

HIS MARRIAGE : REMINISCENCES OF GOV. TRUMBULL. 237 



badge of office. Although not above middle size in per- 

 son, and in other respects dressed like a citizen, the cos- 

 tume that I have named on a gentleman of a decidedly 

 military air corresponded well with the dignity of his sta- 

 tion as Governor of the State. 



The Governor was ex-officio President of the Council 

 (or Senate), and being present at all their deliberations 

 his opinions had deservedly great weight. When there 

 was a public hearing, the House of Representatives came in 

 a body to the Senate Chamber. The Governor's speech or 

 address at the opening of the session was delivered in pres- 

 ence of the entire Legislature. I was present on one of 

 those occasions, and I well remember Governor Trum- 

 bull's highly dignified and impressive manner. His power- 

 ful and musical voice filled the room ; his enunciation was 

 perfect, and, being very deliberate, not a word was lost. 

 His sword and cocked hat lay on the table before him, and 

 his graceful and elevated manner gave the best possible 

 effect to his communications. Never before or since have 

 I listened to such a speaker. 



I believe I must have seen Governor Trumbull first in 

 some of those public gatherings to which I have alluded. 

 As he was Governor from 1798 to 1809, and was ex-officio 

 a member of the College Corporation, he always attended 

 the Commencements and united in the deliberations. He 

 appeared on these occasions in the costume which I have 

 described, the sword, perhaps, excepted, and was seated 

 on the stage, in the place of the highest honor. He may 

 have been present when my class took their first degree, in 

 September 179G, but he was then Lieutenant-Governor. 

 When, in 1799, I became a tutor in Yale College, in com- 

 mon with the other members of the faculty I was intro- 

 duced to the Governor and to the other members of the 

 corporation. Dr. Dwight established the custom of a 

 friendly meeting, at dinner of the faculty and corporation, 

 on the day before the Commencement, and this afforded a 



