military principle, true merit, ever before witnessed: the whole supported by that balance of power in the three departments of government, unknown to all former republics : a balance of power which originated in the Saxton Heptarchy, in the fifth century; was greatly improved by Alfred the Great, in the ninth century, and has been completed in America. Upon this in estimable basis stands the illustrious republic of United America. The success of these systems stands unrivalled in the annals of time, and so long as they are preserved in their purity, will continue to stand unrivalled until they shall be eclipsed by the glories of the great millenial day.

All the literature of the ancients, together with the extensive improvements of the moderns, in the arts and sciences, have flourished in America, and equalled, if not surpassed the learning of Europe.,

The manufactures of America are yet in their infancy; although her improvements have been flattering, she can never excel, so long as an unbounded forest invites to distant enterprise, and promises a rich reward to the hardy sons of labour.

The agriculture of America, has kept pace with her general improvements; her inventive genius shines conspicuous; and her enterprise on the ocean, has rendered her the second commercial nation in the world.

Her naval glory stands unrivalled, and the late war with England, has evinced to the world, that America has stripped the laurel from the brow of the mistress of the seas.

The most distinguished features in the American character, are displayed in that unshaken virtue, which formed her national republican compact: a compact which has so balanced, the independent sovereignties of the several states, as to give the most flattering assurances that states may be multiplied to any extent, even to overspread the whole northern continent, and yet our free elective gov

ernment be supported, and the free and independent republics be preserved.

Let every American cherish the religion and virtues of our forefathers; cultivate and preserve their habits, manners, and customs, together with their wise and virtuous institutions; remembering that these are the basis of all our boasted acquirements and enjoyments; that when weabandon these, we abandon the God of our fathers, the vine which he has planted, and desert the standard of the church in the wilderness. We may then take up our lamentation, with an eternal adieu to all our greatness, to all our peace, to all our boasted enjoyments. We shall then add one more example to the many already gone before us, that republican liberty, without virtue, is death. We shall then have a master, and that master must be a despot.

N. B. I shall insert at the end of the third volume a list of the numerous authorities I have consulted, in compiling this work.

Wethersfield, (Conn.) Oct. 24, 1820.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

CHAPTER I.

As the return of the family of Abraham to the land of their fathers, from the bondage of Egypt, forms one of the most interesting and important events of antiquity; so, in the same point of view, the emigrations of the first settlers of the United States, from the land of their fathers, to plant the Church in the wilds of America, forms one of the most interesting and important events amongst the moderns. The first, to open the way for the knowledge of the true God, as displayed in the formation, and government of the Jewish Church; and to prepare the way for the first advent of Jesus Christ. The second to open the way for the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, as displayed in his Gospel, by planting a pure Church, which might prepare the way for his second advent.

Had Moses attempted to detail the occurrences, and. events of the Jewish Church, minutely, in their journeyings in the wilderness, or in their possessing the promised land, it would have destroyed the beauty of one of the most interesting, and important narratives that has ever appeared. Should I attempt to detail, minutely, the occurrences and events, that awaited the Pilgrims of America, in possessing this modern Canaan, it would mar the beauty of one of the most interesting and important subjects in modern story. The wisdom of the Divine plan in selecting his church from the persecutions of modern Egypt, together with the most prominent characters, and events, VOL. I.

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that became the immediate instruments of his purpose,

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shall be my only guide in this Narrative. To open this vast field tothe minds, and hearts of my readers, it will be come necassary to trace the historic page, and unfold the causes that led to the discovery, and promoted the settlement of America; but particularly New-England, and the United States.

A spirit of commerce, and naval enterprise, commenced with the Phoenicians, and Egyptians, as early as two thousand years before Christ; this opened the way for the Egyptian Colony which Cadmus led into Greece; where, in about 300 years after, it led to the expedition of the Argonauts to Cholchos, in quest of the golden fleece; which opened the way for the commerce of Greece, and laid the foundation of her future naval glory. The ships of Greece bore her heroes to the Trojan War, in the year of the world 2900. About the time of the expedition of the Argonauts, it extended from Phoenicia, into Africa; and the ships of Tyre planted the Colony of Carthage. In about 500 years after this, it extended from Troy, in Asia, into Europe, and planted the Roman State; and in about 500 years after this, it opened the contest for the Island of Sicily, between the rival States of Carthage, and Roine and laid the foundation of the naval glory of Rome, and all her future conquests.

During this long period of naval enterprise, and adven ture, for about 1800; years open boats, or gallies, that could be managed with rowers, as well as sails, were the only ships, known, or in use, and all their expéditions were conducted along the shores of such seas as they explored, without daring to loose sight of land; and this continued

down to the first of the 14th century, when Goya discovered the secrets of magnetism, and taught the use of the mariner's compass. Although the shores of the Mediterranean had been fully explored, the continent of Africa had been circumnavigated, and the shores of Europe were extensively known, under this coasting adventure; yet it is worthy of notice, that the commencement of the reformation under John Wickliffe, and the art of printing, were simultaneous with the discovery of the mariner's compass, and that these combined, opened the way for the spread of the gospel into the New World, and planted the Puritan church in the wilderness of the west.

DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS.

. IN 1492, (about one whole century after Goya had unfolded the secrets of magnetism, and taught the use of the mariner's compass,) Christopher Columbus, traversed the vast ocean of the Atlantic, and opened a new world to the family of man. The coincident circumstances attending this wonderful adventure, are worthy of notice; may serve to illustrate the great plan of Infinite Wisdom in opening a highway into the west, and into the east, about the same time. The first to prepare an assylum for his afflicted, persecuted church, and the other to furnish means to support, and protect her in her remote retreat.-This Genoese pilot was well skilled in the science of navigation, and well versed in the sciences of astronomy and geography, for that age; and fully persuaded in his own mind, that a large body of land must be situated in the regions of the west, in order to give the earth that balance, which was absolutely necessary, to preserve that equable motion, which marked her diurnal rotation. To ascertain this fact, he formed the plan of ex