The Newtown bee., 1904-10-07
LITERARY NOTES.
WADSWORTH OR THE CHARTER OAK.

For over two centuries the name of Captain Joseph Wadsworth has been linked with the Charter Oak, and the traditions of New England show that he was we'll equipped by nature for the part assigned him on All Halloween in 1887 when the Charter was taken from the Council chamber after the candles were Snuffed out, as well as for the tiff with Gov Fletcher of New York. He was actually
 "A village Hampden, that with daunt-
 less breast
 The little tyrant of his fields with
 Stood,"
 and as the era in which he lived, and especially the Connecticut portion of it, has been skipped by those who make a Speciality of New England subjects, 1 have gathered what can be learned of the early Wadsworths and their associates, as well as the methods adopted to procure and preserve the charter Sin very troublesome season." in the hope of adding another Connecticut book to the list of Ameri- cana. This matter with the material connecting it will be published under the title Wordsworth or the Charter Oak" It will make a work of about 400 pages-poSSibly more than that number r-and will be ready for delivery about the middle of September. It will be. appropriately illustrated, bound in cloth with gilt title on side and back, deckle edges, gilt top, and will he sold by subscription only for S2 volume, all charges prepaid. "Wadsworth or the Charter Oak'' xu,itl I, ir< iv 1ul, iol, reference is made to the founding of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfeld, the Fundamental Orders or Constitu. tion of l63S-9, and sketches of Thomas Hooker, the preacher, Roger Ludlow, the lawyer, and John Haynes, the col onizer. This is followed by sketches of William Wadsworth. his voyages and companions in the Lion, who came to Hartford, Cromwell, who was at one time expected, and his ances- tors, the Regicides, Whalley, Goffe and DiXwell and their SojOurn in New England. The titles of the other chapters are as follows: The Charter Oak. The peace tree of the River ers-Saweg and NOwaShe-the coming of Mohawks--the tribute in wampum the quarrel-the withered branch the fort at Roaring Brdok-attacks and repulses of the Mohawks-t ing the enemy-the fort taken NOwaShe Slain-the transfer of The Royal Oak. The career of John Winthrop, Jr., at home and abroad the pine tree shilling legend, and a narrative attributed to Winthrop giv- ing an account of Charles IFS escape from Worcester. Patent, Charter and Deed. Tbe Warwick patent-Winth- rop appointed governor-Lion Gardi- ward Hopkins Saybrook- the Fenwick sale-settlement with his heirs seeking charter-petitions and addresses Winthrop at court-the Charter-its keepers-the Indian deed-the second deed. Hiding the Charter. King Philip War-Connecti- cut in the NarraganSett Fort fight Major Treat-Sir Edmund An dros and his career-G -Gershom Bulkeley attacking the Charter Randolphs s articles-the quo warrant os-correspondence with Andres Charters brought in-the supposed surrender coming of Andros-his re- ception-the tavern-the night ses- worth, Andros and Leete speeches how the Charter was taken-Wads- worth's flight-his hiding place-the story of Weatogue. The Man. All that will ever be known of the man who preserved the Charter of the Col Ony-his will and inventory of his eS- tate. The Tree. It's fall by 1. T. Stuart-reference to it by edaugh- ter of Secretary WyllyS, Mrs Sigourney and George D. Prentice. The determined manner in which the people of Connecticut resisted the power of the crown and persisted in governing themselves under charter which was to belong to them and their successors forever, and the promptness with which they resumed their local institutions upon the advice that James II had fled from England and AndrOS was under arrest in Boston is ample evidence that the seed of American democracy Sown broadcast by Hooker and Ludlow had not fallen on barren ground, and in a measure mirrored the resistance which took a much more successful form a century later. This self-reljant spirit runs through every line of the original documents in the controversy between the colony and the king, and is a strik- ing outline of Connecticut character diplomacy almost to the point of yield ing-that failing resistance if there is a chance to win. If you desire a copy of ''WadswOrth or The Charter Oak" address all orders to w. H. Gocher, Conn.