Connecticut Historical Collections

bis successor, Silas Fuller, M. D. recently of Columbia, and bas also been attended witb similar success. Dr. Fuller bas for many years bad tbe cliarge of a private establislnnent for tlie insane, and bas been distinguisbed for bis success in treating this alHictive disease. The general system of moral treatment at this institution is, to allow tbe patients all the liberty and indulgences consistent witb their own safety and that of others ; to cherish in them the sentiment of self respect ; to excite an ambition for the good will and respect of others ; to draw out the latent sparks of natural and social aftection ; and to occupy their attention witb such employments and amusements, as shall exercise their judgment, and withdraw tbeir minds as much as possible from every former scene and every former con\panion ; and give an entire change to tbe current of tbeir recollections and ideas. By pursuing this course, together witb a judicious system of medication, many 'of these once miserable beings, cut off from all tbe 'linked sweetness' of con- jugal, parental, filial, and fraternal enjoyment, are now restored to the blessings of health, to tlie felicities of affection, and to the capacity of performing tbe relative duties of domestic and social life.'"* Eastern view of IVashington College. " VVasbington College was founded in 1826. It bas two edifices of free stone ; one 148 feet long by 43 wide, and 4 stories high, contain- ing 48 rooms ; tbe other 87 feet by 55, and 3 stories high, containing the chapel, library, mineralogical cabinet, philosophical chamber, labo- ratory and recitation rooms. There are 5,000 volumes in tbe college library, and 2,500 in the libraries oftbe different societies. A complete philosophical apparatus, cabinet of minerals, and botanical garden and green bouse, belong to the institution. Tbe faculty consists of a presi- dent, 6 professors, and 2 tutors. Students, about GO. Commencement first Thursday in August."! West Hartford, or, as it was formerly called, JVest Division, Is a fine tract of land. Tbe inhabitants are mostly substantial farmers, and tbe American Mair. Vol. I. t Darby and Dwight's Gazetteer, 1833. HARTFORD, 39 general appearance of the place denotes an unusual share of equalized wealth and jirosperity. The venerable IVathan Perkins, D. 1). still continues his labors in the ministry in West Hartford. In 1833; his sixtieth anniversary sermon was published in the National Preacher. In that sermon he says, " I am now the oldest officiating minister of the gospel in this state, and, as far as I can learn, in the United States. And I cannot learn, from the history of churches in Connecticut, that there has e\'er before been an instance of one of its ministers preaching for sixty years uninterruptedly to the same congregation ; nor during a life of eighty three years, have 1 ever ujet with one who had preached the gospel of the grace of God to one and the same people for the same period." " Titus Ilosmer, the flither of the late Chief Justice Hosmer, of Middletown, was a native of West Hartford. He was one of the most distinguished scholars, lawyers and statesmen which Connecticut has produced. He was a member of the Council, and of Congress, and Judge of the Maritime Court of Appeals for the United States. He was the patron of Joel Barlow, in encouraging the composition of his Vision of Columhns, the title of tlie poem first published. He died in middle life, and Mr. Barlow wrote an elegant poenj as an elegy on his death, and inscribed it to his widow." Junction of Trap Rock and SandstQnc, at RocJci/ Hill. The above engraving was made from a large lithographic print in the I7th vol. of Prof. Silhman's Journal of Science. The perpendic- ular strata of rocks which appear in the engraving are termed by geolo- gists Trap Rocks, of the variety called greenstone. This ridge is one of a series of isolated peaks and groups tliat divide the stales of Con- necticut and Massachusetts almost centrally in two ; commencing in the East and West Rocks in New Haven and terniinating on the bor- ders of Veimont. The Pallisadoes on the Hudson are comijosed of trap rocks, and it is known that tliey cross the slate of New Jersey, from the Hudson to the Delaware. The Cave of Fingal, in the island 40 H A R T I- O n D , of Slatla, and the Giant's Causeway in the north of Ireland, are still more sin-^ular examples, on account of the regularity and lieii;lu of the columns, and of their curiously jointed structure. The rocks in the engraving which lie in a horizontal position are sandstone, called by the masons free stone, to obtain which this tjuarry has been worked for more than a century. This quarry is about three miles nearly s. s. w. from the city of Hartford, the ridge is on the eastern exposure almost covered with soil. "As you come from Hartford on the old Farmington road, you gently rise the acclivity of a hill, for perhaps three or four hundred yards, and as you reach its sunnnit you discover the trap ridge, breaking through the soil on your right and left, and stretching away northeast and southwest like a line of fortification. This allusion appears still more appropriate when you discover, on coming to the edge of the parapet, that the vast rampart is faced with a deep ditch, just such an one as defense would rccjuirc, were the ridge covered by cannon and bristling with bayonets. This ditch is ilie excavation wliicli (as its ob- ject was peaceful) it has taken a century to make." The portion of the rocky ridge represented in the engraving is about eighty feet, in the horizontal direction ; the trap is there twenty eight feet thick, and the sandstone that is cut through is sixteen feet, so that the whole height at this place is about forty feet. The water in the hollow is an accu- mulation of rain, in the bottom of the quarry. " Both rocks, as thus cut througli for nearly a mile, in this extensive quariy, exhibit a magnificent section ; such as a geologist wishing to study the origin of the trap rocks, would be most anxious to see, but would hardly exjiect to find. To others, the place is worth visiting on account of the beauty of the scenery. In the retrospect towards Hart- ford, is the grand and rich valley of the Connecticut — before you, the vales of Newington and West Hartford, almost equally beautiful ; and the view in both directions, is bounded by hills and mountains, which, to the north and south, appear interminable." It is now believed by all geologists, that the materials composing the trap rocks were nielte(l in the bowels of the earth, and thrown upward through the incumbent strata by igneous action, and that the peculiar formation of these rocks, presenting solid masses, in which, in general, the appearance of fire is not obvious, was caused by the pressure of water from above, it being unquestionable among geologists, that our globe was once covered with a deep ocean. The cut on the next page is a representation of the point of land in the limits of the city of Hartfoid, now called Dutch Point. Tlie entrance of I\lill river into the Connecticut is seen in the engraving. In 1633, the Dutch erected a foit and trading house on the south side of this stream, which they called the Tlirsc of Good Hope. Tliirty or forty yeais since, some of the I'emanis of the fort were in existence, being washed out of the earth Ijy the river. Since that time, the river has worn away the site of the fort. The large building seen in the engraving is a steam paper mill : ship building is also carried on at this place. The spire seen in the distance is that of the South Congregational Church. II A n T F o n D . 41 The Dutch maintained a distinct and independent government at the Point for many years, and resisted the Urws of the colony. They in- veigled an Indian woman, who, being liable to public punishment, fled from her master. Though her master demanded her as his property, and the magistrates as a criminal, on whom the law ought to take its course, yet they would not deliver her up. Tlie Dutch agent, in the height of disorder, resisteil the guard. " lie drew his rapier upon the soldiers, and broke it upon their arms. He then escaped to the fort, and there defended himself with impunity." Considerable didicully oftentimes arose between them and llie l^nglish settlers, till the year 165-1, when an order from the Parliament arrived, recpiiring that the Dutch should in all respects he treated as the declared enemies of the commonwealth of England. In conformity to this order, the General Court convened, and an act was passed sequestering the Dutch house, lands, and property of all kinds at Hartford, for the benefit of the com- monwealth. Dutch Foiitt, in Hartford. "The Dutch," says Dr. Trumbull, "were always mere intruders. They had no right to any part of this country. The English ever de- nied their right, and when the Dutch placed a governor at New Neth- erlands, and the court of England made complaint of it to the States General, they disowned the aJTair, and said it was only a private under- taking of an Amsterdam West India cotnpany. King James the first commissioned Edward Laugdon to he governor at New Netherlands, and named the country New Albion. The Dutch submitted to the English government, until the troubles in England, under the adminis- trations of King Charles the first and the long parliament." When William Holmes came up the river in 1633, to establish a tra- ding house at Windsor, he found that the Dutch had got up the river before him, made a light fort, and planted two pieces on Dutch Point. " The Dutch forbid Holmes going up the river, stood by their cannon, and ordered him to strike his colors, or they would fire upon him." G 42 II A 11 T F OKI). Holmes being a bold and resolute inan,. inHji-mcd tbcin tbat be had a commission IVoni the frovernor of Pl}niuuih to go up the river, and tbat he must obey bis orders. Disregarding their threats, be proceeded up the river and established the tiadin^i bouse."* First Meeting House built in Connecticut.