The farmers, throughout this tract, are more generally wealthy, than those of any other part of Connecticut. Their farms are chiefly devoted to grazing; and their dairies, it is believed, are superiour to any others spreading over the same extent of country in the United States. The largest dairy, within my knowledge is that of Major Daniel Putnam, son of the late Major General Putnam, so distinguished in American history for his military character, and achievements. This gentleman lives in Brooklyn. The cheese made in this region is not excelled by any on this side of the Atlantic; and not often by the best English cheese, imported into this country. Mr. Matthewson, who received in Philadelphia a gold medal, for producing in the market five hundred weight of cheese, equal to the very best English cheese, according to a proposal published by the Society for the encouragement of arts and agriculture in that city, is an inhabitant of Brooklyn; and may be considered justly, as having materially improved the art of cheese-making among his neighbours.

Of the townships in this region, Pomfret is to my eye, one of the most beautiful. The hills, are universally arched obtusely from North to South, with a narrower arch from East to West, and in both cases remarkably exact, and regularly elegant.

Enclosures of stone, which in many instances are very good, especially those lately made, often describe, as they bend over the hills, what appears to the eye, the perfect arch of a circle.

Pomfret contains a pretty village, lying partly on this road, and partly on the Norwich road, which joins it at right-angles. The inhabitants are principally a collection of sober, industrious farmers. The township is divided into two parishes; Pomfret and Abington. In 1756, when it included Thompson, the number of its inhabitants was 1,727: blacks 50; in 1774, 2,306: blacks 65; in 1790, 1,768; in 1800, Pomfret contained 1,802; and, in 1810, 1,905.

We were detained at Pomfret by rain until Friday, October 16th, when we set out for Hartford, and passing through Ashford, the skirts of Mansfield, Willington, and Coventry, and then through Bolton, and East-Hartford, we arrived at Hartford in the evening forty-two miles.

The country, after we left Pomfret, wore one general aspect, until we descended the hills of Bolton into the Connecticut Valley. The hills are the Lyme Range; and are every where high; and together with the vallies, are rough and rocky: with the exception, however, of some softer scenery along Willimantic river; which crosses the road on the Eastern boundary of the County of Tolland, and on the Western boundary of Mansfield. The road passes through the centre of Ashford, and of Bolton. In each of these townships there is a decent village. The soil of the region between Pomfret and Bolton is generally cold; but is tolerably good grazing ground. That of Bolton is better. Many of the houses on this road are good farmers' dwellings. The prospects from the high grounds are extensive, but neither diversified nor handsome. There is, however, a noble view from the Western declivity of the Bolton hills, over the second great expansion of the Connecticut Valley, substantially the same with that from the hills in Tolland, formerly described.

Ashford contained, in 1756, 1,245; in 1774, 2,243; in 1790, 2,583; in 1800, 2,445; and in 1810, 2,532 inhabitants. Mansfield contained in 1756, 1,614; in 1774, 2,466; in 1790, 2,635; in 1800, 2,560; and, in 1810, 2,570 inhabitants. Coventry contained, in 1756, 1,635; in 1774, 2,056; in 1790, 2,130; in 1800, 2,130; and, in 1810, 1,938 inhabitants. Bolton contained, in 1756, 766; in 1774, 1,001; in 1790, 1,293; in 1800, 1,452; and, in 1810, 700 inhabitants. Willington contained, in 1756, 650; in 1774, 1,001; in 1790, 1,212; in 1800, 1,278; and, in 1810, 1,161 inhabitants.

Between the two last periods Vernon was taken from Bolton. Ashford and Mansfield are in the County of Windham; Bolton. Coventry, and Willington, in the County of Tolland.

Willington contains one parish; Coventry three; Bolton two; Mansfield two; and Ashford three, and two Baptist Congregations.

In Mansfield both wool and silk are manufactured in considerable quantities. Silk is converted into sewing silk, and in this state is carried to the market. It is inferiour to none which is imported. The wool is made into flannel.

The passage from the Bolton hills into the Connecticut Valley, is a curiosity. A gap, formed perhaps at the deluge, or at some subsequent convulsion, exhibits a sudden and violent separation of the Westernmost ridge. In the Lyme Range, on the North side, a perpendicular precipice almost immediately overhangs the road. At the foot lies a collection of rocks, tumbled from the summit and sides; some of them large, and, by the confusion in which they were thrown together, strongly suggesting to the imagination, that they were shaken off by an earthquake. Several others appeared as if they were prepared to take the same leap. One, particularly, juts out so far, and is so nearly dislodged from the summit, as to seem waiting only for a signal to plunge, at any moment, into the valley beneath.

Few travellers fail to take notice of this passage. The descent is easy, and, in this spot, highly romantic. The common people, with that direct, good sense, for which they are so often distinguished, familiarly remark, that Providence made this gap, on purpose to furnish a passage from the hills into the country below. It is extensively true, that the objects found in this world were made with a particular reference to the most important purposes, which they are seen to accomplish. For the Creator intended not only to accomplish such purposes, but to make them visible to us as proofs of his wisdom and goodness. The end, here suggested, is of more importance than we are able to estimate. Had not a passage been furnished by this gap between the countries Eastward and Westward, every traveller, to the number of several thousands annually, would have been obliged to climb a steep and difficult acclivity. Horses would have gained the summit with extreme difficulty, and carriages could scarcely have gained it all. The descent would have been little more convenient; while it would have been obviously less safe. The difference between these two cases, during a course of centuries, becomes incalculably great; and presents an object of sufficient importance to be considered, without any irreverence, as not beneath the regard of that Being, by whom innumerable inferiour wants of mankind are amply supplied. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER XV.

Brooklyn-Major-General Putnam-Canterbury.

Dear Sir,

In the year 1805 I made a journey to Boston, accompanied by Mr. M, of Norfolk, in Virginia. On our return we came through Providence to Plainfield, and thence through Canterbury to Brooklyn; whence, returning to Canterbury again, we passed . Windham, and a skirt of Coventry, to Bolton.

Brooklyn is a beautiful township on the Western side of the Quinibaug. The soil is excellent; the cultivation good; the houses generally well-built; and the inhabitants in prosperous circumstances. The town is neat and pretty, and its situation handsome.

In Brooklyn lived the Hon. Israel Putnam, for some years before his death the oldest Major-General in the armies of the United States. As General Humphreys has given the public a particular and interesting account of the life of this gentleman, I shall pass over it with a few summary observations. General Putnam was born at Salem, Massachusetts, January 7th 1718. With only the advantages of a domestic education, in a plain farmer's family, and the usual instruction of a common parish school, he raised himself from the management of a farm to the command of a regiment, in the last Canadian war; and in the Revolutionary war, to the second command in the armies of the United States. To these stations he rose solely by his own efforts, directed steadily to the benefit of his country, and with the cheerful, as well as united, suffrages of his countrymen.

Every employment, in which he engaged, he filled with repu tation. In the private circles of life, as a husband, father, friend, and companion, he was alike respected and beloved. In his manners, though somewhat more direct and blunt, than most persons, who have received an early polished education, he was gentlemanly, and very agreeable. In his disposition he was sincere,

tender-hearted, generous, and noble. It is not known, that the passion of fear ever found a place in his breast. His word was regarded as an ample security for any thing, for which it was pledged; and his uprightness commanded absolute confidence. His intellect was vigorous; and his wit pungent, yet pleasant and sportive. The principal part of his improvements was, however. derived from his own observation, and his correspondence with the affairs of men. During the gayest and most thoughtless period of his life he still regarded Religion with profound reverence, and read the Scriptures with the deepest veneration. On the public worship of God he was a regular and very respectful attendant. In the decline of life he publicly professed the religion of the Gospel, and in the opinion of the respectable Clergyman of Brooklyn, the Rev. Dr. Whitney, from whose mouth I received the information, died hopefully a Christian.

It is not so extensively known, as it ought to be, that General Putnam commanded the American forces at the battle of Breed's Hill; and that, to his courage and conduct, the United States are particularly indebted for the advantages of that day; one of the most brilliant in the annals of this country.*

The following is a note to the Rev. Dr. Whitney's Sermon on the death of General Putnam.

"The friends of the late General Putnam feel themselves not a little obliged to his worthy and respectable biographer, for giving to the public the distinguishing features in the General's character, and the memorable actions of his life; yet wish that a more perfect and just account had been given of the battle on Bunker's Hill, so far as General Putnam was concerned in it. In page 107 of his life, are the following words, "The provincial Generals having received advice that the British Commander in Chief designed to take possession of the heights on the peninsula of Charleston, detached a thousand men in the night of the 16th of June, under the orders of General Warren to entrench themselves upon one of those eminences," and in page 110th "In this battle the presence and example of General Putnam who arrived with the reinforcement, were not less conspicuous than useful."

From the first of these passages the reader is led to conclude, that the detachment was first put under the orders of General Warren: From the second that General Putnam came to General Warren's aid with a reinforcement. The true state of the case was this. The detachment at first was put under the command of General Putnam. With it he took possession of the hill, and ordered the battle from the be. ginning to the end. General Warren, (one of the most illustrious patriots) arrived