of militia, Major Young surprised a party of the enemy at St. Regis, captured the two captains, 1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 35 privates, and brought off one stand of colors, the first taken from the enemy during the war. This officer, after the war, entered the Patriot service, under Gen. Mina, and lost his life in the struggle for Mexican independence, in 1817. The Patriots, 269 in number, had possession of a small fort, which was invested by a Royalist force of 3500 men. The supplies of provision and water being cut off, the sufferings of the garrison, and women and children in the fort, became intolerable; many of the soldiers deserted, so that not more than 150 effective men remained. Colonel Young, however, knowing the perfidy of the enemy, determined to defend the fort to the last. After having bravely defeated the enemy in a number of their endeavors to carry the fort by storm, Col. Young was killed by a cannon shot from the battery raised against the fort.

"On the enemy's last retreat, the Colonel, anxious to observe all their movements, fearlessly exposed his person, by stepping on a large stone on the ramparts; and, while conversing with Dr. Hennessey on the successes of the day, and on the dastardly conduct of the enemy, the last shot that was fired from their battery carried off his head. Colonel Young was an officer whom, next to Mina, the American part of the division had been accustomed to respect and admire. In every action, he had been conspicuous for his daring courage and skill. Mina reposed unbounded confidence in him. In the hour of danger he was collected, gave his orders with precision, and, sword in hand, was always in the hottest of the combat. Honor and firmness marked all his actions. He was generous in the extreme, and endured privations with a cheerfulness superior to that of any other officer in the division. He had been in the United States' service, as lieutenant colonel of the twenty ninth regiment of infantry. His body was interred by the few Americans who could be spared from duty, with every possible mark of honor and respect; and the general gloom which pervaded the division on this occasion, was the sincerest tribute that could be offered by them to the memory of their brave chief."*

The Rev. James Fitch, the first minister in Norwich, died at Lebanon, in the 80th year of his age. It appears that there were two brothers, Thomas and James Fitch, or, in the ancient way of writing the name, Fytche, who came from Bocking in the county of Essex, England, to America, in 1638. Thomas settled at Norwalk, and was father of Thomas Fitch, governor of the colony of Connecticut. The Rev. James Fitch married for his first wife a daughter of the Rev. Henry Whitfield, of Guilford. His second wife was Priscilla Mason, daughter of Major John Mason, the celebrated commander of the expedition against the Pequots.† By his two wives he had fourteen children; all except one lived to have families of children. His history and character are given in the inscription on his monument, in the Lebanon burying ground, viz.

* Robinson's Mexican Revolution.

+ Alden's Collection of Epitaphs, &c. 4th volume.

In hoe Sepulchro depositæ sunt Reliquiæ Viri vere Reverendi D. JACOBI FITCH; natus fuit apud Boking, in Comitatu Essexiæ, in Anglia, Anno Domini 1622, Decem. 24. Qui, postquam Linguis literatis optime instructus fuisset, in Nov-Angliam venit, Ætate 16; et deinde Vitain degit, Hartfordiæ, per Septennium, sub Instructione Virorum celeberrimorum D. HOOKER & D. STONE. Postea Munere pastorali functus est apud Say-Brook per Annos 14. Illinc cum Ecclesiæ majori Parte Norvicum migravit; et ibi cæteros Vitæ Annos transegit in Opere Evangelico. In Senectute, vero præ Corporis infirmitate necessarie cessabit ab Opere publico; tandemque recessit Liberis, apud Lebanon; ubi Semianno fere exacto obdormivit in Jesu, Anno 1702, Novembris 18, Etat. 80.

Vir Ingenii Acumine, Pondere Judicii, Prudentia, Charitate, sanctis Laboribus, et omni moda Vitæ sanctitate, Peritia quoque et Vi concionandi nulli secundus.

Which may be rendered into English in the following manner.

In this grave are deposited the remains of that truly reverend man, Mr. JAMES FITCH. He was born at Boking, in the county of Essex, in England, the 24th of December, in the year of our LORD 1622. Who, after he had been most excellently taught the learned languages, came into New England, at the age of sixteen; and then spent seven years under the instruction of those very famous men, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone. Afterwards, he discharged the pastoral office, fourteen years at Saybrook. Thence he removed, with the major part of his church, to Norwich; where he spent the other years of his life in the work of the gospel. In his old age, indeed, he was obliged to cease from his public labors, by reason of bodily indisposition; and at length retired to his children at Lebanon; where, after spending nearly half a year, he slept in Jesus, in the year 1702, on the 18th day of November, in the 80th year of his age.

He was a man, as to the smartness of his genius, the solidity of his judgment, his charity, holy labors, and every kind of purity of life, and also as to his skill and energy of preaching, inferior to none.

Tomb of the Trumbull family, Lebanon.

It is believed that no cemetery in this country contains the ashes of more Revolutionary worthies than the above. The remains of two governors, one commissary general, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, are deposited within its walls. The following inscriptions are on the pedestal standing on the tomb.

Sacred to the memory of Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. who unaided by birth or powerful connexions, but blessed with a noble and virtuous mind, arrived to the highest station in government. His patriotism and firmness during 50 years employment in

public life, and particularly in the very imoprtant part he acted in the American Revolution, as Governor of Connecticut; the faithful page of History will record.

Full of years and honors, rich in benevolence, and firm in the faith and hopes of Christianity, he died August 9th, 1785, Etatis 75.

Sacred to the memory of Madam Faith Trumbull, the amiable lady of Gov. Trumbull, born at Duxbury, Mass. A. D. 1718. Happy and beloved in her connubial state, she lived a virtuous, charitable, and Christian life at Lebanon, in Connecticut; and died lamented by numerous friends, A. D. 1780, aged 62 years.

Sacred to the memory of Joseph Trumbull, eldest son of Governor Trumbull, and first Commissary Genl. of the United States of America. A service to whose perpetual cares and fatigues he fell a sacrifice, A. D. 1778, Æt. 42. Full soon indeed may his person, his virtues, and even his extensive Benevolence be forgotten by his friends and fellow men. But blessed be God! for the Hope that in his presence he shall be remembered forever.

To the memory of Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. late Governor of the State of Connecticut. He was born March 26th, 1740, and died Aug. 7th, 1809, aged 69 years. His remains were deposited with those of his Father.

This inscription is on a marble monument, standing in front of the tomb.

The remains of the Hono. William Williams are deposited in this Tomb: born April 8th, 1731: died the 2d of Aug. 1811, in the 81st year of his age, a man eminent for his virtues and Piety,-for more than 50 years he was constantly employed in Public Life, and served in many of the most important offices in the gift of his fellow citizens. During the whole period of the Revolutionary war, he was a firm, steady, and ardent friend of his country, and in the darkest times risked his life and wealth in her defense. In 1776 and 1777, he was a member of the American Congress, and as such signed the Declaration of Independence. His public and private virtues, his piety and benevolence, will long endear his memory to his surviving friends,-above all, he was a sincere Christian, and in his last moments placed his hope with humble confidence in his Redeemer. He had the inexpressible satisfaction to look back upon a long, honorable, and well spent life.

Reader,

as thou passest, drop a tear to the memory of the once eminent Academic Instructor Nathan Tisdale, a lover of Science. He marked the road to useful knowledge. A friend to his country, he inspired the flame of Patriotism. A lover of liberty and Religion, he taught others to love Liberty and aspire to a happy immortality. Having devoted his whole life from the 18th year of his age, to the duties of his profession, which he followed with distinguished usefulness to Society, he died Jan'y 5th, 1787, in the 56th year of his age.

LEDYARD.

LEDYARD, formerly North Groton, the north part of Groton, was incorporated as a town in 1836. It is about six miles square, bounded N. by Preston, E. by North Stonington and Stonington, s. by Groton, and w. by Thames river, separating it from Montville. The central part of the town is 72 miles from New London, and 73 from Norwich. It is estimated that the population is about 2,000. The inhabitants are principally farmers. The principal village in the town, is at Gale's ferry, which may consist of about thirty dwelling houses, and is about 7 miles from New London. A remnant of the Pequot tribe, consisting of about twenty persons, still remain in the northeast section of the town.

This town derived its name from Col. Ledyard, and his relative, John Ledyard, the celebrated traveler, who was a native of Groton, which at

that time included this town within its limits. The following account of his life is from Allen's American Biographical Dictionary.

"John Ledyard, a distinguished traveler, was a native of Groton in Connecticut. His father died while he was yet a child, and he was left under the care of a relative in Hartford. Here he enjoyed the advantages of a grammar school. After the death of his patron, when he was eighteen years of age, he was left to follow his own inclinations. With a view to the study of divinity he now passed a short time in Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he had an opportunity of learning the manners of the Indians, as there was a number of Indian pupils in the seminary. His acquaintance with the savage character gained in this place, was of no little advantage to him in the future periods of his life. His poverty obliging him to withdraw from the College before he had completed his education, and not having a shilling in his pocket to defray the expense of a journey to Hartford, he built him a canoe, fifty feet in length, and three in breadth, and being generously supplied with some dried venison for his sea stores, he embarked upon the Connecticut, and going down that river, which is in many places rapid, and with which he was totally unacquainted, he arrived safely at Hartford, at the distance of one hundred and forty miles.

"He soon went to New York, and sailed for London in 1771, as a common sailor. When Captain Cook sailed on his third voyage of discovery, Ledyard, who felt an irresistible desire to explore those regions of the globe which were yet undiscovered or imperfectly known, accepted the humble station of corporal of marines, rather than forego an opportunity so inviting to his inquisitive and adventurous spirit. He was a favorite of the illustrious navigator, and was one of the witnesses of his tragical end in 1778. He surprised his friends in America, who had heard nothing of him for ten years, by a visit in 1781. Having offered his services to several merchants to conduct a trading voyage to the northwest coast and meeting with no encouragement, he again embarked for England in 1782. He now resolved to traverse the continent of America from the northwest coast, which Cook had partly explored, to the eastern coast, with which he was already perfectly familiar. Disappointed in his intention of sailing on a voyage of commercial adventure to Nootka sound, he passed the British channel to Ostend, with only ten guineas in his purse, determined to travel over land to Kamschatka, whence the passage is short to the western coast of America. When he came to the gulf of Bothnia, he attempted to cross the ice, that he might reach Kamschatka by the shortest way; but finding that the water was not frozen in the middle, he returned to Stockholm. He then traveled northward into the arctic circle; and passing round the head of the gulf, descended on its eastern side to Petersburgh. There his extraordinary appearance attracted general notice. Without stockings or shoes, and too poor to provide himself with either, he was invited to dine with the Portuguese ambassador, who supplied him with twenty guineas on the credit of Sir Joseph Banks. Through his interest, he also obtained permission to accompany a detachment of stores, which was to be sent to Yakutz for the use of Mr. Billings, an Englishman, who was intrusted with the schemes of northern discovery, in which the Empress was then engaged. From Yakutz, which is situated in Siberia, six thousand miles east of Petersburgh, he proceeded to Oczakow, or Ochotsk, on the Kamschatkan sea; but as the navigation was completely obstructed by ice, he returned to Yakutz, intending to wait for the conclusion of the winter. Here, in consequence of some unaccountable suspicion, he was seized in the name of the Empress by two Russian soldiers, who conveyed him, in the depth of winter, through the north of Tartary to the frontier of the Polish dominions, assuring him at their departure, that if he returned to Russia, he should certainly be hanged, but if he chose to return to England, they wished him a pleasant journey. Poor, forlorn, and friendless, covered with rags, and exhausted by fatigue, disease and misery, he proceeded to Konigsberg, where the interest of Sir Joseph Banks enabled him to procure the sum of five guineas, by means of which he arrived in England.

"He immediately waited on Sir Joseph, who recommended him to an adventure as perilous as that from which he had just returned. He now was informed of the views

of the association, which had been lately formed for promoting the discovery of the interior parts of Africa, which were then little known. Sparrman, Paterson and Vaillant had traveled into Caffraria, and Norden and Bruce had enlarged the acquaintance of Europeans with Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia. In regard to other parts of this quarter of the globe, its geography, excepting in relation to its coasts, was involved in darkness Ledyard engaged with enthusiasm in an enterprise which he had already projected for himself: and receiving from Sir Joseph a letter of introduction to one of the members of the committee appointed to direct the business, and promote the object of the association, he went to him without delay. The description which that gentleman has given of his first interview, strongly marks the character of this hardy traveler. Before I had learned,' says he, 'from the note the name and business of my visitor, I was struck with the manliness of his person, the breadth of his chest, the openness of his countenance, and the inquietude of his eye. I spread the map of Africa before him, and tracing a line from Cairo to Sennaar, and from thence westward in the latitude and supposed direction of the Niger, I told him that was the route, by which I was anxious that Africa might, if possible be explored. He said, he should think himself singularly fortunate to be entrusted with the adventure. I asked him when he would set out? To-morrow morning, was his answer.'

"From such zeal, decision and intrepidity, the society naturally formed the most sanguine expectations. He sailed from London, June 30, 1788, and in thirty six days, seven of which were spent in Paris, and two at Marseilles, arrived in the city of Alexandria; and having there assumed the dress of an Egyptian traveler, proceeded to Cairo, which he reached on the nineteenth of August. He traveled with peculiar advantages. Endowed with an original and comprehensive genius, he beheld with interest, and described with energy, the scenes and objects around him; and by comparing them with what he had seen in other regions of the globe, he was enabled to give his narrative all the varied effect of contrast and resemblance. His remarks on Lower Egypt, had that country been less generally known, might have ranked with the most valuable of geographical records. They greatly heightened the opinion which his employers already entertained, of his singular qualifications for the task which he had undertaken. Nor was his residence at Cairo altogether useless to the association. By visiting the slave markets, and by conversing with the Jelabs, or traveling merchants of the caravans, he obtained, without any expense, a better idea of the people of Africa, of its trade, of the position of places, the nature of the country, and the manner of traveling, than he could by any other means have acquired; and the communications on these subjects, which he transmitted to England, interesting and instructive as they were, afforded the society the most gratifying proofs of the ardent spirit of enquiry, the unwearied attention, the persevering research, and the laborious, indefatigable, anxious zeal, with which their author pursued the object of his mission.

"He had announced to his employers, that he had received letters of earnest recommendation from the Aga; that the day of his departure was appointed; that his next dispatch would be dated from Sennaar; and the committee expected with impatience the result of his journey. But that journey was never to be performed. The vexation occasioned by repeated delays in the departure of the caravan, brought on a bilious complaint, which being increased at first by incautious treatment, baffled the skill of the most approved physicians of Cairo, and terminated his earthly existence, January 17, 1789.

"The society heard with deep concern the death of a man, whose high sense of honor, magnanimous contempt of danger, and earnest zeal for the extension of knowledge, had been so conspicuously displayed in their service; whose ardor, tempered by calm deliberation, whose daring spirit, seconded by the most prudent caution, and whose impatience of control, united with the power of supporting any fatigue, seemed to have qualified him above all other men, for the very arduous task of traversing the wildest and most dangerous part of the continent of Africa. Despising the accidental distinctions of society, he seemed to regard no man as his superior; but his manners, though unpolished, were not disagreeable. His uncultivated genius was peculiar and capacious. The hardships to which he submitted in the prosecution of his enterprises and in the indulgence of his curiosity, are almost incredible. He was sometimes glad to receive food as in charity to a madman, for that character he had been obliged to assume in order to avoid a heavier calamity. His judgment of the female character is very honorable to the sex. 'I have always remarked,' says he, that women in all countries are civil and obliging, tender and humane: that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest; and that they do not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action. Not haughty, nor arrogant, nor supercilious, they are full of courtesy, and fond of society; more liable in general to err than man, but in general also more virtuous, and performing more good actions, than he. To a woman, whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself, in the language of decency