Boston illustrated; . ghtful and popular resort for the young-est of the visitors to this noble public space. Here, also, on one of the littlehills near the Frog Pond, is the elaborate soldiers and sailors monument. Allthe malls and paths are shaded by fine old trees, which formerly had theirnames conspicuously labelled upon them, giving an admirable opportunitj^ forthe study of what we may call grand l)otany. The history of the Connnon is most interesting. After the territory of Bos-ton was purchased -\.j^^ffii£i^~JJ!V>»from Mr. Blaxtonby the corporationof colonists who set-tled it, the la
Boston illustrated; . ghtful and popular resort for the young-est of the visitors to this noble public space. Here, also, on one of the littlehills near the Frog Pond, is the elaborate soldiers and sailors monument. Allthe malls and paths are shaded by fine old trees, which formerly had theirnames conspicuously labelled upon them, giving an admirable opportunitj^ forthe study of what we may call grand l)otany. The history of the Connnon is most interesting. After the territory of Bos-ton was purchased -\.j^^ffii£i^~JJ!V>»from Mr. Blaxtonby the corporationof colonists who set-tled it, the land wasdivided among theseveral inhabitantsby the officei-s ofthe town. A partof it was set off asa training-field andas common ground,subject originallyto further divisionin case such a courseshould be thoughtadvisable. In 1640a vote was passedby the town, in con-sequence of a move-ment on the part ofcertain citizens thatwas discovered andthwarted none too soon, that, with the exception of 3 or 4 lotts to make vp y*. 26 BOSTON ILLUSTRATED. streete from bro Robte Walkers to y° Eoimd Marsh, no more land should begranted out of the Common. It is solely by the power of this vote and thejealousy of the citizens sustaining it that the Common was kept sacred to theuses of the people as a whole from 1640 until the adoption of the city charter,when, by the desire of the citizens, and by the consent of the Legislature, theright to alienate any portion of tlie Common was expressly withheld from thecity government. The earliest use to which the Common was put was that of a pasture and atraining-field on muster days. The occupation of the Common as a grazing-field continued until the year 1830, but it was by no means wholly given up tothat use. As early as 1675 an English traveller, Mr. John Josselyn, published inLondon an Account of Two Voyages, in which occurs the following notice ofBoston Common : On the south there is a small but pleasant Common, wherethe Gallants a little before sun
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