loose stones of the Strait hills are granite, which is the prevalent stone found southward through the county. In the Upper Houses, north of the city, is Prospect hill, so named from the fine view of the surrounding country, particularly of the windings of Connecticut river, of the city of Middletown, Chatham, &c. Just below the city, the Connecticut turns to the eastward. Two miles and a half below Middletown city, the river being compressed to 35 rods, passes with considerable force between the high and cragged fronts of the Strait hills. Besides the Connecticut, the township is watered by two small streams, called West and Little rivers. The former passes through Durham, and unites with the latter about two miles from the Connecticut, into which the waters of these united streams are discharged, between the city and the Upper Houses. The soil in this township is favorable both for grain and grazing, is well adapted for fruit, and is generally rich and fertile.

Public Buildings in the central part of Middletown.

Middletown City was incorporated in 1784. It is a port of entry, and the chief town of Middlesex County. It is pleasantly situated, in Lat. 41° 35' N. and Lon. 4° 15' E. of Washington, on the west bank of Connecticut river, 31 miles above its mouth, 15 miles south of Hartford, and 24 miles N. E. of New Haven. The population of the city in 1830 was 2,965; including the town, 6,892. The site of the city is principally a gentle declivity, having a gradual ascent back from the river. It is built mostly upon eight streets; Main street, which is the principal one, runs north and south, and is about a mile in extent; it is broad and level, and contains most of the public buildings, stores, &c.

The above is a southeastern view of five of the public buildings in Middletown. The first building seen on the left is the court house, erected in 1832. The next building is the Middletown bank, incorporated in 1785, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased in 1812 to $500,000. The building with a steeple is the first Congregational

church; the next building is the custom house, erected in 1835; the next building north is the Central Hotel and stage house. There are in the city 6 houses for public worship, 2 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 African; 2 banks, the Middletown bank, the Middlesex County bank, and the Wesleyan University. The streets and walks are shaded with elms and Linden or lime trees. Much taste is displayed by the citizens about their residences, in the collection of choice shrubs and plants. Main street is elevated from 45 to 50 feet above the level of the river. The rise and fall of tide water is from 18 to 24 inches. Indian or Sowheag hill, one mile from the river, is 227 feet above its level. The base of the Wesleyan University Lyceum is 160 feet above the river, being distant five eighths of a mile.

Southeastern view of the Wesleyan University, Middletown.

The Wesleyan University was founded in 1831, and is an institution of great promise, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church. The college buildings are finely situated, on an eminence, about half a mile from the river, commanding a view of the town, some of the neighboring villages, and a fine prospect of a most fruitful surrounding country. The college buildings were originally built for, and occupied by, the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy, under the care of Captain Partridge. The Academy having failed in its operations, the buildings were vacated, and left on the hands of the proprietors. At this time, several annual conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church were preparing to establish a college under the patronage of said church, and were holding their privilege of location in the market, for the purpose of securing a liberal local subscription. To secure this privilege, the proprietors of the Academy offered their buildings as a gratuity, for the use of a college or university for ever, on condition that there should be an additional endowment raised, of $40,000. The citizens of Middletown and its vicinity, with

a commendable zeal, by a public grant, and by private subscriptions, pledged about $18,000 of the endowment. These offers, together with the other local advantages, fixed the university in its present location.

The manufactories of the city and town are numerous. Among them are three for arms for the United States' service, 1 of broadcloth, 1 of cotton, 1 of webbing, combs, &c. &c. One manufactory makes 1,500 rifles annually, milling all the parts; another, 2,000 milled muskets; another, 1,200 guns, which are cast. "One company makes 45,000 lbs. of cotton yarn; and another, 30,000 yards of broadcloth." The value of articles manufactured in this place yearly is estimated at about $700,000. The coasting trade of Middletown is extensive; its foreign trade considerable. In 1816, more shipping was owned at this place, than any town in Connecticut. Vessels for Hartford, and other towns on the river, are registered here. The Connecticut is navigable to Middletown, for vessels drawing 10 feet of water. Its width opposite the city, varies from 97 to 80 rods. There is a horse-boat ferry between this place and Chatham. Two miles above the city is the village of Upper Middletown or Upper Houses, which contains a post office and 2 houses for public worship, 1 Baptist and 1 Congregational. Ship building has been carried on in this village for more than a century.

Hugh White, Esq., the first settler of Whitestown, in the state of New York, was a citizen of Middletown. He removed from this place with his family in 1784, and penetrating beyond the Mohawk Flats, which then formed a barrier to the western settlement, located himself at Sedaghquate, now Whitesboro' village, which, till then, had been the gloomy abode of wild beasts and savage men. For the first four years after the commencement of this settlement, its progress was rather slow and discouraging; yet, in 1788, it contained nearly 200 inhabitants; and the same year, the town of German Flats, comprising this settlement, was divided, and a new town established, which, in honor of this enterprising man, was called " Whitestown." This township, with less than 200 inhabitants, comprised then almost all the western section of that state, which in 1810, contained 280,319 inhabitants; being about 20,000 more than the whole population of Connecticut; so that Judge White, who survived this period two years, lived to see the dreary wilderness, into which he was the first man to penetrate, and which once bore his name, contain a greater population than his native state.

As was observed in his obituary notice, "Judge White may justly be considered as the patriarch, who first led the children of New England into the wilderness; and it may be truly said, that he lived to see and enjoy the promised land." He died in 1812, aged 80 years.*

Richard Alsop, a poet of some talent, was a native of this town, and resided here during most of his life. He was born in 1759, and was bred to the mercantile profession, but devoted himself occasionally to letters. His works embrace a variety of subjects. He published various translations from the French and Italian: he left a large number of

* Pease and Niles's Gazetteer.

unpublished works behind him, one of them a poem of considerable length, called the Charms of Fancy. He died at Flatbush, on Long Island, Aug. 20, 1815.

EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS.

Middletown, Nov. 2d, 1765. Yesterday being the day prefixed to enslave America, by an unrighteous and oppressive some of the principal gentlemen of this place, to shew the sense they had of their native liberty and freedom, which concluded with that fatal day, met together, and agreed that the bell should toll all day with the tongue muffled; that minute guns should be discharged, and a pendant hoisted half-staff high, before the townhouse, which was accordingly done. All the vessels in the harbor had their pendants struck half-mast high. The gentlemen being met about noon, drank several loyal healths; and among the rest this was toasted-Liberty, property and no stamps-Confusion to all enemies of liberty, &c. In the evening, the young people dressed three images: two of them were dressed very grand; one in an arm chair, representing a late ignoble lord; the other, waiting on him, in a private conference, holding up a piece of parchment to him, with these words wrote in large characters," Let's inslave America with stamps." Behind them on the stage, was a most forlorn image, with a fierce countenance, representing the D-1, with a speared fork in his right hand, and a lanthorn in his left-(however cloven his feet were, his d-l-ship had gloves on his hands.) On the forepart of the stage was a large lanthorn, five or six feet high, and proportionally large, filled with lighted candles, (the night being dark and cloudy, made a grand appearance,) on the front of which was wrote, in large characters, Liberty, Property, and no Stamps; confusion to Lord Bg, the D-1 and Company; God bless King George, Pitt, Conway, Barre, and all Patriots to Liberty. AMEN. Which was read off loud at every door in the town, streets and lanes, upon which the company gave three loud and hearty cheers. The whole scene was over about ten o'clock; when the said images were taken off the stage, and treated with the ignominy their o deserved, then burnt, and their ashes were stamped into the earth. Not less than eight hundred joined in this affair; and, notwithstanding the number of all ranks, the whole was conducted and concluded with the utmost decency and good order. It would be amiss to omit, that our young children, that can hardly speak, have already learnt this lesson well-Liberty, Property and no Stamps-which they sing along the streets.

Middletown, Nov. 12th, 1777.

On my way from the army some time since, I fell in with four well dressed men, two of which were in uniform, all with swords and cockades. I supposed they were officers of the continental army, going on business like myself. We traveled to the next inn, where we stopped for refreshment, and met half a dozen more of these meek soldiers, for, on attending to their discourse, I soon found they were all itinerant traders. I fell into conversation with one of them, who informed me he had made five thousand pounds since the last year, by trade. I supposed he must have been a large importer of merchandize from abroad, but, on inquiry, found he had never risked a shilling afloat, but had been buying and selling from state to state, and from town to town; he began with a hogshead of rum, (which he purchased with his tools, and credit, having been formerly an exceeding good house carpenter :) he sold this out by the small quantity to the troops at King's bridge last campaign, and by his industry this way had acquired the above sum. This information led me to make inquiry into the other characters, all of which I found of the same clan. Some had more, some less than my informant. I arrived soon after at my own farm, and found my hired man had commenced trader, and quitted my farm. I went after him, and found him, threatened him with the loss of his wages, if he did not return to his duty and fulfil his engagement, which was for six months: he told me he did not value his wages; he had made money enough to buy my farm, and asked the price : He had been trading in partnership with a baker, who had turned merchant, and could not read, and gave him half the profits for keeping the accounts. I asked him why he wore a cockade: he said it answered for a pass, and he should have a uniform coat as soon as he could find a tailor, which were scarce, as they had all turned traders. I pulled out my cockade, and got me a plain coat, and now on my way to join my regiment, having completed the business I came on. Mr. Printer, I think it would not be amiss to take up all these new created gentry, form them into a regiment, send them to camp, and let them work at their old trades: they would be useful then; they are a curse now. If you approve of this plan, please to communicate it to the public, through the channel of your useful paper. A SUBALTERN IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.

Golden Ball Tavern, Middletown, Sept. 22d, 1777.

NORTH

VIEW OF MIDDLETOWN, CON. & ITS VICINITY.

The above view is from Prospect Hill. about 3 miles from the central part of the city, on the Hartford read. In the distance is seen the windings of Connecticut river. the city of Middletown. part of Chatham, and its Quarries, on the eastern side of the river.