enterprise, are not surpassed by those of any other town in the State. In addition to the pursuits of agriculture, the fishing business is GROTON, a large post town, is situated on the east side of the Thames, being 43 miles southeast from Hartford, and 54 miles east from New-Haven. It is bounded north by Preston, east by North-carried on to a considerable extent, Stonington, and the Mystic, which and domestic manufactures receive separates it from Stonington, west great attention. by the Thames, which divides it from New-London, Waterford and Montville, and south by Fisher's Island sound.. The smack fishery is engaged in by the inhabitants, and pursued to advantage, and considerably extensively. The smacks find a market for live fish at New-York, Charles The township has an average length of 12 miles, and an ave-ton and Savannah, as well as at rage breadth of 6 miles; and con- the different markets in this State. tains about 72 square miles, or The cod and smack fisheries afford 46,000 acres. employment to a portion of the inhabitants, and are sources of considerable wealth. Whilst the men are employed in The town is watered, exclusive of the Thames, which washes its western borders, by the Mystic,| the Poquonock and the Poquato-the business of fishing, the women nuck. The Mystic is navigable for sloops to Mystic village. The Poquonock runs through the centre of the town, and discharges its waters into Fisher's Island sound. The Poquatonock waters the north section of the town, and unites with the Thames. are engaged at the loom, and other branches of domestic manufactures. It has been estimated, says our correspondent, that for seven years past, there have been, on an average, 500,000 yards of cotton cloth wove annually in Groton by private families, for manufacturing establishments in the neighbourhood and elsewhere. The average price of weaving may be considered about 8 cents per yard, and at this price, 500,000 yds. amount to the surprising sum of $40,000, as the annual product of one de The township is uneven, being hilly and stony. The soil is a rich gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than to grain. Indian corn, however, is cultivated extensively, and with abundant success. The geological structure of the town consists of granite and other pri-partment of female industry; mamitive formations. The civil divisions of the town are two located Societies and 25 School Districts. There are several small villages, Groton Bank, Gales' Ferry, Mystic and Poquonock. king, for the 7 years, $280,000, which is more than the value of the whole real estate of some of our towns. Domestic industry is almost necessarily accompanied with economy, simplicity, and plainness of life and manners; and If any discriminations are to be it is to be hoped that these carmade in this respect, the inhabit-dinal, social and domestic virtues ants of Groton, for industry and will long withstand the deleterious and illusory ideas of "fashionable life," which are becoming diffused throughout our country far and wide. tia or volunteers, under the command of the brave Col. Ledyard, made a spirited and gallant defence; the enemy being twice resevere loss. On the third assault, the fort was carried; and the infamous Beckworth ordered the garrison put to the sword, after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Thus 70 men, the flower of the town, were sacrificed to the vengeance of the enemy. The compact part of the town was burned at the same time, occasioning a loss to the inhabitants of $77,390. In addition to domestic manu-pulsed, and with a factures, there is 1 Woolen and 1 Cotton Manufacturing establishment in the town. There are 11 Grain Mills, 11 Saw Mills, 2 Fulling Mills, 5 Tanneries, 2 Carding Machines, 19 Dry Goods and Grocery Stores, 118 Mechanics' Shops, and 215 Corn Houses. The population of the town, in 1810, was 4451; and there are at this time 483 qualified Electors, 268 Militia, and 529 Dwelling hou ses. The amount of the taxable polls and estate of the town is $71,586. ry. He BIOGRAPHY. John Ledyard, the distinguished American traveiler, was a native of this town. The enterprising and adventurous There are 2 Congregational spirit, by which Ledyard was chaChurches, 2 Baptist Societies and racterized, disclosed itself at an Churches, also for Methodists, early period. Before he had 1 for Episcopalians, and 1 for Ro-scarcely "ripened into perfect gerene Quakers. There are 6 manhood," he was led, by his adClergymen, 3 Physicians, 25 Com-venturous and enterprising promon Schools and 1 Social Libra-pensities, to spend several years among the native Indians. Groton was incorporated in was one of Capt. Cook's men, and 1705, having, until that period, sailed round the world with that belonged to the town of New-Lon- bold and adventurous navigator, don. The town is conspicuous, and was with him at the time he for some events of the revolution- was killed at the Sandwich Islands. ary war, and for the severity of After his return to America, he its sufferings. On the 6th of Sep- published an account of this voytember, 1781, Fort Griswold, situ- age. After this, he contemplated ated on a height, on the bank of to engage in a trading adventure the Thames, opposite New-Lon- to Nootka sound; and from thence, don city, was assaulted by the Bri- to traverse the continent of Ametish, under the immediate com-rica, from the Pacific to the Atlanmand of Major Beckworth; Ar- tic, but he was disappointed in this nold, who directed the enterprise, object. object. But neither disappointbeing at New-London. The garments nor difficulties could depress rison, which consisted of 150 men, his adventurous spirit, or discoualmost all of whom were inhabit-rage him in his favourite objects; ants of Groton, being either mili-land, accordingly, he determined to visit Europe, with a view to tra- || Russian dominions, he would be verse the interior of the eastern hanged. He travelled to Koningscontinent, as far as Kamschat-berg, in the most destitute and forka. With this view, he cross-lon condition; from whence, haed from England to Ostend, ving again obtained pecuniary aid, and proceeded from thence by upon the credit of Sir Joseph Denmark to Stockholm; and from Banks, he returned to England. this place he walked round the Here, having visited his benefachead of the Gulf of Bothnia to tor, he was soon engaged in the Petersburgh. When he arrived service of the African Association, here, his situation was peculiarly and had the honour of being the distressing; he was without shoes first person employed by them, to or stockings, and what is still worse, explore the interior of the African having no money, not even suffi- continent. On being asked by a cient to supply these indispensa-member of the Association, when ble articles, and in a foreign land, he would set out on his perilous and among entire strangers. From geographical mission? "To-morthis distressing situation he was re-row morning," he replied, without lieved by the kindness of the Por- the least hesitation. The Assocituguese ambassador, and the libe-ation were much pleased with the rality of Sir Joseph Banks, a dis- manliness of his person, his detertinguished member of the African mined resolution, his inquisitive Association in England; the for- and adventurous spirit, his indefamer procuring for him 20 guineas, tigable perseverance, his unequalon the credit of the latter. The led fortitude in enduring hardships, Portuguese ambassador also ob- and his sagacity and intelligence. tained for him the privilege of ac- Having set out upon this arduous companying a detachment that was and dangerous enterprise, he arrito proceed with stores to Yakutz, ved at Cairo in Egypt in August, in Siberia, six thousand miles to 1788. Whilst here, he constantly the eastward. Having penetra- visited the slave markets, to obtain ted this immense distance into information, upon the various subthe interior of Asia, he travel-jects connected with his mission, led from thence to the shore of the and the views of the Association, Kamschatkan sea, which he intend- of the travelling merchants of the ed to cross, but was prevented by|| caravans. His ideas and observathe ice, and was obliged to return tions upon the Egyptians were to Yakutz. Here he experien-published after his death, in the ced the mortification and personal Reports of the Association, and violence of being forcibly seized are remarkable for their originaliby some Russian soldiers, in the||ty, and evince a very acute disname of the Empress, and conveyed upon a sledge to the frontiers of Poland, where he was turned adrift; being informed, as a consolation to his wounded feelings, that if he was found again in the cernment, a just and critical observation, and a sound and discriminating mind, improved by extensive experience, and free from local prejudices. The sufferings of Ledyard were great, beyond conception. On speaking upon ken under appearances peculiarthis subject, previously to his set-ly discouraging; without the assisting out upon his African mission, tance or patronage of the wealthy he says, "I am accustomed to hard- and the great; and without any ships; I have known both hunger adequate pecuniary means to susand nakedness, to the utmost ex-tain them; when we consider the tremity of human suffering; I have unparalleled hardships which he known what it is to have food giv-endured, the difficulties which he en to me as charity to a madman; encountered, and the continual peand I have, at times, been obliged rils "by land, by sea, and from to shelter myself under the mise-false brethren," to which he was ries of that character, to avoid a exposed; what an astonishing conheavier calamity. My distresses ception does it give us of his unhave been greater than I have ever bounded curiosity, of his bold and owned, or ever will own, to any adventurous spirit, of his enlarged man. Such evils are terrible to and comprehensive views, and his bear, but they never yet had power determined resolution and unyieldto deter me from my purpose. If I ing perseverance, which no obstalive, I will faithfully perform, in its cles could discourage, and no difutmost extent, my engagements to ficulties impair? He ranks first the Society; and if I perish in the among American travellers; and attempt, my honour will still be the name of Ledyard will go down safe, for death cancels all bonds." to posterity, with those of Park, And it was decreed that the latter Lucas,Houghton, and other advenshould be his destiny. Whilst here, turers, who have found a grave in he experienced repeated vexations attempting to explore the interior from the disappointments and de- secrets of the African continent, lays, as to the departure of the ca- that degraded part of the globe. ravan for Sennar, that he was to Such was John Ledyard, an Ameraccompany, which, it is thought, ican, and a native of this State contributed to throw him into a vi- yet so entirely has he been negolent bilious fever, with which he lected by his country, that he is was seized; and to relieve himself, almost unknown, and no account he most unadvisedly took a large of his life and travels has yet apdose of vitriolic acid, and to re-peared in his native land, although move the pain which this occasion-the character, travels and life of ed, a powerful emetic. These violent medicines were too much for the firmest constitution, and the hardy traveller fell a victim to them. Thus died John Ledyard, one of the most distinguished tra- Nathan Daboll late of this vellers of the age, and a very ex- town, was a very distinguished traordinary man. When we con-mathematician. He was the ausider the extent of his travels, and thor of a very valuable system of the circumstances attending them; Arithmetic, designed for common that most of them were underta-schools, which has been very ex Ledyard could not fail of doing honour to his country. For this short and imperfect account, we are indebted principally to the Quarterly Review. tensively used, and generally ap- portant science. From his mathproved of, as a simplified and impro-ematical acquirements and exerved treatise, facilitating the learn- tions, he was eminently a useful ing of the rudiments of this im-citizen. LISBON. LISBON is a small irregular ||spersed with a sandy loam, especitownship, situated upon the north-ally in the vallies, and it is consideern border of the county; at the||rably fertile and productive. point of land, or fork of the Quini- There are two turnpike roads that baug and Shetucket rivers, 7 miles pass through the town; one leadfrom Norwich, and 45 from Hart-ing from Norwich to Providence, ford; bounded on the north by in Rhode Island, and the other from Windham and Canterbury, in the former place, to Woodstock &c. Windham county, on the east by The more considerable manuGriswold, on the south by Preston, facturing and mechanical employand on the west by Norwich and ments, aside from those of a domesFranklin. The form of the town-tic character, consist of 1 Cotton ship is irregular, and its dimensions Factory, 1 Woolen Factory, 1 Belcannot be ascertained with accu-lows Manufactory, 4 Grain Mills, racy; but it comprises an area of 2 Fulling Mills, and 1 Carding Maabout 17 square miles. It is une-chine. There are 2 Mercantile ven, and considerably hilly; upon Stores and 3 Taverns. the borders of the rivers, there are small intervals, or tracts of alluvial. f The population of the town, in 1810, was 1123; and there are 170 Dwelling houses, 150 Freemen or Electors, and 1 company of militia. The civil divisions of the town are two located Congregational Societies, and eight School dis The town is well watered by the Quinibaug and Shetucket rivers, which circumscribe it upon all sides, except its northern boundary. There are sevearl considera-tricts; there is also a Society of ble bridges across these rivers, and several fisheries of shad and salmon. Baptists, two houses for public The natural growth of timber consists of oak, walnut, chesnut, and other trees common to this region. The agricultural produc-ty, tions are Indian corn, some rye, butter and cheese, &c. The pre-its vailing character of the soil is a gravelly loam, occasionally inter The amount of taxable properincluding polls, is $29,932. Lisbon belonged, previously to incorporation as a town in 1786, to Norwich. |