XXV. ROBERT CUSHMAN.* "ROBERT CUSHMAN was distinguished character among that collection of worthies, who quitted England on account of their religious difficulties, and fettled with Mr. John Robinson, their paftor, in the city of Leyden. Propofing afterwards a removal to America, in the year 1617, Mr. Cufhman and Mr. John Carver, (afterwards the firft Governor of New Plymouth) were fent over to England, as their agents, to agree with the Virginia Company for a settlement, and to obtain, if poffible, a grant of liberty of confcience in their intended plantation, from King James. From this negociation, though conducted on their part with great difcretion and ability, they returned unfuccefsful to Leyden, in May 1618. They met with no difficulty indeed from the Virginia Company, who were willing to grant them fufficient territory, with as ample privileges as they could beftow: But the pragmatical James, the pre tended This account of Mr. Cushman was published in 1785, at Plymouth, as an Appendix to the third edition of his Difcourfe on Self-love. It was written by John Davis, Efq. tended vicegerent of the Deity, refused to grant them that liberty in religious matters, which was their principal object. This perfevering people determined to transport themselves to this country, relying upon James's promife that he would connive at, though not exprefsly tolerate them; and Mr. Cufhman was again dispatched to England in February, 1619, with Mr. William Bradford, to agree with the Virginia Company on the terms of their removal and fettlement. After much difficulty and delay, they obtained a patent in the September following; upon which, part of the Church at Leyden, with their Elder, Mr. Brewfter, determined to tranfport themselves as foon as poffible, Mr. Cufhman was one of the agents in England to procure money, shipping and other neceflaries for the voyage, and embarked with them at South-Hampton, August 5th, 1620. But the fhip, in which he failed, proving leaky, and after twice putting into port to repair, being condemned as unfit to perform the voyage, Mr. Cufhman with his family, and a number of others, were obliged, though reluctantly, to relinquish the voyage for that time, and return to London. Those in the other fhip proceeded and made their fettlement at Plymouth in December, 1620, where Mr. Cufhman alfo arrived in the fhip Fortune from London, on the roth of November, 1621, but took paffage in the same ship back again, pursuant to the directions of the merchant adventurers in London, (who fitted out the ship, and by whofe affiftance the first settlers were tranfported) to give them an account of the plantation. He failed from Plymouth December 13th, 1621; and arriving on the coaft of England, the fhip, with a cargo valued at 500l. fterling, was taken by the French. Mr. Cushman, with the crew, was carried into France; but arrived in London in the February following. During his fhort refidence at Plymouth, though a mere lay character, he delivered a difcourfe on the fin and danger of felf-love, which was printed in London (1622) and afterwards, re-printed in Bofton, (1724) and again at Plymouth, (1785.) And though his name is not prefixed to either of the two fórmer editions, yet unquestionable tradition renders it certain that he was the author, and even tranfmits tranfmits to us a knowledge of the spot where it was delivered. Mr. Cushman, though he conftantly correfponded with his friends here, and was very ferviceable to their intereft in London, never returned to the country again; but, whilft preparing for it, was removed to a better, in the year 1626. The news of his death, and Mr. Robinson's, arrived at the fame time, at Plymouth, by Captain Standish, and feem to have been equally lamented by their bereaved and fuffering friends there. He was zealously engaged in the profperity of the plantation, a man of activity and enterprize, well verfed in business, respectable in point of intellectual abilities, well accomplished in fcriptural knowledge, an unaffected profeffor, and a fteady fincere practifer of religion. The defign of the above-mentioned difcourfe was to keep up that flow of public fpirit, which, per haps, began then to abate, but which was thought necessary for their preservation and fecurity. The policy of that entire community of interests which our fathers established, and which this fermon was defigned to preferve, is, nevertheless, juftly questionable. The love of feparate property, for good and wife purposes, is ftrongly implanted in the heart heart of man. So far from being unfavourable to a reasonable generofity and public fpirit, it better enables us to difplay them, and is not lefs confiftent with the precepts of fcripture, rightly understood, than with the dictates of reafon. This is evidenced by the fubfequent conduct of this very people. In the year 1623, departing a little from their firft fyftem, they agreed that every family fhould plant for themfelves; bringing in a competent portion at harvest, for the maintenance of public officers, fifhermen, &c. and in all other things to go on in the general way, (as they term it) as before; for this purpose they affigned to every family a parcel of land, for a year only, in proportion to their number. Even this temporary divifion, as Governor Bradford, in his manufcript hiftory, obferves, "has a very good effect; makes all induftrious; gives content; even the women and children now go into the field to work, and much more corn is planted than ever." In the fpring of the year 1624, the people being ftill uneafy, one acre of land was given to each, in fee-fimple; no more to be given, till the expiration of the feven years. In the year 1627, when they purchased |