Connecticut Historical Collections

'I'he Kclio was a work wlm'h attiattcd considciable attention at the lime. This was a medley of burlcsijiic and satirical pieces, originally desii'ued to hold up to derisioii a taste for the bond)ast and the bathos, very prevalent at that period among newspa|)er writers. 'Y\\\s work was begun about the year 1791, "by two persons, viz. Richard Alsop, of Middlelown, and Theodore Dwight, and with the exception of por- tions of two or three numbers, was written exclusively by then). \}v. M. F. Cogswell wrote a few lines in one number, and Dr. Lemuel Hopkins and Dr. E, H. Smith wrote i)arts of one or two others. f 1'he plan of the work was soon extended ; and from ridiculing affectations of style, they directed their satire against the political doctrines and measures of their opponents, as party s|)irit at this period began to wax warm. The Echo soon became principally occupied in responding travesties of public speeches, and writings of a political cast. These pieces were, with some others by the same authors, collected into a * Aniilectic Mngaziiie. t 'I'Ikmc 1i:is hceii a t.iunl)crof accounts given rcspcciinjr llic orifjin niul tlie ;nitliof.s of ilie Echo vvliicli aie iiicurrect ; the abuve sialeiiieiil lespectiiig ilie aiithi.ws of tin: work, may be relied upon as correct, as it was obtained from an undoiibled source. IfAHTFOKD. 51 volume which was published in 1807, illustrated by several humorous designs by Mr. Tisdal. The following is the Boston editor's account ol the thunder storm, which was the occasion oi" drawing forth the fust Echo. " On Tuesday last, about four o'clock, P. M. came on a smart shower of rain, at- tended with lighuiing and thunder, no ways remarkable. The clouds soon dissipated, and the appearance of the azure vault, left trivial hopes ol further needful supplies liom the uncor/.t:d bultlts of heaven. In a few moments the horizon was asjain over- shadowed, and an almost impenetrable f(looin mantled tlie face of the skies. The wind frequently shifting from one point to another, wafted the clouds in various di- rections, until at last they united in one common center, and shrouded the visible globe in thick darkness. The attendant lightning, with the accompanying thunder, brought forth from the treasures that embattled elements to awful contlict, were ex- tremely vivid and amazing loud. Those buildings that were delended by electiic rods, appeared to be wrapped in sheets of vivid dame, and a flood of the pure fire roll- ed its biu-ning torrents down them with alarnring violence. The majestic roar of dis- ploding thunders, now bursting with a sudden crash, and now wasting the rumbling Echo of t^heir sounds in other lands, added indescribable grandeur to the sublime scene. The windows of the upper regions appeared as thrown wide open, and the trembling cataract poured impetuous down. More salutary showers, and more need- ed, have not been experienced this summer. Several previous weeks had exhibited a melancholy sight : the verdure of fields was nearly destroyed ; and the patient hus- bandman alni()st experienced despair. Two beautiful rainbows, the one existing in its native glories, and the other a splendid relleclion of primitive colors, closed the magnificent picture, and presented to the contemplative mind the angel of mercy, clothed with the brilliance of this irradiated arch, and di.spensing felicity to assembled worlds. Ii is not unnatural to expect that the thunder storm would be attended with some damage. We hear a barn belongujg to Mr. Wytlie, of Cambridge, caught fire from the lightning, which entiiclv consumed the same, together with several tons of hay, &c." This is echoed in the following manner: " O.v Tuesday last great Sol, with piercing eye, Pursued his journey throui,'!! tlie vaulted skv. And in his car ellulgent ro'll'd his way Four hours bevond the burning zone of day; When lo! a cloud, o'eishridowing all the plain, Friim countless pores pL-r>|)Ue(l a liijuiii ram, While from Its cracks the lightnings made a peep, And chit-chat thunders rock'd our fears asleep. Put soon the vapoiy log di->iier.sed in air. Ami left the uzuic blue eye.l concave bare: Kveii the last drop of hope, which dripping skies Gave for a moment to our straining eyes. Like Bti.sl(i/i nun, iVoin hcdvciVs junk bottles broke, Lost all the corks, and vanish'd into smoke. " But swift from worlds unknown, a fresh supply Of vapor dimm'd the gieat horizon's eye; The crazy cleuds, by siiiftmg zephyrs driven, Wafted their courses through the high-arch'd heaven. Till piled aloft in one stupendous heap. The seen and unseen worlds grew dark, and nature 'gan to weep. Attendant lightnings stieam'd then tails afar, And social thunders waked ethereal war, From dark deep pockets brought liieir treasured store, Embattled elements increased the roar — Red crinkling fires expended all their force, And tumbling rumblings steer'd their headlong course. Those guarded frames by thunder poles secured. Though wrapp'd in sheets of flame, those sheets endured ; O'er their broad roofs the fiery torrents roll'd, And every shingle scem'd of burning gold. Majestic thunders, with disploUing roar. And sudden crashing, bounced along the shore, Till, lost ill other lands, the whispering sound Fled Irom our ears and fainted on the groimd. 52 Rain's house on liiijli iis windou- sasln'.s oped, And out ih^- cUniaci iiii|ictuoiis lnip|.Vl, Wliile the ^^rand ^(;L■ne by Uu uk,!.; -land a)i|.ear'd, Willi lishtnin^'SUfVLTsecn and tlimutcis never hen " More saiularv showers have nol I.een knuu n, To wa.sh dame Naiiire's ilirlv houies|nni ■,'oun— For several ueeUs ihe «ood old Joan's been seen, Willi lillh besj.aller'd like a la/v quean. The husbandman favt IraveliriL^ to despair, Laid down his hoe and lock his roekm- ehair : While hislat wile Ihe well and eislern dind, Her mop ;,nc)wn useless, hun^ il up and erii'd. " Two raiid)ow.s (air ihal li is l)roni,'lii aloni,', Pick'd IVoai ihe'choieest ofhei ccdoi'd ihroiij^; The fust born deck'd in pristine huesol'lighi, In all its native j<lories f,'lowing bright, The ne.xt adorn'd with less rehdgent rays, But boirowintf luslei Iroin iis brother's blaze; Bhoin; a briLflit rellex of tho.^e eolnis -a\- That deek'd with li-ht ciealion n prun.il dav, When inlant Valine lisp.t her earliest i,,,le,., And viiniikt:/- Aila m erepi Ml prllieoais: And io the people tn rell.;eiion ;,'iveii, 'The sons ollJoston, the elrei ul heav.'ii,' Presented Merey'.s ani^'el smil iii;< Ian, Irradiate splendors (ri/.zled m hi^ haii-, Uncork' itit: deini-johns, and pouriiii,' down ITeaveii's Inpiid bles.sin.:,'s on the yajniiL', town. "N. B. At Cainbridi^e town, Ihe self .same dav, A barn was burnt well lill'd with liay. Some say the lightning luin'd it led, Some say the thunder struek il dead, Some say il made the ealtle siare, Atut Slime it kiU'd an aged mare; I'.iil we expeet ihe trnlh to leain, From Air. Wythe, wlio own'd the barn." The followini^ account, (]escri!)ing the transactions of l-'Ifclioii day in Ilarlford, is IVom Kciulall's travels in tlit! noiihcin |iarts of ihu I'lii- Icil Stales, in 1,^07 and IHOS; it is iu ihc inaiii a laurict diM'ripliun of the l''.leelitm ceii'inoiiies, as they were annnally perforined I'loiii oldtii time. Since the adojilion of the present Conslitnlion, J-'Jeclioii ihays have taken place ahernately in llartlbrd and IN'ew lltiven. Fioin this jjeriod ilie progress of reform has heen so I'ar extended, that nearly the whole of the ceremonies here dcscrihed, have heen chspensed with ; first, the clergy were not allowed to dine at the puhlic expense ; next, the Governor's Guards were restricted in the same manner. 'J'he Le- gislature next dispensed with the Election sermon, tind lastly, for two or three years past the memhers of the Assembly foiiuetl no piticession, " I reaelicd Hartford at noon, on Wednesday, the flHh oI'May, 1807. 'I'he city is on the west bank of the Coiineciiciit, Ibriy tjve miles above its inoiiih. 'I'he governor, whose family residence is on the east side of the rivet, at smne distance Iroin llariiord, was expected to arrive in the evening. 'I'his gi'nihinaii, who.se name is Jonathan Trumbull, is the son of the Ute Uovernoi' Jcnaihan Tinniliull; and though tlieele( lion i.s annual, he has himself been three or four yeais in oliiee, ami will almost cer- tainly so conlimie duiing the reinainder of his lite. Jt was known that the voles wert; at this lime in his favor. "The governor has volnnleer companies df guards, both horse and foot. In ilie aflern(jon the horse were drawn up on ihe banks ol the river, to recene Imn, .iml es- Corl him to his lodgings. He came beloie sunset, and tlie fineness of the evening, tho H A R T F O U IJ . 53 beauty of the river, the respectable upp-araiuu nf the -overnor and of the in.op, (he fli-iMlyol the occasion, and the .lecurmu ol)^ci vol, nulled to gratify the special. irs 1 he color ol the clothes of liie troop U'as blue. The -oveinor, though on hoi.seback' vas dressed in black; but he wore a cockade, in a hat u lucli 1 did not like the less' because it was in its lorm rather ol' the old .school than of the new. " Jn the nioniiiig, the foot guards weie paradedin Iront ol the Stale Hou.se, where they alierwards remained under arms, while the troop of hoi.se occuiMed the street whieli IS on the south side of the building. The clothing ol the loot u as scarlet wiih white waistcoats and pantaloons; and their appearance and demeanor weie mili-