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The whole of the sea-coast is indented with harbours, many of which are safe and commodious; but those of New London and Newhaven are the most important. The former opens to the south, and is large, convenient, and dangerless; it has from five to six fathoms water, with a clear bottom, and for a mile above the town is entirely secure for large ships: from the light-house which stands at the mouth of the harbour, up to the town, is about three miles. Newhaven harbour, though inferior to New London, has good anchorage with twenty-two feet water at common tides, and fifteen feet at low water; it is a bay which runs in northerly from the Sound about four miles, with an entrance half a mile wide.

Face of the country, climate, soil, and produce.—In Connecticut the face of the country is pleasingly uneven ; towards the north-west it swells into high, broken, hilly lands; but there are no mountains, and this hilly country is extremely romantic and pleasant. The state is remarkably well watered, abounding in small streams; and every county is chequered with innumerable highways, crossing each other in all directions. As the people of Connecticut first set the example of making turnpike roads in New England, these and other good roads are so abundant, that travelling is greatly facilitated; which is rendered still more agreeable by a number of fine bridges, some of them constructed at a vast expence, which are of great utility. A traveller in any of these roads, will seldom pass more than half a mile or a mile without finding a house, and a farm under such improvements as to afford every thing needful for the support of a family. The whole state resembles a well-cultivated garden, which, with that degree of industry essential to happiness, produces the necessaries and conveniences of life in great abundance. The land is laid out in small farms, from fifty to 300 acres each, which are held by the farmers in perpetuity, and are generally cultivated as well as the nature of the soil will admit.

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The climate is subject to many and sudden changes, passing to the extremes of heat and cold; but it is nevertheless very healthy. Some years since, not less than one in forty-six of all the inhabitants then living, were upwards of seventy years of age; and it has been fully ascertained, that about one in eight attain the age of seventy years and upwards; one in thirteen to the age of eighty years; and

one in about thirty to the age of ninety. The shortest day is eight hours and fifty-eight minutes, and the longest fifteen hours.

The soil is various; some parts being poor and sandy, and others very fertile; generally speaking, there is a large proportion of good land, and the state is remarkably well calculated for pasture and mowing, which enables the farmers to feed large numbers of neat cattle and horses. It has been proved by actual calculation, that any given quantity of the best mowing land in this state produces about twice as much clear profit, as the same quantity of the best wheat land in the state of New York. The agriculture of this state is in a condition which speaks volumes in praise of equal laws. There is no feudal system, no law of primogeniture; hence there are no overgrown estates on the one hand, and very few of those employed in husbandry are oppressed by indigence on the other; the circumstances of the people in Connecticut is an absence of the extreme either of wealth or poverty. The ground is cultivated by a hardy industrious race, whose labours are rewarded by the blessings of Heaven in "peace, health, and sweet content."

The produce of the state is wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats, barley, buck wheat, flax in large quantity, potatoes of several kinds, some hemp, with a great variety of vegetables, and fruits of all kinds which are common to the climate. The beef, pork, butter, and cheese of Connecticut are equal to any in the world. Of the mineral productions, iron is found in the greatest abundance; lead, copper, and zine have also been discovered; but not in sufficient quantity to induce the inhabitants to dig for it. The marble raised in this state is of a species so exquisitely beautiful, as to have become an article of exportation to France and other countries. There are a number of mineral springs; the most important is in Litchfield county, which is very useful in curing various diseases, particularly rheumatism, and those of the cutaneous kind.

Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, character, &c.-Connecticut is divided into eight counties, and these are subdivided into 119 townships, containing 261,942 inhabitants, being about sixty-five to the square mile; a denser population than is to be found in any of the other United States.

Counties. Townships. Population. Chief Towns & Population. Hartford.........18.........44,733.........Hartford, 3,995 Newhaven.......17........37,064.. ......Newhaven, 5,772 Fairfield .........17...... ..40,950.............. ..Fairfield, 3,900 7.........20,723.........Middletown, 2,014 .13,779......... Tolland, 1,638

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Middlesex
Tolland....

Litchfield........22. ..41,375..... ....Litchfield, 4,000 New London...13.. .34,737......... .New London, 3,238

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Windham .......15.........28,611....................... Windham, 500

In 1756, the number of inhabitants in Connecticut was 130,611; in 1774 there were 197,856 souls; an increase of 67,245 in eighteen years. From 1774 to 1782, the increase was no more than 11,294 persons; but this comparatively small advance in population may be easily accounted for from the destruction of the war, and the numerous emigra, tions to Vermont, New Hampshire, and the other states. The people are almost entirely of English descent; there. being no Dutch, French, or Germans, and very few Scotch or Irish in any part of the state.

Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, is a very handsome city, and is, alternately with Newhaven, the seat of legislation for the state. It is situated on Connecticut river, at the head of sloop navigation, fifty miles above Long Island sound, 341 from Washington city, 202 from Philadelphia, and 111 from New York; and is regularly laid out, the streets crossing each other at right angles. Its buildings are the state-house, an elegant edifice, two congregational churches, one for episcopalians, and about 500 dwelling-houses; a great number of which are very handsomely built. The citizens carry on an active commerce to the southern states and to the West Indies; and they have a large share of domestic trade, having a very fine and extensive back country. Considerable manufactures are established in this city, and are rapidly increasing, being encouraged by the government; those of woollen in particular are in a flourishing state. markets are well supplied with provisions, which are sold at a very reasonable rate; the prices in the Boston market, given in page 308, are higher than the same articles were at Hartford, in February, 1819.

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Newhaven, the semi-metropolis of this state, is a very pleasing city; the surrounding scenery is extremely fine, and the situation highly agreeable and favourable for commerce. It is built at the head of a bay, about four

miles from Long Island sound, and thirty-four from Hartford, on the road leading to New York; it covers part of a large plain, circumscribed on three sides by high hills, and is agreeably laid oat, with regular streets, and a fine square in the middle, round which are the public buildings; the whole making a very handsome appearance. Its buildings are Yale college, founded in 1700, consisting of three college edifices, a chapel, and library; three congregational churches, and one for episcopalians, a state-house, and about 600 dwelling-houses, mostly of wood; but being all neatly painted, they have a very clean and pretty appearance. The inhabitants are engaged in a considerable trade with New York and the West Indies; and manufacture card-teeth, linen, buttons, cotton goods, and paper, to a large amount. In this city about one in seventy die annually, which proves the healthfulness of its climate; indeed, as to pleasantness of situation and purity of air, Newhaven is not exceeded by any town in the United States.

New London is finely situated on the river Thames, about three miles from its entrance into the Sound, and is the most commercial town in Connecticut. It has three places of public worship, and about 400 dwelling-houses; and is defended by two forts, one on each side of the river. It is fifty-four miles from Newhaven, forty-three from Hartford, and 130 from New York. A great part of this town was burnt by general Arnold in 1781; but has been since rebuilt.

Norwich stands on the same river, fourteen miles north of New London, and forty south-east of Hartford; and is a flourishing commercial place, with a rich and widely extended back country. It avails itself of its eligible situation on a navigable river, which affords a great number of convenient seats for mills, and for water machinery of every description: accordingly, the inhabitants manufacture paper of various sorts, stockings, clocks and watches, chaises, buttons, stone and earthenware, oil, chocolate, wire, bells, anchors, and all kinds of forge work. The city contains about 600 dwelling-houses, a courthouse, two churches for congregationalits, one for episcopalians, and above 3,000 inhabitants. Here is an academy, and a school supported by the donation of a deceased benefactor: the courts of law are held alternately at Norwich and New London.

Litchfield, Danbury, Windham, Tolland, Fairfield, Windsor, Farmington, Milford, Stratford, Guildford, and Wethersfield, are all considerable and thriving towns;

the last is the oldest town in the state, and is remarkable for the culture of fine onions. Here a company of young women have cultivated that root with so much success, as to build a church with the profits. The other towns are numerous, the whole country being studded with them; containing from 500 to 1,500 or 2,000 inhabitants. The houses are generally built of wood, on a handsome plan, and are painted white, often with green window shutters; which give these dwellings an air of great cleanliness and neatness.

In religion, the form of church government is generally congregational, or presbyterian; but every other form may be freely exercised. Episcopalians and baptists are likewise numerous; the latter sect, during the revolutionary war, were warm and active friends to their country, and have ever since manifested a continuance of their patriotic sentiments. In this truly republican state, all men are upon a footing of equality with respect to religion; and disqualifications for offices on account of religious opinions are entirely unknown. Every sect whose principles do not militate against the peace of society, enjoy here the full liberty of conscience; and a spirit of liberality and benevolence is every where prevalent. clergy are a respectable body of learned and serious men, enjoying a happy and useful share of influence among their people, especially since the revival of religion through a great part of the state; and it is in part to their exertions that any evident reformation has taken place in the manners of the inhabitants.

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The general character of the people of Connecticut differs but little from that of the citizens in the other eastern states already described; only the former are too much distinguished by a desire for having all their disputes, even of the most trifling nature, settled according to law. This litigious spirit affords employment and support to a numerous brood of lawyers; who thrive and fatten by the captious disposition and folly of their countrymen. The great bulk of the inhabitants are industrious, sagacious husbandmen; and their farms furnish them with all the necessaries, most of the conveniences, and but few of the luxuries of life: hence they are generally temperate, and, if they choose, can subsist with as much independence as is consistent with human happiness. They are well informed with respect to rights, and judicious in the means they take to secure them; political peace and unanimity are the consequences. Living under a free government they have not to fear the frowns of a digni

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