Historic Towns of New England. Various

“Purgatory”[48] 457 Rochambeau’s Headquarters[49] 459 Life Mask of Washington[50] 463 Made by Houdon in 1785. The Parsonage of Mrs. Stowe’s “Minister’s Wooing”[51] 466 Doorway of Old House on Thames Street[52] 468 General Nathanael Greene[53] 471 From one of Malbone’s best miniatures. Seal of the City of Newport 473 PROVIDENCE View of Providence 477 From the south. Roger Williams Received by the Indians 479 From a design by A. H. Wray. The Roger Williams Monument 483 Stephen Hopkins[54] 490 Brown University 493 Francis Wayland 499 The Capitol 503 Seal of the City of Providence 506 HARTFORD Main Street 509 Old Center Burying-Ground 513 The Charter Oak 520 Old State House, now City Hall 529 Built in 1794. Statue of Israel Putnam 539 J. Q. A. Ward, sculptor. Keney Memorial Tower[55] 541 The Capitol 543 Soldiers’ Memorial Arch 545 Harriet Beecher Stowe 546 Dr. Horace Bushnell 547 From a crayon drawing by S. W. Rowse. J. Hammond Trumbull, LL.D. 549 Arms of the City of Hartford 551 NEW HAVEN Temple Street 555 John Davenport 557 From a portrait in possession of Yale College. Roger Sherman[56] 561 Photographed from statue on the east front of the Capitol at Hartford. Judges’ Cave 567 A Humane Enemy 571 Phelps Hall 573 Osborn Hall 577 The Art Building 579 Noah Webster[57] 581 Eli Whitney 583 East Rock Park 585 Seal of the City of New Haven 586

INTRODUCTION By GEORGE PERRY MORRIS

       Table of Contents

      FROM the earliest days of the New England Colonies down to the present time, those European analysts of our national life, whose opinions have been based on personal observation, have usually conceded that in New England towns and villages one might, at almost any period of their history, find a higher average degree of physical comfort, intelligence and mental attainment, and political liberty and power than was or is to be found in any other communities of Christendom. Thus Alexis de Tocqueville, in 1835, wrote:

      “The existence of the townships of New England is, in general, a happy one. Their government is suited to their tastes, and chosen by themselves. … The conduct of local business is easy. … No tradition exists of a distinction of ranks; no portion of the community is tempted to oppress the remainder; and the abuses which may injure isolated individuals are forgotten in the general contentment which prevails. … The native of New England is attached to his township because it is independent and free; his co-operation in its affairs ensures his attachment to its interest; the well-being it affords him secures his affection, and its welfare is the aim of his ambition and of his future exertions. He takes a part in every occurrence in the place; he practises the art of government in the small sphere within his reach; he accustoms himself to those forms which can alone ensure the steady progress of liberty; he imbibes their spirit; he acquires a taste for order, comprehends the union of the balance of powers, and collects clear practical notions on the nature of his duties and the extent of his rights.”[58]

      If this be true, the question inevitably arises, how has it come to pass?