Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-01
The Vermont Historical Socletr.

ciety. OF these, the only survivor is Mr..
Smith, who still remains the Nostor Of the
Washington county Bar. Mr.. Stevens was
the first president, and on account of his
residence in that town, the original act pro-
yded that the library aud cabinet Of the
society should be kept at Barnet but this
provision was never strictly complied with.
The obvious fitness of Montpelier for the
headquarters of the society, and the superior
afforded by the State House for
the preservation Of the socicty's collections,
were soon appreciated by the society,
aud when the State House was burned,
in the evening Of January 9Th 1857, the so
ciety lost the greater part OF its treasures,
and was forced to begin almost anew. In
1858 the provision making Barnet the
home OF the cabinet and library, was re-
peaed. In 1850 the words and Antigua
rian were dropped from its title, and the
use Of the general committee room, on the
first floor Of the State House. was granted to
the society under the supervision of the
Sergeant-atarms. For various reasons, un-
til lately this privilege has only been par
TALLY enjoyed. and the relics and books
many Of them invaluable, if not unique
have been scattered through the State House,
from dome TO basement. A large bookcase at
the North end of the room was all the society
had TO display its treasures in, and during
the session Of the legislature the room has
been used as the general smoking and loung-
ing place of the members and hangers-on Of
the Capitol. The visitors that thronged the
state Cabinet Hall, just beyond, rarely asked
TO sec the Historical collections, and, If they
had, it would have been but a sorry exhibi-
ton, at best Nevertheless, the society. UNI
der the management of such men as Governor
IIiand Hall, Rev. pliny II. White, Hon.
George F. IIoughton and Rev. DR.. VIM. II,
Lord, presidents, and Hon. Charles Reed and
Mr.. Marcus ID. Gilman, secretaries, has
steadily gone on gathering everything which
pertained to the military, civil, literary and
ecclesiastical history Of the state. The do
nations have been liberal and it is not too
much to say that the result is priceless,
though Of course incomplete, library and
museum.
During the past summer under the direc-
ton Of Mr.. T. Q. Phinney, the Sergeant-at-
Arms, the east, west and south walls have
been lined with bookcases aud a handsome
black walnut and plate-gass cabinet has
been placed near the centre of the room.
Some idea of the interesting contents of
the cabinet can be gathered from the follow
ing list
The original deed OF partition of the
townshipof Middlesex comprising the pres
ent town of Randolph and portions of
Bethel, Brookfeld and Braintree, to which
is appended a map of the lots. 1t was en-
graved on parchment in l772, by Samuel
Gale. and among the signers are John Jay,
p. vi Livingston and Augustus Cortlandt
Six manuscript sermons in beautiful chi
Biography, preached at Goshen, Connecticut,
from 1861 to 1777, by Rev. Abel Newell,
one of the first settlers of Charlotte, Ner-
mont-presented in 1852, by Mr.. d. b. Ames.
Photographs of Ethan Aliens handwrt-
ing, describing the contents of his famous
books " An Essay on the universal Plemi-
tude of Being and on the Nature and I'm
mortality of the Human Soul and its Agents,
by Ethan Allen, Esq" and " This Appen-
dix to be published at a Future Day, when
it will not infringe ON my Future or Pres
ent Living Witness, Ethan Allen"
An autograph letter of Daniel Webster to
Senator Upham, congratnlating him on one
of his speeches.
An autograph letter of senator Upham to
his daughter, Mrs. George Langdon, of Mont
pelier.
A copy of " Vermout'o Appeal to a Can
did and Impartial World, containing Fair
Stating of the Claims OF Massachusetts, Bay,
New Hampshire aud New York, and the
Right the State of Vermont has to Independ-
ence. Addressed to the Honorable Ameri-
can Congress and the Inhabitants of the
Thirteen United States. by Stephen r.
Bradley a. NJ, Hartford Printed by lIud-
son & Goodwin, l779'
A copy of the Remembrance of the
Council of the state OF Vermont against the
Resolutions of the Congress OF the 9Th Of
December last, which Interfere with an In
ternal Police, Hartford Printed by Hudson
& Goodwin, 1888"
Two manuscript letters Of the Indian, ,Jo-
seph Brandt, to Rev. James Wheelock.
A tax warrant to the first constable OF Brook
field, dated November |, 1902, and signed by
Samuel Alattocks, the State Treasurer. The
grand list of the town is set at one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-two pounds, and
the tax is two and half pence, which must
be paid in hard money orders issued by the
supreme Court, or in hard money. The leg
islature sat at Rutland that fall, and the Jail
in which delinquent taxpayers might be in
generated was at Newbury.
A letter from William Blndin, patriot
soldier imprisoned by the British at Cham
bly,, Canada, to General Benedict Arnold,
commanding the patriot forces dated April
81, l77G.
The muster roll OF Captain Jeremiah Tai
bots company, of Colonel Twins battalion
Of forces of the State of Pennsylvania,
encamped at Mount Independence; dated
November 2S, l776
The original commission Of Governor
Clinton, of New York, to the justices of the
peace, of Cumberland county dated June
8, 1882, and sealed with the great seal of
New York
A manuscript copy of the act admitting
Vermont into the Union in 1901, signed by
Thomas jefferson, Secretary of State.
A sermon preached at Windsor, July ?,
l777, before the Representatives of the
towns in the counties of Charlotte, Cumber-
land and Gloucester, for the forming the
State of Vermont. BY Aaron Hutchinson,
of Pomfret, A. NJ, Dresden Printed by
Judah Paddock and Alden Spooner." Mr.
Hutchinson was pastor Of the Cougrega-
tional church in Pomfret, Hartford and Wood
stock, and was the father of Judge Titus
Hutchinson lie was one of the ablest and
most learned men of his time, and the ser
mon in question, which well deserves perusal
at the present time, was preached extempore,
after riding long distance in hot day.
The Journal Of the session of the General