In New Providence,-Isaac Tripp, Esq., Timothy Keys, and Gideon Baldwin.

For the town of Kingston,-Capt. Obadiah Gore, Nathan Denison, and Parshall Terry.

For the town of Pittston,-Caleb Bates, James Brown, and Lemuel Harding.

For the town of Hanover,-Capt. Lazarus Stewart, Wm. Stewart, and John Franklin.

Having given a brief picture of the Valley, and recorded the building of mills-settling a gospel minister-establishing schools— the first wedding-birth, and natural death: having given the early Constitution or Code of Laws, adopted, medical gentlemen may expect the result of our researches in respect to members of their profession. Dr. William Hooker Smith, justly eminent and highly successful, emigrated to the valley, in 1772; and his valuable services were continued through the revolutionary war; indeed, until very advanced age released him from active labour. But there came from New London, in 1773, a noted surgeon, whom many of the people desired to establish among them. A paper, drawn up by Henry Carey, (and it is a very neat piece of penmanship,) for subscription, proposes to "pay Dr. John Caulkins, in case he should settle among us in the quality of a physician," (the sums to be annexed,) "the money to be laid out in land for his benefit and use," etc. Among the names subscribed are, Anderson Dana, £2 8; James Stark, £1 4 etc., and other less sums. The issue of the negotiation, I have not been able to ascertain.

The most important exterior event that occurred, affecting the interests of Wyoming, during these two years, was an official movement on the part of the Government of Connecticut, asserting her Charter claim west of the Delaware. The progress of the new settlement had been watched with intense interest. As peace reigned and prosperity abounded: as the settlers had shown themselves competent to defend themselves, and their foot-hold seemed permanently established, it was deemed a fitting time for making a declaration of right, and opening a negotiation with the Proprietary Government, in respect to the disputed territory.

At the session of the General Assembly, in October, 1773, a Resolution was adopted, "That the Colony would make their claim to those lands; and in a legal manner support the same."

It was also Resolved, That Commissioners should be appointed to proceed to Philadelphia, to negotiate a mode of bringing the

controversy to an amicable conclusion. Col. Eliphalet Dyer, Dr. Johnson, and J. Strong, Esq., were duly empowered, and about the middle of December, opened the matter, by presenting their credentials, and a letter from His Excellency, Gov. Trumbull to Gov. Penn. The notes, letters, replies and rejoinders, go so much into details in respect to title, repeating what, in substance, we have before fully stated, that a publication of them in extenso, in the body of this work, is regarded as unnecessary. A statement of the points made may, however, prove acceptable. On the part of Connecticut it was proposed, That Commissioners be mutually appointed to run the respective lines, and ascertain the extent of conflicting Charter claims.

The Governor and Council, on behalf of Pennsylvania, denying any right of Connecticut, west of New York, declined to accede to the proposition.

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It was next proposed, in accordance with the Act of Assembly, To join in an application to his Majesty to appoint Commissioners," to ascertain the rightful boundaries of the contesting colonies.

To this, Governor Penn and the Council replied, by decisively declining the proposition, but suggests that Connecticut should make separate application to his Majesty.

A third proposition was then made by the Connecticut Agents :That Pennsylvania should continue to exercise jurisdiction over the West Branch, where her authority already extended, and Connecticut should extend her laws over Wyoming, and that part of the settlement which was not under the laws of Pennsylvania, so long as the dispute continued with the mother country, and until a decision by his Majesty, in Council, or some other amicable way might be obtained.

A negative, as decided, was given to the last, as to the two former propositions, and Messrs. Dyer, Johnson, and Strong, returned to Connecticut.

Throughout the proceedings, the greatest urbanity and mutual respect were manifested. Much ability was displayed on both sides; and the Connecticut Commissioners effected all that they could have expected when they opened the negotiation. An earnest appeal had been made to accommodate the unhappy differences by amicable means-a mutual commission-a reference to his Majesty a division of jurisdiction, until a peaceable settlement could be made! What more fair could be offered? The moral influences

at home and abroad, could not fail to prove of powerful aid to the offering, against the rejecting party.

Gov. Penn communicated the whole proceedings to the Assembly, whose answer on the occasion, though decided, is so mild, that it shows the favorable impression the Connecticut Delegates, personally, had made in Philadelphia.

"To prevent the mischievous effects of this unkind and unneighborly disposition in the Government of Connecticut, we beg leave earnestly to request that you will pursue every effectual measure to call the claimants before his Majesty, in Council, and to bring their claim to an immediate decision."

The important proceedings of the Connecticut Assembly, on receiving the report of their Agents, commencing a new year, will be noticed in the following letter.

LETTER XIII.

1774.-Connecticut assumes jurisdiction-town of Westmoreland-Town meeting-Dis. tricts-election of one hundred officers-Town sign-post established-Several town meetings-Civil and military organization-Representatives to Assembly-School committeeInsidious attacks-Alarm-meeting of Proprietors-Proceeding-Sales and price of lands -Census.

Two years of repose presented no event for the record of the historian's pen more exciting than the ordinary occurrences of peace and domestic prosperity. The succeeding year, 1774, though equally peaceful and prosperous, yet assumes in our annals an increased interest. It was the year, more than any other, in the memory of the ancient people, of unalloyed joy and gladness, even surpassing the two by which it was preceded. On the report of Messrs. Dyer, Johnson and Strong, the General Assembly of Connecticut adopted decisive measures to bring the settlement on the Susquehanna under her immediate jurisdiction. An act was passed early in January, erecting all the territory within her charter limits, from the river Delaware to a line fifteen miles west of the Susquehanna, into a town, with all the corporate powers of other towns in the colony, to be called WESTMORELAND, attaching it to the county of Litchfield. This most desirable event was hailed by the people with unbounded satisfaction. Venerating the law, they now felt that it pervaded the settlement with a holier sanction than their own mere agreement, or the resolutions of the Susquehanna Company, could impart. To all intents and purposes, in name as well as in fact, a portion of the ancient high standing Colony of Connecticut, eminent for order, learning and piety, the character of the parent was now felt to be officially imparted to this, her true, though distant offspring Moreover, the distinct legalization of what had before been done, and the pledge of protection for the future, implied in the extension of her laws to the settlement, were regarded as points attained of great importance. A sense of security existed, a feeling of confidence en

sued, which gave force to contracts, encouraged industry, and stimulated enterprise.

In accordance with the Act of Assembly, Governor Turnbull issued his proclamation, forbidding any settlement within the limits of Westmoreland, except under the authority of Connecticut. Near the same time a proclamation from the Governor of Pennsylvania, prohibited any settlement on the contested claims, under pretended grants from Connecticut, or any other than the authority of the Proprietaries.

Proper measures had been adopted for the introduction of the laws and usages of the Civil Government of Connecticut. Zebulon Butler and Nathan Denison were commissioned Justices of the Peace, with directions to call a town meeting of the Freemen of Westmoreland, with a view to a perfect organization, and for the purpose of choosing town officers for the ensuing year. These gentlemen have been before noticed. Nature never formed two excellent men, in more distinct contrast. Butler, polished in manner, quick in perception, vehement and rapid in execution; Denison, plain, though courteous, slow to speak, as careful to consider, cool and firm, if not alert in action. Both universal favorites, we again advert to their characters because they were the two great and acknowledged leaders in Westmoreland.

The organization being now somewhat complicated, the reader will please to observe the difference between a town and a township. The town of Westmoreland legally incorporated for civil purposes, was about seventy miles square, and could only be established by supreme Legislative authority. Within this limit a number of townships of five or six miles square, were laid off by the Delaware and Susquehanna Companies, divided into lots, which were drawn for by Proprietors, or sold. These townships had power to make needful rules and bye-laws for their interior regulation, the establishment of roads, the care or disposal of vacant lots, and other matters entirely local. Of these there already existed Wilkesbarre, Hanover, Plymouth, Kingston, or the Forty, Exeter, Pittston, and Capouse, or Providence; more were from time to time added. A town meeting therefore, now, when "legally warned," called together all the Freemen, in all the townships or settlements, from the Delaware to fifteen miles beyond the Susquehanna, and from the Lehigh, north to Tioga Point.

The first town meeting:-But we are sure the curious reader will be pleased to hear the old records, page first, speak for themselves;