Connecticut western news., 1883-03-21


 40x50. feet and 37 feet high.
 The State library is on the second floor and in this room are many objects of interest For many items l am in debted to the state librarian, Charles J.. Headley, Esq, and to the clerk of the secretary of state. Specimens of old colonial money arc seen here, which date back to the time when boef, corn, and peas, were accepted as legal tender. There are old chairs here which have an ancient look, having been used in the old senate chamber 90 years ago. A document in the handwriting of Gov Hopkins, bearing date of 1647, and a letter of Be amin Franklin, postmaster general of the United States, appointing William Ellery postmaster of Hartford in 1775, are among the curiositics Among the thousands of volumes are ancient books printed in many langua-. ges. The oldest one is in French and bears the date of 147O, twenty-two years before the discovery of the continent by Columbus. A letter of credit taken by Gov. Winthrop when he went to England to procure the ch srter is seen here. It was for 800 pounds sterling and payable ill corn and peas. In this room are also portraits O 35 of Connecticut's governors, t'e oldest being Gov Winthrop, who held the office in 1c57 The first Gov was John 1aynes, who took the office in 1889 The state has had 90 governors and portraits of 15 are not in existence.
 Over the east and west entrances to the building are correct representations of the Chart r oak, sculptured in the highest style of art out of white marble. In the office of the secretary of state is the original charter, granted by King ;harles IT in 1862, which was hidden in the old oak, October 31, 1887, from which the tree derived its name. It is printed in old English text and has been well preserved the charter. The king had decided to take it from the colonists and, when the assembly was in session and debating on the question, some of the members, whose cunning was equal to the emergency, saw no hope for them save in one direction, to keep up the debate until dark, when at a certain signal all the lights were to be extinguished and the charter, which lay upon the table was to be taken under cover of the darkness. This plot was we'll carried out and the charter was hidden in the old tree. When the can- ,iles were again lighted, the charter was missing and the Colonial legislators who were adherents of King Charles were sorely perplexed to know wllith T 1t had gone The frame which contains it is made of the wood which afforded it shelter and contains the state coat of arms The old historic tree was blown down during a severe storm August 21, 1856. Sir Edmund Andros was ap- pointed Governor by the king to whom the charter was to be surrendered The governors rooms ara on the secon,l floor, and consist of a private office and audience room. They are slsbaratels furnished and contain fine portrait o1 Gen Putnam. At the top of the stair ways are statues representing peace, plenty, justice, etc. As you enter on one side just inside the door is piece
 
 of statuary of colossal proportions rep resenting lady with extended arms holding in her hand wreath The marble used is a vcry durable quality from the quarry now owned by H. B. Allyn of East Canaan and the granite came from Werterly, R. l., Cape Ann, Jonesboro, Maine, and Stony Creek, Conn. Several columns are wrought out of Scotland grey granite, forming a pretty contract There are four fronts each containing receptacles projecting from the. walls in which are capped columns for receiving statues. They number in all 26 Statues of Gov Jopa- than Trumbull, who held the office dur ing the Revolutionary war and Rogel Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, are placed 1 on the columns of the east front. The roof contains dormer windows which are built of finely carved marble and relieve the otherwise naked appearance of the slopes. The building is 296 long l9f feet wide 93 feet high to the top of tho roof, 57 feet to the top of the figure or the dome. On the top of the dome is { large winged figure of bronze 15 feet il h,ight ! magnificent view sur rounding country may D l.. Ill tli' tap of the dome, where on ss :: 1T a, :. you can see to the northw.,r' i; ;nii and to the sol.il B .nila. . t.t : northwest, 15 miles distant, is the Tal
 colt mountain tower. The ascent t' the doma is " 8 succession If vi ,?i stairways of iron anl stone and i somewhat irksome task but one feel well repaid on viewing the grand pan orama that is spread out b,eora tham Visitors are accompanied by a guid and in descending portion of the wa they are taken down in an elevator
 The cost of the building and ground
 was ss3, 100, 00O F. D. HowD.