amply repaid by the views of the surrounding country and the nearness to "Madame Justice."

I recall distinctly an incident that occurred upwards of a half century ago, which caused much excitement and scandal.

Bustles had become fashionable as a part of woman's dress, and during Saturday night or early Sunday morning an enormous bustle was affixed to the figure of Madame Justice, with a placard marked "a la mode," where it remained the greater part of the day, in full view of church

TRINITY COLLEGE.

(Present site of the Capitol.)

goers. The perpetrators of the joke were not known, but it was generally attributed to students at Trinity College, who were addicted to many pranks. At any rate, there was more bustle about the old State House than was usual.

Other points of interest to be shown were the big bridge over the Connecticut, and the little bridge (or Market Bridge, as it was called at the time of its erection in 1832-3) on lower Main street. The County Jail, which stood where we now have the fine buildings of the Y. M. C. A.

and the railroad station at the foot of Mulberry street. Yes, there was another which interested the children, the Chinese figure which stood in the window of Gabriel's shoe store on Main street, just south of Christ church; on its outstretched arms were suspended samples of goods, while the head kept bowing to the outside world.

The great central point to which all roads tended was the State House. Distances were measured from it by mile stones on the roads leading from Hart

ford, one of which may still be seen in front of the Dixon place on Farmington avenue, one mile.

The

State House was the central rallying point for political and other gatherings; military parades, firemen's musters, etc., until it passed into the possession of the city. What a familiar sight it was to visitors, with its handsome iron fence inside the public walk, and the big stone posts placed at intervals of about twenty feet around the whole square outside the walks, the corner posts being double the size of the others.

Nicholas Harris' Commercial Academy was in Union Hall building on the north corner of Main and Pearl streets, and during recess the boys were accustomed to jump over the posts, leap-frog fashion, and it was a funny sight to see a score of boys attempting to do this, during the fifteen-minute recess. There is quite an interesting story connected with the iron fence and the posts above-mentioned. Certain citizens of Hartford having applied to the legislature for a charter for a new bank, to be known as The

Exchange Bank, were granted the charter, but were required to "expend not exceeding $8,000, under the superintendence and direction of the Court of Common Council of the City of Hartford,

the state treasury the further sum of $2,000, in two installments. A portion of this fence is now in use about the grounds of the West Middle school.

But the greatest day in the city's history was election day, which occurred on the first Wednesday in May, in alternate years. Then the people of the commonwealth owned Hartford. It was a red letter day for the oyster and peanut out-doors, and for the toothsome shad in-doors.

One of the greatest inducements to many who were sent as representatives to the legislature, aside from the honor, was the opportunity to partake of the luscious

in erecting an iron railing around the State House, in making suitable walks, well flagged, setting up stone posts and paving the gutters around said railing:" and the bank was required to pay into

shad, fresh

shad, fresh each morning from the Connecticut river, cooked as nowhere else in the United States. Those who could afford to board at any of the numerous taverns, indulged in shad three

The Post Office was situated on the south corner of Main and Grove streets and Jonathan Law was postmaster. There was a daily mail each way between Hartford and New York and between Hartford and Boston, but as the arrival and depart ure of the stages were early in the morning, merchants could not send replies the

for the box-rent and 13 cents for postage which was on newspapers.

The most notable event connected with the State House, within the memory of some of our citizens, who as children took part in the proceedings, was the reception to Gen. Lafayette on Saturday, Sept. 4,1824. Daniel Wadsworth and Henry L.

Ellsworth met him at the state line and after passing the night at Stafford Springs, he was the following morning escorted to Kings Tavern in Vernon by a troop of horse, where he was met by the First Company Governor's Horse Guards under Major John E. Hart and escorted to Hartford.

Messrs. Nathaniel Terry, Mayor of Hartford, John T. Peters, Thomas Day, Cyprian Nichols, Gaius Lyman, Henry L. Ellsworth, John Russ, Noah A. Phelps and Charles Sigourney met the General at East Hartford and conducted him to the city, where he arrived about half past 11 o'clock amid the roar of cannon and ringing of bells. At the foot of Morgan street was a large arch across the street with the inscription "Our Illustrious Fellow Citizen, La Fayette." He was escorted to Bennett's Hotel (where the City Hotel now stands) and received by the Mayor, Aldermen,

same day. Mails were forwarded to Windham, Norwich and many other points, only once a week.

I have before me a post office bill made out to my father for one quarter's boxrent and postage in 1845, signed by G. Wolcott for Joseph Pratt, Postmaster. The total amount is 38 cents,-25 cents