Litchfield enquirer., 1846-10-08

nc ""Ole was Inc work OF Dwight; those
gentlemen assisted him, only by their criti-
cism and advice. After :heir dispersion he
! considerably altered and enlarged the poem.
and published it in its present form, in c.
leven books.
During their resience at the university,
several young gentlemen were associated in
their literary and poetical society, particu-
larly Msssrs. David Humphreys and Joel
Barlow.
Trumbull, while he held the Office of tn.
tor, paid as much attention, as his other av-
ocations would admit, to the study of Law,
which he had now selected as his future pro-
fession In November l773, he was ad,
mitted as practicing attorney at the bar
in Connecticut: but Immediately went to
Boston, and entered as student in the Of
fee Of John Adams, Esq, since President of
the United States; and took lodgings with
Thomas Gushing, Esq, then Speaker of the
House of Representatives, afterwards del
agate to the first Congress, and Lieut.. Gov
ernor of the State of Massachusetts. He
was now placed in the GENRE Of American
politics. The contest between Great Brit
ain and the Colonies approached rapidly to-
wards a crisis. The violence of party was
extreme. The Governor, Council, Judges,
and all the legal authority under the crown,
employed their utmost efforts to establish
the universal supremacy, and enforce the
The leaders of the popular party had the
complete control of the House of Represen-
tatives, and directed every r'ovement of the
populace. By means Of an extensive cor
respondence, with men of the best informa-
ton at the British and French courts, they
were fully convinced, at that early period
that notkiug, short of warlle resistance,
could successful oppose the claims of Great
Britain to unlimited authority and that
without eventually declaring independence
and assuming the rights Of sovereignty as
nation, no important assistance cou Id be OBJ
.ained from France, Spain or any European
power. Still the people were impressed
with an awfnl idea of the omnipotencc o.
Britain, and shuddered a: the thought of at
tempting a separation. They placed their
hopes on the effect of their petitions 10 the
king, their agreements to stop all CONNER
cial intercourse, and the exertions of their
numerous friends in the British nation and
parliam TO cement the union of all
the colonies, to counteract the fears Of the
people and encourage their confidence in
their own strength and resources, to lead
them into measures decisive in their conse-
quences, and to prepare their minds for re-
sstan"e by arms, was the only policy which
the leaders could, at that time, pursue.-
Trumbul entered into tor sentiments with
all the the ardor in favor of liberty, which
characterizes youthful politician. Tho
he prosecuted the study of law with the ut
most attention, he frequently employed his
leisure hours in writing essays on political
lubjects, in the public gazettes; which had
perhaps a greater effect from the novelty Of
his manner, and the caution he used to pre-
vent any discovery of the real author. Nor
did he neglect occasionally to cultivate the
muse; and just before he left Boston, annoy
mcusly published his Elegy on the Times,
which is contained in the present collection.
Even then verSing towards hostility in Mas
sachusetts, the session of the courts being
suspended, and Mr.. Adams absent at the
Congress, in Philadelphia, he returned 70
New Haven, and successfully commenced
practice at the bar, in November l774.
The year IT'S was period Of terror and
dismay. The war had commenced by the
battle at Lexington. Unconditional sub
mission, or total rejection of the authority
of the crown, presented the only alternative.
Every exerlion was made by the friends of
American liberty, 10 inspire confidence in
our cause, to crush the efforts of the Tory
party and to prepare the public mind for the
declaration of independence. With these
views, al the solicitation of some of his
friends in Congress, Trumbull wrote the first
part Of the poem of M'Finsel, which they
Immediately procured to be published at
Philadelphia, where Congress was then as
sembed. He had also formed the plan of
the work, sketched some Of the scenes of
the third Canto and written the beginning
of the fourth, with the commencement ofthe
Vision, at which point, not being gifted with
the prophetical powers of his hero, he was
obliged TO leave it then unfinished.
In November l776, he married Miss Sa-
rah Hubbard, daughter of Colonel Leverett
Hubbard of New Haven. That town being
exposed TO invasion, and all business rapid
ly declining, he returned in May TIT to his
native place, where he remained four sue
ceeding years. Too constant application to