Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/60

 nature, and built upon two little islands, a fine cluster of which surround and ornament the mouth of this noble harbour of Boston, now lying, with all its towers, spires, and masts, in full view before me; the hills around are all capped with snow. At eight, a.m. we saluted this town, the grand emporium of Yankee land, with 16 guns. At nine, a.m. our ship was boarded by its fortunate owner, Lyman, jun. Esq. one of the richest men (says the captain) in America. I was introduced to him by a polite and friendly shaking of hands, in the presence of the captain, who said I was an English gentleman taken out of a ship in distress, belonging to his neighbour, the Honourable W. Gray. He then invited me to his town mansion, and saying that he would see me again next morning, in the kindest and most gentlemanly manner took his leave. I {28} now shaved and arrayed myself in the costume of London; and at ten o'clock, in company with the captain, went on shore. With great gratitude, I felt my foot press the earth once more,—the free earth of America! On landing, curiosity brought many gay, cheerful, free, easy, good-looking faces to behold, and gaze, and guess, what I, the foreigner, was, whence coming, whither going, and why? Of the women whom I saw at first, I thought but meanly, all being old or ugly; but the men fair, and in their Sunday dress; the town, too, though full of melting snow, was highly interesting, especially when associated with the recollection of its having so