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 Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents.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

188 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
Chipman began with prayers. Mr. Appleton preached,
Prov. 11: 30. Mr. Holyoke gave the charge, and Mr. Prescott ye Right hand of Fellowship. The whole service was
performed with the greatest order and decency."
RAMBLE CXVII.
Centennial Celebration, 1823 —The Parchnlent Unrolled,
THE two-hundreth anniversary of the first settlement of
New Hampshire, at Portsmouth, was celebrated here on
the 21st day of May, 1823. It was a matter of State
interest, and called together the leading men frommany
distant as well as adjoining towns. The Collections of the
N. H. Historical Society, vol. 6, contains a very full account of the whole proceedings, embodying many historical
facts, collected by our late townsman, Alexander Ladd.
N. A. Haven, Jr., Esq., was the orator of the day, 0. W.
B. Peabody of Exeter delivered the poem, and Rev. Bennet
Tyler of Hanover, and Rev. I. W. Putnam performed the
religious services at the old North Church.
In the evening a splendid ball was given at Franklin Hall,
at which nearly four hundred were present. Grandsires
and grandmothers danced in the same sets with their children and grandchildren-and in the numerous ancient
portraits, by the best masters which covered the walls on
every side, the representatives of the past centuries seemed
to be mingling with their descendants on the joyous
occasion.
Most of those present, as well as those who had taken
an active part in the services of the day, inscribed their
names and ages on a parchment roll, which was deposited
in the Portsmouth Atheneum at the time and has there