a week to Newport station, six
miles, on the Sugar river railroad.

GOSPORT.

Rockingham County. An isl-
and in the Atlantic Ocean, about
twelve miles from Portsmouth, and
belongs to a cluster of islands situ-
ated mostly within the boundary
of Maine, and called the Isles of
Shoals. It was formerly called
Appleton Island and contains about
one hundred and fifty acres. The
inhabitants are principally devoted
to fishing, and attending to the
wants of summer tourists. It is
becoming one of the greatest sum-
mer resorts on the Atlantic coast.
One of the largest hotels in the
State, was built here in 1872, be-
sides there were several other
large houses previously erected.

Steamboats leave and return to
the wharves in Portsmouth sev-
eral times daily through the warm
season for the accommodation of
the traveling public.

Early Settlements. Owing to the
great facilities for fishing, this
island was inhabited by the whites
at an early date. In 1728, they
paid £16, as their proportion of
the province tax of £ 1,000.

Schools. There is one school
with twenty-eight scholars. Aver-
age length of schools, twelve
weeks; number of inhabitants 94.
Preaching is had occasionally, but
in this respect there has been no
improvement for over two hundred
years. “ As early as 1650, Rev. John
Brock began to preach here. The
following story is related of him,
by Mather:—‘Mr. Brock brought
the people into an agreement, that,
exclusive of the Lord’s day, they
would spend one day every month
together, in the worship of our

Lord Jesus Christ. On a certain
day, which, by their agreement,
belonged unto the exercises of
religion, the fishermen came to
Mr. Brock, and asked him, if they
might put by their meeting, and go
a fishing, because they had lost
many days, by reason of foul
weather. He, seeing that without
his consent, they resolved upon
doing what they had asked of him,
replied, If you will go away, I say
unto you, catch fish, if you can!
But as for you that will tarry, and
worship the Lord Jesus Christ this
day, I will pray unto Him for you,
that you may take fish till you are
weary. Thirty men went away
from the meeting, ami five tarried.
The thirty which went away, with
all their skill, could catch hat four
fishes; the five who tarried went
forth afterwards, and they took
jive hundred. The fishermen, after
this, readily attended whatever
meetings Mr. Brock appointed
them.’ ”

Doubtless there is no such agree-
ment with any minister to-day, if
there was, the people would be
quite as apt to break it.

GRAFTON.

Grafton County. The surface
is uneven but in many sections the
soil is good, and, when properly
cultivated, produces fine crops oi
corn, potatoes, and grass. There
are some very well cultivated
farms, and some of the best prac-
tical farmers in the State, reside
in this town.

Rivers and Ponds. Smith’s R iver,
a tributary of the Pemigewassett,
runs through this town in a south-
easterly direction, also branches of
the Mascomy River which falls
into the Connecticut, have their