olize themselves. They had discovered that the church of Rome was not infallible, but their own was.

Happily, our national and state constitutions secure, as far as human writings go, our religious liberties with a magnanimous and christian liberality. But though guarded by even this palladium, yet were the church allied to the state and armed with its power, those who should dare think for themselves, not of the denomination protected by law and not of the sect of infallibity, would soon find out, whether they had the courage of martyrs. The present cry of heresy against the slightest shades of difference in those who exercise their understandings, not in cases which concern practical virtue, but merely in metaphysical speculations, and accompanied with still further menaces of excommunications which have become so common as to be little regarded, together with real disabilities and with the whole tremendous discharge of the artillery of slander from those who would claim exclusive orthodoxy for themselves, plainly shows what the weak must expect, while the standing order is aggrieved and St. Peter offended, as well as points out what disinterested benevolence would do, if it could, and who would be first to set fire to the faggots.

Such a train of abuse and persecution followed the Puritans. The allegation against them was the separation from the established church, on account of the forms of popery which still remained in it. The kindled flame began to consume. The Puritans, as unbending as Mordecai, were forced to abandon their homes and quit their means of subsistence. Ridicule exercised its wit, and prisons exerted their power; but the force of religion still triumphed. When their own country, which should be the kind and equal parent of all, became a cruel monster, devouring her own children, they were resolved to leave it forever. Holland began to grow more liberal by the generous sentiments, which extensive commerce tends to cherish. After great trials and dangers, the Rev. Mr. Robinson, in 1610, with his congregation, removed to Amsterdam, and the next year to Leyden, where they remained ten years This church, a lively image of the apostolic, enjoyed there rest and edification. At one time, it had 300 communicants. At length, the licentious manners of the Dutch spread like a contagion among the young, who entered the service of the Dutch army or navy. Their numbers were already diminished one half. They

had reason to fear, that within a few years their posterity would be identified with strangers and their purer church become wholly extinct.

They resolved to move to America. Religion was still their motive. They saw the dangers of temptation which awaited their youth amidst great cities, amid the splendor and the dissipation of Holland. The wilds of America offered no allurements; and the destitution of all things would render the consolations of religion more acceptable, where there was little else to minister comforts. After a series of delays and disappointments, they reached Plymouth on the 11th of November, 1620. They had intended to enter Hudson's river, but the pilot had been hired to deceive them. All appeared bleak and barren; but it was both too late and too dangerous to put to sea again with a view of going round the cape. The company consisted of 101 persons. They had escaped the perils of the sea, but new trials awaited them. There was no house for shelter, no home but a wilderness. Like Adam exiled from the happy Eden, "the world was all before them where to choose, and providence their guide.'

They did not despair, since religion was both a guard and a comforter. No sooner had they stepped upon the rocky shore than they kneeled down to present the offering of thanksgiving to their Almighty Father, who had preserved them from the dangers which were past, and was their hope in those to come.

Religion is the friend of order. They soon formed a civil compact, and selected John Carver to be the first governor of New England. The civil compact received the signature of 38 persons only.

The few Europeans, who had before this period touched on these coasts, had done little more than to irritate and abuse the natives. Six years before the landing of our forefathers, one Captain Hunt, destitute alike of humanity and justice, had decoyed into his ship and carried away into Spain 24 Indians, whom he sold as slaves. Resentment for this outrage and treachery, as well as for other enormous abuses were still boiling within their veins.

Providence had removed dangers, which otherwise might have proved fatal. A severe pestilence had raged not long before with great mortality among the natives. By this

means, joined with wars among themselves, nineteen out of twenty had perished. Of some tribes not one survived.

This disease was supposed to have been the yellow fever. At the very spot where the English pilgrims had landed at Plymouth, though formerly it had been very populous, every human being having died. Uncultivated fields, graves, relicts and bones confirmed this account. The savages ever afterwards seemed to perish before the approach of the christian pilgrims.

Before the Plymouth colony had arrived at New-England, it has been asserted, that the natives had a prophecy prevailing among them, that some dreadful pestilence would destroy them, and that a remote nation from the east would come to take possession of their country. Even the terrific Canonicus seems to have yielded his faith to this prediction. The natives, however, imagined that their numbers were too great to be destroyed by any power, human or divine, according to the usual course of events. Their cruelty and im

piety were the causes, which were to hasten the extinction of their race. Agreeably to the prophecy, the corrective hand of heaven was about to be lifted up to punish them for crimes which had been committed against the light of nature. A consciousness, even in their minds, of meriting such divine chastisement might have given either origin or credit to such a prediction.

The company had landed at Cape Cod, and had sent out 10 of their most resolute men to explore the adjacent country. At night, they returned, having seen no human creature but their own party. The next day was the sabbath, on which they rested. On Monday, the men went ashore to refresh themselves, and the women to wash, protected by a guard. On Wednesday, a company of 16 men proceeded to make further discoveries. About one mile from shore, they saw 5 Indians, who, having first seen them, fled. The party spent the night beside a pond of fresh water in Truro.

In the course of the day, they had found heaps of sand; one of which was covered with old mats, and an earthen pot placed at one end. In digging, they discovered bows and arrows. They deemed it a grave, and every thing was replaced. In another pile of sand, 3 or 4 bushels of corn, or maize, were found. Tasting it in a raw state, they considered it of very little value. With some hesitation, they took away the vessels and a part of the corn, for which they afterwards

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made full satisfaction to the owner. The corn was placed in a well made basket. Afterwards they found a place fortified with palisadoes. One of the men was caught in a trap which the Indians had ingeniously set to take deer. Such corn as they could afterwards find, they carried to their shallop, since it was so incalculably necessary to the future harvest. They also saw several graves and two wigwams, but no Indian.

Perigrine White was the first born of New-England, 19th Dec. 1620; and died July, 1704, aged 84.

In the fourth expedition, 6th December, they saw 12 Indians, who betook themselves to instant flight. While the pilgrims were encamped in the woods during the night, they became alarmed by a suspicion that the Indians were near them. On the next morning, after their customary service of worship, there was a cry of "Indians! Indians!" Horrid yells and showers of arrows followed. The report of guns, however, instantly frightened away the enemy. The arrows were found_pointed with brass, deer's horns and the claws of eagles. These were sent to England, where they were considered as great curiosities.

Sickness, brought on by hardships, want, exposure and change of climate, began to prevail. Two or three of their number died in a day. At times, there were not five able to take care of the sick. Before the opening of the spring, 46 out of IOI were no more.

era.

The landing of our forefathers has become a memorable The stone, upon which they first stepped, is still preserved in the centre of Plymouth village, and receives the homage of numerous visitors. Annually, "the feast of pilgrims" is held, and a religious discourse pronounced, after which the sons of the pilgrims mindful of the circumstances of their fathers, partake of a repast, of which victims from the woods, fish, clams and groundnuts constitute a part.

Placed in the midst of savages, exemption from hostilities was not long to be expected. In circumnavigating the deep bay contiguous to Cape Cod, the party from Plymouth, consisting of 13 persons, of whom governor Carver, was one, discovered, on the morning of the 23d December, a large body of Indians. They were busy in cutting up a fish resembling a grampus. The English no sooner approached the shore than with a horrible yell the Indians left all and fled. The former feasted themselves with it, and found it

excellent food. Continuing there during the night, they were suddenly attacked. Their guns also had been left in their boat at some distance. To retreat suddenly would betray fear, and encourage the savages. In this extremity, they dispatched two or three of their men for their arms, when in a close body and with a moderate march, they retreated to their boat. The Indians seeing this assumed new confidence, and being about to make an attack upon them in the rear with stones, clubs, hatchets and whatever their fury could minister, the English were compelled to oppose force by force. They fired, and about four of the savages fell. The enemy halted, viewed their bleeding brethren, and with a tremendous yell fled in a moment. This was the first engagement, a prelude of what was to follow, during some centuries.