rank, and is almost without any example in the known world. Not only does almost every person acquire the rudiments of education, but a desire for general reading prevails extensively, and newspapers and books are spread extensively among all classes. From the prevailing spirit of the people, parents in this State have been much in the habit of giving their sons a liberal or academical education; and hence the number which have engaged in the learned professions has been greater here, in proportion to the population, than in almost any other section of the world; a considerable proportion of whom have found it necessary, or deemed it expedient to go abroad to establish themselves in their professions. The advantages for obtaining an education, in the higher branches of literature in this State, are equal to those of any other section of the Union; and the advantages for common education are not surpassed by those of any other community in the civilized world. The subject of common education is not left to the will of individuals; but it is made a public concern. The principles, calculated to produce this object, form a part of the government itself. They are interwoven into its very texture and organization. The whole State is divided into civil and corporate divisions, for the purposes of primary education, called School Societies. These societies are subdivided into school districts, the limits of a single school. Both the school societies and districts are corporations, and act as such upon all subjects relating to the establishment and maintaining of schools. Of the former there are 207 in the State, and of the latter, 1431, exclusive of those in the town of Weston; information with respect to which was not obtained when this article went to press. In each district there is a school house; for the erection of which, the the district is empowered to tax all the taxable inhabitants within its limits; but the principal concerns of schooling are managed by the school societies.

For the support of the district or primary schools, very liberal provision has been made, by the well known appropriation, called the School Fund. This fund, which arose from the sale of the land reserved by Connecticut in the State of Ohio, amounts at the present time to $1,608,670. It is vested principally in individual credits, secured by bond and mortgage. In the recent constitution, this fund has been established; so that it now rests upon a constitutional provision, and is above the control of the legislature. The proceeds of this fund can be applied to no other object than the support of the primary schools. The annual dividends of this fund have been somewhat variant, but at this time amount to about $60,000; which at present is apportioned to the school societies, according to their lists.

In addition to the school fund, a certain proportion of all the taxes paid to the State is by law appropriated to the support of the common

schools.

In addition to the primary schools, there are in this State numerous seminaries for instruction in the higher branches of learning. Yale

College is treated of at length, in the article upon New-Haven, to which the reader is referred. There are 6 incorporated academies. Besides these, there are 26 unincorporated academies and grammar schools, some of which are endowed with funds.

Social Libraries and Newspapers.-There are probably about 172 social libraries in the State, comprising more than 30,000 volumes. In 1818, there were 16 newspaper establishments in this State; from which, probably, more than 16,000 papers were issued weekly.

Religion. The constitution has secured, in the most ample manner, the rights of conscience and religious liberty; all religious denominations being placed upon an equal footing, and every individual being permitted, as it respects religious faith and worship, to pursue the dictates of his own mind. There are 449 religious societies of every description in this State; of which, about 210 are Congregationalists, 74 Episcopalians, 39 Baptists, 53 Methodists, 7 Separatists, 7 Friends, 2 Universalists, 2 Sandemanians, 1 of Shakers, 1 of Rogerenc Quakers, and 3 of denominations not ascertained. Many of these societies are small, and others merely nominal, particularly several of the Congregational societies being classed with that order from the principles of their organization.

History. Some historical or chronological notices is all that can be. expected under this head. The territory, comprising the State of Connecticut, was undoubtedly first visited by the Dutch; but at what riod, it is difficult to determine. But it is probable, that it was soon after their settlement at New-Amsterdam, now New-York, in 1615; although they did not erect the trading house, at what is called Dutch Point, being the point of land formed by the union of Mill river with the Connecticut, at Hartford, until about the year 1633. The first information which the English colonies in Massachusetts obtained of the country upon Connecticut river, was in 1631. The first settlement was made in 1635. In 1639, the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield entered into articles of association, and organized a government. The colony of New-Haven was first settled in 1638, and a government organized in 1639.

In 1662, the charter was obtained, and both colonies united. In 1687, the charter government was suspended by Sir Edmund Andross, and was restored after the Revolution in England, in 1688. In 1701, Yale College was established; in 1755, the first newspaper in the colony was established at New-Haven. In July 1776, the colony of Connecticut, in common with the others, became independent of Great-Britain; in 1784, the first city was incorporated; in 1792, the first bank was established; in 1806, the manufacture of cotton first began to receive attention. In 1818, a Convention of Delegates from the several towns in the State, convened at Hartford; and after a session of about three weeks, framed a constitution of civil government for the State, which was ratified by the people on the 5th of October following.

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL VIEW

OF THE SEVERAL

COUNTIES, TOWNS, CITIES, BOROUGHS, AND VILLAGES,
IN THE STATE

OF

CONNECTICUT.

HARTFORD COUNTY.

HARTFORD COUNTY is of extensive and beautiful valley of ancient date; and its original lim-Connecticut river-bounded on its comprised an extensive district the north by the county of Hampof country, upon both sides of Con-den, in Massachusetts, on the east necticut river, the entire county by the county of Tolland, on the of Tolland, most of the counties south by the counties of Middlesex, of Middlesex and Windham, and a New-London, and New-Haven, part of the counties of Litch- and on the west by the counties of field and New-London, having Litchfield and New-Haven. been detached from it, whereby it has been much circumscribed, although it is still one of the largest counties in the State. It is situated in the northern central section of the State, and principally in the acres.

It

forms nearly a square, being about 30 miles in length, from north to south, and 25 in breadth, from east to west, comprising an area of about 727 square miles, or 465,280

The following TOPOGRAPHICAL and STATISTICAL Table exhibits a compendious view of the several towns in the county; their population, according to the census of 1810; dwelling-houses; religious societies; school districts; post-offices, &c.

Towns. Post- Popu- Dwelling Religious School Distance from offices. lation. houses. societies. districts. Hartford.

Towns.

Post- Popu- Dwelling Religious School Distance from offices. lation. houses. societies. districts. Hartford.

The county of Hartford, whether || there is no other, that comprises we consider the advantages of its an equal quantity of alluvial. The local situation, being intersected Connecticut is justly celebrated for by a fine navigable river, and at the extent and richness of its meadthe head of its navigation, the ows; and there is no section pleasantness, diversity, and beauty throughout its whole course, where of its natural scenery and land- they are more enlarged or valuascapes; the richness, variety, and ble, than in this county. But the fertility of its soil; the mildness, tracts of alluvial are not confined uniformity, and salubrity of its to the Connecticut, but abound climate; the magnitude and multi-upon most of its tributary streams, plicity of its waters, or the general particularly the Tunxis and Scanstate of its improvements, in agri-tic-the former of which is a large culture, manufactures, and the and interesting river. The county useful arts; the number and pleas-is intersected not only by Connecantness of its villages; the means of agricultural opulence which it affords; its aggregate population, wealth, and resources; will rank || before any other county in the State; and, in many of these res-extends westwardly, 14 or 15 miles, pects, before any in New-England. and the mountain which ranges. With respect to its natural soil, nearly parallel with the river, is which is the direct or indirect five or six miles back from it. The source of almost every interest tract between the river and the in society, we feel authorized mountain is exhaustless in the rein hazarding an opinion, that there sources for agricultural improveis not another body of land in New-ment and wealth. The natural England, of the same extent, lying soil is a deep, strong, argillaceous together, equal, in quality, to that loam, varied, in different sections, of this county. And we feel more by a greater or less predominance confident in the assertion, that of argil, from a hard and stiff clay,

ticut river, but also by the greenstone range of mountains, which terminates at the east rock, in the vicinity of New-Haven. The section on the west side of the river,

to a light, gravelly, and, in some, ularly that of rye and Indian corn, places, sandy loam. It is of an un-of which large quantities are annudulating surface-the hills being ally raised. It is also well adapted very moderate, free from stone, and well calculated for improvement.

to fruit, and is conspicuous for the extent, variety, and richness of its The mountain occasions very orchards. But in noticing its little broken, or unimprovable adaptation to these agricultural lands, consisting only of a single productions and interests, it is not ridge-and all the declivities of to be inferred that it is not favourthis are valuable for the growth of able for almost all others, of which wood and timber, or for pasturage the climate admits. It is a cirand orcharding, excepting the bold cumstance, which, when considermural precipice which is form- ing the natural resources and aded upon its west side. The vantages of this county for agrigeneral character of the tract west culture, ought not to be passed of the mountain, is also argilla-over unnoticed, that there is probceous, although its features are con-ably no section in the United States, siderably different, and have less where there are less physical casuuniformity. It is more hilly, and alties and obstructions, which atclay enters less into the composi-tend a cultivation of the earth, and tion of the soil. The western ex- where the fruits of the "sweat of tremity of this tract is considerably the brow" can be relied upon with mountainous, particularly the north more certainty. Of all vegetable part of it, embracing the eastern productions, fruit is perhaps the. section of the granite mountains, most precarious; yet it is scarcely which prevail in the county of within the memory of man, that Litchfield. Upon the Tunxis river, apples, in this county, have entirely west of the greenstone range, in failed. Farmington and Simsbury, there There is probably no section in are extensive and valuable tracts the New-England States, less exof alluvial. The section of the posed to injurious results from county east of Connecticut river, frosts. In the year 1816, however, is about nine or ten miles wide, Indian corn was very generally and is likewise rich and fertile, injured; so much so, that there and contains ample and durable was a difficulty the next season of resources for agricultural improve-obtaining sound corn for seed; but ments and interests. It has its this is the only instance, since our proportion of alluvial, and its geo-recollection, of a frost occurring logial character is also argillaceous, so early in the fall, as essentially but the super stratum of the soil has to injure this grain. Rye, when less appearance of the prevalence properly cultivated, and seasonaof clay, and is generally a light, bly sown, is a sure crop, and selgravelly, and sandy loam. The dom, if ever, fails. The farming south eastern section of this tract interests of the county are very is also somewhat mountainous. respectable, although it is most The land in this county is well apparent that there is great room adapted to a grain culture, partic-for improvements; a general de