Book Description

Excerpt from Newgate of Connecticut The main design of the following has been to collect and embody facts relating to Newgate, the former prison of the State of Connecticut. There are many circumstances respecting the Mines, and also while it was kept as a prison, which are interesting, to those at least, who like the writer, reside in its vicinity, and who have noticed many of its scenes; and judging from the numbers who travel far to explore its caverns and the works which now cover its grounds, it will continue long to be an object of interest and examination - time will wear slowly upon its strength, and age will but add to its interest. Many inquiries are also made about it of those living near it when they travel abroad, and when it is known that they are familiar with its history. When Dr. Franklin resided in Philadelphia, having occasion to travel to Boston, and knowing the gift of many of the Yankees in asking questions, in order to satisfy their importunity and save time in his answers, he adopted the expedient of printing a number of cards, stating that he resided in Philadelphia, was a printer by trade, and on his way to Boston; these he gave to his questioners whenever they com-commenced their attacks upon him. This account, if it serves no general use, may at least, serve to answer many important questions. It is useful to record events in their day before they are forgotten, or are handed down as tales and traditions. If a record of the events connected with some of the monuments, castles and fortresses in Europe, or ruins in Central America, could now be obtained, it would be of vast interest to antiquarians, and would greatly assist historians to substantiate valuable history. When the aged in this vicinity are gone, and that soon must be, this prison fortress will doubtless remain; the traveller then will ask - Who built these towers? Why these huge grates, these trenches and these walls? How came these spacious caverns to be dug out of solid rocks, and why those rings and those fetters fastened to their massive sides? Surely the echo of these caverns cannot answer, nor the people who lived cotemporaneous with their use. Therefore, sufficient is said as an apology for these hasty sketches. The materials for the work have been gathered from a variety of sources. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.