altogether inadmissible to encum-ence of an enlarged and liberal ber it with what properly belongs spirit of civil improvements, he to another department of science. exerted all his influence, and all The idea of comprising biographi- his means, in promoting the intercal notices in this work was to ests of his native town, and the assign to each town, according as prosperity and comforts of his they are entitled, the citizens of fellow-citizens. This city is greatly this State, who have been distin-indebted to him for many of its imguished for their talents, learning, provements, and measurably for virtues, or public employments, whether at home or abroad, and thereby to collect and register the same. The preservation of such biographical facts, as come within these views, or the design of this work, may be of more importance than a simple record of "departed worth." It may possibly, in some instances, lead to more ample and satisfactory biographical publications, calculated to do justice to the virtuous dead ;" to exalt the reputation of the State, which depends, in a great measure, upon the number of its distinguished citizens, and to enlighten the path of posterity, by the experience and wisdom of their ancestors. The public services of Jeremiah Wadsworth, in the momentous contest of the revolution, are well known. They are identified with, and form a part of the annals of that period. He was employed as Commissary General nearly through the war. The service was arduous and difficult, and was performed with faithfulness, perseverance and ability-with advantage to the public and to himself. After the close of the war, Col. Wadsworth retired to his residence in this city, and during the remainder of his life, was preeminently useful to the place, and to his fellow-citizens. Having an ample capital, and under the influ-|| the rank and importance to which it has attained. But what is a more novel, and perhaps a more worthy trait in his character, is, that although blessed with opulence, and surrounded with splendour himself, he never forgot the poor and unfortunate-although exalted in society, he was never too elevated to do good. The victims of misfortune never approached his doors, without having their wants measurably supplied. Col. Wadsworth was for several years a member of Congress, and subsequently, for a long time, a member of the Council, in this State. He was born in 1743, & died 30th April, 1804, aged 61 years. The Hon. Chauncey Goodrich, distinguished as a lawyer, and for the many honorable offices to which he was promoted, was a native of Durham, but was long a resident in this town. He was educated at Yale College, and became a Tutor at the same Institution, having gone through the regular course of studies with unusual reputation. He resolved to enter into the profession of law; for which purpose he went through the regular and usual course of study, required in this State. Having obtained admission to the bar, he removed to this city to establish himself in his profession. His talents were admirably calcu zeal, and intrepidity in parliamentary debate, and displayed abilities which are scarcely to be found, but in those of riper years. Although he was a warm and active politician, and lived at a period of unusual party animosity, yet his political opponents could not but admit his brilliant talents, his dignified and commanding eloquence, which, considering his early years, were to be regarded only as the dawn of his meridian sun. He emigrated from Danbury, to a town of the same name, in the State of Ohio, situated upon Lake lated for forensic debate, and hemenced his professional career soon became distinguished in his with unusual brilliancy. He esprofession, and ultimately at the tablished himself at Danbury, head of it, in this county, if not in where, at an early age, he was the State. The superiority of elected a member of the General his talents rendered him too con- Assembly, which station he occaspicuous to be neglected in those sionally filled as long as he reappointments, which demand ex-mained in this State. In this sitalted abilities. Accordingly, inuation he was distinguished for his 1794, he was elected to represent this State, in the Congress of the United States, and continued in this situation for several years. In 1807, he was elected a senator|| in the Senate of the United States; whilst in this situation, in 1812, he was elected mayor of the city of Hartford, and the year after, at the annual election in April, of the supreme executive officers, he was chosen by the Freemen, Lieutenant-Governor of this State, an office which he did not live long to enjoy. He was born in 1759, and died August, 1815, aged 56. Nathan Strong, D. D. a distin-Erie; the settlement of which, guished clergyman, was for 43 soon after his arrival, in the fall of years settled in the ministry, in the 1812, was broken up by the genfirst Society in this city. He eral irruption of the Indians, which, was a man of strong natural upon that frontier, followed the talents, possessing great shrewd-unfortunate and disgraceful capitness and wit. He was in doctrinal ulation of Gen. Hull, and the conpoints a Calvinist, and learned upon theological subjects, and well versed in general science. He was remarkable for his sound common sense; his knowledge of the human character, and of common and practical subjects, and was a sound, able and orthodox preacher. He died Dec. 25th 1816, 68. Epaphras W. Bull, Esq. distin-in Waterbury, from whence he guished for his high promise of removed to this city, and resided talent, and for his patriotic zeal for here until his death. Dr. Hopkins the principles of republicanism, was an original genius, possessing was a native of this town. He a vigorous mind, a bold imaginawas educated to the law, and com-tion, and characteristically eccen sequent occupation of Detroit, by the British. Upon the above, which occasioned the abandonment of this settlement, Mr. Bull, with others, retired to Cleaveland, where, soon after, he closed his earthly career, aged 34 years. Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, a celebrated physician and poet, was born stood deservedly high, and he was characterized for the freedom and tric, in all his intellectual features; a state of general effervescence. bold in his enquiries; free from Besides the part which he took in the restraints of prejudice, or au-this production, Dr. Hopkins was thority; confident in his own opin-the author of numerous fugitive ions and views; ingenious in com-poetical pieces; some of which municating them, and severe and are of a peculiarly humorous and sarcastic in his wit. He was the whimsical character, particularly projector of the Anarchiad, a work the "hypocrite's hope," and his of considerable merit, and had a epitaph" upon the victim of a principal share in writing it. Of Cancer Quack. As a physician, this publication, the Analectic Mag-the reputation of Dr. Hopkins azine gives the following account. "It was a mock critical account of a pretended ancient epic poem, liberality of his views, and his interspersed with a number of general philanthropy and benevoextracts from the supposed work.lence. He died 14th April, 1801, By a fable, contrived with some aged 50 years. ingenuity, this poem is represented Thomas Tisdall, Esq. a man of as having been known to the an- very unusual & extraordinary civil cients, and read and imitated by and private virtues, and an ardent, some of the most popular modern faithful and zealous patriot, was a poets. By this supposition, the native of Ireland, but resided in utmost license of parody and this town for forty years, preceimitation is obtained, and by the ding his death. He came into this usual poetical machinery of epi-town in or about the year 1778, sodes, visions and prophecies, the during the revolutionary war, havscene is shifted at pleasure, bark-ing been a paymaster in the Britwards and forwards, from one ish service; but being a republican country to another, from earth to in sentiment, and considering the heaven, and from ancient to mod-war on the part of Great Britain ern times. This plan is filled up as unjust and oppressive, he left with great spirit; the humorous is this situation, thereby throwing indeed better than the serious part, himself out of employment, and but both have merit, and some of the means of immediate subsisthe parodies are extremely happy.tence, a sacrifice to his feelings The political views of the authors and principles. When he came were to support those designs to this town, he was a young man which were then forming for an of about 21 or 22 years of age, efficient federal constitution." and had no connections or acquainThe Anarchiad was published tance here-without money, withfrom time to time, as matter oc-out friends; in not only a strange, curred, or could be conveniently but a foreign land; having had supplied. It had an extensive cir-but small advantages as to educaculation through the union, and considerable influence upon the political opinions that were then forming, the public mind being in tiion, and exposed to reproach from the illiberal prejudices against his countrymen, he had no resources but a firm constitution, a sound mind, and a consciousness of his sy. He wished to appear precisely what he was, no more, nor no less; neither would he give to others a character which he knew they did not possess. "He could not flatter; "An honest mind and plain, "He must speak truth." Mr. Tisdall never attained to any distinguished public employ- He was remarkable for a systemment, but he was one of those few atic industry and economy, and who can be conspicuous in a "pri- for the plainness and simplicity of vate station," and exalted in the his manners, and the precision, humblest situation. He had a order and regularity, which charsound and discriminating mind, acterized his whole life; these improved by reading, observation causes, producing their necessary and experience; and although results, put him in the possession not possessed of shining talents, of a good estate. The leading few have had more good sense, or trait in his character was prudence. a juster view of life. He was re- This was perceivable in every markable for his firmness, indepen-action. His example as a citizen dence and freedom of thought: cannot be too highly appreciated, always claiming the right to judge at an age when "the world is defor himself, disclaiming the author-ceived with show and ornament." ity of precedent, and above the He was constitutionally an ardent reach of prejudice. His princi- and zealous friend of civil liberty. ples were interwoven in the tex-A whig in the revolution, he was ture of the constitution of his mind, uniform and decided in his repuband were as unyielding as adamant;lican principles, which were of a and his attachments, whether rela- character peculiarly rigid and austing to persons or subjects, were tere. The lively sense which he founded upon principle, and as in- ||had of the injustice & oppression, of flexible and stable, as the founda-the government of his native countion which supported them was try, rendered him an enthusiastic firm and durable. He was, in the admirer of the free institutions of strictest sense, an "honest man." the country of his adoption. We No one ever made less use of have had few of our native citizens artifice and dissimulation, to dis- more sincerely attached to the govguise his faults, or gloss over his ernment, the liberties, and the character. A consciousness of the prosperity of the United States. rectitude of his life raised him far He died 31st August, 1818, aged above the jesuitical arts of hypocri-61 years. BERLIN. BERLIN, a post town, is situa-ford, and 24 miles north-east from ted 10 miles south-west from Hart-New-Haven. It is bounded north by Farmington, east by Wethersfield and Middletown, south by Middletown and Meriden, and west by Southington. covered in small quantities; on the west branch of Mill river there are the remains of some pits, or excavations, which were made during the revolutionary war, for the discovery of metals. The rock is greenstone, and contains carbonate of lime; quartz, and small quantities of silver have been found. Iron pyrites is found in several places in scattered grains; oxyd of copper, also, in small quantities. Coal has been dug in the bed of The township contains about forty square miles, having an average length of eight miles, and an average breadth of five miles. Its surface is uneven, being diversified with moderate hills and dales; the western border of the town is mountainous, extending upon the range of mountains which commence in the vicinity of New-Mill river, and on both of its banks; Haven, and extend through the State, into the interior of NewEngland. the rock at that place is greenstone, and the coal that has been discovered has been found in small shining plates, and is very com been obtained only in small quantities, but our correspondent thinks that the examinations have not been made in the right place, and that, possibly, beds of this valuable mineral may abound in the neighbourhood of these discoveries. The geological structure of the town consists of argillaceous schis-bustible and bituminous; it has tus or clay slate, and greenstone; being a part of the extensive geological district, upon the borders of Connecticut river, commencing at the narrows, below Middletown, (where the range of granite of the eastern section of the State seems to terminate,) & extending to The soil is generally a gravelly Northfield, in Massachusetts. This loam, but in some parts of the town district consists principally of the the argillaceous earths predomisame rock, a clay slate, of a prim- nating, it is an aluminous or clayey itive formation; the range of loam. It is fertile and productive, mountain noticed above, and other affording excellent pasturage, and eminences, are usually covered good crops of grain. There are or capped with greenstone, forming numerous, large and beautiful ormural precipices and bold ledges. chards in the town, many of choice The argillaceous schistus within and selected fruit. The making this district consists of several of cider is an important agricultuvarieties; at some places it is fine||ral interest, being alike a convengrained, and forms a good free||ience, and a source of profit to the stone; at others it is a coarse grain- inhabitants. ed conglomerate, or pudding stone; but in this town, in Hartford, and more generally within this range, it is a simple rock, being an indurated clay. Some minerals have been found in this town; sulphuret of lead has been dis Berlin is celebrated for its manufactures and mechanic arts. The most important manufacture, is that of tin ware; it was first introduced by Mr. Edward Patterson, an Irishman, about the time of the revolutionary war, which |