Insurance Company, incorporated in 1805, with a capital which cannot be less than $100,000. There are in the city 6 Physicians, 7 At the city; it is well built, and contains a denser population than any other street. There is a communication between this street and Huntington-street, by Federal-tornies and 4 Clergymen. street, situated in the eastern sec- The city is defended by Fort tion of the city, and by Church-Trumbull and Fort Griswold; the street, situated farther west. former situated upon the NewThese streets are tolerably well London, and the latter upon the built, and the latter contains the Groton side of the river. Fort Episcopal church. Trumbull has undergone, at difUnion-street intersects Court ferent times, important repairs, and Church streets, and extends since the revolutionary war, the northerly to Federal-street. The expense of which had amounted Baptist, Methodist and Congrega-to $19,318 previously to the late tional meeting houses are situated war; during which this, and also upon this street, which communi- Fort Griswold, received additional cates with Bank-street, by Golden-repairs. street, and the latter is intersect- The first English settlement in ed by Green-street. In the back New-London was made in 1646; part of the city, upon the height and the township was laid out into of ground, is Huntington-street, lots in 1648. This place was callrunning in nearly a parallel direc-ed by the natives Nameaug; and tion with the river. This street from its being the seat of the Pehas an elevated and prospective si-quot tribe of Indians, was called tuation, overlooking most of the by the English, at an early period, other parts of the city. It affords Pequot. It was the seat of Sassaa pleasant and healthful residence, cus, the Grand Sachem of Long although it is but imperfectly built. Island and of part of Connecticut The city of New-London con- and Narragansett. New-London tains about 450 Dwelling houses, has been rendered conspicuous for more than 60 Stores of every de- its sufferings during the revolutionscription, 4 Houses for public wor-||ary war, and as the theatre of vaship, one for Congregationalists, rious hostile operations. On the one for Episcopalians, one for Bap- 6th of September, 1781, a large tists and one for Methodists; the proportion of the town was burnNaval office of the District, a Posted by Benedict Arnold. After the office, two Newspaper establish-close of the war, in 1783, the Gements, each of which issues aneral Assembly appointed Comweekly paper, the one a super-missioners to ascertain and estiroyal and the other a medium mate the damages which had been sheet; 2 Banks, one called New-sustained by the several towns in London Bank, incorporated in 1807, with a capital of $500,000; the other called Union Bank, incorporated in 1792, with a capital of $100,000; and a Marine] this State, that had been ravaged by the British troops during the war. From the investigation which was made in pursuance of this authority, it was estimated, that the damages sustained by the town of page of history, alike a monument BIOGRAPHY. Gen. Jedediah Huntington, although a native of To compensate the sufferers in Norwich, was long a resident in this, and the other towns, the Gen- this town. He died 25th Septemeral Assembly, in May 1793, grant-ber, 1818, aged 75 years; having ed them 500,000 acres of the tract survived every general officer of of land reserved by Connecticut, the revolution, except Gen. Starke, at their cession of lands to the Uni- the hero of Bennington. ted States; lying south of the west- Gen. Huntington was regularly ern part of Lake Erie, being what educated at Harvard College, and are now called the fire lands, in in early life, engaged in mercanthe western part of the western re-tile pursuits; but, at the comserve, in the State of Ohio. mencement of the revolutionary During the late war, New-Lon-contest, his active and enterprising don was again the theatre of hos-mind, and ardent attachment to tile indications. A considerable the cause of liberty and his country, squadron, under the command of would not suffer him to remain in Commodore Hardy, having chased the "dull pursuits of civil life," two of our frigates into its har- and he entered the army at an ear, bour, blockaded it for a length of ly period. In 1775, he commanded time. The concentration of a con-a regiment. His intelligence, acsiderable force of the enemy, in tivity, bravery, judgment and fidelthe vicinity of this place, produced ity as an officer, secured to him adconsiderable alarm, and occasion-vancement; the affections of the ed a large proportion of the militia, army; the respect and gratitude in the vicinity, to be called out; of his country; and the attachment and subsequently, more regular and and lasting confidence of Washingequal drafts were made, and de-ton. He continued in the service tachments of militia, from different through the war, and attained to parts of the State, were concentra- the rank of a general officer. Afted at this place and vicinity. Be-ter the peace of 1783, securing the sides the militia, there was a con- independence of the colonies, the siderable body of United States' object of his solicitude and of his troops stationed here. The forts toils, he retired to his residence in were well supplied, and strongly his native state, were he was emgarrisoned; but, notwithstanding ployed in various civil offices, unthe "dreadful note of preparation," til appointed by President Washthe enemy made no attempt upon ington collector of the public revca town, which, nearly forty years nue of the port of New-London; before, they had reduced to deso- the duties of which office he dislation, and its inhabitants to ruin, charged, to the entire satisfaction by a spirit of warfare, which be- of the public and the government, longs only to barbarians. New-during a period, embracing four London will long remain upon the successive administrations. tion, and, uniting with the She NORWICH, a wealthy commercial post town, and the semi-tucket, forms the harbour. This seat of justice of the county, is stream, about a mile from its situated at the head of navigation, mouth, has a very remarkable caon the Thames or Pequot river, taract. The bed of the river conin north lat. 41° 34' and west lon. sists of a solid rock, having a per72° 29'. It is 13 miles north of pendicular height of ten or twelve New-London, and 38 southeast of feet, over which the whole body Hartford; bounded on the north of water falls in an entire sheet by Franklin, on the east by the upon a bed of rocks below. The Shetucket and Thames rivers, river here is compressed into a which separate it from Lisbon and very narrow channel, the banks Preston, on the south by Mont-consisting of solid rock, and being ville, and on the west by Franklin bold and elevated. For a distance and Bozrah. The township has of fifteen or twenty rods, the chanan average length of 7 miles, with | |nel or bed of the river has a graa medium breadth of about 3 dual descent, is crooked and comiles, comprising an area of about vered with pointed rocks. The 21 square miles. rock, forming the bed of the river at the bottom of the perpen ted, some of the cavities being five or six feet deep, from the constant pouring of the sheet of water for a succession of ages. At the bottom of the falls, there is a broad bason, where the enraged and agitated element assumes its usual smoothness and placidity. The scenery at these falls is peculiarly novel and sublime; and the river here affords some of the finest sites for hydraulic works that are to be found in the State, or perhaps in New-England. The surface of the township presents an interesting diversity |dicular falls, is curiously excavaof hill and dale. Its geological character is primitive, and the prevailing soil is a dark coloured gravelly loam, generally strong and fertile. The natural growth consists of oak,walnut,chesnut and other deciduous trees; and the agricultural productions, of Indian corn, grass, butter, cheese, &c. Upon the borders of the Thames, Shetucket and the Yantic, there are considerable tracts of alluvial, which are very productive in Indian corn. The uplands are best adapted to grazing. various objects of husbandry and horticulture, common to the State, are attended to in this town. The There is a safe and commodious harbour, formed from the union of the Yantic with the Shetucket; it consists of a spacious bason, and has sufficient depth of water to admit of vessels of considerable burthen. The township is well watered, its eastern border being washed, throughout its whole length from north to south, by the Thames There are two principal bridges and Shetucket; and its area in- in the town, one across the mouth tersected by the Yantic, which of the Yantic, which is a permaruns through the town in a north-nent and commodious bridge, coneasterly and southwesterly direc-[structed in the form of a wharf, and at a great expense; and one || thodists, 1 of Baptists and 1 of Episacross the Shetucket, which is a copalians; 15 primary Schools; toll bridge, erected in 1817, at an 10 practising Attornies, 6 Clergyexpense of $10,000, and connect-men and 5 Physicians. ing the town with Preston. Besides The aggregate list of the town, in 1817, was $60,371. The civil divisions of the town are 2 Parishes or located Societies, 15 School Districts and an The fisheries in the Thames are important; large quantities of shad, and some salmon, being annually taken. Oysters also abound in this river. They are taken plentifully, and are of an excellent fla vour. Norwich City was incorporated in May, 1784. Its limits are extensive, and comprise a great proportion of the population of the township. It is divided into three distinct and compact sections; the first and most important is Chelsea Landing. This section is situated Norwich is accommodated with at the point of land formed by the several Turnpike roads; one lead-junction of Shetucket and Yantic ing to Providence, one to Hartford, rivers, whose united waters constithrough Lebanon, one to the same tute the Thames. Its site is very place through Colchester, one to irregular and romantic, consisting New-London, one to Woodstock, of the declivity of a hill, which is one to Windham, and one authori-high and rocky. The houses are zed to New-Haven, and laid out as far as Connecticut river. built in tiers, rising one above another, having partially artificial foundations. There are here more than 150 Houses, a Post office, 4 Churches, more than 30 Stores, several excellent public Inns, vari The population of Norwich, in 1810, was 3528; and there are about 400 Electors, and 4 Companies of Militia, 1 Regular Company, 1 of Artillery, 1 of Light In-ous Warehouses, Mechanics' shops, fantry and 1 of Cavalry. &c. This is a compact settlement, There are in Norwich 568 Dwel- and an active and busy place; beling Houses, about 45 Dry Goods, ing the seat of most of the comHardware, and Crockery Stores,||mercial and maritime business of 2 Book Stores, 2 or more Drug-the town. The next section is gists' Stores, 2 Paper Mills, 1 Mar- called the Town; and is situated ble Paper Manufactory, 1 Gin Dis-in a pleasant vale, partially surtillery, 1 Pottery, 2 Manufactories rounded with lofty hills, about two of Morocco Leather, 1 Cotton Fac-miles northwest from Chelsea. tory, containing 1200 spindles, 1 This section is more extensive, Woolen Factory, 1 Carding Ma- but less compact than Chelsea, chine for customers, 5 Tanneries, consisting of a number of pleasant, 6 Grain Mills and 6 Saw Mills. rural streets. Here there is a There are 6 Religious Societies, spacious public square, a Court 2 of Congregationalists, 2 of Me-||House, Post office, Church, and about 200 Houses and Stores. The was extensive and important, and other section, which is called Bean rapidly increasing. The tonnage Hill, is situated upon the Hartford of the place, for one of its size, road, in the western part of the was very great; there having once town. It consists principally of been 6000 tons of shipping owned one street, is less compact and here. But for several years since, populous than either of the other, from the general declension of the and has little commercial busi-West India trade, and from variness; but is a pleasant and pros-ous other causes, tending to divert pective situation, and affords a very agreeable residence. the industry and capital of the place into other channels, the comIn Norwich city there are about merce of Norwich has very much 500 Dwelling houses, 5 or 6 Hou- declined. There are at present ses for public worship, a Court but 12 vessels owned here, which House and County Gaol. Besides are employed principally in a the public District Schools, alrea-coasting trade to New-York and dy noticed, there are in the city elsewhere. There is a line of two Schools for young ladies, and steam-boats which communicates several other private Schools, for between this place and New-York. instruction in the common and Norwich is the natural depot of higher branches of education. the produce of a back country of There is one respectable Social considerable extent, upon the two Library, consisting of about 500 great branches of the Thames ; volumes. There is one Newspa-and, being at the head of navigaper establishment, a Bank, called ble waters, and uniting other adthe Norwich Bank, incorporated vantages, its commercial interests in 1796, with a capital of $200,000; are respectable, although its navia Fire Insurance Company, incor-gation business is but inconsideraporated in 1818, with a capital of ble. It is also favourably situated $100,000; a Mutual Assurance for the fishing business, which reCompany, and the Norwich Chan-ceives considerable attention; it nel Company, incorporated some possesses superior advantages for years since, for the purpose of manufactures, which at no distant. improving the navigation of the period, it is believed, will be imriver Thames, below Chelsea Lan- proved to an extent corresponding ding. with the private interests and public utility, that must ultimately proceed from the permanent and extensive establishment of manufactures in this country. From these and other considerations, it is believed that the population, business and importance of Norwich will progress in an equal ratio with those of most of the other considerable towns in the State. Norwich, situated at the head of navigable waters, and having a considerably extensive interior country, generally well settled and flourishing, possesses very considerable advantages for commerce. Its commercial interests, however, and its general prosperity, have experienced various vicissitudes. At one period, the commercial business of Norwich |