inhabitants of the colony, they preferred a memorial to the general assembly of Connecticut in May, 1747, representing that they had, without their consent, or ever being consulted in the affair, been put under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts: that as they were within the limits of the royal charter, they had a just and legal right to the government and privileges which it had granted; and that they were deprived of their charter rights: that the legislature had no right to put them under another government; but that the charter required that the same protection, government and privileges should be extended to them which were enjoyed by the other inhabitants of the colony. For these reasons they prayed to be taken under the government of this colony, and to be admitted to the liberty and privileges of its other inhabitants.

The legislature, sensible of the weight of the reasons suggested, and willing to grant the petition, provided it could be done amicably, with the consent of the government of Massachusetts, appointed Jonathan Trumbull and John Bulkley, Esq'rs. Benjamin Hall and capt. Roger Wolcott, or any three of them, commissioners, to meet and confer with such gentlemen as should be appointed by the province of Massachusetts bay, at such time and place as should be agreed upon by them, to hear, consider and report to the next assembly after their conference.

The legislature, after a trial of two years, finding that no amicable settlement relative to the claim of jurisdiction over the towns which had preferred their memorial, could be made, and in consequence of the agents of said towns urging that the agreement relative to them was made through mistake: that this government had received no equivalent for the jurisdiction of the said towns: that the inhabitants were thereby deprived of their charter rights: that the agreement never had been completed but in part: and that it never had been confirmed by his majesty: the assembly resolved, " that as it did not appear that ever the said agreement had received, so it never ought to receive the royal confirmation: and that as the respective governments could not give up, exchange or alter their jurisdictions; so the said agreement, so far as it respects jurisdiction, is void: And thereupon this assembly do declare, that all the said inhabitants which live south of the line fixed by the Massachusetts charter, are within, and have a right to the privileges of this government, the aforesaid agreement notwithstanding.'

The assembly further resolved, that as there might be some uncertainty, both with respect to the beginning and running of the line, it was necessary to ascertain the same according to the royal charters, to the respective governments. Jonathan Trumbull, John Bulkley, Elisha Williams, and Joseph Fowler, Esq'rs. were appointed a committee, to join with commissioners from the government of Massachusetts, to ascertain and fix the line: and

provided that, if the legislature of Massachusetts should refuse to appoint commissioners, or in case they could not agree, that then the agent, in London, be directed to lay the case before his majesty, and pray that he would appoint commissioners, for the purpose of ascertaining and fixing said line.

The legislature, having taken the towns of Woodstock, Suffield, Enfield, and Somers, under the jurisdiction of this colony, and having determined to maintain their charter rights, within two and three years after, ordained, that the ecclesiastical societies in those towns should enjoy all the privileges of such societies, according to the constitution and laws of the colony.

The province of Massachusetts was totally opposed to relinquishing the right of jurisdiction over the towns which had been settled by the inhabitants, and under the government of it. A petition was preferred by the agent of the province to his majesty, in opposition to the proceedings of the legislature of Connecticut. The legislature of Connecticut, suspecting that such a measure would be adopted, had previously desired the governor to make a statement of the case, and prepare all the proofs relative to it, and transmit them to the agent of the colony, in London. He was directed to make the best use of them, which he could, for the defence of the commonwealth, against any motion which might be made in behalf of Massachusetts, for the establishment of any former line or agreement. If it should be judged advisable, and most expedient, by the best counsel he could obtain, to petition for commissioners, to ascertain, and run the line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, according to their respective charters, that he should then adopt that measure.

When they were apprised by letters from their agent, that Mr. Bolland had preferred a petition to his majesty on the subject, in behalf of the province of Massachusetts, a committee was appointed to prepare a plan and survey of the line run by the commissioners in 1713, between the two colonies, and the desire of the said towns to be under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and to enjoy the privileges granted to its inhabitants by the royal charter; and the evidence of their desire at, and ever since the running of the line, in 1713; with all other exhibits which could be serviceable in the case: and directions were given, that they should be transmitted, as soon as might be, to the agent in Great-Britain.1

The colony was successful in maintaining its claims and jurisdiction, and the inhabitants of those towns have uninterruptedly enjoyed the government and immunities of the people of Connecticut, from that, to the present time.

1 Colony records in the several years to which reference is had.

CHAPTER XI.

ABOUT this time an unhappy event took place, dishonourable to the colony, injurious to foreigners, and which occasioned a great and general uneasiness, and many unfriendly suspicions and imputations, with respect to some of the principal characters in the colony. A Spanish ship coming into the port of NewLondon, in distress, ran upon a reef of rocks, and so damaged the vessel, that it was necessary to unlade her, and put her freight into stores at New-London. The cargo was delivered into the custody of Joseph Hill, Esq. collector of the port of New-London. The supercargo was Don Joseph Miguel de St. Juan. That he might sail with his cargo early in the spring, he obtained a ship of about two hundred tons, and was ready to sail in April. But when he had shipped part of his cargo, other parts of it were withholden from him, or lost, and could not, by any means of his, be found and recovered. As he could obtain no relief, and was determined not to sail without the recovery of his cargo, or some indemnification for the loss of it, he waited until October, and then preferred a memorial to the assembly, representing his arrival in the snow St. Joseph and St. Helena, from Havanna, bound to Cadiz, at the port of New-London; and that he had stored his cargo there, in the custody of Joseph Hill, Esq. the collector; and that when he had procured a vessel in April, and required his cargo, that it might be reshipped, that a considerable part of it was withholden, lost, and embezzled; and praying for relief, or that he might reland that part of his cargo which remained, and secure it at their expense, and, also, that his men might be discharged.

The assembly, after hearing and deliberating on the memorial, resolved, That whatever losses he had sustained, it was either by means to them unknown, or which they were by no means able to prevent. The assembly represented, that nothing appeared to them, but that he might have put all his cargo on board, about the 23d of April, when he shipped part of it: That Joseph Hill, Esq. collector of the port of New-London, had, at that time, delivered his money, and part of his cargo, and they knew not why the residue was not put on board. They resolved, that they could not, according to law, discharge the master and mariners, nor oblige and compel Mr. Hill to receive the goods again into his custody, according to the desire of the petitioner; especially at their own cost and risk, as the petitioner declared that he would be at no expense in the affair. It was declared, That the requests of the petitioner were unreasonable, and, therefore, could not be granted: but, that as protection and assistance were due to a foreigner, cast among them, the assembly did advise

the governor to grant all due protection and relief to the said Don Miguel, according to the laws of trade, nature, and nations. The governor was also desired and empowered, in case the said Joseph Miguel should desire it, to direct a full search after any part of his cargo, which might have been embezzled, or lost; and to take all such reasonable measures therein, as should be necessary to do justice in said case.1

Before the meeting of the freemen in April, it was generally known that the Spaniards had been robbed; or, at least, that an important part of a rich and very valuable cargo, had been stolen, embezzled, or, by some means, lost, or kept back from the owners; and it occasioned a great ferment through the colony. It was imagined, that it might involve the colony in great difficulties; that it might be obliged to indemnify the owners, and that it would bring a heavy debt upon it; or that it might effect a rupture, and hostilities between the two nations. Others were moved with a sense of honour, sympathy, and justice. They were ashamed and grieved, that, when foreigners, in distress, had cast themselves upon, not only a civilized, but christian people, they had been plundered and injured, as though they had fallen among heathens, thieves, and robbers. All the feelings of covetousness, honour, sympathy, and justice, were touched. Great blame was imputed to some of the principal characters in the colony, especially to governor Wolcott. It was imagined by many, that he had not taken such care, and adopted such measures, to secure the property of those foreigners, and to save them harmless, as he ought to have done. Whether there was any just foundation for faulting him or not, it so disaffected the freemen, that, notwithstanding his former popularity, he lost their suffrages, and Thomas Fitch, Esq. was chosen governor, in his place. Mr. Hill did not escape a share of blame, among others. How such a quantity of stores, of various kinds, should be lost, or embezzled, without his knowledge or privity, and that no thorough search should be made for them, in so many months, is very unaccountable. But where the fault lay, or what became of the lost goods, never came to public view. Nor does it appear that the colony was ever put to any extraordinary expense or trouble, on that account. The war was now commencing, and private concerns were neglected and forgotten; while national interests, of greater moment, and more general concern, engrossed the public mind, both in Europe and America.

1 Records of the colony.

CHAPTER XII.

RECTOR WILLIAMS, was a gentleman of solid learning, great prudence, and popular talents. He was rector about thirteen years, during which period, the college enjoyed peace and flourished. A number of valuable donations were made to it. In 1730, the trustees received a deed of 628 acres of land in Salisbury, of Messrs. Fisk and Leavins, in exchange for lands given them many years before, by major James Fitch. The title to it had been controverted, and it was supposed that the trustees had expended nearly half the value of the land in defence of the title.

In October, 1732, the General Assembly made a generous donation of 1500 acres of land to the college; 300 acres in each of the new townships of Norfolk, Canaan, Goshen, Cornwall and Kent. A patent was given in confirmation of the donation in May, 1741.

The Rev. Dr. GEORGE BERKELEY, then dean of Derry, in Ireland, afterward bishop of Cloyne, made a number of donations to the college. He came to America, with a view to found an episcopal college. He made a purchase of a country seat, with nearly an hundred acres of land, at Newport, in Rhode-Island. He resided there about two years, in which time, he formed a correspondence with rector Williams, and became acquainted with several other principal gentlemen in Connecticut. From them he learned the state and genius of Yale College. He, therefore, while he resided at Newport, made a present of all his own works to the college. He finally gave up the design of founding a college in North America, and returned to London.

After his return, in 1732, he gave the rents of his farm to the college, to be appropriated to the maintenance of the three best scholars in the Greek and Latin languages, who should reside at the college, at least nine months in a year, in each of the three years, between their first and second degrees. He directed, that on the 6th of May, annually, or in case that should be the Lord's day, then on the 7th, the candidates should be publicly examined by the president or rector, and the senior episcopal missionary within this colony, who shall be then present; and in case none be present, then by the president only. And that in case the president and senior missionary should not agree in their sentiments, who are the best scholars, the case should be determined by lot. It was further directed, that any surplusage of money which should happen by any vacancies, should be distributed in Greek and Latin books, to such under-graduate students, as should make the best composition, or declamation in the Latin tongue, upon such a moral theme as should be given them.