The manufactures of Concord | See Jamestown, R. I.

This state is bounded N. by Massachusetts, E. by Rhode Island, S. by Long Island Sound, and W. by New York. Situated between

40° 58' and 42° 1' N. lat, and 72° 37' and 71° 43′ W. lon.

The territory of Connecticut was formerly two colonies-Connecticut and New Haven. The colony of Connecticut was planted by citizens of Massachusetts, at Windsor, in 1633, and at Hartford and Wethersfield, in 1635 and 1636. The colony of New Haven was settled by Englishmen, in 1638. In 1665, the two colonies were united by a charter granted by Charles the Second. This charter was the basis of the government till 1818, when the present constitution was formed.

The executive power of this State is vested in a Governor, and a Lieutenant-Governor, who is also President of the Senate.

The legislative power is vested in a Senate and a House of Representatives, which together are called The General Assembly. The Senate consists of not less than 18 and not more than 24 members. Most of the towns may choose two Representatives; the others one each. All the above are elected annually by the people on the first Monday of April. The General Assembly has one stated session in each year, commencing on the first Wednesday in May. These sessions are held alternately, in the years of even numbers at New Haven, and in the years of odd numbers at Hartford.

The electors are all the white male citizens, of twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the town in which they vote six months next preceding, and have a freehold estate of the value of seven dollars; or who have performed regular military duty in said town for one year next previous to the voting; or who shall have paid a tax within a year of his voting. Those entitled to be electors, before voting must be qualified by taking the oath prescribed by law.

No person is obliged to join any religious society; but having joined one he is liable by law to pay his proportion of the charges for its support. He may separate himself from such society by leaving with the clerk thereof notice of his determination to close his connextion with them.

The judicial department of the government embraces the Supreme Court of Errors, the Superior Court, a County Court in each county, a City Court in each city, a Court of Probate in each probate district, and as in other states in New England, an indefinite number of Justices of the Peace in each county.

The Supreme Court of Errors consists of five. Judges, who are appointed by the General Assembly, and hold their offices during good behavior, but not after seventy years of age. They are subject to removal by impeachment, and by the Governor, on the address of two thirds of the members of each House of the General Assembly. This court has final and exclusive jurisdiction of writs of error, brought to revise the judgment on decrees of the Superior Court, in law or equity, wherein

the errors complained of appear from the files and records. It holds one term in each county annually. Though this body, as a court, has cognizance only of writs of error, yet, as all the members are Judges of the Superior Court, a convenient opportunity is afforded, while they are thus assembled, for hearing arguments on motions for new trials and cases stated. These, of course, occupy a considerable portion of the term. The opinions of the Judges upon them are given by way of advice to the Superior Court, in which the cases are respectively pending. This advice is always followed, it being understood as settling the law.

A Judge of the Superior Court of Errors, designated by that court for the purpose, constitutes the Superior Court; two terms of which are held in each county annually. This court has cognizance of civil actions at law brought by appeal from the County, City, and Probate Courts, and of suits for relief in chancery, wherein the value of the matter in demand exceeds $335. In criminal causes it has exclusive jurisdiction of offences punishable with death or imprisonment for life; and, concurrent with the County Courts, of all other offences not committed to the jurisdiction of the Justices of the Peace. It has also cognizance of writs of error brought to revise the decisions of inferior tribunals; of petitions for divorce, and of writs of scire facias, audita querela, and petitions for new trials relative to matters in or issuing from the court. In capital cases, the Judge holding the court is to call to his assistance one or more of the other Judges.

The County Courts consist of one Chief Judge and two Associate Judges, who are appointed annually by the General Assembly. This court has original jurisdiction of all civil actions at law, wherein the value of the matter in demand exceeds $35, and appellate jurisdiction of all such actions wherein the value in demand exceeds $7. It has also original and final jurisdiction of suits for relief in equity, wherein the value in demand does not exceed $335, except suits for relief against a judgment rendered on a cause depending at law in the Superior Court.

In criminal jurisdiction, it has cognizance of all offences above the jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace, and not exclusively within that of the Superior Court. It is also vested with powers relative to the laying out of roads, granting licences, the appointment of surveyors, &c.

Justices of the Peace have cognizance of all actions at law of a civil nature, wherein the value in demand does not exceed $35, and of all offences and crimes punishable by fine not exceeding $7, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or both.

In each of the six cities-Hartford, New Haven, New London, Nor

wich, Middletown, and Bridgeport-there is a City Court, consisting of the Mayor and two senior Aldermen, having cognizance of all civil actions wherein the title of land is not concerned.

Succession of Governors since the Union of the Colonies under the Charter in 1665.

Oliver

John Winthrop, 1665-1676. William Leet, 1676-1683. Robert Treat, 1683-1698. Fitz-John Winthrop, 169S-1707. Gurdon Saltonstall, 1708-1724. Joseph Talcott, 1725-1741. Jonathan Law, 1742-1751. Roger Wolcott, 1751-1754. Thomas Fitch, 1754-1766. William Pitkin, 1766-1769. Jonathan Trumbull, 1769-1784. Matthew Griswold, 1784—1786. Samuel Huntington, ‍1786-1795. Wolcott, 1796, 1797. Jonathan Trumbull, 1798–1809. John Treadwell, 1809-1811, Roger Griswold, 1811, 1812. John Cotton Smith, 1813— 1817. Oliver Wolcott, 1817-1827. Gideon Tomlinson, 1827-1831. John S. Peters, 1831-1833. Henry W. Edwards, 1833, 1834. A. Foot, 1834-1836. Henry W. Edwards, 1836

Succession of Chief Justices.

Samuel

Andrew

Stephen M. Mitchell,

Richard Law, 1785-1789. Eliphalet Dyer, 1789-1793. Adams, 1793-1797. Jesse Root, 1798-1807. 1807-1814. Tapping Reeve, 1814, 1815. Zephaniah Swift, 18151819. Stephen T. Hosmer, 1819-1833. Thomas S. Williams, 1835

David Daggett, 1833-1835.

Connecticut is divided into the eight following counties-Hartford, New Haven, New London, Fairfield, Windham, Litchfield, Middlesex, and Tolland. The face of the state is greatly diversified by hills and valleys. In general it is so exceeding undulating or uneven, as to present an everchanging variety of objects. The ranges of mountains from the north, which terminate near New Haven, are not remarkable for their elevation in this state. Connecticut is finely watered by the noble river from which it derives its name, by the Thames, Housatonick, Naugatuck, and other smaller streams. The soil varies from a gravelly loam on the hills, to a rich and exceedingly fertile alluvial in the valleys. The former is more particularly adapted to grazing, the latter to tillage. These lands, in possession of an industrious class of freemen, yield, in great abundance, all the varieties of products common to a northern climate. The mineral resources of the state are not yet fully developed; but iron and copper ores of excellent qualities are found; also, lead, cobalt, marble and freestone. The mineral waters at Stafford are the most celebrated. Manufacturing establishments are scattered over the state,

on its numerous delightful streams; and foreign commerce, the coasting trade, and fisheries, enjoy an enviable position on the waters of Long Island Sound.

Blessed with a salubrious climate and fertile country, the people of Connecticut probably enjoy as much happiness as is allotted to any part of the human family. Her population is always full, and although her domain is not extensive, no Atlantic state has sent so many of her children, or so large a share of intellectual wealth, to the western country, as Connecticut.

If the love of liberty, literature and the arts, of social feeling and moral worth has an asylum on earth, Connecticut may boast that it is to be found within her bosom. See Register.