years the Collector sold at about the price he paid. It passed into other hands. In process of time a plan was made of this mountain land; it was laid out, on paper, into house-lots, with streets and squares, and all the appointments of town and city, and the plan was duly recorded at Dedham, where it may now be seen, the sole remnant of this bogus city. The swindle, if it was so designed, was partially successful, as several lots were sold to those who never saw their purchase except on paper. This tract was sold for taxes, in 1883, to Mr. Charles Breck, of Milton.

Six other summits of the range reach four hundred feet and upwards.

The openings between these summits suggest questions full of interest to the student of the diluvial and glacial periods.

GREAT BLUE HILL.

This summit, being the highest elevation in the region of Boston, has always been a point of interest and resort. In earlier times it seems to have been frequented much more than in our day.

[Rev. Peter Thacher's Journal.] "Oct. 18, 1681. Brother Clapp and his wife, brother Paul and his wife, and we, went upon Blue Hill to the pillar of stones, and Quartermaster [Thomas Swift] came to us there, and divers others; there we dined; we came home by Brush Hill, they came into our house and drank and smoked it."

On a June morning, more than forty years ago, Edward H. Adams, wishing to enjoy a view of the sunrise from the top of Great Blue Hill, started on foot from his home in East Milton; he reached the hill and was climbing to the top, in the gray of the morning, when he was startled by the tramp of horses in his rear. The strange hour and place gave a weird effect to every sight and sound. In a moment he was reassured by the appearance of James M. Robbins on horseback, who also was bound to the sunrise on the summit. After expressions of mutual suprise the two citizens travelled to the top in company, and enjoyed the glorious morning view. These sunrise visits were of frequent occurrence among the young people in early times.

BEACONS.

All through the Revolutionary war the top of Great Blue Hill was occupied by soldiery as a point of look-out, whence an enemy, by sea or land, could be descried. Here beacons were erected, and manned with forces sufficient to keep them in working order.

[State Archives.] "And it is further ordered that a Beacon be erected at Cape Ann, and another at Marblehead, and another beacon be erected on the height of Blue Hills in Milton; and the Select men or any two of them in any of the towns where such beacon is situated, with any two or more of the commissioned officers nearest the beacons, shall have the care of them, and when an enemys fleet is discovered, shall fire three alarm guns, and where there are bells in towns where such beacons are, shall cause them to be set a ringing, and the beacons to be fired with all expedition.

"Sent down for concurrence."

"JOHN LOWELL, Dep. Sec'y."

IN THE HOUSE of RepresentatIVES, April 30, 1776.

"Read and Concurred."

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Speaker."

"Ordered that General Heath be and hereby is required to erect on the highest of the hills known by the name of the Blue Hills, such beacons or signals as he shall think proper; and it is ordered that said signals shall not be fired, until the signal be given from Beacon Hill in the Town of Boston, unless they have certain evidence of the approach of an enemy from Rhode Island."

"HEAD QUARTERS, BOSTON, Sep. 7, 1778.

"I am to request the favor that you would be pleased to detach from the militia of Weston a capable Sergeant, Corporal and six men, for the purpose of attending the beacon in that Town, and a like number from the Town of Milton or Stoughton for that on the Great Blue Hill. Both beacons will be finished this day.

W. HEATH."

ILLUMINATIONS.

The hill was illuminated on the repeal of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament; on the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence; on the surrenders of Burgoyne and Cornwallis; and, many times, on special occasions.

"When Philip raged with tomahawk and brand,
The sentry paced me firelock in hand.
When George sent hirelings to repress our causo,
The sentry paced me, he that knows no pause."

"Across the way proud Royal tilled the soil,
That open plain, with Afric's sable toil;
His right hand fought from Britain to be loose,
His left shipped slaves to Antiqua for use."

J. SPARE.

Fifty years after the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826, the "Crane Guards," of Canton, marched to the top of the hill, and with numerous attendants celebrated the occasion. An oration was pronounced from the highest platform by William Dunbar, Esq., of Canton, closing with these words: "This mountain is consecrated and hallowed ground, dedicated to Liberty and Independence."

NAVAL BATTLE.

There is a well-authenticated report that the battle of the Chesapeake and Shannon was witnessed by many citizens of Milton and Canton from this hill. In a monograph by Rear-Admiral Preble, who is authority, it is stated that the record of the log-book of one of the vessels just before the fight was, "6 leagues due east from the Lower Light." The distance from the summit of the hill to the Lower Light is fourteen miles; six leagues beyond this would increase the distance to thirtytwo miles. The sea horizon is thirty-three and three-eighths miles distant, while far beyond this sails may be seen. With a clear atmosphere the distance would not seem to prevent an indistinct view of the fight; at least the smoke of the battle would be seen. It occurred on the first day of June, 1813, between the hours of five and seven o'clock, P.M. On that day Captain Lawrence is said to have left the wharf for the Chesapeake, which was anchored off the Light. There was great excitement through the whole community, as the arrangements and time of the battle were generally known. All the high points commanding the view were covered by anxious observers the steeples of meeting-houses, Baxter's Hill in Quincy, Milton Hill, and the high ground of Hull, as well as Blue Hill. But little, however, could be seen of this decisive battle of eleven minutes; and the principal testimony which has come down to us is that before the battle seemed hardly to have begun the two vessels were bearing off towards Halifax.

OBSERVATORY.

The top of the hill presents a bald, rocky surface, stretching out several hundred feet, and rising from the surrounding level fifteen or twenty feet at its highest point. Here, May 30, 1798, a foundation of heavy stones was built, twenty-one feet square, and ten feet high. Upon this foundation was erected a structure of wood three stories high, each story ten feet, with substantial flooring, and with plank seats and railing securely fixed around the outside, accessible by stairs on the inside.

The work was devised by the proprietor of the "Billing's Tavern," a hostelry located near the hill, famous a century ago, as a resort for fancy dinners, parties, balls, and summer boarders. The old tavern was taken down in 1885. It was built two hundred years ago, and was among the oldest buildings in Milton; a hall was added at a later date. The neighbors joined in the work of building the Observatory or staging, and the patrons of the tavern freely contributed to it. The passage up the hill