154

Limits of Connecticut.

bounded east by Narraganset river, commonly called Narraganset Bay, where the river falleth into the sea; and on the north by the line of Massachusetts plantation; and on the south by the sea, and in longitude as the line of the Massachusetts colony running from east to west, that is to say, from the said Narraganset Bay on the east, to the South Sea on the west part, with the islands thereunto belonging.' "" This charter has ever fince remained the basis of the government of Connecticut, which was originally the Earl of Warwick's patent, 120 miles of two degrees in breadth, and extending from Narraganset Bay across the continent. Connecticut charter comprehended the same. But court construction in 1664, limited the 120 miles to the sea coast, instead of the two meridional degrees. New Haven people had actually made an emigration and settlement under Lord Say and Seal, at Delaware, near Philadelphia, in 1655, evidently shewing that it was the original understanding that the Earl of Warwick's patent extended two degrees in breadth below Massachusetts. But for the grati fication of the Duke of York, this was arbitrarily taken from the purchasers of Lord Say and Seal's title, and erected into the colonies of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, by the Duke.

Such was the ignorance of the Europeans, respecting the geography of America, that their pa tents extended they knew not where. Many of

them were of doubtful construction, and very often covered each other in part, and have produced innumerable disputes and mischiefs in the colonies, some of which are not settled to this day. It is not my business to touch upon these disputes. I have only to observe, that Connecticut construed her charter as authorising them to pass over New York, which was then in possession of the subjects of a christian prince, and claimed, in latitude and breadth mentioned therein, to the South Sea. Accordingly, in 1754, purchases were made of the Indians of the Six Nations, by a number of the inhabitants of Connecticut, called the Susquehannah and Delaware companies, of a large tract of land lying west of Delaware river, and thence spreading over the east and west branches of Susquehannah river, on which considerable settlements were shortly after made. These settlers were incorporated afterward by the general assembly of Connecticut, and made a distinct town, by the name of Westmoreland, and annexed to the county of Litchfield.

The charter of Pennsylvania, granted to William Penn, in 1681, covered these settlements. This laid the foundation for a dispute, which for a long time was maintained with warmth on both sides. The matter was at last submitted to gentlemen chosen for the purpose, who decided the dispute in favour of Pennsylvania. Many, however, still assert the justice of the Connecticut claim, in whose favour there was once a decision of the court.

156

Sale of Western Lands.

It will not be considered as out of place here to observe, that although Connecticut was forced to yield her claim to the lands within the limits of her charter, which were comprised within that of Pennsylvania, she did not relinquish the right her charter gave her to the lands lying west of Pennsylvania, and between that state and the Missisippi. At the close of the revolution, she ceded all her charter claims west of Pennsylvania, to Congress, reserving only a tract the width of the State of Connecticut, and 120 miles in length; bounded east, on the western line of Pennsylvania, and north by Lake Erie, containing nearly four millions of acres. This cession was accepted by Congress, which established to Connecticut her title to these lands. The legislature, of Connecticut, in 1793, granted to the sufferers in the several towns that were burnt during the war, a tract of half a million of acres, on the west end of this reservation; and in the summer of 1795, sold the remainder, consisting of about 3,300,000 acres, to Oliver Phelps, William Hart and associates, for 1,200,000 dollars. This sum, by an act of the legislature of Connecticut, passed in June, 1795, is appropriated to the support of schools in the several societies constituted by law, within the state; and also, in such societies as may request it, and by leave of the general assembly, for the support of

* See Refolves of Congress for September 14, 1786.

Union of New Haven and Connecticut. 157

the christian ministry and the public worship of God.

Two persons have been employed to explore the tract of land of which we have been speaking. They represent "that the shore of the lake (Erie) is bold, and has several good harbours; that the land in general is level, descending a little to the northwest; that it is watered by two large and a number of small rivers; that it rises into waving hills, but that there is not a mountain of any size on the whole tract; that the soil, generally speaking, is of the first quality; and that there are several salt springs, whose waters, it is asserted, yield as much salt in proportion as sea water.”

The native right to half this territory was extinguished by a treaty held several years ago, bý General Parsons. A great part of this tract falls east and south of the boundary line between the United States and the Indians, as settled by the late treaty, by General Wayne.

The colony of New Haven, though unconnected with the colony of Connecticut, was comprehended within the limits of their charter, and, as they concluded, within their jurisdiction. But New Haven remonstrated against their claim, and refused to unite with them, until they should hear from England. It was not until the year 1665, when it was believed that the king's commission, ers had a design upon the New England charters that these two colonies formed an union, which has ever since amicably subsisted between them.

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In 1672, the laws of the colony were revised, and the general court ordered them to be printed; and also," that every family should buy one of the law books; such as pay in silver to have a book for twelve pence, such as pay in wheat, to pay a peck and a half a book; and such as pay in peas, to pay two shillings a book, the peas at three shillings the bushel.” Perhaps it is owing to this early and universal spread of law books, that ́the people of Connecticut are to this day so fond of the law.

In 1750, the laws of Connecticut were again revised, and published in a small folio volume of 258 pages. Dr. Douglass observes, " that they were the most natural, equitable, plain, and concise code of laws, for plantations, hitherto extant.”

There has been a revision of them since the peace of 1783, in which they were greatly and very judiciously simplified.

The years 1675 and 1676, were distinguished by the wars with Phillip and his Indians, and with the Narragansets, by which the colony was thrown into great distress and confusion. The inroads of the enraged savages were marked with cruel murders, and with fire and devastation.

Connecticut has ever made rapid advances in population. There have been more emigrations from this, than from any of the other states, and yet it is at present full of inhabitants. This increase may be ascribed to several causes. The