joints. It contains an elegant and excellent organ, purchased in 1829, at the expense of about 1200 dollars. It occupies a conspicuous place precisely in the centre of the village. "Of the order of architecture, to which it belongs, we cannot speak with any confidence, as its founders, with a fearlessness and independence, peculiar to New-England, paid no deference to the ideas of elegance, entertained either by their contemporaries, or predecessors, but fashioned it according to their own taste; and satisfied with the result of their labors, they did not trouble themselves with the invention of a name, justly thinking, that, to the uninitiated, it was a matter of no consequence; and that to all, acquainted with the mysteries of architecture, the work would speak for itself."

A few rods north of the meeting house, on the opposite side of the street, is the bank, a neat, well proportioned building of brick, erected in 1824. The capital is a hundred thousand dollars.

Opposite to the bank, on a lane, leading eastward from the main street, stands the deserted. court house; deserted, it having been considered, expedient in 1827,* that the place of judgment' should thenceforward be at Newport. On the opposite side of the main street, and not far distant from the court house, stands its natural accompaniment, the jail, rapidly hastening to dissolution. It is to receive no repairs, since a receptacle of a similar character is probably to be erected in a more suitable meridian.

About a mile and a half from the village, there is in erection across the Connecticut, a bridge

The county of Cheshire was divided in 1827, and in September of the same year, was the last session at Charlestown of the Court of Common Pleas. The last session of the Superior Court was in 1825, or 1826.

between Charlestown and Springfield, Vt. of "an elegant structure, supported by two piers of granite, with abutments of the same materials. The piers are about forty two feet high, the floor of the bridge being about thirty two feet from low water mark. The piers are sixty two feet long at the bottom, and sixteen wide. On the upstream side of each pier, and united with it, is an inclined plane of granite, and capped with oak timber, bolted to the stone work, to receive and break the ice, and other obstructions, which may float against them. The base of the inclined plane is about 25 feet. The piers are secured by iron bolts, and bars, running from the down corners angularly to the centre. The superstructure is 506 feet long, and 25 wide, and is built upon the plan of Ithiel Downes' patent. It is supported upon the piers at distances of 168 feet from the centre of each pier. The support of the superstructure is by two continued trellises 15 feet high, one on each side, and extending through the whole length of the bridge. These trellises are composed entirely of sawed plank three inches thick, and twelve inches wide, placed diagonally in the form of lattice work, having two string pieces on each side at top and bottom, the whole being secured together at each intersection by four two inch treenails, and without the aid of iron work of any description, and without mortice or tenon, or any cutting of the plank other than by the auger. The trellises are closely boarded on the outside, and the whole is covered with a handsome shingled roof, resting on the top string pieces. The bridge is to be lighted in the day by six dead lights in the sides, and six glazed sky-lights in the roof; and in the night by large lamps, suspended from the centre of the beam over head."

The contractors for erecting the bridge, are Mr. Isaac Damons and Mr. Lyman Kingsley, of Northampton, Mass.; to the former of whom we are indebted for the above description of the bridge. The stone work is under the superintendence of Mr. Isaac Silsby of Charlestown. It is estimated, that the expense of the bridge will be twelve thousand dollars.

About a mile from the village, and on the spot where Spafford's mills were burnt in 1746, and again in 1757, and where recently stood the mills, erected in 1804 by Oliver Hall, Esq. there is now in erection by his son, Mr. Horace Hall, a grist mill of a superior structure, and of durable materials. The edifice is a square, the breadth of its sides 40 feet, and its height on the west end is 80 feet. The materials of the front and corners are granite, and the residue of stone from the neighboring hills. The whole edifice is founded on a rock, and during the preparations for the foundation, were discovered among the rubbish, fragments of the mills burnt by the Indians. The diameter of the waterwheel is 28 feet; and its weight about six tons. The extent of the fall is between 40 and 50 feet, and the borders on the stream beneath are beautifully variegated by trees and shrubs; the whole in the direction of the stream exhibiting a peculiarly romantic appearance.

In the village of Charlestown are two libraries, one consisting of about 400 volumes and the other of 480.

Of the religious character of Charlestown, it is reported to have been said by way of reproach, that they cared too little for religion even to quarrel about it. That they care too little; that they manifest far less, than the desirable inter

est in the subject, it would be presumptuous to deny; but that they are, in such deficiencies, a peculiar people, it would be equally presumptuous to suppose. We cannot but hope, that no inconsiderable portion in their apparent failure in the comparison, sometimes made, arises from their impression, that religion was designed for salutary effect rather than for display; that it is its chief purpose to make and preserve the heart right with God, and not to secure the observation of man; that its best display is the work of righteousness. We have adverted to the general disposition of the people to lead quiet and peaceable lives; but whether they do it in godliness and honesty, must be determined before a tribunal, at which neither they, nor their accusers, are to preside.

Charlestown, October, 1833.

[NOTE. While this article was printing, the following Petition was found in the hands of one of the publishing committee, and is inserted on account of several facts it contains relative to this brave man. It is copied from the original by the author of these Annals.]

To the Hon. Spencer Phips, Esq. Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of this Province, the Hon. His Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, this 12th day of June, Anno Domini, 1750.

The Memorial of Phinehas Stevens, of No. 4, humbly sheweth,

That upon his enlisting himself a volunteer in his Majesty's service for the then intended expedition against Canada, he removed his family, viz., his wife and six children to Rutland from No. 4, expecting himself soon to set out for Canada on the said expedition; and that upon the delay of that expedition the memorialist was, by directions from his Excellency, the Captain Gen

eral, ordered into the frontiers of the Province, and was constantly employed in the frontiers, either in guarding stores to fort Massachusetts, or No. 4, or in keeping the fort at No. 4, till the said expedition was laid aside, and the Canada forces dismissed; in which time he defended the said fort No. 4, from a very vigorous attack of the enemy, and his other services in that term he humbly hopes were acceptable to the Province, where he was at very great and uncommon expense in supporting his family at a distance from his station; and as his expenses, so, he humbly conceives, his constant labors and services for the Province in that term, distinguish his case from that of most, if not any of the officers, who enlisted themselves for the Canada service. He therefore prays your honorable consideration of the premises, and that your Honors would grant, that he may be allowed the common allowance for a soldier for subsistence during the said term; and your memorialist, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

PHINEHAS STEVENS.

In the House of Representatives, June 13th, 1750, read and ordered, that the memorialist be allowed out of the public treasury, the sum of ten pounds eight shillings, in full consideration for his expenses above mentioned.

Sent up for concurrence.

D. HUBBARD, Speaker.

In Council, June 13, 1750,

Read and concurred.

SAM'L. HOLBROOK,

Consented to.

Dep'y. Sec'ry.

S. PHIPS.