按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It was doubtless owing to Captain John Smith's representation on his
return to England that the Laconia Company selected the banks of the
4
… Page 5…
An Old Town By The Sea
Piscataqua for their plantation。 Smith was on an intimate footing with Sir
Ferinand Gorges； who； five years subsequently； made a tour of inspection
along the New England coast； in company with John Mason； then
Governor of Newfoundland。 One of the results of this summer cruise is
the town of Portsmouth； among whose leafy ways； and into some of whose
old…fashioned houses； I purpose to take the reader； if he have an idle hour
on his hands。 Should we meet the flitting ghost of some old…time worthy；
on the staircase or at a lonely street corner； the reader must be prepared for
it。
5
… Page 6…
An Old Town By The Sea
II。 ALONG THE WATER SIDE
IT is not supposable that the early settlers selected the site of their
plantation on account of its picturesqueness。 They were influenced entirely
by the lay of the land； its nearness and easy access to the sea； and the
secure harbor it offered to their fishing…vessels； yet they could not have
chosen a more beautiful spot had beauty been the sole consideration。 The
first settlement was made at Odiorne's Pointthe Pilgrims' Rock of New
Hampshire； there the Manor； or Mason's Hall； was built by the Laconia
Company in 1623。 It was not until 1631 that the Great House was
erected by Humphrey Chadborn on Strawberry Bank。 Mr。 Chadborn；
consciously or unconsciously； sowed a seed from which a city has sprung。
The town of Portsmouth stretches along the south bank of the
Piscataqua； about two miles from the sea as the crow fliesthree miles
following the serpentine course of the river。 The stream broadens
suddenly at this point； and at flood tide； lying without a ripple in a basin
formed by the interlocked islands and the mainland； it looks more like an
island lake than a river。 To the unaccustomed eye there is no visible outlet。
Standing on one of the wharves at the foot of State Street or Court Street； a
stranger would at first scarcely suspect the contiguity of the ocean。 A little
observation； however； would show him that he was in a seaport。 The rich
red rust on the gables and roofs of ancient buildings looking seaward
would tell him that。 There is a fitful saline flavor in the air； and if while
he gazed a dense white fog should come rolling in； like a line of phantom
breakers； he would no longer have any doubts。 It is of course the oldest
part of the town that skirts the river； though few of the notable houses that
remain are to be found there。 Like all New England settlements；
Portsmouth was built of wood； and has been subjected to extensive
conflagrations。 You rarely come across a brick building that is not
shockingly modern。 The first house of the kind was erected by Richard
Wibird towards the close of the seventeenth century。
Though many of the old landmarks have been swept away by the
fateful hand of time and fire； the town impresses you as a very old town；
especially as you saunter along the streets down by the river。 The worm…
6
… Page 7…
An Old Town By The Sea
eaten wharves； some of them covered by a sparse； unhealthy beard of
grass； and the weather…stained； unoccupied warehouses are sufficient to
satisfy a moderate appetite for antiquity。 These deserted piers and these
long rows of empty barracks； with their sarcastic cranes projecting from
the eaves； rather puzzle the stranger。 Why this great preparation for a
commercial activity that does not exist； and evidently had not for years
existed？ There are no ships lying at the pier…heads； there are no gangs of
stevedores staggering under the heavy cases of merchandise； here and
there is a barge laden down to the bulwarks with coal； and here and there a
square…rigged schooner from Maine smothered with fragrant planks and
clapboards； an imported citizen is fishing at the end of the wharf； a
ruminative freckled son of Drogheda； in perfect sympathy with the
indolent sunshine that seems to be sole proprietor of these crumbling piles
and ridiculous warehouses； from which even the ghost of prosperity has
flown。
Once upon a time； however； Portsmouth carried on an extensive trade
with the West Indies； threatening as a maritime port to eclipse both Boston
and New York。 At the windows of these musty counting…rooms which
overlook the river near Spring Market used to stand portly merchants； in
knee breeches and silver shoe…buckles and plum…colored coats with ruffles
at the wrist； waiting for their ships to come up the Narrows； the cries of
stevedores and the chants of sailors at the windlass used to echo along the
shore where all is silence now。 For reasons not worth setting forth； the
trade with the Indies abruptly closed； having ruined as well as enriched
many a Portsmouth adventurer。 This explains the empty warehouses and
the unused wharves。 Portsmouth remains the interesting widow of a once
very lively commerce。 I fancy that few fortunes are either made or lost in
Portsmouth nowadays。 Formerly it turned out the best ships； as it did the
ablest ship captains； in the world。 There were families in which the love
for blue water was in immemorial trait。 The boys were always sailors； 〃a
grey…headed shipmaster； in each generation； retiring from the quarter…deck
to the homestead； while a boy of fourteen took the hereditary place before
the mast； confronting the salt spray and the gale； which had blasted against
his sire and grandsire。〃 （1。 Hawthorne in his introduction to The Scarlet
7
… Page 8…
An Old Town By The Sea
Letter。） With thousands of miles of sea…line and a score or two of the
finest harbors on the globe； we