When Gen. St. Clair heard the firing at Hubbardton, he attempted to send a force to the relief of Warner, but the militia absolutely refused to go, and the reg ulars and others were too far on their way to Fort Edward to be recalled. St. Clair had just learned, too, that Burgoyne was at Skenesborough, and he hastened forward to join Gen. Schuyler, which he did on the 12th, with his troops worn down by fatigue and lack of provisions.

Middlebury, the shire town of Addison county, is .31 miles S. W. from Montpelier, and 33 S. S. E. from Burlington, and is connected by the Rutland and Burlington Railroad with the great routes north, south and east. The village is situated at the falls, and on both sides of Otter Creek. It contains a court house, five churches, Middlebury College, several extensive manufactories, and about 2,500 inhabitants.

Middlebury College was incorporated in 1800. The funds of the institution have been derived from individual donations. The college buildings are two in number; one of wood, three stories high, the other a spacious edifice of stone. The libraries contain about 6,000 volumes. The cabinet contains 2,700 specimens in zoology, 400 in botany, 1,500 in mineralogy, and 1,750 in geology. The faculty consists of a president, four professors and one tutor. Rev. Jeremiah Atwater, D. D., was the first president. Among the many eminent men who have graduated at this institution, was the Hon. Wm. Slade, who was born in this state. He was representative in congress from 1831 to 1843, and governor of Vermont from 1844 to 1846. He was from that time until his decease, Jan. 16, 1859, secretary of the National Board of Popular Education. His upright Christian character, and his efforts in the cause of education, leave his memory in pleasant remembrance. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., first president of Wesleyan University, was also a graduate of this college, and a native of Vt.

The first clearing in Middlebury was commenced by Col. John Chipman, in 1766, on the north bank of Middlebury River. The prospects at first were so discouraging that Mr. Chipman returned to Connecticut. He, however, in 1773, returned with the Hon. Gamalin Painter, from Salisbury, Ct., who, with their families, effected a permanent settlement. Benjamin Smalley was the first who erected a habitation. In 1793, almost all the buildings, 62 in number, were constructed of logs. Rev. John Burnet, the first minister, was settled in 1770.

Vergennes, 12 miles north-west from Middlebury, and 21 southerly from Burlington, was incorporated a city in 1783. It is beautifully situated at the falls on Otter Creek, seven miles from Lake Champlain. Otter Creek, at this place, is 500 feet wide, and at the falls is separated by two islands, which form three distinct falls of 37 feet. The city is neatly built, and is picturesque in appearance, containing three churches, an academy, a United States arsenal and ordinance depot, and about 1,500 inhabitants. The creek or river between

accounts say that nearly 600, who were wounded, crawled off into the woods and died; and others, again, put the American loss down at less than 300. There is a preponderance of testimony in favor of the number I have given, and it is, doubtless, near the truth.

the city and lake is somewhat crooked, but navigable for the largest lake vessels. Here was fitted out the squadron of Commodore McDonough, with which he captured the British fleet off Plattsburg, N. Y., Sept. 11, 1814.

The first settlement within the present limits of Vergennes was made in 1766, by Donald McIntosh, a native of Scotland, who was in. the battle of Culloden. He came to this country with the army of Gen. Wolfe, during the French war. He died in July, 1803, aged 84 years. The emigrants who afterward located themselves here were principally from Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the south part of the state.

Castleton, 11 miles W. from Rutland, 72 S. W. from Montpelier, on the line of the Rutland and Washington Railroad, contains four churches, an academy, the Castleton Medical College, which has seven professors. There is in the town a quarry of slate stone, similar in appearance to the best of marble, of which large quantities are quarried and sent to various parts of the country. Population, about 1,500. The first dwelling house erected here was in 1769. Col. Lee and his servant were its first inmates.

St. Albans is situated near the east shore of Lake Champlain, three miles from the lake, 25 from Burlington, 46 from Montpelier, and 15 from the Canada line, on the railroad from Burlington to Montreal. It has a court house, two academies, a seminary, bank, six churches, and about 3,000 inhabitants. It has considerable trade from the surrounding country, and has manufactories for various articles. J. Walden is supposed to have been the first white settler. There was no addition to the settlement till 1785, when Andrew Potter emigrated to the town, and was soon followed by others.

South-west view of the Norwich University.

NORWICH, in Windsor county, pleasantly situated on a plain near Connecticut River, is 40 miles S. E. from Montpelier; the village, or principal settlement, is about a mile west from Connecticut River and the railroad, opposite Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N. H., on the east side of the river. The Norwich University, having two large

buildings, is located in the village. This institution was first opened in 1820, as the "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy," by Capt. Alden Partridge, a native of the town, and founder, also, of a once flourishing institution of the same name in Middletown, Conn. Afterward the character of the academy was somewhat changed to that of a college, under the patronage of the Universalist denomination. The late Col. Ransom, who bravely fell at the head of his regiment at the storming of Chepultepec, was at the head of this institution when he left for Mexico. The following inscriptions are from monuments in the village graveyard.

In memory of the Hon. PAUL BRIGHAM, who died June 15th, 1824, in the 79th year of his age. He served as captain in the army of the revolution, and fought in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth under the father of his country. By the suffrages of his fellowcitizens, he was elevated to various stations of public honor, until, in 1796, he was elected LIEUT. GOVERNOR of this state; which office he sustained with distinguished reputation 22 years. To a mind fruitful in invention, enriched with stores of useful knowledge, and an ardent patriotism and benevolence, he added the graces of a renewed and sanctified spirit. His mourning relatives rejoice in hope that, though dead, he will still live, and that living and believing in Christ, he will never die.

Maj. Gen. T. B. RANSOM, Col. 9 Regt. Inft. fell at Chepultepec, Mexico, Sept. 13, 1847. Æ. 45.

Windsor is by railroad 77 miles S. S. E. from Montpelier, and 138 from Boston. The village is on elevated ground on the bank of Connecticut River. It is compactly, and though somewhat irregularly built, is beautiful, having handsome dwellings and stores. The Vermont State Prison is located in this place. The first building for this purpose was commenced in 1808. A second building was erected in 1830. The first permanent settlement in the town was commenced by Capt. Steele Smith, who removed with his family from Farmington, Conn., in 1764. The next season, Maj. Elisha Hawley, Capt. Israel Curtiss, Dea. Hezekiah Thompson, Dea. Thomas Cooper and some others, came on and began improvements.

Woodstock, the shire town of Windsor county, Vt., is 60 miles S. from Montpelier, and 10 from Hartland Depot, on the Vermont Central Railroad, contains a fine court house, the Vermont Medical College, five churches, a bank, and about 1,500 inhabitants. "Woodstock Green" is the principal village; the south village is distant about five miles.

St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia county, situated 37 miles N. E. from Montpelier, and 10 from the Connecticut River, on the line of the Connecticut and Passumpsic River Railroad. The principal village of the town, St. Johnsbury, has about 2,000 inhabitants. The manufactures of St. Johnsbury are quite extensive. Among the establishments is the famous scale manufactory of Fairbanks & Co. Scarcely a civilized country exists in the world in which these scales are not to be found.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, MISCELLANIES, ETC.

Thomas Chittenden, first governor of Vermont, was born at Madison, Conn., Jan. 6, 1730. He received but a common school education, and agreeable to the

New England custom, married early in life, and soon removed to Salisbury, in Litchfield county, in Connecticut. Here by a regular advance, he passed through the several grades in the militia, to the command of a regiment; he likewise represented the town where he lived in the general assembly. With a numerous family, he determined to lay a foundation for their future prosperity, by emigrating through an almost trackless wilderness to Williston, on the Onion River, in the New Hampshire Grants, as Vermont was then called. In the controversy with New York, he was a strong supporter of the feeble settlers. During the war of the revolution, while Warner, Allen, and many others were in the field, he was engaged in council at home, where he rendered important services. He was a member of the convention, Jan. 16, 1777, which declared Vermont an independent state. When the constitution of the state was established, in 1778, Mr. Chittenden was appointed the first magistrate, which office he held (one year excepted) until his death, Aug. 24, 1797. Gov. Chittenden was conspicuous for his private as well as his public virtues. In times of scarcity and distress, which are not unfrequent in new settlements, his granary was open to all the needy.

Col. Seth Warner was born at Woodbury, Conn., in 1744, in the same county with Ethan Allen. In 1773, when 29 years of age, he emigrated to Vermont. In the controversy with New York, he and Ethan Allen were the leaders, and that province passed an act of outlawry against him in 1774. In 1775, he marched with Allen against Ticonderoga; assisted Montgomery in Canada, and after the death of the latter, raised another body of troops in 1776, and marched to Quebec. After the abandonment of Ticonderoga, he was attacked at Hubbardton, where he met with a reverse. He contributed, by the defeat of Baum, to the victory at Bennington. He died at the age of 41, in his native town. Vermont, for his revolution services, granted a valuable tract to his family.

Walter Colton, chaplain in the United States navy, and widely known as an author, was born in Rutland county, in 1797, and graduated at Yale College in 1820. In 1846, he was appointed Alcalde of Monterey, in California. He built the first school house in California, and was the first who made public the discovery of gold in that vicinity. He died in Jan. 1857, aged 54 years.

In 1812, the attention of the philosophical world was attracted by one of the most singular phenomena in the history of the human mind which has appeared in modern times. It was the case of Zerah Colburn, a child under eight years of age, who, without any previous knowledge of the rules of arithmetic, or even of the use and power of the Arabic numerals, and without giving any particular attention to the subject, possessed the faculty of solving a great variety of arithmetical questions by the mere operations of the mind, and without the assistance of any visible symbol or contrivance.

Zerah Colburn was born in Cabot, in Vermont. Sept. 1, 1804. According to a memoir, written by himself, in 1833, he was the sixth child of his parents, and was by them, in his earlier years, considered as the most backward of any of their children.

"Sometime in the beginning of August, 1810, when about one month under six years of age, being at home, while his father was employed at a joiner's workbench, Zerah was on the floor, playing in the chips; suddenly he began to say to himself, 5 times 7 are 35-6 times 8 are 48,' etc. His father's attention being arrested by hearing this, so unexpected in a child so young, and who had hitherto possessed no advantages, except perhaps six weeks' attendance at the district school that summer, he left his work, and turning to him, began to examine him through the multiplication table; he thought it possible that Zerah had learnt this from the other boys, but finding him perfect in the table, his attention was more deeply fixed; and he asked the product of 13×97, to which 1261 was instantly given in answer. He now concluded that something unusual had actually taken place; indeed, he has often said he should not have been more surprised if some one had risen up out of the earth and stood erect before him.

It was not long before a neighbor rode up, and calling in, was informed of the singular occurrence. He, too, desired to be a witness of the fact and soon it became generally known through the town. Though many were inclined to doubt the correctness of the reports they heard, a personal examination attested their truth. Thus the story originated, which within the short space of a year, found its way, not only through the United States, but also reached Europe, and foreign journals of literature, both in England and France, expressed their surprise at the uncommon incident.

Very soon after the discovery of his remarkable powers, many gentlemen at that time possessing influence and public confidence throughout the state, being made acquainted with the circumstances, were desirous of having such a course adopted as might most directly lead to a full development of his talent, and its application to purposes of general utility. Accordingly, Mr. Colburn carried his son to Danville, to be present during the session of the court. His child was very generally seen and questioned by the judges, members of the bar, and others. The legislature of Vermont being about to convene at Montpelier, they were advised to visit that place, which they did in October. Here large numbers had an opportu nity of witnessing his calculating powers, and the conclusion was general that such a thing had never been known before. Many questions which were out of the the common limits of arithmetic, were proposed with a view to puzzle him, but he answered them correctly; as, for instance, which is the most, twice twenty-five, or twice five and twenty (2×25 or 2X5+20)? Ans. Twice twenty-five. Which is the most, six dozen dozen, or half a dozen dozen (6×12×12, or 6×12)? Ans. 6 dozen dozen. It is a fact too that somebody asked how many black beans would make five white ones? Ans. 5, if you skin them. Thus it appeared that not only could he compute and combine numbers readily, but also he possessed a quickness of thought somewhat uncommon among children, in other things."

Mr. Colburn visited various parts of the United States with his son for the purpose of exhibiting his extraordinary power of calculation. Having resolved on a voyage to Europe, they arrived in London in May, 1812, where they continued about two years. Here Zerah attracted considerable attention, and was visited by many of the nobility and the most distinguished persons in the kingdom. After leaving London, Mr. Colburn and his son visited Ireland, Scotland, and finally passed over to Paris, where Zerah was for a time a pupil in the Lyceum Napoleon. He returned to London in 1816, and from thence to Birmingham. At this period, being impoverished in their circumstances, the Earl of Bristol became his patron, and placed him at the Westminster school. His father becoming dissatisfied with some things relative to the school, he was taken from it in 1819. In order to support himself, he was for a while an actor on the stage, and afterward opened a small school. Mr. Colburn, harassed by the many disappointments and privations of himself and son, fell a victim to his troubles, and died in February, 1823. Zerah now returned to this country, and removed to Burlington, Vt. Soon after his return, his attention was drawn to the subject of religion, and having experienced a change in his feelings, he joined the Congregational Church. Being dissatisfied with some of the doctrines of that church, he united himself with the Methodist Society in Cabot, Vt., in 1825. He soon became a devoted preacher in that denomination; but he was an indifferent speaker. He died in 1840, in the 35th year of his age.

The following is a list of questions answered by Zerah Colburn; they are extracted from his memoirs. and are also to be found in other publications:

Admitting the distance between Concord and Boston to be 65 miles, how many steps must I take in going this distance, allowing that I go three feet to a step? The answer, 114,400, was given in ten seconds.

How many days and hours since the Christian era commenced, 1811 years? Answered in twenty seconds.

661,015 days. 15,864,360 hours.

How many seconds in eleven years? Answer in four seconds; 346,896,000. What sum multiplied by itself will produce 998,001 ? In less than four seconds, 999.