LETTER VIII.

Stratford-Bridgeport-Rev. Dr. Johnson-County of Fairield--Its boundaries, surface, soil, divisions, healthfulness, &c.-Milford-Rev. Samuel Andrew-Milford Marble-Long-Island Sound-Hellgate, or Hurlgate.

Dear Sir,

STRATFORD borders upon Fairfield Eastward. The surface, though less beautiful than that of Fairfield, is yet very pleasing to the eye of a traveller. A plain extends along the Sound from its Western boundary to the Hooestennuc, about six miles. This plain is a handsome piece of ground, bordered on the North by several hills. The soil also is of an excellent quality.

Stratford contains two parishes: Stratford, and Stratfield; four villages: the town, the borough of Bridgeport, the Old Mill, and Pughquonnuck; and four Congregations: two Episcopal, and two Presbyterian. Two of these Congregations are in Stratford; the other two in Stratfield, which includes Bridgeport.

Stratford was originally known by the Indian name of Cupheag. It was purchased in 1639 by Mr. Fairchild, the principal planter; and settlements were begun the same year. The Indians in this sale reserved several valuable tracts for their own cultivation; but both the title, and the proprietors, are now, I believe, extinct.

Stratfield, the Western parish, is extremely pleasant. There is not in the State a prettier village than the borough of Bridgeport. In the year 1783, there were scarcely half a dozen houses in this place. It now contains probably more than one hundred, built on both sides of Pughquonnuck river, a beautiful mill-stream, forming at its mouth the harbour of Bridgeport. The situation of this village is very handsome, particularly on the Eastern side of the river. A more cheerful, and elegant piece of ground can scarcely be imagined than the point, which stretches between the Pughquonnuck, and the Old-mill brook; and the prospects, presented by the harbours at the mouths of these streams, the Sound, and the surrounding country, are in a fine season gay and brilliant, perhaps without a parallel. The style of building, adopted

here, is also unusually happy. None of the houses are large, or splendid; but almost all of them, together with their appendages, leave upon the mind an impression of neatness, and cheerfulness, not often found elsewhere.

There are two churches in this village: an Episcopal, and a Presbyterian; both respectable buildings, appearing like twins on the opposite sides of a small green. The Episcopal church in Fairfield is a plurality, belonging to this cure.

There is a Baptist church, built in the rear of this parish, within the limits of Fairfield; the congregation of which is collected out of several townships, whose corners are near this spot. .

The two parts of Bridgeport are connected by a bridge, ninety rods in length, which crosses the Pughquonnuck in the centre of the village, and was the origin of its name.

The

The inhabitants are almost all merchants, and mechanics. Their commerce is principally carried on coastwise. For several years there was an academy 'here; but it is now discontinued. Scarcely any situation is more distinguished for health. number of inhabitants is between six and seven hundred. Stratford is a considerable town, containing, as I should judge, more than one hundred and fifty houses; and is better built than either of the preceding towns. The principal street is a mile in length, running parallel with the Hooestennuc, straight, and wide. It contains also two churches: a Presbyterian, and an Episcopal. The inhabitants have long been agitated by religious and political controversies. The usual effects, as well as causes, have existed here in their full extent. To detail them would be an invidious task.

The people of Stratford are excellent farmers; and their fields in tolerable seasons, exhibit crops, which are rarely exceeded in this country.

The Rev. Dr. Johnson, the first Episcopal Minister in this town, was a man of distinguished reputation; and may be considered as the father of Episcopacy in Connecticut, and perhaps as the most distinguished Clergyman of that description, who has been settled within its limits. This gentleman was born at GuilVOL. III. 66

ford in 1696; was educated at Yale College; and received the degree of A. B. in 1714. In 1716, he was chosen tutor, and continued in that office threc years. In 1720, he was ordained Minister of the Presbyterian church in West-Haven. In 1723, he was episcopally ordained at London; and was afterwards settled at Stratford. In 1754, he was chosen President of King's College in the City of New-York; and continued in this office nine years. In 1763, he resigned the Presidency, and, returning to Stratford, resumed the charge of his congregation. He died in 1772, at the age of 76.

Dr. Johnson was a man of talents and learning, of dignified manners, and high reputation. He published a Hebrew Grammar, a compendium of Logic, and another of Ethics. The university of Oxford conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. His life was written by Dr. Chandler, the Episcopal Minister of Elizabethtown.

At Stratford also, still lives the Hon. William Samuel Johnson,* the son of this gentleman, and one of the most respectable men of whom this country can boast.

In the year 1756, Stratford contained 3,658 inhabitants; blacks 150; in 1774, 5,555; Indians 35; blacks 319. It then included the townships of Huntington, and Trumbull. In 1790, Stratford, including Trumbull, contained, 3,241, and Huntington 2,742. In 1800, the number in Stratford was 2,950; in Huntington 2,792; and in Trumbull 1,291. In 1810, the inhabitants of Stratford amounted to 2,395, in Huntington to 2,770, and in Trumbull, to 1,241.

I will conclude this letter by some general remarks on the County of Fairfield.

This County is bounded on the West by New-York; on the South by the Sound; and on the North-East, except a small distance, by Hooestenuuc river. Its figure approaches towards a triangle, but with many irregularities. Its utmost length from North to South is between forty and fifty miles; and its utmost breadth from East to West about thirty.

This gentleman died in the year 1819.-Pub.

The surface is very various. The part which borders on the Sound, has been already described. The interiour is generally hilly, and in many places rough. There are mines of iron in Weston; and there is a steel mine in Ridgefield. In Fairfield, also, an ore has been discovered of an uncommon appearance. Large spots on the surfaces of the fragments, into which it is broken, are perfectly smooth, and to the eye are in a reguline state, with the colour, and the lustre of tin. This ore is said to contain copper. The person, by whom it was discovered, has hitherto refused to point out the place to the public, or confide the knowledge of it to any individual. Hence, the ore has not been assayed.

This County abounds both in granite, and limestone. The former is the common grey granite of New-England, but abounding in mica more than in most other places. The latter is white, and yields excellent lime. There are also stones of various other kinds, particularly soap-stone in the township of Stamford; and rock crystals in that of New-Fairfield.

The forests are oak, hickory, &c. The single or swamp spruce, also, grows here; and in a few instances, pine.

This County abounds in springs, brooks, and mill-streams. There are eleven streams of the last class, which discharge their waters into the Sound between the State of New-York and the Hooestennuc. Mill-seats of the most convenient forms are very

numerous.

The soil is better than that of any other in the State; being generally rich, and producing every thing, which the climate will permit. The pastures, and meadows, are fine; and the crops of grain are abundant. A few years since, more flax was raised here than in the whole of New-England beside. Thaddeus Burr Esq. whom I mentioned above, informed me, that for ten years, in which he was naval officer at Fairfield, there were sent out of that township, at an average, 20,000 bushels of flax-seed in a year; that the least quantity, shipped in any one year, was 17,000; and the greatest, 25,000. I have seen twenty acres of flax in a single field, in the parish of Greenfield. A field of five acres pro..

duced thirty-five hundred weight; and a field of wheat yielded forty bushels an acre.

This County is divided into seventeen townships. The most considerable town in it is Danbury. It is distributed, also, into twenty-eight parishes; containing twenty-eight Presbyterian Congregations, fifteen Episcopal, eight Baptist, one Sandemanian, and one Universalist. Of the Episcopal Congregations seven are pluralities. Religion, though at certain times, and in certain places, vigorous, has prospered less from the beginning in this County, than in several others.

It contains two Associational districts. The churches in the Western district have adhered with more strictness to the scheme of discipline, established at Saybrook, than those of any other; and have accordingly experienced fewer embarrassments in this difficult branch of Evangelical duty. There has for many years been an union of firmness, and catholicism, in the ministers of this district, not often seen. It is to be hoped, that it will long endure.

Few parts of the world are more healthy. In my own congregation at Greenfield, consisting of 1,000 persons, during one year not a single person died; and during another year, only two, and one of these an accidental death. Upon the whole, there is not a more delightful spot of ground than the coast of this County. The surface is handsome; the soil fertile; the productions various, and excellent; the air salubrious; while the waters furnish fish in abundance, and present every convenience for marketing. At the same time, many of the inhabitants are highly respectable for their intelligence, and their worth. They labour under one inconvenience. Their ground is so rich, and so capable of easy cultivation, that the inhabitants have cleared it too extensively; and rendered wood for fuel scarce and dear. Peat exists in abundance; but custom has not yet reconciled many of the people to the use of it; and coal, hitherto, has not in any considerable quantities been discovered in New-England.

The Hooestennuc is crossed at Stratford on Washington bridge. The ferry, formerly used here, was attended with many, and