USA > Connecticut > Connecticut as a colony and as a state; or, One of the original thirteen, Volume II > Part 1
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M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 3373
From the painting by Col. John Trumbull.
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CONNECTICUT AS A COLONY AND AS A STATE, OR ONE OF THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN
BY FORREST MORGAN Editor in Chief
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
SAMUEL HART, D. D.
FRANK R. HOLMES
JONATHAN TRUMBULL ELLEN STRONG BARTLETT VOLUME TWO
LICHE
SIGILLUM REIPUT
INECTICUTENSES
The Publishing Society of Connecticut HARTFORD 1904
COPYRIGHT, 1904, BY THE PUBLISHING SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT All Rights Reserved
PUBLICATION OFFICE 194 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A.
1448933
DEDICATED TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL " Brother Jonathan "
Goodspeed : $22.50.5.24-68 4 Vols, Am. 1199 P.O. 5534
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/connecticutascol00morg_0
SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS
CHAPTER I
THE COMING OF THE STORM. 33-46
Population, Character and Ancestry of the People of Con- necticut-Ecclesiastical Atmosphere contrasted with that of other New England Colonies-Mother Country insists on a Stricter Enforcement of the Navigation Act-Jonathan Trumbull as Chief Justice refuses to issue Writs of Assist- ance-The Stamp Act-Secret Debate in the General As- sembly-The Book of "Reasons why the British Colonies in America should not be charged with Internal Taxes"-Jared Ingersoll appointed Stamp Master-Withdrawal of Jonathan Trumbull and others from the Governor's Council-Oath to enforce the Stamp Act taken by Governor Fitch-Ingersoll journeys to Hartford to have General Assembly confirm his Office-The Sons of Liberty-The forced Resignation of Ingersoll-Putnam's interview with Governor Fitch-Con- necticut at the Stamp Act Congress-The Articles of Rev- erend Stephen Johnson and others, urging resistance to the Stamp Act-Actions taken at Town-Meetings-Election of William Pitkin as Governor-Sympathy with Massachusetts -The Quaint Political Campaign Ballad of 1769-Election of Jonathan Trumbull as Governor.
CHAPTER II
COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES . .
47-58
Connecticut prepared-The Lexington Alarm-Second Com- pany of Governor's Foot Guards at Cambridge-A Special Session of the General Assembly convened-Embassy to General Gage-Six Regiments mobilized-First Military operation of the American Revolution organized-Result of the Embassy to General Gage-Capture of Ticonderoga by a Connecticut Expedition-Seth Warner captures Crown Point -Benedict Arnold successful at St. Johns-Joseph Trum- bull the first Commissary-General for the Continental Army -Resignation and Death of Colonel Trumbull-Jeremiah Wadsworth Commissary-General 1778-81-The Provision State.
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CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
CHAPTER III
CONNECTICUT'S SHARE IN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN 1775
.... .. 59-73
Israel Putnam-His Position in the Battle of Bunker Hill- Connecticut furnishes more than Half the Powder used at Bunker Hill-The Council of Safety-War-Office at Leb- anon-Putnam's Appointment as Major General-Dissatis- faction of General Spencer-Attacks upon Putnam's Char- acter, caused by Jealousy-Arnold's Expedition to Quebec- Battle of Stonington-Troops leave Washington's Army at the expiration of their Term of Service-Washington's Ap- peal to Governor Trumbull-Their Places promptly filled- Connecticut men help to silence Rivington's Press-Captain Isaac Sears captures Reverend Samuel Seabury and others.
CHAPTER IV
THE YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE.
75-91
Connecticut's Political Position-Financial Affairs-Appor- tionment of Continental Money to the Colony by Congress- General Assembly at the May Session in 1776, take meas- ures to exclude His Majesty's Name from all Legal Writs and other documents-Connecticut's Declaration of Inde- pendence-Passage of the Declaration of Independence by Congress-Connecticut's action on the Matter, before and after its Adoption-First and Second Continental Congress -Reorganization of the Continental Army-The Connecti- cut Regiments-State Troops-Their Services-Alarm List -Extracts from Letters of General Washington to Governor Trumbull-General Lee's Expedition to New York in Jan- uary-Battle of Long Island-Kip's Bay Affair-Knowlton's Rangers-Battle of Harlem Heights-Death of Knowlton- Nathan Hale.
CHAPTER V
THE FIRST BRITISH INVASION ·93-104
Tryon's Raid on Danbury-Burning of the Town-Destruc- tion of Stores-Forces under Wooster, Arnold and Silliman gather to oppose the Enemy-Encampment at Bethel- Wooster's brilliant attacks-His Death-Fight at Ridgefield -Retreat of the Enemy-Colonel John Lamb wounded- Tryon's forces gain their Ships with difficulty-Arnold's
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CONNECTICUT IN THE REVOLUTION
heroism rewarded by Congress-Reprisals-Colonel Meig's successful expedition to Sag Harbor-Destruction of Brit- ish Stores-Capture of Prisoners-Washington's letter of Commendation-Colonel Meigs honored by Congress-Con- necticut's whale-boats a source of terror to British and Tories on Long Island.
CHAPTER VI
SERVICES IN FRANCE AND THE HOME FIELD. . 105-116
Silas Deane's Mission-He secures and forwards Supplies from France-His Indiscretions-Unjust treatment by Con- gress-Deane Embittered-His letter to Governor Trumbull -The Governor's reply-Home Affairs-Connecticut's quota in the New Army more than filled-Various Regiments and Companies Raised-The Continental Line-Rendezvous of the Connecticut Continentals-The Council of Safety furnishes supplies to the Army at Valley Forge-Services of Connecticut men in the Continental Army to the close of the War-The Militia-Their services at the Front.
CHAPTER VII
NAVAL AFFAIRS IN CONNECTICUT II7-128
Continental Navy-Privateers, State and Continental Vessels -Captures and Prize-Money-Connecticut Navy-Two Fri- gates built in Connecticut for the Continental Navy-The Trumbull fight with the Williamson or Watt-Surrender of the Confederacy-List of State Vessels-Privateers fitted out -The schooner Spy-Her successful ocean trip to France- The Defence and her Engagements-The Oliver Cromwell and her Exploits-The privateer Beaver and her brilliant Record-Maine Torpedo invented by David Bushnell-"The Battle of the Kegs."
CHAPTER VIII
WARFARE ON CONNECTICUT SOIL 129-146
Wyoming Valley-British, Tories and Indians under com- mand of Colonel John Butler-Settlers commanded by Col- onel Zebulon Butler-Surrender of Forty Fort demanded- Unsuccessful attack on Fort Wintermort-Indian Massacre -Encampment at Redding-Revolt of Huntington's Brigade
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CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
-The Trouble settled by General Putnam-Tryon's Raid on Horseneck-Putnam's Ride-Governor Trumbull's letter to Tryon-Tryon's Invasion of New Haven-Burning of Fair- field and Norwalk.
CHAPTER IX
THE GROTON MASSACRE.
. 147-159
Arnold's Treason-His Service in the British army in the South-Conference at Wethersfield-Duc de Lazun's Canton- ment at Lebanon-Expedition against New London and Groton-Their Arrival off the Harbor of New London- Benedict Arnold in Command-Garrisons at Forts Trum- bull and Griswold-Landing of the British Forces-Aban- donment of Fort Trumbull-Fort Nonsense-Dwelling Houses, Stores and Warehouses reduced to Ashes-Colonel Eyre demands the surrender of Fort Griswold-He attacks the Fort-The gallant defense of Colonel Ledyard-Das- tardly murder of Colonel Ledyard-Massacre of the Garri- son-Burning of Groton-Retreat of the Invaders.
CHAPTER X
THE END OF THE WAR 161-171
Financial Affairs-Attempted Regulation of Prices-Devices of the Continental Congress-Loan Offices and Lottery Schemes-Issue of State Bills of Credit-Indebtedness of the United States to Connecticut-Number of Men furnished during the War-Custody of Prisoners of War-Doctor Benjamin Church-Governor William Franklin of New Jer- sey-Newgate Prison at Simsbury-The Provision State -- Alarming condition of Food Supply-Request from Yale College for Flour-Iron Furnace at Salisbury-Middletown Lead Mines-Continued Vigilance after the Surrender of Cornwallis-Governor Trumbull retires-Matthew Griswold elected Governor.
CHAPTER XI
SKETCHES OF MILITARY CHARACTERS OF THE
REVOLUTION
173-195
Israel Putnam-His birth-A Captain in the French and Indian War-At Battle of Bunker Hill-His Services in the
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CONNECTICUT IN THE REVOLUTION
Hudson Highlands and Western Connecticut-His death- Benedict Arnold-His birth-Services as a Volunteer at Ticonderoga-He proposes an Expedition to Quebec-His successful Naval Battle off Plattsburg-Arnold at the Battle of Saratoga-Placed in command at Philadelphia-His Court-Martial-His Treason-Arnold's death-Ethan Allen -Seth Warner-Remember Baker-Colonel James Easton -Brilliant Careers of Thomas Knowlton and Nathan Hale- The Historical problem Samuel Holden Parsons-Jede- diah and Ebenezer Huntington-David Wooster-Return Jonathan Meigs-Erastus Wolcott-James Wadsworth- John Paterson-Samuel Wyllys-First Commissary-General of Continental Army, Joseph Trumbull-Elisha Hinman, Connecticut's representative in the United States Navy-At- tempt of Ezra Lee to torpedo British War Ships-Last sur- vivor of the Washington Life Guard-Lemuel Cook one of the last survivors of the Continental Army.
CHAPTER XII
SKETCHES OF THE CIVIL CHARACTERS OF THE REVOLUTION
197-207
Roger Sherman a Maker of the Nation-His birth-His coming to Connecticut-He becomes a Lawyer and re- moves to New Haven-His death-William Williams-Ly- man Hall-Waightstill Avery-Birth and Early Life of Silas Deane-His Negotiations in France-His troubles with Congress-His death in obscurity-Eliphalet Dyer- Titus Hosmer and Andrew Adams-Richard Law-Thomas Chittendon, Governor of Vermont-William Samuel John- son-Oliver Ellsworth.
CHAPTER XIII
CONNECTICUT BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF A FEDERAL CONSTITUTION
.209-218
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union-Continental Congress grants officers of the Army half pay-Indignation of the people against the Society of the Cincinnati-Burke's pamphlet-Connecticut's position in reference to the Ar- ticles of Confederation-Convention at Middletown-Finan- cial question-Retirement of Jonathan Trumbull from Pub- lic Affairs-Matthew Griswold elected Governor-His suc- cessor Samuel Huntington-Oliver Wolcott becomes Gov- ernor.
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CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
CHAPTER XIV
THE WESTERN RESERVE. .219-231
State of Pennsylvania Complainant in the Wyoming Case- Colonel John Franklin-Board of Commissioners selected to arbitrate the matter-Members of the Board-Opening of the Court at Trenton-The Verdict-On the promulgation of the Trenton Decree, Connecticut withdraws her jurisdiction over Westmoreland-Acts of the Susquehanna Company- National Troops withdrawn from the Wyoming Valley-For- mation of a new State agitated-Pennsylvania attempts to Confiscate the Lands-Advantages derived by each State- Connecticut claims territory under her Royal Grants-Her Final ceding of Territory to the General Government- Western Reserve of Connecticut-Area of the Reservation- Report of the Committee appointed to estimate damage done Private Citizens by British raids-Free Lands deeded to reimburse War Sufferers-Disposal of the Lands-Oliver Phelps the heaviest Purchaser-Formation of the Connecti- cut Land Company-The Reserve converted into a County -Named Trumbull-Passage of the "Easement Act"- Creation of the Connecticut School Fund-Sketch of Oliver Phelps-Connecticut people invest in Lands in what is now West Virginia and Kentucky.
CHAPTER XV
CONNECTICUT IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION .. . . 233-246
A Stronger Compact of Government deemed necessary- The Strengthening of the Federal Constitution advocated by Hamilton as early as 1780-Resolutions passed by the New York Legislature in 1782, recommending Amendments to the Articles of Confederation-National bankruptcy confronts Congress-Convention held at Hartford-Powers of Con- gress disappearing-Virginia Legislature nominate Dele- gates to meet at Annapolis-Delegates from only five States present-Congress advocates holding a Convention-Phila- delphia selected as the Place of Meeting-Connecticut ap- points Commissioners-The Organization of the Conven- tion-Virginia's Plan-A National Government established -Connecticut's position in the Convention-New Jersey's Plan presented-William Samuel Johnson's maiden speech in the Convention-Connecticut Delegates opposed to a three years term for Representatives-Equal representation proposed in the Second branch of the Legislature-The "Connecticut Plan"-The threatened Dissolution of the
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CONNECTICUT IN THE REVOLUTION
Convention-Committee of One Delegate from each State -Committee report in favor of "Connecticut's Proposal"- Report received with a Storm of Opposition-Victory as- sured by the vote of the North Carolina Commissioners- Connecticut's great Work accomplished-State Convention called to ratify the Constitution-Connecticut the fifth State in the Ratification-Vote by Counties.
CHAPTER XVI
IN THE DAYS OF WASHINGTON .247-260
Connecticut's first Presidential Electors-Her First Sena- tors-Her Delegation to the Lower House of Congress- The position of Sherman and Wadsworth on the First Tariff Bill-Financial situation of the New Government-Assump- tion of States' debts-Sum apportioned to Connecticut- Washington's tour of the New England States-His recep- tion at. New Haven, Hartford and other Points-His in- tended Visit to General Putnam-Washington's homeward Journey-Abolishment of Slavery in Connecticut-Her Slave Population-The Black Governors-Their Election Day.
CHAPTER XVII
MANUFACTURES AND INVENTIONS. 261-272
Manufactures checked by the Revolution-Population of the State-Aid granted by the Assembly to Early Manufacturers -Tin ware one of the earliest Manufacturing industries of Berlin-Abel Buell the versatile Mechanical Genius-Eben- ezer Chittenden's invention-Establishment of a Woolen Factory at Hartford-Silk industries encouraged by the As- sembly-The Connecticut Silk Society-First Clocks made by Eli Terry-Dr. Kinsley and his Steam Carriage-Manu- facture of Fire Arms by Eli Whitney-Connecticut's Manu- facturing interests at the close of the Eighteenth Century- Organization of State Banks-The applying of Steam to Navigation introduced by Jonas Fitch-Doctor Perkins' metallic Tractors.
27
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CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
CHAPTER XVIII
COURT, COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS. . 273-278
Organization of Middlesex and Tolland Counties-Incor- poration of New Haven, New London, Hartford, Middle- town, and Norwich as Cities-Formation of the Supreme Court of Errors-Membership of Superior Court increased- Barhnamsted, Colebrook and Southington incorporated as Towns-Washington invested with Town Privileges-Ches- ter and Watertown made Towns-East Hartford the first Town incorporated after the Revolution-Woodbury erected into a Township in 1784-Four Towns organized in 1785- Eleven new Towns incorporated in 1786-Formation of the Towns of Bethlehem and Southbury-Weston made a Town in 1787-Incorporation of Brookfield and Huntington- Sterling and Plymouth become Towns-Wolcott, Trumbull, Oxford, and Roxbury incorporated-Civil Divisions of Con- necticut at beginning of the Nineteenth Century.
CHAPTER XIX
ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES AT THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY .279-294
Nine-tenths of the People of Connecticut Congregation- alists-Establishment of the First Baptist Church-The Wightmans-Opposers of the Saybrook Platform-Seeds of Methodism sown in Connecticut-First Society founded at Stratford-Circuits established-Unitarianism Makes its ap- pearance in New England-Reverend Stanley Griswold the first apostle of Unitarianism-Episcopalians in 1750-Con- secration of Bishop Seabury-Sketch of his life-His Succes- sor Bishop Jarvis-Number of Episcopal Parishes in the State-The Rogerines-Doctrines of the Sandermanians- Establishment of a Society at Danbury-The Osbornites- Founder of Hopkinsianism-A Society of Shakers organ- ized in Connecticut-Education and Conversion of Ab- origines to Christianity-Sketch of Jonathan Edwards-In- dian Missionary work of David Brainard-Labor of Samuel Kirkland and James Deane among the Indians-Stephen Westcott succeeds Jonathan Edwards as Missionary to the Stockbridge Indians-Patriarchs of the New England Clergy -Joseph Bellamy an early Educator-The Patriotic Minister Elizur Goodrich-Author of the Book on Mormonism-The Sage and Casuist, Reverend John Buckley-Manasseh Cutler Lemuel Haynes the First Colored Preacher.
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CONNECTICUT IN THE REVOLUTION
CHAPTER XX
ARTS AND LITERATURE IN THE EIGHTEENTH .295-316
CENTURY
Art of printing first introduced into Connecticut in 1709- Thomas Short the first Printer-Timothy Green the second Printer-Beginning of Journalism-Publication of the "Connecticut Gazette"-"New London Summary"-Journal- ism introduced into Hartford-First Number of the "Connec- ticut Courant"-Other Newspaper Ventures-Early Colonial Literature-Writings of Thomas Hooker-Roger Wolcott the earliest Poet-Treatises of Jonathan Edwards-New In- tellectual Era-Connecticut's first Man of Letters-Triad of American Poets-Joel Barlow the Cosmopolitan Poet of Connecticut-Literary . Work of David Humphrey-"The Anarchaid"-Doctor Lemuel Hopkins its Projector-"The Echo"-Richard Alsop and Theodore Dwight responsible for its Production-Elihu H. Smith the Editor of the first collec- tion of American Poetry-"The Hartford Wits"-Noah Webster the Lexicographer and Philologist-Nathan Da- boll's Almanacs and Text Books-Jedediah Morse author of the first Geography-John Ledyard the Traveller and Explorer-Author of "The Philosopher and Boy"-Ezra Stiles' Diaries and Writings-Connecticut Legislature grants Copyrights to Authors-Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences-John Trumbull Connecticut's great Artist.
CHAPTER XXI
FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE END OF THE CENTURY . 317-330
Democratic Republicans-Second Electoral College-Jona- than Trumbull elected Speaker of the House of Representa- tives-Oliver Wolcott becomes Secretary of the Treasury- Oliver Ellsworth selected for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court-Third Electoral College-First breach of Decorum in American Congress-Troubles with France-Fourth Electoral College-Roger Griswold becomes Secretary of War-Jonathan Trumbull elected Governor-Population of Connecticut in 1800-Stonington the most Populous Town --- Hartford and New Haven the Chief Centres-Establish- ment of Turnpikes-Earthquakes, Storms, Droughts, and Epidemics-"The Frogs of Windham"-Dark Day of 1780 -Amusements Multiplied-"Bundling"-Pack Horse and Stage Coach relics of the Past-Ancient barbarities con- demned.
29
ILLUSTRATIONS
Trumbull, Jonathan Frontispiece
Arnold, Benedict Facing p. 178
Barlow, Joel Facing p. 306
Baron De Kalb introducing LaFayette to Silas Deane. Facing p. 202
Edwards, Jonathan Facing p. 288
Ellsworth, Oliver Facing p. 320
Hale, Nathan Facing p. 90
Humphrey, David Facing p. 256
Huntington, Samuel Facing p. 216
Johnson. William Samuel Facing p. 242
Massacre of Wyoming. Facing p. 134
Meigs, Return Jonathan Facing p. 192
Putnam, Israel Facing p. 62
Seabury, D. D. Samuel Facing p. 284
Sherman, Roger
Facing p. 80
Trumbull, John
Facing p. 302
Trumbull, John Facing p. 314
Wadsworth, Jeremiah
Facing p. 56
Webb, Samuel B. Facing p. 112
Wooster, David
Facing p. 98
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CHAPTER I THE COMING OF THE STORM
1448933
I N a reply to the rather inquisitorial questions of the Lords of Trade and Plantations, after a delay of about fifteen months, Governor Fitch reports, among other things, that in 1762, the number of inhab- itants of Connecticut "are found to amount to 141,000 whites and 4,950 blacks, or thereabouts," an increase of about 10,788 whites since 1756. Anglo- Saxons, with their inbred and inborn love of freedom, made practically the sum-total of the white population at this time. For just a century these people had been living under the liberal charter of 1662, which had granted to them, as Rhode Island's charter had granted to the people of that colony, autonomy with the sole exception of custom-house ad- ministration. At the same time, the ecclesiastical atmosphere and control which was the norm of the New England col- onies varied so widely that Connecticut was sharply con- trasted with Rhode Island, and stood unique as a compromise between the religious liberty of that colony and the rigid ec- clesiasticism of Massachusetts. This unique ecclesiastical position could not fail, the times being ripe, to become an equally unique political position. In 1762, the times were ripening to bring about this result.
Among the 141,000 whites reported by Governor Fitch to the Lords of Trade, the love of the rugged soil from which their living was wrung, the habit and love of self-govern- ment, the traditional prudence, industry and success of the people had become rooted and grounded in their political life. Up to this time, their diplomacy and statesmanship had been almost exclusively devoted to their internal affairs, although they had been ably represented in the Albany Congress of 1754, and in earlier synods and conventions of the United Colonies. But in 1762, the attitude of the home government
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CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
was such that they were soon to join in a common cause with the other American colonies of Great Britain. Even joining, heart and soul, as Connecticut did in this common cause, she had a marked faculty for doing it in her own thorough, conservative way.
It was well known at this time that His Majesty's officers of the customs had applied for writs of assistance in Mas- sachusetts, which writs Chief Justice Thomas Hutchinson had granted against the eloquent appeals of Otis, and in op- position to the sentiments of the people. It was also well known that the general policy of the home government in- volved plans for increased revenue from the American col- onies, already impoverished by their large contributions of men and money in the late wars. Although we learn of no applications for writs of assistance at this time in Connec- ticut, the colony, notwithstanding the temperate and diplo- matic tone of its official replies to the Lords of Trade, was keenly alive to the situation, as may be seen from her posi- tion some six years later, when Chief Justice Jonathan Trumbull, unlike his Harvard classmate Thomas Hutchin- son, refused to issue writs of assistance on the application of the officers of the Crown, with which decision the General As- sembly declined to interfere. In view of the odious nature of these writs, it is quite probable that the Puritan con- science was not as sharply pricked by the act of smuggling as by some other violations of law which were, from time to time, publicly confessed in Connecticut churches; for the officers of the customs were appointed by the Crown, and were, no doubt, for this reason excluded from close connec- tion with the rest of the community, who were free to man- age their own affairs through officers and organizations of their own choice.
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CONNECTICUT IN THE REVOLUTION
Tradition tells us that when the news of the proposed Stamp Act arrived in 1763, the General Assembly, in a most secret, careful manner, appointed three of its ablest disputants to argue against the right of Great Britain to tax the col- onies, and three equally able disputants to argue in favor of this right. The result appears to have been an overwhelming defeat for the latter three; and though the pledge of secrecy was doubtless well kept, the facts became known until they grew into a long-cherished tradition, which it can hardly be expected that documentary evidence will ever support, either through official records or private journals or corre- spondence. The proceedings accord so well with the way of Connecticut in first getting firm convictions and then pro- ceeding from the courage of those convictions, that it can hardly be dismissed as a myth for lack of evidence. Pre- sumptive evidence of its truth certainly appears in the pro- ceedings of the General Assembly at its May session in the following year.
One of the earliest resolves in this session appoints Ebe- nezer Silliman, George Wyllys, and Jared Ingersoll a com- mittee to assist the Governor "to collect and set in the most advantageous light all such arguments and objections as may be justly and reasonably advanced against creating and collecting a revenue in America, more particularly in this Colony, and especially against effecting the same by Stamp Duties, &c."
In pursuance of this appointment, Governor Fitch and his committee presented at the following session a paper entitled "Reasons why the British Colonies in America should not be charged with Internal Taxes, by Authority of Par- liament; humbly offered for consideration, in behalf of the Colony of Connecticut." This very able state paper, in pre-
37
CONNECTICUT AS COLONY AND STATE
senting the views which its title implies, meets all the argu- ments against these views in a way to show that both sides of the question had been fully discussed, if not in the tra- ditional secret debate, certainly in the sessions of the commit- tee which drafted the paper. At the time of the adoption of this paper by the General Assembly for presentation to the British Parliament, Jared Ingersoll, one of the committee which assisted Governor Fitch in drafting it, was about to sail for England, and was appointed to confer with Richard Jack- son, the agent of the Colony, regarding its interests in the im- portant matter of taxation. That Ingersoll faithfully per- formed this duty there is no doubt, in view of the correspond- ence in the matter. It is reported that Lord Grenville, after reading the "Book of Reasons," praised the tone in which it was written, and admitted that the arguments it contained were the best he had seen, but fallacious. It is said also, that it is to Ingersoll that we owe the preservation of Colonel Barré's famous speech in Parliament in reply to Townshend. But neither the impassioned oratory of Barré, nor the temper- ate but searching arguments of Connecticut's "Book of Rea- sons," coupled with Governor Fitch's official appeal, could avail against the passage of the Stamp Act. This odious measure passed the House of Commons on the 22d of March 1765, and it is said to be through Ingersoll's intervention that its enforcement was postponed until the following November. The idea that its enforcement would be resisted by the col- onies appears never to have occurred to the English people. Even Benjamin Franklin, who was then in England, shared in this view, and advised Ingersoll to accept the office of stamp-master for Connecticut, a newly created office under appointment by the Crown. For once in his life Franklin was mistaken; and Ingersoll, returning to Connecticut late in
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