged to Charles Bulfinch, esq. the architect, a gentleman of taste and ingenuity, for the following accurate description of this building.

"The Theatre in Federal street, is a lofty and spacious edifice, substantially built of brick, with stone fascias, imposts, &c. It is one hundred and forty feet long, sixty-one feet wide, and forty feet high. As it stands in a conspicuous situation, it has been thought necessary to observe a strict symmetry on the outside. It has the appearance of two stories in height; the lower a basement, with three arches in the front and five on each side, the windows square. The second story is more lofty, with large arched windows. The front and rear are decorated with Corinthian columns and pilasters; and in front a projecting arcade gives the convenience of carriages landing their company under cover.

In the construction of this house, every attention has been paid to keep the entrances to the different parts distinct, and to afford numerous outlets. The doors to the pit and gallery are on each side; that to the boxes is in the front. This entrance is large and commodious.

After landing under cover, the company pass through an open waiting room to two staircases, which lead to the corridors at the back of the boxes.

The form of the audience part of the theatre is circular, one quarter of the circle being cut off for the stage opening. Four Corinthian columns support the ceiling, which is formed of four large eliptick arches. One of these is the opening of the front gallery; two others, those of the side galleries or slips; and the fourth is the proscenium, or opening of the stage.

The columns which support the ceiling, give the leading divisions of the boxes, &c. The pedestal continued forms the front of the lower boxes. The cornice of the entablature and balustrade give the front and side galleries. The second row of boxes is suspended between,without visible support. All the boxes are three seats deep; and it may be affirmed, that there are fewer inconvenient seats than any other form is subject to.

The back walls are painted of a light blue, and the front of the boxes, the columns, &c. are of straw and lilach colour: the mouldings, balustrades, and fret work are gilded: a crimson silk drapery suspended from the second boxes, and twelve elegant brass chandeliers of five lights each, complete the decoration.

The stage opening is thirty-one feet wide. It is ornamented on each side with two columns; and between them, a stage door and projecting iron balcony. Over the columns, a cornice and balustrade is carried across the opening; and above is painted a flow of crimson drapery, and the arms of the Union and of the state of Massachusetts, blended with tragick and comick attributes. A riband depending from the arms bears the motto, "All the World's a Stage."

Under the stage are a number of rooms, for the convenience and accommodation of the players.

At the east end of the building, a noble and elegant dancing room is contrived. This is fifty-eight feet long, thirty-six wide, and twentysix high, richly ornamented with Corinthian columns and pilasters, and a ceiling en berceau, elegantly finished with stucco in compartments. The furniture of glasses, chandeliers, and girandoles are very handsome, and promise much satisfaction to the lovers of innocent and cheerful amusement.

There are also spacious card and tea rooms, and kitchens with the proper conveniencies."

THE CHURCHES OR RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES] Are denominated Congregational, Episcopal, Baptist, Quaker, Sandemanian, Universalist, Roman Catholick, and Wesleian Methodists. Each has a separate place for publick worship. In the following particular account of them, the churches are placed according to the dates of their building.

1632. The First Church or meeting house in Boston was begun in the month of August, this year, by the congregations of Charlestown and Boston, according to Governour Winthrop. It was a wooden

building, set up in Cornhill. In seven years after, viz. 1639, being out of repair, and also too small, the proprietors sold it and agreed to build another; but where to place it, caused contention among them. It was at length determined to build it near the Market place. In the great fire, 1711, it was consumed. The Old Brick was reared on the same ground the year following, and retains the name of the First Church. It is in height three stories. The upper galleries have been taken down. Above the second range of windows is a Corinthian cornice, which supports four arches, which from each side of the walls terminate in an oblong square in the centre. The galleries are supported by pillars of the Tuscan order. It has two iron fire stoves fixed in it. In this church was introduced the first organ ever admitted into a Congregational church in this town. Thirty or forty years ago, it would have been accounted profanity to introduce instrumental musick into publick worship.

These two accommodations are altogether novel in the New-England churches. This church hath a good bell; and in front of it, is fixed the Town clock.

1650. The Second Church, called the Old North, was built in North square. This church completed the number of thirty in the province to this date, and was gathered at Boston in 1649, according to an old book already quoted, which gives the following account of it By reason of the popularity [of the town,] there being too many to meet in one assembly, it was thought proper that the people inhabiting the same [the N.E part] should gather into a church body,and build a meeting house for their assembly, the which they have already done, but not as yet called any one to office." This quotation is dated, 1648. This meeting house was burnt, May 27, 1676, and rebuilt the following year. It was pulled down, by order of General Howe, commander of the British forces in Boston, in the siege of 1775. At its demolition, it was a model of the first architecture in New England. The date of its rebuilding after it had been burnt, is taken from the vane saved from the ruins of it.

VOL. III.

Ii

Succession of Pastors.
Rev. John Mayo

Date of Ordination. Time of Decease. Age. is recorded as the first ordained pastor, but neither the time of his ordination nor decease is to be found in the records of the Church. The Rev. Samuel Mather, an elder brother of Dr. Increase Mather, is said to have opened the Old North Church with a discourse he delivered there. He left New England afterwards, and was pastor of a church in Dublin, and died there.

1669. The Old South, a spacious, handsome brick building, in Marlborough-street, and was the third church built in the town. Some dissatisfied brethren of the First Church separated from it, on account of the Rev. Mr. Davenport's leaving his church at New-Haven for a settlement here, and erected this house. The inside of it was entirely destroyed by a British regiment of dragoons, in 1775, and used by them as a riding school for their horse, the pews being taken up, and the floors covered with earth. In 1782 it was elegantly repaired. On the west side an handsome tall steeple, of one hundred and eighty feet in height, is supported by a brick tower, in which is the remainder of a library of ancient books deposited there by Rev. Mr. Prince. Many of the ancient books and manuscripts deposited in the steeple were dissipated or destroyed by the Vandals of Britain. It has a clock made by Mr. Gawen Brown in Boston, esteemed one of the best in America. From the upper windows in the steeple, is a fine prospect of the harbour, and part of the bay.

1679. The First Baptist Church was built in Back-street, a wooden building. Being small and decayed, it was taken down in 1771, and handsomely rebuilt of much larger dimensions, and has since been enlarged,

1688. The First Episcopal Church erected in the town, was a wooden building in Tremont-street, called King's Chapel, The society was formed in the year 1686. The Episcopalians at first met in Mr. Ratcliffe their minister's house, and at the library chamber in the Town-house. In Sir Edmund Andros's time, he attended on the Episcopal service in the First Congregational meeting-house, performed in it, a part of Sunday. If this liberty had not been granted, he threatened to shut up the doors of the meeting-house. The old Chapel was taken down, and an edifice of hewn stone set up on the same spot with enlargement. The corner stone was laid by Governour Shirley, the 11th of August 1749. The middle is elegantly finished agreeably to the Corinthian order. The double pillars which stand upon one pedestal with the pilasters support intersected arches over the galleries, which are finely executed. The outside of the building remains unfinished. In the tower is an excellent bell, the second in the town.

Under this building are burial vaults, and contiguous to it is the first burying place laid out in the town. The land was formerly owned, or part of it, by Mr. Johnson, the founder of Boston. It lay back of his residence in Queen or Court-street; and at his request, his remains were interred there. The citizens, from respect to his memory, chose to be buried in the same ground after their decease.