Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

166 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
Their patriot fathers' might;But thou, O patriarch, old and grey,
Thou prophet of the free,
Whlo knelt among the dead that day,
What fame shall rise to thee?
"It is not meet that brass or stone
Which feel the touch of time,
Should keep the record of a faith
That woke thy deed sublime:
We trace it to the tablet fair,
Which glows when stars wax pale,
A promise that the good man's prayer
Shall with his God prevail."
RAMBLE CXII.
Sketch of Newcastle.
THE history of Newcastle is of some interest, as the first
settlement in New Hampshire was made in 1623, upon its
borders, by a Scotchman named David Thompson. He was
selected by the Company of Laconia, in England, to establish a permanent settlement in this province. Shortly after
his arrival he built the first house on Odiorne's Point, a
few rods distant from what resembles the remains of an
ancient fort. It was afterwards called Mason Hall, in honor
of a prominent member of the company under whose auspices the settlement was begun. The house remained
standing for many years.
The original designation was Great Island, but in 1693,
it was separated from Portsmouth, and incorporated under
its present name. At the time of its incorporation a large
portion of land on the west was included within its limits,
but in consequence of the incorporation of Rye in 1719,
its area was reduced to 458 acres. The soil, though thickly
interspersed with rocks, has ever been made to produce
abundantly; and owing to the plentiful supply of seaweed,