miles N. The oldest and most esteemed fountain
is denominated the “ Public Well,'' which is in
the W. part of the village, and issues from a bed
of blue clay and gravel. It is said to have been
first discovered in 1769. There are other springs
possessing the same medicinal properties, but of
less note.

The Sans Souci Hotel, erected in 1803 for the
accommodation of visitors, is a popular establish-
ment, delightfully situated near the centre of the
village. The main building is 160 feet long, with
wings extending back 153 feet, and is surrounded
by beautiful pleasure grounds. It can accommo-
date about 150 visitors, and is often thronged,
during the summer months, with temporary resi-
dents from every part of the United States, and
from other countries.

Long Lake, 5 miles S., is a favorite resort for
those who are fond of fishing. The village was
incorporated in 1807, and has about 2000 inhab-
itants. It contains a number of hotels besides
the Sans Souci, and several private boarding-
houses for visitors during the summer months.
There are churches of the Presbyterian, Episco-
pal, Baptist, and Methodist denominations.

BELLOWS FALLS, YT.

See Walpole, N. H., or Rockingham, Vt.

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N. C.

This mountain, which is about 30 miles N.
from Morgantown, rises to the height of 6476
feet, which is 250 feet higher than Mt. Washing-
ton, N. H., and is one of the highest elevations
in the United States. In its near vicinity also are
the summits called Grandfather Mountain and
Grandmother Mountain; the former 556p feet, and
the latter 2500 feet in height.

BLENNERHASSET'S ISLAND,

In the Ohio River, about 14 miles below Ma-
rietta, is celebrated as having formerly been the
residence of Mr. Blennerhasset, an Irish gentle-
man of distinction, who came to this country and
built for himself a splendid seat upon this island.
He expended here large sums of money in the
decoration of his mansion, and in the elegant and
tasteful arrangement of his gardens and pleasure
grounds. His wife was a very accomplished lady,
and his house became the resort of the most pol-
ished and literary society. Unfortunately, how-
ever, this gentleman became involved in the trea-
sonable projects of Aaron Burr: having been in-
duced by him to embark with all his wealth in
his famous scheme for bringing about the dismem-
berment of the United States, and the establish-
ment of a separate government in the south-west.
The consequence was, that Blennerhasset was
ruined in fortune and reputation; his splendid
mansion was deserted and went to decay; and this
once beautiful place now presents only a mass of
ruins. For what it once was, and because of the
melancholy historical interest which belongs to
it, we have given the notice of this island a place
in this section of our work.

BLUE HILLS, MS.

This range of hills lies about 10 miles S. from
Boston, in the county of Norfolk, and from its
proximity to several of the most populous cities
and towns, the most cultivated and luxuriant
landscapes, and the chief commercial marts and
harbors of the commonwealth, its summits, though
not absolutely of great elevation, command some
of the most interesting and lovely prospects to he
found in this or in any country. The range has
several summits in different parts, which, though
varying in height, have each their respective fea-
tures of interest to the spectator.

The most elevated height is at the western ex-
tremity, in the S. W. part of Milton, where the
hill is 710 feet above the ocean. From this po-
sition a prospect of almost unexampled beauty
and extent is spread out before the eye. The
eight cities of Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge,
Roxbury, Salem, Lynn, Lowell, and Lawrence;
the beautiful suburbs of Boston, embracing the
towns of Chelsea, Brookline, Brighton, Water-
town, Newton, Dedham, Dorchester, Milton,
Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, Weymouth, Hing-
ham, and many others, with the broad expanse
of Massachusetts Bay and Boston harbor, stud-
ded with islands and whitened with sails from
every sea, seem all to be lying at the feet of the
spectator. Of some of the objects of this gor-
geous scene, President Hitchcock thus speaks, in
his work on the “Scenographical Geology'' of
Massachusetts: “ One circumstance of peculiar
interest is the proximity of these hills to Boston,
whose numerous edifices, masts, spires, and tow-
ers, and, nobly peering above the rest, the dome
of the State House, present before the observer a
most forcible example of human skill and indus-
try, vieing with and almost eclipsing nature.
And the high state of cultivation exhibited in
the vicinity of Boston, with the numerous elegant
mansions of private gentlemen crowning almost
every hill, and imparting an air of freshness and
animation to the valley and the plain, testify how
much taste and wealth can do in giving new
charms to the face of nature. From these hills
the observer has also a fine vi^w of Boston harbor.

. .    . To look out upon the ocean is always an

imposing sight; but when that ocean is studded
with islands most picturesque in shape and posi-
tion, and the frequent sail is seen gliding among
them, he must be insensible indeed whose soul
does not kindle at the scene, and linger upon it
with delight.''

Besides the State House, and other imposing
edifices in Boston, there are also the venerable
college buildings at Cambridge, the Monument
on Bunker Hill, the granite for which was quar-
ried from a part of this range, the Asylums and
Hospitals at South Boston, the Navy Yard at
Charlestown, Dorchester Heights, and the mas-
sive fortifications upon some of the islands in the
harbor, which will not fail to arrest the attention
of the observer.

The prospect from these hills is remarkable for
its extent as well as for its luxuriance and beauty.
Although their elevation is not great, yet there is
nothing to intercept the view on the N. between
them and the Grand Monadnoc; the E. is open
to Massachusetts Bay and the ocean; the S. to
the counties of Plymouth and Bristol; and on
the W. the horizon is only limited by the Wachu-
sett Mountain, which lies in Princeton, about 60
miles distant. This height is plainly discernible,
in a clear atmosphere, by the naked eye.

The Blue Hills constitute a convenient land-
mark for vessels bound into Massachusetts Bay,
being the first land which is seen on their ap-
proach from the sea; and whenever seen, they
have always a blue appearance, which circum-
stance has given them the name they bear. The