Prologue, on the establishment of a new Theatre in Hartford. Written and spoken by
Mr. Hodgkinson.

Here, while fair peace spreads her protecting wing,
Science and Art, secure from danger spring,
Guarded by freedom-strengthen'd by the laws,
Their progress must command the world's applause.

While thro' all Europe, horrid discord reigns,
And the destructive sword crimsons her plains:
O! be it ours to shelter the opprest,

Here let them find peace, liberty and rest;
Upheld by Washington, at whose dread name,
*Proud Anarchy retires with fear and shame.

Among the liberal arts, behold the stage,
Rise, tho' oppos'd by stern fanatic rage!
Prejudice shrinks, and as the cloud gives way,
Reason and candor, brighten up the day.
No immorality, now stains our page,
No vile obscenity-in this blest age.

Where mild RELIGION takes her heavenly reign,
The stage the purest precepts must maintain:
If from this rule it swerv'd at any time,

It was the People's, not the Stage's crime.

Let them spurn ought that's out of virtue's rule,
The Stage will ever be a virtuous school.

And though 'mong players some there may be found,
Whose conduct is not altogether sound,
The Stage, is not alone in this to blame,
Ev'ry profession will have still the same:
A virtuous sentiment from vice may come!
The libertine may praise a happy home;
Your remedy is good with such a teacher;
Imbibe the precept, but condemn the preacher.

Connecticut Courant, Nov. 19th, 1795. WHEN the Editors of the Connecticut Courant and American Mercury first enlarged their papers, they flattered themselves that they should be able to continue them at the original price of seven shillings per annum, without subjecting themselves to too great a loss. But from the very great rise of every article of family consumption, and the consequent depreciation of money, they find it no longer practicable. În doing it, they are subjecting themselves to a loss of nearly one half the real value of their labor. Allowing their papers to have been as good as they formerly were before their enlargement, they presume that their customers would have justified them for increasing the price of them in proportion to the increase of their size. And since every thing else has risen at least fifty per cent. and some articles more than a hundred, they conceive it but reasonable that they should, after previously notifying their customers, float along with the general tide. Influenced by these motives, they hereby inform their customers, that from the first of January next, the price of the Connecticut Courant and American Mercury will be nine shillings per annum, or two shillings and three pence a quarter, which is only about half the advance of almost every other article. At the same time that they acknowledge with grateful sensations, the liberal encouragement which a generous public have given them, they engage that no exertion on their part shall be wanting to merit a continuance of it; and that they will endeavor to render their papers acceptable to their customers, by embracing every opportunity which may offer for improving them.

HUDSON & GOODWIN,
ELISHA BABCOCK.

P. S. Those who have paid for their papers in advance, will have them continued agreeable to contract.

Connecticut Courant, Jan. 11, 1796. To the Towns of Hartford and East Hartford,-You are no strangers to the abuses practised at your ferry, but you do not reform them. They are become so enormous

*The Western insurrection.

that to be silent longer, would be a crime. I have only to charge the ferrymen of East Hartford with extortion-they are obliging and attentive; but those of Hartford with drunkenness, inattention, delay and extortion. Within a few days past the ferrymen at Hartford refused to carry over two travellers unless they would wait half an hour, which as they were in haste, they refused, and went to Wethersfield to pass the ferry. I often cross the ferry, and have complained in vain. A gentleman advised me to prosecute the ferrymen-I have neither time nor inclination to do so; but I expect the impartial printers in Hartford will publish this, and I promise them if they do so, and there is not a reformation, I will use my influence to have a petition from a very respectable number of injured citizens to the General Assembly, praying for redress, in which I will enumerate facts to show that I have not told half in this paper. I will prove them all from the inhabitants of the two towns. If the present fare be too low, I have no objection to its being raised by law; but two, three, and four fold, to be collected unlawfully is too much, without adding delay and insult. A TRAVELLER.

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 Mc Iver, 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 fill'd 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.

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 central Congregational Church.

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF MR. DAVID GARDINER OF GARDINERS ISLAND DECEASED IVLY 10. 1689 IN THE FIFTY FOVRTH YEAR OF HIS AGE. WELL, SICK, DEAD IN

ONE HOVRS SPACE

ENGRAVE THE REMEMBRANCE OF DEATH ON THINE HEART
WHEN AS THOV DOST SEE HOW SWIFTLY 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 nor 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 Lion 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 Saybrook fort four years-it is at the mouth of Connecticut river-of which I was commander, and there was born to 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.

NEW ENGLAND'S GLORY & HER RADIANT CROWNE,
WAS HE WHO NOW ON SOFTEST BED OF DOWNE,
TIL 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 assistent 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 Wonder working 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 foild by thee;

Thou daily dost to godlinesse exhort.

The Lordly Prelates people do deny

Christs Kingly power Hozanna to proclaime,

Mens mouths are stopt, but Stone poore dust doth try,
Throughout his Churches none but Christ must 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 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 pow'r 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 and humble virtues, which adorn the Christian character, as he lived, so he died