CHAPTER VIII.

Parley tells about Hartford, the Charter, and Connecticut River.

1. HERE I staid five or six days. I then went down the Connecticut River in a boat to Hartford. Hartford is situated on the river, and is a fine town now.

2. It was a small town then. There is a large State House there now, and an Asylum for the poor Deaf and Dumb, and a Retreat for Insane people. None of these things were in Hartford, when I was there.

3. I remember there was a house there then, standing on a hill, owned by Mr. Wyllis, the frame of which was brought from England: in front of the house, there was a large oak tree, in which the people hid the charter of Connecticut many years before.

What does Parley say of Hartford?

4. This charter was a piece of parchment, resembling paper, on which a king of England, Charles II., had written a promise that the people of Connecticut should be free.

5. When you go to Hartford you can see this charter in the Museum. But when Charles II. died, his brother, James II., became king in England.

6. Now James sent Sir Edmund Andros over to get away the charter. But the people would not let him have it, and they hid it in the old oak-tree in front of Mr. Wyllis' house.

7. You can see the tree and house too, of which I have been speaking, for they both remain to this day, although this affair occurred about one hundred and forty years ago.

What does Parley say of the charter of Connecticut?

Who sent Sir Ed und Andros to take away the charter?

About how long ago did Sir Edmund Andros come to get the charter of Connecticut?

8. At Hartford, I entered on board the sloop Chenevard, and sailed for New York. We went down Connecticut River, which enters Long Island Sound about fifty miles from Hartford.

9. Connecticut River is the largest river in New England. It rises in Canada: it is about three hundred miles long, and is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.

10. The water is clear, and the country through which it passes is delightful. You should look on a map of New England, and see the course of this fine river.

11. About eight miles from New York our sloop came very near being dashed to pieces, in what is called Hellgate, or Hurlgate.

What is the largest river in New England?

How long is Connecticut River?

Where does it rise?

Where did the sloop in which Parley sailed come near being dashed to pieces ?

How far is Hurlgate from New York?

12. This is a whirlpool, where the water is whirled around so violently, that sometimes vessels are drawn into it, and dashed to pieces on the rocks. We fortunately escaped, however, and arrived at New York.

CHAPTER IX.

Parley tells of New York.

1. NEW YORK is situated on an island, at the mouth of the Hudson River, and is the largest city in America. There are one hundred and sixty thousand people in it now!

2. It is three times as large as Boston. It has a fine building, called the City Hall, which is thought to be handsomer than the new State House in Boston.

What is Hurlgate ?

How is New York situated?

Which is the largest city in the United States?
How many people are there in New York?
How many times is it larger than Boston?

3. When I arrived at New York, it was small compared with what it is now, but there were a great many people there then.

4. New York was first settled by Dutchmen-people who came from Holland in Europe. Dutchmen, you know, are celebrated as great smokers. Here is a picture of some Dutchmen.