she is lexion #finest

Counteck besice paid en, (as

to be

gaged

a ceived

ttle to

others. untry, rtford `; few

males, le. It

I men.

y, she

rtford,

aking ingly I

at the

all the

'ed me

pect to

The family consisted principally of females, his wife, several daughters, and a Mrs. E. Philips', who had just arrived from Boston. The reception.I met with, the manners and appearance of the ladies, was so different from any thing I had ever seen in this lower world, that I began to think I had fell in with the inhabitants of some other region. It was some time before I could resume my composure sufficiently to reply to the courtesies and caresses with which I was overwhelmed on all sides. The ladies formed a circle around me, the dear old man approached as near as they would let him, while they drew from me my adventures in detail, with which they appeared to be highly gratified. Meantime refreshment was not forgot, the best the house could command was spread before me, they did not forget what was due to a stranger, which too many do. Each face, illuminated with the most suasive sweetness, pressed me to eat and to drink, not in that cold formal manner which we so often meet with from people in their sphere, but with all the familiarity and warmth of old friends. Though willing to bestow some token of respect upon a family who so deeply interested me, and to prefer them as a pattern of imitation, yet the pen of Roscius could not do justice to virtues like theirs.

While I remained in Hartford, which was about a week, I took occasion to attend preaching: being curious to see and hear all that was to be seen, for, as repects my own religion, I do not hold with going to preaching. People (so they say,) go to proaching, or to church, to learn their duty to God and their neighbor; but if they practice their duty, why go to church? What our duty consists in, is plainly enough told to us by our Saviour, viz. "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself." I do not think it possible for words to be plainer, all that seems to be lacking is the practice. But to use one of Carey's expressions, this digression. And so I went to church, and the peoand the preacher too; he was a Universalist,

is a

mily; ple came, the first I ever heard. I had consulted my landlady in the morning, on the subject of the different sects, the best rators, and such things, when she replied that "the Uni

versalist was called the greatest orator, but she would'nt
go to hear him if she never heard a sermon;" though
she added, "you may go if you're a mind to." Highly
gratified with an opportunity of judging for myself of
this sect, I went to hear the Universalist. There were
but few people in church when I arrived, but they soon
flocked in till it could hold no more, though it was a
large building. I looked toward the pulpit, but it was
empty meantime the organ began to play in the most
melting strains. I kept my eye upon the aisle up which
the parson must pass to the pulpit, with a view of catch-
ing a full-length sight of his person. In a few minutes
a spare, thin visaged man, of middling height, with a
majestic air, walked up the aisle and ascended the pul-
pit. He was dressed in a neat suit of black broadcloth,
with a fine white cravat tied gracefully around his neck.
His complexion was fair, his features regular, with a re-
treating forehead, and the keenest blue eye ever formed
by nature. His countenance shone bright from the be-
ginning, but in the progress of his discourse it burst into
a vivid blaze, difficult to behold. His text was, "Go
thou and do likewise," in which he painted the priest,
the Levite, and the Samaritan, in their true colours.-
But such a flood of eloquence I never heard from the
pulpit: he began low, rising by a regular climax, now
swelling with celestial pathos, now dropping soft as the
pearly dew; his voice sonorous, his action graceful, his
attitude natural and easy, his style chaste, his reasoning
clear,; in short his whole soul seemed one flame of love.
He drew such a picture of universal charity, as would
have pierced its way through adamant. The audience
hung upon him with deep attention, maintaining through-
out the most deathlike stillness. This is but a faint out-
line of the man as a preacher; his character as a chris-
tian is unrivalled-of this I had ocular demonstration.
Mr. B. will pardon me for hinting a matter which his
transcendant humility would have forever remain between
him and his God. Incomparable man! well mayest thou
say, "go and do likewise." In the afternoon I went to
hear the Rev. Mr.
But here was a great falling
off; I should have supposed he was doing any thing but

ould'nt

though Highly

self of

e were

V soon

was a

it was

e most

which catch

ainutes

with a he pulcloth, 、 neck.

h a reformed. the berst into "Go priest,

urs.

om the

X, now as the

ful, his

soning of love. would dience rough

int out1 christration. ich bis etween est thou

went to

falling

ing but

preaching. He had his sermon wrote down, as many of the clergy do in this country, and what between his bobbing up and down to look at the words, his ungraceful person, and his awkward delivery, he made the worst hand of it I ever heard. The upshot of the business was that one half of his hearers fell asleep, while he wanted the courage of the Methodist preacher I heard of once, to arouse them. A Methodist preacher (I forget his name) perceiving his audience asleep, cried out with a loud voice, "fire! fire!" The audience awaking, cried "where? where?" "In hell," said the preacher, "for those who sleep under the gospel!" This was different from the shrewd old parson, on a similar occasion, who was fond of a nap himself. Discovering his audience asleep one day, he stopped suddenly, and addressing some children who were at play in the gallery, in a whispering tone, desired them to be still, or they would wake the old folks below!

History-Hartford was settled in 1633. The first building erected where Hartford now stands, was built by the Dutch of New-Netherlands, (now New-York.) Previous to this, one of the sachems from Connecticut river, waited upon the governor of Massachusetts, and invited him to send some of his people to settle amongst them. Whilst the governor was thinking upon the matter, and withal not very anxious to risk the safety of his people among the savages, the governor of Plymouth, Mr. Winslow, sent some of his people to explore this same country, and discovered Connecticut river to be a fine flowing, capacious stream. Finally, the report of these men determined him to establish a trading-house, for the present, being afraid to venture farther. In 1638, materials for a small house were completely prepared, put on board a vessel, under escort of a company, commanded by Capt. Holmes, and sailed for Connecticut river. On arriving at the place, they found they were superseded by the Dutch,

already stated. They had builta hortse, and mounted it with cannon, precisely where Hartford now stands; they called it the "Hirse of Good-Hope;" it stood on the bank of the river. On the arrival of Holmes opposite the fort, he was ordered by the Dutch to lower sail

1

and strike his colours, or the guns would open upon him. But Holmes, disregarding the threat, passed boldly on, and landed on the right bank of the river, just below the mouth of a small stream, now in Windsor, where he set up his house, and enclosed it with a stockade. Here he carried on a lucrative trade with the Indians, who were highly pleased, and sold them land, and continued peaceably to trade with them. This gave umbrage to the Dutch at New-Netherlands, who sent a company to drive the English from their station; but they were not to be drove and both parties continued to trade with the Indians in peltry, &c. Thus they went on well, until a quarrel with those river Indians involved the whites in a slight war. Peace, however, was soon restored, and the whites from Plymouth finally settled Hartford in 1634, by a company of people from Newtown. The place where Hartford now stands, was called by the Indians "Suckiang." and the name of the Indians "Pequots." At this period New-England abounded with moose, deer, bears, wolves and other animals. The pigeons were in such numbers, that they darkened the light of heaven.

Journey to Boston.-After spending a week in Hartford, I set off (in the stage again,) for Boston, intending to stop a day or two in Worcester. Upon leaving Hartford, our road still hung upon the river, through a fertile plain; for several miles we met with extensive fields, rich meadows, and droves of the finest cattle to be found in the United States. At length we ascend an elevated country, which commands a prospect of twenty miles in all directions. The land, however, is thin but well wa tered; the original growth is entirely cut down, and the country exhibits nothing but farms, villages and churches. Few sheep, and no hogs, are seen, though I am told they raise enough for their own use, and some for mark. ct. Although the middle of April, I have seen but one plough in operation this spring, so backward are the seasons in this country; the maples are just beginning to bud. The farms and houses look lonesome and gloo my, compared with ours at this season, where all is life

his p

on him. lly on,

ow the

be set lere he

> were

peace. to the

to drive

t to be

the In

until a es in a

and the 1634, place

Indians quots."

, deer, rere in

ven.

Hartending Hart

fertile

fields,

found

evated

iles in

ll wa ad the rches. n told

mark

ut one re the

inning

1 gloo. I is life

and activity. Here you see no one stirring, either in the fields or about the houses. And here I am sorry to remark, for the first time, since I commenced travelling, a bad disposition, and want of principle in the people, dangerous to unprotected travellers; it is hazardous both in the stage and at the inns. The inn-keeper, where we breakfasted after leaving Hartford, is the greatest ruffian I ever met with in any country, and in every respect unworthy the public patronage. We had ruffians in the stage, and the driver himself was one of the rudest, savage looking men I have seen. There was but one man in the stage who might be said to be a gentleman; and by our joint threats we made out to arrive safe at Worcester, about three o'clock P. M., having left Hartford at six A. M. For several miles before entering Worcester, the country is nothing but one mass of stones. Nothing but stone fences in this country, from Albany, with slight exceptions, to this town; and I am told they are universal in the New-England States. They add much to the scenery of the country, by laying it off in squares, by the regularity and symmetry of their appear

ance.

Worcester. Worcester is a very handsome town; very much like Springfield, and about the same size. The streets are wide and straight; the houses (of wood, principally,) are painted white; and though planted with trees, it has not that rural air which the luxuriant elms give to Springfield. It has a very pompous courthouse, resembling the President's house at Washington city, 4 churches, a prison, an alms-house, 2 banks and 2,962 inhabitants. But it is chiefly remarkable for the residence of one of the most distinguished families in Massachusetts-I mean the Waldo family-judge Lincoln, (same family,) governor elect of Massachusetts, Doctor Bancroft, the celebrated poet, and the American Antiquarian Society. The Hon. judge Lincoln, governor of Massachusetts, (though he does not take his seat till June,) is a man of young appearance, for his age is. forty. He might very easily pass for thirty. He is, in his person, tall and finely made; rather spare, his com