Connecticut Courant, June 12th, 1797. On Saturday the 10th inst. the sentence of death was executed in this town upon Richard Done, a native of Ireland, for the murder of Daniel McIver, on the 4th of July, A. D. 1796. As there had not been an execution in this place for a considerable number of years, a large concourse of people collected from the neighboring towns to witness this melancholy spectacle. It is generally thought there were from six to ten thousand persons present.

At one o'clock, P. M. the people congregated on the east side of the State House in this city, from the portico of which the Rev. Mr. Strong delivered a sermon (by particular desire of the unhappy prisoner) from the following words of the prophet Hosea, chapter vi. verse 6. "For I desired mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offering." About three o'clock the prisoner, guarded by two companies of militia, attended by several clergymen, the high sheriff of the county of Hartford, and his deputies, proceeded to the place of execution; and at half past four, the scaffold was dropped from under him. As he had from the first, so he to the last moment of his existence, persisted in denying his having been guilty of wilful murder. He told the same story uniformly. On this occasion every part of the exercise was performed with the greatest decency and propriety; and we are happy to add, that amid such a number of people, no unfortunate accident took place.

Connecticut Courant, Hartford Dec. 30th, 1799. IN consequence of the afflicting intelligence of the death of General Washington, divine services were performed at the north meeting house in this town on Friday last. The town never exhibited a more solemn and interesting appearance. Notice having been given to the inhabitants of this and the neighboring towns, the concourse of people was greater than almost ever was known on any former occasion. The stores and shops were shut through the day--all business suspended--the bells were muffled, and tolled at intervals, from nine in the morning until the services commenced. The meeting house was greatly crowded, and still a large proportion of the people could not get in at the doors. The services were appropriate, solemn and impressive. A very eloquent and pathetic sermon was delivered by the Rev. Nathan Strong, to a most attentive, devout, and mourning audience, from Exod. xi. 3. "And the man Moses was very great," &c. The music was solemn and sublime; and the whole scene exhibited in the strongest of all possible colors, the deep affliction of the people at a loss utterly irreparable. The floods of tears, the badges of mourning which were universally worn, the church hung in black, a procession of many hundreds of persons, composed of men of all classes, and the solemn grief pictured on every countenance, made impressions on the minds of the beholders, which many years will not efface. We presume that the sentiments and feelings which inspired the persons present, pervade the country, on the distressing event which called them together. However divided into parties on political subjects, with respect to the character of this great man, we trust there is but one opinion in the United States. As he lived beloved and admired, he has died truly lamented; and his memory will be honored as long as wisdom, virtue and piety shall be esteemed among men. "The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places; how are the mighty fallen."

The following Hymn* was sung on the melancholy occasion

What solemn sounds the ear invade!
What wraps the land in sorrow's shade!
From Heaven the awful mandate flies,

The Father of his Country dies.

Let every heart be filled with woe,

Let every eye with tears o'erflow,

Each form oppressed with deepest gloom,
Be clad in vestments of the tomb.

Behold that venerable band!
The rulers of our mourning land,

With grief proclaim from shore to shore,
"Our guide, our WASHINGTON's no more!"

Where shall our country turn its eye?
What help remains beneath the sky?

Our Friend, Protector, Strength and Trust,
Lies low and mouldering in the dust.

* Written by Theodore Dwight, Esq.

Almighty God, to thee we fly-
Before thy Throne above the sky,
In deep prostration humbly bow,
And pour the penitential vow.

Hear, O Most High! our earnest prayer-
"Our country take beneath thy care,

"When dangers press, and foes draw near,
"May future Washingtons appear."

The following epitaphs and inscriptions are copied from monuments in the ancient burying ground, back of the Centre Church.*

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF MR. DAVID GARDINER OF GARDINER'S ISLAND Deceased IVLY 10. 1689 IN THE FIFTY FOVRTH YEAR OF HIS AGE. WELL, SICK, Dead in one

HOVES SPACE

ENGRAVE THE REMEMBRANCE OF DEATH ON THINE HEART
WHEN AS THOV DOST SEE HOW SWIFLY HOVRS DEPART

The above inscription is on a plain slab of red sandstone, a little north of the central part of the yard. David Gardiner, whose death it records, was the first white child born in Connecticut. He removed, it appears, with his father, Lyon Gardiner, to Gardiner's Island, and coming to Hartford, probably on public business, died suddenly. The stone is placed horizontally over his grave, and (1836) partly imbedded in the earth, and was with some difficulty deciphered. John G. Gardiner, Esq., the gentleman to whom the author is indebted for the account of Capt. Kidd, (p. 23), mentions that his father erected a monument to the memory of his ancestors on Gardiner's Island, in June, 1806. On this monument it is stated, that Lyon Gardiner died in 1663. "David, his son, born at Saybrook, April 29, 1636, the first white child born in Connecticut, died 16-. Mary, his wife, whom he married at Westminster, England, died 16-." It appears by this that Mr. Gardiner did not know at what time or at what place his ancestor died; it was supposed by the family, (previous to the discovery of the monument at Hartford, by the author of this work, in 1835), that he was buried somewhere on Gardiner's Island.

"We have," says Mr. Gardiner, "an old Bible in the house, which belonged to Lyon Gardiner, upon a blank leaf of which the following is written.

"In the year of our Lord, 1635, the 10th of July, came I, Lyon Gardiner and Mary my wife, from Worden, a town in Holland, where my wife was born, being the daughter of one Diricke Willemson deureant; her mother's name was Hachir, and her aunt, sister of her mother, was the wife of Wouter Leanerdson, old burger Muster, dwelling in the hostrade, over against the Bruser in the Unicorne's head; her brother's name was Punce Garretson, also old burger Muster. We came from Worden to London, and from thence to New England, and dwelt at

The citizens of Hartford have quite recently raised 1,500 dollars for the purpose of improving the ancient burying ground: all the old monuments have been replaced and repaired; graveled walks have been made, numerous shade and other trees have been set out, and it is expected that during the present year (1837) a handsome obelisk, inscribed with the names of the first settlers of the town, will be erected. This well merited token of respect - to the memory and ashes of the venerated dead, is in accordance with the best feelings of our nature, and it is hoped that this honorable example of the citizens of Hartford, will be followed in other places.

Saybrook fort four years-it is at the mouth of Connecticut river-of which I was commander, and there was born unto me a son, named David, 1635, the 29th of April, the first born in that place, and 1638 a daughter was born, named Mary, 30th of August, and then I went to an island of my own, which I had bought and purchased of the Indians, called by them Monchonack, by us Isle of Wight, and there was born another daughter, named Elizabeth, the 14th September, 1641, she being the first child of English parents that was born there."

R

AN EPITAPH ON M SAMUEL STONE, DECEASED YE 61
YEARE OF HIS AGE IVLY 20 1663.

NEWENGLAND'S GLORY & HER RADIANT CROWNE,
WAS HE WHO NOW ON SOFTEST BED OF DOWNE,
TILL GLORIOUS RESURRECTION MORNE APPEARE,
DOTH SAFELY, SWEETLY SLEEPE IN JESUS HERE,
IN NATURE'S SOLID ART, & REASONING WELL,
TIS KNOWNE, BEYOND COMPARE, HE DID EXCELL:
ERRORS CORRUPT, BY SINNEWOUS DISPUTE,
HE DID OPPVGNE, & CLEARLY THEM CONFUTE:
ABOVE ALL THINGS HE CHRIST HIS LORD PREFERRD,
HARTFORD, THY RICHEST JEWEL'S HERE INTERD.

The above inscription is on a plain slab of red sandstone or freestone, about five inches in thickness, raised on blocks of the same, a short distance from the ground. Another slab of the same material is by its side, on which is an inscription in memory of Mr. Hooker, styled by the author of the Magnalia "the light of the western churches." This inscription has been put upon the stone in the course of a few years past; the engraving is in imitation of the ancient method of making letters.

In memory of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, who, in 1636, with his assistant Mr. Stone, removed to Hartford with about 100 persons, where he planted ye first church in Connecticut, an eloquent, able and faithful minister of Christ. He died July 7th, Æt. LXI.

The following lines respecting Mr. Stone, are from "The Wonderworking Providence," &c, said to have been written by Capt. Edward Johnson, the first settler, and for many years representative in the General Court, for Woburn, Mass. Capt. Johnson was from Kent in England; he died in 1672.

"Thou well smooth'd Stone Christs work-manship to be;

In's Church new laid his weake ones to support,
With's word of might his foes are foil'd by thee;
Thou daily dost to godliness exhort.

The Lordly Prelates people do deny

Christs Kingly power Hozanna to proclaime,

Mens mouths are stopt, but Stone poor dust doth try,
Throughout his Churches none but Christ doth raigne.
Mourne not Oh Man, thy youth and learning's spent;
In desart Land, my Muse is bold to say,

For glorious workes Christ his hath hither sent;
Like that great worke of Ressurrection day."

The following is on a plain upright marble slab, in the western part of the yard.

The General Convention of the Universal Churches, in memory of their dear departed Brother, the Rev. Elhanan Winchester, erected this monumental stone. He died April 18th, 1797, aged 46 years.

'Twas thine to preach with animated zeal

The glories of the Restitution morn,

When Sin, Death, Hell, the power of Christ shall feel,
And Light, Life, Immortality, be born.

The following are copied from monuments in the new burying ground, north of the city, on the Windsor road.

Beneath this monument are deposited the remains of the Rev. NATHAN STRONG, D. D. Pastor of the Church in the First Ecclesiastical Society in Hartford. Endowed with rare talents, and eminent for learning and eloquence, he zealously devoted himself to the cause of Religion: and, after many years of faithful services, approved and blessed by the Holy Spirit, he fell asleep in Jesus, deeply lamented by his friends, the people of his charge, and the church of Christ. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors."

This monument is erected by the First Ecclesiastical Society in Hartford, in memory of the Rev. Nathan Strong, D. D. born 16th October, 1748, ordained 5th January, 1774, died 25th December, 1816.

In memory of Mary Ann Dodd, who departed this life March 26, 1813, aged 27 years, wife of Elisha Dodd.

"Pleasant be thy rest, O lovely beam, soon hast thou set on our hills."

On the same monument are recorded the deaths of three young children of Mr. Dodd. This is accompanied with another beautiful and expressive quotation from Ossian, viz:

"They fell like three young Oaks which stood alone on the hill. The traveller saw the lovely trees, and wondered how they grew so lonely. The blast of the desert came by night, and laid their green heads low. Next day he returned, but they were withered, and the heath was bare.""

This monument, erected as a tribute of filial affection, is sacred to the memory of the Rev. James Cogswell, D. D. He was born Jan. 6, 1720, and died Jan. 2, 1807. Sixty years a faithful laborer in the vineyard of his Lord: eminently distinguished by those mild

An affecting anecdote, showing the "ruling passion strong in death," is related respecting Dr. Cogswell. During his last illness, he forgot his dearest friends, and even his own name. When asked if he remembered his son, Mason, (a son with whom he lived, and to whom he was much attached,) he replied, "I do not recollect that ever I had a son;" but when asked whether he remembered the Lord Jesus Christ, he revived at once, exclaiming, "O yes, I do remember him: he is my GoD and REDEEMER."

and humble virtues which adorn the Christian character, as he lived, so he died, a shining example of faith. When his dearest friends were forgotten, CHRIST still lived in his remembrance. He expired triumphantly, exclaiming "I do remember him: he is my God and Redeemer."

my

United in death, here rest the remains of Mason F. Cogswell, M. D., who died Dec. 17th, 1830, aged 69 years-and of Alice Cogswell, who died Dec. 30, 1830, aged 25 years-the Father distinguished for his private virtues and public spirit, and his professional worth: and the daughter, (though deprived of hearing and speech,) for her intellectual attainments and loveliness of character. The American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, which, under Providence, owes its origin to the father's tenderness toward his child, and his sympathy for her fellow sufferers, will stand an enduring monument to their memory, when this shall have perished.

AVON.

THIS town was originally a parish in the north part of Farmington, by the name of Northington. It was incorporated as a distinct town in 1830. It is bounded N. by Canton and Simsbury, E. by Hartford and Bloomfield, w. by Burlington, and s. by Farmington. It is about 6 miles in length, and upwards of 5 in breadth. This township is for the most part a level and fertile tract of land, in the valley of the Farmington river, between two mountainous ridges, on the east and west. The population of the town in 1830, was 1,025.

The above is a representation of the central part of Avon, as it appears to the observer while descending Talcott mountain to the westward. This place is 9 miles from Hartford, and 6 north of Farmington. Farmington river runs nearly at the base of this mountain at this place. Its course is seen in the engraving, by the tops of the trees and bushes in the fore ground, immediately before the person who is looking to the westward: immediately above the head of the person represented, is seen the Baptist church, without a spire, having eight windows on the