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"Visit to Hartford, Connecticut, "New York Morning Herald, 24 Sept.
1839:2.
Visit to Hartford, Connecticut.
On Tuesday last I went up in the Bunker Hill steamer on a visit to Hartford,
just to take a glance at the curiosities of that sturdy old city, often thousand
souls, and to ascertain what is to be done with the captured Africans.
The voyage was pleasant and agreeable, and the boat crowded, but comfortable. What
a quiet air the people of Connecticut have! I remained there part of three days,
and it seemed a continuous Sabbath--the very woods sing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
songs. In Hartford, I put up at the United States Hotel, which was full and running
o’er with politicians, lawyers, judges, sheriffs, reporters, editors, &c. all
visiting Hartford to be present at this trial. I twice visited the prison where the
Africans are confined. They are kept in first rate order by Captain Storer, the very
gentlemanly keeper, and his deputy is polite and attentive to every one of the many
persons who came in to see these heroes.
These Africans seem to have turned the heads of the quiet people of Connecticut,
and particularly the women, and they have the finest looking women there that ever
God made. Probably this novel case may last the good people of that state for the
next fifty years to talk sentiment about. What disposition will be made of them is
entirely uncertain.
During my brief sojourn at Hartford, I visited the State Prison, kept in unrivalled
style by Mr. Pillsbery--the venerable Charter Oak--the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and
several princely private places on the heights above the town, where the wine is
ever mellow, and the woodcock ever exquisite, and the wit and sentiment ever sparkling.
I should like to stay a month in Hartford--and I should not be surprised if I were
to do so, provided I change my mind and postpone my visit to France and Italy till
next spring. Connecticut River is the sweetest river I ever saw. It is as picturesque
as the Thames, above London, or the Seine below Paris, but on a larger scale than
either.
