the influence of books, and the evil tendency of importing them, that while Nathan Hale, an American, an ardent revolutionary patriot, and who offered his life as a sacrifice to our liberties. is wholly unknown,-the life, character, and fate of Andre are familiar to almost every individual, however humble his situation, or limited his intelligence." [Pease and Niles' Gazetter of Con

necticut and Rhode Island.]

Thus while fond virtue wish'd in vain to save,
HALE. bright and generous, found a hapless grave.
With genius' living flame his bosom glow'd,
And science charm'd him to her sweet abode.
In worth's fair path his feet had ventur'd far,
The pride of peace, the rising grace of war.
In duty firm, in danger calm as even,
To friends unchanging, and sincere to heaven.
How short his course- the prize, how early won,
While weeping friendship mourns her fav'rite gone."

DWIGHT.

and other processes before any Assistant or Justice of the Peace, the words "one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace" be omitted, and that instead thereof be inserted "Justice of the Peace:" and that no writ or process shall have or bear any date save the year of our Lord Christ only-any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding; and the act in alteration of an act prescribing forms of writs, processes, &c., be repealed, and the same is hereby repealed.

January 7, 1777. Recording of the Declaration of Indepencence by the United States, on the Records of Connecticut, by order of the General Assembly. Baltimore, January 31st, 1777.

Gentlemen :-As there is not a more distinguished event in the history of America, than the Declaration of her Independence-nor any that in all proba. bility will so much excite the attention of future ages: it is highly proper, that the memory of that transaction, together with the causes that gave rise to it, should be preserved in the most careful manner that can be devised.

I am therefore commanded by Congress to transmit you the enclosed copy of the Act of Independence, with the list of the several members of Congress subscribed thereto-and to request that you will cause the same to be put upon Record, that it may henceforth form a part of the archieves of your State, and remain a lasting testimony of your approbation of that necessary and important

measure.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,

your most obedient and humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

There were five sessions of the General Assembly, in 1776; three of which were special sessions. The delegation elected to meet at Hartford, in May, 1776, were not inferior to their predecessors in energy and patriotism. At this (May) session, the most vigorous measures were adopted for the defence of the colony, and the common country. By special Act, the Governor was

Honorable General Assembly of Connecticut,

Resolved by this Assembly, That the Declaration of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, made by their delegates in General Congress assembled, at Philadelphia, on the fourth day of July, 1776, declaring said Colonies to be Free and Independent States, be recorded at length in the Records of this Assembly, that the memory thereof may be preserved to posterity.

Upon the articles of confederation proposed by Congress, and acted upon by the General Assembly of Connecticut, January and February, 1778; the following Resolution was introduced and discussed, viz.:

Resolved, That all the articles of confederation proposed by Congress, for the consideration of the Legislatures of the respective States, (except the eighth article touching the manner of defraying public expences,) are approved of by this State. And as to said eighth article, it is the opinion of this State that the proportion of the numbers of inhabitants of every age, sex, and quality, except Indians, not paying taxes in each State, would be a much more equitable and practicable rule for taxation than the rule of valuation therein proposed wherefore the delegates from this State are hereby directed to propose in the Congress of the United States, an amendment to said article, for the purpose and effect aforesaid. But in case said amendment should not be adopted, as this State are fully sensible of the great importance, necessity and advantage of a firm and speedy union, in order to obtain that desirable end, are willing to meet our sister States upon the middle ground, betwixt said two extremes. The delegates of this State, therefore, are further directed ultimately to propose a middle rule of taxation as contained in the following amendment, to come in next after the word Treasury, in the 6th line of said article, viz.: "which shall be supplied by each State, in proportion to its wealth and ability, "which shall be ascertained by two criterions, the one by the number of inhab "itants of every age, sex, and quality, except Indians, not paying taxes in each

State, a true account of which, distinguishing the whole inhabitants shall be "taken within one year after the ratification of these articles, and forever after "on every fifth year, and transmitted to the United States in Congress assem"bled the other criterion, to judge of the wealth and ability of each State "shall be the value of all land within each State, granted to or surveyed for

made a naval officer of the colony, and was authorized to appoint subordinate officers in each of the following ports, viz: New London, New Haven, Middletown, and Norwalk. A maritime jurisdiction was also given to the County Courts. By another Act, all the troops of horse in the colony were formed into five regiments of light-horse. Large detachments of militia were

"any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall "be estimated according to such mode as the United States, in Congress assem. "bled, shall from time to time direct and appoint. And if by the application "of the two criterions there appears a difference in the relative wealth and "ability of the States, a medium shall be struck by the United States in Con"gress assembled-and the proportion of money to be paid by each State, shall "be settled by that medium. The taxes, &c. &c."

And upon either of the aforesaid amendments being agreed on, the delegates of this State are hereby authorized and directed, fully and amply to confirm and ratify said confederation, together with any such alterations or amend. ments in any other article or articles as shall be finally agreed on by a majority of the States, in Congress assembled, which they shall think just and reasonable.

In the Lower House.

On report of the committee of eonference, the further consideration of this Bill is referred to the next session of this Assembly.

Test,

In the Lower House.

BENJAMIN PAYNE, Clerk.

The foregoing Bill being read and discussed is ordered to be recommitted to the same committee that brought it in.

William Pitkin and Samuel Huntington, Esq'rs., are appointed to confer with such gentlemen as the Lower House shall appoint, on the differing votes of the Houses on this Bill.

Test,

In the Lower House.

GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.

Capt. Halsey, Col. Porter, and Mr. Mumford, are appointed a committee of conference on the differing votes of the Houses, on this Bill, &c.

Test,

BENJAMIN PAYNE, Clerk.

ordered to hold themselves in constant readiness to march at the shortest notice, for the defence of any portion of Connecticut, or the adjoining colonies.

One regiment was ordered to be raised for the continental service, and another to be stationed about New London. Sixty thousand pounds, in bills of credit, equal to lawful money, were

Concurred in the Lower House.

Attest,

BENJAMIN HUNTINGTON, Clerk.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WHEN, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's GOD entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abol. ishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of

issued, bearing interest, and payable at or before the first day of January, 1781; and a tax of eight pence on the pound was laid on all polls and rateable estate in the colony.

At a special session, held in June, 1776, an act was passed to raise by enlistment, two regiments to reinforce the continental army in the northern department. David Waterbury, Jr., of

people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining, in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance,

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies: