The city of Portland, with over forty thousand people, is the
metropolis of Maine and the winter port of Canada, which has to use it
when the river St. Lawrence is frozen. It is built upon an elevated
and hilly peninsula projecting eastwardly into Casco Bay, and having
commanding eminences at each extremity,--the western being Bramhall's
Hill and the eastern Munjoy's Hill,--spacious promenades having been
made around both for outlooks. The city being almost surrounded by
water, and the bold shores of the bay enclosing so many beautiful
tree-clad islands, there are magnificent views in every direction.
The streets are finely shaded, mostly with elms, so that it is often
called the "Forest City." This was the Indian land of Machigonne, to
which the English first came in 1632, and there yet remain some
stately trees of that time, which are among the charms of the pleasant
park of the Deering Oaks at the West End, from which State Street
leads into the best residential section, bordered by double rows of
elms, making a grand overarching bower. Here, in a circle at the
intersection of Congress Street, is an impressive bronze statue of
Longfellow, who was born in Portland in 1807, the poet sitting
meditatively in his chair. Among the other distinguished citizens have
been Commodore Edward Preble, Neal Dow, N. P. Willis, Mrs. Parton
(Fanny Fern) and Thomas B. Reed, who long represented Portland in
Congress. The city has an air of comfort, and its broad-fronted,
vine-covered homes look enticing. From its hills the outlook is
superb, particularly that from the Eastern Promenade encircling
Munjoy's Hill, where the view is over Casco Bay and its many arms and
forest-fringed rocky islands. On the eastern side, Falmouth Foreside
stretches out to the distant ocean, while the western shore is the
broad peninsula terminating in Cape Elizabeth. This hill has a
commanding prospect over one of the most bewitching scenes in
nature,--the island-studded Casco Bay, having the famous Cushing's
Island at the outer verge of the archipelago protecting most of the
harbor from the ocean waves. Upon other islands down the bay are three
old forts, two of them abandoned, while the flag floats over the more
modern works of Fort Preble. Portland was originally called Falmouth,
not receiving the present name till 1786. In a beautiful spot on
Munjoy's Hill is the monument to the founder, its inscription being
"George Cheeves, Founder of Portland, 1699." Upon this hill is the old
cemetery containing Preble's grave. He commanded the American squadron
in the war against Tripoli in 1803, and died in Portland in 1807. Also
in this cemetery rest alongside each other two noted naval officers of
the War of 1812-14 with England--Burrows and Blythe. They commanded
rival warships, the American "Enterprise" and the British "Boxer,"
that fought on Sunday, September 5, 1814, off Pemaquid Point, near the
mouth of the Kennebec, the adjacent shores being covered with
spectators. The "Enterprise" captured the "Boxer" and brought her a
prize into Portland harbor. Both commanders were killed in the fight,
and their bodies were brought ashore, each wrapped in the flag he had
so bravely served, and the same honors were paid both in the double
funeral. Longfellow recalls this as one of the memories of his youth:
"I remember the sea-fight far away,
How it thundered o'er the tide!
And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o'erlooking the tranquil bay,
Where they in battle died."
[Illustration: _House of "The Pearl of Orr's Island," Casco Bay, Me._]