asserted that they had the right, sitting by themselves, to re-consider and decide upon the resolution to which the majority of the convention had arrived. A shorter, simpler, and, indeed, more honest proposal, would have been to sit in a separate chamber, and form a distinct and separate body. The representatives resisted their pretensions, "yet," says Mr. Bancroft, with a sort of grave slyness, that rather smacks of the puritan school, “yet the authority of the patricians was long maintained, sometimes by wise delay, sometimes by a 'judicious sermon;'* till at last a compromise divided the court into two branches, and gave to each a negative on the other."

A serious quarrel afterwards separated the emigrants, and Roger Williams, in consequence, led away a certain number to Rhode Island, and laid the foundations of a new town and a new colony. He had declared openly his opinion on the subject of religious freedom, and stated that, in his belief, the excluding doctrines and conduct of the saints of Massachusetts were erroneous and wrong; so they persecuted, imprisoned, and in the end, banished him. Though the sentence of exile was passed, he had asked and obtained permission to remain at Salem, where he had hitherto been the minister, until the spring should come, it being winter when the sentence was pronounced against him. But his former flocks were strongly attached to their pastor, and

*The inverted commas over the words judicious sermons are not mine. They are in Mr. Bancroft's text, and the words, I suspect, are taken from some grave reverend historian, whose name Mt. Bancroft has not in this particular instance given.

thronged his house to hear the last exhortations he was permitted to afford, or they to hear from him in that place. This enthusiasm created fear in the magistrates of Massachusetts, who were aware of the intention of Williams to proceed in the spring to Rhode Island, in order there to lay the foundation of a new settlement. This now appeared a dangerous project-dangerous to Massachusetts; as so beloved a pastor might prove in many ways a formidable rival. They therefore determined to seize and transport Williams to England: fear or hesitation was not a weakness which these men ever evinced; they determined boldly, and as boldly acted. Upon hearing this, Williams, who well knew the men he had to deal with, left Salem secretly, and took refuge with an Indian named Massasoit. The Sachem of the same tribe, the Narragansetts, named Canonicus, afterwards, with his son, Miantonomoh, gave him a large tract of land in Rhode Island. Here, in the next June, Williams, with five persons, landed; and beside a spring, near the spot, laid the foundations of PROVIDENCE, "as a shelter for persons distressed for conscience." The liberty Williams preached, he granted to others. Eventually, Rhode Island received a charter from Charles II., which was supposed to have been drawn by Clarendon. That charter remained, long after Rhode Island became independent, the constitution of the state.*

* By a singular fatality, they who in Europe acted as despots, and the friends of despots, were among the chief friends of freedom in America during her early days. They who had in Europe struggled for freedom, and insisted upon their right to be free mentally and physically, were the chief persecutors who figure in early American annals.

The increasing wealth and success of Massachusetts attracted the attention of many in England of birth, station, and large fortune. The severe proceedings of Charles induced them to look abroad for a home. Vane actually proceeded to Massachusetts, and lived there many years, and was chosen governor of the state. But not only was the attention of the noble and rich, as well as poor, directed to Massachusetts-the King's, also, was drawn towards the colony, as to a nest of Puritans; and he proceeded to root out, and, if possible, to destroy it. A quo warranto was issued against Massachusetts in Trinity term of 1655. This charter, however, unlike that of Virginia, found defenders-and stout defenders, too-in the people of the colony; simply because there was really no English company now concerned in it; but the people and company were one. This result was

fortunate for all parties, and was happily arrived at, after continued discussions and quarrels, before the royal mind became interested concerning them or their institutions. Charles was, however, unable to pursue his design against the offending colony, having his own crown and life to defend against these puritans whom he so bitterly hated, and had so deeply injured.

In the long interval which elapsed from this period to the recall of Charles II., in 1660, a happy neglect attended New England. In those years (really a quarter of a century) they governed themselves-asking England for nothing-receiving from her nothing, for which she did not receive ample return.

Massachusetts was a favourite with Cromwell, and, while he "ruled, met with the utmost indulgence. From 1640

to 1660, it approached very near to an independent Commonwealth. The House of Commons, in a memorable resolution, on the 10th of March, 1642, passed in favour of it, gives New England the title of Kingdom. The Commissioners for New England, sent over by Charles II., assert in their narrative, that the colony solicited Cromwell to be declared a free state-which is not unlikely.'

The rapid increase of the inhabitants excited alarm in the minds of the native tribes who surrounded the plantations; and fierce conflicts had to be waged with the Indian, who attempted to expel these ever-encroaching invaders of his wilderness. The danger, which was great for many years-the alarm, which was constant, made the whole body of the people a hardy, brave, and energetic race. The soil as I have already remarked -was so sterile, as to return but a niggard harvest to the husbandman; who was forced, therefore, to severe and unceasing toil, in order to win from it even a scant subsistence. But the sea was more beneficent: the fisherman found in the bays and rivers of the country a means of obtaining subsistence and wealth. This led the people to become fishermen and sailors; and the ships of New England were soon seen in every sea; and her hardy seamen, as whalers, in the language of Burke, soon pursued their gigantic game from the Equator to the Poles. Up to the time of our Revolution, in 1688, the reigning feeling in New England was that they were, in fact, an independent people. To the King of England

* Gordon, History of America, vol. i. p. 32.

they faintly acknowledged themselves to owe some sort of allegiance-what sort, and to what extent, was difficult to be ascertained. Under this notion of independence they acted, pursuing their own interests as to them seemed fit, and establishing with every customer and country that offered, such traffic as their capabilities permitted. They consequently rapidly improved in substance. Increasing wealth brought with it softened feelings and gentler habits. The good and sterling

portion of the Puritan remained, and produced its admirable fruits in the energy and virtue of the people; while all the sterner and cruel characteristics of their class were, by constant collision with their neighbours and the world, so checked and subdued as to seem almost effaced, leaving traces only of a certain gravity of deportment, and harmless asceticism in their religious observances, which, to this hour, belong to, and distinguish, this singular people. They form, by far, the most remarkable portion of the American people, and have given to the character of the whole nation those traits, whether attractive or the reverse, which distinguish them as a people from the rest of mankind. If by some unfortunate combination of circumstances the colonists of New England could have been withdrawn from America, and directed elsewhere; and if, in consequence, New England had never arisen, and taken her place in the great federation of America, we should not, at this moment, behold the wonderful spectacle which that vast continent now exhibits. People, and provinces, and wealth, there would undoubtedly have been, but not the people we now see-not that busy,