Litchfield enquirer., 1839-07-04


 Faith to the heaven of heaven ascends, And meets ten thousand there; First faint and small, then clear and bright, They gladden. all the gloom, 'a And stars, that seem but points of light, The rank Of suns assume
 A SCRAP OF H1sToRY.-It may be interest. ing, if not new, 10 our readers, to be informed in what way the State of Connecticut became possessed of that portion of the State of Ohio. known as the Western Reserve. To gratity the curiosity often manifested on this subject we have rumaged over some old rnusty tones in our possession, and will now lay the sum and substance of our researches before the reader. 55a
 The original charter of the State of Con- necticnt was granted by Charles II, in l662 That charter defined the limits of the State as follows:
 From the south line of Massachusetts on the north, to Long Island Sound on the south, and from the Narraganset River on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west. It will he seen by reference to map, that these boun- daries would enclose, not only what is now the State of Connecticut, but also portions Of the States of New York and New Jersey nearly one half of Pennsylvania-all of the northern portions of the States of Ohio, Indi- ana, and Illinois-and goodly part of the territories of Iowa, Missouri, and Oregon There was clause in the charter, however, which excepted from its operations such DOT tions as were then occupied by prior settlers. This exception excluded such parts of New York and New Jersey as were within the pre- scribed limits. A dispute arising between New York and Connecticut, as to the boun- daries between these States. it was settled by commissioners, appointed by the King. in ,l> laA% %E,uR <t~n Mo ornnnNly River should be the western boundary of Connect icut.
 For nearly a century thereafter, Connecti. cut neglected to claim or settle any part of their territory west of New York, and char ter had been granted to William Penn, in 1881, embracing all that part of the same which lies within the present State of Penn- sylvania, a dispute ultimately arose between the two colonies, as to the right of possession in the disputed territory. Both colonies sold the same land, and each guarantied to the purchasers undisturbcd possession. This ex- cited innumerable quarrels, and resort was often had to force of arms, to expel the lntru- ders.
 In 177O, the Legislature of Connecticut transmitted to England certain questions, to be presented to the most able lawyers, res pecting her title to lands west of New York. The answers were favorable to her claims, and determined the colony to maintain them. The revolutionary war happening soon af- ter, suspended farther proceedings, until af- ter its close. 2g
 In l7el, the two States agreed to appoint commissioners, to determine the dispute.- An act of Congress was passed, granting to these commissioners full powers to actin the final settling of this long pending controver- sy. The commissioners met at Trenton, m November, l7S2. Alter a full hearing ofthe matter in question, they decided that Con- necticut had no right to the lands in dispute. Here the matter, so far as Pennsylvania was concerned, rested.
 The State of Connecticut, notwithstanding, still laid claim to all lands lying west of Pennsylvania, and extending to the Missis. sippi river. To avoid future troubles, how ever, the Legislature agreed 10 cede aii of these lands to Congress, with the exception of tract of one hundred and twenty miles in length. lying immediately west of the west line of Pennsylvania. This cession was ac. cepted, and was considered to be an indirect acknowledgment that her claim was well founded.
 This tract is known as the Western Re. serve, and includes the counties of Ashtabu- Ia, Trumbull, Portage, Geauga, Chyahoga, Medina, Lorain, Huron and Erie. A part of the tract was granted, by the State. to the in- habitants of N. London, Fairfield and Nor walk, whose property had been destroyed by the British troops during the war. The re- mainder was sold in l795, and the money arising from the sale appropriated to the pur- pose of constituting perpetual fund. for the support of schools in the State.--Ohio Trans.
 Signs of the Weather.-Red clouds in the West, at sun set, especially when they have tint of purple. portend fine weather. The reason is, that the air when dry. refracts more red or heat making rays. and as dry ar ls not perfectly transparent. they are again re- flected in the horizon. A copper or yellow sunset generally foretells rain; but as indl- cations of wet weather approaching. noihlng moon, which is produced by the precipitated water and the larger the circle the nearer the clouds, and consequently more ready to fall. When the swallows fly high. fine wea- ther is to be expected or continued; but when they fly low or close to the ground, rain IS almost surely approaching. This is explain: ed as follows Swallows pursue flies and gnats, and flies and gnats delight in warm strata of air ]; and as warm air IS lighter. and usually there is less chance of moisture than cold air, when the warm strata of one air is high, there is less chance of moisture being thrown down from them by the mixture oi cold air; but when the warm and moist aii is close to the ground. it Is almost certain that as the cold air flows down into it deposit of water will take place.
 Shocking Accident-A young woman from tnt Easi aged about l8 who was travelling west on board of line boat with her mother and sister, was ,'rsor tunateIy killed yesterday morning, ns the boat va. M passing under very low bndes ..Ie eds. G cl M .ne had thus psssed several bridges in safety by slightly inclining forward On this last occasn she took int nsual psecauiion bat as the boat passed Snaer in.