self with great diligence to the duties of his new station, and made every exertion to effect the negotiation of a treaty of commerce, and indemnity for spoliation. In October 1812, he was invited to a conference with the Emperor at

country, he purchased him a de- and cannot fail of going down to lightful situation in the vicinity posterity, to the latest generation. of Georgetown, within the limits The name of Barlow will long be of the district of Columbia. Whilst known and revered, when all those in this situation, he enjoyed the so- who have attempted to asperse it, ciety, friendship and esteem of will be forgotten. After the pubMr. Jefferson, then President of lication of hisColumbiad, he was the United States; & of the other employed in collecting materials important functionaries and char- for a general history of the United acters of distinction, who were States, a work which he had long residents, or engaged in public || meditated; but whilst thus occuemployments at the seat of gov-pied, in 1811, he was appointed ernment. In 1806, he published a minister plenipotentiary to the prospectus of a national institution, French government; whereupon or university; to establish which, he soon embarked again for France, a bill was introduced into the Sen-clothed with authority and distinate; it met with considerable op-guished honours. He applied himposition; was referred to a select committee, who never reported, and thus this great national object ended. He now devoted his attention to the revision and improvement of his favourite poem; and in 1808, the Columbiad made its appearance in the most magnifi-Wilna. He immediately set off upcent volume, which ever issued on this mission, and travelled day from an American press. The high and night, exposed to the severe price of this edition prevented its weather of a northern climate; circulation; and the subsequent subject to great fatigue, and acyear, it was re-printed in two vol-commodations at the public Inns umes. The same year, it was re-being the most wretched, scarcely published in London, in an elegant being able to obtain a wholesome royal 8 vo. The Columbiad has meal, his constitution was unable been attacked in the severest man- to withstand these severe trials; ner, by critics of every rank; he sunk into a state of debility, but Barlow, relying upon the solid from which he never recovered. merits of the poem, and the im-He died, December 22d, 1812, at partial award of posterity, either Zarnawica, an obscure village of treated them with neglect or con- Poland, in the neighbourhood of tempt. The Columbiad is an epic Cracow. America has produced poem, abounding in philosophical few men more justly deserving of discussion, and in enlarged, politi-immortality than Barlow; and cal and national views. It was ex-none, it is believed, who have made panded from the vision of Colum- their title to it more sure. He livbus which it comprises, and is the ed in an eventful period, and acted offspring of the labour of half aa conspicuous part in both hemislife. It is a great national work,||pheres; and as a poet, a man of

science, a politician, a philosopher civil liberty & of science, throughand a philanthropist, his name will out the civilized world. long be revered by the friends of

RIDGEFIELD.

Mills & 2 Carding Machines. There are several limekilns in the town.

RIDGEFIELD is an elevated The waters of the town conpost township, situated in the west-sist of numerous small streams, of ern section of the County and State, which the most considerable are bordering upon the State of New-several branches of Norwalk and York, 10 miles southwest of Dan-Saugatuck rivers. Upon some of bury, 70 miles southwest of Hart- these streams, there are advantaford, and 55 northeast of the citygeous sites for mills or manufacof New-York; bounded on the turing establishments. The town north by New-Fairfield, on the is accommodated with the Ridgeeast by Danbury and Reading, field and Danbury turnpike. Agrion the south by Wilton, and on the culture is the principal business, west by the State of New-York. and the manufactures of the town, The township is of an oblong exclusive of those of a domestic chafigure, being about 13 miles in racter, are inconsiderable. There length, and not more than 3 miles are 1 Woolen Factory, 3 Fulling in breadth upon an average estima- Mills and cloth dressing establishtion, and comprises an area of a-ments, 1 large Tannery, 3 Grain bout 37 square miles. The face of the county is characterized by a succession of ridges and vallies, ranging northerly and southerly, in a direction towards Long Island sound. Some of these ridges are considerably elevated, and afford an interesting view of the sound, although situated at a distance of In the first located Society, there 14 miles. The geological charac-is a small but pleasant village, ter of the township is primitive; comprising, within the limits of athe rocks consisting mostly of bout one mile, 50 or 60 Dwelling granite and primitive limestone. houses, 2 Churches, a Post-office, The prevailing soil is a gravelly 3 Mercantile Stores, and several loam, interspersed with some sec-Mechanics' Shops. tions of calcareous loam,-is rich The population of the town, in in resources for agricultural pro-1810, was 2103; and there are aductions and improvements, well adapted both to a cultivation of grain and grazing, and also very favourable for fruit. The agricultural productions consist of wheat, rye, corn, oats, flax; and cheese, butter, beef, wool, &c.

Of the civil divisions of the town, there are 2 located Congregational Societies, and 12 School districts; besides the located, there is 1 Society of Episcopalians, 1 of Baptists and 1 of Methodists.

bout 300 Electors or Freemen, about the same number of Dwelling houses, and 2 companies of Militia.

The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $55,357.

In the town, are 12 primary Schools and 1 Academy, 1 Social

Library, 5 Mercantile Stores, 4|| of the sound, and vessels navigating Taverns, 4 Houses for public wor-it. The Indian title was purchasship, 4 Physicians and 1 Clergy-ed in 1708, by several persons of

man.

The tract of land, comprising the township of Ridgefield, was called by the Indians Caudatowa high land, from its elevated situation, affording a prospect of Long Island for forty for forty miles; and

Norwalk, to the number of twentyfive. The deed bears date the 30th of September 1708, and at the ensuing session of the General Court, it was incorporated into a distinct township, by the name of Ridgefield.

SHERMAN.

A turnpike road lately granted, extending from New-Milford to the State of New-York, runs thro' this town.

Sherman contains one located Congregational Society, a Society of Episcopalians, and part of a Society of Baptists, and some Quakers. It contains 6 School districts and Schools, and 3 small villages, of 10 or 15 houses each.

SHERMAN is a township, situa-||their waters into the Ousatonted in the northwest corner of the ick. county, 60 miles from Hartford; bounded on the north by Kent, in Litchfield county, on the east by New-Milford, on the south by NewFairfield, and on the west by the State of New-York; having an average length of 9 and a half miles, and an average breadth of only 2 and a half miles, containing 23 and three-fourths square miles. Its surface is uneven, being characterized by elevated and lofty || hills, and deep and extensive vales. The soil is various, according to the local situation of the lands, but is generally a gravelly loam. The hills, which are not suffered to remain for the growth of timber, afford grazing; and the vales, (most of which are warm and fertile,) are well adapted to the cultivation of wheat, rye and Indian corn, large quantities of which are annually raised.

Of the mineralogy of the town are some beds of iron ore, which, however, have received but little attention.

The population of the town, in 1810, was 949; and there are 150 Freemen, 2 companies of militia, and 130 Dwelling houses.

The amount of taxable property, including polls, is $22,168. There are 1 Woolen Factory, 3 Distilleries, 2 Tanneries, 1 Grain Mill, 1 Fulling Mill, 1 Carding Machine, 1 Mercantile Store, 1 Public Inn, 2 Physicians and 1 Clergy

man.

This town was incorporated in 1802.

BIOGRAPHY. Dr. James Potter, late President of the Medical Society, was a resident in this town. He was distinguished in his profesThe town is watered by nume-sion as a scholar, and a man of rous small streams, which discharge general science.

The staple agricultural products are Indian corn, rye and potatoes; the latter of which are extensive-stones; the other contains 10 run. ly cultivated. From the facilities Besides these, there are 7 other of communication with New-York, Grain Mills in the town. Excluthe value of potatoes is much in- sive of the manufacture of flour, creased, and a sure and ready there are no considerable manumarket afforded; and hence their facturing interests in a town; not cultivation, which, under other cir- taking into view those of a domescumstances must always be a mi- tic character. There are 2 Fulling nor object with the farmer, has Mills and Clothiers' works, 4 Car

ding Machines and 2 Tanneries. The mercantile business of the place is considerable, there being 14 Dry Goods and Grocery Stores. The civil divisions of the town consist of 3 located Ecclesiastical Societies or Parishes, and 11 School Districts. Besides the located, there are 1 Episcopal Society; 2 Baptist Societies; 1 of Methodists, and 1 Society of Friends.

fessional offices, 2 Churches, and several Mercantile Stores. The Post office at this place is a distributing office.

The population of Stamford, in 1810, was 4440; and there are about 450 Electors, 4 Companies of Militia, and about 600 Dwelling houses.

The aggregate list of the town, in 1816, was $91,668.

There are in the town 8 Public Inns or Taverns, 7 Houses for religious worship, 11 primary Schools, 2 Social Libraries, 4 Physicians, 7 Clergymen and 4 Attornies.

In the first located Society there is a delightful and interesting village, pleasantly situated upon Mill river, and the great mail road leading to New-York. It is a neat and handsome place, and compris- This is an ancient town, the setes about 50 or 60 Dwelling hous- tlement having commenced in es, some of which are large and 1641. It was called by the naelegant, a Post office, several pro- ||tives Rippowams.

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD, a pleasant and||tion into its interior structure, flourishing post township, is situ- alternate strata of sand and graated on the west side of the Ousa-vel, with some strata of clay. tonick river, about 3 miles from This is a strong and rich soil; the its mouth, and 13 from New-Ha- more elevated lands in the interiven; bounded on the north by or are of a good soil, being warm, Trumbull and Huntington, on the healthy and productive. They east by the Ousatonick river, on afford wheat, rye, corn, oats, grass the south by Long Island sound, and flax, the latter of which is culand on the west by Fairfield. Its tivated to great advantage, and is average length is about 6 miles, of an excellent quality. There and its average breadth 4 miles, are also various other agricultural comprising an area of about 24 productions, of which cider, cider square miles. brandy, butter, cheese, beef, pork, The township is generally level,||lard and flax seed are the most and free from stone; the more considerable.

prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, The southern border of the interspersed with some sections of town is washed by Long Island sandy loama The flat, bordering sound, and the eastern by the Ouupon the harbour and the river, satonick river. There are seveappears to be an alluvial forma-ral valuable shad fisheries in the tion, presenting, on an examina-Ousatonick; and almost all kinds.