and freedom of conscience: but, nothing more could be obtained, than a promise, that he would connive at, and not molest them. The hope, that, when at the distance of 3000 miles, they would be out of the reach of ecclesiastical courts, induced them nevertheless to venture. They sailed, 101 in number, from Plymouth, in September, 1620, and arrived at Cape Cod, in November following. Before landing, they formed themselves into a body politic, under the crown of England, for the purpose of "framing just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices;" to which fortyone of their number subscribed their names, and promised all due submission and obedience. After landing, they employed themselves in making discoveries, till the 20th of December. They then fixed on a place for settlement, which they afterwards called New Plymouth; and purchased the soil from its native proprietors. These adventurers were now at the commencement of a long and dreary winter; at an immense distance from their former habitations; on the strange coast of an uncultivated country; without a friend to welcome their arrival, or a house to shelter them. In settling down on bare creation, they had every obstacle to surmount, that could prove their firmness, or try their patience. The climate was unfavourable; the season cold and pinching. The prospect of obtaining a supply of provisions, by cultivating the stubborn soil, required an immensity of previous labour, and was both distant and uncertain. From the disorders occasioned by their tedious voyage, with insufficient accommodations, together with those brought on them by the fa

*The return of this day is annually celebrated at Plymouth and Boston, by the "Sons of the pilgrims," as the present inhabitants call themselves. Religious exercises inspire gratitude to the God of their fathers. Orations recount the deeds of their ancestors. Festivity animates the guests, while erations, songs, and appropriate toasts, bring to recollection their many virtues; and point to them, as worthy of being held in everlasting remembrance. To identify their situation and feelings with those of the first settlers, oysters, clams, fish, wild fowl, game, suckatash, and like articles, as the country afforded when it was first entered upon by their forefathers, make a part of the feast. The day, in its variegated entertainment, is observed with ardour approaching to enthusiasm.

tigues and exertions unavoidable in a new settlement, and the rigour of the season, they buried forty-four persons, nearly one half of their original number, within six months after their landing. Animated with a high degree of religious fervour, they supported these various hardships with unabated resolution. The prospect of an exemption from the tyranny of ecclesiastical courts, and of an undisturbed liberty to worship their Creator in the way that was agreeable to their consciences, was, in their estimation, a sufficient counterbalance to all that they underwent. In imitation of the primitive Christians, they threw all their property into a common stock, and, like members of one family, carried on every work of industry, by their joint labour, for common benefit. The same fatal effects flowed from this community of goods and of labour, which had formerly been experienced in Virginia; and it was therefore soon relinquished. By voluntary compact, they formed themselves into a small commonwealth, and had a succession of governors of their own

The history of their two first governors, Carver and Bradford, is so connected with the affairs of the colony, as to merit a place in this work.

John Carver, first governor of Plymouth colony, was a native of England, and one of the emigrants to Leyden, who composed Mr. Robinson's church in that place. When a removal to America was contemplated, he was appointed one of the agents to negotiate with the Virginia company, in England, for a suitable territory. He obtained a patent in 1619, and in the following year, came to New England with the first company. The ship which brought them was carried, by accident or design, too far to the northward, and anchored in the harbour of cape Cod. As they were without the territory of the South Virginia company, from whom they had received the charter, which was thus rendered useless, it was thought proper, before they landed, that a political association for self government should be formed, by voluntary agreement among themselves. Accordingly, after solemn prayers and thanksgiving, a written instrument was subscribed, on the 11th of November, 1620, by forty-one persons out of one hundred and one, the whole number of passengers of all descriptions on board. Mr. Carver's name stood first, and he was unanimously elected governor for one year. Government being thus regularly established, on a truly republican principle, sixteen armed men were sent on shore the same day, to procure wood and make dis coveries. They returned at night, having seen neither house nor human be ing. The next day was Sunday, and it was observed as a day of rest. While

choice. They settled in that part of Massachusetts which now forms the county of Plymouth. They originally formed

they lay in this harbour, during the space of five weeks, a number of excur. sions were made by the direction of the governor.

On the 6th of December, governor Carver, with eighteen men, set sail in the shallop, to make further discoveries. The weather was so cold, that the spray of the sea froze on their coats till they were cased with ice. They coasted along the cape, and occasionally a party was sent on shore. At the dawn of day, on the 8th of December, those who were on the land were surprised by the war cry of the natives, and a flight of arrows. They imme. diately seized their arms, and, on the first discharge of musquetry, the Indians fled. Eighteen arrows were taken up, headed either with brass, deer's horns, or birds' claws. On the 11th of December, they went ashore upon the main land, at the place which they called Plymouth. A part of the very rock, on which they first set their feet, is now in the public square of the town, and is distinguished by the name of " Forefather's rock." Another part is preserved in the museum of the Charleston S. C. Library Society.

As they marched into the country, they found corn fields, and brooks, and an excellent situation for building. Before the end of the month, they had erected a storehouse, with a thatched roof, in which their goods were deposited. Two rows of houses were begun, and, as fast as they could be covered, the people, who were classed into nineteen families, came ashore and lodged in them. The severe hardships to which they were exposed, in so rigorous a climate, and the scorbutic habits, contracted by living so long on board the ship, caused so great a mortality, that, before the month of April, near one half of them died. None of the natives were seen before the sickness among the planters had abated. The pestilence which raged in the country, four years before, had almost depopulated it. On the 16th of March, 1621, a savage came boldly into the town alone, and, to the astonishment of the emigrants, addressed them in these words, "Welcome, Englishmen! welcome, Englishmen!” His name was Samoset, and he was sagamore of a tribe of Indians, distant five days' journey to the eastward. He had learned broken English of the fishermen in his country. By him the governor was informed, that the place where they now were, was called Patuxet, and, though it was formerly populous, that every human being had died of the late pestilence. This account was confirmed by the extent of the deserted fields, the number of graves, and the remnant of skeletons lying on the ground. Being dismissed with a present, he returned the next day with five Indians, who brought a few skins for trade. They informed the planters that Massassoit, the sachem of the neighbouring Indians, was near, with his brother and a number of his people. Within an hour, he appeared on the top of a hill, over against the English town, with sixty men. Mutual dis trust prevented, for some time, any advances upon either side; but, Mr. Winslow being sent to the Indian king, with a copper chain and two knives,

and continued a distinct colony, by the name of Plymouth, until their incorporation, in 1691, with Massachusetts.

and a friendly message from the governor, the sachem was pleased to descend from the hill, accompanied by twenty men unarmed. Captain Standish, at the head of six men with musquets, met him at the brook, and escorted him to one of the best houses, where three or four cushions were placed on a green rug spread over the floor. The governor came in, preceded by a drum and trumpet, the sound of which, being new, greatly delighted the Indians. After mutual salutations, the governor kissed his majesty's hand, and ordered refreshments. A league of friendship was then agreed upon, which was inviolably observed, for above fifty years.

In the beginning of April, twenty acres of lands were prepared for the reception of Indian corn: and Samoset and Squanto taught the emigrants how to plant, and dress it with herrings, of which an immense quantity came into the brooks. Six acres were sowed with barley and peas. While they were engaged in this labour, governor Carver died. He was distinguished for his prudence, integrity, and firmness, and owned a good estate in England, which he spent in the emigration to Holland and America. Ile exerted himself to promote the interests of the colony, and bore a large share of its sufferings. The people confided in him as their friend and father.

William Bradford, second governor of Plymouth colony, was born in the north of England. After a residence of about ten years in Holland, he engaged with zeal in the plan of removal to America, and set sail from Plymouth with the first company. While the ship, which brought them, lay in the harbour of Cape Cod, he was one of the foremost in the several hazardous attempts, to find a proper place for the seat of the colony. Soon after the death of governor Carver, in 1621, Mr. Bradford was elected in his place. One of the first acts of his administration was to send an embassy to Massassoit, for the purpose of confirming the league with the Indian sachem; of procuring seed corn for the next planting season; and of exploring the country. It was well for the colony that the friendship of Massassoit was thus secured; for his influence was extensive. In consequence of his regard for the new settlers, nine sachems, in September, went to Plymouth, and acknowledged themselves subjects of king James.

In the beginning of 1622, the colony began to experience a distressing famine, occasioned by the arrival of new settlers, who came unfurnished with provisions. In the height of their distress, a threatening message was received from Canonicus, sachem of Naraganset, expressed by the present of a bundle of arrows bound with the skin of a serpent. The governor sent back the skin, filled with powder and ball. This prompt and ingenious reply terminated the correspondence. The Naragansets were so terrified, that they even returned the serpent's skin, without inspecting its contents. It was however judged necessary to fortify the town; and this work was performed by the people while they were suffering the extremity of famine.

Just before their arrival in New England, king James the first, by letters patent, incorporated forty persons, by the name of, "the council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing of New England, in America ;" and granted unto them all that part of America which is comprehended between forty and fortycight degrees of north latitude. This is the basis of all the other grants, made to the colonies in New England.

In 1628, the Plymouth company granted unto Sir Henry For some time, they subsisted entirely upon fish. In this exigency, governor Bradford found the advantage of his friendly intercourse with the Indians. He made several excursions among them, and procured corn and beans, making a fair purchase by means of goods, which were very acceptable to the Indians.

This scarcity was, in part, owing to the impolicy of labouring in common, and putting the proceeds into a public store. To stimulate industry by the prospect of individual acquisition, and thus to promote the general good by removing the restraints upon selfishness, it was agreed that every family should plant for themselves, on such ground as should be assigned them by lot. After this agreement, the governor was not obliged to traffic with the Indians, to procure the means of subsistence for the colony.

The original government of Plymouth was founded entirely upon mutual compact, entered into by the planters, before they landed, and was intended to continue only until they could obtain legal authority from their sovereign. The first patent was obtained for the colony in the name of John Peirce; but another patent of larger extent was obtained of the council for New England, January 13th, 1630, in the name of William Bradford, his heirs, associates and assigns, which gave them power to make all laws, not repugnant to the laws of England. For several of the first years after the settle. ment of Plymouth, the legislative, executive and judicial business was per. formed by the whole body of freemen in assembly. The first assembly of representatives was held in 1639, when two deputies were sent from each town, excepting Plymouth, which sent four.

Such was the reputation of Mr. Bradford for piety, wisdom and integrity, that he was annually chosen governor as long as he lived, excepting in the years 1633, 1636, and 1644, when Mr. Winslow was appointed, and the years 1634, and 1638, when Mr. Prince was elected chief magistrate. It was by his own request, that the people in these years did not re-elect Mr. Bradford. He strongly recommended a rotation in the election of governor. “If this appointment," he pleaded, "were any honour or benefit, others beside himself should partake of it; if it were a burden, others beside himself should help to bear it." But the people were so much attached to him, that for thirty years they placed him at the head of their government.