rior. Its surface is sand, mixed with loam and gravel; beneath this is usually found a stratum of yellow loam. Still lower, at the depth of fifteen or eighteen inches, a mass of coarse sand extends about six feet. Beneath this is another, composed principally of pebbles, rounded and smoothed like stones washed by the ocean. Still further down, the materials, generally like those which have been mentioned, are more mingled and confused. Formerly the surface was covered with shrub oaks; and wild turkeys and partridges were found in great numbers.*

The soil of this plain is dry, warm, and naturally unproductive, but, by cultivation, is capable of producing every vegetable suited to the climate, and in any quantity. For gardens, except in dry years, it is remarkably well suited. The original town was laid out on the northwestern side of the harbor, in nine squares, each fifty three rods on a side; separated by streets about four rods in breadth; and thus formed a quadrangular area of one hundred and sixty rods on a side. The central square is open, and is styled the Green; and the upper, or northwestern half, is a beautiful slope. It was formerly used as a burying ground, but in 1821 the monuments were removed to the new burying ground, and the ground leveled. The lower part of the square is fifty two rods long, and twenty five rods wide. It is surrounded on all sides by rows of stately elms, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the United States. The surrounding squares are, by law, divided each into four, by streets running from N. w. to s. E., and from N. E. to s. w., the direction of the original streets. Besides these thirty two squares, the town covers several considerable tracts bordering upon them, and is constantly extending. The principal of these is on the southeast side, and is called the New Township, a beautiful tract bounded by the East river and the harbor. The town of New Haven contains about eight square miles, the city about six: bounded N. by Hamden, w. by Orange and Woodbridge, s. by the waters of the harbor, and E. by the Quinnipiac, dividing it from East Haven.

New Haven contained in 1830, 10,678 inhabitants. In Dec. 1833, the population was 12,201, of which 11,534 were within the city limits. The area occupied by the city, is probably as large as that which usually contains a city of six times the number of inhabitants in Europe. Many of the houses have court-yards in front, and gardens in the rear. The former are ornamented with trees and shrubs; the latter are filled with fruit trees, flowers and culinary vegetables.

The houses are generally two stories high, built of wood, in a neat, handsome, but not expensive style. Many of those recently erected, however, are good and substantial edifices of brick and stone. The public edifices are, the College buildings; twelve churches, viz., six Congregational, two Episcopal, two Methodist, one Baptist, and one Roman Catholic; a tontine, a state house, a jail, four banks, a custom house, and a state hospital. There are ten printing offices, from which are issued one daily, and three weekly newspapers; and two weekly, one monthly, and one quarterly, religious publications; and the American Journal of Science and Arts, conducted by Professor Silliman.

* Dr. Dwight.

This seminary is commonly said to have been founded in the year. 1700. In this year, ten of the principal ministers, nominated by a general consent, both of the clergy and the inhabitants of Connecticut, viz.

met at New Haven, and formed themselves into a society, which, they. determined, should consist of eleven ministers, including a rector; and agreed to found a college in the colony. At their next meeting, which was at Branford, the same year, each of them brought a number of books, and presenting them to the society, said, "I give these books for the founding a College in this colony." Antecedently to this event, the subject had been seriously canvassed by the clergy, particularly Messrs. Pierpont, Andrew, and Russell of Branford, and by the people at large, during the two preceding years; and had come thus far towards maturity.

The act of the Legislature which gave birth to Harvard College was passed in 1636. Only ten years, therefore, elapsed after the beginning of a settlement in Massachusetts, before a college was commenced in earnest: whereas sixty five years passed away, after the colonization of Connecticut was begun, and sixty three after that of New Haven, before any serious attempt was made toward the founding of Yale College. But we are not hence to conclude that the colonists of Connecticut and New Haven were less friendly to learning than those of Massachusetts. The project of establishing a college in each of these colonies was early taken up, but checked by well founded remonstrances from the people of Massachusetts, who very justly observed that the whole population of New England was scarcely sufficient to support one institution of this nature, and that the establishment of a second would, in the end, be a sacrifice of both. These considerations put a stop to the design for a considerable time.

Of the serious intention of the New Haven colonists to establish a college, the following document, copied from the records of Guilford, furnishes decisive evidence.

"At a General Court, held at Guilford, June 28, A. D. 1652.”

"Voted, The matter about a College at New Haven, was thought to be too great a charge for us of this jurisdiction to undergo alone; especially considering the unsettled state of New Haven Town; being publicly declared, from the deliberate judg ment of the most understanding men, to be a place of no comfortable subsistence for the present inhabitants there. But if Connecticut do join, the planters are generally willing to bear their just proportions for erecting and maintaining of a College there. However, they desire thanks to Mr. Goodyear, for his kind proffer to the setting forward of such a work."

In October, 1701, the Legislature granted the before named gentlemen a charter, constituting them "Trustees of a Collegiate School in his Majesty's Colony of Connecticut;" and invested them with all the powers which were supposed to be necessary for the complete execution of their trust. The following November, they chose one of their number, Mr. Pierson, rector of the school, and determined that it should be fixed for the present at Saybrook.

In the year 1702, the first commencement was held at Saybrook, at which five young gentlemen received the degree of A. M.

From this time many debates arose concerning the place where the school should finally be established, and continued to agitate the community, until the year 1718. In 1716, a majority of the trustees voted, on the 17th of October, to remove the school to New Haven. Four of their number, out of nine, were however strongly against it; and the community was equally disunited. The trustees, nevertheless, proceeded to hold the commencement, the following year, at New Haven, and to order a college to be erected. It was accordingly raised in October, 1717, and finished the following year. This building they were enabled to erect by a considerable number of donations, which they had received for this purpose, both within and without the colony. Their principal benefactor, both during this period and all which have succeeded, was the Legislature.

Among the individuals who distinguished themselves by their beneficence to this infant institution, was the Hon. Elihu Yale, Esq., of London. This gentleman was descended from an ancient and respectable family in Wales. His father, Thomas Yale, Esq., came from England with the first colonists of New Haven. In this town his son Elihu was born, April 5th, 1648. He went to England at ten years of age, and to Hindoostan at thirty. In that country he resided about twenty years; was made governor of Madras; and married the widow of Governor Hinmers, his predecessor. Having acquired a large fortune, he returned to London; was chosen governor of the East India Company; and died at Rexon, July 8th, 1721.

This gentleman sent, in several donations, to the collegiate school, £500 sterling, between 1714 and 1718; and, a little before his death, ordered goods to be sent out to the value of £500 more, but they were never received.

In gratitude to this benefactor, the trustees, by a solemn act, named their seminary Yale College; a name which, is believed, will convey the memory of his beneficence to distant generations.*

The college which was erected at this time, was built of wood, one hundred and seventy feet long, twenty two feet wide, and three stories high; contained near fifty studies, besides the hall, library and kitchen, and cost about £1000 sterling. Before it was erected, the students were scattered in various places, as Milford, Killingworth, Guilford, Saybrook, Wethersfield, &c. Soon afterwards, they all removed to New Haven. From this time the institution began to flourish. The number of the students was about 40, and the course of education was pursued with spirit. The benefactions, also, which it received, were increased in number and value.

In the list of its principal benefactors was the Rev. Dr. Berkeley, dean of Derry in Ireland, and afterwards bishop of Cloyne. This highly respectable man came to America in the year 1732, for the purpose of establishing a college in the island of Bermuda. The project failed, however, for want of assistance from England, which was promised him. While he was in America, he became acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Williams, and with the design and circumstances of the seminary. With all these he was so well pleased, that he made a present to it of a farm, which he had purchased at Rhode Island; and after his return to Europe, sent to the library "the finest collection of books that ever came together at one time into America." + Jeremiah Dummer, Esq. of Boston, and the Hon. James Fitch, Esq. of Norwich, deserve to

* Dr. Dwight.

+ President Clap.