Allen, SETH WARNER seems to have been the most distinguished in those times. Warner was cool, firm, resolute, and fully determined that the laws of New York, respecting the settlers, never should be carried into execution. When an officer came to take him as a rioter, he attacked, wounded, and disarmed him; and then with the spirit of a true soldier spared his life. The controversy had now become so alarming, that the settlers sent a delegation to Great Britain, to implore the protection of the crown. The king interposed and forbid the government of New York to grant any more of the lands in question, "until his majesty's further pleasure shall be known." The order, however, appears to have been evaded, and the same state of affairs continued until the opening of the great drama of the revolution at Lexington, in 1775, when the government of New York had more important objects to engage its attention. The attempts of the British ministry upon the liberties of the colonies, excited as much opposition in Vermont as in those provinces which were more immediately obnoxious to the royal power. commencement of hostilities with the mother country, Ethan Allen collected a body of about 300 settlers, and, joined by some officers from Connecticut and New Hampshire, surprised the British post at Ticonderoga. The fort at Crown Point was soon after surrendered. These enterprises gave quite an impetus to the revolutionary cause, and operated strongly on the public mind, in favor of the inhabitants of Vermont. On the advance of Burgoyne's army, in 1777, Ticonderoga fell in possession of the enemy, and the burdens of war bore heavily upon Vermont: the northern settlements were broken up, and its frontiers subjected to the incursions of savages. In his advance, Burgoyne wishing to draw resources from the farms of Vermont, detached Col. Baum with 500 Hessians and 100 Indians, to seize a magazine of provisions, collected by the Americans, at Bennington. When near this place he was attacked by Col. Stark, of New Hampshire, with about 800 militia, a large portion of whom were denominated "Green Mountain Boys." Col. Baum was defeated with the loss of the greater part of his troops in killed and wounded. Col. Breyman, who had been sent to reinforce Baum, was next attacked by Col. Warner, with his continental regiment, assisted by Stark's militia. The enemy fought bravely, but were obliged to abandon their artillery and retreat. In these two actions the Americans took 700 prisoners. While thus devoting their energies in support of the common cause, the people of Vermont, as regards their civil government, were placed in an anomalous situation. At the commencement of hostilities they found themselves without a regular government. The jurisdiction of New York was disclaimed, and the royal authority was cast off. In January, 1777, a general convention of representatives from the towns on both sides of the river, met at Westminster. On the 16th of January, they proclaimed that the district of territory usually known by the name of "New Hampshire grants," was of right a free and independent jurisdiction or state, to be hereafter forever designated by the name of NEW CONNECTICUT, alias VERMONT. The committee addressed congress, and petitioned to be admitted into the confederation as a distinct state. The declaration and petition was signed and presented, on behalf of the inhabitants, by four of the most respectable members of the convention: Jonas Fay, Thomas Chittenden, Heman Allen, and Reuben Jones. This petition was met by a counter memorial from New York, and congress declined to grant Vermont a separate existence. Difficulties increased, and other circumstances soon afterward involved the people of Vermont in a controversy with New Hampshire, who eventually presented a claim to congress for the whole of Vermont. New York did the same, and Massachusetts endeavored to obtain a part by reviving an antiquated title. The people of Vermont being menaced from so many quarters, gave up their local dissentions, and united in their own defense. Ethan Allen, who had returned from captivity, was placed at the head of a body of militia, and made prisoners of the officers who were acting under the authority of New York. Complaint was made to congress, but the subject was postponed, as Vermont refused to become a party to it, and no decision was pronounced. During the progress of these events, the British authorities flattered themselves that the people of Vermont would become exasperated, and place themselves under their protection. Negotiations were opened on the part of the British for this purpose in 1780, and were continued without any open result until 1783. The peace of 1783, found Vermont an independent state. New York still claimed jurisdiction over her territory, but was unable to enforce it. After the formation of the Federal Constitution in 1787, Vermont made another application to be admitted into the union as a sovereign state. The only opposition was from the State of New York, which was finally withdrawn in 1789. In that year, commissioners from the two states met, and effected an amicable arrangement. A convention was immediately called, by which it was resolved to join the union. The consent of congress was given, and on the 4th of March, 1791, Vermont became one of the United States. During the war with Great Britain in 1812-15, the vicinity of the state was the seat of a warm contest. On the invasion of Plattsburg, New York, volunteers poured forth from the mountains and valleys of Vermont, and in the part they took in the conflict, nobly sustained the character of their ancestors for firmness and bravery. Vermont lies between latitude 42° 44′, and 45° 30" N., and 71° 30′ to 73° 20′ W. longitude. It is bounded N. by Canada East, on the E. by New Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Connecticut River; on the S. by Massachusetts, and on the W. by New York, from which it is separated principally by Lake Champlain. The length of the state from N. to S. is 157 miles, and its breadth from E. to W. from 40 to 92 miles, its widest part being on the northern state line. Most of the surface of Vermont is mountainous. It is traversed from N. to S. by the Green Mountain range, some summits of which rise to the hight of 4,279 feet above the sea. About the center of the state they divide into two ridges, the principal of which passes in a north-eastern direction into Canada. The Green Mountains are from ten to fifteen miles wide, much intersected by valleys, and abounding with springs and brooks. The rivers are inconsiderable. Lake Memphremagog, thirty miles in length, is partly in this state, but mostly in Canada: it discharges its waters into the St. Lawrence. The climate varies according to the differences of level and other circumstances. It is healthy, though the winters are severe. Snow generally lies on the ground from the middle of November to the end of April; and on the hillsides it is often six or eight feet deep. The soil is generally fertile. On the borders of the rivers are fine tracts of valley land: they are sometimes a mile in width, and very productive in grain, grass, and garden vegetables. The hills and mountains that are not arable, from their steepness, or their rocky surface, yield the best of pasturage. Few places are better adapted to the raising of sheep, horses, and cattle than the mountain regions of this state. Wool is the staple product: horses and cattle are raised in large numbers. Granite, marble, and slate are abundant; valuable quarries of each are worked; iron ore is in several localities; and from the sulphuret of iron in Stafford and Shrewsbury, copperas is extensively manufactured. The whole number of farms in the state in 1850, was 29,687. Improved farm lands, 2,591,379 acres; unimproved, 1,525,368 acres. The state is divided into fourteen counties. Population in 1790, 85,144; in 1820, 234,846; in 1840, 291,218; in 1850, 312,902; now about 350,000. MONTPELIER the capital of Vermont is situated 206 miles N. W. by N. from Boston by railroad. It became the seat of government, in 1805, and the shire-town of Washington county, in 1811. Montpelier village embracing a square mile was incorporated, in 1818, in the S. W. corner of the town on the bank of Winooski River, and on both sides of the Little North Branch. It is situated about a mile from the Vermont Central Railroad with which it is connected by a branch road. It contains 4 churches, 2 academies and about 3000 inhabitants. It is about ten miles north-easterly from the geographical center of the state, and, besides being the point of intersection of the roads from all parts, is on the great thoroughfare between the ocean and Canada. The site of the village is a valley bearing evidence of having once been the bed of a lake about 40 feet deep. The State House, a beautiful granite structure was erected, in 1836-7; it was burnt, in Jan. 1857. A new building of the same appearance somewhat enlarged stands on the same foundations. The first attempt at settlement in Montpelier, was made in the spring of 1786, when Joel Frizzle, a hunter and trapper felled a few trees, planted a little corn among the logs, after the Indian fashion, on the bank of Winooski River, and moved his family, himself and wife, a little French woman from Canada, into his log cabin at this place, the same season. The first permanent clearing and settlement [The Rail Road Bridge over the Winooski appears in the foreground, above which, on the left, is seen the new State House. The Rail Road Station and other public buildings are on the right.] was made the next year, on the 4th of May, 1787. Col. Jacob Davis, and Gen. Parly Davis from Charlton, Worcester Co., Mass., with one hired man and one horse each, loaded with pork, flour, beans and other necessaries, came and commenced a settlement. Westminster, in Windham Co., 82 miles south from Montpelier on the bank of Connecticut River, was at an early period one of the principal towns in Vermont. The first permanent settlers were from Northfield, Mass., and from Ashford and Middletown in Connecticut, who came here about the year 1741. Its pleasant situation and its nearness to the fort maintained by New Hampshire, in what is now called Walpole, caused the settlement to proceed with rapidity. A jail formerly stood here, and a court house, in which were held some of the earliest courts of justice; and when Vermont was organized into an independent government several sessions of the legislature were held at this place. After the meeting of the delegates from the Provinces, at Philadelphia, in Sept., 1774, the royal authority was in a great measure suspended in all the colonies, except New York, who refused its assent to the measures recommended by the delegates. New York at this time claimed jurisdiction over Vermont, and the stated session of the court was to have been holden at Westminster, on the 13th of March, 1775. Much dissatisfaction prevailed because New York refused to adopt the resolves of the continental congress, and the people endeavored to dissuade the judges from holding the court. But as they persisted in doing it, some of the inhabitants of Westminster and the adjacent towns took possession of the court house, at an early hour, in order to prevent the officers from entering. The court party soon appeared before the court house armed with guns, swords and pistols, and commanded the people to disperse. But as they refused to obey, some harsh language passed between them and the court party retired to their quarters. "The people, then, had an interview with Judge Chandler, who assured them that they might have quiet possession of the house till morning, when the court should come in without arms, and should hear what they had to lay before them. But contrary to this declaration, about eleven o'clock at night, the sheriff and other officers of the court attended by an armed force, repaired to the court house. Being refused admittance, some of the party fired into the house, and killed one man and wounded several others. The wounded men they seized and dragged to prison, with some others who did not succeed in effecting their escape." By these proceedings the indignation of the settlers throughout the New Hampshire grants was raised against the government of New York, and probably the commencement of the American war, at Lexington, prevented the parties from proceeding to open hostilities. The following inscription on the tomb stone of William French, who appears to have been the person killed at the "Westminster massacre,' as it was called, is a literary curiosity illustrative of the spirit of the times. In memory of WILLIAM FRENCH, son of Mr. Nathaniel French, who was shot at Westminster, March ye 13th, 1775, by the hands of cruel minsterel tools of George ye 3d, in the court-house, at a 11 a clock at night, in the 22d, year of his age. Here William French, his Body lies; For murder, his blood for vengeance cries, BURLINGTON, city, port of entry and capital of Chittenden Co., one of the most important places in Vermont, is beautifully situated upon the tongue of land formed by the confluence of the Winooski, or Onion River with Lake Champlain. It lies upon the E. shore of Burlington Bay, and for the most part occupies a gentle declivity descending toward the west, and terminated by the waters of the lake. The streets cross each other E. and W. and N. and S., forming regular squares. Near the center is a fine area, around which stand several fine public structures. Lake Champlain is here about ten miles wide, and the harbor is protected from the western winds by a breakwater. The collection district of Burlington comprises the whole lake shore of Vermont. Burlington contains the university of Vermont, 6 churches, several banks and about 8000 inhabitants. Distant 38 mile W. N. W. from Montpelier, 85 S. E. from Montreal, and 440 from Washington. As part of Burlington may be mentioned, the |