HIS MARRIAGE : REMINISCENCES OF GOV. TRUMBULL. 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. \Vadsworth. I remained a day or two, and took my 

 departure for Newport, via Lebanon and Norwich. Mrs. 

 Wadsworth 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 Trumbull'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 



