Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-09
A Tour in Connecticut Long Ago.


 A Paper by Rev. pr. Bacon Before the . New Haven Colony Historical Society A Travellers DiarY-Dr. COgsweIl,
 Founder of the Deaf and Dumb Asy-
 Ium at HartfOrd-SinguIar as Fiction
 How the Manuscript Came to pr.
 BacOm-FascfnafinH G dslimpses of Fash
 iOmable Society i'm 15SS i'm New Haven,
 Hartford and other Parts of COMnec-
 ticut.
 The Rev. Dr. Bacon read paper before the New Haven Colony Historical Society last evening, entitled "A Tour in Connecticut Long Ago." The meeting was in the spa mon Pleas in the County building, and there was large and refined audience present, in cluding many gentlemen distinguished in va- rious of the learned professions The Rev. Dr. Beardsley, president of the society, occu- pied the chair. The presence of many ladies added much to the interest of the occasion pr. Beardsley announced promise to the society of another paper ere long, the date to be fixed upon Dr. Bacon and his subject were then announced.
 Dr. Bacon prefaced in very happy manner in opening, the facts, quite remarkable in them selves, of his coming into possession of the material for his paper of the evening. The manuscript in this case was nearly one hun dred years old, and the story of how the man. uscript came into his possession was worthy of comparison with many tale of fiction. Two of the speakers three sons, who wore the blue in the war for the Union, were pres ent at the capture of Richmond, and one had the pleasure of restoring to it's Virginia owner a record book prized by the owner.
 Mir. R. A. Brock, of Richmond, l., was now referred to. This gentleman was the sec- retary and librarian to the Virginia Historical Society, which has library of about 10000 volumes, gallery of fine paintings, together with collections of precious relics, etc. Its room is over the State Law Library. Cores pondence had existed between the speaker and MT. Brock. The latter had sent him prominent Richmond journal, and among other tokens of friendship the speaker had re- ceived recently from him worn manuscript which MT. Brock thought might possibly be of local interest. It had, by this mere acci- dent, come to the very quarter where it's value would be most appreciated. This manuscript was diary and was found in the papers of Rev. John D. Blair, long pious Presbyterian di- vine of Richmond. Some record of the good mans life was given. He was iberally edu- cated man, well fitted to flourish in the Vir- ginia of those gentlemanly, scholarly, eloquent in the pulpit, admired in polished society. Among the names of the subscribers to the fund for MT. Blair's support were MT. Randolph, afterwsrd Governor of Virginia :; Bushrod Washington, nephew of George Washington, and Mir. Marshall, efterward the famous chief justice. The clergyman was 8 Scotch Irish Presbyterian, born in Pennsylva- mia, domiciled in Virginia. Various interest ing glimpses of the life of fashionable pastor of those days were given as to this particular clergyman. The story now took up the record of journey made by an evidently very intel igent traveller to this part of the country. It included visit, to start with, to Dr. Dwight at Greenfield Hill, 8 name famous in New England history. As yet the name of the pill grim himself is in the dark, the manuscript ! not yet revealing it. The unknown pilgrim arrives at New Haven in sentimental vein of mind. He seeks for his old friend ''Leander.'' | Him be did not find, but another friend took | the stranger in. Who Leander was the speak CT did not conjecture. Reference was made | here to Captain James Hillhouse It was at his house undoubtedly that our traveller was | stopping that night. The next day, Sunday, he attended church at the s'Brick," and also heard Dr. Edwards, who preached from the words, "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." By reference to President Stiles manuscript in the College Library 1t was ascertained that November 18th, 17s8, was Lords day, and that day, 91 years and four months, lacking eight days, since, Dr. Edwards exchanged pulpits with Dr. Wales, professor of divinity at Yale College, and on that day it was our traveller heard pr. Ed wards, for the very text is recorded. Our traveller spent the evening at Dr. Stiles, whose official residence WAS on the spot now occu- pied by the College street church. He retired | every Sabbath day at sunset to pray with a few friends. Governor Trumbull, the speaker had ascertained, was one of those who kept the concert of prayer at President Stiles. l The ladies were now spoken of by the traveller, who found one of them indisposed and not so l voluble as formerly, but just as interesting and agreeable as ever. Jedediah Morse, the famous father of American geography, was here referred to, aEd his paternity of the great inventor of the telegraph. Other noted names of that day in New Haven were referred to. The speaker oficiated at the funeral of MT. Jedediah Morse, who was one of the speakers old parishioners.
 In the evening of that day our trave1e1 joined party of twenty at MT. Mix's an6 danced till midnight. This MT. Mix kept af- terward Mixs museum, which was where Home Place now is. Mix's, where the dance was, was on Elm street next to the Methodist church. It was once the speakers own hired
 house. The speaker referred with feeling and | special interest to this former home. He next read from the old record, the names of the ladies he had the pleasure of dancing with. The initials only were given. One was Miss S-s; undoubtedly this lady was daughter of Pres I-ident Stiles. Another was Miss Els, evi. dently Miss Edwards. The speaker added | that he knew the latter when her dancing days | were over and an honored matron, herself a granddaughter of the world wide known Jona- than Edwards and otherwise brilliantly con. nected.
 The firm of Vroom & Platt was for many years the most conspicuous shipping firm in New Haven, and in their residences, which were neal together, was more of the display of wealth than anywhere else this side of New York. l Both families have passed away. grand. l daughter, Mrs. Platt, died about 1851. She l bequeathed the last remnant of her property | tO u0T CAuECu, tu0 NOEtA CAuISAs AzA1s F1OOLl was undoubtedly one of the participants al that dance at MT. Mix's. He took horse and rode with his friend, travelling to Hartford. The road was to Cedar Hill, North Haven, Wallingford, Durham. etc:
 Hartford was the birthplace of the wife of the speaker. Where did they stop? The diary tells us. It was at Colonel Wadsworths, a spot dear with family interest to the wife of l the speaker. The location of the house and other facts of interest in that connection, es- pecially relating to the high abilities of Colo nel w., were now given by the speaker, who was touched with feeling as he narrated the preceding matters. Colonel W. was q man of l note in the Continental army. A very inter esting episode in the paper was here given l an account of the arrival of the distinguished Count Roohambeau in this country with the l French fleet, and of his being met at Colonel WIS house by General Washington. The diary of our traveller is consulted again, and then follows a transition from a consideration of great national event to glimpse of ele- gant ladies of Hartford whom our two travellers had the undisguised pleasure of meeting at 8 social gathering. The author of the diary | with pleasing minuteness dwelt upon this sub