South-Sea pork. The head fisherman seemed a mighty fine independent fellow, both in manner and conduct. Found our fine huge China turtle (a present for the ship-owner) quite frozen to death; indeed I was myself half frozen, being colder than ever I felt in England in my life. Absence, distance, and difficulty, seem to enhance the value of the unprized comforts which I leave behind me; my heart is thereby enlarged for those too little loved objects whom I have quitted, perhaps, to see no more.
3rd.—At six this morning weighed anchor in Holm's Hole harbour, a beautiful little port of Martha's Vineyard. On leaving this pleasant vineyard, we fired a salute of five guns, which nearly shook me out of bed. Saw a beautiful fleet, of 10 sail, around us. The island of Nantucket {27} alone sent out last year 60 sail of whalers round Cape Horn. At noon, we made Cape Cod, a long neck of land running 100 miles into the sea, and having four lighthouses on it, offering to the eye a singular scene; an immense bank or ridge of dirty white sand, quite naked, and bare, without grass, shrubs, or trees; it is the most perilous part of the coast. By midnight we made Boston light, and fired two cannon for a pilot, who soon came to us, and took the helm.
Sunday, 4th.—At daybreak passed Fort Independence, Fort Strong, and Fort William,[1] which are all founded by
- ↑ Fort Independence, situated on Castle Island, was begun in 1801 and completed two years later. The first fort on the island was erected by Governor Winthrop. In 1701 this old work, which had been several times strengthened and repaired, was demolished and Castle (or Fort) William was constructed. This the British destroyed upon their evacuation of Boston (1776), Fort Independence now occupying the old site. Faux consequently errs in speaking of them as distinct forts. Fort Strong was constructed in the fall of 1814 by the voluntary services of patriotic citizens, and named in honor of the governor of the commonwealth. It was situated on the southerly end of Noodle's Island.—Ed.
