Wolfeborough,Centre Harbor, Mer-
edith, Gilford, and Alton, and over-
looked by other deligtful towns.

The waters of the Winnepisiogee
are remarkably pure, and its depth
in soipe places is said to be unfath-
omable. Its sources are principally
from springs within its bosom. Its
outlet is the rapid river of its own
name. Its height above the level
of the sea is472 feet. It is stored
with a great variety of excellent
fish: in the summer season, steam
"boats, sloops and smaller 'vessels
ply on its waters, and in the win-
ter season it presents an icy ex-
pansion of great usefulness and
beauty.

Like Casco bay and Lake George,
tbis lake is said to contain 365
islands. Without supposing the
days of the year to have been con-
sulted on the subject, the number
is very great; several of which
comprise farms of from 200 to 500
acres.

The beauties of this lake were
thus described, by the celebrated
Dr. Dwight, many years ago.

“ The prospect of this lake, and
its envh^BSy4&ueoch5miing.; and its
beauties are seen with great advan-
tage from a delightful elevation a
little distance from the road towards
Plymouth. The day was remarka-
bly fine. Not a breath disturbed
the leaves, or ruffled the surface
of the waters. The sky was se-
rene and beautiful. The sun shone
with a soft and elegant lustre;
such as seems peculiar to that de.-
lightful weather, which from (he
20th of September to the 20th of
October,, so often elicits from the
mouths of mankind the epithet of
charming. Mildness tempered the
heat; and serenity hushed the
world into universal quiet. The
Winnepisiogee was an immense
field of glass ; silvered by the lus-
tre which floated on its surface.
Its borders, now in full view, now
dimly retiring from the eye, were
formed by those flowing lines,
those masterly sweeps of nature,
from which art has derived all its
apprehensions of ease and grace;
alternated at the same time by the
intrusion of points, by turns rough
and bold, or marked with the high-
est elegance of figure. In the
centre a noble channel spread
twenty-two miles before the eye,
uninterrupted even by a bush or a
rock. On both sides of this avenue
a train of islands arranged them-
selves, as if to adorn it with the
finish, which could be given only
by their glowing verdure,- and
graceful forms.

“ Nor is this lake less distinguish-
ed by its suite of hills, and moun-
tains. On the northwest ascends a
remarkably beautiful eminence,
called the Red Mountain; limited
every where by circular lines, and
in the proper sense elegant in its
figure beyond any other mountain,
among the multitude, which, I have
examined. On the south ascends
Mount Major; a ridge, of a bolder
aspect, and loftier height. At a
still greater distance in the south-
east rises another mountain, more
obscure and misty ; presenting its
loftiest summit, of an exactly semi-
circular form, directly at the foot
of the channel above mentioned,
and terminating the watery vista
between the islands, by which it is
bordered, in a magnificent manner.
On the northeast the great Ossipee
raises its long chain of summits
with a bold sublimity, and proudly
looks down on all the surrounding
region.

“ As we did not cross the Winne-
pisiogee, I am unable to determine
in what manner an excursion on its
waters might be compared with
that which I made on Lake George.
That the internal and successive
beauties of the Winnepisiogee
strongly resemble, and nearly ap-
proach those of Lake George, I can-
not entertain a doubt.. That they
exceed them seems scarcely credi-
ble. But the prospect from the hill