The people of this town have the credit of inventing tar and feathers as a proper punishment for heresy. They first inflicted it on quakers and anabaptists. New-London has a printing press, much exercised in the business of pamphlets, sermons, and newspapers. It is employed by the Governor and Company, and is the oldest and best in the colony. Newhaven, Hertford, and Norwich, also, have each a printing press; so that the people are plentifully supplied with news, politics, and polemical divinity.----A very extraordinary circumstance happened here in 1740. Mr. George Whitefield paid them a visit, and preached of _righteousness_, _temperance_, and _a judgment to come_, which roused them into the belief of an heaven and an hell. They became as _children weaned_ and pliable as _melted wax_, and with great eagerness cried out, _What shall we do to be saved?_ The preacher, then in the pulpit, thus answered them, “Repent--do violence to no man--part with your self-righteousness, your silk gowns, and laced petticoats--burn your ruffles, necklaces, jewels, rings, tinselled waistcoats, your morality and bishops books, this very night, or damnation will be your portion before the morning-dawn.” The people, rather thro’ fear than faith, instantly went out on the common, and prepared for heaven, by burning all the above _enumerated goods_, excepting that of self-righteousness, which was exchanged for the preacher’s velvet breeches.--Vide _Dr. Chancy_.[33] _Groton_, across the bay from New-London, resembles Battersea. The township is ten miles square, and forms four parishes, one of which is episcopal. This town was the residence of the valiant Sassacus, Sachem of the Pequod nation. _Stonington_ lies on Narraganset-Bay, is the east corner of Connecticut, and consists of three parishes. The township is 8 miles square. _Preston_, on Quinnibaug river, forms three parishes, one of which is episcopal. The township is 8 miles square.