was indebted to the boldness of his sentiments, the peremptoriness of his decisions, and the paradoxical nature of his opinions.*

Manchester is a pretty town, lying on the Battenkill; a branch of Hudson's river. This stream rises in Dorset, the next township above Manchester; and has heretofore received the waters of a spring, a part of which entered Lake Champlain by Otter creek, and thence was discharged in the gulph of St. Lawrence: while the remainder mingled with the ocean at Sandy Hook, below New-York: the distance between the two points being not far from a thousand miles.

Manchester is built on a single street, commencing near the foot of the mountain on the West, and lying along a beautiful plain 'for about a mile. The situation is rarely equalled, unless on the border of a considerable river, or of the ocean. The soil is inferiour to that of Bennington and Shaftesbury. The houses are good farmers' dwellings.

The inhabitants of Manchester, like those of many other new settlements, are divided in their religious opinions; but with a catholicism, less common than could be wished, have generally agreed to employ, successively, preachers of the several denominations of religions in the town, whenever they could find those, against whose character, deportment, and preaching, there could be no reasonable objection. By this spirit of concession they

* Dr. Elliot, who removed from Guilford in Connecticut, to Vermont, was well acquainted with Col. Allen, and made him a visit at a time when his daughter was sick, and near to death. He was introduced to the Library, where the Colonel read to him some of his writings with much self-complacency, and asked, is not that well done? While they were thus employed, a messenger entered and informed Col. Allen, that his daughter was dying, and desired to speak with him. He immediately went to her chamber, accompanied by Dr. Elliot, who was desirous of witnessing the interview. The wife of Col. Allen was a pious woman, and had instructed her daughter in the principles of christianity. As soon as her father appeared at her bedside, she said to him, 'I am about to die; shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe in what my mother has taught me?" He became extremely agitated; his chin quivered; his whole frame shook; and after waiting a few moments, he replied, 'Believe what your mother has taught you.'

For the facts in the preceding account, I am indebted to a gentleman of Killingworth, who received them from his kinsman, Dr. Elliot.-Pub.

have extensively secured to themselves, what otherwise would have been unattainable, the public worship of God.

Manchester contained, in 1790, 1,276 inhabitants; in 1800, 1,397; and, in 1810, 1,502.

From Manchester to Danby we took a road, on which travelling had recently been commenced. After turning North-East over the plain, on which Manchester is built, it resumed its Northern, and proper direction round the end of a mountain on the West, and entered a narrow defile between this and the Green Mountains. Our progress here, for several miles, was dark and dreary. The sun was hidden in a moment. Uncultivated, shaggy mountains, on both sides, forbade every excursion of the eyes. A swamp, with a brook, which flowed heavily from it, bordered our road on the East. The road itself was indifferent. The houses, apparently dropped down into this desert region, were few and solitary. The fields were thinly scattered, lonely, and half-cultivated: and the inhabitants appeared, as if they had fled to a place, where the world would never find them again.

The only object of curiosity, which we met with in this region, was a multitude of white stones, of very hard granite, thickly spread over a tract about a mile in length. They were all rounded, apparently by being long covered with water; and were the only specimens of granite which I had observed, after leaving the Green Mountains in Cornwall.

The inn, at which we terminated this desolate ride, was a humble one, but very welcome to us: especially, as it was inhabited by people who were very friendly and obliging.

The next morning, Thursday, September 26th, we rode to Rutland before dinner: twenty miles. Our journey lay along the principal branch of Otter Creek. The road differed little from that, which has been last described: but the mountain on the West, having terminated in Wallingford, we escaped from our defile into an open, and more agreeable, country.

Of Harwich, Dorset, and Wallingford, through the skirts of which the principal part of our progress was made, after we left

Manchester, I know nothing, except what I have already mentioned. Dorset, which lies on the other side of the Western mountain, and on the road formerly used, is said to be a pleasant, and considerable town. Clarendon lies immediately South of Rutland, at the foot of the Green Mountains. It presented to us several good houses; a decently appearing church; several mills; a number of promising farms; and other appearances of prosperity. These observations are, however, made from memory, for I find, that I have taken no notes concerning either of these townships.

Dorset contained in 1790, 958; in 1800, 1,286; in 1810, 1,294 inhabitants.

Harwich contained in 1790, 165; in 1800, 153; in 1810, 209 inhabitants.

Wallingford contained in 1790, 536; in 1800, 912; in 1810, 1,386 inhabitants.

Clarendon contained in 1790, 1,478; in 1800, 1,789; in 1810, 1,797 inhabitants.

During this journey, we lodged at an inn, where we found, what I never before saw in New-England, a considerable number of men, assembled on Saturday evening, for the ordinary purposes of tavern-haunting. They continued their orgies until near two o'clock in the morning; scarcely permitting us to sleep at all. Early the next morning, these wretches assembled again, for their Sunday morning dram, when we left the inn, and went to a neighbouring house, as early as possible, disgusted with the manners of so irreligious a family. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER V.

Rutland Judge Williams-Pittsford-Brandon-Leicester-Salisbury—Middlebury-Marble quarry-Middlebury College--Woodstock-Barnard-Stockbridge-Rochester-Hancock-Ripton.

Dear Sir,

THE settlement of Rutland commenced about the year 1785; and furnishes a very honourable proof of the industry, and enterprise, of the inhabitants. The situation is a beautiful plain, in a handsome, open expansion, at a sufficient distance from the Green Mountains to furnish a fine, uncrowded view of them, and limited on the West, very pleasantly, by a range of hills, moderately elevated.

The soil of Rutland is somewhat inferiour to that of Bennington; but is still excellent. Iron ore is found, extensively, both here, and in the neighbourhood; as is also pipe clay; of which, it is said, crucibles have been successfully formed. The township is settled, throughout, in scattered plantations. The town consists, principally, of a single street, not far from a mile in length. Several of the houses are handsome; and the whole group well-appearing. The church, which was early erected, is an ordinary building; and the court-house (for Rutland is a County town) decent. Every thing, indeed, wears the appearance of ease and prosperity.

We spent our time very agreeably at the house of Judge Williams, until Friday morning. This gentleman being since dead, it will not be improper to remark, that he raised himself by the dint of his own well-directed efforts, to a useful station, and a very respectable character, in society. Plain and unaffected in his manners, he possessed a sound understanding, immovable integrity, and an elevated public spirit. Perhaps no man in the circle, in which he lived, enjoyed more entirely the confidence of his countrymen. A little before his death he was honoured with a numerous suffrage, as a candidate for a seat in the National Le

gislature. He died of an injury, received by being thrown out of his sleigh. In his life, and in his death, he exhibited unquestioned proofs of genuine piety, and has left behind him an unstained and honourable character.

Rutland contains two parishes. West-Rutland, the second parish, is remarkable for having a regular minister, who is a man of colour. This is the first instance of the kind, which has ever existed in New-England.

Rutland contained, in the year 1790, 1,407 inhabitants; in 1800, 2,125; and, in 1810, 2,379.

:

We left Rutland on Friday morning; and rode to Middlebury, through Pittsford, Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury thirty-two miles. The road lies wholly along Otter Creek. It is little wrought, and of course indifferent; and the last part of the distance for about eight miles, was to us dangerous. The soil, here, is clay; and the season had been wet. Wherever the water lies, and particularly wherever a rill crosses the path, it becomes speedily soft, and ultimately a quagmire; the sides of which are perpendicular, like those of a pit. Into these places a horse descends as suddenly, as into a crack in a sheet of ice; and exposes both himself and his rider to the most dangerous evils. We left Rutland late in the morning; and were obliged to accomplish this part of our journey in the night. The heavens were overcast with clouds; the darkness was early, and intense; and our road passed through a thick forest. With a snail-like progress, therefore, we trembled through this part of our way until we arrived at Middlebury.

We crossed the skirts of the towns, mentioned above. In Pittsford we met with a few good farmers' houses. In the others, Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury, log-houses, which we had hardly seen at all since we entered the State, except in the defile between Manchester and Rutland, began to multiply upon us. Barns also, causeys, and bridges, constructed of the same material, and other proofs of an incipient cultivation, were comparatively numerous. Pines abounded on the road; and the soil was chiefly light, and indifferent.