Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-07
New Haven Colony Historical So
 ciety.

new rooms in the old State House on Friday, January T.
 Having been for so long time in so inac- cesslbIe place as the room in the third story of the City Hall it's many friends will be glad to have it in 50 convenient place as the rooms they propose to occupy. Very few of our citizens have any idea of the extensive and valuable collection of relics of all descrip- tions to be seen in the rooms. A partial enumeration may be pleasing.
 There are to be seen in the room among other things the identical sign which swung over Benedict Arnold's store when he was in business in New Haven, and which was pre- scented to the society some years ago by descendant of his wife, There are also many guns, swords, pistols and bayonets that were used during the revolutionary war by citizens of New Haven and surrounding towns, and also uniforms and accoutrements used at the same period. The collection of ancient documents is very extensive and val uable, among which are many signatures of persons of note in the old colonial govern ments. Prominent is an elegant gold sword case presented to Admiral Foote by admiring citizens of Brooklyn, N. T., soon. after his victory on the Mississippi river. Over an al- cove is suspended large oil painting, in which the admiral is represented as standing by capstan on one of his ships passing the rebel forts, speaking trumpet in hand At the foot of the alcove on the other side are two beautiful brass mortars with their car riages, trunnions and all, complete, which were used at the siege of New Orleans by the British in 1914, captured by the Americans. They were used against the Union forces and captured by Foote in his Mississippi exploits. There is also to be seen tattered silk flag which was captured by the 10th c. V, made by lady in New Haven, and brought back in the tattered state in which it is seen. The flag of the Towns end Rifles, which was carried through some of the hottest engagements of the war, is upon the wall. In one corner are many bombs and shot thrown into the Union lines in different engagements. In close contigui ty to these warlike implements hangs the cap of the peaceful poet Percival, one which our oldest citizens will remember having seen him wear a short time before he died. Near to it in the other corner is the cooked hat worn by Jeremiah Townsend on the day in which the British invaded New Haven. Among the relics of the Revolution is a bu- reau belonging to the Townsend family, with 8 cannon shot through it, fired by the Brit ish when they attacked New Haven. The ball was found thirty years after in heap of rubbish. It fitted the hole exactly A rebel torpedo taken in Charleston harbor is suspended from the walls and near it piece of one of the old s'sabba-day" houses of New Haven. The veritable table is seen which Noah Webster used when writing his diction- ary. A spade is seen which MT. Hillhouse used the day the Pennington canal was opened also warming pans brought from Bristol, England, by Luke Atkinson in 17O4 i; also piano dated 17S4. Near by is an idol taken by New Haven shipmaster early in the century from the ancient city of Goa, India, and double headed cradle (they had large families in those days.) Many portraits of old settlers of New Haven and their wives adorn the walls. A beautiful sandal-wood lance hangs on the wall. To this there is history The first ship that John Jacob Astor sent to the Northwest stopped at the Sandwich Islands only short time after the murder of Captain Cook. A boats crew sent ashore for water was at- tackled by the savages and several of the men were wounded, and among other weapons thrown at them was this lance, which has been preserved in the family for many years, unti, the last one having recently died, it came into the possession of the society. English bows of forty years ago hang in close proximity to one from New Zealand. and English arrows and Indian arrows are hung across, showing that the same general idea has prevailed in making bows as well as ar Side by side are the heavy wooden shoes of the village peasant and dainty blue satin slip pers worn by New Haven belle at ball given in honor of the Duke De Lauzun and other French officers when they visited this city on their way to Hartford On pedestal is leather soldier hat pertaining to the
 first uniformed trained band of the county of New Haven or of Connecticut. There is an ancient sextant and one of the backstafs used by the old New Haven ships before the inven- tlon of the modern quadrant and Sextant a large collection of coins, ancient and modern, from all parts of the world, and medals and walking sticks and canes used by some of the early settlers of New Haven Colony meet the attention ; also the leathern kit used by Com modore Hull while in command of the Con stitution; also boarding bikes used by the also powder horns, one very finely cut by a prisoner of war at Quebec dur ing the revolution, having an aceu rate view of Quebec on one side and on the other a family crest. Tiles from Benedict Arnold's house sur- round the doors and windows. There are antique chairs of all descriptions one of them used by New Haven lady in 1884 the beautiful model made by Admiral Foote, when he demonstrated the fact, although the idea was never adopted, that vessel could be propelled by means of screw in it's star board bow; several pieces of fine pottery, used by old settlers, which came to light in the demolition of old buildings; also spoon and button molds, knives and forks taken from Admiral Corvallis tent and the dressing case of Adjutant Campbell, who was killed and buried on West Haven Heights during the revolution. Barber tells us, as some may not have seen, that Campbell was e'the idol of the army.' Being tall and ele- gant in person and dress, he was conspicu- ous object to the enemy, and was singled out by one of the West Haven militiamen, who shot him. Cambell fell, pierced by mus- ket ball, and was carried to small house, which until within a few years was standing on the south side of the Milford road, one and a half miles from West Haven Green. He was laid upon a bed in the hum ble dwelling and attended by servant until he expired soon afterward. A white hand kerchief marked by his name, was long pre- served as a relic of this officer, and is still be- lieved to be in existence. If this is the case, and any person is aware of it's existence, they will confer lasting favor upon the so- ciety by depositing it with them, either as a gift or for safe keeping.
 Portraits and photographs of prominent citizens, living and deceased, adorn the walls. An invitation is extended to our citizens to send photographs, or pictures of citizens, which will be placed in the album kept for that purpose, or suspended from the walls. Pictures of historic and ancient dwellings of New Haven, which have disappeared, are preserved by photographs in the collection, among which is picture of the old long house of West Water street, which was ta- ken down to make room for the Derby de- pot; also one of the ''Sabba-da" house, which stood where the Peabody museum now stands. There are also pictures of the Arn- old house the Foster house on Elm street the house which stood where the East Divin- ity School building now stands, formerly an