The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-21
p1scoNNnoTnn rorrrNoa.

mADDLEFowN, CONN.,, Sept, 10, 1850.
Thisis one OF the Oldest towns In this industri-
Gus and enterprsing State, situated nearly
twenty miles below Hartford on the Connecti-
cut, with which city it is connected BY both
boats and rail. The city contains about ten
thousand Inhabitants. 1t is the seat Of the
Wesleyan University-the College of the Meth
odist denomination, which is presided over by
that ripe scholar and high-ninded gentleman,
Rev. DR.. Cummings.
On the opposite side of the river from this
city is town called Portland, celebrated for
It's inexhaustible quarries of brown free-stone'
which is exported to all parts Of the country.
The quarries are close to the river so that
with triaing expense the stone is put on board
vessels which transport it to every consider
able Atlantic port. The earth has been pene-
trated to the depth of about eighty feet, and
yet no signs Of exhaustion are discovered. The
quarry is source of immense wealth to the
place, and much capital Is invested in the OPP
erations necessary to quarry the stone and pre-
pare it for shipment. m
The people here complain of the severity CT
the drought, and yet can scarcely appreciate
their murmurings against the "dIy times"
The fields look comparatively green, and in no
place that have passed within hundred
miles of here have WITNESSED that parched and
burnt appearance, in field and pasture, that
has been observable for the last few weeks in
Maine,s and particularly on and east Of the
Kennebec.
/ left Portland yesterday morning in a
drenching rain, but the farther West / came,
the less rain appeared to have fallen. When I
arrived here learned that Sunday night while
you of the @Forest City" were lulled to pleas
ant dreams by the sound of pattering rain
! drops, here the stars shone out with such pc
culiar brilliance as to attract notice and elicit
remark. Last night, however, while perhaps
you were .basking beneath the starlight, the
| clouds gathered thick and portentous here,
and moderate fall of rain was the result.
This morning the weather was as cold as or
binary November, so that fires were as much
luxury as were ice water and arctic soda last
week. As l write however, (past noon) the
| clouds have cleared away and the sun shines
brilliantly, but the cold is anything but comfort
able.
The Universalist National Convention is
now in session in this city, and delegates are
present from nearly all the free States. The
Convention was organized this morning by
the election of J. 7. Gilman of Maine, Presi-
dent. and gentleman from Pennsylvania,
Secretary. A large amount of business is an
ticipated, which is now in the hands of Com
mittees already appointed. ssaia
A committee on the condition of the country
will be announced at the opening of the after
noon session, which viii report series of res
olutions and make arrangements for meet
ing to consider them. Rev. L. j. Fletcher Of
Bath, Is chairman of one of the most impor-
tant committees.
Rev. E. Fisher, D. d. of New York, viii de-
liver the occasional sermon tomorrow, and
those who have heard him anticipate rich
intellectual as well as spiritual treat. DR.. +.
is native Of eastern Maine, and is now Presi-
dent of a theological institution in St. Law
renee County. Perhaps tomorrow viii write
again. q gT91 INTE SPURwNK.