e summer-house is highly ornamented with Ionic
pilasters, and taken as a whole is quaintly ruinous. It is interesting
to discover that it was utility that led to the elevation of the mound,
within which was an ice-house! And to get at the ice the slaves went
through a trap-door in the floor of this Greek structure!

Isaac Royall, the builder of the fine old mansion, did not long live to
enjoy his noble estate, but he was succeeded by a second Isaac, who,
though a "colonel," was altogether inclined to take more care for his
patrimony than for his king. When the Revolution began, Colonel Royall
fell upon evil times. Appointed a councillor by mandamus, he declined
serving "from timidity," as Gage says to Lord Dartmouth. Royall's own
account of his movements after the beginning of "these troubles," is
such as to confirm the governor's opinion.

He had prepared, it seems, to take passage for the West Indies,
intending to embark from Salem for Antigua, but having gone into Boston
the Sunday previous to the battle of Lexington, and remained there until
that affair occurred, he was by the course of events shut up in the
town. He sailed for Halifax very soon, still intending, as he says, to
go to Antigua, but on the arrival of his son-in-law, George Erving, and
his daughter, with the troops from Boston, he was by them persuaded to
sail for England, whither his other son-in-law, Sir William Pepperell
(grandson of the hero of Louisburg), had preceded him. It is with this
young Sir William Pepperell that our story particularly deals.

The first Sir William had been what is called a "self-made man," and had
raised himself from the ranks of the soldiery through native genius
backed by strength of will. His father is first noticed in the annals of
the Isles of Shoals. The mansion now seen in Kittery Point was built,
indeed, partly by this oldest Pepperell known to us, and partly by his
more eminent son. The building was once much more extensive than it now
appears, having been some years ago shortened at either end. Until the
death of the elder Pepperell, in 1734, the house was occupied by his own
and his son's families. The lawn in front reached to the sea, and an
avenue a quarter of a mile in length, bordered by fine old trees, led to
the neighbouring house of Colonel Sparhawk, east of the village church.
The first Sir William, by his will, made the son of his daughter
Elizabeth and of Colonel Sparhawk, his residuary legatee, requi