London in the capacity of a guest. It is very evident in coming here, that we touch historic ground, where, in other days, patriots of the sternest and highest type were created. That you wish to preserve their memorials, is shown by the Daughters of the Revolution here at Groton. In Worcester, we have the same interest shown by the women. Their efforts go farther than the efforts of the men in that direction. The American Antiquarian Society, with which I am connected in Worcester, was founded by Isaiah Thomas, in 1812. He was the great printer of his day. He established the Society for antiquarian research. Books and relics of that time are preserved in the library, and are exceedingly useful."

Mr. Ely then introduced Hon. Ledyard Bill, of Worcester, who, after telling a good story, spoke briefly and expressed his pleasure at being present.

The next speaker called upon was Hon. A. S. Roe, of Worcester, who spoke in his usual interesting way of the places we had visited and were yet to visit on this occasion, saying that he was sure every one was going home filled with pleasure at what they had seen here. He said it was a long time since the events which made these towns famous took place, and we are not here to fight old issues over again. He told how he had visited Hartford, after his service in the War of the Rebellion, and had there seen the vest worn by Col. Ledyard, when he was killed, and he was glad that it was no man of English birth who did the deed. "To-day," he said, "we have climbed the hill to the old fort, and we have held the famous sword in our hands. Then some doubting Thomas says, 'Are you sure that it was the very sword he was killed with?' Away with all such doubts! Now we come back to this side of the Thames to see the place where Nathan Hale taught school." In concluding his remarks, the speaker expressed the wish that the New London societies might some day return our visit, and come to Worcester.

At this point in the speech-making, an announcement was made that there was present in the room a veritable Son of the Revolution, whose father fought at Bunker Hill. This gentleman, Mr. Burbeck, son of Brigadier-Gen. Henry Burbeck, was then introduced, and, upon rising was greeted with three hearty cheers. He is now past eighty years of age, and after the close of the speaking, the members of our party had the pleasure of shaking him by the hand.

The last speaker of the day was Mr. Jonathan Trumbull, of Norwich, President of the Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution, who spoke substantially as follows: "Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I feel that I have done more talking than I should have done to-day, but I have the same excuse that the old minister had for his long sermon,-that he had not time to make it shorter! I believe that I have the distinction of being the only representative from Norwich here to-day. But we are all really now one in any undertaking of this kind. I represent the town which is said to be about twenty years behind New London. That ought to make it all the more interesting to antiquarians. I hope you will sometime take in the town of Norwich. We, also, are distinguished for possessing a great battle-field, the one where the great battle was fought between two tribes of Indians. Uncas won the fight, and captured Miantonomoh. We have the place in Norwich where he was captured, but Winthrop's Journal says that he was executed somewhere between Norwich and Hartford."

The speaking, which had been frequently applauded, now being concluded, the party took their departure from the hotel, and found two electric cars waiting for them. These were soon filled, and, under the guidance of our New London friends, we started to visit as many of the interesting historical points of the city as our time would permit. There is an abundant opportunity here for the

visitor to indulge his antiquarian tastes. It is true that, in 1781, Benedict Arnold burned a large part of New London, but many old houses escaped the general doom, and stand to-day as memorials of the long vanished past.1

Perhaps the most interesting thing which we saw in New London in the way of buildings was the old mill, a venerable relic of the olden time. This mill, the first place we now visited, is said to have been built by Governor Winthrop, in 1651. We heard a whispered remark that the original mill was burned in 1710, and this present building was erected a year or two later; but even allowing this to be so, the structure would still be at least one hundred and ninety years old, and is in fine preservation, it being, strange to say, still in running order, as was soon demonstrated to us by the obliging miller, who turned the water on to the great overshot wheel, thirty feet in diameter, setting the machinery in motion. This was one of the most fascinating sights of the day, and I think every one who saw it will say that the old mill alone is worth a visit to New London to see. It is a venerable relic connecting us with the early history of the place, and with the sturdy pioneers who hewed down the primeval forests, and here laid broad and deep the foundations of New London's material prosperity. Upon yonder point

1 The following list of books which wholly or in part relate to New London or Groton and their history, and are all excellent in their way, may be of interest to those who wish to study the subject in detail. Most if not all of them may be found in our Free Public Library, those named first being especially desirable for perusal and study.

"History of New London, Conn.," by F. M. Caulkins.

"The Battle of Groton Heights, and Groton Heights Centennial," by C. Allyn and W. W. Harris.

"History of the Town of Ledyard, Conn.," by Rev. John Avery.

"Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast," by S. A. Drake.

"Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution," by B. J. Lossing; and "Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812," by the same author.

"Connecticut Historical Collections," by J. W. Barber.

New London County Historical Society, Records and Papers.

Interesting articles on New London, in the New England Magazine. Vols. 12 and

14, New Series, and Vol. 5, Old Series. ('86-'87.)

"History of the Indians of Connecticut," by J. W. DeForest.

"Connecticut State Atlas of Towns and Cities," by D. H. Hurd,