, 1889-08-16
COLLECTION OF RELICS.
A LITTLE MINE CONCEALED IN THE
WAoSWoRTH ATHENEUM.

Interesting Paper fenned In the Time OIL
tho Observation-Disclosures ArnoId's Bulls
Eyc watoh-A Collection of Swords and
a waistooat That Was Pierced by One.
The revolutionary relics preserved in
the historical rooms of the Wadsworth
Athenaum in this city are rich and va
ried in interest. In the first place, the
building is on the sits of the old Wads-
worth residence, in the parlors of which
Gen. Washington, Marquis de Lafayette,
Jonathan Trumbull, Count Rochambeau
and Admiral de Ternay held the notable
conference with regard to the war which
resulted in the discontinue of the British
forces at Yorktown and the surrender Of
CORVALLIS. The plan of campaign was
decided on at this conference. In out
of-the-way places in the building is an
invaluable mass of historical documents,
including unpublished Washington let
tiers, the Silas Deane papers, letters from
Lafayette and Rochambeau, with the
original contract with the great mar
quis, which insured his services 10 the
struggling patriots. 1t is doubtful If a
dozen men in thisc city have seen these
papers, which are slowed away in old
boxes and chests. T%rumbuIrs accounts
of the continental army are also deposit
ed in large quantities in this bonanza of
revolutionary memorials.
A bushel basketful of old checks bear
ing the signature of Aaron Burr could
be unearthed if Professor Trumbull could
be persuaded to consent TO the proceed
ing. The Burr autographs, apart from
this business lot, are very rare at present.
The gold and onyx snuff box which Gen.
Washington owned is not allowed TO be
seen for fear it might prove n resistless
temptation to thieves and burglars. II
is inclosed in n paper box and securely
locked in one of tho side cases of the
athenRum. The footstool OF Martha
Washington is allowed, however, n place
on the loor of the historical rooms, and
now and her n wearied visitor might
drop down upon 1t for n moments rest,
believing it to be an old fashioned settee.
The Bible and diary of Jonathan Trum-
bull. the original brother Jonathan"
are not far from Nathan Hale's powder
horn, which he carried and fitted for use
when n student in Yale college.
The antique basket which the noted
spy used in camp, containing even now
a couple of bottles, is in the case with
the powder horn, suggesting that the
owner used to get dry like other mortals.
The Hale letters are worth their weight
in gold. The bulls eye watch, owned by
Benedict Arnold, and the wallet which
was in the possession of Major Andre
when he was captured. are the principal
attractions in still another case in the
rooms.
The collection of swords which were
worn by distinguished re~volutionists ia
unequaled in this section of the country.
The list comprises Jonathan Trumbull's
(~senior and junior, the latter of whom
was Washington's private secretary, and
Israel Putnam's twenty inch blade,
which saw some of the bloodiest carnage
Of the war. The cartridge box worn at
Bunker Hill by Abraham Tuttlc, of New
Haven, is unique in its way. The queer
mail bag in which the first news of the
battle of Lexington was carried through
the Connecticut valley is snugly con-
cealed in n spot where no one would
think of looking for it, and endures old
age surprisingly well.
The array of dismal memorials is more
interesting han such collections gener-
ally urn out to be in a public resort.
The waistcoat worn by Col. Ledyard
whcn he was run through with his own
sword by n British officer at Fort Girls
void after the surrender of the garrison,
on Sept. o, 1881, is invariably sought out
by visitors. a few lect from this waist
coat. which shows where the sword pene-
trated and left the body of the gallant
Ledyard, is n link from the stupendous
iron chain which the Americans stretched
1890 A.. II,,1-gr .sr.- - 49,. IL.
British shipping from New York. The
link is three feet in length md weighs
~seventy-five pounds at least. A piece of
Washington's original coffin can DO seen
if desired. The bullet which was fired
into the heart of Gen. David Wooster, at
Danbury, ON April 81, 1777, is also at
hand. 1t was removed from the fearless
leaders heart, and has been kept with
great care for 112 years.
One of the most fascinating bits of
plate in the building is the silver cream
er which belonged to the senior Trum-
bull. The design is light and airy, and
every lady who sees it is conscious of a
secret longing to gain possession of it.
Mr.. Charles ]. Hoadly, the state libra
rian, is the only person in the United
States, SO far as known, who owns copies
OF the Weekly Journal issued by the con-
tinental congress in 1873. A few copies,
some of them duplicating Mr.. Hoadly's,
are preserved in the New York state Ii
brary. The numbers owned by the Con-
necticut state librarian extend from
April "a until July o. The pages in sew
eral numbers of the Journal have no
been cut. The numbers owned by the
New York state library. issued during
the period in question, are May l and 10,
May % and 81 and June 4. The New
York library also possesses three mum.
beers, Feb. l, March l and 81, not owned
by Mr.. Hoadly. All the numbers were
printed by David C. Claypool. They
contain a more complete record of the
proceedings of congress than is to be
found in the annual volumes. In fact,
the records are very complete and con.
tain a great deal of valuable historic in,
formation.-Bartford Post
Not That Kind