HIS MARRIAGE : REMINISCENCES OF GOV. TRTJMBULL. 239 



ship, and tendered me the hospitality of his house. Early 

 in the autumn, I was most kindly received there as a guest, 

 and there became acquainted with that most estimable lady, 

 Mrs. Wadsvvorth. I remained a day or two, and took my 

 departure for Newport, via Lebanon and Norwich. Mrs. 

 "Wadsvvorth volunteered a letter by me to her sister, Miss 

 Harriet Trumbull, which was made introductory by my 

 name upon the outside. I availed myself of the short stop 

 which the stage made at the post-office in Lebanon, to run 

 forward half a mile, and thus I gained time to deliver the 

 letter. The family were at dinner, but I was promptly 

 admitted, most kindly received by the Governor, and with 

 courtesy by Miss Trumbull. A chair was placed for me at 

 the table, and I yielded to the hospitable invitation to oc 

 cupy it even for the few minutes that were at my disposal. 

 The occasion, apparently fortuitous, was fruitful of the 

 most important results, and a series of providential events 

 brought that noble and lovely lady, whom I then saw for 

 the first time, to this house, which she blessed during forty 



years 



The confidence reposed in me by the good man [Gov 

 ernor Trumbull], was truly paternal, and I had full oppor 

 tunity to scan and understand the character and circum 

 stances which in the preceding pages I have endeavored 

 faithfully to unfold. My visits were, of course, frequent, 

 and Hartford afforded an interesting and convenient middle 

 ground. During several weeks of suffering that preceded his 

 death, I remained constantly in the family, and participated 



in the final scene I ought not to omit to mention 



an action of Governor TrumbuH's public life, very near 

 the close of his career, which was regarded as very impor 

 tant. The American Democracy had long been seeking an 

 occasion to quarrel with England, and the leaders at Wash 

 ington were not only preparing the public mind for that 

 result, but were meditating on the means of carrying it into 

 effect. It was therefore deemed of primary importance to 



